Over the weekend, Hockey Night In Canada analyst Don Cherry was in the news after the Toronto Sun’s Steve Simmons (Yes, the Phil Kessel-hot dog column guy) speculated that Grapes’ contract may not be renewed.
Cherry responded to the rumors on Monday.
1) I must say I am hurt and disappointed that my friend Steve Simmons would suggest in his Sunday column that Hockey Night in Canada might not want me back for next year. I was told a week after the playoffs I would be back.
— Don Cherry (@CoachsCornerDC) July 8, 2019
2) The question I ask is this… why didn’t my friend Steve phone me and ask me?
— Don Cherry (@CoachsCornerDC) July 8, 2019
Hockey Night In Canada confirmed on Twitter that Cherry would be back too.
Despite rumours, Don Cherry to remain host of Coach's Corner.
How does that make you feel?https://t.co/Pr16v2ZpcL— Hockey Night in Canada (@hockeynight) July 8, 2019
The report that initially caused many to believe Cherry’s TV career was over was a quick hit from Simmons’ Sunday column.
Simmons’ wrote:
One thing that hasn’t been confirmed for the next season of Hockey Night In Canada: the return of Don Cherry and Coach’s Corner. Rogers is cutting all over the place, which included the removal of Bob McCown on radio and television and Doug MacLean doing the same. Cherry is handsomely compensated for his work. Not sure if this is a place they want to go with the 85-year-old.
The rumor was then given new life by @yyzsportsmedia, who, according to Reddit, has broken countless Toronto Sports Media stories.
Of all the names we heard that were going to be cut at @sportsnet HNIC, Donald S. Cherry was #1. Numerous sources told us that Grapes knew himself last year was his worst ever & with the need to cut costs Paramount we were told he had done his last game. #more pic.twitter.com/TGJTToGt4d
— jonah (@yyzsportsmedia) July 7, 2019
During the 2018-19 season, Cherry criticized the Carolina Hurricanes for their postgame team celebrations, calling them “a bunch of jerks.” Cherry later levied the same insult to Evgeny Kuznetsov after being irked of his bird-walk celly.
“[Kuznetsov] is deep in the [offensive zone]. Watch Hedman get the goal. Remember, kids. Hockey Night in Canada. Karma hockey: always come back. He’s not even in the thing. He is a jerk. And he inspires the other team. Remember, kids. Never inspire the other team,” Cherry said.
“You know, that’s what hockey should be for, for fun,” Kuznetsov said to the Washington Post. “Fans like it, and you know, the way [Cherry] talk, it doesn’t make him look good, right? If he thinks he’s good, he should check his record when he was coaching in the CHL and that’s it, he should shut his mouth.”
Regardless of his return, Grapes should stop producing analysis that is xenophobic and irrelevant. Cherry recently criticized the Toronto Maple Leafs’ draft on Twitter by pointing out the teenagers’ nationalities.
Leafs Draft Picks
Washington won the Stanley Cup two years ago with a big tough team and a big tough Canadian boy
Tom Wilson, who I saw play minor midget in Toronto. He stirred the drink for the club which helped win
them the Cup. St. Louis Blues won the Cup this year. A big strong tough club, with 16 Canadians, hit and
hit some more. Put out Hertl, Pavelski and Karlsson in the San Jose series. Took no prisoners. MVP
Canadian, saw play here in Toronto, Ryan O’Reilly tough and gritty and co-MVP as far as I’m concerned,
Jordan Binnington, won the Cup for them, also saw him play minor midget, also Canadian. The best
defenceman in the playoffs by far Alex Pietrangelo also a Canadian big tough kid I saw play in Toronto.
Ok Lets go over it…. Tom Wilson, Ryan O’Reilly, Jordan Binnington, Alex Pietrangelo all from Ontario, 16
Canadians on Blues… a Blue print on how to win the Stanley Cup. The Maple Leafs team who needed
jam and sand paper last year drafted; 1 Russian, 2 Fins and 3 Americans all described as rather on the
small size 5’9 to 5’11. The Leafs have gotten smaller and gentler… this team sits among 40000 kids who
love the Leafs… it really does boggle the mind.
How do you feel about Don returning?
