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Still, throughout his life, his consumption of alcohol was intense. As a young man in peak condition, the results of these bouts, however wild, could be thrown off by his highly self-disciplined exercise regimen. Furthermore, his determination to continue receiving public acclaim undoubtedly aided in his relative ability to maintain a greater degree of sobriety than he might have otherwise.
Sadly, when the exhilaration of fame began waning, Best sustained his sense of self-esteem and well-being mainly from the boost liquor gave him. This accelerated the process of ageing, rendering him of less interest somewhat sooner than, in all probability, than would have come about if he had retained some vestige of appeal during his later years.
In 2002, Best required a liver transplant to prevent him from dying before he reached age 60. In addition, tablets were surgically implanted into the lining of his stomach which would induce nausea if he drank alcohol. Ideally, Best would have used this opportunity to enjoy a fruitful old age as a soccer coach or instructor. Instead, its result had the opposite impact. His subsequent conduct indicates Best savored this chance to return to his youthful shenanigans. By then, his tolerance for alcohol was such as to overcome even the internal implants.
It was at this juncture that young journalist Celia Walden was hired to protect Best from vulnerability to predatory tabloid reporters who sought to exploit him. Ms. Walden was not told to try to prevent Best from drinking. Such a task was understood, by that time, to be futile, and likely to annoy and alienate Best.
As their friendship evolved, Ms. Walden spent some time at Best’s home, purely in a platonic manner. She recounts, when Best asked her if she found him attractive, she replied her liking for him was not of that kind; he seems to have respected her honesty. On the other hand, she refused to enable his alcoholism in even the slightest way. Hence, when he asked her to get him some ice for his drink, she told him to get it himself.
Walden’s initial hope that, at some point, Best would realize the hazards of drinking and stop were eliminated during his time in substance abuse rehabilitation. Ms. Walden, visiting him, was delighted by what appeared to be a rejuvenated vigor and verve. Then, someone better informed as to the tricks of alcoholics told her it was alcohol which allowed Best to feign this sense of renewal. In fact, he was functioning under its influence, its odor disguised under breath mints known to seasoned drunkards.
In time, Ms. Walden’s journalistic assignment ended. George Best was no longer a figure deemed worthy of even the attention of tabloids. After that, she phoned him from time to time, to wish him well rather than due to what she knew to be unrealistic expectations. Thus, his needlessly early death did not come as a shock to her, or apparently anyone close to him.
In conclusion, what can one say about journalist Celia Walden, meant to shield Best from tabloid abuse, having written her own memoir after his death? Some reviewers have seen her book as being as invasive as those interviews she was paid to thwart. While this position is valid, as a veteran reader of memoirs, I disagree with this interpretation.
True, there were definite financial and publication credits to be gained by recording her recollections. At the same time, a compassion and concern radiates throughout these pages. To a large extent, this book explored the last years of the life of this once esteemed athlete in a deeper and finer way than an objective, purely factual account could have provided.
