Transcript
A (0:00)
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B (0:55)
Awarding Don Cherry the Order of Canada shouldn't be up for debate. But thanks to the loony left, it's up for debate. It's Tuesday, March 17, 2026. I'm David Menzies and this is the Ezra Levent Show.
C (1:15)
Shame on you, you censorious bug.
B (1:27)
Well folks, last month it was announced that the beloved Don Cherry will receive the OR Order of Ontario. This honor is long overdue and very quickly the discussion emerged regarding if Don Cherry should also receive the Order of Canada. Too bad there's not a referendum for such an award. Cherry would be affirmed in a landslide. But in the aftermath of the announcement, what I found fascinating was the chatter coming forth from those who support Cherry, in other words, normal, decent people, and those who do not support Cherry, in other words, deranged leftists. Our friend, Conservative MP Andrew Lawton was first over the boards to support Cherry receiving the Order of Canada. Lawton wrote, quote, for decades, Don Cherry has celebrated hockey, honored veterans and said what millions think without apology, end quote. Conservative leader Pierre Poliev stated, quote, don Cherry embodies what it means to be a proud Canadian, end quote. And Alberta Premier Daniel Smith joined the Pro Cherry chorus stating that Don Cherry getting the Order of Canada, quote, shouldn't even be up for debate, end quote. But that's the thing. It is up for debate. And one of the most unhinged rants against grapes comes via the daily fish wrap known as the Toronto Red Star, headlined why Don Cherry doesn't belong in the Order of Canada no matter what conservatives say. This hit piece was authored by Bruce Arthur. Who dat you ask? Arthur is a wannabe never was sports writer who still suffers from a severe case of Trump Derangement Syndrome. Put another way, everybody knows the always entertaining Don Cherry. Nobody knows the brutally boring Bruce Arthur. Anyway, Arthur begins his column as follows. Quote, if you're of a certain age, you remember Don Cherry. End quote. A certain age. What the he double hockey sticks is Arthur smoking? Cherry was only canceled some six years ago, not during World War II. And Cherry's legacy will live on forever thanks to his Rock Em Sock Em videos as well. Post Coach's Corner, Cherry went on to make more than 300 podcasts with his son Tim. Okay, in fairness to Arthur, maybe there's a two year old out there who is, you know, not of certain age to remember Don Cherry. The rest of us do because, well, Don Cherry is unforgettable. Anyway, Arthur goes on to make the case that this beloved hockey commentator is not worthy of the order of Canada. In that regard, his column is akin to the written version of a Yoko Ono concert. You know, it starts off badly and then proceeds to get horrid, quote. But beyond the wisdom of turning Canada's official honor system into. Into a political culture war, which in retrospect was probably inevitable. Cherry wasn't just his suits, his version of patriotism, or even his version of hockey. Cherry complained about foreigners stealing Canadian jobs in 1990. End quote. Well, you know, folks, in this regard, Cherry's only sin was that he was way ahead of the curve. Case in point, Canada's largest coffee chain has earned the dubious nickname of Singh Hortons. And consider that National Post expose last year headlined the Death of the Summer Job. This is the end result of irresponsible mass migration thanks to the Trudeau Carney Liberals. Arthur goes on to slam Cherry for the following crimes against humanity. Criticizing mogul skier Jean Luc Broussard, Canada's flag bearer at the 1998 Olympics because Cherry had never heard of him. Calling Quebecers a bunch of whiners advocating for Canada's involvement in the invasion of Iraq in 2003. Calling former enforcers Chris Nyland, Stu Grimson and Jim Thompson pukes and turncoats and hypocrites after they voiced opposition to fighting in 2011, saying female reporters shouldn't be allowed in male locker rooms in 2013 out of respect for the ladies, and delivering decades of, quote, big mouth bigotry against players from other countries. As he saw it, Swedes, Finns, Russians and Quebecers. Yes, Cherry's opinions are as colorful as his flamboyant suits. But Cherry was a color commentator. He was in the entertainment business, and he delivered big time. Coach's Corner was the most watched eight minutes of Canadian TV every week when it aired. I wonder how many people read Bruce Arthur's columns. Let's set the over under number at 12, shall we? And because Arthur writes for the Star, he is contractually obliged to bring race into the equation, stating that Cherry was, quote, only ever talking to white English speaking Canadians, basically, end quote. Really, Bruce? You really believe that? Then we get to the crux of the matter. The assassination of Don Cherry by the adherents of Cancel culture. Arthur writes, quote, in the end, Cherry was fired for questioning the the patriotism of visible immigrants. End quote. You know, that's very interesting. Why don't we roll the tape of what would become the final episode of Coach's Corner from November of 2019. And I ask you, dear viewers, does Cherry ever utter the phrase visible immigrants?
