SOCRATES HIMSELF IS PARTICULARLY MISSED

1982 was the first time I payed much more than cursory attention to the World Cup and Brazil, led by Socrates, was the main reason:

Brazil legend Socrates dies

BRAZIL legend Socrates has died aged 57 after suffering with an intestinal infection.

The 1982 World Cup hero was admitted to hospital and placed on life-support on Thursday after falling ill during a meal at a hotel in Sao Paulo.

It was the third time the former Brazilian national team captain had been rushed to hospital in recent months, having first fallen ill in the summer.

Also, at our footy club a big grab was accompanied by a chorus of "ZICO!" and a teammate named Paul Ross became Paulo Rossi.

Comments

[Simon]

Socrates had a very big drinking problem (and I'm not talking about hemlock).

[Tony]

Indeed. As it says in the Mail:

The reality is that all the years of hard drinking and heavy smoking had left that gangly body too weak to recover from a dodgy stroganoff. That followed two previous spells in hospital since August as he awaited a liver transplant which never came, while reflecting: ‘I have looked upon alcohol as a partner in my life.’

Sounds like he died from a virulent bout of the George Bests.

[Brett Pee]

He is probably philosophical about this whole death thing.

[Tony]

Or, was.

[Ann O'Dyne]

good name Socrates - put it on the list. X X X

[Tony]

Or Socratina, as the case may be.