Dead box Bestie?
Newspapers have what’s known as a “dead box”. It contains the obituaries of those who haven’t died yet but who may do soon. Some journalists reckon George Best has been languishing in the dead box for at least 10 years. But whatever you think of him, Best isn’t a quitter — which is part of the problem. He was born in Belfast on 22 May 1946; so if you were born after 1980 you may not know he was one of soccer’s all-time greats. Now aged 59, he joined Manchester United ground staff in 1961, at 15, after being spotted by a scout. Current Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson — who could use some of Best’s 1960s skills now — said on Friday: “Everyone has their own opinion about football and their favourite players but, in terms of British players, you would find it difficult to think of anyone better than George Best.” However, it’s arguable that drinking, gambling and womanising have contributed to his fame as much as soccer superstardom, which sadly in Best’s case was even more short-lived than usual (his final League match for United was a 0-3 defeat against Queens Park Rangers on New Year’s Day 1974). Long past his on-pitch prime, he was given a liver transplant in 2002, following years of hard drinking, but was back on the booze within a year. He was admitted to hospital four weeks ago, after contracting a chest infection that spread to his kidneys and affected other organs. His condition deteriorated suddenly on Thursday, when he began bleeding internally. But since then, although his condition remains serious, he has improved slightly. More…
posted by Chris Bell at 10:36 PM
6 Comments:
Keith richards has been in the dead box for 30 years...
That reminds me of an old mate of mine who worked for the Northern Echo in Darlington, England.
Some years ago, a year or two before her actual death, my mate had to write several pages of glowing tribute to the late Queen Mum, Gawd Bless her!
He did a wonderful job, by all accounts. Not bad for an ardent lefty republuican!
My mate told me that he was looking forward to writing Margaret Thatcher's obituary and he was hoping for a speedy publication.
Let's hope he has to wait a very, very long time on that one :)
You'll find two perfectly workpersonlike Maggot Scratcher obits have already been prepared by a couple of bards on this very site, Darren; namely in the comments affixed to Rob's recent MT post: http://www.nzbc.net.nz/2005/10/thatcher-wrong-society-exists.html
And yes, Rob, it's sad to have to concede that even Keith Richards looks after himself better than George Best. There's bound to be a "doctor's report" out there linking judicious use of heroin with the prevention of alcohol damage to the liver.
CHRIS,
I'd like to think it was some sort of celestial amnesty for having written 'Gimme Shelter'.
Well indeed, Rob. Although you'd think co-composing 'Sympathy For The Devil' may be caused said amnesty to be at least temporarily revoked... I understand he has a few more of the former standard up his silky sleeve, though.
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