Barely hitting bookstore shelves, former Canadiens decorator Pierre Gervais’ book Au Cœur du garderobe polarizes and divisively. On launch day, the author denied breaking an unwritten law: what happens in the locker room must stay there.
According to him, one discovers above all “impressions” and “personal” observations.
Watch the interview with Pierre Gervais in the video above.
“I didn’t break the rule,” he hammered live from the Bell Center on Monday night’s “JiC” show. It would have been easy to do that. I wasn’t on staff and I didn’t hit people.”
According to the most respected man of his guild, he could have revealed many more anecdotes before his departure if he had immersed himself in the intimacy of certain players, coaches or managers.
“I could write two more books on personal matters,” he warned. It’s not my type. People back then knew very well that I was nice. I could have been mean, very mean. It wasn’t my goal. Really not.”
A month before the holidays, Gervais’ book promises to be a huge hit with curious enthusiasts eager to be drawn into the intimacy. On the other hand, some will accuse him of haggling his experience by scratching those he met.
The one who started his career with Michel Bergeron’s Draveurs de Trois-Rivières wanted to be clear about his intentions. He didn’t want to exaggerate when he shared his experiences.
“I said the real deals. You may not be happy. If they want to write a book, let them do it. I encourage her.”
Skinned Duarmes
The creation process was not without doubts, especially on the part of the journalist Mathias Brunet, who collected his comments. While Gervais could question himself, he stuck to the business at hand.
“With Mathias, who did an incredible job, I told him what I had experienced. He came back to me a couple of times to ask, “Do you really mean that?”. I said I meant the real stuff. I’m sorry but that’s it. I would have liked to have spoken well to everyone, unfortunately that is not the case.
The former Joliette driver was particularly offended by a passage in which Gervais asserts that he did not lose his dressing room because he never owned it.
Image rights: Joël Lemay / Agency QMI
“By the way, Ducharme was very polite. Civilized. He could have picked up the phone to call me and talk nonsense to me, but he was very civilized. I appreciate it immensely.”
The book is written and the most gossip hungry people will devour it, no offense to the offended people. As for Gervais, he wouldn’t change a thing if he had to do it again. Would he be “nicer” with some?
“Absolutely not. If I’ve decided to tell the real deals, I’ll tell the real deals. Unfortunately, that’s not for everyone. I stand by and sign. It is what it is.»
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