A week ago, Don Cherry was blamed by a random doctor in Toronto for violence in Hockey. Well on Saturday, Cherry finally spoke about that matter and of course he had a bit of a disagreement with his accuser, Dr. Tator....

As the clip said, Dr. Tator has been trying to apologize to Cherry for awhile now, but apparently Grapes wants no part of it. I think it's safe to say that Hockey has always been a violent Sport and to blame one person for recent incidents is a little bit ridiculous.

Experts around the world have been taking time out of their busy schedule (see: Congress/BCS) to do random reports on Sports, but the latest out of Canada, just might be the best we've seen. At a recent seminar a Toronto neurosurgeon finally said what we've all been thinking. That HNIC's Don Cherry is to blame for violence in Hockey. Via CBC News....

"He's a negative influence," Dr. Charles Tator told CBC News in reference to Cherry, a popular personality on Hockey Night in Canada. "The aggressive, lack-of-respect hockey that he preaches — we need to get that out of the game."

Tator, an expert on brain injuries, said hockey culture needs to change and Cherry could influence that.

"If he took a strong stand against no hits to the head, it would help," Tator said. He noted that years ago, Cherry added his voice to a move to reduce serious neck injuries in hockey by stiffening rules about hitting from behind.

Tator's view on Cherry was not shared by everyone at the day-long conference, including a former NHL player who left the game in the 1990s due to head injuries.

"Its a very provocative statement," Jason Smith, now an orthopedic surgeon in Toronto, told CBC News in response to Tator's opinion that Cherry contributes to the injury problem.

CBC Hockey Night in Canada's Don Cherry during a news conference Nov. 24.CBC Hockey Night in Canada's Don Cherry during a news conference Nov. 24. (Darren Calabrese/CP)"I feel that Don Cherry cares about people, ultimately," Smith said. "So to call him a problem — I don't know. I think it's more in the [hockey] culture. He's a product of that culture ... a little more of a rock 'em, sock 'em type."

Interesting, I guess. I mean people have connected hard hitting action on the field/ice, to violence off of it for years. I guess it's time we started blaming individuals.

MD blames Don Cherry for hockey violence (CBC News)

Well sort of. They didn't use their names, but two characters at the beginning of yesterday's Simpsons bore a striking resemblance to Don Cherry and Barry Melrose. At the start of the latest episode Homer is watching a Hockey game, when a fight breaks out. Homer gets mad at the announcer for saying that fighting is bad and after that, they go to a studio show which features the two Hockey talking heads....

I couldn't make out the names they used, but I'm pretty sure that's the two of them. Good stuff.

I didn't comment much about Don Cherry's recent undressing of Alex Ovechkin's goal celebrations, mainly because I'm a Caps fan and I'm biased in that regard, but more so because it's really nothing new. Today, Cherry talked with the Toronto Sun, and decided to express almost the exact same sentiment....

"I'm saying the same things I was before," Cherry said in a lengthy interview. "But the criticism is worse now. It has really picked up. I don't know why.

I admit I've been taken aback by all of it, the calls for me to get fired. Last week was the topper. I got ripped everywhere. I got ripped in four Toronto papers. The owner of the Washington Capitals wrote about me online. A couple of my friends in Florida saw it in the papers there. I'm front and centre. I guess I'm an easy target.

I'm having a good time. I can hardly wait for Saturdays. I really get a kick out of it. The critics? They never say one good thing I do. I've come to the point in my life where it doesn't bother me. I say to hell with them."

That's definitely the attitude to have. A lot of people compare Cherry to the likes of Bob Knight and Billy Packer, but I've always felt that Cherry loves his support to no end. I can't say the same for Knight and Packer. Don Cherry is an equal opportunity commentator, and is the same person that has gotten on both Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby.

Hopefully he doesn't try to tone things down, because definitely don't think he would be the same person that's become a beloved figure within the sport of Hockey.

Grapes ripe for pickin' (Toronto Sun)

If there's one constant in this World, it's that Don Cherry will give you a soundbyte on just about a daily basis. On Saturday, not only did he have a ridiculous voice crack, but he even managed to get the word "bitch" in while referring to his dog....

"But Blue, I know you're home watching. I just want you to know this bitch didn't mean a thing to me."- Don Cherry

Haha. I love the "okaaaay" that MacLean gives him immediately after the comment. How do you even respond to that? The answer is that you don't. Good times, Don Cherry. Gooooood times.

I passed along a story last week that Canadians were upset with the apparent Sidney Crosby shunning that was taking place during the Stanley Cup Finals and apparently Crosby's management has contacted the network about it. Via Globe and Mail....

At the conclusion of the deciding game of the Stanley Cup final on Wednesday, Sidney Crosby's agent, Pat Brisson, huddled with Scott Moore, the head of CBC Sports, at Pittsburgh's Mellon Arena.

The subject was Hockey Night in Canada's coverage or — from the point of view of Brisson and others — the peculiar coverage of Crosby in the NHL final series.

The Pittsburgh Penguins' 20-year-old captain was largely ignored by Hockey Night host Ron MacLean and commentator Don Cherry, although MacLean did report on Wednesday before Game 6 that Crosby was the leading scorer of the playoffs. And Cherry aired a piece on Coach's Corner, the thrust of which was referees were allowing Crosby to be fouled because he was known as a diver in his rookie season.

Apparently, the conversation between Brisson and Moore was amicable, but inconclusive.

I'm not really versed in things Canadian but it's really amazing that one of Canada's own would be ignored or boycotted because of something that happened when he was in Junior Hockey. Don Cherry is seriously good at holding grudges.

CBC should examine Cherry-picking coverage (Globe and Mail)
Canadians Upset With Cherry's Snub Of Crosby (Awful Announcing)

I'll admit ahead of time I have no idea what this is ultimately about, but apparently Don Cherry has something against Sidney Crosby. According to the Globe and mail the HNIC and ESPN analyst purposefully didn't bring up the Penguins young star after Game Three and he's ultimately hurting viewers....

On Wednesday, Sidney Crosby scored two of the Pittsburgh Penguins' three goals and logged almost 20 minutes of ice time to lead the Penguins back into their series against the Detroit Red Wings. It was a terrific performance.

But guess who received the attention during the Hockey Night in Canada postgame coverage? Gary Roberts.

The show's grudge against Crosby has gone well beyond ridiculous. Yes, host Ron MacLean interviewed him last Saturday, but the show's most influential commentator, Don Cherry, doesn't like him. And MacLean certainly defers to his elder.

When Cherry did his postgame spot for ESPN, he continued to ignore Crosby and wax lyrical about Roberts. Finally, ESPN commentator Barry Melrose said, “What about the Crosby kid?”

“Oh,” Cherry said. “I forgot. Yeah, he played a great game.”

Crosby should be a Cherry favourite. He's a Canadian, he's tough and he has been in at least one fight. But the two got off to a bad start when Crosby was in junior hockey and was rapped by Cherry for being a hot dog because he used a lacrosse-style stick manoeuvre to score a goal. For his part, Crosby has a bit of an edge and he probably hasn't been appropriately deferential to Cherry.

Canadians sure do know how to hold a grudge don't they? It's an odd situation, but if a viewer has eyes he knows how good Crosby was in Game Three. They don't need a joker in a ridiculous suit to tell them that.

Hockey Night snubs Crosby, and viewers (Globe and Mail)

Don Cherry is known for not having a filter, but he's going to learn that you can upset people very quickly with certain comments. He was responding to a question from John Buccigross about attendance problems in Detroit when he dropped the r-neck bomb....

Wow...that's one hell of a coat isn't it? That seems like a pretty good assessment minus the whole redneck business, and it looks like Don isn't making any friends in Detroit anytime soon. Good first appearance...way to make it a little controversial.

Don Cherry: "Detroit's a Redneck Town" (Fanhouse)

I'm not exactly sure why ESPN suddenly thinks that Hockey is worth all of this attention, but according to the Globe and Mail they're adding Don Cherry to their Playoff coverage.

"I guess they like my jackets," the Hockey Night in Canada personality said yesterday.

Cherry and Hockey Night host Ron MacLean will leave the CBC's Toronto studio for the road to cover the Philadelphia Flyers-Pittsburgh Penguins series, which will start on Friday. Cherry will do live hits by remote for ESPN's SportsCentre at the end of each Flyers-Penguins game.

"When I'm finished with the wrap-up on Hockey Night, I'll do the ESPN spot," Cherry said. "Sherali [Najak, the executive producer of Hockey Night ] will help set it up for me."

Cherry has plenty of critics, but ESPN's move to hire the Canadian-based commentator speaks to his popularity and profile among NHL fans on both sides of the border.

I personally love the guy and thought he did a great job on NBC last year. I hope they could get him and Barry Melrose in the studio together at some point. That would be a show.

America, Prepare to Be Blinded by Don Cherry (Fanhouse)
ESPN adds Cherry to beef up NHL playoff coverage (Toronto Globe and Mail)

Everyone get your acting resumes ready. If you are a 50 year old gentleman with ghost white hair and beard and wear some of the most ridiculous outfits ever, has CBC got the role for you!

There will be some loud jackets to fill when the CBC starts casting its latest made-for-TV movie: the Don Cherry story.

"We're trying to find out if Brad Pitt can play the leading role," jokes the movie's protagonist. "Maybe George Clooney could play me in the later years."

Pitt would actually be more appropriate since the two-part movie, written by Cherry's son Tim, deals mostly with the Coach's Corner star's early life in hockey's minor leagues. In fact, it will end when Cherry meets Ron MacLean, 24 years ago.

The movie is still in the development stages, with the younger Cherry's script being massaged by award-winning writer Paul Quarrington. Once CBC gives it the green light, shooting is expected to start this summer with next spring's Stanley Cup playoffs the target launch date.

I'm not exactly sure how you massage a script, and if it's similar to massaging a prostate, but only good things can come of this.

Cherry movie in the works (TheStar.com)

I know Chris Simon got suspended for trying to cut one of the Brothers with his skate, but I'm not quite sure why Don Cherry hates them so much....

My favorite part of the whole thing is how Cherry says he has to be careful with what he says and then goes into a tirade about how Jarkko deserved to be stepped on by Chris Simon.

"Those guys asked for it and they got it. First of all I want to talk about Simon and kids out there there's no excuse, he broke the code. You never do anything like that, ever ever do anything like that. But you can understand it somehow."- Don Cherry

Cherry Not So Merry For Latest “Coach’s Corner” (Sports by Brooks)

What do you do if your sport is losing viewers by the minute? People can't find your games on Cable, and you get one game a week on a major Network. Well you get rid of the only guy on the program who attracted attention.

Some liked him....some thought he was a little biased last year, but it appears that Brett Hull is being dropped from NBC after just one season. On Friday NBC Analyst Ray Ferraro told a Vancouver radio station that Hull had been let go.

Look we know pretty much every Championship Game/Series this year has been dreadful, so I'm not going to pick on Hockey. Buuuut seriously NBC....What are you thinking? Hull was right on when talking with Don Cherry about how the game needs to be changed. I enjoyed the Hockey I watched during the Stanley Cup Finals, and even considered checking in on Brett and company during the regular season next year.

If he's not involved I'll probably pass....well, unless this guy is his replacement. That way I can chuckle when he tells fans that "He doesn't want them at the rink."

I want to preface this review with the statement that I thoroughly enjoyed Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals last night. Great hits, high scoring, a puck shot at someone at the end of a period, a goalie "diving", and a ton of goals. Between that and Hells Kitchen my night was pretty stellar.

But with that said, I'm not here to talk about the game...you've already read that on ESPN, Off Wing Opinion, and the like. I'm here to talk about the triumphant debut of HNIC's Don Cherry. Read about my thoughts on him and the State of Hockey after the jump.

The guy is just plain awesome. In fact Hockey needs someone like him. Brett Hull is trying his darnedest to be the lighting-rod here in the States, but it's just not working. If NBC could somehow lure Cherry out of Canada I might watch Hockey more often. I mean the guy called out NBC's Dick Ebersol at one point...come on, that makes for great television.

“Remember Dick Ebersol, more fights, you’ll get bigger crowds”- DC

He even pulled out a newspaper clipping from a Buffalo paper and showed a marketing piece with about 10 different fights taking place in the ad. And you know what....he, and Brett Hull are right. Hockey sucks without fighting.

Everyone made a huge deal about not being able to take your family to the games because of the fighting. Well you tried that, and no one still goes. The tickets are already too expensive for families to attend. And screw the families really....it sucks you have kids we get it, but go to a Minor League baseball game if you don't want to pay the money. Your kids don't know the difference between Joe Schmo of the Chattanooga Lookouts and Albert Pujols anyway.

I want me some 80's Hockey where there's revenge and rivalries mixed in with respectful/honorable fights and skilled Hockey. Why do you think the UFC is so popular? People enjoy the skill and technique, but they f'ing LOVE the violence. It's human-nature. On the intro to the game NBC announced that one of the stars was some dude named Getzlaf. No one knows who the hell Getzlaf is! But I sure the hell know who Donald Brasheer, Georges Laraque, and Derek Boogaard are. And why? Because they kicked someone's a** this year and it's on YouTube.

Don't change the number of players on the ice, or the goalie's padding...well maybe the goalie's padding. Just bring back the fights and you will bring back the fans.

Oh, and Don Cherry got an A- last night, and Alanis got an A+ (goosebumps).



P.S.- NBC, please keep the 5-month old All American Rejects song too......great idea.

Like I mentioned last week, I plan on actually sitting through most of Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals tonight. I feel awful that I was just checking in for Don Cherry, but hey...at least I'm honest.

Well, now I've got two reasons to check-in and so do you! If you tune into to NBC right at 8pm sharp....you get some of this.....

It was announced Friday that recording star Alanis Morissette, a native of Ottawa, will sing both the Canadian and U.S. national anthems before Game 4 Monday night. After hearing Canadian recording artist Holly Cole and her brutal rendition of O Canada prior to Game 2, there’s no way Morissette could do a worse job than Cole, or Stephen Stills, who butchered The Star Spangled Banner prior to Game 1.

Apparently, the Senators are undefeated when Morissette sings the national anthem, which guarantees the series will go at least five games…

I'm all for superstitions, but ones that involve Alanis! Hell Yeah!!! LET'S GO SENS!!!!!!!

P.S.- Can someone tell me if missing a defensman like Pronger will make a difference in this game?

'Oh baby' says Sens Neil (The Hockey News)

I know little about Canada's Don Cherry. The guy seems to be brash and unapologetic in a Billy Packer kind of way, but Canadians swear by this guy. He will be on U.S. Airwaves (Monday- Game 4) for the first time since calling the then Penguin Duo of Jagr and Lemeiux, "Mario and His Daughter" because of their hairstyles (mulletacular).

Not only will Cherry appear on NBC, but Brett Hull will make an appearance on CBC for Game 3. So what did Hull have to say about Cherry's appearance?

"He tells it like it is. If they did it on a regular basis, he would be just as popular down here as he is up there. Part of the thing that's missing, not with just hockey, but in all coverage in the American sports world, is some personality. I think that's why you see a guy like Terry Bradshaw, as popular as he is. He's not just Mr. PC, going through 'that was a nice catch and throw.'"- BH

Umm...not exactly Brett. See as fans we like information over personality more often than not. But if you can pull both off we'll love you forever. Too bad no one will be watching to judge the interaction though. Sorry U.S. Hockey Fans...you are a strong fan base, and I admire your resolve, but 523,000 homes for Game 1? Good god that's bad (18% less than last year bad).

I understand ticket sales are strong, but that's only part of the equation. So what's the problem? Is it the game itself, the lack of U.S. stars, the fact that Versus can't be found??? Give me a reason to watch the Stanley Cup Finals other than recording the 5 minutes Don Cherry is on-air.

CBC's Cherry to Make U.S. TV Debut for Stanley Cup Final Game 4 on NBC (NBC's Press Release)
NHL Ratings Comically Bad (Lion In Oil)
NHL Ticket Sales Revived by Stanley Cup Playoffs (Ticket News)

(Photo via MJD's ultra-rad Debriefing.)