Should Don Cherry be in the HHOF?

[Weztex]

Yes. One comment doesn't diminish an entire career of achievement.

Shame on those of you that say no.

That rant on immigrants was sure unfortunate.

Oh wait! Were you talking about this one about women?
- “When you come to the games, keep your eyes on the puck. I’m telling ya, I’ve seen some awful smacks, and it’s always a woman yapping away there. Look at the game,”

Or was it this one about former enforcers with addiction issues?
- “The ones I’m really disgusted with …. The bunch of pukes that fought before -- Stu Grimson, Chris Nilan, Jim Thomson — the reason, 'Oh, the reason that they're drinking, drugs and alcoholics is because they fight.' You turncoats, you hypocrites,”

This one to David Suzuki and environmentalists?
- “I’d like to ask you with your left-wing pinko friends, what about the warming trend? I’m just asking you, the cuckaloos are always saying there are warming trends. We’re freezing to death.”

Or was this one about first nation kids facing closed doors?
- “Fair shake in life! Go out and get your own fair shake in life and work for it. Don’t give me that stuff,”

Maybe it was this one about Russians?
-“I’ve been trying to tell you people for so long about the Russians, what kind of people they are, and you just love them in Canada with your multiculturalism. They’re quitters and evidently they take a lot of drugs, too.”

Or went he went to a Rob Ford rally and said
-“I’m wearing pinko for all the pinkos out there that ride bicycles and everything. Put that in your pipe you left-wing kooks.”

Of when he mocked “Alpo? Isn’t that a dog food?” when talking bout Alpo Suhonen

Or when he ridiculed the Yugoslav Wars as “Lower Slobovia attacking Slimea.”

Or maybe when he went on a rant against visors saying - “Most of the guys who wear them are Europeans and French guys.”

Or criticized french Quebecers saying :
- “They don’t want our signs . . . they don’t want our language and then they can’t understand why an 18-year-old kid from Ontario doesn’t want to go there. Get with it.”

Or when he referred to Olympic flag bearer and gold medalist Jean-Luc Brassard as "a French guy, some skier nobody knows about."

...

I've voted no and felt very good about it.

 

[EdJovanovski]

Yes obviously. One of the most iconic hockey personalities & Canadians of all time.

 

[jetsforever]

Definitely

 

[The Professional]

Honestly this "Don Cherry is anti- French canadians" thing is overblown. And I say that as a French Canadian guy myself.

For all the press that the negative comments he made about the French got ( mostly during the referendum period), The man also praised a lot of French Canadian players like Lecavalier, or St Louis or Laperrière etc, the Rocket was probably his favourite player of all time not named Bobby Orr and he attended his funeral, he coached some great French Canadian players in his career and also played in Trois-Rivières. He also visited the Royal 22ème Régiment in Afghanistan, who is the major francophone unit in the Canadian forces based in Valcartier, QC, and had nothing but praise and admiration for them when he came back. I heard him cry on Coaches Corner one night when he announced the death of a paratrooper from the 22ème.

He is very patriotic and pro Canada; its Québec separatists that he hates. That's the distinction to make here.

 

[BudBundy]

Have you ever listened to him talk about french canadians lol

Are your referring to his quote about French Canadian players and visors? If so, didn’t someone fact-check that statement and find it was true?

 

[BudBundy]

Honestly this "Don Cherry is anti- French canadians" thing is overblown. And I say that as a French Canadian guy myself.

For all the press that the negative comments he made about the French got ( mostly during the referendum period), The man also praised a lot of French Canadian players like Lecavalier, or St Louis or Laperrière etc, the Rocket was probably his favourite player of all time not named Bobby Orr and he attended his funeral, he coached some great French Canadian players in his career and also played in Trois-Rivières. He also visited the Royal 22ème Régiment in Afghanistan, who is the major francophone unit in the Canadian forces based in Valcartier, QC, and had nothing but praise and admiration for them when he came back. I heard him cry on Coaches Corner one night when he announced the death of a paratrooper from the 22ème.

He is very patriotic and pro Canada; its Québec separatists that he hates. That's the distinction to make here.

Well said, and accurate. Thank you! Ask someone with the VanDoos if Cherry dislikes the French.

 

[BudBundy]

That rant on immigrants was sure unfortunate.

Oh wait! Were you talking about this one about women?
- “When you come to the games, keep your eyes on the puck. I’m telling ya, I’ve seen some awful smacks, and it’s always a woman yapping away there. Look at the game,”

Or was it this one about former enforcers with addiction issues?
- “The ones I’m really disgusted with …. The bunch of pukes that fought before -- Stu Grimson, Chris Nilan, Jim Thomson — the reason, 'Oh, the reason that they're drinking, drugs and alcoholics is because they fight.' You turncoats, you hypocrites,”

This one to David Suzuki and environmentalists?
- “I’d like to ask you with your left-wing pinko friends, what about the warming trend? I’m just asking you, the cuckaloos are always saying there are warming trends. We’re freezing to death.”

Or was this one about first nation kids facing closed doors?
- “Fair shake in life! Go out and get your own fair shake in life and work for it. Don’t give me that stuff,”

Maybe it was this one about Russians?
-“I’ve been trying to tell you people for so long about the Russians, what kind of people they are, and you just love them in Canada with your multiculturalism. They’re quitters and evidently they take a lot of drugs, too.”

Or went he went to a Rob Ford rally and said
-“I’m wearing pinko for all the pinkos out there that ride bicycles and everything. Put that in your pipe you left-wing kooks.”

Of when he mocked “Alpo? Isn’t that a dog food?” when talking bout Alpo Suhonen

Or when he ridiculed the Yugoslav Wars as “Lower Slobovia attacking Slimea.”

Or maybe when he went on a rant against visors saying - “Most of the guys who wear them are Europeans and French guys.”

Or criticized french Quebecers saying :
- “They don’t want our signs . . . they don’t want our language and then they can’t understand why an 18-year-old kid from Ontario doesn’t want to go there. Get with it.”

Or when he referred to Olympic flag bearer and gold medalist Jean-Luc Brassard as "a French guy, some skier nobody knows about."

...

I've voted no and felt very good about it.

LOL. That’s the worst you’ve got on him? Clutch your pearls!!

 

[Mickey Marner]

If pundits can be considered builders, yes. I'm not sure that's the case though.

 

[McRpro]

100% he should be.

 

[Hanji]

As stated above, Cherry was primarily a pundit.

He wasn't stupid. He purposely said controversial things, wore loud suits, etc. He was the "look at me!" sensationalist before punditry became common in society.
Is this HHOF worthy?
I say no, he doesn't deserve induction.

 

[OldnotDeadWings]

Lol, not a chance he should be voted in. But in the HOF? Sure. Get someone to make a wax statue of Grapes with Blue at his side, bring it out from the storeroom to entrance hall on Nov. 1 every year, hang a basket of poppies around Blue's neck and put a donation box in Grapes' hand. His support of veterans was the only meaningful redeeming feature of Cherry's public life. Laughs and a bunch of headline-grabbing nonsense don't get you in the HOF on merit.

 

[sting101]

Cherry was a legend. Coaches Corner was a shtick.

I wonder if you were asked for 40yrs to make opinions on the things if anybody could string together some outlandish comments? Either they would be able to or nobody would have much cared for what you said.

That or you would be a vanilla ass kisser just like Ron McLean has become. And even Vanilla Ron we could make look like a fool if you wanted to try.

Bottom line is he led a segment in an iconic entertainment presentation for decades.

Hall of Famer no question for me

 

[David Suzuki]

Are your referring to his quote about French Canadian players and visors? If so, didn’t someone fact-check that statement and find it was true?

The belief that you're lesser for wearing a visor and that only Europeans and French Canadians would wear a visor makes an obvious belief that french canadians and europeans are lesser than.

also, Scott Pellerin is french canadian and he didn't wear a visor. Just shows Don, like many of his ilk, weren't educated enough about the country he supposedly loved to know there are french canadians outside of quebec. He obviously meant Quebecois when he said it, and that's wrong too, but you'd think someone who loved his country would know at least a tiny bit about it and its history.

 

[Erik Alfredsson]

He did a lot of charity work, and also had a big influence on adding the STOP sign on the back of kids jerseys, and removing touch icing. I think he should be celebrated not only for helping to increase the safety of the sport, but also for being hockey's biggest personality for decades. Yes he overstayed his welcome on TV, but it doesn't negate the years of good stuff he did for the game.

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

In my opinion he should be in. Name a more popular or iconic hockey media personality all time... That's right, you can't. And he is a Jack Adams winner.

Whether you like it or not, Don Cherry is a pop culture icon synonymous with Canadian hockey. You don't have to agree with everything he said in his career( I don't) to appreciate that. The man has done a lot to promote Canadian hockey at all levels. In my opinion he should definitely be in as a builder.

100%. He certainly accomplished the fame requirements.

 

[Foppberg]

No? I don't hate him but he also does not belong there lol.

 

[elitepete]

For what?

 

[Puck Dogg]

If you ask him probably yes.

But seriously he should be in.

 

[Weztex]

LOL. That’s the worst you’ve got on him? Clutch your pearls!!

The guy made xenophobic, misogynistic, pejorative and insulting comments for 30 plus years. Any public commentator would have to apologize and face possible termination for any of those comments. And rightfully so.

But hey, you’re right. Those are just word, why would it matter? It’s not like he killed anybody after all. Let’s celebrate that great hero, build him a statue and look up to him.

 

[wetcoast]

Don Cherry has done more for charities involving First Responders, Wounded Warriors/veterans groups, animal welfare, and many more than any of you holier-than-thou posers. He’s from a different era, one which was far less politically correct, and he deserves to be viewed in that light. It’s become fashionable to bash Cherry and it’s a sad reflection of some people’s need for “validation” by the mob. He loves this country (Canada) undeniably, and deserves respect for what he’s accomplished. Warts and all. As far as I’m concerned, he is Hall worthy and should even be in the Order of Canada.

Well said.

Don Cherry is an old school guy to say the least but in today's culture he has been dismissed and that's a sad thing as the dismissal is wrongly placed.

I'm not fan of everything he did or said but he is a hockey legend and deserves to be in the HHOF as a builder.

 

[lawrence]

Bigotry has no place in our game. He’s a racist who should have had his show stopped 25 years ago.

 

[BudBundy]

The belief that you're lesser for wearing a visor and that only Europeans and French Canadians would wear a visor makes an obvious belief that french canadians and europeans are lesser than.

also, Scott Pellerin is french canadian and he didn't wear a visor. Just shows Don, like many of his ilk, weren't educated enough about the country he supposedly loved to know there are french canadians outside of quebec. He obviously meant Quebecois when he said it, and that's wrong too, but you'd think someone who loved his country would know at least a tiny bit about it and its history.

Do you recall the context of his criticism with players who didn’t wear a visor? Cherry didn’t like it because it made players less accountable for stick work and cheap shots. He had a point. And factually, despite Scott Pellerin, most players at the time wearing visors were Euros and Quebecois. Critics like yourself who take it further are intentionally blind.

 

[BudBundy]

The guy made xenophobic, misogynistic, pejorative and insulting comments for 30 plus years. Any public commentator would have to apologize and face possible termination for any of those comments. And rightfully so.

But hey, you’re right. Those are just word, why would it matter? It’s not like he killed anybody after all. Let’s celebrate that great hero, build him a statue and look up to him.

Those comments are incredibly mild for any sensible person. It must be painful to have skin so thin.

 

[sethro109]

Love him or hate him, he grew the sport in a way few others have. I don't personally care for the guy, but I think he should definitely get in.

 

[heretik27]

I would be kind of surprised if he didn't make it in given how long he was around. He was synonymous with Canadian hockey as an icon for decades. People need to understand he was from a different generation, who grew up with different beliefs and views. To vilify a man in his late 80's because he doesn't share societies current culture is a bit short sighted. Instead of having conversations with people like this to bridge the gap, people are quick to just write them off and cast them out to misfit island because they're not interested in discourse, they just want to feel morally superior. A person can still have done a lot for hockey and deserve a HHOF nod despite not sharing your current sociopolitical beliefs. The guy was pretty rough around the edges, but I believe in his heart he still loved Canada, Canadians, and hockey.