The ball rolls still

Christian Benítez's death at 27 from a cardiac arrest that occurred as a result of a multiplicity of ailments that struck him just shows that even the fittest can succumb to an early grave.  For every miracle of Fabrice Muamba, there is a Marc-Vivien Foé.  Little can be done in the face of such capricious fate - though more rigorous checks can be carried out, there will always be gaps in the net, just as there is with prostate cancer.

I remember Benítez when Birmingham city played Manchester United, the latter recording a narrow win but Benítez almost equalised late on.  This prompted one match reviewer to comment that Benítez had once again almost thwarted Sir Alex Ferguson (riffing on the Scot’s feud with then-Liverpool manager Rafa Benítez).  It was a small mention and Benítez’s career at Birmingham City was hardly stellar, yet it is one of those indelible memories that stay with you far longer than would be thought possible.