THE DON CHERRY SAGA – NEVER A MORE UGLY STORY OF TRUTH, DISHONESTY, IGNORANCE, AND COWARDICE – A BLACK MARK FOR CANADA
Shameful.
Phony.
Predictable.
Lame.
Disgusting.
Sniveling.
Does not get it.
Those words, individually and collectively, all describe the feckless, cowardly Ron MacLean’s attempt to garner absolution from hockey fans across Canada Saturday night. In place of Coaches Corner MacLean delivered his limp soliloquy, which was designed for him to attempt to square himself with hockey fans of Don Cherry’s after last Saturday’s pitiful backstab and quisling.
MacLean feebly, and sheepishly, explained his position in a bifurcated form of mea culpa and self -righteous conviction pronouncement. MacLean essentially sucked and blowed in announcing his love for Cherry and seeking forgiveness from Bobby Orr while offering up an empty and meaningless and, deliberately, foundation-less explanation for his caving in to political correctness.
MacLean wanted to give the appearance of some type of principled stance – inspired by Cherry – in his defense of not ‘falling on his sword’ too. It was Don Cherry’s fault, you see, that MacLean felt compelled to observe that he had grown a spine over the years because of Don’s leadership and mentoring. It was these newly developed vertebrae that MacLean relied upon
Some of Maclean’s address:
“I’ve sat all week long, reflecting, listening to you and I have heard you — I mean you, the viewer. I’ve reflected by listening to my own heart. And they say — I’ve struggled mightily to find the words and I’m not sure I have them even now but they say it’s a good thing because when you can find the words, it’s dead in your heart. And it’s not dead in my heart.”
“I felt so bad and I apologized immediately. And Don, you know Don, defiant,” MacLean said. “There were steps that needed to be taken because of what had been said by Don. And he didn’t want to do those steps. So, he made his choice and I made mine.”
“I thought a lot about falling on my sword too,” said MacLean. “But then I thought if I do that I infer what happened was right somehow, or that I am going along to get along, or that I am going to just sit silently by or be a bystander again in a situation.”
Additional drivel from MacLean can be found in this article
The most egregious and scandalous part of MacLean’s monologue was to suggest that he was – and we paraphrase – ‘in the foxhole with Don’. That is beyond scandalous. MacLean, the ultra uber left wing halfwit, would not know a foxhole from his own a-hole and the chances of him actually being in one is equal to the likelihood of Justin Trudeau growing a brain.
MacLean’s only concern was to seek redemption among hockey fans – Don’s hockey fans – while be supplicant enough to the cult followers of political correctness. No mention was made at all about the most vital aspect of this fiasco: truth. Don Cherry spoke the truth as unpleasant as it is to the sensitive ears of MacLean and fellow followers of the same world view. It is more important for MacLean, and his ilk, to appear to be ‘woke’ than it is to see the truth. The objective truth.
And how is the objective truth manifest here – all one has to do is to read the comments made by Canadians on the articles mentioned herein to see the truth revealed. It is unequivocal and the view is shared almost all commenters. Even with large margin’s for sampling error, there is absolutely no doubt that Don Cherry’s view is the view of the nation.
It was telling in MacLean’s address that he mentioned the New York Times and the UK Guardian. These two publications are rabidly progressive/socialist and are the reading choice amongst the hubristic smart set in which MacLean and his opinions and political inclinations have always resided. That mention should have given those watching a big clue to his sentiments which would line up to some of the most odious ‘writers’ the world has ever seen – Thomas Friedman, Paul Krugman, Maureen Dowd, Frank Bruni.
This clamour around this profoundly sad event in Canadian history has been immense. Not because of the subject matter but because of the nation’s peoples’ revulsion to the outcome and to those who are members of the politically correct cult. Sportsnet and its sponsors are complicit in this debacle, crumbling to the miniscule – truly- voices of the offended. – for which any criticism is tantamount to the most egregious event in world history. It is called ‘triggering’ in today’s culture and is already overused, and it leads to the final solution for these contemptible cultists which is language. The ‘R word’ is tossed about at will regardless of the fact that those who use the term cannot even define it’s meaning. If patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel, then use of the R-word is the last refuge of an ignorant moron. It is also a signal that the accusers are devoid of ability to identify an alleged slight.
This event has invoked the greatest amount of virtue signaling the country has ever seen. This is emblematic of the 416-area code and the emitted narratives by members of the politically correct cult. Sportsnet and some of it’s major sponsors immediately – in addition to firing Cherry – issued predictable platitudinal pablum statements to calm the feelings of the perpetually offended victim groups. It did not matter that what Don said is absolutely accurate, these cowards had to respond as they did to maintain their cult membership cards.
Sportsnet statement was the most predictable:
Sportsnet called Cherry’s remarks from last Saturday “divisive,” and said they “do not represent our values or what we stand for” when announcing his firing on Monday.
As soon as anyone or any company or group issues such as statement, it is all to apparent that political correctness is at the heart of the issue for them, not the issue at hand itself. This amorphous phrase is used so often over the last 20 years that it is meaningless, and all are aware of that fact. It ranks right up with another meaningless phrase – “I take full responsibility for my actions” – as if there is someone else who did it or if one a choice not too since it is irrelevant. You did it, you own it. As if such an utterance is the ultimate in remorse and courageous at the same time. It is total bull sugar. And so is the ‘our values’ dreck.
Not to be outdone, scribes and other ignorant know-nothings jumped on the hanging cart to admonish those outside of the 416/GTA area as duplicitous racists for being supporters and fans of Don Cherry and worse still, for agreeing with him. We would be remiss is we did not identify on of these know-nothings and the article generated by this slimy snowflake.
The person’s name is Arun Srinivasan. He is, really, a nobody who considers himself a ‘sportswriter’. Looks like he has never played any sports of any kind, so that makes him an ‘expert’ for certain.
Here are some of his observations:
his decades-long friendship with Cherry and implored the viewing public to do the same, even if his friend has long stood as hockey’s avatar for racism and xenophobia.
Cherry’s rampant racism and insensitivity — both last week and through his four decades on television.
Mercifully, MacLean then told Cherry how much he loves him and ends his speech by honouring what he meant to the game. Surely, he didn’t mean to honour a decades-long legacy of racism, xenophobia, sexism, toxic masculinity, ignorance toward the risk of brain injuries and a climate of unwelcomeness in hockey. In paying homage to Cherry, and to himself, MacLean learned absolutely nothing this week.
It is the modus operandi of the left, since they control the vast majority of media platforms in North America, to create articles that purport to be the prevailing narratives of the nation. They believe that their world views are shared by the vast majority of the populace when, in fact, they are not shared by the majority of the populace. And so, it goes for Mr. Srinivasan. He believes that his perspective on this matter is the de facto perspective of the nation. And if it is not, then everyone is a racist – like Don Cherry.
It appears that this person has a massive chip on his shoulder and is a bigot as well. He cites, in his article, hockey’s shortcomings with respect to – another amorphous phrase/word- ‘inclusiveness. This person is, obvious, wishing there were some type of affirmative action – aka quota – plan in place for hockey whereby there would be a certain percentage of non-whites in the NHL and, no doubt, throughout all thing’s hockey. It seems that interest in the game and/or meritocracy are non-factors in percentage of non-whites in the hockey universe. Any barriers for anyone to get involved in hockey is not identified, especially since there are none. However, it would not be a surprise if this individual was not skilled enough to play the game and not qualified, other than by pigmentation of the skin, to be employed by any organization in the hockey universe. The distinct odor of a spurned personal grudge wafts over this person’s animus to hockey and it’s fandom. So easy, nowadays, to characterize anyone as a racist in order to seek atonement for the sleight of incompetence.
Mr. Srinivasan is not only an incorrect sniveler, but also someone of questionable intelligence in not being able to decipher staunch patriotism wrapped inside of truthful criticism of all in Canada who do not support the sacrifice made by the country’s young heroes who provided the very freedom and liberty enjoyed by all who reside here. This is typical of the ignorant and self-absorbed. Furthermore, to slander Don Cherry with unfounded accusations of every phobia known to mankind is despicable. If Srinivasan thinks Don Cherry is the avatar of racism in Canada then Srinivasan is the avatar of ignorance, bigotry, and suckiness.
Even today – November 18, 2019 – Mr. Srinivasan posted another article on Yahoo sports to report on the comments of Bobby Orr from last week. While this is not new news, Mr. Srinivasan posted an article which seems to be clearly and solely for the purpose of attempting to smear Bobby Orr. The last sentence in the article exposes this fact. Srinivasan is not an honourable person.
The articles mentioned above were posted on Yahoo – a liberal/progressive/socialist bastion – and in the comments section of the articles, there was overwhelming majority support for Don Cherry and his statements – we guess over 95 %. People also slammed the snowflakes for being snowflakes, Ron MacLean for being a spineless quisling, Labatt as cowards, as well as Sportsnet for being the biggest cowards of all.
Don Cherry is a patriot and a great Canadian. No one has promoted the game and Canadians in the game of hockey more than Mr. Cherry. Mr. Cherry comes from a humble background and worked hard for everything he has achieved. He is a plain and truthful speaker who values courage, honesty, compassion, perseverance, freedom, and there is no greater supporter of the Canadian military than Don Cherry. Anyone who has seen him in action over the last 40 years knows that Mr. Cherry is no bigot or racist. Mr. Cherry has always encourage young people to adopt the ideals of hard work and perseverance, to act like men, to compete honestly, to respect all, to dress appropriately, to respect their elders; to take pride in their work and accomplishments; to shun arrogance and to revere the athletes creed of being humble in victory and gracious in defeat; and to not act like a clown. Mr. Cherry often said that this is the Canadian way. And he is correct.
It is one of the biggest tragedies in the history of Canada, that a patriot and icon is treated this way. Don Cherry should be celebrated and honoured. All those who have denounced Mr. Cherry are the lowest of low.
We close with the following – a post from the Facebook page of Eat My Beaver, then an article by Mr. Rex Murphy from the National Post, and finally a real-life example of what this really all means:
Rex Murphy: Shame on you Sportsnet. Don Cherry deserved much, much better
It takes a lot of what Jessica Yaniv was trying to get waxed to bring the guillotine down on an 85-year-old man
Don Cherry is photographed on Nov. 12, 2019, the day after being fired from Coach’s Corner by Sportsnet for comments he made about people who don’t wear poppies in honour of Remembrance Day.Craig Robertson/Postmedia News
— W.B. Yeats (who had a dream a hundred years ago, about Don Cherry and the Sportsnet weasels)
Just to set the tone here: Three cheers for Don Cherry. And as that clearly seems insufficient — three more cheers for the grand old man.
Way to go Sportsnet. It takes a lot of what Jessica Yaniv was trying to get waxed to bring the guillotine down on an 85-year-old man, to toss him out — on Remembrance Day — for delivering a passionate sermon about the wearing of a poppy on … Remembrance Day. You guys are so tough you probably have to wear helmets and shin pads in the office.
For 39 years Don Cherry has been the face, the voice, and the proudest celebrator of the country’s chosen game, and Sportsnet snaps that career shut, hurls him off air, because what I will call “the usual crowd” got all huffy and screamingly righteous over what — at worst — was an indelicate phrase that was all of two words.
There is no career in all of Canadian sports history, and there will never be another one as successful, as entertaining, as continuously animated and enthusiastic as Don Cherry’s. And this is how it ends. No testimonial dinner. No gathering of hockey heroes, old and young, to toast and roast the master communicator of the game. No TV specials to celebrate the greatest television star that purely Canadian TV has produced. He is, you know.
Instead, without so much as time to take a breath, Sportsnet gives him the boot in an (ungrammatical) three-sentence press release that should be put in a museum for its rare blend of perfect corporate sanctimony and utter cravenness. He deserved — he deserves so much better and you crowd should be ashamed of yourselves for treating Canadian hockey’s No. 1 statesman the way you have.
Sportsnet press release … should be put in a museum for its rare blend of perfect corporate sanctimony and utter cravenness
No need to listen to me on Don Cherry, however. Not when one of the game’s handful of absolute legends has had his say on this tawdry episode.
How fine it is, so very fine, to read of one of the gentleman heroes of the Canadian game, Bobby Orr, being so clear and straight and direct when talking of his one-time coach and forever-friend, Mr. Cherry. How fine to see a man standing up against the supercilious sneering and precious denunciations of an 85-year-old Canadian patriot, and declaring without qualification, that he — Mr. Cherry — is NOT a bigot, NOT a racist — the witchcraft accusations of our time — and to those who know him and have had the gift of his acquaintance, the actual opposite and antithesis of both of these scandalous libels.
Bobby Orr, who knows Don Cherry like no one else knows him, put the cap on the moment with this slap shot of a statement: “What they’ve done to him … is disgraceful. It really is.” Good on you, Bobby Orr. Disgraceful it was, and it is so good in these days of timorous evasiveness and sly circumlocutions that you found the right word and had no hesitation in using it. Not to mention that standing up for your buddy and mentor displays such real character, the character of standing by a friend in an hour of fury when the know-it-alls are piling on him.
Speaking of which. Up until a few days ago I had as little awareness of CTV’s “The Social” as someone living in Tibet. I know now that it is one of the yakfests that clutter the morning schedule, a clone of the excruciating U.S. headache “The View.” And based on the now infamous ignorant rant about “white” boys who were “not very nice” and often “bullies” and — this was the golden touch — “and for me Don Cherry was the walking representative of that type” — I would say that at The Social, common decency is known only as the name of a dog that visits the lobby of a building next door.
How smug what’s-her-name was, talking about “white boys” and “types” and parents who haul themselves out of bed at unearthly hours, and travel sometimes great distances to sit in bleak arenas, sipping stale coffee and munching staler doughnuts, to enable their youngsters who have the great heart-urge to learn the Canadian game.
And as she so memorably observed: Don Cherry is their type. Yes, he is their type. And that is why for nearly 40 years he has been loved by hockey dads and moms throughout the whole nation. And not incidentally he has also been the very “type” of Canadian who respects above all others those in the military, who has honoured veterans as no other, done more kind deeds out of the public eye than The Social has fashion tips and inane conversations. As between The Social and Don Cherry, its chickadees sneering at an eagle.
For nearly 40 years he has been loved by hockey dads and moms throughout the whole nation
I might also mention he is a fervent Canadian patriot of the old-fashioned kind — another “type” I am sure he is absolutely proudest (prouder even than being hockey’s statesman) to be.
I’ll wind it down with the simple observation that Mr. Cherry deserves much, much better than this. There are apologies due, but not from the master of Coach’s Corner.
I’d rather walk down a dirt road on a cruel February night listening to Don Cherry telling hockey stories than spend a whole warm evening in a banquet hall with his preening detractors.
Rex Murphy
And finally, readers of PSR must assuredly wonder why so many political articles are posted on the site. We stated a long time ago that we would follow the lead of ESPN – a left/socialist/progressive/commie rag site if ever there was one. ESPN oozes political correctness and sanctimonious ignoramuses tripping over themselves to virtue signal. And so, we have posted political articles to illustrate how everything today is politicized – EVERYTHING. And sports is no exception. If you wonder why this has happened, look no further in the political ideology of the left and its impact on inculcation of generations on socialist dogma and how it has manifest itself. Part of that evil brew is political correctness which has elevated itself to the apex of current social mores without people – the afflicted – ever realizing their infection.
How does that tie into Don Cherry? Well, we will tell you: the truth has been shrouded by political correctness and reduced to a meaningless mantra to be individualized. The objective truth does not matter, only an inculcated individual truth as dictated by the state. That is one the evil consequence of socialist ideology – to destroy institutions and cultural traditions. If you believe that to be opinion and not fact, then you have not educated yourself about the subject matter.
Some additional evidence of the left trying to control a narrative is that Yahoo – and other sites – are ‘flooding the zone’ with articles to sustain a narrative that Mr. Cherry’s comments are anathema to the majority of people in the country. These articles are composed by millennials in the GTA. Nothing could be further from the truth, at least with respect to Yahoo where one can view posted comments. IN ALL INSTANCES the vast majority of people – we estimate, after reading the majority of comment, that it is over 90% in support of Mr. Cherry and his position. And that is the pulse of the country. This link to an article supports our assertion: https://ca.style.yahoo.com/don-cherry-no-longer-represented-what-it-means-to-be-canadian-232427624.html
Additionally, the GTA media is intentionally putting hockey players and others in hockey on the spot to comment on this incident and to avoid the prevalent ‘cancel culture’ these players and others are not – in our opinion – being honest with the media for fear of being targeted for scorn and tarnish their reputation. The media is, essentially, squashing free speech and this tactic is abhorrent.
What happened with Mr. Cherry is a manifestation of the ideologies of the left/socialist/progressive agenda. And you – the voter – are complicit. You have chosen to elect governments, at all levels, that have poisoned, through the education system, young people and beat down opposition to socialist principles via the language police who have used certain words to squelch debate on top of mischaracterizing the meaning of words. It is insidious and has happen through the ballot box. And it will not get any better unless the pushback is hard and constant, and voters cast out socialists from the political arena. Ignorance has been the main reason for this as people have chosen to be willfully ignorant and apathetic. Without a fight, you will lose your freedom, liberty and your culture. This is a guarantee. The question is what will you do about it?
In closing here is a real-life story – TODAY: PSR has it on good authority from a trusted source that within the Corrections Community – where convicted criminals reside – Corrections officers who teach courses in the prisons/jails must apologize – in front of and to the prisoners – for their ‘white privilege’. That is happening today in prisons/jails in Ontario.
