Don Cherry is a racist tool 'n should be banned on TV

[Ice-Tray]

not the point I was making, but as my chem prof said, the world will always need ditch-diggers.

Canada is a dominant hockey country, Norway and Finland are not in the same level of Canada, Sweden, USA, or Russia. To belittle them like that is petty. To have a broadcaster do that, what kind of message is that sending? Knock their style, their play, etc, just keep the punches above the belt.

The day of rule of the White, middle aged male WASP is done. In our current age, we have to be more respectful of others, the world is moving out of the stone age you are still a part of...suck it up buttercup and get with the times.

The irony is that your chem prof is one of those ditch diggers now, no prestige in education anymore, sadly.

What we need less of these days, is people with delicate sensibilities sitting at their keyboards complaining about everything. A lack of political correctness, does not mean lack of respect. Oddly, Cherry does more for people in general, of all ages and cultural backgrounds than any of us ever will, and yet people are here on their soapbox fighting the good fight for the imaginary Norwegian slighted.

Weird.

 

[Hanji]

You think Cherry's support of soldiers is for propaganda purposes? Your opinion is as misguided as your use of that song lyric.

Typical of the complaining type that lacks either the sense or the courage to focus their displeasure at the appropriate targets, but rather choose to place blame on the ones who have the least say in the matter, and who suffer the most.

My point is that there is never an excuse to not support the troops. Question the politics that send men and women to die on your behalf absolutely, get angry at the politicians who make the decisions, but to complain that Cherry does a memorial to dead soldiers, and supports the boots on the ground is pathetic.

Judging by your posted opinion on the subject, I too am happy that I am nothing like you.

It's not that simple.
Soldiers knowingly give up their right to self determination by joining the military. By joining, individuals accept that they may be put in a position to act immorally.
Nobody should be immune to criticism if it's a result of free will.

 

[Hanji]

I am sick of his hating and racial comments towards Non-Canadian hockey players and people in general. It look so disgraceful, insulting and unprofessional.

As some of you did saw his 1st intermission in Canada vs Norway game where he called Norwegians as Finns and on being corrected by Ron Maclean that they are not Finns, rather Norwegians. Don Cherry ignorantly and blatantly responded saying "same thing"

I mean are you ****ing serious? The whole world is watching and you're going to sit their, looking stupid and disrespect a whole country and more so, make Canada look bad?

Honestly, how the eff does he have a job on internationally broadcast TV?

You take Cherry too seriously.

His entire schtick is an act. He plays the old bigoted coot role to perfection.
In reality he's a very savvy entertainer who knows exactly what buttons to push. Heck, he's even married to a Ukrainian lady.

 

[Ice-Tray]

It's not that simple.
Soldiers knowingly give up their right to self determination by joining the military. By joining, individuals accept that they may be put in a position to act immorally.
Nobody should be immune to criticism if it's a result of free will.

I would argue that joining the military does NOT mean that a person accepts that they may have to act immorally, nor does it by default open them up to criticism above and beyond that of an average citizen. I would also say that the military in general, and by extension the government that we elect which governs its deployment, is expected to ALWAYS act in a moral manner, even when carrying out wartime activities.

I know I'm being a bit over-dramatic here, it's true. My point is that taking aim at Cherry spending time making tributes to dead soldiers, and supporting the soldiers over seas does not represent military propaganda in sport. It's one man's opinion, and support, and not a network or government sanctioned message.

I do agree that soldiers are not above criticism, however it must be levied based on their actions, not due to their involvement in general. Most soldiers are part of the military before conflicts ever arise, and are sent overseas to perform missions without choice. Criticism of the mission must be levied at those who make the decision to order the troops to go, rather than the troops legally bound to obey.

We can hate war, wish we weren't involved, petition the government, etc, but we should never extend our hate to those having to carry out the will of our elected leaders (in the absence of specific atrocious behaviour).

My opinion anyways.

 

[PeterSidorkiewicz]

Cherry is a tool, he's a leafs fan, does there need to be any further explanation?

 

[StefanW]

I would argue that joining the military does NOT mean that a person accepts that they may have to act immorally, nor does it by default open them up to criticism above and beyond that of an average citizen. I would also say that the military in general, and by extension the government that we elect which governs its deployment, is expected to ALWAYS act in a moral manner, even when carrying out wartime activities.

I know I'm being a bit over-dramatic here, it's true. My point is that taking aim at Cherry spending time making tributes to dead soldiers, and supporting the soldiers over seas does not represent military propaganda in sport. It's one man's opinion, and support, and not a network or government sanctioned message.
I do agree that soldiers are not above criticism, however it must be levied based on their actions, not due to their involvement in general. Most soldiers are part of the military before conflicts ever arise, and are sent overseas to perform missions without choice. Criticism of the mission must be levied at those who make the decision to order the troops to go, rather than the troops legally bound to obey.

We can hate war, wish we weren't involved, petition the government, etc, but we should never extend our hate to those having to carry out the will of our elected leaders (in the absence of specific atrocious behaviour).

My opinion anyways.

And Top Gun was just a movie that was solely there to entertain people. You seem thoughtful, so I was expecting a bit more with respect to the part I bolded.

Anyway, there is always more to elite level sports than just competition. Starting from playing national anthems and moving right through representing one's country at the Olympics, there is a nationalistic element to professional and elite level sports. Cherry beats the nationalistic drum as well as anyone, and amplifies messages that are already a part of hockey culture. Stepping beyond what governments or networks put an official stamp of approval upon, which is an exceptionally shallow way of looking at things, I don't believe it is possible to reasonably argue that national pride and pro sports are separate and disconnected entities.

So long as I am already posting I'll make a more general comment. The whining about political correctness that appears in some posts in this thread is really old and stale. Boo hoo, you don't like being corrected when you act like an ******* in your day to day life. Get over it. If some people are offended by what Cherry had to say, then that is their right. However, trying to somehow shame people by tossing out buzzwords like "PC" is really just intended to silence or diminish people with a different point of view, and telling them that their point of view is not welcome here. To be honest, at this point that type of thing is not offensive so much as just plain old boring.

 

[icefists*]

The man is entitled to his opinions don't like it don't watch.Enough people in this country either like/agree/find him entertaining enough that not only is he given prime air time they pay him a truck load of money to do it, if he upsets someones prissy sensibilities they have no one to blame but themselves for watching him. After all its not like hes been hiding it for the last 30 years everyone knows what his veiws are, change the channel when he comes on if you don't want to hear it.

 

[bacon25]

Top 10 Most Controversial Don Cherry Quotes

10. Ontario players

After Ron Wilson's firing early this month, Don Cherry went on a rant about the Toronto Maple Leafs and their GM, Brian Burke, noting that the Leafs were the only NHL team without an Ontario-born on the squad. "Every team in the National Hockey League has a guy from Ontario except one. Guess who it is? It's Ontario's Toronto Maple Leafs. Now if you want American college guys, if you want Americans, you got the team." Burke responded, calling Cherry's comments "garbage" and saying, "We drafted eight Ontario kids -- the most of any team in the NHL".

9. Typical American

It's no secret Cherry and former Toronto Maple Leafs coach Ron Wilson aren't exactly the best of friends. During Wilson's first year coaching the Leafs, Cherry was quoted as calling him "Napoleon," "arrogant," "pompous" and "a typical American." Cherry also criticized Wilson earlier this year for not applauding the Canadian troops. This sparked the continuing controversy between Cherry and Leafs' GM Brian Burke.

8. Dog Food

In 1989, Winnipeg Jets' owner Barry Shenkarow threatened to sue Cherry for referring to the team's assistant coach, Finn Alpo Suhonen, as "some kind of dog food."

7. Hot Dog

It's common knowledge Cherry is not a fan of showboating. So in 2003, when Sidney Crosby (who was then still playing junior in Rimouski) celebrated a goal by sliding on the ice on his knees, Cherry reacted by calling Crosby a "hot dog." Cherry also didn't take kindly to Crosby's behind-the-net goal he scored when the game was already a blowout.

6. Pinkos

Cherry attended Toronto Mayor Rob Ford's inauguration, wearing a bright-pink suit no less, and said he was wearing it in honour of "all the pinkos out there who ride bicycles." Cherry also stated that Ford would be the best mayor Toronto ever had and addressed Ford's opponents, saying, "Put that in your pipe, you left-wing kooks."

5. French-Canadians

During the 2008 Olympics in Nagano, Japan, Bloc Quebecois party members complained there were too many Canadian flags in the Olympic village. Cherry responded by saying "They don't like the Canadian flag. You know it's funny, they don't want the Canadian flag but they want our money." He also said, "Then we pick a French guy, some ski guy that nobody knows about," referring to French-Canadian skier Jean-Luc Brassard, who was selected as Canada's flag bearer.

4. Too much sweetness

In 2006, when former New York Islanders winger Zigmund Palffy scored against the New Jersey Devils, he celebrated by kissing teammate Travis Green on the lips. Cherry's reaction? "I know those guys who wear visors are sweeties, but that's a little too much."

3. Visors

In 2004, Cherry spoke out against players who wear visors but took a stab at non-North American players when he said, "Most of the guys who wear them are Europeans and French guys. And you cannot have half the league wear them and half not." The statement sparked outrage among French Canadians, but it also started an investigation from the Official Languages Commissioner. Later that year, CBC Sports Online conducted a survey that proved, statistically, Cherry's comment was pretty accurate.

2. Pukes

Late last year, during Coach's Corner, Cherry took aim at former NHL enforcers who linked alcoholism and emotional issues to fighting in hockey. He responded to their comments saying, "The ones that I am really disgusted with are the bunch of pukes that fought before: Stu Grimson, Chris Nilan and Jim Thomson. (They say) 'Oh, the reason that they're drinking, (taking) drugs and (became) alcoholics is because they're fighting.' You turncoats. You hypocrites." Not surprisingly, the three ex-NHLers took offence and threatened legal action. Cherry later apologized: "I've done 1,500 shows, and ones I've done bad on or haven't been right on, I can count them on a hand but (last week) I gotta admit I was wrong on a lot of things. I put three enforcers, tough guys, my type of guys ... I threw them under the bus, and I'm sorry about it, I really am."

1. Cheating Russians

During the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City, two Russian cross-country skiers, Larissa Lazutina and Olga Danilova, tested positive for Darbepoetin (increases red blood cells) and were disqualified. Don Cherry weighed in on the incident, saying, "I've been trying to tell you for so long about the Russians. What kind of people they are and you just love them in Canada with your multiculturalism." After the Olympics, Cherry addressed his comments on Coach's Corner and said "I don't regret one word I said "¦ I meant every word of it."

Pretty long list of stuff that is unimportant, the guy is self-centered but hardly a national embarrassment. Part of his job is too be controversial and Maclean is there to be the good cop to his bad cop routine.

Racism is hating people based on their parents, nationalism is hating people based on their birthplace.

Both are hating people based on things they have no control over, and both are disgusting ideologies that do nothing but harm society

Hating people based on their ethnicity can be a product of nationalism but it is not the true definition of the word.

I don't think "racist" is the right word...

He's ignorant and prejudice.

This x 1000, everyone suffers from these two character flaws, it is amazing how people still choose to be offended by him.

 

[FolignoQuantumLeap]

What we need less of these days, is people with delicate sensibilities sitting at their keyboards complaining about everything. A lack of political correctness, does not mean lack of respect. Oddly, Cherry does more for people in general, of all ages and cultural backgrounds than any of us ever will, and yet people are here on their soapbox fighting the good fight for the imaginary Norwegian slighted.

This.

Most people have been programmed to overreact to these type of events and feign outrage. How about caring about a real issues? If you want to stay with the Olympics I suggest looking into Russia's civil rights and environmental issues l before worrying about an 80 year old man saying all Scandinavians are the same.

 

[Novak Djokovic]

This.

Most people have been programmed to overreact to these type of events and feign outrage. How about caring about a real issues? If you want to stay with the Olympics I suggest looking into Russia's civil rights and environmental issues l before worrying about an 80 year old man saying all Scandinavians are the same.

Agreed.

The sensitivity level for petty things is just annoying. There are much bigger issues going on that people should be frustrated/angry about.

 

[CanadianHockey]

I think discussion has basically run its course. Too much borderline flaming.