I hope regular visitors to my Simplicity Blog can tolerate just one final reference from me to my soccer hero George Best.
Today was a very sad day for me as the funeral took place – it was an amazing service – televised live by the BBC.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4493898.stm
Anyone watching the coverage will - I guarantee - have had at least one moment in the service when a tear appeared. I cried at two points – one when George’s son Callum read a poem and then when George’s sister gave a touching and very moving tribute to George, her brother.
We tend to forget that although George was a sporting superstar known all over the world, he was also a member of a broken hearted family.
The great news is George is now at peace with God and soccer stadiums in Heaven will be full from now on.
Saturday, December 03, 2005
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9 comments:
I am sorry, it is clear he was an icon for many persons and an hero for you and many others. My sincere condolences for such a sad event.
I'd wish at some point you could comment to us on some of the valuable lesson he taught while being alive so hopefully we can learn something from him too.
Don't apologize for your own passions, Trevor. That is self limiting and not good. Acknowledge them, feed them, enjoy them, but don't apologize!
George was good and will be missed.
Thanks Omara and Steve.
Omara - the lessons he taught in life? George was a fragile man who suffered alcoholism for many years and that eventually killed him. In his life I guess he showed you can make it from humble beginnings. He was brought up in an ordinary working class but very loving family in Belfast and traveled to England when just 15 years of age to become a mega superstar at Manchester United football team within three years. There are critics who say George did not teach much given his wayward lifestyle. I am not defending him but he was a flawed genius. He always said he wanted to be remembered for what he did on the football pitch and the fact that hundreds of thousands of people turned out in the rain on Saturday to just watch and applaud his funeral cortège says it all. There was something intangible about him. He helped to raise a lot of money for liver research and this was all done outside the glare of publicity – this type of thing is of course never covered by the media. The last ‘media thing’ George did a few days before he died was to be photographed in hospital in his last days and he asked that the pictures be published in national newspapers as a warning to other of the dangers of excessive drinking. That was a wonderful thing to do and George may have taught us all through that.
Steve – you are right and I do not apologise for my passion. I am aware that not everyone who reads my Simplicity Blog will want to read too much on one subject i.e. George Best. We have to draw a line under things and my Blog must be wider than just personal reflections. I will of course always retain my own personal thoughts about George Best.
our heroes come in every form. We all have our weaknesses, including those who share them on a very public stage. It is not so much the weaknesses we should amplify, but the reasons why we looked up to certain people. those are the redeeming qualities. In addition we can look at their personal weaknesses and learn from them. Do not try to hide them, rather acknowledge them and use them as tools to teach and learn. If alcoholism can be a personanad physical downfall of great professional atheletes, then how much more should we be aware of the physical damage to our bodies. this can be used to teach young and old alike. none of us are immune to the vices in life. Hopefully the life of George Best can be put to use as a dterrent for others. What better way to truly be a hero for the ages. It is not so much the memory of George, but what is done with the memory.
Fabulous comments Rocky - thank you. I am sure God will allow George to go 'online' to look at your comments. George will feel proud.
Thank you Trevor, I think I will remember Mr. G. Best from now onwards because of the values he was able to transmit to his followers.
I think there is a personality too in Britain who, apart of being a terrific comediant, embodies very well the kind of person able to reach until the top but overcoming pretty tough life's situations: Mr. Billy Conolly. He is fabulous :-)
Yep I agree Omara - Billy Connolly is another Icon. Some of his earlier work is very funny.
"Everyday that we don't laugh is a wasted day"
-Charles Chaplin
Annie and I try to make sure we laugh everyday - it is great therapy!
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