Unlike my good friend and co-worker Shawn Lavigne, I have never had much time for the black-and-white world that Don Cherry lives in, and constantly pushes from his bully pulpit (in both the true sense of the term, and what it’s come to mean) every Saturday night on Hockey Night in Canada.
His knee-jerk rejection towards almost all things European has smacked of xenophobia from day one. And on Main Street, Canada, Cherry has found a willing audience, who lap up his pearls of wisdom like so many Timbits, not-so-secretly cheering the ex-coach on for daring to say what the average English-speaking Canadian hockey fan feels in his bones.
Cherry has taken a life spent mostly in minor-league hockey, and through hard work and his own charisma, has turned it into a Canadian institution. So much so, much of his Saturday Night routine can be turned over to the glorification of the military, regardless of the complex issues involved, and nary a discouraging word is heard from those who should know better.
The scary thing is, this Paul Harvey everyman, sitting on the front porch with a lemonade, wistfully lamenting the passing of the old ways approach, maintains a magnetic pull on many folk. Enough so, I’ve often wondered how much influence the likes of Cherry have on the game of hockey at the grass roots level.
The rejection of the European influence, the glorification of fisticuffs, the shouting down of any opponents; all these things remind me of a certain percentage of hockey parents that can be found at virtually any community arena in Canada.
Personally, and I know I’m far from alone with this opinion, Don Cherry has been more harmful to the game of hockey than helpful.
Even stating that above opinion is enough to call down the wrath of pundits and columnists, who’ll muddy the waters with accusations of one being a tree-hugger, or politically correct for daring to reject the musings of Cherry the Icon.
The great thing is, this past Saturday evening, one Icon dared to criticize another.
When Cherry speaks, his words have weight. Others have occupied the same position in the past, but only Cherry has managed to transcend the cookie-cutter hockey intermission hosts and analysts, though it’s worth noting that former NHL’er Mike Milbury has chosen to travel down that same road.
So when The Loud Man, as my 4 1/2 year-old son calls him, roared Saturday night about Alexander Ovechkin, and his theatrics after scoring a goal, it was only a matter of time before people started to weigh in with their opinions.
Where I disagree with Cherry is his fallback position of underscoring the European heritage of Ovechkin, as if he just was the latest in the line of Euro trash prima donnas who have donned the blades in the NHL, conveniently disregarding the likes of Tiger Williams, Bernie Nicholls, Mike Foligno and Theo Fleury. It’s a flimsy, tired old adage that by now should have been retired to a dusty, old broom closet somewhere in the bowels of the Hockey Hall-of-Fame, alongside the plaques for Gil Stein and Alan Eagleson…so I wholeheartedly agree with Shawn Lavigne on this point.
Where I find myself agreeing with Don Cherry, and apparently there really is a first time for everything, is in the, shall we say, exemption that Alex Ovechkin has received from his fellow compatriots in the National Hockey League.
For the longest time, the overt celebration of a goal was one of the no-no’s of the celebrated, yet never-seen-committed to paper, Code in the NHL. Sure, raise your arms in the time-honoured manner after lighting the lamp, but act like you’ve done it before. Show us up, and we’ll show you our fists.
Not that I’ve personally ever agreed with that stance; a guy like Ovechkin is great for the NHL, as he’s supremely talented, charismatic and understands that hockey is entertainment, and he is a master showman.
My wonderment has been why Ovechkin has not been accorded the same treatment others would be for his theatrics. And on this past Friday evening, while Home Ice XM 204 aired a game, Terry Mercury and I were done in the basement offices, debating with Eric Gage that very subject, obviously without knowing that Cherry would tackle the same subject less than 24 hours later.
Like it or not, Ovechkin does get away with some questionable physical play on the ice, and one of these games, he’s going to have to face the consequences, like all players do.
Do not get me wrong, and I’m concerned that a legion of Ovechkin apologists will rush to judgement, as they foam at the mouth at even a hint of criticism directed the way of Number Eight; Ovechkin is one of the few true superstars in the NHL, and is very good for business.
He should continue to celebrate goals in the manner which has made him famous, but he should also understand when someone decides to go all Dale Hunter on him. Oh sure, when a player does that, it’ll be wrong, and should be penalized, so I’m not suggesting someone should do it, I just think it’s a matter of time before someone will do it.
I never want to the NHL to become like the NBA during the heyday of Michael Jordan, and allow a softening of the rules for certain players. Arguably, that has always gone on in every major professional sport, but what makes hockey great is that if you could have caught Wayne Gretzky, you could have hit him.
Mind you, the likes of no-talents like Dave Semenko would have been there to physically assault you, but that’s another issue. You were permitted to hit the stars, though sadly, it seems these days that no-one knows how to take a hit anymore without getting all worked up about it. That’s also another issue.
What was great about Cherry’s rant this past Saturday was how he defended Sidney Crosby, the ying to Ovechkin’s yang. A super talented player himself, Crosby has done everything but hoist the Stanley Cup in his four years in the league. Yet, because of his penchant for whining ala Gretzky circa 1981, as well as his mug being forced into the face of hockey fans as the perceived “Official Face of the National Hockey League”, there exists a palpable fan backlash against Sid the Kid.
Many have taken to Ovechkin almost as the anti-Crosby, in much the same manner that many hitched their wagons to Mario Lemieux during the mid 80’s.
If anything, Cherry himself has fanned these flames, whether it was criticizing the way in which Crosby hot-dogged a lacrosse-like goal while in junior hockey, or just appearing like the disapproving uncle. So much so, some may have found their world rocked on Saturday, when Cherry finally waved the Canadian flag in reference to Crosby, who was born in the province of Nova Scotia, which is, I understand, still part of the Confederation of Canada.
Lavigne may be suggested that Cherry zip it, but I, for one, thought Washington Capitals’ head coach Bruce Boudreau’s reaction was the most laughable.
First, it was predictable that Boudreau would come to the defence of his star player; ain’t that part of the Code, as well? Second, what really cracked me up was Boudreau spouting the usual platitudes about Cherry being great, etc.
The exact quote that Howard Fendrich of the Associated Press got was, “He’s a friend of mine. And he’s an idol of mine. I mean, I love what Don Cherry has stood for, for 30 years. I just think that even the smartest people in the world are wrong sometimes, and I just thought he was wrong,” Boudreau said.
Loving what Don Cherry has stood for, for 30 years? Are you kidding me? Apparently not. Then, why the big surprise that he turned his small-minded guns on your gunner? It was only a matter of time. The quote about the smartest people in the world invites much laughter, and I think it speaks for itself.
Bruce, the Don has spoken. He is your Idol. Your must bow down to your Idol. He is never wrong. Hey, 4 million hosers across Canada can’t be wrong.
What? Oh, time for a commercial. Gotta sell something. Ron and Don will be right back.
- Mick Kern