You figured the only ways out for Don Cherry were death or one too many rants. There was never going to be a gentile retirement for the co-host of Coach's Corner.
The latest tirade was the excuse Rogers Sportsnet needed to terminate Cherry's deal.
Statement from Sportsnet: pic.twitter.com/ah3twdx9po
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) November 11, 2019
The racist and clueless overtones were there in the latest Don Cherry tirade. Cherry does a great job of appreciating the sacrifice of veterans. His last tirade shows that he may not appreciate the service of the visible minorities he goes after in the tirade.
Cherry mentioned Toronto and Mississauga, specific multicultural communities. The fact that Cherry later cited English and Scottish and Irish immigrants shows he doesn't get it or doesn't want to understand.
Times have changed. When Cherry questioned the masculinity of certain people in previous tirades, people weren't as likely to speak up.
Rogers Sportsnet keeps getting rid of people because they mismanaged its efforts after acquiring the NHL rights in 2014. Bob Cole went along with their favourites such as Nick Kypreos and Doug MacLean. Cherry was too expensive to keep if Rogers didn't have to do so.
There are more than a few previous Don Cherry tirades.
Ron MacLean offered up an apology during the Hometown Hockey telecast on Sunday.
Eating seal meat does not get Don Cherry's seal of approval
"You people love, that come here, whatever it is, you love our way of life, you love our milk and honey, at least you can pay a couple bucks for a poppy or something like that."
I have been wearing a poppy since November 1 while in Windsor for the 2019 Windsor International Film Festival. There were quite a few poppies. Some didn't have one.
They fall off. You wore a different coat. You didn't find a place that had them. Since the festival is around Remembrance Day, I have become entrenched with the tradition.
I had the poppy on my coat when I read that Don Cherry had been fired. I feel honoured to wear one but I wouldn't judge anyone for not wearing a poppy. That is what freedom is all about.
NHL the month in preview November 2019
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My pick, if they keep the Coach's Corner concept, is Brian Burke in the first intermission of the early game on Hockey Night in Canada. Rogers Sportsnet certainly must have thought about an alternative scenario where Cherry would not be part of the picture. Kelly Hrudey would be a non-Cherry type selection.
The final Coach's Corner in its original form did not air in most of the United States. Those in Chicago and Pittsburgh got the segment via the NHL Network.
The NHL Network has Toronto-Pittsburgh this Saturday so U.S. fans will see what Rogers Sportsnet does in the first intermission.
The flak that CBC got on this issue was unjustified. Rogers Sportsnet controls the content that airs on the CBC. We do find that distasteful and have said so in the past. The CBC had no control over the segment and hasn't had any control since the fall of 2014.
photo credit: Rogers Sportsnet
Twitter capture: @Sportsnet
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