While the news that Paul Gascoigne has been detained under the Mental Health Act this week is undoubtedly very sad, am I the only one who feels it was also all too predictable?
Like every football fan - apart from those from Scotland who are probably still upset by the goal he scored against them at Euro 96 - I have some magical memories of Gazza the footballer, but Paul Gascoigne the person always seemed a rather tragic figure to me.
That goal at Wembley and the water bottle celebration, Italia 90, some of his world class performances for Newcastle, Tottenham, Lazio and Glasgow Rangers, as well as England. On his day, there probably hasn’t been a more dynamic and skilful English player than Gascoigne in my lifetime.
But it was Gascoigne’s ability with a football at his feet which papered over the cracks in his personality. When he was playing football, Gascoigne’s moments of madness were merely excused as the actions of a “daft as a brush Geordie.� in that patronising way people have.
Everyone turned a blind eye to the worrying character traits and the obsessive personality, Gazza was just Gazza, mad as a hatter, but what a wonderful talent, what a player. When you have a special talent, particularly football it seems these days, people are willing to pander to your needs, treat you as a star and excuse your idiosyncrasy.
Whether it’s women throwing themselves at even the most vaguely talented of Premier League footballer or the yes men and hangers on who surround them, footballers are admired and adored to obscene levels - at least until the long days of their retirement.
Few of us can deny the warning signs of this week’s events were there when he was still a young man in his 20s, but nothing was done because Gazza the footballer was all that mattered to the wider world, not Gascoigne the person.
In turn, when he was playing football, Gascoigne had a means to escape the demons that haunted him and had a focus for his energy and mind. It kept him busy and, for the large part, it kept him happy.
Since he finished playing - do you remember that surreal documentary about him as player manager of a team in China? - we have all sat back and watched as Gascoigne has spun from one personal crisis to the next and, do you know what, we have enjoyed it. It may have been enjoyment of a car crash variety, but we have been transfixed by the fall from grace of a celebrity.
We should all feel a little guilty about that, but football should feel guilty for they way it chewed and then spat out such a desperately fragile soul with such an unbelievable talent.
Get well soon Paul, hopefully this time you will get the help and support you really need.
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