This has not gone down well at all.
There are many ways to pay tribute to a departed legend, and of course no two people will agree on where the line falls between respectful and crass. That said, there are certain parameters of common decency that most of us adhere to, so as to respect the feelings of others and the memory of the departed.
Bill Shankly, more than any other icon of the club, stands alone as the symbol of Liverpool FC. There have been other managers who have been more successful purely in terms of honours, but like Sir Matt Busby at Manchester United, he is seen as the founder and the father of the modern era of success.
Not only that but his ethos and principles as a man are close to the hearts of many a Liverpudlian. Shankly may have heralded from Glenbuck in East Ayrshire, but he took Liverpool to his heart, and shared its proud socialist traditions. He was a working-class man who got under the skin of a working-class city.
So it’s a bit weird to have an animated version of him in a Pokemon Go-style augmented reality, that you can get pissed with along with your mates, no?
Well that’s the somewhat bizarre scenario being introduced at the Shankly Hotel in Liverpool’s Victoria Street. It is a venture led by the Anfield legend’s grandson Chris Carline, and is backed by other members of the family, including Carline’s mum (Shankly’s daughter), Jeanette Carline.
The idea is you enjoy ‘hologram’ Shankly’s company in a special booth, and can see him on a screen in front of you, sitting beside you and your mates whilst you’re drinking. The real Shankly was of course tee-total.
As you can see, it’s quite eery…
📺 Bill Shankly, the hologram. #LFC https://t.co/zq74DmA1LK
— Deadline Day Live (@FootbalI365) August 22, 2016
The new Shankly Hotel in Liverpool where you can have a drink with a "virtual" Bill. Recognise his companions?https://t.co/i5a8PjkaaH
— BBC North West (@BBCNWT) August 22, 2016
The response from Liverpool supporters – and football fans in general – has been mixed. And when we say ‘mixed’, we mean that half of them are riled by what they see as disrespectful profiteering, and the other half are taking the piss at the ridiculousness of it all.
Here are just a few of the opinions about Hologram Shanks. It’s safe to say it is not seen as a fitting tribute to the great man.
that is fuckin horrendous
— Gerry (@ATW1062) August 22, 2016
https://twitter.com/kearnsyLFC/status/767828962982658048
That Shankly hologram is too much. His grandson should be ashamed of cashing in on his grandfathers name.
— 🔶CH◼️ (@cjhayden82) August 22, 2016
https://twitter.com/rileyguevara7/status/767787329192878081
Forget how embarrassing the shankly hologram is,just me who finds it utterly tasteless?Its hardly showing him at his best. He's sat in a pub
— CJ (@cj87EFC) August 22, 2016
Bit odd this, thought Shankly didn't drink? https://t.co/euIAtHvjXl
— Keith Mullin/TheFarm (@KeithMullin) August 22, 2016
https://twitter.com/JoDickoLFC/status/767784730444099585
https://twitter.com/Jamieladc/status/767809853507207169
Hologram Shankly 😬 #LFC pic.twitter.com/uwnhU7KOxf
— Crossy (@_HCross) August 22, 2016
When you realise that they made a Shankly hologram using the graphics from Tomb Raider 2 pic.twitter.com/rLs1qf773Y
— LGK (@liammadevisible) August 19, 2016
Winner fights Bill at the Shankly Hotel. pic.twitter.com/aFG0S95Ugm
— Jon Cook (@JonCook5) August 22, 2016
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