CFN – The war between Canadian Hockey legend Don Cherry and American GM of the Toronto 
Maple Leafs, Brian Burke, heated up after a barrage by Grapes on Hockey Night in Canada.
The movie Goon, finishing first at the box office in Canada kinda shows where this nation’s hockey sense and feelings lie.
The Leafs have the most loyal fans in Hockeydom. The Leaf nation stayed loyal during the dreadful Harold Ballard years, and now in the Burke era the results have been similar.
In Mr. Burke’s fourth season at the helm the team sniffed at the play off door only to skid out of contention.
The firing of Mr. Burke’s chosen coach, Ron Wilson, and hiring of his former coach in Anaheim, Randy Carlyle spurred on the right to the heart attack by Grapes, that the Leafs don’t have a single Ontario homey on the Major league roster in spite of so many NHL’ers being from the province.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEQF0Pts4aY
Mr. Cherry pulled the Nationalism card; a powerful one when it comes to our Nation’s sport. Hockey is one of the things that brings Canada together. With the NHL being so American Centric it can touch nerves. With the failure of several US franchises to gain the support and fervor apparent in Canadian markets is it a wonder why more people don’t voice out like Mr. Cherry?
Phoenix is still draining league coffers, and several other US franchises suffer while cities like Quebec wait for a team and Billionaires line up to put a second Toronto area team in place.
Why on earth would Mr. Burke ever try to get Don Cherry fired? There are going to be a lot of guys choking back tears and pulling on a beer the day Don hangs up his suit and leaves Hockey Night in Canada. We should be embracing and enjoying our institutions, and yes, Donald S Cherry is a Canadian institution instead of letting some American Hockey wannabee dictate to us how hockey should be run in its homeland.
Jamie Gilcig – Editor – The Cornwall Free News
Way to Go Don. Call it as you see it! You have a point! A good point!
I wish more leaders were like Don he is honest and isn’t afraid to speak his mind and apologize if wrong! He also demands respect and is right the majority of the time!
Best Comment EVER:
Ron Mclean: “Nice jacket you have on there grapes!” – refering to a bright Pink jacket Don was wearing!
Don Cherry: : “I’ll tell you something……Guy’s like me can wear pink but guys like you can’t! An you know that’s true!”
100% True and hilarious because I know I personally would wonder about Ron but would never question Don Cherry wearing pink!……EPIC!