Category: Let's talk
As we know here in the UK today George Best, renouned Manchester united footballer, died today aged 59. He has been described by many as the greatest footballer of all times, certainly the greatest brittish footballer. But sadly it seems that greatness had a price, the reason Best died was because of illnesses that were brought on by his alcoholism. Some years back he received a liver transplant, when his liver failed due to his drinking, but sadly he was unable to remain sobour and this is the result. And isn’t that just so tipicle so often? People that have tremendous talent often end up going off the rails in one form or another, drink, drugs, mental illness – so what is the price of greatness? And would you really want to go there?
Well, it's better to be a famous alcoholic than a not so famous alcoholic. As George Best demonstrated, when you're famous, even though you have a lot of money, you don't have to spend so much. When people want your autograph, you just say "yeah if you buy me a pint" they obey, you give them what they want, you get what you want and it costs you nothing.
Although it is common for famous/talented people to have drug/alcohol problems, I think it could really be like that for anyone. It could be either too much stress or a wanting to "have fun" for the moment. It's just publicized more with famous people because the media and fans want to know what they're up to all the time. Also, there might be more stress for the famous person because of all the publicity I would think. As for me personally, I really don't like a lot of public attention to begin with, and wouldn't know what to do with millions of dollars if I had it, so that would be the only reasons I wouldn't want to be famous.
forgive me, but in my oppinion, someone with such a strong addiction is noone to be idolised. what sort of example is that setting for youth? in if you ask me, then qualities such as decency, responsibility, fairness and commonsense are far greater atributes, than beeing able to kick a ball around an ovil and down enouch poison to eventually kill yourself.
How much of a connection was there between George's success as a football player and his subsequent drinking later in life? I can't imagine he was an alcoholic whilst being a star, drinking and sports go together very badly to say the least, but did his fame/money or his success, his concentrating on one goal ( or many goals as the case may be here) at the cost of everything else in life get him into this position. May be the fact (and I have no idea how his life turned out so I may be wrong) that when he quit he realized he had no alternative career set up because he concentrated all his energy on the sport. I admire people who can devote themselves completely to one hobby or talent and go all the way but in order to be the best today you basically have to cut everything else out of your life. I know, personally I don't want that, not for myself. I want to have alternatives if my current career or hobby goes wrong or I stop enjoying it of if things change and there is no demand for my talent or education any more. The world is such a dynamic place that you need to be able to change yourself very quickly to meet new demands. So I really do wonder if people noticed his addiction more because he was famous or if the sport success and/or stepping away from that success at the end drove him to start drinking .. I wonder if this is the case for a lot of people who rettire, especially people with a lot of money and all of a sudden they don't have a project or something to keep them occupied, I think it would leave me vulnerable to adopt unhealthy lifestyle like this although at the moment I cannot imagine myself ever getting addicted to any substance .. but I'm sure everyone says that at one point in time.
I think that reality TV can cause great damage to people's lives. The problem with it is, that people who win the music shows, willl be usually under 25, and their careers can be over very quickly. The first winners of such a show in the UK, Hearsay, were finished within about 3 or 4 years. The age of some of them was under 20. They can't go get a regular job because of their status, and they can't continue in the music industry because they're not wanted. Their lives are ruined yet they've got their hole life ahead of them. Those who play team sports such as soccer etc, have careers which don't last much longer than their early 40's if their looky. They have the money, and so what they see as luxuries can become very appealing. Anyone can be an alcoholic for example, but it's easier to live life dangerously if you have the money to back it up. There's also not a lot else for you to do when you're high profile outside your career of course. You've got the media following you everywhere as well to add extra pressure. You're also more vulnerable to rape accusations from people wanting money as well. Been famous has a lot of down sides, and not being famous is probably a more comfortable way of living.
actually, sport and alcohol very much went together, he quit the game at the age of 26 because of his excessive drinking. He originally went to play for manchester united at the age of 15, and I think that is a lot of the problem, these young kids become famous so young, and in his case, he was the first real celebrity footballer, and often, they're unable to handle the fame/fortune so young. Actually football is full of alcoholics, paul Gascoigne, tony adams .. to name just two of the most famous.
Its common for weak insecure and pathetic little children in adults bodies to have drink problems..Ozzy Osbourne is a classic example..he falls off his quad bike..result he's pissed..he has an arguement with his family..result he's pissed again.. these people are incapable of handling the simplest of life's problems, without a crutch..and as for George Best good riddence..