Grapes of Wrath

Despite my better judgment, I decided to watch Keep Your Head Up, Kid: The Don Cherry Story, on the CBC. I'm not a diehard hockey fan, but when I do watch I try catch Coaches Corner just to listen to the interplay between Cherry and his co-host, Ron Maclean. His rants and stalwart defense of hockey have made him a Canadian icon, (but not in Quebec) and made the top ten list of Greatest Canadians by popular vote.

Besides, there was nothing else on at the time.

Bottom line, I enjoyed the show. Sure, it wasn't perfect. I don't know how much of the personal 'history' is true. Was his wife Rose that understanding of his hockey life, or was this how he remembered her? Well, as they say, times were different then. Also, I would like to think Don Cherry wasn't as wooden a character as the show's star portrays him.

But the tale itself is entertaining enough to hold the attention of anyone, of any age. It gives the average person an insight into the life of professional hockey you don't normally see, the minor league farm teams and how they're run. I took a curious pride in knowing that Rose Cherry's favorite town was my hometown of Kitchener. Don's struggles as a player, as he rubbed shoulders with some of the games legends, as well as his own headstrong foolishness was treated with lighthearted humor. One can almost understand his dislike for Montreal.

The show is divided into two parts, with the part I'm most interested in, where he coaches the Bruins, airing tonight.

My personal brush with Don Cherry. When I was twelve I had a friend whose brother-in-law played for Boston. We were sitting in my friend's kitchen when the phone rings and my friend answers. “Hello? Oh, hi Don. No, he's not here. Okay, I'll tell him.” Hangs up the phone and looks at me and shrugs. “That was Don Cherry looking for my brother-in-law.”

I look at him in wonder and say. “Who is Don Cherry?”

Told you I wasn't a fan.

Mike