JUST COME IN ON THE WIRES:

George Best 'drinking again'

Football legend George Best has hit the bottle again after doctors warned one more drink could kill him, according to newspaper reports.

The 54-year-old former Manchester United star fell off the wagon on Thursday following an argument with his wife Alex, 28, the News of the World said.

The paper said he had his first alcoholic drink for 18 weeks in a pub near his home in Chelsea, west London.

He continued drinking in a West End wine bar and then a late-night casino until it closed at 4am.

Later on Friday, he booked himself into the Forest Mere health farm in Liphook, Hants, where staff kept a close eye on him to stop him drinking, the newspaper said.

Best has discharged himself and returned to London.

After discharging himself and returning to London he was propping up the bar at his local pub in Chelsea but this time sticking to Coke.

In March, Best was rushed to London's Cromwell Hospital with suspected liver failure.

Doctors diagnosed severe liver damage caused by years of drinking and he was told that he could never drink again.

-- Anonymous, July 15, 2000

Answers

The big dope. I actually feel desperately sorry for him - despite everything he seems a decent bloke, and I still have very fond memories of him playing.
While his career was all too fleeting, he truly was THE greatest, IMO.

-- Anonymous, July 16, 2000