George Best

Too much coverage?

Oh, yes.

Well said Alexia .....it's a pity they can't send his replacement liver to the person who probably died because they didn't receive one!

What's this 'World Of George Best' prog they're using clips from?

Oh FFS get over yourself Stuart, you judgemental idiot.

People make mistakes. George patently found it impossibly difficult to live within the context of being an alchoholic recipient of a liver donation. He's dead, ok? Any price *you* want him to pay because of his weak will has been paid. Stop dancing on his grave like a ghoulish child.

God forbid you should ever make a decision which is deleterious to your health.

You infer agreement that he was correct to use his wealth to obtain a liver transplant privately, knowing that he was merely going to ruin that one as well.

If he was such a "hero" he would have allowed that donation to go to someone on the NHS who perhaps wouldn't abuse the gift of a second chance. I am not being either judgemental or an idiot here, merely stating the truth!

I implied nothing of the sort.

As I have said on Metropol, alchoholism is an illness; not something to be dismissed or sneered at by people who have barely had a life.

The "truth" you state is nothing more than your opinion. You have no reason or right to suggest that the doctors choice to recommend George Best for a transplant cost some other person a more "worthy" life. It is outrageous and appalling for you to do so.

I have precicely zero intrerest in Mr Best as a footballer or a celebrity. I find the media coverage to be unneccessarily over-the-top, but I'm neither surprised nor troubled by it.

I am more disquietened by your sense of glee and self-righteouness at an addicted man's demise.

Calm down, chaps.

Sad though the news was for many, I was quite surprised that BBC World led with it on their regular news bulletins, read by Lyse Doucet.

CNNI didn't lead, but did give it coverage down the running order. I think that many viewers in BBC World land would have been a bit puzzled by this story leading their global news, IMO.

Understandably, since George was the David Beckham of his day, it was not at all surprising that ITN, BBC N24 and Sky all led with it.

RIP George.

No sense of glee was intended.

My Mother died waiting for a heart & lung transplant which (if she had the cash available to Mr Best) would have probably received. She didn't smoke and therefore had done nothing to cause or exacerbate her illness. She was simply the victim of bronchitis at an early age.

I was simply expressing my dismay at people who use their wealth to purchase a "quick fix" transplant and then continue in the same lifestyle, and are then given "hero" status upon their self-induced death.



.....on that at least we agree!

I don't find it unusual that a rich man takes private medical treatment, or that in his case he has some kind of "hero" status.

The fact that he lapsed back into self destruction is his own personal tradgedy.

I'm not going to make a personal judgement call on who should be given a chance of an organ donation - I'm not qualified to do so.

The point is Stuart, neither are you.

Besides he died of a lung infection and internal bleeding.... fair enough he wouldn't have had those if he hadn't been in hospital for drinking but seriously, it could happen to anyone.

I thought he got his liver on the NHS.

Professor Williams was keen to point out last night on Newsnight that George Best fulfilled all the conditions required before a transplant takes place. In fact you only have to have been off drink for 6 months to qualify. He had been off drink for over a year at that point.

Professor Williams also stated that there was no preferential treatment given to George Best in terms of the transplant waiting list.