George Best 1946-2005. R.I.P.

I'm too young to have seen George Best play live. But the numerous clips I've seen of Best's finest moments paint an impressionistic portrait of a man who played the game of football beautifully. They show a footballer of almost balletic poise and balance and of extraordinary flair and imagination. Of a man who could conjure magic with a ball at his feet. Has a footballer ever been more appropriately named?

Just a note on the media circus, which has surrounded his illness and death. The media have been circling vulture-like around Best's sickbed for the past couple of weeks. Articles that looked like the obituary of a still-living man were appearing in the papers two weeks ago. On a smaller scale it's reminiscent of the coverage prior to the pope's death earlier this year. The press almost wet themselves in anticipation of the old man drawing his final breath. At its worst this kind of journalism is voyeuristic and callous.

There's no way of getting away from this. Best's alcoholism must have been a contributory factor in his early demise. In his later years he often cut a sad figure, stumbling from one alcohol- induced crisis to the next. The athletic prowess of his earlier years had deserted him, as it does to all athletes, and George Best the ex-footballer often evoked pity or scorn or both. A whole media sub-industry fed off him. He was fodder for the tabloids, another middle-aged booze hound, brought low by addiction.

But George Best the footballer was so much more. Moments of genuine artistry on a football field are rare and should be cherished accordingly. Best's football career was overflowing with such moments. He brought joy into millions of football fans' lives. The drink can't take that away.

As I write it's near 3 o'clock on a Saturday: football time (despite Sky's attempts to bore us all to death by stringing matches across the whole week). I like to think of George limbering up, ready to take his place in the great 4-4-2 formation in the sky, having spent the morning in bed with, oh let's say Marilyn Monroe. So long, George. Give 'em hell.