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TORONTO — Hockey commentator Don Cherry blasted Canadian politicians who have revived a controversy involving comments made by Phoenix Coyotes forward Shane Doan in 2005.
"Is this the most ridiculous thing you've ever heard?" Cherry said Wednesday on CBC's "Coach's Corner" segment. "All the things going on in the world, and we have a debate in the House of Parliament . . . because somebody said something?
"It's absolutely ridiculous."
Cherry aimed his vitriol at politicians who want to question hockey officials about Shane Doan being selected as captain of Team Canada in spite of a two-year-old controversy involving a French-Canadian referee.
Members of all political parties have asked to hear why Doan was named captain despite his alleged slur against a French-Canadian officiating crew during a 2005 game in Montreal. Doan denied the incident and the NHL cleared him, though one of the linesmen involved in the incident still insists there was a slur.
Cherry defended Doan, saying he believes the veteran forward didn't use a slur.
"There was a game in Montreal, and they had four French officials," said Cherry. "He says to (Coyotes netminder Curtis Joseph), 'Four French referees in Montreal, what do you expect?' And that's all he said.
"He didn't say they were bad guys, he didn't say this, he didn't say that. That's what he said." Cherry is no stranger to controversy, particularly involving French-Canadians. The opinionated ex-coach faced plenty of backlash back in 2004 when he suggested players who wear visors were wimps and mostly "French guys" or Europeans.
"It's unbelievable that something like (this) is going on," said Cherry. "These great guys we've got coming up, and what are they worried about? The French language (law)?
"I know all about the French language law, I'm not getting into that."
