Report: Don Cherry to Host Podcast in Wake of SportsNet Firing

Less than 10 days ago, Sportsnet fired commentator Don Cherry following his on-air comments about new immigrants wearing Remembrance Day poppies. But on Monday evening, Jon Warmington of the Toronto Sun reported that Cherry is going to revive his Grapevine TV show that was on-air from 1982–93 as a new podcast.

The first episode of the 85-year-old Cherry’s podcast will drop Tuesday morning and will be available on a streaming services every Monday during the hockey season. 

He’s reportedly going to address his own firing from Sportsnet on the first episode.

“But that’s not all we talked about,” Cherry told the Sun on Monday. “We are talking hockey, of course. It’s going to be terrific.”

Cherry was fired in the wake of his comments on Coach’s Corner, when he said that, “"You people... you love our way of life, you love our milk and honey, at least you can pay a couple bucks for a poppy or something like that."

He added, "These guys paid for your way of life that you enjoy in Canada, these guys paid the biggest price."

SportsNet president Bart Yabsley said in its statement last week that, “Sports brings people together—it unites us, not divides us. Following further discussions with Don Cherry after Saturday night's broadcast, it has been decided it is the right time for him to immediately step down. During the broadcast, he made divisive remarks that do not represent our values or what we stand for."

Following his career as a coach with the Boston Bruins and Colorado Rockies, Cherry was hired in 1981 on CBC's Hockey Night in Canada as a commentator. His large personality and loud suits made him a popular figure in hockey media.

His new podcast will be co-hosted by his son Tim and his grandson Del.