[Less]

Originally Posted by Gayle

Less, you've taken a quote out of context there. Go back and read it, my gripe was not with George Best's lifestyle but with the media that are trying to make him out to be some sort of hero. On the football pitch he was undoubtedly a brilliant player - I'm pretty sure I acknowledged that - but off the field he was not a role model and most definitely not a hero! I didn't say or think for one minute that George Best set himself up to be a role model or a hero, so I don't think the media should try to make him in to one now but that's precisely what they are appearing to do. The media is glamorising a lifestyle/illness that is not in the least glamourous and that ultimately led to his death.

I don't want to get into an argument on this subject because it is clearly very emotive for some people so please don't try to twist my words on this.

I absolutely won't deny he was a brilliant player - I saw him play once when he was playing for Fulham at the end of his career, he played Rovers. Very mesmeric to watch him even at the latter stages of his career.

I'm a bit concerned about him being elevated to this near god like status that the media seems to be doing. He was an awful role model for young men who are going in to football now. He was a drunk and a womaniser, not a hero!

It's still very sad that he died at such a young age. Perhaps he has found peace now!

Above is the complete of what you posted:-

I didn't post that quote to argue, I posted it to point out that he didn't choose a career as a role model!
I agree that if he was to be used as a role model he is not a very good one.

I'm a bit concerned about him being elevated to this near god like status that the media seems to be doing. He was an awful role model for young men who are going in to football now. He was a drunk and a womaniser, not a hero!

The first part of that paragraph does state your opinion of what the press may be trying to do, however the second part of that paragraph (which is the part I originally quoted), is obviously your opinion, not the presses, I didn't use it out of context, I just quoted what I thought needed to be given a fair airing.

As I have already stated I didn't do it to be argumentative I did it because I thought it was an unfair statement about a guy that can no longer defend what he rightly or wrongly did.

I hope we can now remember what this Thread was started for, To honour the memory of a man that has recently died, a man that wasn't perfect but did bring a great deal more joy to the people that follow football than most people would be able to do in several life times.