On the deaths (and lives) of English footballers

It's not humorous, of course, when someone dies, but whenever an old English footballer passes I can never wait to read the quotes and tributes.

Invariably, 90% of what's said is about how well they played or how fast they could run or, when they can't think of anything better to say, how they "got everyone involved". Nothing about them as a person, unless you can put it in footballing terms or relate it to their career.

Alan Ball, who was on the 1966 England side that won the World Cup, recently died and every article I read about it just blows my mind.

You would think that he did nothing his entire life but be enthusiastic. That's the word I read most. He played, he managed, and he was enthusiastic. And it's not even a compliment, when you think about it, just a general description of your demeanor.

Did anyone who knew him ever ask what he liked to do after a match, or in the off-season? Did he simply roam the streets, running around enthusiastically, being scrappy and workmanlike?

There was an interview with Ball's son the day after he died and even he couldn't come up with a non-football related anecdote.

Interviewer [very somber]: And what's the best memory you have of your father?
Son: Well, this one time, we were playing football out back of the house, and...I'm sorry...
Interviewer: No, I understand, take your time.
Son: He...he was keeping the ball away from me. We must have been out there for four hours, at least.
Interviewer: Did you ever get the ball off him?
Son [pauses, looks off into the distance]: ...no. No I couldn't take the ball off him.
Interviewer: And how old were you?
Son: Eight or nine. That's my favorite memory of him. He was so enthusiastic.
Interviewer: Enthusiastic, yes.

It's not like that with European footballers. Whenever I watch a Bundesliga match the commentators always point out strange facts like, "Mertesacker missed Bremen's last two home games because he was making final edits to his new book on black holes."

I mean, half the Brazilian teams back in the 70's were licensed medical doctors, and I'm pretty sure Platini discovered the source of some Kenyan river.

What I'm saying is, English footballers need to become more well-rounded. They need to end this cycle of boiler-plate tributes and have some outside interests. Be enthusiastic, but take the boots off sometimes.