What do you think of Don Cherry?

[porp]

Still-relevant national broadcaster, glue-factory-bound loud-mouthed demagogue, or something in between (interesting/good opinions mixed with out-dated ideas)?

I'm totally interested in what demographic (age, personal hockey experience, location [growing up, now], gender, formal education, income, whatever) you are, related to your views on Don Cherry as a front line commentator/media personality for professional ice hockey.

He's paid (for his HNIC performances) by tax money, isn't he?

[Canuck-One]

The only thing that Cherry needs to be a complete clown is a red rubber ball on the end of his nose. His relevance to anything went out of style at least 5 years ago. He is now simply tolerated because he once knew what he was talking about. I wish the CBC would dump both him and his monkey (ron mclean). Their act is long past getting tiresome. Hire someone who last coached in this century for goodness sake. As for my demographic, I'm closer to the end than the beginning. I have played almost all organized sports but wasn't Johnny Superstar in any of them.

[dhabums]

He is definitely good at what he does. He does a great job of appealing to his crowd and that keeps him in business. People that think he is a moron watch too. He has made a career of being an ignorant, egotistical fool who wears goofy suits that slightly disarm his ignorance. I bet many a poster is jealous.

I do understand why he is so upset with Shanahan's new rules, "Don Cherry's Push 'em, Shove 'em" Videos wouldn't sell very well.


Personally, I think he is an idiot with a great job. No wonder he works for the government.

[ukcanuck]

Still-relevant national broadcaster, glue-factory-bound loud-mouthed demagogue, or something in between (interesting/good opinions mixed with out-dated ideas)?

I'm totally interested in what demographic (age, personal hockey experience, location [growing up, now], gender, formal education, income, whatever) you are, related to your views on Don Cherry as a front line commentator/media personality for professional ice hockey.

He's paid (for his HNIC performances) by tax money, isn't he?

No I don't think he is paid by tax money, though not completely sure.I think HNIC is one of the only products of the CBC that makes money and subsidized the rest of the network...

As for The Don, the Godfather of hockey, the prince or protest, the honorary member of the Canadian Armed Forces, the coach, the sure fire member of the Hockey hall of fame in the builders category (if he is eligible,) is a Canadian institution, he is and has been the voice of the silent majority for decades and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. There will be others who are going to try to tell you he is senile and should be done, that he is a war monger and promotes violence and has an archaic point of view (old time hockey man) but these same people have forgotten what ink is on their birth certificates, they will have forgotten its men like the Don who still know what it took to save the world from speaking German,and doesn't forget to wear a poppy on Nov 11th. On the black day that Cherry passes away I think the Don's funeral will be a period of national mourning, and this country will never be the same.

As for what he is like as a sports journalist -meh- not so much, but it doesn't matter when compared to the rest of those clowns over at HNIC, Maclean is a suck up, the pencil neck Al Strachan is a sap, and Brian Williams is the biggest pussy in eastern Canada,

Mind you I am a middle aged Canadian with old fashioned values who understands what loyalties are about ...

[Eddy Punch Clock]

I do understand why he is so upset with Shanahan's new rules, "Don Cherry's Push 'em, Shove 'em" Videos wouldn't sell very well.

(btw- ^ that has to be the worst emoticon for LOL I've every seen.)

[Cornuck]

He's no Howie Meeker!

Hard to tell how much of it's show, but it's good to see someone who will stick to his opinions years (decades?) after he started. I think that he's good for the game in that he brings about discussion that might otherwise pass by.

Edit: Hockey fan since 1970 - like tough, skilled hockey. Hate staged fights and shootouts. Didn't enjoy the run and gun Oilers era. Hack goalie.

[ukcanuck]

He's no Howie Meeker!

Hard to tell how much of it show, but it's good to see someone who will stick to his opinions years (decades?) after he started. I think that he's good for the game in that he brings about discussion that might otherwise pass by.

you forgot your demographic Cornstarch

[Topper]

His brain should be in Kitimat.

[porp]

Hey, thanks guys - I wonder how much his bosses/CBC brass or just general opinion prompted him to semi-retract a couple of his recent opinions. http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/story/2011/10/08/sp-cherry-regret.html?cmp=rss

[Madcombinepilot]

I have met Don a couple times.

What you see is what you get with him.

First and foremost, the guy is PROUD to be CANADIAN. Yeah, he has some rather old fashioned ideas, but he is an old fashioned guy. Rarely does he change his opinion on a topic (and I have heard him admit when he is wrong) but mostly he is an old man who is proud of his country, takes offense to people taking advantage of other people, and respects those who go ion harms way to preserve the freedoms we have.

His TV personality is just a stronger, more opinionated, louder version of the 'real Don'.
Why is he like that on TV? - uhh.. 'cause its TV.

[LotusBlossom]

HNIC is a profitable show, and as someone has said, subsidizes a good chunk of CBC. His salary is paid by the sponsors of HNIC, so no, we're not paying the old man's salary.

MCP, you're right, he is an old fashioned guy who is well into his senior years. There is nothing you can do about that for sure. His ideas are old, but you're right, he says what he means. He may not always be right, but he stands by his opinions.

As far as what I think of Don Cherry? I admire his fight for the traditions of the game, but at the same time, we have to adapt to our times. There is some much more to shift through than seeing a few players avoid making a hit. It's been a few days of hockey. I'd like to give it at least 15 before I can confirm his accusations of the NHL's new rules.

Tom Benjamin's take:

Don Cherry delivered up a classic rant on Coach’s Corner last night, a rant that was both predictable and offensive. Unlike most of the critics who are blasting him this morning, I think he should be lauded for so clearly laying out the battle lines. Attacking Don Cherry is not the answer. Addressing the issues he raises – however stupidly – is the correct approach. Making fundamental change to the game is not something that should be done lightly.

So far, I am pleasantly surprised by the changes we can see on the ice. I was pessimistic as long as Shanahan declared that the objective is only to eliminate the 50-100 ugly hits a season. That’s impossible. The only way to get rid of the really dangerous hits is to get the players to play less recklessly generally and that means less hitting, period. Shanahan may not want to significantly reduce hitting, but players are playing more under control, so that is the result so far. Maybe Shanahan has started something here. I’m still not convinced even though we’ve seen enough change already to make Cherry pop his cork.

The proof in the pudding will be whether the measures will survive the inevitable backlash. Cherry is part of that, but the larger part will come from the owners as they peer at the impact on the bottom line. Will fans pay as much for a less violent game?

Let’s address the charges:

“If you give the players an excuse not to hit, they won’t hit.”

This is probably true. The players let it be known three years ago that they wanted headshots out of the game. In both the examples Cherry cited, there was no hockey reason to make the hit. Their teams were not disadvantaged by the failure to deliver a punishing check. In one case, a bump finished the check, and in the other, peeling back was probably a better hockey play.

Nobody should be kidding anybody here. Fans loved watching Scott Stevens smoke people. We all love the thunderous hits. The question is whether the cost of these hits is too high. Do we lose the hits to protect the career and the health of the likes of Kariya and Lindros?

Don Cherry can ignore the very disturbing evidence of the dangers emerging, but players (and parents of players) will not. The players have made it clear that they think it has become too dangerous on the ice.

They want us to give them the excuse not to hit.

People are using the deaths of Boogaard, Rypien and Belak to advance an anti-fighting agenda.

Perhaps so, although I don’t think that’s nearly as despicable as Don does. Even though I’ve been careful not to link the issues, I will be shocked if Boogaard’s brain comes back clean. I find myself hoping that they did suffer from CTE, not because it advances an anti-fighting agenda, but because it explains the very bad choices each made.

The fact that Cherry can think of plenty of hockey suicides that did not involve enforcers is hardly reassuring after the Rick Martin study. The NHLPA has long had programs available for players who have difficulty adjusting to life after hockey, but I figured that these issues were mostly related to employment and finances. Now I wonder. I wonder about Brian Spenser and I wonder about Walt Poddubny.

This is not about fighting. It is about brain injury. What price do we expect players to pay for our entertainment? Is it as entertaining if we know (or we think) we are watching guys pound each other into dementia?

Stu Grimson, Chris Nilan, and James Thompson are hypocrites for speaking out against fighting after making a living in the enforcer’s role.

Is this hypocritical? I can’t see why their former occupation should have to restrain them if they feel differently about it today. We can’t expect today’s players to do anything except go along with the practice. When these guys were playing we were still pretending that people didn’t get hurt in fights.

Times – and opinions – change.

[Eddy Punch Clock]

Don’s comments reflect his own opinion. While I support his right to voice that opinion, I do not share his position. Player safety is a top priority for me, and I support the initiatives of the NHL and others in keeping players safe on and off the ice

[nucksin7]

I love Don Cherry. <3

[Canuck-One]

Don’s comments reflect his own opinion. While I support his right to voice that opinion, I do not share his position. Player safety is a top priority for me, and I support the initiatives of the NHL and others in keeping players safe on and off the ice

I think most of us would agree with EPC's opinion. I just wish Cherry would state it at home, not on TV where I have to listen to it if I'm not quick enough to hit the mute button before pouring another Gibson's. I am off to enjoy Thanksgiving at my brother-in-law's house. I wish each and everyone one of you a happy thanksgiving and a prayer for health and happiness for you and your family.

[Strangelove]

Donny has really pissed me off... more than a few times... but I love the guy and he's good for hockey.