Great Things About Belfast #1: The Crown Bar

Yes it's an absolute tourist trap. No, it's not a great place to watch the football and no, it doesn't do fancy cocktails but let's be honest - is there anywhere better on a summer evening than standing in the Crown with the light 'pishing in through the windeys'?

Whether it's the stained glass windows, the snugs, the tiles (all created by Italian craftsmen), the Guinness or a combination of all 3, it stands alone in Belfast and could easily hold its own among the best bars in the UK, Ireland or even the world.

So, Alex Higgins is dead.

I have to say, when I first heard the news I was initially sceptical. I'd heard something similar many times before.

Then when it was confirmed, I thought of the sad, pathetic figure seen round the bookies or the pubs in Belfast.He seemed by then to have the look of a very spiteful, bitter old man - not one you wanted to spend a lot of time around.

It stands in complete contrast to how he was on the green baize, where he was fearless, tenacious and oftentimes sensational.

Remind you of anyone? It certainly reminded a lot of people of that other local 'hero', George Best who illuminated football and who had a similar fall from grace after his career ended and it got me thinking about these men, who were obviously talented but who must have worked so hard to refine and perfect that talent and who came from working-class Protestant areas but who couldn't cope with fame and its aftermath.

And I got to thinking of their Catholic counterparts who seem on the face of it to be more agreeable but are ultimately less revered.

Let's take 3 examples from different fields, all from working-class, inner-city Protestant areas: George Best, Alex Higgins and Van Morrison and 3 of their Catholic contemporaries; Pat Jennings, Dennis Taylor and Paul Brady (or Brian Kennedy - take your pick).

I don't think anyone would dispute that Jennings, Taylor and Brady have all dealt with the trappings of fame and are more 'agreeable' than the other three but would anyone say that they will go down in history in the same way as Best, Higgins or Van Morrison have?

I'm not trying to make a point here, but rather provoking a debate. It would be an interesting sociological study.