you say: “He taught us that while sports stars are made out to be role models, they are flawed, weak and bleed like the rest of us.”

this to me sounds a reason to forgive him, since you concede he is a mere mortal. sure he did something pretty awful and let down countless people. but he did come out on the end, and in possibly the most ignominious fashion. which is more to say than for some of his antipodean counterparts.

it is also to say that he had begun the process of redeeming himself. he had begun the effort to do right. from what i could see, the man was devastated that he did what he did. his regret was palpable. it would be cruelty of the worst kind to hold his misdemeanors against him interminably.

i forgave hansie long ago. he was my idol second to none. i was lucky enough to train with the proteas on a number of occasions as a teenager, and hansie was a legend. he took time to do fielding drills with me, one-on-one and was generally an incredible inspiration. i was hurt when it all came out. but i wasn’t about to throw him out. he was a good man who went astray. and a man who began to try to get his life back in order. i respect that enough to forgive him.

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