Don Cherry Bids Farewell

Don Cherry, the former NHL coach and well-known broadcaster, expressed concern about his health and career while signing off from his podcast this week.

The podcast, “The Don Cherry’s Grapevine Podcast,” has been airing since Cherry’s departure from CBC Sports in 2019, ending his 37-year association with the network. His dismissal came after his controversial comments about immigrants and their perceived lack of patriotism, specifically regarding the poppies traditionally worn to honor fallen soldiers in Canada.

Cherry’s immediate removal followed backlash over his remarks, in which he stated, “Your people… when you come here, whatever it is, you love our way of life. You enjoy our milk and honey. At least you can pay a few dollars for poppies and more. These people have paid the way of life you enjoy in Canada.”

On Monday, Cherry released a brief clip of his show, where he and his son and co-host, Tim, reflected on their “final show.” Cherry stated, “Well, Tim, this is our last show.” Tim replied with a bit of surprise, “Yeah. How many podcasts were there?” to which he noted they had reached episode 313.

Tim added that the show had garnered “6.5 million downloads,” to which Cherry humorously responded, “That’s terrible. Thank you for listening and Toodle-Ooo.” The podcast segment itself was only 13 minutes long but caught the attention of fans and media alike.

Many wrote in support on Cherry’s social media, thanking him for his contributions. One fan echoed sentiment, saying, “Thanks to Don Cherry.” Another remarked, “It’s the best ever.” This prompted outlets to announce Cherry had officially ended his broadcasting career.

However, Joe Warmington, a longtime friend and journalist, quickly reached out to clarify Cherry’s status. When asked if he was retiring, Cherry joked, “Yeah, like Mark Twain,” before assuring fans, “I’ll be back next season” and adding, “Can’t wait.” He explained that he was simply taking a break for the summer, saying, “We always do that at the end of the season.” With hockey season wrapped up, he mentioned, “There’s no more hockey this year, so there are no podcasts in the summer.”

Despite being sidelined from corporate hockey and having faced severe criticism, Cherry remains a beloved figure among many fans and former players. Notably, Doug Gilmore of the Toronto Maple Leafs paid tribute, celebrating Cherry’s legacy, while ESPN analyst PK Subban praised him as well, highlighting his iconic presence.

Commenting on his plans, Cherry, maintaining a lighthearted tone, mentioned he’s now following baseball as it is “baseball season.” He hosted “Coach’s Corner” from 1982 until 2019 and had a successful series of compilation tapes and DVDs called “Rock’em Sock’em Hockey” from 1989 to 2018.