Don Cherry says he won’t apologize for his divisive comments about new immigrants not wearing poppies, but the former co-host of “Coach’s Corner” says if he could do it again, he would have chosen different words.
“I think the closest I’ll come to apologizing is I wish I had used different words,” Cherry told Global News.
“I should have said everybody. If I had to do it over again, I would have said everybody.”
Cherry, 85, was fired from the Hockey Night in Canada segment by Sportsnet Monday, following televised comments Saturday night in which he singled out “you people that come here” in Toronto and Mississauga, where he lives, for not wearing poppies, implying they don’t support Canada’s soldiers.
“You people that come here… whatever it is, you love our way of life, you love our milk and honey, at least you could pay a couple of bucks for a poppy,” he said on Saturday.
READ MORE: Here’s what you need to know about Don Cherry
In an interview with Global News, Cherry refused to back down from his comments and said that everyone should wear a poppy to honour Canada’s fallen soldiers.
“I do believe to this day that everybody in Canada should have a poppy on, out of honour and respect of the fallen soldiers that have fallen in the Second World War, Korea and the whole deal,” Cherry said.
“Those people who gave their lives, at least we can buy a poppy.”
Pressed on whether his comments were racist, Cherry said his comments weren’t directed at minorities, and that what he said applies to anyone.
“It could have been Irish, it could have been Scottish, it could have been anybody,” he said, adding that the “silent majority” supported him.
“It was picked up the way it was picked up.”
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Sportsnet fires Don Cherry as ‘Coach’s Corner’ co-host over poppy comments -
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After history of controversial remarks, Don Cherry fired from Hockey Night in Canada due to poppy rant -
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Don Cherry fired from Hockey Night in Canada following controversial poppy comments
Cherry said he was planning to apologize on this week’s upcoming Hockey Night in Canada, but was never given the chance.
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“I was ready to apologize,” Cherry said. “I was gonna put out a tweet, or whatever they do, saying I was wrong and I think it could have smoothed over pretty good. But that’s the way they wanted it and that’s the way it goes.”
Global News has contacted Sportsnet about whether Cherry would have apologized, but they said they had nothing further to add.
READ MORE: Hockey players weigh in on Don Cherry’s comments, firing: ‘Disappointing on many fronts’
Cherry, a former player and NHL coach, had worked as a broadcaster for more than 37 years on Hockey Night in Canada, drawing attention for a number of controversial statements including calling progressives “left-wing pinkos,” describing Quebecers as “whiners,” and making derogatory comments about European hockey players.
Sportsnet president Bart Yabsley said in a statement Monday that it was “the right time for him to immediately step down.”
“During the broadcast, he made divisive remarks that do not represent our values or what we stand for,” Yabsley said.
Coach’s Corner co-host Ron MacLean also apologized Sunday for Cherry’s remarks. During Cherry’s rant, MacLean could be seen nodding and giving a thumbs-up.
MacLean issued a televised apology that Cherry’s remarks were “hurtful, discriminatory” and that he wished he had responded differently on air.
“Don Cherry made remarks which were hurtful, discriminatory, which were flat out wrong,” MacLean said. “I owe you an apology, too. I sat there, did not catch it, did not respond.
“Last night was a really great lesson to Don and me. We were wrong, and I sincerely apologize. I wanted to thank you for calling me and Don on that last night.”
Cherry told Global News that he was “disappointed” in his co-host Ron MacLean, but that the two were still friends.
READ MORE: Don Cherry firing doesn’t solve problem his poppy comments highlighted, WWI historian says
Cherry’s remarks were roundly criticized by politicians across Canada including Toronto Mayor John Tory and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh. The National Hockey League also weighed in, saying the comments “made last night were offensive and contrary to the values we believe in.”
Steven Purewal, a historian on the contribution of Indian soldiers during the First World War, told Global News on Monday it was wrong for Cherry to suggest immigrants don’t support Canadian veterans, noting the broadcaster has no way of knowing who’s an immigrant and who was born in Canada.
“It endorses a stereotype that the immigrant is somehow unpatriotic, is thankless about the sacrifices it took to build the country,” he said.
“What we need to be telling Canadians is that many, many diverse communities fought in the Great War and the Second World War. Without their contributions, we wouldn’t have the freedoms we have today.”
Meanwhile, some have been calling for the hockey host’s return. A Change.org petition called “Bring Back Don Cherry!” has amassed over 108,000 signatures.
As for the long-time hockey pundit, Cherry said he is still processing being fired.
“I don’t think it’s hit yet,” he said. “It will be a little different Saturday when I sit down and watch where I was for 38 years.”
“I have no idea and I don’t think Ron Maclean has any idea what they’re going to run after the first period… It’ll be watched that’s for sure because everybody will want to see what goes on at the end of the first period.”
— With a file from Sean Boynton
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