Paul Kimmage has described a "painful" few days that saw an end to a "loving" relationship with Brian O'Driscoll. Seen here in his pomp, riding the Tour de France with RMO in the 1980s.
Paul Kimmage has said a decision by Brian O’Driscoll to decline to be interviewed by him in The Sunday Independent and to speak with a rival newspaper instead led to his decision to withdraw from ghost writing the former Ireland captain’s autobiography.
The former pro cyclist turned journalist and author revealed the background to the split when speaking at a Sunday Independent event in Dublin last night, Wednesday.
“I am enduring a lot of pain - it is similar to the break-up of a loving relationship, which is what I had with Brian,” Kimmage said.
Advertisement
"A break-up is sad and it's never easy and it's never fun. I've a deep hole in myself now, which is going to take a while to fill."
He added while there was “nothing sensational” about what had happened he was very disappointed at the turn of events which now sees Limerick Leader editor Alan English step in to write the book with O’Driscoll.
Kimmage also revealed he had transcribed 600,000 words of taped interviews with the soon to retire star, and had a draft version of 20,000 words completed which was ready to be presented to O'Driscoll.
The finished book would run to approximately 100,000 words, meaning between the draft portion and the transcribed interviews Kimmage had a huge amount of the book written.
It is a level of work that seems a tragedy to let go now and surely suggests they should try and get the project back up and running.
Kimmage was very generous in his praise for O'Driscoll, another factor that suggests the project has a chance of being saved.
“Brian is a great person and it was a great boost to my ego and reputation when he contacted me to see if I would ghostwrite his book,” Kimmage said.
"If you had given me any excuse six months ago to get out of doing this I would have taken it. I was overawed writing about him.
"He is a sporting God and I can't express more admiration for what he's given us as sports fans. It's quite difficult to capture him and present a portrait that represents him."
“I was due to meet him on Saturday but heard there was a possibility he was going to give a big interview ahead of the Six Nations weekend opener to a particular newspaper. I spoke to him and said Brian if you are giving an interview before the weekend it would be a big help to me if you could give it to the Sunday Indo.
“Him talking to another paper wasn’t going to compromise the book or the Indo but that wasn’t a concession he was willing to make. I felt he was being unreasonable and he felt I was being unreasonable so we decided to go our separate ways.”
Related News
The book had been in the pipeline for a number of years and was well underway, with an anticipated release date before the end of the year in time for the lucrative Christmas market.
Publication had been delayed when O’Driscoll decided to put off his retirement for a year and play again this season. He had said from the outset the work would only be published after he had hung up his boots for good.
Kimmage’s departure was not anticipated in rugby or media circles. News of the surprise split broke yesterday afternoon.
The man who takes his place on the project, Alan English is not only the editor of the Limerick Leader newspaper but is also currently working with Munster and Ireland rugby ace Paul O’Connell on his book.
English knows Kimmage well and interviewed him at a number of public interviews around the time the Lance Armstrong affair was coming to a peak.
(Piece continues after advertisement)
O’Driscoll, a former captain of both the Lions and Ireland, confirmed the news of his parting ways with Kimmage in a statement last evening.
“I have enjoyed working with Paul over the last few years and it is unfortunate that we cannot complete this project together. However, I look forward to working with Alan.”
Publishers Penguin Ireland, with whom O’Driscoll penned the publishing deal two years ago, said in a statement it had regretfully accepted Kimmage’s resignation.
The company’s managing director, Michael McLoughlin thanked Kimmage for his work to date.
“We are delighted that Alan English has stepped in to write what is the most eagerly awaited sports autobiography for many years.
“Alan is somebody we have worked with closely on two previous books and we are sure he will do Brian’s story justice.”
Kimmage is currently back working for The Sunday Independent having lost his position at The Sunday Times two years ago.
He has a documentary nearing completion. Rough Ride will follow him through Armstrong’s downfall and the period in which he was at logger heads with Pat McQuaid before he lost his position as UCI president. The cameras also followed Kimmage back to the centenary edition of the Tour de France last year.
Initially scheduled for release late last year, it is unclear exactly when the project will be broadcast. It is eagerly awaited by cycling fans.
Topics
