11/05/24
February 11, 2004
Don Cheery Is Correct.: Don Cheery (hockey commentator on CBC's Hockey Night in Canada) has gotten in a lot of hot water by saying only Europeans and French (French Canadian) guys where visors. People have been calling his remarks discriminatory, and the CBC ombudsman, the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council and the official languages office are all investigating the comments. The problem is.... the numbers say he is right.
I really can't believe how this issue will not die. It's hardly the first time Grapes has made a comment like that. I think players should wear visors. Just grandfather everyone in the league right now, and say all new players must wear one. However if Don Cheery wasn't a little controversial no one would be watching him these days. I think what's sad is the CBC didn't stand up for him and say something like 'While Don Cheery's options are not the same as the CBC he has a right to speak his mind'.
posted by camcanuck at 05:11 PM on February 11, 2004
Cheery? Is he on the CBeeC?
posted by gspm at 05:22 PM on February 11, 2004
though, to be less snarky, that is an interesting follow up. For the lazies... 59 per cent of European players wear visors, followed by 55 per cent of French-Canadian players. Among North American players born outside of Quebec, only 20 per cent wear face shields to guard against injury.
posted by gspm at 05:25 PM on February 11, 2004
doesn't change the fundamental problem - that grapes' cherished tough canadians born outside of Quebec aren't wearing visors because they think it looks wimpy. same used to be said about helmuts.
posted by owl at 06:28 PM on February 11, 2004
I think mandating visors is blaming the victim. The eye injuries are from illegal or careless uses of the stick. MacInnis, Berard, Tucker and Nolan were all standing when they were hit with high sticks. Al Arbour and Hal Lacoye wore glasses when they played: that would be impossible today with the high-stick work. Paul Kariya took Gary Suter's stick to the chin. Geoff Courtnall retired after Berard elbowed him in the chin. Scott Stevens has bashed Lindros, Ronny Francis and others on the chin. No one talks about mandatory chin guards. There were a number of eye injuries in the early eighties when helmets became mandatory. Hector Marini and Pierre Mondou, among others. And for the record, I prefer this Don Cherry, RIP.
posted by Philfromhavelock at 11:34 PM on February 11, 2004
I prefer this Don Cherry
posted by emoeby at 04:52 AM on February 12, 2004
I tried to talk about this at a favorite hockey blog in a rational way, but that was too much to ask. Glad I was right though.