Skip navigation

 Login or Register | Member Centre

Cherry's 'redneck' remark triggers response

WILLIAM HOUSTON

From Tuesday's Globe and Mail

Latest comment posted at 6:20 AM EDT 14/05/08

NHL analyst's spots on ESPN were praised and knocked, but certainly not ignored ...Read the full article

This conversation is closed

  1. R Miller from Halifax, Canada writes: Dear American Readers:

    The Krusty the Coach show is simply awesome. His outfits alone are worth the price of admission. Perhaps T.O. and Cherry could do a sit com together.

    Please write to ESPN to indicate your desire to keep Cherry there:

    ESPN.com
    ESPN Plaza
    Bristol, CT
    USA
    06010
    e-mail:ESPN.com

    Because you really don't want to let talent like this get away from you again.

    Cheers.
  2. Tobin Manley from The Bronx, NYC, United States writes: Does Don have a red neck tie?
  3. Matt O from Canada writes: I think the redneck remark was pretty harmless...you change the word to "roughneck", and that's closer to the kinds of people Don was talking about. As he himself explains, however, his term is the more historic and accurate one...it's meaning has changed somewhat over time now, and generally refers to a certain sort of white trash American (and Canadian). That's not meant to be a judgment on these people...I didn't invent the word, at least.

    I've been to Detroit many times, however, and it has never struck me as a roughneck town. Perhaps that's because auto-plant workers make salaries that run into the six figures, and all live in fancy suburbs. Of course they have to hold their noses as they drive into the inner city to watch their Red Wings, but they don't stay long, as the empty seats in the stands testify to.
  4. Joseph Daniel from Oakville, Canada writes: I wonder if Make me laff fans would like some of Detroit's boring hockey instead of debating who their next presiden't/GM/Coach/captain will be. Or hoping and forking over all kinds of money to MLSE so that they can keep a stranglehold on the SOuthern Ontario hockey market and keep out prospective owners. I for one will take Detroit's Boring/Winning Hockey any day of the week rather than the BS that is being forced down our throats. Where a mediocre player is made out to be a superstar. Cherry has gone absolutely senile. He would rather praise a guy like Mark Bell rather than give props to guys like Zetterberg and Datsyuk. CBC the old senile network.
  5. Sean O'Reilly from Canada writes: We are a world of over sensitive babies. Someone is always outraged, someone is always offended.
  6. garlick toast from Canada writes: ah, so that explains dandy don's distaste for euro players,he's been out in the sun for too long and has become half-baked.i'm happy to learn that h.d.t.v. will allow me to read sweater names/numbers.when bob cole calls the game there are only two players on the ice,the pens and the flyers.
  7. Gordon Howe from HockeyTown, United States writes: Don who? Was he the coach of the Bruins years ago that if it weren't for Number Four he'd be just another minor leager? Did Don play in the NHL? I don't remember him playing in the NHL. Maybe he came up for a cup of coffee. I would imagine that him and Melrose would be a perfect fit. The mullet died years ago and so did their careers.
  8. G. P. Rodent from Canada writes: I totally agree with Sean O'Reilly. With all that is going on in this world, I would think people would have more pressing issues to be concerned about. Leave Don Cherry alone - he is awesome - and I look forward to both his colourful commentaries and his colourful outfits!
  9. D McAnn from Canada writes: I, too agree with Sean O'Reilly, but I can't wait for the backlash from the babies (or those who sympathize with the plight of the babies).
  10. ryan rankin from Canada writes: nice effort on the column.
  11. Verona Raven from United States writes: Cherry's outfits make me wonder whether he's hanging out in Provincetown or Fire Island; not wolfe island.
  12. Tom Sawyer from Canada writes: Don Cherry has accomplished more than all of us on this board. Even the restaurants make more money than you clowns. He rocks!
  13. Matt O from Canada writes: Okay, so for a couple of years I really turned on Cherry. Not that I didn't respect his accomplishments, but I thought that Coach's Corner had turned into a joke of its former self, and endless parade of pointless arguments and divisive jingoism.

    I have to say, though, that I think that Cherry has heard the critics this playoff season, and the show is much improved. He's gone back to what he knows best, the sport of hockey (seems obvious, doesn't it?). We get good highlights and keen observations again. I understand that his personality doesn't suit everyone (no pun intended), but at least the show is worth watching again.

    I don't know why he said that the Wings are a boring team...I don't agree with it, and actually find them much more exiciting than their late 90s brethren. On the other hand, Cherry has thrown plenty of compliments the team's way as well. He seems to be the only member of the HNIC crew to acknowledge that Holmstrom is a fine and capable player. While the rest insinsuate he spends all his ice team in the crease interfering with the goalie (not true), he showed a nice highlight package of his work. So Cherry doesn't hate your team, Red Wing fans, despite some of his comments.
  14. Terry Terry from Brantford, Canada writes: Don excels at his job. He's paid to be an a-hole and get people talkinig.
  15. Chris Michaels from Oakville, Canada writes: I agree with Sean O'Reilly...people gotta suck it up...lets not be that sensitive. Sheesh.

    As for what he says about Detroit -- gotta agree. It's hockey devoid of almost any emotion. Calculated and robotic.

    At times, it can be extremely crisp and pretty...but, so can All-Star games. It's hard to argue with their success....but it's also hard to argue with the empty seats.
  16. Joseph Daniel from Oakville, Canada writes: I think it is Cherry's schtick about his Canadian raw raw raw thing that has to stop. He goes out of his way to promote a 4th line player on a non playoff team. The faithfull here in southern ontario who lap up all of cherry's offerings believe that this 4th liner is the next best left winger this side of wendel clark. However on the other side of the coin cherry goes out of his way to berate any euro player. He justifies it by saying there is a media bias towards the Euro's. Well is he not part of the media? Can't we just enjoy the game for all its own greatness without having to consistantly bring in national pride into the equation. It took Cherry ages to finally acknowledge a guy like Holmstrom who consistantly takes the abuse and pays the price.
    I don't mind Don saying "I will cheer for the team with the most Canadians on it." Just be fair when you dole out criticisms and acolades.
  17. R Miller from Halifax, Canada writes: OK kids,

    Let's be clear that as long as Don Cherry is insulting Sid Crosby, the Montreal Canadiens, European and French Canadian players, all is OK in the Centre of the Universe and with the habitants of Canada's "weaker sister" of Confederation and the ROW can be labelled overly "sensitive" in your minds.

    But if Cherry actually wiped off his blue and white facepaint once in awhile and did an accurate on air assessment of the Maple Leafs' future, he would likely get banned from ACC just like Bill Waters did and I bet that most Ontarians would disown their Kingston prodigy...

    Cheers.
  18. boom boom from Canada writes: R. Miller from Halifax, you hit the nail on the head. Cherry should be put to rest, maybe an exile to ESPN is the only hope!
  19. Devil Bud from T.O., Canada writes: I think Cherry's comments were completely justified and reasonable. Cheery was just making an observation about blue-collar workers, although not all blue-collar workers are construction workers. The point was pretty simple, Detroit has always been a blue-collar town (city), and has always enjoyed tough, old-time hockey. While the Bettman and his NBA buddies have tried to change the game into a spectacle resembling ringette, luckily we haven't fully arrived there yet, the seats in places like Detroit have been slowly emptying. This is not to blame Detroit management, as they saw the move the Bettman administration was trying to make well before others, and scouted players that could play the European style of hockey. It is completely accurate to call Detroit's team as boring, because if you watch any NHL playoff games from the pre-lockout years, you will find some of the most exciting hockey...the way it always was I might add. Here's to hoping not all teams go the Detroit way, even if they might win the Cup, and maybe hockey purists can beat back the Bettman ringette era.
  20. Donald Redhorse from tampabay and nova scotia, United States writes: Don Cherry frequently comes across with an image designed to draw attention to himself. Different folks have opinions on that. I get the memory of my garnafather's old horse, walking away from me, his head pointed north, displaying an accurate image that is hard to refute.
    DRedhorse
  21. thirtyeight * from Canada writes: I don't agree with Cherry on much but he's right on this. I lived in Michigan for years. It's a redneck state with lots of redneck Wings fans.
  22. Aubrey Rose from Canada writes: Interesting comment , Chris, from Oakville, stating Detroit Red Wings'hockey is devoid of almost any emotion, calculated and robotic. Isn't that how we used to characterize European players, particularly the Russians ? It's no coincidence that half of Detroit's players are European. The new NHL is a perfect fit for these players and you'll see more and more of them in the future. Are you listening, Toronto ? Smarten up and do what Detroit did years ago; go after the speedy, emotionless, robotic Europeans.
  23. jimmie rabbit from toronto, Canada writes: anybody has the guts to wear suits like dc's gets to say whatever he wants far as i'm concerned

    i wouldn't sit on a sofa upholstered with that fabric!
  24. R Miller from Halifax, Canada writes: Wow, four posts from the United States and none of them too glowing on "The Cherry."

    This selling job to ESPN is going to be tougher than I thought!

    Cheers.
  25. steve allan from Canada writes: This guy is a complete idiot and a national embarrassment. He's been our national shame for years and I blame ESPN for not properly vetting the guy before putting him on the air.

    We all know what redneck means, and a redneck like this guy would certainly know what the political and social meaning of that term is so his explanation doesn't hold water.

    I was wondering when the Canadian Shame was going to utter something stupid about the Red Wings, in fact I posted here last week that a Detroit win would sit well with me because it would give Cherry heartburns. I wasn't disappointed!
  26. Neil no more last name from Mississauga, Canada writes: I'm from the GTA. Don Cherry does not represent my view on Hockey. I'm not the only person from the GTA who feels this way. R Miller and others - stop equating Don Cherry to T.O. I know it seems difficult to seperate the 2, but he truly does not represent the opinion of all Torontonians. And the portion that does agree with him, tend to be like him - loud, obnoxious, and opiniated - so you're more likely to hear them speak there mind. The others who would just like him to go away.

    As far as the "Redneck" term goes... if you have to explain yourself than there's a problem (see above for prime example). Maybe I'll just drop an N bomb, and then tell everyone that I didn't mean the generally accepted meaning of the term, but something else that only I know in my head.
  27. Neil no more last name from Mississauga, Canada writes: (cont...)
    He's not helping to sell hockey by appearing on ESPN and then insulting American fans. But wait it really wasn't an insult...Point is if you give this senile old bat too much leeway, he will eventually get himself into trouble - and in turn reflect horribly on hockey and Canada.

    He should stick to commenting on the game - he does have some relevant insight then.

    Lastly, the Redwings are one of the most technically sound teams I've seen, ever. They play great defense, hard in front of the net and play a great team game.

    I'd rather take their "boring" hockey and Stanley Cups, than the Leafs soap opera and no playoffs, any day.

    And I'm a well-documented Leafs fan. (see year's worth of posts)
  28. bob miller from Canada writes: Really........doesn't any further comment on Cherry just constitute piling on?????????
  29. Matt O from Canada writes: Aubrey Rose from Canada writes: Interesting comment , Chris, from Oakville, stating Detroit Red Wings'hockey is devoid of almost any emotion, calculated and robotic. Isn't that how we used to characterize European players, particularly the Russians ? =============================================== What on Earth are you talking about, Aubrey? When team USSR emerged in the mid-twentieth century, their creativity with the puck shocked North Americans, particularly during the '72 Summit Series. All the big European countries, in fact, took the game in exiciting new directions that Canadians had never even thought of. One big thing the Soviets were known for was skating back out of the offensive zone if things weren't set up right, regrouping at centre ice, then making another charge. It was incredible stuff...actually, if you ever caught the '94 Sharks in action, they played a similar style, being stocked with players from the old Soviet/Russian guard. The robotic, defensive style of hockey was, regrettably, a Canadian product. The neutral-zone trap was perfected by clubs largely stocked with the Canadian players, like the '93 Canadiens (this is coming from a Habs fan, mind you). I still think we produce the best players in the world, and many of the most offensively-talented. But we also have to take the blame for populaizing the trapping, locking, defensive-first style of game that has dominated the sport over the past 15 years.
  30. Steve Not an Alberta Redneck from Calgary, Canada writes: Redneck fans are Cherry's natural constituency so I imagine they'll eventually forgive him for outing them.
  31. J.C. Petite from Toronto, Canada writes: Anyone remember the two playoff series between the Avs and the Wings of the past??
    Did you watch this years version??

    And people are actually scratching thier heads as to why there are empty seats in the stands??
  32. Able Bodied Man from It's Not Victoria Island, Canada writes:
    The online magazine Slate says high-definition television will be the salvation of the NHL on U.S. television, which is hardly an original idea, given the league has been stating this for years.
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Be wonderful to see those slugfests much more clearly. And the mouthed profanity will be much more enjoyable now that the kids will be able to see it clearly too.
  33. Able Bodied Man from It's Not Victoria Island, Canada writes: Neil no more last name from Mississauga, Canada writes: ... R Miller and others - stop equating Don Cherry to T.O. ...
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    I'd have thought Toronto would enjoy the elevated status of being associated with the Don.
  34. pierre lefebvre from Brossard, Canada writes: What an idiot this Cherry. And CBC sponsors his malevolent opinion still. Fighting is banned in international and university hockey to the better of the sport. Are we to listen to such Fenian behaviour very long. CBC has a mission in elevating and nurturing culture. How far have we erred with this idiot?
  35. KSW livin'in from Canada writes: and he was wrong about the difference between a mule and a donkey...
  36. Rex Bradley from Oakville, Canada writes: Don might know something about hockey, but that is all. His facts about mules were so ridiculous I started to laugh. Mules don't need to be castrated because they are born impotent. Being part horse and part donkey they are infertile and are docile. The stubborn part is the thing that Don and mules have in common. Anyway, he knows more about the northern end of a southbound horse.
  37. Neil no more last name from Mississauga, Canada writes: Able Bodied Man from It's Not Victoria Island, Canada writes: Neil no more last name from Mississauga, Canada writes: ... R Miller and others - stop equating Don Cherry to T.O. ...
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    I'd have thought Toronto would enjoy the elevated status of being associated with the Don.
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Well aren't you just the witty one in the thread
  38. Cowtown boy from Calgary, Canada writes: Rex Bradley from Oakville, Canada writes: Don might know something about hockey

    Now that's debatable Rex. If he did then someone would have hired him as a coach many years ago.
  39. james mcgillawee from Oshawa, Canada writes: Truth be told, the Don Cherry employment in construction was in fact a steel mill where I was a quality control supervisor in his immediate vicinity. Don and his brother were a hard working industrious pair making money towards the building of their golf course Cherry Downs near Brougham, Ont.
    Furthermore, Don has accomplished far more than most in our society with far fewer credentials than many others. To his chagrin, there was not a team in the NHL at the time that could afford that many minutes per year in major penalties, hence his promotion to the majors was denied. Yet, when the opportunity arose for him to assume the coaching role he shone. His style is not appreciated or understood by many. Yet he gets the job done, including goading the Canadian Women on to the gold medal at Salt Lake City!
    Nothing you or anyone can say will change the facts regarding the Don's successes. Is the era of fisticuffs in hockey about to end in a changing world? Maybe. Will Don's influence on professional hockey last? Yes. His style and presence attracts winning on more than just the ice. How much ad revenue and viewership has this one man been responsible for? He has earned his place in hockey history in many ways by many means. Just because he was not as slick with his elbows and the butt of the stick in the ribs does not mean he is any less of an icon. Some of us red necks are from Saskatchewan, eh Gordie!
  40. reality man from ottawa, Canada writes: Cherry is right - although it's sad to have to agree with him - Detroit IS playing boring hockey but, then, so is most of the league. This has been the case for about the last 15 years, though. Give me the 76-79 Habs, 80-83 Islanders or 84-88 Oilers any day over what passes for entertainment in hockey these days. Now those were exciting teams! Those teams knew how to win but they were entertaining as hell doing it. I miss the days where teams traded end to end rushes for minutes on end and goalies did those two pad slides on 2 on 1s. The 87 Canada Cup final series between Canada and the Soviet Union was some of the best hockey of all time and those two amazingly talented teams didn't leave a single viewer in their seats with defensive prowess but, rather with end to end mayhem. Ah, those were the days.
  41. Devil Bud from T.O., Canada writes: Cowtown Muleboy: Don Cherry is widely regarded as one of the most influential people in hockey. He also received "numerous" coaching offers after he retired from coaching years ago. Cherry enjoys what he does, who the hell wouldn't, and is great at it. Do you think so many people see the Moores' commercials during the 1st intermission because they want to hear an Al Strachan and Damian Cox discussion? So for the haters...so be it, you don't like the guy. However, to doubt his knowledge of the game just goes to show how much you might know about it...Zippo!!!
  42. Aubrey Rose from Canada writes: Matt O from Canada: I can see you have missed my point. I made no reference to the Russians' creativity with the puck. In fact, one of the most exciting players ever, in my opinion, was Valeri Kharlamov, a Russian. Anyone who watched the Canada-Russia series knows that the Russians played without emotion and were more analytical, as if they were playing a game of chess.The Detroit Red Wings, with half their team consisting of Europeans, play, not surprisingly, a similar style of hockey. Many are of the opinion that this is boring hockey and may be the reason for all the empty seats when Detroit plays at home. Others may consider it to be exciting hockey. To each his own.
  43. Biggest Redneck from United States writes: Go Don Go.
    Don is to hockey what John Madden is to the NFL. As the sport grows in popularity so will Don.
    I'm proud to call myself a Redneck and my definition fits with Don's desciption perfectly.
    steve allan. You can keep your derogatory definitions. I'm with Don
  44. Matt O from Canada writes: Aubrey Rose, sorry if I misinterpreted your comments, but I still think it's tough to be robotic and creative at the same time...I think that you're perpetuating the stereotype of communists as cold, calculating robots (think Rocky IV), and this in an era when communism has fallen.

    As for the empty seats, there are two reasons for them:

    1) Detroit as "Hockeytown" is way overrated, as many fans are bandwagon fans who jumped on in the late 90s and jumped off shortly thereafter (I know many Detroiters, so trust me).

    2) Anyone living in Detroit with money to go to the games lives in the faraway suburbs, and many couldn't be bothered to make the commute downtown. It takes many of these people 2-3 hours to get back home if they leave at the end of the game. Perhaps dedicated hockey fans would think that this was worth the sacrifice, but see reason 1), above.
  45. S.L. S from Western Canada, Canada writes: The "redneck" remark may ave been a little overboard but he is right. Detroit is boring to watch. They are my team and lord knows I love them but when you have a team that's as tight and together as they currently are, they can be kinda boring to watch. They can control a game and take it to their level and leave it there. From a spectating point of view it's dull but from a raw talent point of view, it's amazing. The American fans and alot of Canadian fans just don't know how to view the game. Excitement and interest can be found in the commanding style that Detroit uses to play but from a goal scoring point of view and excitement, It's going to leave you wanting. It's like the tie game. 0-0. You don't see alot of goals but they can be the most exciting games to watch. Two great teams pitted against one another, stale mating each other at every turn. Somehow the Southern States can't see the excitement in that. Detroit is a good team this year, awesome team, but boring to watch. Don's right in that aspect. Having grown up in Windsor and spending alot of time in Detroit, I don't recall seeing too many rednecks though. Alot of tough, hard working, blue collar workers that want good, hrd hitting, entertainment but I think redneck is not the accurate word to use to describe them. GO WINGS!!!
  46. S.L. S from Western Canada, Canada writes: Matt O from Canada, Actually Matt, my brother in law in Windsor and my brother in Toronto tell me that Detroit and Toronto are heavily corporate owned seating arenas. This would explain all those empty seats. Both those teams have strong fan support, there are always the band wagon jumpers, but both buildings used to be full back in the 80's when they battled for last place. Since corporations started buying up the seating alot of seats have been left empty. Both my brother in law and my brother tell me it's very hard to get Detroit or Toronto tickets these days. I'm out West so I only have their word to go by. That's my theory anyway.
  47. Matt O from Canada writes: S.L. S, I think you have a good point...I should have clarified by saying that the bandwagon types are those that buy up the expensive seats, who are mostly corporate types. But it's also true that a lot of Red Wing fans "suddenly" emerged in the late 90s, just as a lot of new Leaf fans "inexplicably" emerged during the Doug Gilmour years.

    I've heard Calgary is pretty bad with the corporate types in the good seats as well, though maybe that's not the part of Western Canada from which you hail.
  48. R Miller from Halifax, Canada writes: Biggest Redneck from United States:

    That's the spirit !

    I was starting to think that Americans were trying to strike too hard of a bargain on my ESPN exile proposal!

    What do you say? ESPN takes Cherry and Montreal and Nova Scotia recall William Shatner and Anne Murray respectively...

    Keep in mind that we already took Celine back from Vegas...

    Deal?
  49. S.L. S from Western Canada, Canada writes: Matt O from Canada, your right Calgary is pretty bad for the good seats. Plenty available up in the rafters though. Another place that has the band wagon type seating arrangement. It was fairly easy to get tickets at the beginning of the season but as soon as they started winning, they all disappeared.
  50. R Miller from Halifax, Canada writes: Maybe, here's another idea for the Cherry Fan Club to ponder...

    Perhaps the culture of this sport needs to change and go through a few hard years to bring in more viewers for the future...

    If people think that many sane people want to bring our kids to see the on-ice blood baths that used to regularly take place between the Avs and the Wings so we don't have to watch talented teams play "boring" hockey, they are sadly mistaken...

    If "boring" means talented, winning hockey, Go Wings and Go Pens!

    Cheers.
  51. R Miller from Halifax, Canada writes: Another deluded Maple Leafs' fan telling the ROW that they know "zippo" about hockey...

    Please remind us what Cherry's actual accomplishments within the NHL were again... What year was that?

    ROFLMAO! Too funny!!
  52. Aubrey Rose from Canada writes: Matt O from Canada: My comments pertain solely to the style of play of the Russian hockey players during the Canada-Russia series. We're talking about hockey players, not the general public in Russia. I have no idea why there are so many empty seats for Detroits' home games. Notice the postings stating the hockey is boring. For what it's worth, Don Cherry also thinks it's boring. Why haven't the bandwagon fans jumped back on the wagon, seeing that the Wings will likely win the Cup ? Fans don't lose interest in their home team without a good reason.
  53. Devil Bud from T.O., Canada writes: Miller: The culture of the sport that your refer to is the way the sport is and should be. If you don't like it, sign your kids up for ringette and figure skating. The bleeding hearts are the ones thinking that they have right to change the sport because they want their porcelain kids to play hockey without the actual inherent risks. For the record, what Bettman et al. are doing to the game is a travesty, and by the end of his tenure, the game of hockey will no longer truly exist. On the other hand, a version of hockey suited for soccer moms will. The moral of my story...Stay away from Hockey, and Hockey players will stay away from your Ballet classes. Fair is fair, unless you want Walter Gretzky coming to Ballet studios and telling you what is wrong with the Nutcracker.
  54. Scot Loucks from Pickering, Canada writes: It seems the Don generates as many comments as Leaf news. Almost as amusing as well.

    I like watching Don.... he makes me laugh... and I was a Bobby Orr fan. Feel sorry for all the grandmothers out there who had to sacrifice their sofa and curtains for his suits though.

    Disagree with him about Detroit being boring. They are a puck control team and they do just that.... control the puck. Hard for the other team to score if they don't have the puck. For those that think skill and puck control is boring. Get used to it.... they will win the cup this year and puck control will be the "new" NHL.

    btw; Pens haven't won anything yet. Lets see what happens tonight before we start making predictions.

    Either way.... Detroit is going to take the winner of that series to school in 5 games or less.

    Cheers
  55. Matt O from Canada writes: Aubrey Rose from Canada writes: Matt O from Canada: My comments pertain solely to the style of play of the Russian hockey players during the Canada-Russia series. We're talking about hockey players, not the general public in Russia. I have no idea why there are so many empty seats for Detroits' home games. Notice the postings stating the hockey is boring. For what it's worth, Don Cherry also thinks it's boring. Why haven't the bandwagon fans jumped back on the wagon, seeing that the Wings will likely win the Cup ? Fans don't lose interest in their home team without a good reason. ================================================= Well, yeah, I think hockey in general is pretty dull as dishwater these days...I've only stayed interested in this year's playoffs because of the Wings and Pens (and the Habs, for as long as they were around). The Wings are hardly the most boring club in the league...there are far worse culprits to point the finger at...one of them is staring at them across the ice. Btw, did anyone catch Pens GM Shero's comments about how great his team's "defensive system" was? This from a guy who has assembled one of the most exciting teams in the league. The defence-first style of hockey has infected the sport from top to bottom, and it's no use going around blaming one club.
  56. Neil no more last name from Mississauga, Canada writes: Times change ...Some people are scared of change... Adapt or get left behind....It's the most basic concept.
  57. R Miller from Halifax, Canada writes: Devil Bud from T.O.:

    Some of you Leaf fans are so fricken deluded that meds should be prescribed...

    What's with the reference to Walter Gretzky coming to "Ballet studios and telling [me] what is wrong with the Nutcracker?"

    Do you actually think Wayne Gretzky played Rockem Sockem Goon hockey ?

    I think Gretzky was actually several years in the league before he even took a clean check...

    Talent wins hockey games --- A few of the centre of the Universers might find it "boring" but you will have to adapt or your Make Beleafs will continue in their current mediocre ways.

    Cheers.
  58. Devil Bud from T.O., Canada writes: Wow Miller: I should have stayed away from trying to get you to use abstract thought. I'll put it more simply for you: When you attempt to change a sport in a fundamental way, it is no longer the same sport. Hockey is hockey, whether you like it or not. If you don't like it, don't play it. If you want to go around changing the sport, then don't call it hockey....call it what it is, ringette.

    As for the Gretzky comment...I said Walter, not Wayne. And yes, Walter and Wayne coached/played rock em' sock em' hockey. Luckily for Wayne, he never had to take a hit, or dish one out, but nonetheless respected real hockey. In addition, your arguments are lost when you consider who Wayne's present favourites are on his team. I'll give you a hint...one led the NHL in penalty minutes and the other is the current "leader" for Team Canada.

    As for your assessment of what wins hockey games, I never debated what "currently" wins hockey games. The point was that 10 yrs. ago a team like the Detroit Red Wings would have been pounded until their skilled players are no longer effective. So, I guess what wins hockey games is completely irrelevant, as it will depend on what rules you are playing under...the actual rules of hockey or Bettman Era Rules.
  59. steve allan from Canada writes: The people who make excuses for this idiot are the same kind of people who pull up beside you at a red light, their windows down, their stereo on so loud that it makes your car vibrate -- in other words - white trash.

    People like that are too ignorant and inconsiderate of others to know or care if their behaviour is annoying or unacceptable. In the old days we would round up this trash and send them off to some killing field somewhere where they would end up as cannon fooder.

    Oh, the good ole days!
  60. steve allan from Canada writes: By the way, anyone who knows anything about Detroit knows that the Red Wing fans don't come from Detroit, they come from affluent suburbs like Grosse Pointe, hardly what I would call 'redneck'!

    Anyone who knows anything about suburban Detroit knows they have some of the nicest suburbs of any city in North America, and they would put to shame any of the McSuburbs you see ringing Toronto.
  61. Devil Bud from T.O., Canada writes: Wow Steve Allan....Who's white trash again? Somehow, we were talking about hockey, and it turned into some kind of personal vendetta against Don Cherry supporters. I'll make sure to roll up my windows whenever I approach red lights, wouldn't want to end up as cannon fodder. Haha!!
  62. John Woodrow from Hamilton, Canada writes: I fail to see why anybody listens to Don Cherry. Is there any substance behind the noise? So far I have not heard or seen any...but then perhaps its the shirt collar necktie people like!
  63. R Miller from Halifax, Canada writes: Devil Bud from T.O.:

    And how are Wayne's Phoenix Coyotes doing, Bud?

    Do you see a Stanley Cup in their immediate future?

    "Abstract thought".... Is that what you call it?

    PS.. No, John Woodrow, I don't think that there is any substance behind his noise -- his tactics are entirely shock and offend, but to deny that Cherry has no significant influence with a certain segment of hockey fans would be silly ... Remember that he starts just about all his talks on HNIC with "...OK, listen up all you kids..."

    Cheers.
  64. Mike Witcher from Montreal, Canada writes: Steve Allen, I also remember the good old days when
    people who made sweeping, arrogant generalizations about other people who enjoyed a certain form of entertainment were sent off to the coal mines and forgotten.
    Furthermore, when people who were bitter and angry about their own sorry lives lashed out at easy targets we also banished them to the coal mines.
    Ahhh, the good ole days.
  65. Sissy Schuss from Canada writes: for the record a mule is a cross between a horse and a donkey and is not crastrated but born sterile

    not sure if this applies to Franzen
  66. steve allan from Canada writes: Mike Witcher from Montreal, Canada - I didn't know there were coal miners living in Montreal??
  67. Scot Loucks from Pickering, Canada writes: You Cherry haters must have just loved tonights coaches corner eh.

    lol... AHL and the Leafs..... nice.

    Glad to hear him mention Jay Harrison (Oshawa not Toronto lad though). I've been complaining for most of the year that he should be playing in the NHL.

    Cheers
  68. John Stanton from Canada writes: Joseph Daniel - I LOVE Canadian promotion. Cherry is absolutely right to promote Canadians especially ones that toil in the minors like he did. I love the fact that he is a true Canadian - talks about history, talks about the military, talks about people's moms and dads, about the Staal's grandfather. As he gets older and especially after the death of his wife Rose, you can see him become more emotional. He was bang on about Jay Harrison and the Marlies saying the Leafs deserve to be a bad team when they ignore players in their own backyard. He loves Crosby so enough already R Miller....whiney Montreal fan.

Comments are closed

Thanks for your interest in commenting on this article, however we are no longer accepting submissions. If you would like, you may send a letter to the editor.

Report an abusive comment to our editorial staff

close

Alert us about this comment

Please let us know if this reader’s comment breaks the editor's rules and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.

Do not use this to complain about comments that don’t break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.

Back to top