Grapes' Personal Diamond Anniversary

Happy 75th birthday to a good man and a walking legend. Coach Don Cherry is sure to be celebrating a milestone in style surrounding himself with...well... I guess he will go shopping for some more outlandish sport jackets and ties.

I checked around the blogisphere and a lot more Canadian and American hockey bloggers have saluted the iconic coach. Looks to me like a lot of hockey fans are giving his props in a classy manner.

[Via: FAN 590 AM]

Milbury: "Cherry Belongs in the Hall"

"Mad Mike" Milbury, no stranger to hockey controversy, wrote a column for the CBC Sports section on-line and did his best to make a compelling argument to support his HNIC colleague Coach Don Cherry for Hockey Hall of Fame. I couldn't say it any better than the selected exerpts from the column itself. To me, there is no counter-argument when the opinions are presented.

There is not a man on the planet who has kept more fans or made more fans for the sport of hockey than Grapes. For nearly 30 years he has kept the attention of Canadian hockey fans (and now fans worldwide) on the sport that he and they love far more than any other....Can anyone deny that the man has driven interest in the sport to the extent that he stops Canada in its tracks every Saturday night on Coach's Corner?...Wherever people gather, they stop and listen with reverence, derision, laughter and amazement when the Coach steps to his bloody pulpit....Grapes speaks loudly and clearly for the honour of hockey. He speaks of its courage and skill. He advises - and in most cases very sincerely and accurately - how hockey youths should act....He speaks to the love of Canada and to his outright and unfeigned admiration and gratitude to the military men and women of Canada in a way that no others can - in the middle of a hockey broadcast. And he is oh-so-right to remind us of their service.

In the recent Hall of Fame ceremonies Vladislav Tretiak was given a place of honor despite 0 minutes in the NHL or any other North American league. Cherry has seen 1 NHL game to his credit.

CBC Sports

Happy Birthday, Coach

Happy birthday, Coach Cherry as you turn 74 years young today. Thanks for providing endless entertainment with your controversial style of commentary along with your witty sense of fashion.

I hope that you continue to speak truth to power and supporting the notion that "doing what is right is not always popular". The below YouTube video summarizes the best of what Coach Cherry is all about.

Happy Birthday, Coach Cherry

It's that time of year again to take notice of a genuine guy but controversial personality in the game as the comandante of Coach's Corner. Don Cherry has turned 73 years old today.

Of all the things I do like and enjoy about Coach Cherry is just how much he takes pride in his heritage and history. In an age were people are constantly second guessing themselves thanks to the PC people, Cherry is a true patriotic man doing his country urging others to be proud of who they are and where they come from.

Admittedly, some of the things the Coach says later on could use more tactful expressions, but he chooses to live out his life unabashed as to what people think of him. He still goes out there every night and tells it like it is. He has conviction. I would believe that the Coach would be more appreciated if he chose to broadcast to Americans on tv than stay with the CBC.

Think of all the good things that he has done with the Rose Cherry House and his continued genuine support of the troops. That is worth something! His continual support of his country's military, even recently in a recent edition of Coach's Corner showed him wearing the Canadian Armed Forces sweater, it runs deep.

But what else can I say about this guy that he hasn't already said about himself.

"I look around and I wish sometimes I could just walk into a building and be like any other coach, but I can't and I realize that. I have to be Don Cherry to the kids who go to the games. I think I owe it to them to sign autographs."

And how many people have their own Bubba can of beer? A series of best selling feature DVDs? A chain of their own restaraunts?

Happy Birthday, Coach.

Coach Cherry Defends Crosby for Once

Sid Crosby and Coach Don Cherry have both been controversial in the NHL, but when their backs are to the wall, they've both been found to rally on common ground. Such is the case here when Coach Cherry has finally supported "The Next One" after Pittsburgh's miserable home-and-home series against Atlanta and a hot Kovalchuk and Kari Lehtonen.

"I've seen a lot of things in my life but I've never seen a guy pointing to a guy in the penalty box," Cherry said. "Someone should've broken his (Kovalchuk's) arm but they didn't."

"I'm starting to like Crosby more and more because he doesn't back down," Cherry said. "They (Pittsburgh) absolutely have to get somebody to ride shotgun with him.

Now if we only had Cherry here as a coach or "special advisor" to toughen up a Penguins squad who's apparent current strategy is to turn the other cheek.

The Penguins in the offseason invested some free agent money in Ryan Vandenbuche (who is currently on IR) and Andre Roy. Roy has been useless in his designed role thus far after fracturing an orbital bone. He's worn a faceguard for a short time and has also been under specific orders not to fight.

Penguin fans were also teased in the offseason by the prospect of the Penguins bringing in legendary Toronto enforcer Tie Domi, but the Maple Leaf logo was more persuasive to him. Could Domi have been the answer to add the toughness that the Penguins lack ?

Crosby's linemates are the Slovak duo of Surovy and Pallfy have benefited from Crosby on the score sheet, but neither have given the kind of support against the abuse "the next one" has taken thus far.

It may take one serious injury to Crosby at the hands of an opponent before the Penguins wake up and protect their "investment in the future".

[Via: TSN.ca]

No Sympathy from Coach Cherry in CBC Lockout

Oh no... not another lockout situation.

Canadians everywhere cheered when the NHL would finally be seen on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. All was right with the world when Coach Cherry was cleared to do his thing and HNIC would return to television. But a wrench has been thrown in by the uneasy labor negotiations. Of course, you have to go to the expert source on lockouts - Don Cherry.

"It's a funny thing that I didn't even know I was in the union until you told me," he said. "That's how many times they've been in contact with me."

"All the times that I've been hanging by a thread, 99 per cent being fired, I never once had a call from the union saying, 'We support you, Don.' And now that they're in trouble, I'm supposed to say I support them?"

To respond, Media Guild National President Lise Lareau said basically - 'okay, maybe we deserved that one!'

"Don's problems with the CBC over the years involving statements he's made on Hockey Night In Canada were never collective agreement issues," she said. "They were individual issues between him and CBC management about content. We don't usually get involved in those sorts of things.... but I understand if he feels he's on his own."

Weather or not this situation can be resolved by the time the NHIC broadcasts the new NHL remains a very interesting and developing story.

[Via: Metronews.ca]

CBC Lifts 7-second Delay for Cherry

After making some observations that were blown out of proportion by the CBC (also by having a track record of controversial comments) and it's subsequent decision to run the Coach's Corner on a 7 second delay, the CBC has decided to remove the delay for the upcoming NHL season.

Nancy Lee, executive producer of CBC Sports, said the seven-second tape delay is gone.

"It's a new contract," Lee said, referring to the new one-year deal CBC signed with Cherry nearly two weeks ago.

Now, unleashed, Coach Cherry can now focus on what's important - selling the game back to the NHL fans by using his unique personality and charm on a Canadian public. Can a unhindered Coach Cherry bring the fans back to the arenas and TVs? Time will only tell.

[Via: CBC Sports]

Don Cherry Returns to CBC and HNIC Coach's Corner

The Don of the Hockey Universe, the much maligned and misunderstood Don Cherry, expressed the eager need to get back behind the CBC desk and take his rightful chair in front of the Hockey Night in Canada sign.

Cherry, who expects to be back on the Hockey Night crew when the season resumes in October, said he feels for the players who he believes are the lockout's biggest losers.

I disagree with the Coach here. (Yes, I'm shocked too.) The only true losers here are THE FANS - the ones that were denied the privilege of watching NHL professional hockey this past season.

Coach Cherry was a constant source of reasonable opinion about the lockout. He chastised the player's Union for being stubborn for change in the league's revenue system and possibly taking jobs away from European League players. However, in this article, he is trying to win back the hearts of the current crop of players.

"I feel so sorry for some of the older players who could have played last year and won't be back," Cherry said last night in an interview. "A lot of them will have to retire. "It's sad because I'm a players' guy. And it will be the middle-class guys as usual who get it in the ear."

Perhaps there was a typo at the end of that sentence. Seems like an "r" should fit with that last word.

"Everybody starts fresh now with the same opportunity," Cherry said. "There are no excuses for GMs who say they don't have money.

Of course, the NHL owners group wanted to "idiot proof" the NHL for future generations, but it won't be for long before somebody comes along and builds a bigger idiot.

[Via: CANOE - SLAM! Sports]

Much Ado about no Crosby

Continuing to follow the media hype surrounding Sidney Crosby, I've found two articles talking about how Crosby is allegedly starting to think ahead to a pro career and just wants his time in Quebec Junior hockey over with.

Controversial (but well respected here) Coach Don Cherry hammered Crosby for bowing out of the Prospects Game held recently in Vancouver, BC, Canada. Here's the link: Crosby vs. Cherry
Coach Cherry says that Crosby must be superhuman to have a quick turnaround. Crosby is back to his old form and playing great. Perhaps a little rest was needed.... or maybe he's thinking about displaying his skills professionally and not waste them on the junior level. Show me the money!!!!!!!

If he thinks he's going to jump to the pro's next year, Crosby may have to wait a while longer. According to this Yahoo! article, the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League President has stated that if there is a lockout, Sidney Crosby must go back to juniors and remain a junior league player and complete his current team commitments. I suspect Crosby will challenge this ruling and if the chance comes, I'd bet Crosby will take it. It may make him into the "Maurice Clarett" of hockey.

Casino Wins Auction Bid for Charity on Mask

I've often remarked on here many times that Hockey does a tremendous amount for cancer charities and other causes. When trying to search for a website, I found this story (and I'll cite two different sources. PR Newswire and Yahoo Finance.

Coach Don Cherry, of the CBC's Coaches Corner, hand painted a Goalie Mask and put it up for auction for the Hockey Hall of Fame at NHL.com charity. The winning bid turned out to be $19,000+ CDN from the well-known GoldenPallace.com casino.

Also, Canadian bands Nickelback and The Tragically Hip along with Canadian golfer Mike Wier and his daughters also painted masks for the NHL.com auction.

Editorial in Toronto Sun Proves Cherry Right and Left with Egg on their Face

With a humongous three patriotic cheers for Debbye living and working in Toronto, ON go check out her blog. I highly endorse it. Being American in T.O. Trackback

The link shown takes you to a post she made about the ongoing saga of controversial coach turned broadcaster Don Cherry of the CBC. The Editorial in the Toronto Sun suggests that Coach Cherry would have to undergo some sort of sensitivity training to understand why the Bloc Quebecois is so super-sensitive and hyper-offended. It goes on to say that an independent audit supports that hockey players who wear face shields are "Europeans and French guys".

I just can't understand what the heck is so controversial about this statement. Coach Cherry is now proven to be stating a fact and people have to get all huffy-and-puffy about it.

Get over yourselves, Quebec.

Froggy!! You Gots Some 'Splanin to do!

WINNIPEG (CBC) [2/11/04] - Don Cherry was right when he claimed mostly French-Canadian and European NHL players wear hockey visors, says a Winnipeg lawyer who crunched the numbers.

Curtis Unfried told CBC Newsworld on Wednesday that his investigation of data showed 59% of European players wear visors, followed by 55% of French-Canadian players. Among North American players born outside of Quebec, only 20 per cent wear face shields to guard against injury.

Well! It looks like some Gov't officials and fans owe Coach Cherry an appology!

Coach Cherry Creates Controversy on CBC

I guess they outlawed freedom of speech in Canada. Even after my experience in Toronto, I'm convinced that some sort or apartheid is going on there.

I read on TSN's NHL Network page that co-host of CBC's Hockey Night in Canada, Don Cherry, is undergoing investigations after comments he made on his editorial segment called "Coach's Corner". Coach Don Cherry said that the only hockey players who wear visors are Europeans and "the french".

Well, that pissed off a lot of liberals in the country. (Despite the statistics that back up Cherry) A statement like this in Canada qualifies as a "hate crime". The liberals have been trying for years to get Cherry off the show, and really dislike him for backing the U.S. during the Iraq war.

Liberal CBC Upset at Coach's Corner Comments

Continuing the debate about talking heads and TV personalities commenting about the War in Iraq, I found an article at Faceoff.com that says CBC completely hung out their most popular and controversial personality Don Cherry out to dry.

The article says that the Canadian Broadcasting Company (CBC) gave a statement that the comments that Cherry made on Hockey Night in Canada about the war in Iraq was his opinion and did not necessarily reflect the views of the CBC or it's management. They felt compelled to release a statement after being deluged by letters of complaints.

Cherry came out and supported the U.S. in the war against terrorism.

Don Cherry Sticks Up for America and National Anthem During Wartime

Ever since I talked about the controversial and shocking story of fans booing the National Anthem, "some guy" named Don Cherry waxes poetic on the issue, which in turn creates a bigger issue. Should athletes and celebrities way in on the war; swaying public opinion? This article from Mark Spector of the National Post delivers an opinion column of the way Cherry addressed the war. In the segment "Coaches Corner" in CBC's broadcast of Hockey Night in Canada, legendary NHL coach Don Cherry gave support to the U.S. for the war on terrorism and condemned his Canadian countrymen for being disrespectful to America for their lack of support.

Don Cherry, always a stand up guy, chose to take some flack, but has not strayed from his "old school" views.