Hockey's Cherry jumps into ESPN broadcast
Even if you're not much of a hockey fan, you're in for a real TV treat as ESPN adds "Hockey Night in Canada" announcer and commentator Don Cherry to SportsCenter beginning with the Flyers-Penguins Eastern Conference playoff series tomorrow.
Cherry, whose nickname is Grapes, is simply not to be missed, if only for his sartorial shock-value, which as you can see here is so brilliant that Cherry himself has to wear sunglasses. Plus, you just never know what Cherry is going to say although the full weight of controversy may be lost on those unfamiliar with hockey culture and sensitive issues North of the Border.
For instance, Cherry once caused an uproar when he suggested that players who wore helmet visors were mostly "Europeans and French guys." Now, this may not resonate much with a lot of non-hockey folks but Cherry was implying that European and French-Canadian players were more cavalier about player safety because they were prone to high-sticking and the visors were protection from retaliation. The furor had Cherry in trouble with broadcast and government officials -- although the stats did show he was partially correct.
If you've never seen him, I'm tellin' ya, Cherry makes the likes of Sean Salisbury and Charles Barkley appear tame by comparison. Cherry is an advocate of what he calls "rock 'em, sock 'em" hockey and here's a sample of a Cherry riff from last year:
"The fans love the fights, the players love the fights, the people go nuts on the fights ... but I'm told the reason they cut it down is because they wanted U.S.A people to watch it. Family! Can you believe that? That is the dumbest thing I've ever heard in my life. U.S.! NASCAR -- where there's crashing. Football -- kill the quarterback! Ultimate fighting! Who's kidding who?"
His wardrobe is just as colorful as some of his opinions as you can see here and here and here and here (with his pet bull terrier Blue). Cherry is donating his ESPN fee to the Humane Society.
Photo: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images
Comments
I've been surprised at how much ink Cherry's addition to the playoff broadcast team is getting in sports circles, given that it's only for 2 rounds in one season. I think he'll give existing fans who haven't seen him on Hockey Night in Canada a very different style of perspective, though I can't imagine the short tenure really reaching new fans.
But if things go over well and he enters into some sort of long term involvement (not necessarily continuous, but at least periodic) I would not complain in the least, even though I don't always agree with his stances, particularly on fighting and visors (get rid of fighting, mandate full length visors for safety I say).
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Jay,
Cherry is the John Madden of hockey ... of course, not completely analogous in their styles, but you get my drift. I think this is a fascinating move.
-- Bill O.
Posted by: Jay Maduro | May 8, 2008 11:42 AM
I'd like to see cherry do a number on harry sinden. the boston fans would love that
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Talk about blast from the past.
-- Bill O.
Posted by: gildo russo | May 8, 2008 3:41 PM
This is great news. As an American in love with the game of Hockey, years ago when I started ordering the Center Ice package I was introduced to Mr. Cherry. He's an excellent hockey mind that ESPN could use more of. I'm still wishing ESPN would have given the NHL a respectable contract, and here's hoping Cherry brings a fresh perspective to rather lackluster hockey coverage on the network. We need more NHL coverage, better coverage here in the States. It's a great sport that sells itself, but it needs the right channels to grow.
Posted by: Shawn D | May 8, 2008 4:40 PM