George Best

There wouldn't have been quite as much coverage, of course, but your still doing the man's celebrity status - drink disregarded - down.

And what's your point? I don't quite see the argument that ''well, if he hadn't been a drinker he wouldn't be so famous, so let's not cover it''. He was a drinker... he was famous for it to an extent... so they covered it.

What do you want them to do, turn around and say ''We're not going to devote much time to this man, because he suffered from alcoholism''?

You seem to be moaning not about broadcasters covering the story, but that they're covering it because he was an alcoholic rather than a great footballer. The fact of the matter is that the man was internationally famous (it even made top story on the CNN.com US edition website, not just the international version, to give you an idea) and so I think they're justified in what they did.

The BBC hate covering ''celebrities'' because they think it's below them. They get in a flap about it. They spend so much time fannying about thinking about whether they should do it that they negate to think about how they should do it, and it's normally a big mess.

Erm... from a Popbitch reader?

An email newsletter that is reliant upon its members taking an interest in celebrity drug habits, the sexuality of well know figures, and speculation about people's private lives?

Moaning about insensitivity?

The irony.

R.I.P. George - undoubtedly one of the best footballers we have ever had. You will be missed. And in my opinion, the amount of coverage is just right, a legend has just been lost.

With respect to George, personally there was a greater man who died today...

Mr Miyagi

As usual, caught the end of Granada Reports before the Evening News. Ended with a montage and still caption "1946-2005" - then jumped straight into the BMI Baby sting for the weather! Not even the usual bumper to seperate them!

A sad old alcoholic man who used to be famous for kicking a piece of cowhide round a field dies in a private hospital and we're supposed to care?

Bet the doc will be sending Calum et al the medical bill pretty soon....

George Best RIP - Really Intoxicated Player

I merely copied and pasted the text from a posting uk.tv.media.misc as it was factually correct. Not that it matters one jot. Care to comment on the point in question?

As for the rest of the thread, what is it with Internet forums and the mocking of the dead and dying?

Well in footballing terms he was a legend, but he couldn't cope with alcoholism, and it eventually killed him.

RIP* George, he was a great player for Man U, but alcohol<ic>ism killed him.

* I don't care if anyone thinks RIP is offensive.

Well he should be remembered for his football, alcohol is a disease, a disease which was to kill him and I think it will be a lasting lesson for anyone who suffers from alcoholism and for footballers of today to not fall into the trap that he fell into.

And theres me...I can't get over how people like Shane McGowan (The Pogues frontman -also Irish) are still alive.


RIP George.

I once got mullahed with George.
During the evening's conversation we both agreed that if there was a God then vodka would probably be his drink of choice.
Hope you're cracking open the Stoly George.