….the more they stay the same.George Best was an exquisitely talented football (soccer) player  for Manchester United and Northern Ireland in the 1960s and 1970s.

A seriously flawed and easily influenced personality, he was once quoted as saying “I spent 90% of my money on women, drink and fast cars. The rest I wasted”

The “Observer” published these images taken immediately after a match in either 1969 or 1970 – I remember reading the article and it stayed with me – to show the physical punishment dealt out to players that a defender couldn’t stop by any other means.

They just kicked them to bits. Especially George Best.

At 1:27 in the video. And at 3:48. And at…

A lesser player would have fallen and taken the free kick.

Not George Best…

Note: A Flickr account holder has claimed copyright for these (scanned from a newspaper…) images.
I am using them under Fair Use.