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It is
time to elect Don Cherry
into the Hockey Hall of
Fame.
There
is not a man on the planet
who has kept more fans or
made more fans for the sport
of hockey than Grapes. For
nearly 30 years he has kept
the attention of Canadian
hockey fans (and now fans
worldwide) on the sport that
he and they love far more
than any other.
And I’m
not talking about the media
wing … I am talking about
full fledged induction in
the builders’ category. In
my own informal poll of
interested fans,
administrators and media
types, there is overwhelming
support for Don's election.
And why not?
Can
anyone deny that the man has
driven interest in the sport
to the extent that he stops
Canada in its tracks every
Saturday night on
Coach's Corner? |
Wherever people
gather, they stop and listen with
reverence, derision, laughter and
amazement when the Coach steps to his
bloody pulpit.
Does he butcher
the odd name? Of course. And to our
delight. Has he offended a few
nationalities? You betcha. And many of
us snicker at the thought of it. He has
cajoled, infuriated, taunted and
challenged many in the hockey universe.
And we can't get enough of him.
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Grapes
speaks loudly and clearly
for the honour of hockey.
He speaks of its courage and
skill. He advises - and in
most cases very sincerely
and accurately - how hockey
youths should act. Hey, I
love it that he even manages
to impose his own dress code
- "Shirt and tie, boys. Look
sharp, feel sharp!!!" God
forbid the youth of the
world take that to another
level and emulate his own
rainbow of suit choices.
He
speaks to the love of Canada
and to his outright and
unfeigned admiration and
gratitude to the military
men and women of Canada in a
way that no others can - in
the middle of a hockey
broadcast. And he is
oh-so-right to remind us of
their service. |
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And he connects
the viewer to the players of the league.
"Hey, there's Glen Murray. Good ol'
Sudbury boy." Or, "That's my guy,
Dougie Gilmour, the pride of Kingston.
He could be a helluva coach one day."
Imagine: a broadcaster who takes you and
pulls you into the world of hockey and
makes you feel part of it. Like you are
truly connected to what's going on.
With Grapes, you are.
Fans listen.
Kids listen. Coaches listen. Players
crave his praise and cringe at his
wrath. Don recently told me a story
about Brad May. Brad apparently took a
big hit from Mats Sundin and wound up in
the hospital. When people came to visit
him, his only concern was, "What will
Grapes say? I got knocked out by a
Swede." Oh, yes, they listen. We all
do.
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Crass.
Brash. Honourable. Find
your own descriptive term.
He at one point or another
will have fit it. And now
he fits into the Hall of
Fame.
The
nefarious group that
comprises the Hall of Fame
committee has no rules to
follow really. Just the
rule of common sense: Don
Cherry has done more to grow
the sport of hockey than any
man alive and he should be
inducted without any delay.
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