Video: Don Cherry is grumpy, doesn't like Yakupov's celebration
Don Cherry said something ridiculous? Shocking.
In case you haven't been tuned into the hockey world the past several days, the sport was buzzing when Nail Yakupov scored a huge goal to tie a game against Los Angeles with just over four seconds left to play. He celebrated by sliding down the ice, showing legitimate emotion and excitement. The celebration, one that was applauded and loved by most, was dissected and over analyzed by others.
Show joy out on the ice? Don Cherry says you're an idiot.
Don Cherry is well, well past the point where people take anything he says seriously. His statements are as loud and ridiculous as his clothing. He's a grumpy old man that's out on his porch, yelling at anyone that passes by.
Here Cherry calls out Yakupov for celebrating a goal that anyone would have celebrated. Instead of taking Yakupov's celebration for what it was - a youthful hockey player celebrating a huge moment - Cherry transforms it into some disrespectful act that somehow harms the city of Edmonton.
Cherry claims that Yakupov didn't do Edmonton any favors as his celebration made the Los Angeles Kings mad. You mean a hockey player did something that made an opposing hockey team mad? Isn't that the whole point of the sport? Since when are teams supposed to be overly friendly towards one another? It sounds like Cherry wanted Yakupov to skate over and personally apologize for scoring the goal.
I'd bet LA was much, much more irritated by the fact they allowed a goal with a couple of seconds remaining than they were by Yakupov's celebration. According to Cherry, we shouldn't have a sport where teams are (gasp) against one another.
The point I laughed at the most was how Cherry claimed that Yakupov's celebration embarrassed Jonathan Quick. Quick is a grown man and a Stanley Cup champion. He isn't a pee-wee that needs protecting. Quick was visibly mad at himself for allowing a goal when a victory was just a handful of seconds away.
Cherry's comments show the amount of disrespect the man has towards certain players on the ice and the infatuation he has over others. The only embarrassed party here should be Hockey Night in Canada as Cherry's insane comments continue to reflect poorly on all those associated with the program.
In my opinion, Yakupov's celebration didn't cross any lines. It didn't look premeditated nor was it in the opponent's face or unsportsmanlike. My only complaint, a minor one, was that he didn't share the joy with any of his teammates. In no way was what Yakupov did an insult to the Los Angeles Kings. If his celebration did ruffle some feathers on the LA bench, so be it. There's nothing wrong with having an opponent upset at you.
Oh and you kids - stay out of Don Cherry's yard.
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"Xenophobia" I recoil at that word along with "homophobia", "biphobia", "transphobia", "gynophobia" and so on. It's what all the progressive talking heads use to describe people who have opinions. If you are in public life beware of criticizing (unless you are a leftist) anyone because you will be immediately "tagged" with some kind of "phile" that 90% of the dumbazzes watching don't understand the meaning of anyway. It makes me want to puke (I think I have "phobiaphobia").
David, Its clear from this article and others that you never played this game at a higher level. Coaches get excited about goals in playoffs and finals but this was what...the sixth or seventh game of the season!. A pro, a great player like Messier, Kuri, Gretzky or other Edmonton players would have pumped their fist and skated to the bench. Their attitude was "I do this all the time". What's Yakupov going to do when a goal really means something?
@Originalsixfan I understand what you're saying and where you're coming from. The problem here is that Don Cherry has a history of xenophobic behavior. This was a Russian player who performed this act in front of his home crowd. Cherry is known for saying hateful things towards players who aren't "good ol' Ontario boys." How Cherry is still employed by the CBC after doing this for years is beyond me. It's time for him to retire.
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"Grumpy old man sitting on his front porch"?????? If some punks would take to heart some of the advice these "old farts" were willing to give, we might be better off Rogers. People like you seem to have the impression that the meaning of life is to keep people amused at any cost.. You people in the media (especially the sports media) need to get over yourselves.
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@Speedle If Cherry ever offered legitimate, well-thought-out advice instead of constantly spewing rants of hate and disgust, younger individuals might listen.
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@David Rogers Well David I don't think you can say his advice is not well-thought out and legitimate. If you don't like his style of "spewing" that's fine, but don't discredit his opinions because of his "style" of stating them. That sort of journalism smells like what our current politicians practice - smear and discredit. Criticize his delivery but not his message, unless you know better (which you don't).
@SandyTheFan @Speedle @David I think we can all agree that Don loves the sport of hockey. That's not the problem here. Like I said before it's the xenophobia that is being called into question. Every time he speaks on Hockey Night in Canada people hold their breath waiting to see which "non-Canadian" he is going to rip into. He even ripped into Brian Burke for not having enough Ontario-born players on the Maple Leafs. That isn't "schtick;" that's xenophobia.
@Speedle @David Rogers - Don't forget Don played & coached in the NHL. Listen to his discussions about injury & equipment sometime, with a view of the history of the sport. Don't take his demeanor so seriously - his dress and posturing are the "schtick" he's used as an entertainer for many years. In truth, he's a big softhearted guy that loves hockey & hockey players more than life itself. If you can let go of your perception of him as a "grumpy old man", you'll find a lot of gold worth your trouble (and a bit of nonsense thrown in for fun). :-)
Don Cherry knows more about hockey than the next million people alive. He's a great entertainer & advocate for hockey. On his front porch, yelling? Maybe. But he's got something to say. Might want to listen up, kids.
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Im not even a hockey fan per se, but I dont see the problem with the celebration. The real complaint should be what the @#$%^ he was wearing. Need attention much?
