CBC chastises Cherry for recent comments
WebPosted Wed Apr 2 11:58:59 2003

CBC SPORTS ONLINE - The CBC criticized Don Cherry on Tuesday for his pro-U.S. comments on the war in Iraq, which he made on an American radio show.

Harold Redekopp, executive vice-president of CBC Television, said in a release that Cherry's opinions were "uninformed" and "inappropriate."

''Don was speaking for himself, not for the CBC,'' said Redekopp in the statement. ''We disagree with and disassociate ourselves from his comments.''

Cherry, a popular CBC hockey personality, told American syndicated radio host Jim Rome on Monday that he believed his pro-war opinions during a recent Coach's Corner were justified.

Cherry told Rome that he thought he would be fired from Hockey Night in Canada after the March 22 tirade, which touched on everything from Montreal Canadiens fans booing the American national anthem to criticizing the Canadian government for not supporting the U.S.

Thousands of viewers wrote emails to the CBC and hundreds more called to complain about the content of Coach's Corner, in which Cherry and co-star Ron MacLean got into a fiery debate over the war in Iraq.

Though this most recent Saturday's episode of Coach's Corner was tame by Cherry's standards, the flamboyant former coach spouted more opinions on Rome's show Monday, including negative comments about Quebecers and so-called left-wing Canadian media.

"You have to realize the CBC is government owned," Cherry said on Rome's program, which is broadcast across the U.S. and Canada.

"You have to say the government was against it (the war) and I'm for it and I'm on a government program."

In the CBC's statement, Redekopp said he was disappointed in Cherry's remarks, "As for what Don said on this private radio show, we think it showed bad judgment and we frankly wish he hadn't said it."

The CBC said that disciplinary action would not be taken against Cherry because he had made these comments on a radio show not associated with the network. However, Cherry will not be allowed to express similar opinions on Hockey Night in Canada's, Coach's Corner.

"We have made it clear to both Don and Ron that Coach's Corner is not an appropriate place to air opinions about the Iraq War," added Redekopp.