Cricket Special Report: South African cricketer, Herschelle Gibbs defends his controversial autobiography ‘To the Point’
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757’s batsman Herschelle Gibbs shielded his stance on writing the “controversial” autobiography as an “open and honest account of his fourteen years” with the national South African team.
Gibbs book is titled “To the Point” and he speaks about his experiences with the team and his struggle with alcohol and drugs. He also mentioned about the cliques that were formed in the team during coach Mickey Arthur’s time. Gibbs has especially garnered
much attention due his confession about his sexual exploits particularly during the 1997-1998 tour of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746.
Gibbs compared himself to tennis great Andre Agassi while talking to Cricinfo. He said that people expressed delight in knowing the nitty gritty details of Agassi’s life and his supporters liked the way “how he talked openly about all his escapades
in life.” Therefore, he wanted to wear his heart on his sleeve and decided to delve into the tell-all book.
Gibbs also guarded a rather cringe worthy chapter about “women” and “booze.” He concedes that it was twelve years ago and he chose to discuss this part of his life as to give his readers “something different” in an autobiography and he did not do such a
thing as to tarnish his colleague’s names.
The “bad boy” of Proteas also struggled with alcohol and drugs but he said that he never thought of himself as an “alcoholic.” However, he readily admits to have been drinking “before and after” the matches. But he is adamant that he never had kept alcohol
in his house.
The South African believes that people will know his “true side” and that his extroverted nature has helped him to live life without fear. He, of course mentions about his dark days with Hansie Cronje match-fixing chronicle. He said that he forgave Cronje
as he had his “faults” but he was a “good person” inside out.
Gibbs also relays the incident when he along with his team mates was disciplined for taking drugs in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/West-Indies-c760. He doesn’t mention other players but gives special attention to Darryl Cullinan who was the apparent “Whistleblower” in the whole dilemma. Gibbs
also claims that Cullinan was the first person who exposed the team to smoking marijuana.
However, Cullinan- whose personality is painted as of a hypocrite - was quick to criticize http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Gibbs-c60021. Cullinan has denied the claims and expressed “disappointment.” He rejected them as “irresponsible and defamatory.”
Gibbs has disclosed his off-field exploits more than his on field antics. He doesn’t talk sincerely about the three disappointing World Cups in his book but has been the main topic on which he has been commenting a lot in the pre-release publicity that the
team always “feared failure.”
The much talked about “clique” in the Proteas squad has already raised a few eyebrows but he again defends his take on the bunch lead by a “dominating” Graeme Smith, Mark Boucher, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/AB-de-Villiers-c887, and Jacques Kallis. He says that he chose this subject as
part of the book, as this issue has long interested the public and they have the right to know about his sentiments of being a part of a team that lacked unity.
Gibbs has already made a lot of enemies by expressing such judgements. He is being lashed out by the Protea’s team manager Dr Moosajee, who calls his claims “false and disappointing.”
Gibbs is also under bad light as his comments and content of the book are being objected by South Africa’s National Council on Alcohol and Drug Dependence (Sanca) as they are commenting that he is not acting responsible enough and has not estimated the damage
his revelations could cause to his young fans. Sanca has urged Cricket South Africa (CSA) to take action as the allegations are also polluting the gentleman’s sport.
However, CSA has not commented yet but has conceded to take any action only if its “legal counsel” who was already examining the matter, deemed it necessary.
Gibbs is currently suspended as part of the sentence for contributing in a match-fixing scandal in 2000. He, however still has a national contract with CSA.
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