Olympics coming to an end. League seasons getting closer. Excitement brewing.
Today i thought I'd talk about a few footballers, with immense talent, who pretty much threw it away by mucking about off the field.
Good, Better...BEST
George Best, plying his trade at MUFC from 1963-74, and in that time according to many, said to be the finest footballer around. The famous number 7 mesmerised opposition, down the wing or in an attacking midfield role.
To put things into perspective, at the age of 15, he was discovered by an MUFC scout...who sent a message to Sir Matt Busby stating
"I think I've found you a genius"
Best would go on to make his debut for the Red Devils at the age of 17.
A genius he was. Unfortunately, alcoholism would ultimately cost him his life.
Sadly, we would never see the full effect of George Best and he'd lose his battle in November 2005.
Lines...this long, i tell you!
Here's a player i really fancied. First sat up and paid attention during his stint at Verona and then Parma where he played alongside another troubled soul in Adriano...then he moved to Chelsea, where it went pear-shaped...Mutu failing a drugs test - testing positive for cocaine. Blergh!
Things seemed to be all fine and dandy, when he moved to the Viola, partnering with Luca Toni...a partnership that set Serie A alight and put Fiorentina in a great position, ending 6th. In the 08-09 season, Mutu founded a new partnership with Alberto Gilardino, and the two of them would go on to be another deadly pairing for the club from Florence.
In 2010, Mutu again failed a drugs test and was banned for a year from football. He is now plying his trade in Serie B with Cesena...which isn't awful, but another case of what could've been.
On the local front, there's Bryce Moon. A player who seemed to be doing really well on the club football front. Signing from Ajax Cape Town to Panathinaikos and then on loan to PAOK. An accident in Sandton, in which it is alleged he was under-the-influence...changed all that.
Bryce was denied the right to return to Greece and had his contract terminated. He hasn't lost it all and is currently on loan at Bidvest Wits for the 2012-13 season.
Of course we could throw Diego Armando Maradona's name into the hat here as well. His well-documented life of cocaine abuse et al is another example of a highly gifted individual throwing it all away, by living the high life.
Football is the beautiful game. With it, however, comes the lure of the high-life...and not everyone knows how to keep it together.
It's a fine line...
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