Don Cherry Rips Alexander Ovechkin – Video
March 1, 2009 by Jeanne Dupuis
Filed under Fan Fare, NHL, News, Video
Don Cherry made some hard-hitting comments yesterday on Coach’s Corner regarding star player, Alexander Ovechkin. I know that Cherry shouldn’t really shock me anymore but this did surprise me. I love Cherry, I know a lot of people don’t but I respect his experience and willingness to speak up for what he believes in but I think he crosses the line when he makes comments that could be seen as invitations or encouragement to hurt a player.
Here’s what he said: "I’m going to tell you about this guy: He’s got a free ride. He runs at guys, does this stuff. I am predicting somebody’s going to get him. And somebody’s going to get him good. There’s somebody out there —some big defenceman is going to be sitting in the weeds. As he cuts across centre ice, somebody’s going to cut him in half."
Watch the video to get a better idea of the context in which the statement was made.
Washington Capitals coach, understandably, bristled at the comments and made a statement: "[Don's] a friend of mine. And he’s an idol of mine. I mean, I love what Don Cherry has stood for for 30 years. I just think that even the smartest people in the world are wrong sometimes, and I just thought he was wrong. Because he doesn’t know Alex like we know Alex."
"As much as I really like the guy, I thought he was wrong," he said. "He’s pro-Canadian, and there’s 33 million Canadians that love that, as anybody would. And if I was sitting at home, I’d be going, ‘Yeah, yeah, Canada!’ But I just happen to be in the same business as him, so I see it a little differently."
Ovechkin also responded to the comment: "He’s a funny guy and old guy. He likes old-fashioned hockey. He’s not interesting to me, so he can say whatever he wants. I don’t care about him."
What do you think? Is Cherry too “pro-Canada?”
Don Cherry is always complaining about the European hockey players in one way or another.
However, upon reading the Toronto Star today, March 2, I noted that the Colorado Avalanche player called Wojtek Wolski, a Polish immigrant,
donated $18,000 of Hockey Equipment to The Junior Blues Hockey League – kids who can’t afford to pay for their equipment. This hockey player is putting his money in the right place helping the Toronto Community, so ease up Don on the European hockey players!!!!!
Don Cherry is the biggest fag ever. Ovechkin would clean his clock. Dont talk about Ovechkin and compare him to a soccer player. Ovechkin is also too strong and powerful to get bundled. So shut up Don Cherry before Ovechkin cuts you in half.