16°c Clear
28°c Isolated showers
Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Grapes sorry for trampling trio
Contentious pundit says 'I was wrong'
Darren Calabrese / THE CANADIAN PRESS ARCHIVES Don Cherry has issued an abject apology to three ex-NHL tough guys. (CP)
BOMBASTIC hockey commentator Don Cherry did something Saturday he rarely does: He admitted he was wrong.
Cherry apologized for comments made about a trio of former NHL enforcers that had them pondering a lawsuit and set off a week's worth of withering criticism of the CBC hockey analyst.
"I gotta admit I was wrong on a lot of things," Cherry said on his Saturday-night Coach's Corner segment on Hockey Night in Canada. "Three enforcers -- tough guys, my type of guys -- I threw them under the bus, and I'm sorry about it. I really am."
Cherry, 77, spent almost one-third of his six-minute Coach's Corner segment apologizing for criticism of former tough guys Stu Grimson, Chris Nilan and Jim Thomson.
On Oct. 6, while discussing whether the tough-guy role contributed to the off-season deaths of Rick Rypien, Derek Boogaard and Wade Belak, Cherry slammed Grimson, Nilan and Thomson, calling them "hypocrites," "pukes" and "turncoats," saying they'd changed their tune on fighting in the NHL.
"The ones that I am really disgusted with, and I hate to say this when the kids are listening... are the bunch of pukes that fought before: Stu Grimson, Chris Nilan and Jim Thomson. (They say) 'Oh, the reason that they're drinking, (taking) drugs and alcoholics is because they fight.' You turncoats. You hypocrites," Cherry said on Oct. 6.
He also falsely accused Thomson and Nilan of blaming alcohol and drug problems they experienced after their careers were over on their roles as tough guys.
Cherry's first attempt at clarifying his statements came on Oct. 8. It failed to satisfy Nilan, Grimson and Thomson, who three days later issued a statement through a Nashville law firm that hinted the trio might seek legal means to extract a more suitable apology from Cherry.
That might have come Saturday.
Cherry acknowledged that Thomson and Nilan never said their problems were due to their roles in the NHL and that neither said he wanted fighting banned from the league.
"Chris and Stu never said that they took drugs because they were enforcers in the National Hockey League," Cherry said. "Also, they never said they wanted fighting out of the game, that's for sure.
"I was wrong on that -- 100 per cent wrong -- and when you're wrong, you have to admit it. I'm sorry I put them down."
Nilan, via his Twitter account, said he appreciated the apology.
"I want to thank Don Cherry for standing up and making a public apology to the 3 of us," Nilan wrote. "Means a lot. We are friends once again."
Cherry has been a polarizing figure throughout his 30-year career on HNIC, but the level of criticism from the latest incident was high even by his standards.
Even the CBC, a defender of Cherry through other controversies, backed away from the broadcaster.
"Don's comments reflect his own opinion," Kirstine Stewart, CBC's executive vice-president of English services, said last week.
-- Postmedia News
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition October 16, 2011 B7
More NHL
- Back to Top
- Return to NHL
More NHL
(1 of 50 articles for this week)
Hawks coach not saying where or when Hossa was hurt, unwilling to tip hand
06/18/2013 8:00 PM 0BOSTON - The trend of hiding injuries is nothing new in sports. But Chicago coach Joel Quenneville may have added ...
Poll
Most Popular NHL
- Bigger, faster, meaner Bruins
- Home of Senators changes name from Scotiabank Place to Canadian Tire Centre
- Nothing upsets Teflon Claude
- Datsyuk, Red Wings agree on $22.5 million, 3-year deal, keeping him under contract for 4 years
- Bruins rookie D Dougie Hamilton looks forward to next season while sitting out finals
- Right wing the right thing for Ovechkin
- Sabres owner Pegula favours keeping Miller, Vanek, though decision to stay rests with them
- What goalies say, stays between goalies
- Vancouver Canucks sign Swedish goaltender Joacim Eriksson
- Players take extra care on less-than-ideal ice surface in Game 3 of Stanley Cup finals
- Shaw, Blackhawks beat Bruins 4-3 in triple overtime in Game 1 of Cup final
- NHL Awards: Capitals star Alex Ovechkin wins Hart Trophy as league's MVP
- Bigger, faster, meaner Bruins
- Bruins overcome terrible start to even Stanley Cup final with 2-1 OT victory
- Shaw annoys Chara, scores overtime game-winner for Blackhawks in Game 1
- Hart Trophy-winner Ovechkin says broken left foot is healing well
- Maple Leafs sign tough guy Colton Orr to two-year extension
- Edmonton Oilers confirm death of prospect Kristians Pelss in Latvia
- Senators coach MacLean wins Adams award for NHL coach of the year
- Bruins get even in OT
- AP Sources: NHL approves Coyotes sale to Canadian-led group, contingent on lease with Glendale
- Kane tweets that next year's NHL playoffs will be different story
- Combative coach Tortorella fired by Rangers after New York's second-round playoff ouster
- Ban on bodychecks has Winnipeg hockey community buzzing
- Shaw, Blackhawks beat Bruins 4-3 in triple overtime in Game 1 of Cup final
- Kane scores 3 goals, Blackhawks knock off defending champion Kings to reach Stanley Cup finals
- Stars unveil new logo, colour amid several changes on 20th anniversary of move to Dallas
- What now? Penguins face plenty of questions after post-season sweep by Bruins
- Original Six final has five big storylines
- Ralph Krueger out as head coach of Edmonton Oilers after 12th-place finish
- Team Canada takes bear spray to boot camp
- Combative coach Tortorella fired by Rangers after New York's second-round playoff ouster
- Winnipeg's Leipsic signs with Preds
- Ban on bodychecks has Winnipeg hockey community buzzing
- Avalanche remain silent on report that former star goalie Patrick Roy may return as coach
- Sharks try to shrug off Thursday's 3-0 loss to the Kings in Game 5
- AP Sources: NHL approves Coyotes sale to Canadian-led group, contingent on lease with Glendale
- Sharks hope to extend home-ice dominance in series vs. Kings and force decisive 7th game
- Blackhawks score 3 in 1st half of 3rd period to come back and beat Red Wings 4-3, force Game 7
- Kane tweets that next year's NHL playoffs will be different story
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is be a Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscriber to join the conversation and give your feedback.
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is be a Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscriber to join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
Have Your Say
Comments are open to Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscribers only. why?
Login SubscribeHave Your Say
Comments are open to Winnipeg Free Press Subscribers only. why?
SubscribeThe Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.