Why was George Best an "Irish drunk" but a "British footballer"?

Question

when reading about him in the British papers that is?

Answer 1

Personally, speaking as an English person living in the Caribbean, married to a Dutch lady, with French brother, and a nearly French son.................and having once had Georgie nearly ram me at great speed in Parliament Square, in a BMW, at about 2:00 am, at which time he was definitely a pished as a pumpkin, complete with silly but apologetic grin on his face, about 20 years ago.

My memory of him is still as the greatest magician of the football field the world has ever seen. I have seen him play, and I have seen Pele, both are great beyond imagination, but Best is best !

That he turned a little offside in his later life is hardly surprising considering the nature of his turbulent career. I also remember the way that virtually all opposing teams were urged to hack him down at any opportunity.

I was very sad to read of his comments about the liver transplant, and the family of the donor must have been devastated. But again, think of what he went through.

I don't think of him as either Irish or British, I think of him as a great gift that we, humanity, probably contributed to the downfall of, our gutter press repeatedly prove their prowess in hounded the celebrities to the point of their destruction and often beyond.

Whatever you want to label him, I am grateful that I had the opportunity to see his magic, and I'm not even a football fan !

Answer 2

Can't say I ever heard that about him; I always thought he was a football legend who was an alcoholic myself, but who am I to say?
Why, even in this day and age, do people not understand that alcoholism is a disease? No-one wants to be a drunk. There has to be some reason that it takes hold of some people and not others, that some people can fight their demons without it but others can't.
I never pay too much attention to what the British press say myself, half of it's made-up anyhow.

Answer 3

Because he was Irish. He played in the English foot ball league, but still played for Ireland in Internationals. The same applies to any number of footballers playing in the football league. Ryan giggs is Welsh and plays for Man Utd. is one example.

Answer 4

He wasn't a British footballer. Northern Ireland isn't part of Great Britain. It's part of the United Kingdom. Not confusing at all then...

Answer 5

I thought the bloke was a prat.
He died a good 20 years before his time.
What a waste.
And everybody in the u.k is referred to as british when good or irish,english,scotish yob when not.
Ive never heard of a british yob, they are always english or irish or scotish.
Good point.

Answer 6

Good Question & Pablo has covered every thing.