Bobby Orr slams Ron MacLean over Don Cherry accusations
The long-running feud between former Hockey Night in Canada co-hosts Don Cherry and Ron MacLean has reignited over the former’s departure from the program.
The long-running feud between former Hockey Night in Canada co-hosts Don Cherry and Ron MacLean has reignited over the former’s departure from the program, with hockey legend Bobby Orr jumping to Cherry’s defence.
In a recent interview with the Toronto Sun, Cherry rejected new claims by MacLean, who alleged that the infamous “Poppygate” controversy in 2019 was part of Cherry’s calculated plan to leave television following a health scare.
“I’m very disappointed in Ron that he would bring this up,” said Cherry. “I’m very disappointed that he would reach back five years and do this… I’m disappointed in him.”
MacLean told Postmedia that Cherry had begun contemplating retirement after suffering from a bout of pneumonia during the 2019 Stanley Cup Final. He claimed Cherry had difficulty breathing on a flight from St. Louis to Boston during the playoffs and ended up in the hospital.
But Cherry flatly denied being hospitalized during that trip.
“I didn’t go to the hospital in Boston. I went to my room,” Cherry said. “I was pretty tired, but I just didn’t go to the hospital.”
“No, I wasn’t looking for a way out,” said Cherry. “I never even thought of that.”
MacLean went on to suggest that Cherry used his Remembrance Day comments—in which he criticized immigrants who chose not to wear poppies, adapt to Canadian values, and support the military—as a final act of defiance before exiting the air.
Hockey Hall of Famer, who some argue is the best defenseman of all time, Bobby Orr, jumped to Cherry’s defence.
“Suggesting Don Cherry used encouraging people to wear poppies on Remembrance Day as an exit strategy from Coach’s Corner, revealing he had pneumonia in 2019 and that he doesn’t have many friends, I have only one thing to say to you, Ron MacLean: Shame on you. From one of Grapes’s millions of friends and fans,” said Orr.
Reaction on X included many Canadians similarly defending Cherry or going on the offensive and attacking MacLean.
“Don Cherry will forever be remembered as the face and voice of hockey,” wrote one user. “Ron MacLean will forever be remembered as the scum that sold out a friend.”
Despite earlier reports falsely suggesting that Cherry might have had his last Grapevine podcast, he confirmed that he hopes to continue, on a season-by-season basis.
Even if he did cancel it, he promised to at least give one final episode.
One more “See you later.”
 | A guest post by
|
If ron maclean had any backbone he would have left when cherry did. Don Cherry is a true Canadian and what he said about the poppy should have been applauded and he should not have lost his job because of it.
Bravo, Bobby Orr for standing up for Don Cherry. :)