Tue May 06, 2008 10:41 am EDT
Worlds are colliding: Don Cherry joins ESPN
The last time an American television network drafted Don Cherry for the Stanley Cup Playoffs was when NBC decided to place him at the same desk with Brett Hull to really mix it up and make some great television. Cherry dropped some bombs, accusing the NHL of catering to American fans by eliminating fighting and calling that a mistake, because it's actually what these NASCAR-lovin', non-hockey people crave. Hull basically agreed with everything Cherry said rather than play the role of blustery contrarian, because Brett Hull absolutely sucked on NBC.
Well, Cherry will be back on U.S. television during the playoffs this season ... only it will curiously be for a network that doesn't (currently) have the rights to the NHL. William Houston of the Globe & Mail reports today that Don Cherry has temporarily joined the ESPN hive collective:
Cherry and Hockey Night host Ron MacLean will leave the CBC's Toronto studio for the road to cover the Philadelphia Flyers-Pittsburgh Penguins series, which will start on Friday. Cherry will do live hits by remote for ESPN's SportsCentre at the end of each Flyers-Penguins game. "When I'm finished with the wrap-up on Hockey Night, I'll do the ESPN spot," Cherry said. "Sherali [Najak, the executive producer of Hockey Night ] will help set it up for me."Cherry has plenty of critics, but ESPN's move to hire the Canadian-based commentator speaks to his popularity and profile among NHL fans on both sides of the border. "We're thrilled," said Mark Gross, ESPN's senior vice-president of studio production. "He's a great personality and being able to incorporate him into our hockey coverage is a nice addition."
Cherry will work the conference finals and then again in the Stanley Cup Finals for the WWL. So as fans and pundits still believe a move back to ESPN is something the NHL "desperately needs," is this rather noteworthy personnel move a harbinger of things to come? We don't necessarily agree with that line of thinking, but color us intrigued. Having Don Cherry on the air provides a level of puckhead street cred that, say, regurgitating Ray Ferraro does not. If it's a rather blatant attempt at pandering to disenfranchised hockey fans, it's a good one: Would you rather tune in for five minutes of postgame Don Cherry or 10 minutes of Keith Jones and The Muppet version of Johnathan Lipnicki filling time until World Extreme Rodeo starts?
In case you've forgotten, here's Cherry on NBC:
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78 Comments
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GO PENS!
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He will be the breath of fresh air hockey fans need from all the Cindy Crybaby butt-kissing the rest of the media will continue to do as the Flyers take down the last top-three Eastern Conference team standing on their way to the Cup!
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Don Cherry... nobody cares.
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We not only won the cup in 1974 but also in 1975, dope! The 76ers won the NBA championship in 1982-83. The Phillies won the World Series in 1980. The Phatoms have won the Calder Cup in 97-98 and 04-05. So before you start spouting you idiot box, you might want to do a little simple research.
LETS GO FLYERS!
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I'm still not sure why fans always feel the need to dump opposing fans into "your city" arguments. Who cares about the Phillies, Eagles, and 76ers in a hockey discussion? People need to get out and see more of the world, I think, if their arguments for a hockey series hinge on unrelated sports teams.
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Pat Mac, my only point is that the pantywaist you call a hockey captain in Pittsburgh is a terrible poster boy for the sport because, as talented as he is, those of us outside of Pittsburgh not wearing rose-colored glasses see that he whines and dives. The morons that run the NHL suck it up because they actually believe the new fans they wish to attract will find that lack of sportsmanship appealing. The media looks past his lack of sportsmanship and sees just his talent, and he's a great talent, but they do it for the money (to sell papers, boost ratings, etc.). Some other talented names in the postseason include Ovechkin, Kovalev and Koivu but, alas, their postseasons are over thatnks to the same team that will end Cindy Crybaby's.
LET'S GO FLYERS!!!!
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This is going to be a great series and the Flyers will again need to shut down a dominate scoring team and looking at how they did against Washington and Montreal they got the experience they need.
Important fact #1...Montreal lead the league in goals scored during the regular season and the Flyers shut them down.
Important fact #2...The Flyers scored more goals than Pittsburgh during the regular season.
Who's the offensive threat? Who continues to not get any credit for their offense and only gets labeled a physical team. HA! The Flyers have continued to beat all the nay sayers and will continue to do so.
LETS GO FLYERS!
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I sure hope so.
BTW, I said mothballs......
The Empty Netter
http://theemptynetter.blogspot.com/
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I don't see many fans switching over from Versus to hear what this anti American has to say. I hate NASCAR as well. But I cant stand the moron Canada is better at everything crap. And I'm a Leafs fan but live 35 minutes from Mellon arena so they are the team on my RSN. I have come to respect their style of play. Calling Crosby a "cry baby" only shows your ignorance of the Pens. He draws penalties, not because he crys, or "dives" but because he is faster and makes better moves, and taking a penalty is the only way to slow him down or stop him.
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