Journalist father says controversy follows Herschelle Gibbs

MiD DAY meets Herschelle Gibbs' father Herman, who enjoys his job as a journalist, but not when he has to report on his son

Journalist father says controversy follows Herschelle Gibbs

MiD DAY meets Herschelle Gibbs' father Herman, who enjoys his job as a journalist, but not when he has to report on his son

Herschelle Gibbs helped Deccan Chargers to a eight-wicket victory with well-constructed 43 off 26 balls. PICS/AP, AFP
Genuine concern
His son Herschelle took Deccan to a eight-wicket victory with 43 off 26 balls. Journalism ethics expect you to be neutral, hence, there could be a genuine concern that the focus of his copy could naturally tend to be more on his son.

Herman however is quick to dispel all such concerns. "If he does well he is going to get a mention like anybody but he is not going to get a mention because he is my son. He's been playing this game for donkeys years, I have been in this game for donkeys years.

Herman admitted he does not like to report when his son is playing. "I don't want to sit and write when he is playing, I want to sit and enjoy it," Herman, who was a champion sprinter during his young days, told MiD DAY.

"In 1971 I was one of the fastest men in South Africa. I did the 100m and 200m. I did 100m in 10.2 secs flat.

The world record at that time was 10s," he said.

How does it feel when he has to interview Herschelle? "I did it two months ago. It was the final of our domestic tournament and he was the man of the match. He scored a hundred and there was a big media contingent at the press conference. I asked him a question which the media thought was very funny, and Herschelle answered this way: 'Oh, daddy, I will answer you tomorrow at home," he said.

Criticising a player is part of a journalist's job, so how does Herman manage it when it comes to writing against his own son? "I used to write for Daily Voice newspaper under a pseudonym. I used to criticise Herschelle very heavily, and the people who knew my pseudonym, would ask me 'why do you write about your son like that?' I said, people like to read when high profile names are criticised. It's the way of the world."

But, doesn't it make it tougher for him because his son is always involved in some or the other controversy.

"I am unfazed by all that. Herschelle never said no to any interview requests on the grounds that I didn't like what you wrote the last time or 'you wrote a lot of crap about me'. He never held a grudge against anybody.

The only time he may turn down an interview request is when he is lazy," said Herman.

Herman said that despite negative reports about Herschelle, he is still among the most loved sportsmen in South Africa. "We just take him apart when he is involved in controversies, it is good for the newspaper. It is a strange thing though, that his profile doesn't take a beating. People like to read about bad boys."

Does he have an answer as to why his son has always got into controversies? "I don't think he goes out there deliberately looking for controversies. It is just that there are some sportsmen like Paul Gascoigne, George Best they just attract controversy. It does not matter what they do, because they are so well liked, so much in the public eye, because there are so many people who worship them.

"I always tell Herschelle you must not fart in public because if anyone hears that it will get reported."

Drinking problem
Recently, Herschelle was charged for drunk driving. His drinking problem seems to have taken a toll on his career too and he lost his place in the Test team. "I don't have that concern because I know many 35-year-olds, who drink much more than him but they don't necessarily have a problem. Herschelle's only problem is that he gets caught," Herman said.

So, what does he expect from his son now? "Oh, you just don't know what to expect from him. Sometimes, my daughter will phone me, 'hey, do you know Herschelle has been involved in this?' and you wake up in the morning and walk on the road and every newspaper will have 'Gibbs this, Gibbs that'. So, I can't give you an answer what to expect."

How difficult was the period when his name figured in the match-fixing scandal? It's the only question Herman answers diplomatically: "It was always a concern when these things happened, and you hope that everything will work out well."

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