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George Best, the mercurial Manchester United and Northern Ireland forward, possessed a genius that left opponents slack-jawed and earned him a legion of adoring fans. Off the pitch, as his striking good looks, devil-may-care attitude, and mischievous charm made him the first British sportsman to be accorded pop star status, Best became an icon. But fame came at a price, and his playing career was soon overshadowed by his lifestyle and an increasing dependence on the comforting embrace of alcohol. While his tumultuous later years could never diminish the memories of the peerless, often breathtaking, quality of his soccer, they had a profound effect on his only son, Calum. Growing up with his mother in California, Calum’s sporadic visits to see his father in England were all too rare, and he cherished every moment he could spend in the company of the man he adored. But as George’s alcoholism spiraled out of control, inebriation frequently led to violence, and George’s self-destruction spilled over onto his son. Vivid, deeply moving, brave, and honest, Second Best is the heart-breaking story of their relationship. It is a powerful tale of love and heartache, of an absent father and his wayward son, and of a family torn apart by addiction and intemperance.
