Oh, happy day. I know it’s in poor taste to celebrate someone else getting fired but this was well-deserved, it was finally time. Don Cherry, “legendary” hockey personality for Canadian sports network Sportsnet, is out after a recent “You people” Coaches Corner rant. Cherry, 85, was irate at those in Canada who we’re wearing a poppy to help remember veterans in Canada. While patriotism is often admirable, the singling out of immigrants (without even trying to hide it) was probably the worst way he could have gone about voicing his frustration.
The following social media campaign to see this old, overrated, bigot lose his job was mesmerizing. There were obviously those who downplayed the whole event, saying he should be lauded for his class, and that has a right to speak his opinion. While that’s true, that doesn’t mean Sportsnet has to continue to pay you to be an asshole on national TV.
Sportsnet Answers the Bell
This entire past weekend was a battle between sects of twitter and facebook that saw this as patriotism and those that saw it for what it is; racism. Don Cherry has made plenty of money fooling people into thinking he was the authority on all things hockey. From pissing over POC’s chances in the league to blasting European (mainly Russian) players for anything and everything. He’s been damaged goods for too long, and the hockey community should be glad to see him go.
I understand many people grew up watching him and I’m sure at one point, a long time ago, he made sense. Today, we don’t need a loose cannon, Lou Holtz impersonator telling us the dos and don’ts of modern-day hockey. I’m sorry for all of you that feel as though a part of your childhood is lost with this news, but there’s no place for it in the league, in the media, and among fans. Goodbye, and good riddance.
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