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Dogs (other than Blue)
Cherry begged his mother to buy a Labrador pup. She did and he called it Dudgeon. After playing junior hockey in Barrie, he brought a bulldog named Topper, who died young. The next year, he brought a budgie named Petey. This dog and Dudgeon would be Maw's companions, but Petey was the only Maw liked the most, although Dudgeon loved her. One day, Cherry got a call from Maw and it's not good. Petey had died at 12 years old. -
Teddy
It's common to see a person who is handicapped (or even slow, although I hate to say it) and in Kingston, that person was Teddy. Cherry's father was the only one who treated Teddy with respect. The others would make fun of him and tease him. When Cherry's father died, Teddy went to his wake, went straight to his father and shook his hand and kissed him. This event gets even sadder because Cherry said that Teddy was murdered years later. -
"World War III"
During a game in Providence (with Rochester), Cherry wanted John Wensink (pictured) to fight Bert Wilson. It was a massacre. Bodies were piled up, blood was on the glass and a player was carried off the ice with a broken leg. The referee had a tough time getting the all penalties in order. There were probable suspensions, but the only one listed was that Wensink was suspended for 10 games, which was what the Providence owner wanted. -
Mike McEwen
When he was the coach of the Colorado Rockies (now the New Jersey Devils), Cherry made a trade that sent Barry Beck to the Rangers for Mike McEwen and 4 others. This was in November 1979. The owner and his stepson were in love with him, but Cherry saw that he played long shifts and he's against that. After a warning, McEwen plays a 2-minute shift and gives up the tying goal. At the bench, Cherry pressed him up against the glass. The game was on HNIC and Cherry was fired at season's end. -
Mike Vernon
Getting ready for Coach's Corner one time, Cherry was going to rave about Mike Vernon. During that game, Vernon gives up 4 goals and is pulled. The producer doesn't change his mind for putting in Cherry's comments about Vernon. He thought about leaving CBC for good, but a friend told him to come back. He did and the original Coach's Corner was cancelled and they did the new one live by satellite. -
Pittsburgh Penguins
Cherry was offered to do colour commentary for the Pittsburgh Penguins. He made some interesting comments on Jaromir Jagr. One was when he got hurt and Cherry said, "Yeah, you got a tough decision to make when Yammy (Jagr) lays on the ice. You don't whether to send out for his hairdresser of his jeweler." Another was when Mario Lemieux and Jagr were standing back-to-back with no shirts on and long hair. Cherry said, "There's Mario and his daughter." Needless to say, Cherry was done in Pittsburgh -
Calgary Flames
Cherry then did colour for the Calgary Flames. Back then, the Flames had a player named Pekka Rautakallio and Cherry was ripping him whenever Bruins player Stan Jonathan was on the same time as Pekka. He even said things like, "it's tough to say 'Pekka' in Boston" and "he's as yellow as a duck's foot." Pekka's wife phones the Flames GM after the game and after that, Cherry was done doing colour for the Flames. -
Winnipeg Jets (Hockey Night in Canada)
Cherry would do colour for Hockey Night in Canada. One time in Winnipeg, a player for the Jets played lousy due to "personal problems" (after his honeymoon, his newlywed went right back south for a lifeguard she fell in love with). Cherry said, "Personal problems? Get out there and play! What's he doin'? We all have personal problems...Buck up! Be a professional! Be a trooper! Get out there and play!" After that, Cherry was never invited back to do game in Winnipeg. -
Montreal Canadiens
At this point, Cherry is desperate to stick with a team. So, he does colour for the Habs. One game against Boston, Cherry is doing a good job not favouring the Bruins, That all changed when Craig MacTavish scored the eventual game-winner. Cherry said, "We're beatin' those Canadiens tonight. We're beatin' those Canadiens tonight." Needless to say, Cherry was done doing colour for Montreal. -
Vancouver Canucks
Finally, Cherry does colour for the Canucks. As you would expect, it came to an abrupt end when the Canucks were playing the Bruins. Pavel Bure slew-foots Cam Neely and Cherry wasn't a fan. "Look at this little weasel, slew-footing Cam Neely! This guy is a weasel!" After that, Cherry was done doing colour for the Canucks, but Bure and Cherry have become best friends since then.
