CHERRY BOMB

I tuned into the Hockey night in Canada Saturday night catch the end of the Leafs-Habs game and catch the beginning of the Flames-Oilers. What I got instead was another ill-informed invective by Canada’s leading narrow-minded neo-con Don Cherry.

When I turned the TV on, after observing Earth Hour, David Suzuki, introducing himself as “Don Cherry’s favourite left-wing kook” was on asking Canadians to make the symbolic gesture of turning out our lights for one hour. He said you could keep on your TV tonight and watch the game. (The message was played too late for everyone east of Mountain Daylight Time Zone.)

Cherry retorted by saying that Suzuki lives in Vancouver and that he should come to Toronto saying “we are dying of cold, and he’s talking warming trend.”

This is not the first time that Cherry has flexed his scientific muscle.

Just before Christmas this past year, Hockey Night in Canada ran an interview with Boston Bruins Defenceman Andrew Ference. Ference spoke about how he initiated an environmental program for the Bruins and had recruited other players and teams into going carbon neutral for their yearly travel in something called the NHLPA Carbon Neutral Challenge. The NHL emissions average is 10 tons per player per season.

Cherry’s reaction to the interview?

He called it “sickening” adding "it's Hockey Night in Canada. And we're talking about saving the world and all that stuff.”

“Let's talk about hockey."

Good idea Don. You should stick to hockey because when it comes to environmental issues, I am going to go with the left-wing kook with the PhD instead of the high school drop out right wing nut. While most of the scientific community has stated that global warming is not only a reality but it is primarily man made, none of that matters because an obtuse former hockey player, doesn’t believe it.

Cherry in the volumes of scientific data I am sure he has to back up his opinion, must have missed the part about global warming (or climate change) that talks about extreme weather and that global warming doesn’t necessarily mean the temperature will be warmer everyday day then the day before. Global warming is also about the unusual weather patterns developing around the world which lead to extreme weather events.

In fact there is growing evidence that the continuing global warming trend could trigger the next ice age and soon.

But, enough about the truth.

Grapes like to “Cherry-pick” when it comes to talking about non-hockey issues.

In other words, no one but him is allowed to have an opinion.

Cherry has spoken at length about religion, fallen police officers, firefighters, members of the military. His rabid pro war stance and his insistence that Canada should be in Iraq with the Americans are just some of the other non-hockey topics that Cherry has discussed.

Ference shouldn’t feel bad. He is in good company. Past targets of Coach’s Corner are Europeans, Asian, Aboriginal and French Canadians and of course, players who wear visors. (You can now add environmentalists to the list). And who could forget the “socialist, left wing, pinko, commies” that make up the media in Canada.

I am not saying that Cherry can’t talk about his support for the troops or other noble causes, but while he states Canadian troops are fighting in Afghanistan for our freedom, he wants to place limits on who is entitled to that freedom and will bully, insult and suppress any dissent.

My advice to Don Cherry on how to avoid such conflicts.

Stuff a puck in it!

It's Hockey Night in Canada. Let's talk about hockey.