George Best and Richard Burns
I'm glad to see Richard Burns' passing has got some look in over the past week in the media. A couple of Irish Bloggers have even mentioned it. The imbalance in the volume of media coverage devoted to these two sportstars in the wake of their deaths seems grossly unfair to me.
I have a great amount of respect for what George Best delivered in his short career on the pitch. However, for me, Best's greatest gift to the game was not his skills. When I look at what Best could do on the pitch, while breathtaking, it's just in the same ballpark as what Cantona could do for Utd. When I look back at what I have seen and read of the great players of all time, Best would not come out near the top of a list of names including Eusebio, Pele, Maradona, Puskas, Beckenbauer, Platini, Cruyff and Di Stefano.
I believe Best's greatest contribution to football was in blazing a trail as a media icon. The type of celebrity Best enjoyed at such a young age was unprecedented in football at the time. Unfortunately Best was not afforded protection from the potential pitfalls of his fame, protection which is taken for granted in the game today. Any of our very young contemporary players certainly owe a debt to Best in this regard.
Burns' for me was the more tragic passing. He finished second in the World Rally Championship in 1999 and 2000 and went on to win the World Rally Championship in 2001, the only Briton to do so. He was taken from his sporting career literally while at the wheel of his car when he passed out en route to Rally GB 2003.
Published by Paul.
I have a great amount of respect for what George Best delivered in his short career on the pitch. However, for me, Best's greatest gift to the game was not his skills. When I look at what Best could do on the pitch, while breathtaking, it's just in the same ballpark as what Cantona could do for Utd. When I look back at what I have seen and read of the great players of all time, Best would not come out near the top of a list of names including Eusebio, Pele, Maradona, Puskas, Beckenbauer, Platini, Cruyff and Di Stefano.
I believe Best's greatest contribution to football was in blazing a trail as a media icon. The type of celebrity Best enjoyed at such a young age was unprecedented in football at the time. Unfortunately Best was not afforded protection from the potential pitfalls of his fame, protection which is taken for granted in the game today. Any of our very young contemporary players certainly owe a debt to Best in this regard.
Burns' for me was the more tragic passing. He finished second in the World Rally Championship in 1999 and 2000 and went on to win the World Rally Championship in 2001, the only Briton to do so. He was taken from his sporting career literally while at the wheel of his car when he passed out en route to Rally GB 2003.
Published by Paul.
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