Campbell Brown would make just as bad a Monday Night Football sideline reporter as Suzy Kolber would make host of Face The Nation. Politics have their place in the world, yet that is outside the sports world. The times they have tried to cross, they have failed miserably, most notably with Dennis Miller on MNF and Rush "The Magic Douchebag" Limbaugh on Sunday NFL Countdown.
When it happens in America, this is considered a violation of the sacred code of sports talk. Perhaps because sports are meant for sports, for broadcasters to rant about anything but is considered blasphemy to the most fanatical sports fans. If you think about it, Sunday NFL Countdown is the only medium that was able to successfully shut Rush Limbaugh up, which is no easy task by any means. (Perhaps Michael Steele can learn some lessons from Swami and Co...)
So how come in Canada we allow it every Saturday night?Yes, it's one of those "should we love or scorn" Don Cherry pieces folks, and its not only over his absolutely horrendous, Liberace-esque choice of clothing. It's because week in and week out, Canada lets Don Cherry rant about whatever the hell he wants, and while his hockey-related comments are controversial enough, we let him cross the threshold into racism, xenophobia and uber-conservatism without so much as a hiccup. The argument has been said that Cherry is "like that uncle, who always speaks his mind no matter what, and no matter how much you disagree, you still love the guy". But is that right? When are we supposed to tell Crazy Uncle Don to shut up already?
The controversy has stemmed recently over Cherry's comments on Alexander Ovechkin, who is now undoubtedly the sport's biggest star (in North America and abroad, an appeal that Sidney Crosby doesn't have), in claiming that his exuberant goal celebrations will one day come back to haunt him. Regardless of my opinion on Ovechkin and his personality, you cannot argue his presence marks a changing trend in the sport, and those who still have their minds stuck in hockey's recent glory era of the early 90's (the days of Gretzky, Lemieux, Yzerman, Messier and Roy), believe the sport has been "damaged" somehow. It is time to pack up, move on, and embrace the future, and the future passes through Ovechkin, whether you like it or not.
To call Don Cherry an "old school" kind of guy is obviously redundant: we've known that for years. But does it make what he does right? Of course not...it is quite obvious part of his major problem with Ovechkin is that he is a Russian, and he has had no shame in sharing his dislike of European players over the past twenty years. Perhaps it is because Eastern Europeans have now settled in North America for some time now that we are not offended, as they are no longer the "new" stereotype on our radar (could you imagine the backlash if Cherry went after a Hispanic, Asian or Middle Eastern player?), but that is still ethnic stereotyping, still xenophobia.
Making this all the more entertaining is the fact that Ovechkin could care less about Cherry. While other players (mostly French Canadians, as they still grew up on Grapes) have recoiled in fear over the comments about them on Coach's Corner, Ovechkin simply shrugged him off, claiming "he’s not interesting to me, I don't care about him," followed by the bold accusation that Cherry is simply "jealous" of him and Russians altogether. While Cherry has yet to offer a rebuttal, he will surely be pissed.Thinking Ovechkin is just a young punk with attitude, who will get his someday. Perhaps that's true, who knows. But it is not for Cherry to decide. Bad publicity is still publicity, and whether Ovechkin is the cockiest bastard on the planet or not, that does not hurt the sport...it only popularizes it. Look to the likes of Terrell Owens, Alex Rodriguez or Dwight Howard for your proof.
But what will riling him up more do? Will he launch into a tirade on Russians on-air? Will he chastize the league for allowing Europeans into the league at all? Even Americans perhaps? French Canadians? And when does it cross the line from complaining about European players in the league to being about Europeans crossing the pond and sullying the Anglo-Protestant stronghold that has dominated Canada since the 1700s? When does his support of the troops on behalf of the NHL turn into an attack on our largely-liberal society for supporting Barack Obama, but not the War In Iraq? And most importantly, should we even wait?
I do not seek to attack Cherry and his entire career, as he has done tremendous things for the sport of hockey, the development of young players who are now flourishing in the league, and the various charities he parttakes in. He is an honourable man for the most part, and while I would have certainly not put him in my Top Ten Greatest Canadians, he has certainly had quite an impact, for better or for worse. But is charitable work enough? Is it okay if Jerry Lewis runs a telethon, even though he degrades women and gays on said telethon? For science's sake, even Rush Limbaugh has a charity!
I only mention Rush again because this ESPN article, which largely introduces an unknown Cherry to the American hockey community, calls Cherry "part John Madden, part Rush Limbaugh." But why should we even have that? A man who speaks his mind is one thing, but a man who uses his soapbox to spurt out largely racist, xenophobic and, frankly, outdated and stale rhetoric (that has nothing to do with sports, remember!) does not belong in sports.
Long story short: Can it, old man.
But what will riling him up more do? Will he launch into a tirade on Russians on-air? Will he chastize the league for allowing Europeans into the league at all? Even Americans perhaps? French Canadians? And when does it cross the line from complaining about European players in the league to being about Europeans crossing the pond and sullying the Anglo-Protestant stronghold that has dominated Canada since the 1700s? When does his support of the troops on behalf of the NHL turn into an attack on our largely-liberal society for supporting Barack Obama, but not the War In Iraq? And most importantly, should we even wait?
I do not seek to attack Cherry and his entire career, as he has done tremendous things for the sport of hockey, the development of young players who are now flourishing in the league, and the various charities he parttakes in. He is an honourable man for the most part, and while I would have certainly not put him in my Top Ten Greatest Canadians, he has certainly had quite an impact, for better or for worse. But is charitable work enough? Is it okay if Jerry Lewis runs a telethon, even though he degrades women and gays on said telethon? For science's sake, even Rush Limbaugh has a charity!
I only mention Rush again because this ESPN article, which largely introduces an unknown Cherry to the American hockey community, calls Cherry "part John Madden, part Rush Limbaugh." But why should we even have that? A man who speaks his mind is one thing, but a man who uses his soapbox to spurt out largely racist, xenophobic and, frankly, outdated and stale rhetoric (that has nothing to do with sports, remember!) does not belong in sports.
Long story short: Can it, old man.
And take Elliotte Friedman with you on your way out.
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