Don Cherry has been fired from his role at Coach’s Corner on Sportsnet over his comments about immigrants who don’t wear the Remembrance Day poppy. Cherry targeted immigrants in his hometown of Mississauga. “You people … you love our way of life, you love our milk and honey, at least you can pay a couple of bucks for a poppy or something like that,” Cherry said, with Coach’s Corner co-host Ron McLean looking on. “These guys paid for your way of life that you enjoy in Canada, these guys paid the biggest price.” Cherry is 85. He helped create the concept of Coach’s Corner at the CBC 37 years ago.
Cherry unrepentant
Cherry told Joe Warmington of the Toronto Sun that he is untroubled by the dismissal. “I have just learned I’ve been fired by Sportsnet for comments made on Coach’s Corner Nov. 9,” Cherry told the Sun writer in a phone interview. “No problem.” Cherry added: “I know what I said and I meant it. Everybody in Canada should wear a poppy to honour our fallen soldiers.” He said his words were not racial or bigoted but patriotic and respectful of our troops. Sportsnet story.
