Don Cherry

Cherry was born in Kingston, Ontario, to Delmar (Del) and Maude Cherry.{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/greatest/top_ten/nominee/cherry-don-know.html|title=The Greatest Canadian | publisher = Canadian Broadcasting Corporation | access-date = March 11, 2009 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080512150759/http://www.cbc.ca/greatest/top_ten/nominee/cherry-don-know.html |archive-date = May 12, 2008}} His paternal grandfather, Sub/Cst. John T. (Jack) Cherry, was an original member of the North-West Mounted Police (now Royal Canadian Mounted Police), and a Great Lakes ship captain. His maternal grandfather, Richard Palamountain, was a British orphan of Cornish parentage who emigrated to Canada as one of the Home Children. The name, Palamountain, is a corruption of the Cornish language "pol-mun-tyr" meaning "pool by the mineral land".White, G. Pawley, A Handbook of Cornish Surnames. Palamountain was also a veteran of the Canadian Expeditionary Force.{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/whodoyouthinkyouare/stories/ext_don.php |title=Who Do You Think You Are? (Don Cherry) |publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=March 11, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090331114421/http://www.cbc.ca/whodoyouthinkyouare/stories/ext_don.php |archive-date=March 31, 2009 }} Cherry's father Del was an amateur athlete and worked as an electrician with the Canadian Steamship Lines. On the March 15, 2008, edition of Coach's Corner, Cherry wore the green and gold colours of County Kerry, Ireland. In his segment following the game, he claimed ancestry from that region. Cherry's younger brother, Dick Cherry played hockey at various levels, including two seasons in the National Hockey League with the Philadelphia Flyers.{{cite web|title=Legends of Hockey: Dick John Cherry|publisher=Hockey Hall of Fame|url=http://www.legendsofhockey.net/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayer.jsp?player=12255|access-date=May 24, 2010}}

In his first year with the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League, he met his future wife Rosemarie (Rose) Cherry née Madelyn Martini (born 1935 in Hershey, Pennsylvania). Rose was hugely influential in Don's life—because of Don's minor-league hockey lifestyle, they moved 53 times; they rarely had decent housing or furnishings, and Don was often away playing during major events, such as the birth of their daughter and first child, Cindy Cherry.{{cite web|url=http://www.rosecherryshome.ca/aboutrose/aboutrose.html|title=A Few Words About Rose|last=Cherry|first=Don|access-date=March 11, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090101221959/http://www.rosecherryshome.ca/aboutrose/aboutrose.html|archive-date=January 1, 2009|url-status=dead}} Six years after Cindy's birth, Rose gave birth to son Tim Cherry.{{cite web | url = http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=M1ARTM0011700 | title = Cherry: Has He Gone Too Far? | work = Maclean's Magazine | access-date = March 11, 2009 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081208163523/http://thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=M1ARTM0011700 | archive-date = December 8, 2008 }} When Tim needed a kidney transplant at age 13, Cindy donated one of hers. As of 2006, the two lived across the street from each other, around the corner from their father, in Mississauga.{{cite web | url = https://www.espn.com/espn/eticket/story?page=doncherry&redirected=true | title = The Biggest Mouth In Sports | publisher = ESPN | last = Burnside | first = Scott | access-date = March 11, 2009}}

Rose died of liver cancer on June 1, 1997, and in honour of her perseverance, Don created Rose Cherry's Home for Kids. Her name has motivated Cherry to always wear a rose on his lapel. Cherry contributed to developing Rose Cherry's Home for Kids which has since been renamed to The Darling Home for Kids, in Milton, Ontario.{{cite web|url=http://www.darlinghomeforkids.ca/history |title=Cherry Family Legacy |publisher=darlinghomeforkids.ca |access-date=June 2, 2016}} The Paramount Fine Foods Centre in Mississauga, is located on Rose Cherry Place, a street named for his late wife.{{cite news |last1=Coletta |first1=Amanda |last2=Strauss |first2=Ben |title=In a changing Canada, Don Cherry's firing is front-page news and a Rorschach test |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2019/11/12/changing-canada-don-cherrys-firing-is-front-page-news-rorschach-test/ |access-date=30 September 2024 |newspaper=Washington Post |date=November 12, 2019}}

In 1999, Don married his second wife, Luba.{{cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/the-wonderful-unlivable-life-of-don-cherry/article_6cb10b91-25a2-5822-ad32-092f745e879b.html|title=The wonderful unlivable life of Don Cherry|date=May 29, 2011|publisher=Toronto Star|first=Vinay|last=Menon|access-date=January 9, 2024}}

File:Photo By Kelly Shea (31965336207).jpg Hall of Fame in 2019.]]

Cherry played junior hockey with the Barrie Flyers and the Windsor Spitfires in the Ontario Hockey Association. Cherry won the Memorial Cup while playing defence in Barrie in 1953. He dropped out of high school, and in 1954 he signed with the American Hockey League's (AHL) Hershey Bears.

{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/greatest/top_ten/nominee/cherry-don.html|title=Top Ten Greatest Canadians - Don Cherry|publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation | access-date = March 11, 2009 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080619083010/http://www.cbc.ca/greatest/top_ten/nominee/cherry-don.html |archive-date = June 19, 2008}}

Cherry had a long playing career in professional minor hockey, and in 1955 played his only NHL game when the Boston Bruins called him up during the playoffs. According to Cherry, a baseball injury suffered in the off-season kept him from making the NHL, despite his almost 20 years playing in the minor leagues. He retired as a player in 1970, but came out of retirement two years later to play 19 final games with the Rochester Americans. Cherry won the Calder Cup championship (AHL) four times—1960 with the Springfield Indians, and 1965, 1966, 1968 with Rochester. He also won the Lester Patrick Cup, the Western Hockey League Championship, with the Vancouver Canucks in 1969.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}

After the end of the 1968–69 season, his playing career was essentially over. Cherry struggled for a time as a Cadillac salesman and a construction worker. He worked as a house painter earning $2 per hour.{{cite news|url=http://archives.cbc.ca/IDC-1-41-1459-9686/sports/don_cherry/clip3|title=A 'straight talking' success|access-date=August 3, 2007|publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation}}

In the middle of the 1971–72 season, Cherry became the coach of the American Hockey League's Rochester Americans. The following year, the title of General Manager was added. In his third season behind the bench, Cherry was voted the league's Coach of the Year.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}

After his three-year stint in Rochester, he was promoted to the NHL as head coach of the Boston Bruins for the 1974–75 season. The Bruins were coming off a successful run of two Stanley Cups and three first-place finishes, but after Cherry's first season as coach the team would see the exit of superstars Bobby Orr and Phil Esposito.{{cite news|title=Boston Bruins|department=Say It Ain't So| url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/hockey/nhl/news/2001/02/15/sayitaintso_bruins/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010501233824/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/hockey/nhl/news/2001/02/15/sayitaintso_bruins/ | url-status=dead | archive-date=May 1, 2001 |publisher=CNN | access-date=April 26, 2010|date=May 9, 2001}}

Cherry quickly developed a reputation for being an eccentric, flamboyant coach who strongly encouraged physical play among his players. According to Cherry, he moulded the Bruins' playing style after that of his dog, Blue, a feisty bullterrier.{{cite news|newspaper=Toronto Star|title=Cherry on top I'm proud to call myself a redneck' says Don Cherry the bellicose broadcaster who calls others a lot worse|author=Leslie Scrivener|date=May 23, 1993|page=D1}} While the team had been known for Orr and Esposito who were highly skilled scorers, the 1975–76 Bruins started the season in brief slump in part due to Orr's knee injury that saw him play only ten games, plus Orr would become a free agent at the end of the season. Cherry remade the team with enforcers and grinders which became known as the "lunch-pail gang" (or "lunch pail A.C.") and "the Big Bad Bruins", with Esposito and Carol Vadnais being traded to the New York Rangers for Brad Park and Jean Ratelle, as Esposito disagreed with Cherry's coaching including having a disinclination to backcheck.{{Cite web|url=https://www.si.com/nhl/2017/03/16/boston-bruins-lunch-pail-ac-don-cherry|title = Lunch Pail A.C.: A folk hero hockey team| date=March 16, 2017 }} This approach of "balance over brilliance" rejuvenated the Bruins, in particular the careers of Park and Ratelle, as they continued to be one of the NHL's best teams during the latter half of the 1970s, capturing the Adams division title four straight seasons from 1975–76 through 1978–79, with Cherry winning the Jack Adams Award (NHL coach of the year) for the 1975 season. In the 1977–78 season, Cherry coached the Bruins team to an NHL record of 11 players with 20 goals or more on a single team.{{cite news| url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1091863/index.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100504181609/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1091863/index.htm | url-status=dead | archive-date=May 4, 2010 | publisher=CNN | title=Galleries | date=December 6, 1976}}{{Cite web | url=https://www.nhl.com/bruins/news/1977-78-bruins-are-a-group-to-remember/c-295962238 | title=1977-78 Bruins Are a Group to Remember| date=February 14, 2018}}

The Bruins were able to defeat the rough Philadelphia Flyers twice in the playoffs under Cherry's tenure. The Bruins made the Stanley Cup finals twice, both times losing to their arch-rivals, the Montreal Canadiens, in both 1977 and 1978. The late 1970s Canadiens were one of the most dominant teams in the NHL, with three of their eight regular losses in the 1976–77 season coming at the hands of the Bruins. In the 1979 semi-final playoff series against the Canadiens, Cherry's Bruins pushed the series to the limit but they were undone by a late penalty in the seventh game. Up by a goal with less than three minutes left in the seventh game, the Bruins were called for having too many men on the ice, which he blamed on himself, saying later "The guy couldn't have heard me yell. I grabbed two other guys trying to go over the boards. That would have made eight on the ice."{{Cite web|url=https://syndication.bleacherreport.com/amp/172173-may-10-1979-boston-bruins-called-for-too-many-men-against-montreal.amp.html|title = May 10, 1979: Boston Bruins Called for Too Many Men Against Montreal}} The Canadiens' Guy Lafleur scored the tying goal on the subsequent power play, and ultimately the Canadiens won the game in overtime. Montreal went on to defeat the New York Rangers for their fourth straight Cup title. Cherry, who had an uneasy relationship with Bruins General Manager Harry Sinden, was fired by the Bruins afterward.{{cite web|last1=Steendelaar|first1=Kevin van|title=May 10, 1979: Boston Bruins Called for Too Many Men Against Montreal|url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/172173-may-10-1979-boston-bruins-called-for-too-many-men-against-montreal| website = Bleacher Report|access-date=January 23, 2017|date=January 13, 2017}}{{cite web|title=Don Cherry for hire - CBC Archives|url=http://www.cbc.ca/archives/entry/don-cherry-for-hire|publisher=CBC Radio|access-date=January 23, 2017}}

Cherry went on to coach the Colorado Rockies in the 1979-80 season. Under his tenure, the Rockies adopted the motto "Come to the fights and watch a Rockies game break out!" and the slogan could be seen on billboards all over Denver throughout the season.{{Cite news|url=https://websports.net/Journal/46356/Don-Cherry%E2%80%99s-Impact-on-the-Colorado-Rockies|title=Don Cherry's Impact on the Colorado Rockies|date=October 10, 2017|work=WebSports|access-date=February 4, 2018}}

However, as he later admitted, his outspokenness and feuding with Rockies general manager Ray Miron did not endear Cherry to management. While Cherry did much to motivate the players, goaltending was still the team's weakness as Miron refused to replace Hardy Åström, whom Cherry dubbed "The Swedish Sieve". Cherry recalled one game where his players had taken ten shots on goal without scoring, but Åström then conceded a goal from the opponent's first shot and so was yanked from net.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}

In a late-season game in Chicago, the Blackhawks scored the game-winning goal while Mike McEwen, a favourite of the Rockies owners, was on the ice. When McEwen returned to the bench, Cherry grabbed him by the jersey and shook him. McEwen left the team for several days and did not return until after meeting with Miron and the club owners. Cherry's belief, stated later, was that the owners had promised McEwen that Cherry would be fired after the season.{{cite web |title=Don Cherry's Impact on the Colorado Rockies |url=https://thehockeywriters.com/don-cherry-colorado-rockies-coach/ |website=The Hockey Writers |access-date=September 21, 2021 |language=en-us |date=July 16, 2019}}

The Rockies finished with a league-worst 19–48–13 record, also the worst single-season mark of Cherry's coaching career. He was fired six weeks after the season ended.

Internationally, Cherry was an assistant coach for Team Canada at the 1976 Canada Cup{{Cite web | url=https://www.hhof.com/htmlTimeCapsule/TeamRosterCCUP1976CAN.shtml | title=Legends of Hockey - Time Capsule - Pro Classics: Canada Cup 1976 Canada Team Roster | access-date=November 17, 2019 | archive-date=November 17, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191117011136/https://www.hhof.com/htmlTimeCapsule/TeamRosterCCUP1976CAN.shtml | url-status=dead }} and was head coach for Canada's team at the 1981 World Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden.{{citation needed|date = January 2015}}

In 1983 Cherry agreed to become the new head coach of the Saskatoon Blues, Bill Hunter's proposed relocation of the St. Louis Blues to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.[https://www.upi.com/Archives/1983/05/16/Don-Cherry-former-coach-of-the-Boston-Bruins-and/5660421905600/ "Don Cherry, former coach of the Boston Bruins and...," United Press International, Monday, May 16, 1983.] Retrieved December 8, 2017 However, the NHL's Board of Governors rejected the move on May 18, 1983,[https://www.nytimes.com/1983/05/19/sports/blues-transfer-rejected.html "Blues' Transfer Rejected," The Associated Press, Thursday, May 19, 1983.] Retrieved December 8, 2017 and the Blues remained in St. Louis.{{cite web |url=http://www.hometownhockey.com/news/how-saskatoon-almost-landed-an-nhl-team-in-1983/ |title=HometownHockey – How Saskatoon almost landed an NHL team in 1983 |publisher=Hometownhockey.com |date=October 26, 2014 |access-date=July 12, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150617040755/http://www.hometownhockey.com/news/how-saskatoon-almost-landed-an-nhl-team-in-1983/ |archive-date=June 17, 2015 |url-status=dead }}

Cherry was involved with the Ontario Hockey League's Mississauga IceDogs as part-owner from 1998—2002{{cite web | title=Cherry to sell stake in OHL's IceDogs: report | website=CBC | date=2002-05-04 | url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/cherry-to-sell-stake-in-ohl-s-icedogs-report-1.349696 | access-date=2024-11-12}}{{cite web | last=Houston | first=William | title=Cherry's days as part-owner of junior IceDogs come to an end | website=The Globe and Mail | date=2002-05-15 | url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/cherrys-days-as-part-owner-of-junior-icedogs-come-to-an-end/article754699/ | access-date=2024-11-12}} and as the coach from 2001—2002. As owner and general manager, he gained notoriety by refusing to take part in the CHL import draft, and by only playing North American-born players. The IceDogs' first three seasons were difficult ones with the team winning a total of 16 games combined. Cherry took over coaching duties in the fourth season after firing Rick Vaive and hiring himself as replacement.{{cite web | title=Don Cherry says he'll coach his OHL team | website=ESPN.com: MINORLH | url=https://www.espn.com/minorlh/news/2001/0601/1208342.html | access-date=2024-11-12}} During Cherry's one season as head coach of the IceDogs, the team managed 11 victories (only a slight improvement) and failed to make the playoffs for the fourth straight year. Cherry drew some criticism for his sudden decision to allow European-born players onto the IceDogs line-up during the one season he coached the team.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/cherrys-icedogs-pick-up-a-russian/article25442356/|title=Cherry's IceDogs pick up a Russian|access-date=February 4, 2018}}

File:Cherry Maclean.jpg at the 2002 Winter Olympics. The two were partnered on Coach's Corner from 1986 to 2019.]]

After the Colorado Rockies failed to qualify for the 1980 Stanley Cup playoffs, Cherry was hired as a studio analyst for CBC's playoff coverage that spring, working alongside host Dave Hodge. CBC hired him full-time in 1981 as a colour commentator, but he didn't last long in that role due to his tendency to openly cheer for one of the teams playing, especially the Boston Bruins or Toronto Maple Leafs. Instead, Coach's Corner was created, a segment that appeared in the first intermission on Hockey Night in Canada, with Dave Hodge. In 1986, Hodge was replaced by Ron MacLean.

From 1984 to 2019, Cherry co-hosted Don Cherry's Grapeline with Brian Williams, first on CFRB radio in Toronto and its sister stations, moving in 1994 to The FAN 590 and the Sportsnet Radio network. At its peak, the show was carried on over 100 stations across Canada and on several stations in the United States.{{cite news |last=Houston |first=William |title=Grapeline endures with winning formula of commentary and chemistry |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/grapeline-endures-with-winning-formula-of-commentary-and-chemistry/article726161/ |website=The Globe and Mail}}{{cite news |last=Warmington |first=Joe |title=Don Cherry, Brian Williams signing off Grapeline radio show |url=https://torontosun.com/news/local-news/don-cherry-grapevine |newspaper=Toronto Sun |date=August 23, 2019}}

For several years he also hosted his half-hour interview show, Don Cherry's Grapevine, which began on Hamilton's CHCH-TV in the 1980s before moving to TSN. His loud, outspoken nature became notorious, and his shows are described as "game analysis, cultural commentary and playful parrying with host Ron MacLean."

Cherry also hosted a syndicated weekly television show called Don Cherry's This Week in Hockey during the 1987–88 NHL season. It featured highlights from the previous week's NHL games. The highlight of each show was when Cherry awarded a Black and Decker cordless drill to the player who levied the "hit of the week" (called the "Drill of the Week" to tie into the cordless drill giveaway).{{citation needed|date=April 2022}}

Branching out from his Hockey Night in Canada duties, Cherry began to release a series of videos called Don Cherry's Rock'Em Sock'em Hockey in 1989.

In 1989, he referred to Finnish-born Winnipeg Jets assistant coach Alpo Suhonen as "some kind of dog food", triggering the threat of a lawsuit from Jets owner Barry Shenkarow.

The 15th-anniversary video of Rock'Em Sock'em Hockey was released in 2003, with a 'Best Of' released in 2005.

In January 2004, during Coach's Corner, Cherry claimed that players who wore visors were more likely to commit high-sticking infractions. He also said, "Most of the guys that wear them are Europeans and French [Canadian] guys".{{cite web |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/visor-comments-pit-don-cherry-against-language-watchdog-1.485430 |title=Visor comments pit Don Cherry against language watchdog |publisher=CBC News |access-date=February 10, 2024 |date=March 4, 2004}} This statement triggered an investigation by the federal Official Languages Commissioner and protests by French Canadians. CBC consequently imposed a seven-second delay on Hockey Night in Canada. In a subsequent analysis of 82 NHL games for 12 days, CBC Sports Online discovered that high-sticking infractions were committed far more often by players not wearing visors, at a rate of nearly 2 to 1.{{cite news |date=March 5, 2004 |title=Cherry half-right on visors:survey |work=CBC Sports |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/cherry-half-right-on-visors-surveys-1.468616 |access-date=April 13, 2021}}

• {{cite news|title=The wrath of Grapes riles Russians|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/the-wrath-of-grapes-riles-russians-1.302795|access-date=May 1, 2011|date=March 1, 2002|publisher=CBC News}}
• {{cite news|title=The Don Cherry Lexicon "Quebec," "visors," and "chicken Swedes" -- Grapes has a penchant for touching nerves with the words he chooses|url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/indepth/doncherry/stories/lexicon.html|access-date=May 1, 2011|year=2011|publisher=CBC News|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103223421/http://www.cbc.ca/sports/indepth/doncherry/stories/lexicon.html|archive-date=November 3, 2012}}
• {{cite news|title=Don Cherry plans to dazzle on Hockey Night in Canada this season|url=https://thehockeynews.com/news/article/don-cherry-plans-to-dazzle-on-hockey-night-in-canada-this-season|access-date=May 1, 2011|newspaper=the Hockey News|date=October 1, 2008}}
• {{cite news|title=Don Cherry et CBC font l'objet d'une enquête|url=https://www.ledevoir.com/societe/medias/46761/don-cherry-et-cbc-font-l-objet-d-une-enquete|access-date=May 1, 2011|newspaper=Le Devoir|date=February 6, 2004}}
• {{cite news|title=Don Cherry cheered, booed at House of Commons|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/don-cherry-cheered-booed-at-house-of-commons-1.626853|access-date=May 1, 2011|publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|date=November 7, 2006}}
• {{cite news|last=vlessing|first=etan|title=Don Cherry attacks "left-wing" kooks|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/centertainment-us-canada-idCATRE6B81EH20101209|access-date=April 13, 2021|work=Reuters|date=December 9, 2010}}
• {{cite news|last=Braude|first=Dick|title=Bruins Coach Looks to American Rather than European Material|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ywwgAAAAIBAJ&pg=2734,472566&dq=don-cherry+europeans+-pay-per-view&hl=en|newspaper=The Lewiston Daily Sun|date=November 2, 1978}}
• {{cite news|last=Kuppa|first=Gregg|title=Hockeytown hosts 'Hockey Night' tonight|url=http://detnews.com/article/20110326/SPORTS0103/103260317/Hockeytown-hosts-%E2%80%98Hockey-Night%E2%80%99-tonight|access-date=May 1, 2011|newspaper=The Detroit News|date=March 26, 2011}}
• {{cite news|last=Hamilton|first=Graeme|title=Like it or not, Don Cherry emerges as 'political force'|url=https://nationalpost.com/news/like-it-or-not-don-cherry-emerges-as-political-force|access-date=April 13, 2021|newspaper=National Post|date=December 8, 2010}}
• {{cite news|last=Delmar|first=Dan|title=Don Cherry and hockey pornography|url=http://www.themetropolitain.ca/articles/view/964|access-date=May 1, 2011|newspaper=The Metropolitain|date=April 21, 2011}}
• {{cite news|title=CBC puts Cherry on 7-second delay|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/cbc-puts-cherry-on-7-second-delay-1.475756|access-date=May 1, 2011|publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|date=February 6, 2004|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070626232929/https://www.cbc.ca/news/story/2004/02/06/cherry040206.html|archive-date=June 26, 2007}}
• {{cite book|last=Macionis|first=John|title="The Prime Minister of Saturday Night: Don Cherry, the CBC, and the Cultural Production of Intolerance" in Seeing Ourselves in Canada: Media Power and Policy|year=1999|publisher=Prentice Hall|isbn=978-0-205-73316-3|pages=59–72|author2=Young, Kevin, Gillett, J. and White, P}}

Cherry returned to the Coach's Corner for the 2005–06 NHL season without the seven-second delay.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}

For the 2007 Stanley Cup Finals, NBC decided to feature Cherry in its intermission coverage, a rare appearance on American television. He was partnered with Bill Clement and Brett Hull and it did not conflict with his usual role on CBC as he appeared on NBC during the second intermission.{{citation needed|date=April 2022}}

In May 2008, ESPN announced that Cherry was joining Barry Melrose as a commentator for the remainder of the 2008 NHL Playoffs. He provided pre-game analysis for the conference finals, pre- and post-game analysis for the Stanley Cup finals, and appeared on ESPNews and ESPN Radio. ESPN also announced that he would donate his fees to the Humane Society.{{cite news | url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/playoffs2008/news/story?id=3384071 | title=Cherry joining ESPN for Eastern Conference, Stanley Cup finals | date=May 6, 2008 | access-date=May 6, 2008 | publisher=ESPN}}

Cherry's commentary was usually peppered with quotables{{cite web | last=Arouchian | first=Daniel | title=Don Cherry's Words of Wisdom | website=Bleacher Report | date=2008-10-28 | url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/74313-don-cherrys-words-of-wisdom | access-date=2024-11-12}} and catchphrases like "All you kids out there...," unrestrained affection for his favourite players (including Steve Yzerman and Kingston native Doug Gilmour, whom Cherry affectionately referred to as "Dougie" and once kissed on-air in a famous TV gag), and overall political incorrectness.{{citation needed|date=April 2022}} Known for his signature style{{cite web | agency=The Canadian Press | title=Don Cherry's suits occupy almost every closet | website=Sportsnet.ca | date=2014-12-11 | url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/don-cherrys-suits-occupy-almost-every-closet/ | access-date=2024-11-12}}{{cite web | title=10 fashion tips from Don Cherry | website=Macleans.ca | date=2013-06-21 | url=https://macleans.ca/society/life/10-fashion-tips-from-don-cherry/ | access-date=2024-11-12}}{{cite web | title=Don Cherry's Fashion Statements | website=SI | date=2008-06-02 | url=https://www.si.com/nhl/2008/06/02/02don-cherrys-fashion-statements | access-date=2024-11-12}} which included colourful jackets, shirts, and ties he wore during the "Coach's Corner" segment of Hockey Night in Canada.{{citation needed|date=April 2022}}

On November 9, 2019, during Coach's Corner, Cherry complained that Canadian immigrants benefit from the sacrifices of veterans and do not wear remembrance poppies. He said, "You people that come here... you love our way of life, you love our milk and honey, at least you can pay a couple bucks for a poppy or something like that... These guys paid for your way of life that you enjoy in Canada, these guys paid the biggest price."{{Cite web|url=https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/online-backlash-against-don-cherry-for-comments-on-immigrants-and-remembrance-day|title='You people': Don Cherry under fire for claiming new immigrants don't wear Remembrance Day poppies |agency=The Canadian Press |date=November 10, 2019|access-date=November 10, 2019}} These comments were widely condemned as being racist.{{cite web |last1=Allen |first1=Kevin |title=Hockey Night in Canada analyst Don Cherry fired after making racist comment on air |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nhl/2019/11/11/don-cherry-fired-racist-anti-immigrant-comment/2566800001/ |website=USA TODAY}}{{cite web |title=Don Cherry's racist rant doesn't receive support of Royal Canadian Legion |url=https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/don-cherrys-racist-rant-on-coachs-corner-doesnt-receive-support-of-royal-canadian-legion-060809573.html |website=Yahoo Sports |access-date=23 September 2023 |language=en-CA |date=12 November 2019}}{{cite web |last1=Pingue |first1=Frank |title=Hockey world watching as NHL deals with fallout over racism scandals |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/sports/hockey-world-watching-as-nhl-deals-with-fallout-over-racism-scandals-idUSKBN1Y22B2/ |publisher=Reuters |access-date=18 August 2024 |date=29 November 2019 |quote=a popular hockey commentator was fired for remarks that were widely viewed as a racist attack on the patriotism of Canadian immigrants}}{{cite web |title=Don Cherry on relationship with Ron MacLean: 'I don't think we'll ever be friends again' |url=https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/don-cherry-ron-maclean-i-dont-think-well-ever-be-friends-again-005452597.html |website=Yahoo Sports |access-date=23 September 2023 |language=en-CA |date=18 May 2022 |quote=The longstanding intermission show on Hockey Night in Canada ended in 2019 when the then-85-year-old Cherry went on a racist rant, targeting Canadian immigrants for not wearing the red poppy on Remembrance Day.}} The distributor of those poppies in Canada, The Royal Canadian Legion, officially denounced those statements saying, "Mr. Cherry's personal opinion was hurtful, divisive and in no way condoned by the Legion."{{cite news |last1=Temming |first1=Stan |title=Don Cherry's racist rant doesn't receive support of Royal Canadian Legion |url=https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/don-cherrys-racist-rant-on-coachs-corner-doesnt-receive-support-of-royal-canadian-legion-060809573.html |access-date=November 12, 2020 |publisher=Yahoo Sports |date=November 12, 2019}} Sportsnet apologized for the remarks, stating that his comments were discriminatory and offensive, and that they "do not represent our values and what we stand for as a network."{{Cite web|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/6151647/don-cherry-immigrants-poppies/|title='You love our way of life': Don Cherry criticized for comments on immigrants, poppies|website=Global News|access-date=November 10, 2019}} His co-host, Ron MacLean, also apologized via Twitter, expressing regret for his actions and for allowing Cherry to make the comments.{{cite news|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/6151647/don-cherry-immigrants-poppies/|title=Ron MacLean apologizes for not challenging Don Cherry's 'hurtful and prejudiced' comments|newspaper=Global News|last=Jackson|first=Hannah|date=October 10, 2019|access-date=October 10, 2019}} The NHL subsequently released a statement on Cherry's comments saying "the comments made last night were offensive and contrary to the values we believe in."{{cite news|url=https://www.tsn.ca/nhl-issues-statement-about-don-cherry-s-comments-1.1395657|title=NHL issues statement on Cherry's comments|newspaper=TSN|date=October 10, 2019|access-date=October 10, 2019}} Cherry later told the Toronto Sun that he would not apologize for his comments, stating, "I have had my say."{{Cite news|url=https://torontosun.com/news/local-news/warmington-no-apology-from-don-cherry-on-hnic-poppy-comments|title=WARMINGTON: No apology from Don Cherry on HNIC poppy comments|newspaper=Toronto Sun|date=November 11, 2019|access-date=November 11, 2019}}

On November 10, MacLean appeared on air for the first time following the incident and opened Rogers Hometown Hockey's broadcast with an apology: "Don Cherry made remarks which were hurtful, discriminatory, which were flat out wrong. We at Sportsnet have apologized. It certainly doesn't stand for what Sportsnet or Rogers represents. We know diversity is the strength of the country. We see it in travels with our show (Hometown Hockey) and with Hockey Night in Canada. I owe you an apology, too: that's the big thing I want to emphasize. I sat there, did not catch it, did not respond."{{Cite web|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/ca/nhl/news/ron-maclean-apologizes-for-don-cherrys-immigrant-comments-during-hnic-broadcast/r8dfiol0d0xr1som6tlly1jy8|title = Ron MacLean apologizes for Don Cherry's immigrant comments during HNIC broadcast| date=November 11, 2019 }}

The Canadian Broadcast Standards Council (CBSC) stated that its internal systems had been overloaded by a high number of complaints.{{Cite news|url=https://nationalpost.com/pmn/news-pmn/canada-news-pmn/high-volume-of-cherry-complaints-has-cbsc-at-limit-of-processing-capacity|title=High volume of Cherry complaints has CBSC at limit of processing capacity|work=National Post|date=November 11, 2019|access-date=November 11, 2019|last1=Strong |first1=Gregory }} Two days later, on November 11, Sportsnet president Bart Yabsley announced that Cherry had been fired: "Following further discussions with Don Cherry after Saturday night's broadcast, it has been decided it is the right time for him to immediately step down."{{Cite web|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/sports/don-cherry-fired-after-scolding-immigrants-who-don-t-wear-poppies-1.4680203|title=Don Cherry fired after scolding immigrants who don't wear poppies|website=CTV News|access-date=November 11, 2019|date=November 11, 2019}} Speaking to the Toronto Sun, Cherry commented, "I know what I said and I meant it. Everybody in Canada should wear a poppy to honour our fallen soldiers... I would have liked to continue doing Coach's Corner. The problem is if I have to watch everything I say, it isn't Coach's Corner."{{cite news|url=https://torontosun.com/news/local-news/warmington-don-cherry-fired-over-controversial-poppy-comment|title=WARMINGTON: Don Cherry fired over controversial poppy comment|newspaper=Toronto Sun|date=November 11, 2019}} He later said that if he had to do it again, he would have said "everybody".{{Cite web|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/6160099/don-cherry-defends-comments-hockey-night-in-canada/|title=Don Cherry defends Hockey Night in Canada comments but says he would have 'used different words'|website=Global News|access-date=November 13, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/sports/i-don-t-regret-a-thing-don-cherry-speaks-out-on-his-firing-and-ron-maclean-1.4680203|title='I don't regret a thing': Don Cherry speaks out on his firing and Ron MacLean {{!}} CTV News|website=www.ctvnews.ca|access-date=November 12, 2019|date=November 11, 2019}}

On November 16, 2019, MacLean addressed and reflected on the incident during Hockey Night in Canada, the first without Cherry, also announcing the end of Coach's Corner.{{cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/article-maclean-calls-first-hockey-night-without-cherry-the-end-of-an-era/|title=MacLean calls first "Hockey Night" without Cherry the "end of an era"|publisher=theglobeandmail.com|date=November 16, 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/6179202/ron-maclean-don-cherry-hockey-night-in-canada/|title=Ron MacLean addresses viewers in first Hockey Night in Canada without Don Cherry|publisher=globalnews.ca|date=November 16, 2019}}

Former Boston Bruins defenceman Bobby Orr defended Cherry, calling his firing "disgraceful".{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/don-cherry-dismissal-reaction-bobby-orr-nov-14-1.5360086|title=Hockey legend Bobby Orr calls Cherry firing 'disgraceful'|publisher=cbc.ca|date=November 14, 2019}} Colorado Avalanche forward Nazem Kadri said "People maybe took it out of context a little bit. I know Grapes is a great person and am sad to see him go."{{cite web|url=https://www.thescore.com/nhl/news/1878368|title=Kadri defends Cherry: 'People maybe took it out of context a little bit'|publisher=thescore.com.ca|date=November 14, 2019}}

On November 19, 2019, Cherry released his first installment of Grapevine, this time as a podcast.{{cite news|url=https://torontosun.com/news/local-news/warmington-don-cherry-comes-back-with-a-new-show|title=Don Cherry comes back with a new show|last=Warmington|first=Joe|date=November 18, 2019|work=Toronto Sun|access-date=April 9, 2025}} During his first podcast, Cherry said he was unwilling to accept Sportsnet's conditions for his return.{{cite web |title=Cherry says he won't apologize in order to return |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/28114973/don-cherry-says-not-apologize-condition-return |website=ESPN.com |publisher=Associated Press |access-date=May 19, 2023 |language=en |date=November 19, 2019}}

As part of his fame, Cherry has also branched out into acting roles. He was cast as Jake Nelson in the television series Power Play. Nelson was the coach of the Philadelphia team playing against the Hamilton Steelheads in the playoffs during the first season. Also, he and Ron MacLean provided voices for themselves in the animated series Zeroman, which starred Leslie Nielsen. He also appeared on an episode of Goosebumps called "Don't Go to Sleep!" where he plays a hockey coach. His voice was also used in Disney's animated feature The Wild, as a penguin curling broadcaster. He also appeared alongside the Trailer Park Boys in The Tragically Hip's video "The Darkest One". His voice was also used in the Mickey Mouse episode "Bad Ear Day", as an ice hockey game announcer.{{citation needed|date=March 2022}}

In 2008, he also appeared on an episode of Holmes on Homes, the widely popular home improvement show. While not appearing scripted, Cherry lived in the neighbourhood and he is shown speaking with Mike Holmes about the construction business and the ongoing project at his brother-in-law's house.{{Cite web|url=http://www.tv.com/shows/holmes-on-homes/rock-bottom-1216777/trivia/|title=Holmes on Homes: Rock Bottom|last=TV.com|website=TV.com|access-date=February 4, 2018|archive-date=February 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180205072916/http://www.tv.com/shows/holmes-on-homes/rock-bottom-1216777/trivia/|url-status=dead}}

In 1985, the first of a chain of franchised sports bars/restaurants bearing Cherry's name was opened in Hamilton. Cherry started as a partner in the operation and has more recently licensed his name to the chain without holding a significant ownership stake in the company. "Don Cherry's Sports Grill" has locations in Ontario, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Alberta.{{cite web | url = http://www.doncherrys.com/About%20the%20Don%20Cherry's%20Restaurants.htm | title = About the Restaurants | work = doncherrys.com | access-date = December 31, 2007}}

Cherry created the Don Cherry Pet Rescue Foundation and donates all profits from his Simply Pets snacks line to animal charities. During the 42nd Canadian Parliament, Cherry, typically a supporter of the Conservatives made a video supporting Liberal MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith's ultimately unsuccessful private member's bill that sought to toughen animal cruelty laws.{{cite news | url=http://www.torontosun.com/2016/09/29/don-cherry-throws-support-behind-animal-cruelty-bill | title=Don Cherry throws support behind animal cruelty bill | newspaper=Toronto Sun | date=September 29, 2016 | access-date=January 9, 2024 | author=Warmington, Joe |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161001144840/http://www.torontosun.com/2016/09/29/don-cherry-throws-support-behind-animal-cruelty-bill |archivedate=October 1, 2016}}{{cite web | url=http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2016/10/06/nathaniel-erskine-smith-animal-cruelty-bill-c-246_n_12371614.html | title=Nathaniel Erskine-Smith's Animal Cruelty Bill Defeated | work=HuffPost | date=October 6, 2016 | access-date=October 12, 2016 | author=Maloney, Ryan}}

Cherry would often complain about players that he believed were not playing hockey the "right" way, and those players were usually Québécois, Swedes, Russians, or of some other background besides English-speaking Canadians.{{cite magazine |last1=McGrath |first1=Ben |title=The Firing of Don Cherry, Hockey's Self-Appointed Gatekeeper |url=https://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/the-firing-of-don-cherry-hockeys-self-appointed-gatekeeper |magazine=The New Yorker |access-date=February 10, 2024 |date=November 12, 2019}} He believes that fighting is an integral part of the game as it enforces respect between teams and players, as well as being popular with the public. He has been described as "a pioneer in the identity politics of sports."

Cherry has called Bobby Orr the greatest player of all time.{{cite news |url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/indepth/doncherry/stories/lexicon.html |title=The Don Cherry Lexicon | publisher=CBC News|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103223421/http://www.cbc.ca/sports/indepth/doncherry/stories/lexicon.html|archive-date=November 3, 2012}} Other favourites of his include Doug Gilmour, Vincent Lecavalier, and Cam Neely. Cherry has criticized many players for what he considers dishonourable conduct, but perhaps none more than Ulf Samuelsson, whom he considered to be an exceptionally dirty player.{{cite book |last1=Fischler |first1=Stan |last2=Fischler |first2=Shirley |title=Who's who in Hockey |date=2003 |publisher=Andrews McMeel Publishing |isbn=978-0-7407-1904-2 |page=367 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wpbLnSHBNHgC&pg=PA367 |language=en}}

Cherry has strongly criticized the direction taken by the National Hockey League in recent years, reducing fighting in favour of speed and skill. Specific rules that he criticizes include touch-up icing and the instigator rule.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}

He also frequently criticized players for elaborate celebrations after goals. In 2003, Cherry made headlines by criticizing then heavily publicized junior prospect Sidney Crosby for being a "hot dog" because of the way Crosby slid around on his knees after scoring. He also disapproved of a tricky behind-the-net goal the young star pulled off when a game was already out of reach for the team he scored on. He commented on the controversy caused by Alexander Ovechkin's celebration after he scored his 50th goal in 2009.{{cite web |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/minus-xenophobia-racism-cherry-point-ovechkin--nhl.html |title=Minus xenophobia and racism, Cherry has point about Ovechkin|first=Greg |last=Wyshynski |publisher=Yahoo! Sports |date=March 2, 2009 |access-date=April 13, 2021}}

Along similar lines, in 2019 he criticized the Carolina Hurricanes for their on-ice victory celebrations, calling them a "bunch of jerks." The Hurricanes adopted "Bunch of Jerks" as a battle cry,{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2019/02/17/don-cherry-calls-carolina-hurricanes-bunch-jerks-because-victory-celebrations/|title=Don Cherry calls the Carolina Hurricanes 'a bunch of jerks' because of victory celebrations|author1=Jake Russell|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=February 17, 2019}} even going as far as projecting it on the ice at PNC Arena before and after games.{{cite news|url=https://nhl.nbcsports.com/2019/02/26/hurricanes-present-next-evolution-of-bunch-of-jerks-trolling/|title=Hurricanes present next evolution of 'Bunch of Jerks' trolling|author1=James O'Brien|publisher=NBC Sports|date=February 26, 2019}}

Cherry is a staunch supporter of women's hockey, and sledge hockey.{{cite web |url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/cherry-predicts-canadian-sledge-hockey-win-1.868456 |title=Cherry predicts Canadian sledge hockey win|agency=The Canadian Press |date=March 10, 2010}} In 1997, the Canadian women's national ice hockey team paid tribute to the late Rose Cherry. Canadian Hockey chairman Bob MacKinnon thanked Cherry stating "The growing popularity of the women's game in our country owes a great deal to Don and Rose Cherry... Don has been a strong supporter of the female game since the early 1980s and continues to speak out in favour of women's hockey. It's a pleasure for me, as chairman of Canadian Hockey, to be a part of this tribute to Rose Cherry, who was a keen supporter of female hockey herself."{{cite web |url=http://www.hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/news/1997-nr-113-en |title=Canada's Women's Olympic Team to Pay Homage to Rose Cherry|publisher=Hockey Canada |date=November 7, 1997}}

Over his career on television, Cherry generated significant controversy about both hockey and politics.{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/viewpoint/vp_omalley/20021001.html|title=The toy department of journalism|last=O'Malley|first=Martin|publisher=CBC News|date=October 1, 2002}}

In 2003, Cherry made comments on his CBC segment in support of the 2003 invasion of Iraq. On March 22, 2003, Cherry criticized Montreal fans for booing the American national anthem before a game earlier in the week. The conversation then turned to the war when Ron MacLean said "everybody wants to know what you think". Cherry berated MacLean about being neutral on the war and strongly criticized the Canadian government for failing to support the U.S. in the war.{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/indepth/doncherry/stories/lexicon.html |title=The Don Cherry Lexicon |publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=June 6, 2011}} Cherry appeared on the American radio program The Jim Rome Show the following week, stating, "You have to realize the CBC is government owned [...] You have to say the government was against [the invasion of Iraq] and I'm for it and I'm on a government program. I really thought this could be the end."{{cite news | title = CBC removes 'inappropriate' video from Web site | url = http://static.espn.go.com/nhl/news/2003/0404/1533887.html | publisher = ESPN |access-date = March 12, 2009}}

After appearing in the House of Commons of Canada on November 7, 2006, he formally stated his support for Prime Minister Stephen Harper, whom he called "a grinder and a mucker" by saying "I give a thumbs up to Stephen Harper for sure. He supports the troops and I support the troops."{{cite web|url=http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20061107/don_cherry_061107/20061107?hub=CTVNewsAt11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070314154534/http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20061107/don_cherry_061107/20061107?hub=CTVNewsAt11 |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 14, 2007 |title=Bloc MPs boo Don Cherry in House of Commons |publisher=CTV.ca |date=November 7, 2006 |access-date=June 6, 2011}}

On December 7, 2010, Cherry attended an inaugural meeting of Toronto City Council, where he placed the chain of office around incoming Mayor Rob Ford's neck.{{cite news|first=David |last=Rider |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/city-hall/why-don-cherry-backs-rob-ford/article_dbb31e5f-a2ad-5eca-8937-d98fab6d9fbf.html |title=Why Don Cherry backs Rob Ford |work=Toronto Star |date=December 3, 2010 |access-date=January 9, 2024 |location=Toronto}} Cherry was asked to say a few remarks and he opened by stating "I'm wearing pink for all the pinkos out there that ride bicycles and everything, I thought I'd get it in." He then went on to state that he had "been ripped to shreds by the left-wing pinko newspapers out there" and ended by saying "And that's why I say he's gonna be the greatest mayor this city has ever, ever seen, as far as I'm concerned! And put that in your pipe, you left-wing kooks." Left-leaning councillors were critical of Cherry's speech, and the following day some of them wore pink clothing in protest, including Joe Mihevc and Ana Bailão, who wore pink scarves while Janet Davis wore a pink suit jacket.{{cite web|url=https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/pink-protest-follows-don-cherry-s-pinko-rant-1.583508 |title=Pink protest follows Don Cherry's 'pinko' rant |publisher=Toronto.ctv.ca |access-date=June 6, 2011|date=December 9, 2010 }} Mihevc said, "We all love Don Cherry and his comments and forcefulness in hockey games, but this is council. It's a political arena where we make it a habit to reach out, talk to others and achieve consensus. To have that kind of, frankly, belligerence and pushing people aside, to start out this way I think is really unfortunate." Councillor Denzil Minnan-Wong defended Cherry though he stated that it was "A little over the top" and that "You take it for what it is and you shrug it off and move forward." Cherry defended his comments by stating "Well, what can I tell you? Don't invite me. You don't invite a pit bull. If you want a pit bull, you get a pit bull."{{cite news | title = Don Cherry rips 'left-wing pinkos' at council inaugural | url = https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/city-hall/don-cherry-rips-left-wing-pinkos-at-council-inaugural/article_23345e46-8d56-55eb-8bec-a7a7fc2f096f.html | work = Toronto Star | date = December 7, 2010|access-date = January 9, 2024 | first=David | last=Rider}} Later that month, Cherry was a guest of Rob Ford on a trip to visit Canadian troops in Afghanistan conducted by the Government of Canada, where he attended and spoke at a Christmas dinner event.{{cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/cherry-makes-surprise-afghanistan-visit-1.912667|title=Cherry makes surprise Afghanistan visit|publisher=CBC Sports|date=December 25, 2010|access-date=March 20, 2019}}

Cherry is a strong supporter of the Canadian Forces, police officers, and veterans.{{cite news | title = Don Cherry tells Canadians to step up for military | url = http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/don-cherry-tells-canadians-to-step-up-for-military-1.2813373 | work = CBC Sports | date = October 25, 2014|access-date = September 30, 2015 | first=Doug | last=Harrison}}{{cite news | title = Don Cherry offers praise and prayers for slain officer: "Isn't he a beautiful guy?" | url = https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/don-cherry-offers-praise-and-prayers-for-slain-officer-isnt-he-a-beautitful-guy| work = CBC Sports | date = October 6, 2015|access-date = September 30, 2015 | first=David | last=Staples}}

In 2018, Cherry faced backlash after denying the existence of climate change and referred to people who acknowledge climate change as "cuckaloos."{{cite news|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/4004942/don-cherry-denies-climate-change/|title=Don Cherry says people who believe in climate change are 'cuckaloos'|date=February 3, 2018|access-date=October 10, 2019}} Environment Minister Catherine McKenna responded by saying, "For hockey you can turn to Coach's Corner if you want, for climate change, Canadians turn to scientists." Cherry has expressed similar views in the past such as during a 2008 Hockey Night in Canada broadcast when he called environmental activist David Suzuki a "left-wing kook."

In 2020, Cherry supported Donald Trump in the 2020 United States presidential election.{{Cite news |last=Warmington |first=Joe |date=November 3, 2020 |title=WARMINGTON: Don Cherry backs Bobby Orr — a fellow Trump booster |url=https://torontosun.com/news/local-news/warmington-cherry-backs-bobby-orr-a-fellow-trump-booster}}

On November 14, 2005, Cherry was granted honorary membership of the Police Association of Ontario. Once an aspiring police officer, Cherry has been a longtime supporter of the police services. In his own words, "This is the best thing I've ever had." In June 2007, Cherry was made a Dominion Command Honorary Life Member of the Royal Canadian Legion in recognition of "his longstanding and unswerving support of... Canadians in uniform". In February 2008, Cherry was awarded the Canadian Forces Medallion for Distinguished Service for 'unwavering support to men and women of the Canadian Forces, honouring fallen soldiers on his CBC broadcast during Coach's Corner, a segment of Hockey Night in Canada{{'}}.Canadian Forces CANFORGEN 044/08 CMP 044 181606Z FEB-08

In 2004, Cherry ranked at number 7 on the CBC's miniseries The Greatest Canadian. Cherry remarked that he was "a good Canadian", but not the greatest Canadian, and that he was personally rooting for fellow Kingston resident, John A. Macdonald.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/the-greatest-canadian/article1144309/|title=The greatest Canadian|work=The Globe and Mail|access-date=November 11, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/i-m-good-but-not-the-greatest-don-cherry-1.513857|title=I'm good, but not the greatest: Don Cherry|date=October 22, 2004|publisher=CBC News|access-date=November 11, 2019}}

In 2016, Cherry, along with his Coach's Corner co-host Ron MacLean, received a star on Canada's Walk of Fame.{{cite web|url=https://www.canadaswalkoffame.com/inductee/coachs-corner|title=Coach's Corner|website=Canada's Walk of Fame}}

• List of NHL head coaches
• List of players who played only one game in the NHL

{{reflist}}

{{refbegin}}

• {{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=neYo16jLGHYC&pg=PP1|title=Don Cherry's Hockey Stories and Stuff|date=October 6, 2009|publisher=McClelland & Stewart|isbn=978-0-7710-1956-2|author1=Don Cherry|author2=Al Strachan}}
• {{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1Dnu3xcmSIcC&pg=PP1|title=Don Cherry's Hockey Stories "part two"|date=October 26, 2010|publisher=Doubleday Canada|isbn=978-0-385-67003-6|author=Don Cherry}}

{{refend}}

{{Commons category}}

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• {{icehockeystats|legends=12256}}
• [https://www.espn.com/espn/eticket/story?page=doncherry&redirected=true ESPN E-Ticket - The Biggest Mouth in Sports]
• [http://www.cbc.ca/archives/categories/sports/hockey/don-cherry-a-coach-a-commentator-a-controversy/topic---don-cherry-a-coach-a-commentator-a-controversy.html Don Cherry: A Coach, A Commentator, A Controversy] - CBC Digital Archives
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{{Succession box| before = Bep Guidolin | title = Head coach of the Boston Bruins | years = 1974–1979 | after = Fred Creighton}}

{{Succession box| before = Bob Pulford | title = Winner of the Jack Adams Award | years = 1976 | after = Scotty Bowman}}

{{Succession box| before = Aldo Guidolin | title = Head coach of the Colorado Rockies | years = 1979–1980 | after = Bill MacMillan}}

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{{Hockey Night in Canada}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Cherry, Don}}

Category:1934 births

Category:Living people

Category:20th-century Canadian sportsmen

Category:Barrie Flyers players

Category:Boston Bruins coaches

Category:Boston Bruins players

Category:Canada men's national ice hockey team coaches

Category:Canadian expatriate ice hockey players in the United States

Category:Canadian ice hockey coaches

Category:Canadian ice hockey defencemen

Category:Canadian male film actors

Category:Canadian male television actors

Category:Canadian male voice actors

Category:Canadian people of Cornish descent

Category:Canadian people of English descent

Category:Canadian people of Irish descent

Category:Canadian sportswriters

Category:Canadian television sportscasters

Category:CBC Television people

Category:Colorado Rockies (NHL) coaches

Category:Critics of multiculturalism

Category:Hershey Bears players

Category:Ice hockey people from Kingston, Ontario

Category:Jack Adams Award winners

Category:Kitchener Beavers (EPHL) players

Category:Mississauga IceDogs coaches

Category:National Hockey League broadcasters

Category:Rochester Americans coaches

Category:Rochester Americans players

Category:Spokane Comets players

Category:Springfield Indians players

Category:Sudbury Wolves (EPHL) players

Category:Trois-Rivières Lions (EPHL) players

Category:Tulsa Oilers (1964–1984) players

Category:Vancouver Canucks (WHL) players

Category:Windsor Spitfires players