Sportsnet faces Saturday night challenge after Don Cherry departure

Sportsnet brass made the call to end Don Cherry's nearly four-decade run on Hockey Night in Canada's Coach's Corner after his rant over the weekend. Their next big decision may be even tougher.

With his bombast, insight, experience and over-the-top delivery, Cherry created an institution with his appearances on the popular Saturday evening segment.

Love him or hate him, he's hard to replace. Therein lies the challenge for Sportsnet president Bart Yabsley, Rogers Media president Jordan Banks and other company powerbrokers.

Consistently a ratings hit, the first intermission this Saturday night will be appointment viewing.

On Wednesday, RonMacLean, Cherry's co-host onCoach's Corner, told the CBChe would be on this Saturday's broadcast of Hockey Night in Canada, but declined further comment until then.

"I am not saying anything yet to the subject right now,"MacLean said on Wednesday. "I have to have these days to make sure I'm right in what I say this weekend. To think about all that is going on and process it.And that's where I'm at.And I'll leave it at that."

On anNHLbroadcast on Sunday,MacLeandid apologize for Cherry's remarks and his lack of response.

WATCH | Don Cherry'scomments on Coach's Corner:

Don Cherry in hot water over comments on Coach's Corner

5 years ago

Duration 0:50

Don Cherry sparked online backlash on Saturday night for his comments about immigrants not wanting to wear poppies ahead of Remembrance Day.

"It's going to be very, very interesting to see what they do and I wouldn't be surprised if they just let it slide for a while and put something else in there," said David Shoalts, a former Globe and Mail sports reporter and author of Hockey Fight in Canada: The Big Media Face Off Over the NHL.

"It's not as difficult as it would have been for them, because under Rogers they did cut [the segment] to five minutes. At the CBC, he had come to take up the whole first intermission, so that would have been a big problem."

A spokesman said Sportsnet is "still considering options" for the first intermission segment and that company executives would not be doing interviews at this time.

However, it's likely Sportsnet already had ideas for the segment's future post-Cherry.

A complete Coach's Corner reboot is possible or there could be a shuffling of other segments. Extended highlight packages could help fill the gap. The segment could be dropped altogether, although that's unlikely given its history and showcase status.

WATCH | Ron MacLean addresses Don Cherry's 'hurtful' remarks:

Ron MacLean apologizes for Don Cherry's 'hurtful' remarks

5 years ago

Duration 1:04

Cherry made comments on Hockey Night in Canada regarding new Toronto citizens not wearing poppies.

The network may choose to recognize the massive impact Cherry had as a commentator, but it would be tricky to balance that with his rather ignominious exit.

A career overview could buy some time since the seat might be a little too hot for an immediate replacement. Of course, it's possible the page gets completely turned and Cherry's name is not mentioned at all.

Just like when he was on the air, there will be no shortage of critics and plaudits.

Burke is a 3-2 pick to replace Cherry this Saturday and a 5-4 pick to fill the role next season, according to odds released Tuesday by SportsBettingDime.com. Sportsnet hockey commentators Kelly Hrudey, Colby Armstrong and Craig Simpson were listed among the other early favourites.

HNIC was a longtime CBC Saturday night staple, but the show and its games moved to Sportsnet when Rogers landed a 12-year, $5.2-billion US national broadcast rights deal with the NHL that began in 2014. Coach's Corner and HNIC are still broadcast on CBC in a sub-licencing deal with Rogers Media, which owns Sportsnet.

WATCH: Dowbiggin on Don Cherry firing: 'What took so long?'

Dowbiggin on Don Cherry firing: 'What took so long?'

5 years ago

Duration 8:51

Former CBC Sports host and current Not The Public Broadcaster podcaster Bruce Dowbiggin weighs in on Sportsnet's decision to cut ties with the controversial longtime Hockey Night in Canada commentator.

Sportsnet apologized Sunday for Cherry's comments about his belief that new immigrants don't wear poppies, and in turn, don't support veterans.

Cherry prefaced his on-air remarks Saturday night with the phrase, 'You people' -- drawing criticism from all quarters but denied in interviews after his departure that he was singling out visible minorities. He has not publicly apologized for his comments.

"If I had to do it over again, I probably would have said 'Everybody,"' Cherry said Tuesday in an interview on Sirius XM Canada's "Canada Talks" channel. "But I didn't and there's no sense of whining about it and I paid the price."

Given his long tenure, how or if his departure is addressed this weekend will be fascinating, as will MacLean's thoughts. The veteran HNIC anchor apologized last Sunday.

"I had a good time," Cherry said. "I'm 85 years old and I'm still having a good time. As I have always said, 'I'm glad I'm going out on my shield. I'm not going out with a whimper."'