When I read Mitch Wolfe's Blog on Don Cherry and his relationship with the CBC I was not sure if I was to laugh or be concerned. How could anyone serious ever defend Don Cherry?
Wolfe describes Cherry as someone he likes and who is "macho, politically incorrect, pro-hockey violence, pro-Canadian military, anti-European, chauvinistic and opinionated." He continues "And with his outlandish in your face clothes, he is a first class shirt disturber."
I applaud Cherry for being "pro- Canadian military" and take the compliment at face value but is an ignorant buffoon really a person to admire?
Wolfe is concerned about the loss of Cherry and he warns our public broadcaster about how "over the last few years CBC's broadcast of Hockey Night in Canada (HNIC) represented about 330 hours of programming and generated about $200 million in advertising revenue for CBC."
With the risk of CBC losing the right to broadcast hockey in Canada -- Wolfe goes on and describes "the biggest loss to the CBC is that it will no longer be able to access a working-class crowd because this very important Canadian audience only gravitated to CBC for HNIC and the presence of Don Cherry."
Shall I go on?
To begin with, Don Cherry is an ignorant voice that perhaps would be well served on SUN TV rather than the more respected CBC. He is a bully at best.
For instance, when he stood inside Toronto City Hall Chamber at the inauguration of Mayor Rob Ford term in 2010 -- he continued the legacy of his stupidity by describing progressive Councillors as "pinkos" -- a very direct arrogance, insult and lack of respect to our institution and civility to elected officials.
He called the now ineffective crack smoking Toronto Mayor as someone he thinks will be "the greatest mayor this city has ever, ever seen, as far as I'm concerned." What a joke.
Let us reflect on his disservice to public service. Decades ago he described a European-born hockey coach as "some kind of dog food." He has continued to annoy and insult French and European players and fans by calling them every rude word in the Oxford and his own dictionary. That is precisely why CBC decided to impose a 7-second delay on him.
The Blogger also remarked how losing Cherry would make the CBC lose viewers and needed resources. This is almost like attempting to bring Jerry Springer to the CBC in the hope of luring viewers to the public TV station.
Wolfe should be reminded about the mandate of the CBC TV. Among its distinguished mandate -- the CBC stands to "actively contribute to the flow and exchange of cultural expression, contribute to shared national consciousness and identity and reflect the multicultural and multiracial nature of Canada." Really?
Cherry fails to fulfill any of the mandates.
Wolfe added how "the biggest loss to the CBC is that it will no longer be able to access a working-class crowd because this very important Canadian audience only gravitated to CBC for HNIC and the presence of Don Cherry. The loss of Cherry and Hockey Night in Canada is a lost opportunity for CBC to escape its uptight Waspish politically correct, elitist/urban/sophisticated Toronto-centric shtetl.. That is laughable.
If there is any way to remove a bully from out TV screen at any cost would be the fulfillment of the mandate of a great public institution. I suggest Wolfe should familiarize himself better with the legacy and mandate of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation started by a Prime Minster R B Bennett, a Conservative like Wolfe, almost 80 years ago.
I am sure Mitch Wolfe will then understand why Don Cherry does not belong on CBC. CBC is no Fox North.