The puck stops here for Grapes

[MC Habber]

The puck stops here for Grapes
By GAYLE MACDONALD
From Thursday's Globe and Mail

The love-hate relationship between the CBC and Don Cherry is so strained that the two sides are preparing to sever their 23-year relationship at the end of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

CBC brass is apparently fed up with trying to keep Canada's best-known bombast in line and on a politically correct leash. But if he goes, Mr. Cherry's departure will polarize the country, which is invariably delighted or infuriated by this 70-year-old iconoclast's recurring bouts of foot-in-mouth disease.

Mr. Cherry, reached at his home yesterday, said he fervently hopes he remains at the Coach's Corner pulpit with his 20-year partner, Ron MacLean. But he's not saying which way the wind will blow. "If they want me, they haven't approached me on that, one way or the other.

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

"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. In fact, down in the States I've been offered more money, but I love doing Coach's Corner. I haven't asked for a raise in three years because I just like doing the show."

....

www.globeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20040429.wxcherry29/BNStory/Sports/

[Polarice]

I heard that TSN was interested in having Don and Ron work for them a few years back. I wonder if they are still interested?

Maybe a half hour show or something. Could be good. I remember when Dave Hodge left the CBC and went to TSN. It turned out to be a good move for TSN and Dave.

[franko]

There'll be a lot of opportunities for him.

And CBC will bring in someone non-controversial (read bland and boring).

He may be a ranter and appear to be on the fringe of lunacy sometimes, and you may not like much/most/any of what he says, but he is always interesting (some people change the channel when he is on until Coach's Corner is over; other people change the channel when he is on to watch him so that they can complain about what he says!).

[patate]

Kelly Hrudey is not boring and is a really knowlegeable guy, I see him in Donny's shoes next year. Kelly has always been right in his analysis and does not seem to favor any team, he only makes logical statement. Cherry on the other end, never had really interesting stuff to say about hockey technicalities. The high ratings came largely from an audience waiting for controversy or really biased statement towards their team. Or the clips of his "favorite" players chopping head off (read Domi).

[MC Habber]

Cherry should learn to use a telestrator, it would make his analysiseasiertounderstand.

[LeafSuck]

cherry is a caveman.

anyone see him yelliing at mclame on sunday? he is one of those people who cannot stand anyone having a different opinion than him. what he lacks for in intelligence and brains, he makes up for in yelling and ignorance.

i have a hard time believing the cbc will get rid of him. they're ailented so many viewers over the last few years with their leaf-loving, than the only people they have left are, you guessed it Leaf fans. so if they fire cherry, they are pissing off alot of leaf fans and who will watch than?