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Don Cherry has finally gone too far.聽聽
The long-time Hockey Night in Canada commentator with a knack for garish getups and controversial views was fired Monday over a remark he made about immigrants during a weekend broadcast.聽
Cherry, 85, suggested in his 鈥淐oach鈥檚 Corner鈥� segment Saturday night that immigrants in and around Toronto do not wear the poppy, a Remembrance Day symbol that is sold to raise funds for Canada鈥檚 military veterans and their families.
鈥淵ou people, you come here, you love our way of life, you love our milk and honey 鈥� at least you could pay a couple of bucks for poppies or something like that,鈥� Cherry said. 鈥淭hese guys pay for your way of life that you enjoy in Canada. These guys paid the biggest price.鈥�
Cherry鈥檚 comment drew intense criticism from viewers, the National Hockey League and even his 鈥淐oach鈥檚 Corner鈥� sidekick, Ron MacLean, who the next day expressed regret for not challenging Cherry鈥檚 comment.
So many complained to the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council that it was forced to post a notice advising that its 鈥渢echnical processing abilities鈥� had been exceeded and it could not accept any additional complaints about Cherry.
Bart Yabsley, president of Hockey Night in Canada broadcaster Sportsnet, condemned Cherry鈥檚 remark as 鈥渄iscriminatory鈥� and 鈥渙ffensive鈥� and said they were not representative of the company鈥檚 values 鈥渁nd what we stand for as a network.鈥澛�
Yabsley followed this statement Monday with news that Sportsnet was letting Cherry go, effective immediately.聽
鈥淪ports brings people together 鈥� it unites us, not divides us,鈥� Yabsley said.
The broadcaster thanked Cherry for his contributions to hockey, saying he is 鈥渟ynonymous with hockey and has played an integral role in growing the game over the past 40 years.鈥�
Cherry applied his trademark 鈥渢humbs up鈥� to his dismissal, Toronto Sun columnist Joe Warmington 鈥渘o problem.鈥�
鈥淚 know what I said and I meant it. Everybody in Canada should wear a poppy and honour our fallen soldiers.鈥�
The Poppy Fund is run by the Royal Canadian Legion, an organization founded by veterans of the First World War that remains Canada鈥檚 leading voice for veterans鈥� rights.
While expressing its appreciation for Cherry鈥檚 鈥減assionate support鈥� for veterans, the Legion condemned his on-air remark in a Remembrance Day tweet, calling them 鈥渉urtful鈥� and 鈥渄ivisive.鈥�
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