Today, November 11, 2024, marks the five-year anniversary of Canadian broadcaster Don Cherry being let go from 'Coach's Corner' on 'Hockey Night in Canada', over the years, becoming a beloved, polarizing figure. His bold personality more often than not overshadowed his co-host, Ron MacLean, who remained afterward but has received some very heavy criticism since then, with fans regularly voicing their disappointment over the way he handled it.
Both Cherry and MacLean are trending today; Cherry on Remembrance Day, as is his true love, and MacLean owing to backlash. Let's take a look back at five classic moments where Cherry's unfiltered style took center stage and put MacLean in the hot seat.
Blunt was one thing Cherry could be. It would sometimes catch MacLean off guard. One memorable 'Coach's Corner' clip from the early days shows Cherry cutting off MacLean before he even spoke, bluntly telling him to "shut up." The old-school decor of the set is proof of how far back their fiery exchanges go.
The always-voluble Cherry once grew outraged as he protected the honor of NHL enforcer Bob Probert, who he believed served to protect teammates. MacLean once tried to interrupt Cherry, who in turn tore a strip off him, calling MacLean a "dummy" twice in succession and with no sugary sweetness in his voice whatsoever, making it quite clear he didn't appreciate the interruption.
MacLean's interjections were a frequent cause of Cherry's irritation, never more apparent than it is in this clip. As Cherry gets more and more incensed, he finally sets his eyes on MacLean with an unmistakable death stare. This was an intensity so legendary among fans that it bordered on the mythical.
With Cherry and MacLean seemingly beyond repair, those moments now reflect a time of 'Coach's Corner' that fans won't ever see again. Cherry, visibly hurt by the fallout, has stated in recent years he does not see a way to forgive MacLean.
POLL | ||
Do you miss seeing Don Cherry on Hockey Night in Canada? | ||
Yes | 115 | 77.7 % |
No | 33 | 22.3 % |
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