First Don Cherry called out those not wearing poppies.
Now others — including his own network and the NHL — are calling him out.
“Don’s discriminatory comments are offensive and they do not represent our values and what we stand for as a network. We have spoken with Don about the severity of this issue and we sincerely apologize for these divisive remarks,” Bart Yabsley, president of Rogers Sportsnet wrote in a statement.
Buckling under the heat Yabsley took Sportsnet off the hook while leaving his biggest star hanging when he knows this was just a passionate and emotional Don Cherry just being Don Cherry.
The NHL called Cherry’s comments “offensive” and “contrary” to their values.
Sportsnet may have offered an apology, it doesn’t appear Cherry, 85, is going there.
“I have had my say,” he told me Sunday.
The former NHL Coach of the Year used his free speech thanks to the veterans and fallen to lament how few now wear poppies.
“I live in Mississauga, where nobody wears one,” he said on Coach’s Corner.
“Downtown Toronto, forget it . . . Nobody wears a poppy.”
Just before playing his taped poppy appeal standing next to his great uncle Sgt. Thomas William Mackenzie’s grave in France, Cherry said: “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 of bucks for a poppy or something like that. These guys paid for your way life that you enjoy in Canada, these guys paid the biggest price.”
Social media is calling for Cherry’s head.
A #firedoncherry hashtag had comments like “Please tell CBC that it MUST #FireDonCherry on this very #RemembranceSunday for desecrating the memories of so many with his bigotry & hate. Please help send a strong message that racists and xenophobes have no place on Canada’s national public broadcaster.”
Tweeted CBC reporter Ahmar Khan: “It is long due time for Don Cherry’s Coach’s Corner to be cancelled. His xenophobic comments being aired weekly are deplorable.”
Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie tweeted “For @CoachsCornerDC to say that “you people” do not respect our veterans is despicable. We’re proud of diverse cultural heritage and we‘ll always stand up for it. New immigrants enrich our country for the better. We’re all Canadians and wear our poppies proudly.”
On this Remembrance Day the irony is not lost that freedom of speech, and to peacefully disagree, are rights Canadians enjoy because of the sacrifice.
Certainly if the network and league don’t like the remarks it is their show and prerogative to criticize.
He works for them.
But this is an overreaction, perhaps by some waiting in the weeds to pounce.
Certainly many of the commenters on this have been over the top with their piling on and frenzy when this was merely Don expressing his opinion, as he has done in a non-politically-correct fashion for 40 years.
Cherry’s fans know sometimes his ‘Grapes speak’ style crunches so many thoughts together, the context can be lost.
He doesn’t care if you are new to the country or born here, he just doesn’t want people to forget the safe and prosperous lifestyle enjoy here thanks to those who fought or died in war.
“It seems to have upset people,” Cherry said.
“Like I said, Joe, you can put in that I said my piece and I will leave it there.”
He just wants the focus put back on Remembrance Day.
RON MacLEAN WEIGHS IN
Et tu, MacLean?
Your partner of three decades is on the canvas and you join the pack to stick the knife in?
Coach’s Corner sidekick Ron MacLean metaphorically did just that to his legendary Saturday night desk mate Don Cherry, amidst the controversy over Grapes’ poppy comments.
“I want to sincerely apologize to our viewers and Canadians,” MacLean said in a tweet.
“During last night’s broadcast, Don made comments that were hurtful and prejudiced and I wish I had handled myself differently. It was a divisive moment and I am truly upset with myself for allowing it.”
Saying “diversity is one of our country’s greatest strengths,” MacLean said he “worked with Don for 30 years” but feels “we failed you.”
It’s ironic — when MacLean was fired from his chair twice it was Cherry working the back rooms to bring him back.
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November 11, 2019 at 08:50AM
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