| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
Erebus
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1834 Posts |
 Posted - 02/06/2004 : 11:39:05
|
Fri, February 6, 2004
Hill whining over Grapes
Feds slam hockey talker for French gaffes
By KATHLEEN HARRIS, OTTAWA BUREAU, SUN MEDIA
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2004/02/06/338361.html
OTTAWA -- The furor over anti-French remarks made by hockey sports commentator Don Cherry has skated onto Parliament Hill. Official Languages Commissioner Dyan Adam said her probe into Cherry's comments about francophones will be a "priority" while an angry senator demanded an apology in the red chamber.
At issue are comments made on Hockey Night In Canada's Coach's Corner Jan. 24, when Cherry derided calls for mandatory use of protective visors by NHL players following a spate of eye injuries. Only "Europeans and French guys" routinely wear the visors, said the unrepentantly frank commentator known as Grapes.
Yesterday, Adam called the remarks a "major issue" that were creating national turmoil. Her mandate is to ensure Official Languages Act provisions are upheld at all public institutions, including the CBC. "In this case, what we are hearing from the complainants is that the remarks in question don't help in the respect of those communities and that they actually stigmatize them," she said.
Liberal Senator Jean-Paul Gauthier agreed Cherry must be sanctioned for "disparaging" remarks that crossed the line. "You and I pay our taxes to support the public network. The mandate of the CBC is to promote national unity, not disunity," he said. He urged the Senate to write CBC president Robert Rabinovitch to tell Cherry to "shut up."
"This is madness," said Conservative Jim Abbott, adding the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council shouldn't be "censoring" free speech. "Clearly the bureaucrats have gone crazy," he said. "They've taken lessons from the official language police in Quebec."
Former NHL coach Jacques Demers wrote in his weekly column in Le Journal de Montreal that Cherry should apologize or be fired for his "racist" comments.
Cherry wouldn't discuss his latest dip in hot water as he celebrated his 70th birthday yesterday.
"I don't want to talk about it," he said with a chuckle on all-sports radio station The Fan 590. "In a couple of weeks I'll talk about it. But I've raised enough eyebrows."
|
|
|
Cult_Of_Frank
= Black Noise Maker =
Canada
11690 Posts |
Posted - 02/06/2004 : 11:43:17
|
More evidence that people need to develop a sense of humour.
National turmoil? Ask anyone on the street if they find it offensive. Typical media sensationalism. Laughable if it weren't so sad.
 "Join the Cult of Frank / And you'll be enlightened" |
 |
|
|
Carl
- A 'Fifth' Catholic -
Ireland
11546 Posts |
Posted - 02/06/2004 : 12:03:23
|
Referring to them as 'guys' is a little sloppy, maybe, but it's just rambling commentator shit.
Yet more spelling mistake editing.... |
Edited by - Carl on 02/06/2004 12:04:09 |
|
|
|
Crispy Water
= Cult of Ray =
Canada
819 Posts |
Posted - 02/06/2004 : 12:14:26
|
Yeah, this is one of the more ridiculous news items I've seen lately. Personally, I find Cherry quite entertaining, but I like crotchety old goats, especially those who take great pride in their overwhelming crotchetiness. This comment in particular hardly strikes me as even questionable, and it doesn't even approach some of the stuff Cherry's said in the past, so it's hard to understand this outrage. It's too late - he's been doing this segment and spitting the same spiel since before I was even born. If they want to make him stop they'll have to take him off the air. Then he'll just go to a network that's not government-funded and probably really let his tongue loose.
How can this even be "probed?" Hmm, a celebrity who made his name as an outspoken everyman said something which pissed people off. There's nothing to probe about it. Why don't they launch a probe into which drunk smashed my car window last week? That pissed ME off...
Nothing is ever something. |
|
|
|
Carl
- A 'Fifth' Catholic -
Ireland
11546 Posts |
Posted - 02/06/2004 : 12:30:36
|
| Sorry about that, I just thought it was a car driven by one of THOSE FRENCH CANADIAN 'GUYS'! |
|
|
|
VoVat
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
USA
9168 Posts |
Posted - 02/06/2004 : 13:05:37
|
quote:
Former NHL coach Jacques Demers wrote in his weekly column in Le Journal de Montreal that Cherry should apologize or be fired for his "racist" comments.
So the French are a race now?
-Nathan
And how does lemur's skin reflect the sea?
http://vovat.blogspot.com/ |
|
|
|
Dallas
= Cult of Ray =
USA
725 Posts |
Posted - 02/06/2004 : 13:26:56
|
| Reason #1,000,000 why Governments should not own TV Stations... |
|
|
|
Dave Noisy
Minister of Chaos
Canada
4496 Posts |
Posted - 02/06/2004 : 15:15:53
|
I dunno, he's making derogatory comments about groups of people. He's also insinuating that 'real' hockey players are anglophone, who don't wear visors.
It's not really a 'big' issue, considering what an idiot Cherry is, but it isn't fair to belittle those who do take offense, because i'd argue (in my limited knowledge of the subject) that they have a point. Especially considering that this is a gov't operation.
And i'd also argue that the CBC creates considerably better news and entertainment than any other Canadian station. Sheesh.
 Join the Cult of the Flying Pigxies - I'm A Believer! |
|
|
|
Cult_Of_Frank
= Black Noise Maker =
Canada
11690 Posts |
Posted - 02/07/2004 : 02:01:15
|
I don't see how it being a government funded station should affect things at all since it's still a separate entity from the government of Canada. And I don't see how anyone could find his comment SO offensive as to insist he lose his job or apologize to ... whom? Himself? Is he not of European descent? People need to quit walking with a pole up their ass so they can lean forward a bit and let things roll off their backs. But I'm just tired of hyper-sensitivity and ultra-PC-offend-noone-say-nothing mentality.
"Join the Cult of Frank / And you'll be enlightened" |
|
|
|
Dave Noisy
Minister of Chaos
Canada
4496 Posts |
Posted - 02/07/2004 : 15:58:46
|
I agree that there are extremists on both ends (like asking him to retire...over this ;) but i don't know if i can so easily dismiss the root of their concern.
Join the Cult of the Flying Pigxies - I'm A Believer! |
|
|
|
Crispy Water
= Cult of Ray =
Canada
819 Posts |
Posted - 02/08/2004 : 19:41:26
|
I agree that it's a problem to have someone spouting generalizations like this, but in Cherry's situation I think it's not worth getting worked up over because his opinions are already well-known. His fans (myself included) got another laugh and his followers (more than there should be) got another fresh comment to start attributing to themselves in hockey discussions. Everyone has an opinion on the guy: those whom Cherry has already sold on the idea that European and French players are divers and pussies aren't now going to become even more closed-minded. All his damage is long done; whatever he says now isn't going to change how anyone feels about him. I can't understand how anyone who has ever seen the man speak can possibly point to this comment as being outrageous. I pray that this issue dies in a hurry, there are much bigger fish out there for this government to fry.
For those outside Canada who paid attention to this and may not have heard, Don Cherry's segment is now on a seven second delay. For the record, this bothers me (an Anglophone prairie boy who wears a visor!) because I fear they'll start editing out harmless statements.
Nothing is ever something. |
|
|
|
Cult_Of_Frank
= Black Noise Maker =
Canada
11690 Posts |
Posted - 02/08/2004 : 20:49:01
|
If I were Don Cherry, I'd just kick off every interview with about 6 seconds of swearing. Then they'd have to be REALLY careful what they censor since they'd have less than a second of delay left. :)
"Join the Cult of Frank / And you'll be enlightened" |
|
|
|
Dave Noisy
Minister of Chaos
Canada
4496 Posts |
Posted - 02/09/2004 : 01:48:26
|
What i really want to know is why we're wasting our time on this fluff when we still need to sort out what happened with Janet's right boob.
Join the Cult of the Flying Pigxies - I'm A Believer! |
|
|
|
Cult_Of_Frank
= Black Noise Maker =
Canada
11690 Posts |
Posted - 02/09/2004 : 06:39:31
|
Hahahaha, indeed.
Perhaps Bradbury wasn't so far off in Fahrenheit 451. Feels like North America's turning into a police state.
"Join the Cult of Frank / And you'll be enlightened" |
|
|
|
Erebus
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1834 Posts |
Posted - 02/09/2004 : 13:47:44
|
Controversy on tap for Don Cherry beer ads
CTV.ca News Staff
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1052402958501_268?s_name=&no_ads=
Updated: Thu. May. 8 2003 11:21 PM ET
A Toronto public school trustee wants the province to can a series of beer ads featuring Hockey Night in Canada host Don Cherry.
Nellie Pedro says the ads for Molson mini-kegs or "Bubbas," violate CRTC and Alcohol and Gaming Commission rules because their star is a role model for Canadian children. In addition to the spots, the beer cans bear the unmistakable likeness of Cherry's loud blazers and ties.
"It's not against Don Cherry, it's not against Molson," Pedro told CTV's Canada AM on Thursday. "There are rules that are there to protect advertising aimed at children and the rules from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario have not been followed in regards to this particular spot."
CRTC regulations forbid the endorsement of alcoholic beverages by anyone "who is or is likely to be a role model for minors because of a past or present position of public trust or special achievement." Alcohol and gaming rules prohibit the use of high-profile personalities who "may reasonably be expected to appeal either directly or indirectly to persons under the legal drinking age." ....
Maybe Frank likes Canadians because they care so much "about the little children's ears".
|
|
|
|
Erebus
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1834 Posts |
Posted - 02/09/2004 : 16:23:04
|
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,110799,00.html
Fox News
Monday, February 09, 2004
By Scott Norvell
excerpt:
A New Slur?
A Canadian hockey player has been suspended for referring to an opposing player as a "Euro" during a match, reports The Associated Press.
The Ontario Hockey League suspended Plymouth Whalers defenseman James Wisniewski for five games for telling Stefan Ruzicka that he did not fight "Euros" when challenged. Ruzicka is from Slovakia.
Ted Baker, the OHL's director of hockey operations, said the league does not tolerate comments directed at players based on their origin, ethnicity or sexual orientation.
|
|
|
|
Cult_Of_Frank
= Black Noise Maker =
Canada
11690 Posts |
Posted - 02/09/2004 : 16:36:07
|
Erebus, you're depressing me.
"Join the Cult of Frank / And you'll be enlightened" |
|
|
|
Erebus
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1834 Posts |
Posted - 02/09/2004 : 16:43:48
|
| Sorry. I regard you as one of the "good Canadians". |
|
|
|
Crispy Water
= Cult of Ray =
Canada
819 Posts |
Posted - 02/10/2004 : 08:35:32
|
Holy calf! That last story might be even more ridiculous - now when Canadian kids make the major junior leagues it'll be a feeding frenzy on those Euro wimps. Incredible...
Nothing is ever something. |
|
|
|
BrendanT
= Cult of Ray =
Canada
907 Posts |
Posted - 02/10/2004 : 08:38:39
|
Who gives a shit what Cherry says? Who is he really but a failed player and coach and now proving to be a failing human being/guy!
Strummer-man
I had me a vision!
It's step, hip, step, pivot! Are you trying to piss-off the volcano?! |
|
|
|
Crispy Water
= Cult of Ray =
Canada
819 Posts |
Posted - 02/10/2004 : 12:46:26
|
I think most public figures like him don't really have much authority to speak as much as they do, but that doesn't change the fact that the masses pay attention. That's what makes it relevant.
Nothing is ever something. |
|
|
|
Crispy Water
= Cult of Ray =
Canada
819 Posts |
Posted - 02/11/2004 : 14:51:34
|
http://www.canoe.ca/Slam040210/nhl_cherry-cp.html
Cherry confronts controversy
TORONTO (CP) -- Loudmouthed hockey commentator Don Cherry finally confronted his controversial comments about French-Canadians on Tuesday night during an appearance on Global TV's The Mike Bullard Show.
After skirting the issue for several minutes of comic repartee, Bullard confronted the hockey icon head on and asked Cherry if he is prejudiced.
"No, I don't think so. I can be discriminatory, but..." Cherry replied, trailing off as guffaws erupted from a packed audience at the downtown television studio.
Cherry landed in hot water after comments during a Jan. 24 broadcast of Coach's Corner that most players who wear protective visors in the NHL are "Europeans and French guys."
Many took offence, saying it reflected a negative view of French-Canadians. The CBC has since publicly reprimanded Cherry, saying he stepped beyond his role as a hockey commentator "by expressing an inappropriate and reprehensible personal opinion."
The network also announced that the Coach's Corner segment would be subject to a seven-second delay to prevent further controversy.
In his first television appearance since then, Cherry said he figured there might be some backlash after the show, but was surprised by how far it went. "I knew I'd get in a little trouble, but I didn't think I'd get in the house of Parliament," he told Bullard.
Three federal bodies -- the CBC ombudsman, the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council and the official languages office -- are all investigating the comments.
Cherry's appearance Tuesday night was anything but subdued, with the pair trading wide-ranging quips that trampled any notion of a new era of political correctness from the famously frank TV personality.
Virtually the only thing Cherry refused to offer comment on was the issue that prompted the controversial comment on Coach's Corner in the first place: whether hockey players should wear protective visors.
"I can't get into it now. I'm in enough trouble, please!" Cherry said.
But on what he and Bullard described as his pimp-style wardrobe, anti-Americanism and being accused of everything from bigotry to misogyny, Cherry was frank.
"I give it out pretty good," he said. "But that's it, if you can't stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen."
"I do get carried away sometimes. But I don't mean to, it's MacLean's fault," said Cherry, referring to his longtime Hockey Night In Canada co-host, Ron MacLean.
Cherry, 70, has said little since the start of the controversy. During a radio appearance Monday, Cherry refused to comment. He instead encouraged fans to the call-in radio show to do the talking for him.
The telephone lines were so jammed with supporters from Ontario that fans from the east coast were unable to get through.
"I heard in Newfoundland there was a two-mile lineup for the phone," Bullard quipped, a comment that prompted a virtual whine from Cherry.
"Now, how come you don't get in trouble for that?"
The one-time NHL and minor-league enforcer known for his loud suits and bulldog visage signed a new contract with CBC for a reported $700,000 a year before the season started.
|
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
Topic Locked
