Interesting to note that Ron McLean has not said a word about the recent comments that Cherry has made. It is as if he is ignoring him outright. But Ron has stated that he misses Don and has stated he still thinks of him as a friend. While Cherry does not hold any animosity towards Ron McLean I would think that he certainly does not like the man much any more. I will give this to Don Cherry he has enough class not to rip into Ron McLean. Personally I don't think I could be that kind of guy if someone threw me under the bus like Cherry was. Now for the record, Don messed up. He really messed up and should he have lost the job? Yes. You see Don has stepped in it so many times that at one point the managers at Sportsnet and CBC finally had to say enough.
It should be noted that Coach's Corner had a 30+ year run. Eventually things would have come to an end. But, how the show ended that is the thing that is the rub for Don Cherry.
Broadcasting can be a brutal business to be in. It's actually quite cut throat at times and people will toss other people under the bus to keep a job, get a job or take a job from a rival in media. I have seen that done in the time I was in radio in the 90's heck I had it happen to me. As for racism ah ya lets address that in the media for a moment. It's no secret that the media is still male dominated, white and when it comes to persons with disabilities almost has no visibility at all. Now has there been improvements. Absolutely but, much more work needs to be done. So it goes without saying that it was a good thing that Ron McLean apologized after the You People incident on Coach's Corner and while it was sad to see Don Cherry lose his job. The manner in which it was done is typical for broadcasting. Which is get them off the air NOW. Here is another rub, it appears to have been more about saving advertising dollars and Ron McLean's career rather than trying to possibly save the show, though it appears Don was clear that he would not change his position on the matter. So there was really only one choice left. It just looked bad, still looks bad and cost everyone way to much in the end. It just could have been and should have been handled better. That said looking at the show now, Hockey Night In Canada, the first and second intermission shows are boring so in one sense Don Cherry can chuckle a bit and say that at least with me there was substance. Now meh just meh. And that goes for any chance of Don and Ron getting together and talking again. Though you never know, but really meh I don't think so.
