Is there a point where Don Cherry could impact the business of hockey?

[cutchemist42]

The NHL has already made a statement but an issue the NHL fights is being the "white-guy" with players of colors saying racism exists in the sport at all levels.

If you're the NHL should you just tell CBC to get him off the air before he ruins something you're trying to fight?

Click to read more...

 

[Fenway]

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[cutchemist42]

 

[Fenway]

Cherry's short term fate is in the hands of Labatt Canada which sponsors Coach's Corner

Labatt.com - LDA

Cherry's supporters drink a lot of beer and Budweiser could face a boycott if Cherry gets dumped.

 

[LadyStanley]

But haven't gotten an apology from Cherry.

 

[TheLegend]

But haven't gotten an apology from Cherry.

You won’t get one either.

As long as Grapes knows he has a following he’s never going to back off a comment he makes.

He double downed on his “jerks” rant last year, he’ll do it again with this.

 

[Fenway]

Toronto Star

For a while The Canadian Press had a reporter babysit Don Cherry on Saturday nights, because he might say something that made news. He was one of the most famous men in the country, in one of its biggest pulpits, and he said whatever he wanted. For many, that was part of the appeal.

So CP assigned someone to watch, just in case. They don’t anymore. But Saturday night, Don made another mess.

It really should be game over for Don Cherry this time after toxic ‘you people’ rant | The Star

Montreal Gazette

I grew up watching Cherry and remember when it was must-see TV every Saturday night. I have to admit, I rarely watch Coach’s Corner now because it has become so predictable (stuck in the old Rock’Em Sock’Em days), but I guess a lot of people still do. That would explain why Cherry is still on the air every Saturday night with Budweiser as his big sponsor.

Stu Cowan: Don Cherry's comments about 'you people' were disgraceful

BBC London

Commentator faces backlash over poppy comments

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

Does Cherry ever say he is referring to immigrants?

 

[Fenway]

Does Cherry ever say he is referring to immigrants?

Good point

Here in Boston, Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy was ripped on sports radio here for not wearing a poppy the last 2 games.

 

[TheLegend]

Hockey Canada statement...

 

[TheLegend]

Ron MacLean response....

 

[bluesfan94]

Does Cherry ever say he is referring to immigrants?

Explicitly, no, but he does say "you people that come here and love our way of life..." so it's fairly clear what group of people he means.

Cherry's short term fate is in the hands of Labatt Canada which sponsors Coach's Corner

Labatt.com - LDA

Cherry's supporters drink a lot of beer and Budweiser could face a boycott if Cherry gets dumped.

I wouldn't say it's solely in the hands of Labatt. And I'm pretty sure AB can handle a boycott of the few people who support Cherry so much they'll change their beer selection.

Anyway, to answer the original question, on a micro level, I do not think this hurts hockey. It may hurt Sportsnet if sponsors back out, but even that is relatively unlikely. As questionable as these comments were, they don't rise to the level of comments that have led to advertiser backlash on other channels. On a macro level, I think it can. Comments like these tend to reinforce the stereotype that hockey is a "white people" sport, and when persons of color compose an increasing market share both in Canada and the United States, it could have a negative impact.

 

[powerstuck]

You know, I have yet to find someone who watches hockey, specifically on CBC, on Saturday nights, JUST BECAUSE Don Cherry has a few minutes segments between two periods.

Honestly, I do watch CBC hockey, but I watch it because most often than not their play by play guys aren't homer and overall their telecast is great. I've never watched it because Don is there, so I wouldn't watch it less, nor more, whether he stays or goes.

 

[CokenoPepsi]

CBC has no control over Don Cherry anymore, it is all Sportsnet... just a small nitpick but whatever.

Also no, I don't think so... Cherry has his fanbase who seems pretty loyal...plus he 85 and this is most likely his last year

 

[seguino]

Sportsnet? more like Soynet

 

[Chaels Arms]

Never seen a situation like this before where everyone around the person who made the controversial comment apologizes but not the person himself. I don't think he'll be on TV much longer.

 

[Albatros]

He's done. Will probably be given the optics of a more graceful departure though.

 

[Cacciaguida]

I see nothing wrong.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Does Cherry ever say he is referring to immigrants?

The content of the comment makes it unnecessary for him to explicitly say, “I’m talking about immigrants”.

 

[ArGarBarGar]

Does Cherry ever say he is referring to immigrants?

"YOU people love OUR way of life" is a pretty solid indicator that he was talking about immigrants. It also falls in line with the whole "immigrants won't assimilate and are leeching off our culture" trope that some enjoy to use.

Would be great for him to clarify what he said, but he won't.

 

[Fenway]

The content of the comment makes it unnecessarily for him to explicitly say, “I’m talking about immigrants”.

I was in Montreal on Tuesday and most of Wednesday and I wanted to buy a poppy and nobody was selling them.

For decades you would see Canadian veterans selling them in downtown areas but the reality is today most of them who did so have passed on.

Look at what he said

“I live in Mississauga, where nobody wears one. Downtown Toronto, forget it . . . Nobody wears a poppy.”

The keyword is he said NOBODY - My own observation is that very few people under 40 wear a poppy and I believe it is now a generational thing.

 

[Fenway]

Ron MacLean had the audacity of saying he didn't catch it - BS as he said at the end 'love you for it' and gave a thumbs up

 

[tarheelhockey]

I was in Montreal on Tuesday and most of Wednesday and I wanted to buy a poppy and nobody was selling them.

For decades you would see Canadian veterans selling them in downtown areas but the reality is today most of them who did so have passed on.

Look at what he said

“I live in Mississauga, where nobody wears one. Downtown Toronto, forget it . . . Nobody wears a poppy.”

The keyword is he said NOBODY - My own observation is that very few people under 40 wear a poppy and I believe it is now a generational thing.

Two things:

1) When saying “nobody” he was in the middle of drawing a distinction between people in the big urban city and people in small towns. I don’t need to explain what the implications are.

2) He said, “they come here, whatever it is” and proceeded to talk about how “they” enjoy the Canadian lifestyle which is “paid for” by past generations. It’s quite obvious who he was referring to.

 

[cheswick]

Once again an overblown Don Cherry controversy. Much like all the rest of his “controversies”.

So to sum it up. People in the Toronto area don’t wear poppies. People in smaller cities still do. You people who come here and enjoy the Canadian way of life can at least buy a poppy. That’s the controversy? Saying immigrants should at least buy a poppy to show appreciation for the Canadian way of life they immigrated here for? I’m an immigrant. I don’t understand why this is controversial.

 

[ArGarBarGar]

Once again an overblown Don Cherry controversy. Much like all the rest of his “controversies”.

So to sum it up. People in the Toronto area don’t wear poppies. People in smaller cities still do. You people who come here and enjoy the Canadian way of life can at least buy a poppy. That’s the controversy? Saying immigrants should at least buy a poppy to show appreciation for the Canadian way of life they immigrated here for? I’m an immigrant. I don’t understand why this is controversial.

Why single out immigrants specifically when not only do many natrual-born citizens not wear them but many immigrants also DO wear them?