Tuesday, November 19, 2019 ~ NATIONAL
by Mary P Brooke ~ West Shore Voice News
There’s nothing subtle about the long-time Hockey Night in Canada colour commentator Don Cherry. From his brash wardrobe to hard-edged comments, he made his way into the homes of hockey fans for almost 40 years as the co-host of Coach’s Corner during the first intermission of NHL games on Saturday nights.
That era is no more. Cherry’s comments ahead of Remembrance Day about “you people” (newcomers to Canada) not seeming to wear enough poppies to his satisfaction was too much for the changing face of Canadian sports audiences. Cherry was offered a mea culpa opportunity by Sportsnet, but he refused to budge. He was canned.
The poppy commentary was certainly off-colour and offensive to many. But it came on the heels of many years of some sectors of the Canadian audience merely putting up with his comments that were at times bigoted and misogynistic.
It goes a long way back. For example, Swedish players in the NHL who were raising their families in Canada saw their children bullied at school over comments like deriding the Swedish players as “chicken Swedes”. That was years ago, but Cherry’s approach never changed. He obviously still had a particular set of viewers who liked the tone of intimidation, but the size of that crowd has no doubt diminished over the years.
Canadian culture and the job market has changed. Someone who keeps the same job for 40 years and doesn’t change his ways should not be surprised to be moved out — particularly if he is in the public eye. In fact, there was great loyalty to Cherry for keeping him in front of audiences so long. He’s 85 years old.
Like pushing the reset button, this could be a very welcome advance for Hockey Night in Canada ratings. There were probably more than a few casual hockey watchers who thought over the years — what, is he still on the air, are we in a time warp? — who may now begin or return to televised hockey on Saturday nights.
Though if commentator Ron MacLean remains as flatline as he has all these years, that won’t be much of a ratings booster. His weak apology on the following Saturday night about “principles vs friendship’ only barely overlaid his satisfaction at finally getting the top job after sitting quietly alongside a ranting Cherry over the years.
This is an opportunity for sports-entertainment management to find a fresh new format for an evolved Canadian audience.
~ MPB
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This editorial was first published on page 2 in the November 15, 2019 print-PDF weekend edition of West Shore Voice News.