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Page 1 – “It’s always said that handball is the sport of shooting. Nonsense!”
Page 2 – “I’m never just cheeky or unfair” Page 3 – “It’s always said that handball is the sport of shooting”
Kevin Gerwin is a presenter, stadium announcer, sports commentator and comedian. He could be seen and heard at, among others, the Quatsch Comedy Club, the BG Karlsruhe, the Karlsruher SC and he has now been the hall spokesman for the Rhein-Neckar-Löwen for ten years. Since 2018 he has also been leading the games of the German national handball team.
TIME ONLINE: Mr. Gerwin, I consider you to be one of the most important people in the handball arena.
Kevin Gervin: Oh yes?
TIME ONLINE: It is said that emotions can decide handball games. As the hall announcer, you are the one who usually wakes them up.
Gerwin: My job is to provide the team with the best support. If it works by itself: wonderful. If I feel like there’s more to come from the stands, I’ll be there. Others have to score goals and I don’t think I have any influence on what happens in the game. But the spectators certainly do. Handball fans are passionate and enthusiastic.
TIME ONLINE: The pressure on the German team is particularly high because of the European Championship at home. In Cologne there was a lot of whispering during the draw against Austria, and after a few missed throws it was suddenly quiet.
Gerwin: Should I have said something sooner? Have I put too much pressure on? I wonder something like that about the games. If we need a goal in the last minute and the European Championship is in the balance, then the players are under the greatest pressure imaginable. And then I’ll come and get everyone up.
TIME ONLINE: Does this inhibit the players?
Gerwin: A coach once said that. But that turned out to be bullshit. Most players expect me to go full throttle, they’re into it. Those who don’t need it don’t think what I do is bad. And those who need it use it for themselves.
TIME ONLINE: Have you always been a handball player?
Gerwin: My grandfather worked underground and was a Schalke player. My dad is Schalke. So I am: Schalke. I was inspired by handball. In my hometown of Hamm, ASV plays, sometimes in the second division, sometimes in the first division. The daily newspaper said that there was always such a great atmosphere. So I’m going there. After a few visits I noticed that someone else was always the DJ. So I became the hall DJ, my friend the mascot.
TIME ONLINE: Later you were at the microphone in Karlsruhe for both basketball and football, and you have now been the voice of the Rhein-Neckar-Löwen for more than ten years. How did that happen?
Gerwin: A delegation from the Lions had watched me at a basketball game. They had heard that there was a crazy guy who climbed on the table when things got tight. They wanted that too. I was very lucky that the first game in which I played for the Lions was a special one. They had to make up a deficit in the EHF Cup second leg against Magdeburg. The Löwen managing director at the time said: He knew how I worked, today he didn’t give a shit, he would pay all the fines. That worked, we won. I should be shot, said the news from Magdeburg. That wasn’t so nice, but on the other hand there is a video with the reactions of the Lions coach and the players. That actually says it all. Since then, everyone in the Bundesliga has known: If they play against the Lions, they also have to play against me.
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Kevin Gerwin is a presenter, stadium announcer, sports commentator and comedian. He could be seen and heard at, among others, the Quatsch Comedy Club, the BG Karlsruhe, the Karlsruher SC and he has now been the hall spokesman for the Rhein-Neckar-Löwen for ten years. Since 2018 he has also been leading the games of the German national handball team.
TIME ONLINE: Mr. Gerwin, I consider you to be one of the most important people in the handball arena.
Kevin Gervin: Oh yes?
TIME ONLINE: It is said that emotions can decide handball games. As the hall announcer, you are the one who usually wakes them up.
