Without implying that Don Cherry is deserving of a second chance given his track record, it wouldn’t be a bad thing if bridged differences resulted in redemption instead of cancellation.
Attempts to disrupt or challenge normative, sporty masculinity has been met by outrage by those who cannot see nor hear the tribalism and male privilege of masculinized spaces like locker rooms.
Don Cherry and his supporters would do well to listen to others who are justifiably offended by his xenophobic comments, and learn from them. Canada would be an even better place for it.
Can Canadians pick up Don Cherry’s discussion from here, and have respectful and inclusive discussions about how we can do better in terms of how we treat and regard newcomers?
Don Cherry’s recent divisive and discriminatory comments remind us of how white hockey remains. It’s time to transform the sport into a more inclusive pastime.