Canadian hockey pundit Don Cherry fired after on-air rant about immigrants not wearing remembrance poppies
- Cherry has courted controversy with his outspoken manner and opinions during intermission segments of Hockey Night in Canada for nearly four decades
A legendary Canadian ice hockey commentator was fired Monday from a long-time broadcasting gig over an on-air rant chiding new immigrants for not wearing poppies honouring fallen soldiers and veterans.
Don Cherry was sacked because of the “divisive remarks” he made during a break in a National Hockey League game on Saturday.
“Sports bring people together. It unites us, not divides us,” Sportsnet president Bart Yabsley said.
Cherry, immediately recognisable in his flamboyant custom-made suits, has courted controversy with his outspoken manner and opinions during intermission segments of Hockey Night in Canada for nearly four decades.
His comments about fighting in hockey, women journalists in dressing rooms, and French-Canadians have frequently landed him in trouble.
But the 85-year-old former NHL player and coach’s latest tirade provoked a big backlash from the public, politicians and the National Hockey League.
