Cherry's future with HNIC in doubt
WebPosted Thu Apr 29 16:30:14 2004
There's a chance Don Cherry won't be behind his familiar Coach's Corner desk after this season.

Don Cherry, right, has not yet reached contract terms with the CBC for next season. The 70-year-old hockey commentator told the Globe and Mail the CBC has not committed to renewing his contract for Hockey Night in Canada next season.

Cherry told the newspaper he would like to return as co-host of the popular Coach's Corner segment.

CBC spokesperson Ruth Ellen Soles said the network had not yet decided on Cherry's status for next season. She said the network will review all contracts, including Cherry's, once the hockey playoffs conclude in June.

"If they want me, they haven't approached me on that, one way or the other," Cherry told the Globe.

"And if the CBC doesn't want me, I've had a good ride. I have no regrets and I wouldn't change anything."

Since news broke that Cherry might not return to Hockey Night in Canada, the CBC has received hundreds of emails, the vast majority of them demanding that Cherry be brought back next season.

Cherry has reportedly received overtures to work at other networks. However, sources inside CBC have told Sports Online that Cherry would choose retirement in favour of shifting to another broadcaster.

"I would like to stay with the CBC for the simple fact that I get a big kick out of it. I could make more money at other places," Cherry told the Globe.

Cherry's opinionated style has earned him legions of fans as well as a number of critics. He's been accused of crossing the line on several occasions during his 23-year CBC career.

The most recent controversy stemmed from the Jan. 24 Coach's Corner segment, when Cherry, while discussing the merits of protective visors as mandatory NHL equipment, said: "Most of the guys that wear them are Europeans and French guys."

The CBC went on to place Coach's Corner on a seven-second delay. The official languages commissioner also investigated Cherry's comments.

Whether viewers will see Cherry on Hockey Night in Canada next season is an open question for another reason: there's no guarantee that there will be hockey for the Coach to rant about. The labour contract between the NHL and its players expires on Sept. 15, 2004 and many observers aren't optimistic that a dispute can be avoided.

If, as many expect, the owners lock out the players, there will be no hockey, no Hockey Night in Canada and no Coach's Corner in the fall, perhaps for the entire season.

When Tie Domi and Donald Brashear are like top scorers in the serie so far.....Our sport is badly sick....
With all this hooking ,interferences and holding going on maybe the best player can't play to their level and this is where the pure brute takes off...
What is happenning to our sport????
This is third class garage league hockey...

Hey!!! I got those 2 guys in my pool, gonna collect a mint.

Don Cherry leaving hockey!

Good ridance!!!


Baba

CHERRY.. IS GOING NO WHERE.... HE WILL BE BACK NEXT SEASON......

.....GO LEAFS GO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I HAVE BEEN WATCHING THE OHL PLAY OFF SERIES....IT IS REALLY GOOD HOCKEY!!!!!!

...GO STORM GO !!!!!!!!!


sorry to all the london fans...that was a great series..too bad someone had to lose

Don Cherry won't be back ....He is going into politics....He'll screw you even more there...

Storm got it last night, lucky, for 4 in a row. Looks like they're on to the Memorial Cup now. We have a hockey pool going on at work so everyone's been keeping an eye on this series.

THEY ARE OFF TO B.C. FOR THE MEMORIAL CUP....WHAT A GREAT GAME LAST NIGHT..

GO STORM GO !!!!!!!!!

Not unless he runs as a Liberal.
The conservatives are interested in him, but he's not interested in running for politics.
Cherry will be back next year if there is hockey, and he will even get a big fat raise on top of it.
The management at C.B.C. is stupid, but not that stupid.
There was outrage at not renewing Ron McLeans contract, can you imagine what would happen if Cherry's was not renewed.
You may disagree, but the fact remains, Cherry is loved by millions of viewers.
I don't always agree with what he says, but I tune in to hear and see him.
The C.B.C. needs Don Cherry, more than Don Cherry needs the C.B.C.

At one point in history Hitler was also loved by millions and millions of people...Here's another example...People voted overwelmingly for the thieves in our parlament.... What people think is rarely good or accurate think about it ...A majority of people in the U.S. wanted the war against Iraq too...Now a majority of people want their soldier out of Iraq...
95% of the population are not educated enough to make judgements without bias...It is the case with Don Cherry that guy is an insane non-educated preacher...he's spreading stereotypes
instead of retrieving them...These are all lies of course but the majority of viewers looking at him and listening don't have the tools to critic him like he should be....
I'm always suspicious about what people think...I'm not the kind to be influence by others.... I hope that loser (story of his life) gets what he deserves....Kick him out C.B.C.!!!