Don Cherry found not guilty of bad behaviour
December 15, 2009 · 63 Comments
An apology from Don Cherry for telling a Toronto radio reporter to “f-off” during a profanity laced tirade on Sunday is highly unlikely.
Scott Moore, the head of CBC Sports, says Cherry is not to blame for the incident and in fact was incited by the reporter who was overly aggressive.
“I think the apology should go the other way,” Moore said in an email.
Moore went on CFRB radio in Toronto today at noon and stated the network is throwing its full support behind Cherry. Moreover, sources confirmed there will be no apology from the Hockey Night In Canada commentator.
In another development, 680 News reporter Colin D’Mello, who attempted to interview Cherry on Sunday, may be suspended by the station.
His main offence was posting Cherry’s expletive filled rant on Facebook and also Twittering it. The clip was picked up by The Globe and Mail and posted. You can also hear the clip on this website at the bottom of this piece.
D’Mello was attempting to get a reaction from Cherry regarding neurosurgeon Charles Tator’s assertion that Cherry has been a negative influence on the game by promoting fighting and the so-called “rock em, sock em” style of hockey. Tator’s concern is concussions in hockey.
Cherry was at the Rogers Campus in downtown Toronto, where 680 News and the Fan590 are housed, to tape his full week of segments for the radio show, Grapeline, with Brian Williams.
D’Mello, says Moore, was told twice that Cherry would not give him an interview regarding Tator’s comments. However, D’Mello persisted and confronted Cherry in a hallway at the Rogers Campus. That’s when Cherry blew up and started swearing at him.
“This has caused an issue to Don’s reputation,” Moore said in an email. “Typical of Don, he doesn’t want the reporter chastised because we all make mistakes. But it would be like someone coming up to a reporter in the Globe newsroom and badgering him until he’s told to “F” off, and then finding out that the whole thing was recorded and posted in public.”
Needless to say, this story has swung 180 degrees from this morning, when it appeared as though Cherry had bullied the reporter without provocation. Cherry certainly could have told him to get lost without the profanities. But, according to Moore, Cherry wasn’t aware the tape recorder was running. And Cherry certainly had cause to lose his patience with D’Mello.
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Hey D'Mello if P. E. Trudeau can tell someone to fuck off anyone can and I'm sure you have done it numerous times in your life-ha ha ha get a life.
Cherry is an arrogant racist bully. He slights others by making fun of their names ( he has a Neanderthal vocabulary most nights). He offends those of different ethnicity than his own. He bolsters his own weak image by invoking the name Bobby Orr every chance he gets, and aligning himself with the troops and draping himself shamelessly in the flag. He embarrasses me. CBC now embarrasses me. He promotes fighting ( I believe that is violence causing head injuries). Dr Tator is right. Ron McLean didn't have the guts to handle him, or take him to task. Everyone makes too much money off this freak show. Time for an intelligent change for a game that deserves better.
With all the intelligent hockey analysts out there. We get to listen to a belligerent obnoxious bully. Don Cherry is someone whom I don't really give a puck about. Mostly I leave the room or change the channel when he is on.On the bright side he crys about the fallen soldiers and he is for baby Jesus." So you kids out there… Listen to me now …LISTEN ….Let me tell ya…. Let me tell ya…..don,'t interupt me Ron ……….awwwwwwww gezz you made me forget what I was gonna say……….."
Cherry is funny to laugh at because he’s so ridiculous. He is Fox News without the brains…..
As for Moore, that wimp will always defend Cherry because he knows without that clown, his intermission ratings would be crap. I’m sure the 2nd intermission ratings are quite low (Mr Houston could verify for us).
Moore is the same wimp who defended China having the Olympics last year by comparing Canada’s treatment of its Indians to the current human rights abuses by that fascist regime. What a joke.
Go Don! A real man getting pissed off and letting someone have it verbally. He did not mince words and the "reporter" persisted, got what he deserved.
Don Cherry, like the CBC Hockey Broadcasts are a complete bore and mickey mouse. Who cares.
I'll give you that. HNIC is as dull as dishwater. Their "No. 1" crew of Hughson and Simpson make an ACC crowd look like a lively bunch. Where have all the great charismatic sports broadcasters in Canada gone?
ESPN
"Scott Moore, the head of CBC Sports, says Cherry is not to blame for the incident and in fact was incited by the reporter who was overly aggressive."
That's a laugh. The reporter was "overly aggressive"?! He was asking Don a question, Scott. It was Cherry being overly aggressive. Did he even hear what Don said? I guess he hears what he wants to hear. But of course Scott Moore is going to defend Cherry. Both get paychecks from CBC.
I'm really surprised by the amount of defenders for Cherry here. What does it honestly matter if he knew he was being recorded or not? Does that change what he said? This is clearly the Cherry CBC doesn't want you to see on the air, but obviously it is the real Cherry we are hearing here, since this is not the first time people have reported about his arrogance and rudeness to other people who he thinks he is better than, which seem to be a large portion of the population. Sorry Cherry, I won't wait until "your show" to hear what you have to say, because we all know you either won't say anything or it won't be what you really want to say. What you said to this poor reporter who was doing his job and is now being punished is the real truth. Love this site.
Who cares about cherry, he’s a knuckle dragger who gets more attention than he deserves.
I find the Journalism issue at Sportsnet interesting. The fact that VP of Production is a lawyer not a producer explains a lot about the horrible “look” Sportsnet has. Not to mention the bad production decisions being made on regular basis. ie: Nick Kypreo’s interviewing Mike Danton? Obviously the people at Sportsnet don’t have a clue about on-air presence and are just making decisions the way a lawyer would not a journalist/producer. This tid bit of information explains a lot about how bad Sportsnet is. Thank you for filling us in.
It’s such hypocrisy. If Colin Dmello interviewed Don Cherry on the street and he spouted off like that, this would have been the 680News lead on Monday and they’d still be rolling with the aftermath, with it leading to a Saturday night mea culpa from Cherry for being basically a rude prick. But because it happened inside their building they were afraid to run it and ruin the obviously lucrative deal they have with Cherry for Grapeline. Dmello, while it was likely against Rogers policy to post this clip online, should be commended, for posting it and letting the public hear the disdain Cherry has for anyone that questions him. A question that should be raised is whether, when dmello was told ‘twice’ that cherry wouldn’t comment on the matter, was he told that by the producer or some handler or cherry himself? If it was Cherry that specified no comment, then Dmello’s insistence could be viewed as offside, but if someone else said Cherry wouldn’t be commenting, than it’s dmello’s job to hear that for himself, from the man himself, not a handler.
Well said.
That makes sence, when I listened to it initially, I figured that Cherry did not know that the tape was on. The “You do not what him to get the last word do you” line from the reporter backs up Cherry’s and Moore’s statement as wee. I hate the depths that some reporters are going these days.
D’Mello suspended by the station? Really?
A reporter who doesn’t take “no” for an answer like that deserves a promotion not a suspension.
I don’t think anyone owes anyone an apology here…except maybe Scott Moore.
Actually, Moore, this would be EXACTLY like a reporter coming up to someone in the Globe newsroom and badgering him until he’s told to “F” off, if that someone was the centre of what had become a national news story.
As for recording it and posting it — THAT’S WHAT REPORTERS DO.
And they certainly don’t take no for answer whether the person saying no is a politician, Don Cherry or Scott Moore — ESPECIALLY if they’re a politician, Don Cherry or Scott Moore.
This is quite the conundrum. Who to trust with their view of journalistic integrity, the head of national news source that’s been employed as a journalist for over 30 years or “Gravy” responding to a blog.
It is all conjecture at this point and a typical “he-said / she said” argument. The truth probably lies much closer to the original story, since the “cub reporter” was doing what he was assigned and paid to do … get a statement from Don Cherry.
pdh
You seem so aggressive against everyone, can i ask why? Not looking for an argument, just curious.
Thank you for that analysis, “Ziggy.”
Scott Moore’s opinion is hardly objective. He’s got a vested interested in his employee and his TV show.
It’s valuable. Can’t blame him for sticking up for his own.
But it also devalues entirely his opinion of what D’Mello did in this situation — namely his job.
I’m not upset with Don Cherry’s reaction either.
As for 680News suspending him because he posted on YouTube, that’s an employee-employer issue.
It isn’t a question of journalistic integrity.
As a reporter, he was doing his job.
As an employee of 680News, he was likely out of line — unless D’Mello and other 680 clips are regularly posted on YouTube.
If D’Mello has been suspended, it was for posting the clip on YouTube.
My understanding was that it was in the corridors of the FAN590 not the corridors of 680. Sanctioned means reprimanded for not being respectful and trying to sneak 1 in on Cherry
This response from Cherry does not surprise me at all. I had the “pleasure” of being in a booth next to him at a trade show where a company had paid him to sign autographs for a few hours.
He was a miserable old man, cranky as hell and dropped a few F bombs to the people who paid him when he left because too many people wanted a picture with him…What you see on TV is not always what you see in life.
anyone who has listened to 680 knows that there really isn’t much difference between what they do and TMZ. how many of their stories are just man on the street reactions?
that being said, Cherry clearly got angry and lashed out. As a public personality he’s fair game, and he took the bait. Given the industry he works in he should know better.
When did cub reporters become ordained? This guy was told there was not going to be a comment, continued to pester the man with juvenile tactics and got told… In the legitimate world of journalism this nothing comment would be dropped. This is why the reporter sneakily released it onto the giant virtual restroom wall known as the internet. His editor probably told him he failed his assignment, and this was his childish response. If anyone should be apologising, it is 680 news for employing a yellow journalist.
I don’t remember them hunting down Rick Ralph for a comment when he was in the news. As far as I know they work in the same complex.
Sorry Ziggy you are flat out wrong and simply don’t get it do you. How do you know this “cub reporter” released it himself to YouTube or FaceBook etc.? That is an assumption by you, especially the part about how his editor called him a failure — correct?
Keep drinking the Cherry Kool-Aide along with some others coming to Don’s defence.
pdh(use of lower case initials indicates low self esteem) I think it is you that doesn’t get it.
Perhaps you should read the updated version of Mr. Houston’s column to be more informed. You seem to be preoccupied with the beverages other posters are consuming. That’s weird!
Ziggy: Let me guess… you are a 20-something psychologist who believes that fouled-mouthed bullies are to be treated as heroes. Is it time for you to pop some more Ritalin?
Pdh, it was reported in Houstons column that it was put in his facebook and twitter accounts, so thats how we know.
Sean… with all due respect I don’t need you to point out the obvious. Ziggy stated BEFORE Bill updated the column, that D’Mello posted it himself. It was pure conjecture on his part and still has not been officially substantiated.
So William is just making it up? I dont think so.
And my apologies, but I was just stating what was in the article, I had no idea what you did or did not need pointed out.
Sean… please give up trying to be a smart-ass… it is a bore. You came to the discussion well after, as Bill stated the story changed 180°. Maybe Mr. Houston will confirm that point for since you don’t seem to have the ability to grasp the truth.
pdh,
I have not attacked you, nor tried to be a smart ass, I just made a statement, just like you. I do not understand why my point makes me a smart ass, and yours makes you?????
I also do not understand why you are so upset at Cherry for his arrogance, yet you are doing just what he did to that reporter to me and others.
I apologize a second time.
Regardless, I have better things to do then to debate some anonymous person, good day Sir.
Sean: two words… grow up
pdh,
I have an honest question for you, and Id love an honest answer. You seem to be of the opinion that Cherry bullies people, which is within your right.
When people challenge that, or even answer you a question, you seem to bully them.
I do not understand why you seem to be so aggressive in these responses, its none of my business really but I do not see how you could be against Cherry’s bullying and then so aggressive against others
Just an honest question, this is the truth. Hopefully you answer as such, but either way thanks for your time.
Fuck Yellow journalists and fuck pencil neck geek doctors who think they know anything about hockey. Cheers to Don and fuck the rest of you!
Eric you are one angry dude.… You should stop drinking during the day, or need to take your meds.
Yes, cheers to the clownish CBC buffoon and down to the concussion doctors trying to stop serious injuries. What insight!
I love it that Eric says ‘fuck pencil neck doctors’
Yeah! Doctors suck! Booooo!
Don Cherry revealed his stupidity to me when he defended Dale Hunter after Hunter’s cowardly blindside cross check on Pierre Turgeon after Turgeon scored a series-clinching goal against his Capitals in 1993. Turgeon’s shoulder was separated and Cherry accused Turgeon of faking an injury — as bizarre as that may sound.
Cherry had been arrogant and obnoxious long before 2001, but since the war started, his maudlin tears when talking about fallen soldiers has become (frankly) embarrassing. The only thing it induces in me is a cringe response. Look, I love our military and come from a military family, but there is a time and a place for remembrance, and the time and place is NOT at or during a hockey game.
So to hear that Cherry was arrogant and verbally abusive with a reporter? Hello! Why would that be at all surprising?
The Turgeon point was it for me as well. Some things are beyond defending.
I scream at the telly all the time "get the friggin' military outta my sports!"
No one listens. Now football players want to put Jesus into my sports. I remember when sports was just a game, not a billboard for other agendas. Ugh.
I can’t believe this even made it as a story. Oh wow, he said the f word. Big f’ing deal. Priorities people. Let’s focus on Hockey. This is not Hockey….this is TMZ.
Perry you are right… this is not about hockey. This is about Don Cherry (a hockey personality) being a bully and verbally abusing a member of the media. That makes it news story.
There is no story here, I agree Perry.
Here we go again. Don Cherry is being forced into having to defend himself and his position on violence in hockey. Don loves aggressive hockey, including fights and hard hitting. Never have I heard Don Cherry promote or condone deliberate shots to a players head, hitting from behind or sucker punching someone. Don believes and i agree with him that hockey is a physical sport and that sometimes people will get hurt. That being said, no one in the hockey world has had a stronger voice in attempting to remove hitting from behind and wreckless dangerous play than Don Cherry. Mr. Cherry has been attempting for years to put “stop” signs on the backs of helmets the players wear, similar to the program he successfully introduced in Canadian minor hockey; a program which has decreased the numbers of kids being injured from hits from behind. Mr. Cherry has been imploring the NHL for years to institute no-touch icings due to the amount of serious injuries occurring from two players racing at top speed toward the end boards in order to touch the puck first. Clearly Cherry’s tone in the audio tape suggests that he had no idea he was being recorded at the time. While Mr. Cherry is often abrasive and belligerent in some of his behaviour, no one cares more about the game and the people who play it, particularly at the minor hockey level than Don Cherry. Mr. Cherry spends most of his free time in the rinks watching kids play and signing autographs until there are no people left asking for them. This man loves the game, he loves Canada and he does not encourage wreckless hockey. Fighting is not wreckless, it is two grown men making a decision to drop their gloves and engage in a reciprocal physical confrontation. Don’t blame Don Cherry for fighting. He didn’t start it and the last time I checked, Mr. Cherry does not belong to the head offices of the NHL. If the NHL wanted to stop fighting, it would have nothing to do with Don Cherry. I love watching hockey fights, but I hate hitting from behind, sucker punches, slashing, slew footing and deliberate shots to the head, all of which display a lack of respect to every other player on the ice. Attack the system and the culture of hockey if you feel the need to attack someone, but don’t attack a man who ends every segment of Coaches Corner on Hockey Night in Canada by displaying pictures of fallen Canadian military personnell. Don Cherry is not a barbarian, he does a lot for hockey, he does a lot for the Canadian military and he does a lot for community. It is apparent that the NHL does have a large problem, but that problem is not Don Cherry. Leave the man alone.
If you listen closely someone actually says “Have you got that tape rolling?” and Cherry continues to ramble on like the idiot he is. So he knew he was being recorded. He didn’t care. And anyone who uses that as a defense is wrong anyway either way. The way he spoke to the man is arrogant and rude and you simply don’t talk to people like that. This is typical Cherry. He isn’t relevant anymore in today’s hockey and shouldn’t be given the time of day. This is the man who directly speaks to “the kiddies” on TV like he is their role model or something. Get rid of the man.
Listen, I am not a Cherry fan but this was poor journalism from the get go. The reporter had an obligation to let Grapes know he was being recorded. Just holding a mic is not enough particularly in a news station. The 680 news reporter needs to be sanctioned and the Fan needs a wake up call to make sure this doesn’t happen again. As a journalist who has had many off the record conversations and some on headset I would never ever think that gave me the right to record let alone release something that was clearly a conversation between people. Also I would never allow one of my reporters to “ambush” a guest in my studio. Grapes is wrong a lot but this time he has my support.
The reporter was obliged to give Cherry his name and the name of his company. When a microphone is held up to your face, it is assumed you are being recorded.
Absolutely on the money.
Bingo. And from that point forward everything Cherry said was on the record — and he and Scott Moore — both know it. Any reaction today from the CBC camp is just an attempt to save face and minimize their own embarrassment from the language and tone.
Cherry’s welcome to answer a reporter’s question any way he sees fit and from that point forward the public is free to interpret.
Hmmm… you say the reporter Colin D’Mello “needs to be sanctioned” for doing his job. Please explain to us your thought pattern, if any, for such a strong statement from a “journalist” as you call yourself.
And what doe the Fan (I assume you mean the radio station FAN590) have anything to do with this? Seems you are confused with your radio stations.
Colin had to have had a mic, so Grapes can’t say he didn’t know it was recorded, as is intimated on G&B. What did we expect Don to say or how he might say it? The good doctor fired Grapes’ name into the debate he was making and Tator is getting what he wanted, attention drawn to the issue. But is this really what it is all about. Don Cherry saying a bad word, really!
What is happening whether by design or accident Dr. Tator has made the issue a topic of interest and debate.
Unfortunately Cherry has no problem being a bully, but when is the other way around he can’t handle it.
Don swears regularly in public, and thinks he is being “smart”. I have heard him dropping f-bombs around young kids a couple of times. This time he was caught belittling a reporter on tape who had the balls to tell the story.
Could this be the beginning of the end of Mr. Cherry?
Don has done a number of things over the years that could have had him fired. But this like the Woods car crash, where it may spurn adversaries to come to the surface and say their piece. If Don has a rant upcoming on Coaches Corner, it could be his last. If you are going to get booted, make it a good one Grapes.
Wow. Tiger Woods is a manwhore and now Don Cherry swears on tape like a trucker! What happened to the role model?
Really disappointed in the tone of that response. What is a reporter suppose to ask?
I wasn’t there, so maybe there was a nudge and a wink, but I doubt it.
Don talks about respect. I wouldn’t use that clip as an example.
Furthermore, considering his relationship with Rogers – the production home of Grapeline – his decorum is even more galling.
Buffoonery is part of Don’s charm, but there’s no excuse for that behaviour.
the arrogance in that clip is what is striking, not the profanity. he could easily have said that he would address it on saturday and then told the reporter to leave him alone.
Don’s as classy off the air as he is on it.