The next George Best?

[kick3m0n]

Just seen the news this morning and had a vision of the future. 15 years from now, the nation mourns as another footballing genius succumbs to his alcohol addiction and dies. Step forward Gazza, a man who refuses to learn lessons, or even admit he has a problem. You'd have to say that both Gascoigne and Best were the best player of their generations, so why the self destruct? Why are the most talented the least able to cope with the fame their talent brings? Is Wayne Rooney destined to head exactly the same way?? I'd be very interested to hear what others think.

[j2buttonsw]

http://newsbox.msn.co.uk/article.aspx?as=adimarticle&f=uk_-_olgbtopnews&t=4023&id=1813456&d=20051206&do=http://newsbox.msn.co.uk&i=http://newsbox.msn.co.uk/mediaexportlive&ks=0&mc=5&ml=ma&lc=en&ae=windows-1252

[gary baldy]

If Gascoigne needs a 'excuse' for some his behaviour his mental health has been a problem since childhood. I read that he witnessed the death of his best friend when he was a kid and was greatly traumatised by this and never really got over it. After reading this i had a bit more sympathy for the bloke.

[balterzar]

Guilty. Must be the papers say so!!! That guy shot in London on the train was Guilty so the papers said (He was wearing a padded jacket, carrying a bag, running. looked suspect) that's what the papers said at first. After this was not true. Lets hear the truth then make a judgement

[surfer mike]

If every one of us had the personality of gary lineker the world would be a dull place..it also don't help when we have a media that likes to build them up, to then knock them down, they put vast amounts of expectation and pressure on these individuals knowing full well they cannot meet these, and its not surprising that some succumb, its only the people who live in the full glare of the media gaze that can understand this fully..it maybe only me but i do feel quite sorry for gazza, by all accounts he is a generous and kind guy who happens to have a big drink problem that is something to pity rather than as some do, come across all scowling and unforgiving..

I just wish i could be as perfect as some claim they are..

[funnywebsite]

Gazza is a wife beater not just an alcoholic. There is no excuse for beating your wife up. At least George Best has no reputation for that sort of behaviour.

[surfer mike]

The ignorance about the illness that is alchoholism knows no bounds..

[gary baldy]

funnywebsite- so Alex Best got her broken arm and black eye from walking into a cupboard door did she?

[littleoldme]

I'd like to think Wayne Rooney has seen what has happened to George Best and what, sadly, seems to be happening to Paul Gascoigne and is determined not to fall into the same trap.

Unfortunately, the British media have built Rooney up and are no doubt now just waiting for a chance to knock him down again. The only thing they like more than a hero is a hero who lands on his a*se.

As for George Best never beating his wife up, are you quite sure about that, funnywebsite?

[libertie]

Oh to see ourselves as others see us.......I suspect that Gazza and Rooney don't see themselves like Best at all, they likely believe that they don't have any problem handling their drink, their women and the media and that when it comes to the crunch they will be able to sort themselves out!!

[jgs]

Give the man some credit, he punched a 'freelance photographer'...

[kick3m0n]

gary, I have to agree with you, Gazza has never seemed entirely stable, always prone to excessive emotions and appears fragile a lot of the time...even in his heyday as a player. I do just wonder if there is something about these men...something that comes along with such an amazing natural ability. Do they have a problem believing they are worth the hype, and as their talent comes so easily to them, they feel they are not worth the praise?

I didn't really intend this question to be about alcoholics and their tawdry lives - that's surely been done in recent days on AB, we all know the things that Best and Gascoigne have done. I was genuinely interested in the possible link between outstanding ability and a lack of coping skills. I've posted in Sport due to the recent news headlines, but equally, it could apply to those with an outstanding gift, whatever their chosen field.

[kick3m0n]

p.s. littleoldme I agree entirely with you about Rooney. I do fear for the lad.

[kick3m0n]

p.p.s. I wasn't particualrly referring to Gazzas assault rap, it was more his sacking from Kettering due to being drunk 37 times in 39 days. That's 3 jobs in recent times that he's held down for a matter of only a few weeks. His appearance on Sky News was toe curlingly embarrassing, as he was quite clearly drunk and emotional. The news that he'd punched someone later that night was not a big surprise, especially as the press would clearly be after him for more on the Kettering story.

[gary baldy]

kick- there is something in what you say but for every Best there was a Moore and Charlton and for every Gazza there was a Lineker and Barnes. The trouble is you dont need to be rocket scientist to kick a football and the common denominator between best, gascoigne and rooney is that to be honest they arent the sharpest tools in the box (perhaps through no fault of there own - socio-econimcs factors, lack of education etc.). There are people with startling talents in all walks of life and how you respond to that gift/curse depends on lots of things. Those with above average intelligence seem to handle their talents a bit better.

[littleoldme]

kick3m0n - I think what Rooney may have in his favour is having Alex Ferguson as a manager. I'm by no means a Fergie fan, but I do think he's got a good track record of looking after his younger stars in terms of protecting them from the media. Plus, if Rooney's lifestyle ever starts to have an adverse effect on the way he plays, I'm damn sure Fergie will have plenty to say to him!

[funnywebsite]

I am sorry I did not know about George Best's violent behaviour towards Alex.

[kick3m0n]

Gary - again you're right in what you say, tho I honestly don't think Barnes and Linekar are that many IQ poitns above Gazza. Plus, and this is my point, Gazza was a more naturally talented footballer than Barnes and Linekar. As I said, I believe Best and Gascoigne were the best of their generation, in terms of natural raw talent and skill. Kind of like Ronnie O'Sullivan is to snooker. He is clearly naturally gifted but may not be as consistent as Hendry or Davis at their best, who had to practise, practise, practise to achieve the standards Ronnie does.

As for Rooney.....I'm not sure even Alec can protect him. After all, he's likely to be bigger than Beckham, given his status already, and Fergie didn't do too good a job with him in the end. Plus, Beckham, Giggs, Scholes, Butt, the Snivilles et all, were all much more level headed and less headline grabbing than Rooney when they were his age.