CBC-Sports

Grapes should be in the Hockey Hall of Fame

January 15, 2009 07:12 PM | Posted by   Mike Milbury  

It is time to elect Don Cherry into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

There is not a man on the planet who has kept more fans or made more fans for the sport of hockey than Grapes. For nearly 30 years he has kept the attention of Canadian hockey fans (and now fans worldwide) on the sport that he and they love far more than any other.

And I’m not talking about the media wing … I am talking about full fledged induction in the builders’ category.

In my own informal poll of interested fans, administrators and media types, there is overwhelming support for Don's election. And why not?

Can anyone deny that the man has driven interest in the sport to the extent that he stops Canada in its tracks every Saturday night on Coach's Corner?

Wherever people gather, they stop and listen with reverence, derision, laughter and amazement when the Coach steps to his bloody pulpit.

Does he butcher the odd name? Of course. And to our delight. Has he offended a few nationalities? You betcha. And many of us snicker at the thought of it. He has cajoled, infuriated, taunted and challenged many in the hockey universe. And we can't get enough of him.

Grapes speaks loudly and clearly for the honour of hockey. He speaks of its courage and skill. He advises - and in most cases very sincerely and accurately - how hockey youths should act. Hey, I love it that he even manages to impose his own dress code - "Shirt and tie, boys. Look sharp, feel sharp!!!" God forbid the youth of the world take that to another level and emulate his own rainbow of suit choices.

He speaks to the love of Canada and to his outright and unfeigned admiration and gratitude to the military men and women of Canada in a way that no others can - in the middle of a hockey broadcast. And he is oh-so-right to remind us of their service.

And he connects the viewer to the players of the league. "Hey, there's Glen Murray. Good ol' Sudbury boy." Or, "That's my guy, Dougie Gilmour, the pride of Kingston. He could be a helluva coach one day." Imagine: a broadcaster who takes you and pulls you into the world of hockey and makes you feel part of it. Like you are truly connected to what's going on. With Grapes, you are.

Fans listen. Kids listen. Coaches listen. Players crave his praise and cringe at his wrath. Don recently told me a story about Brad May. Brad apparently took a big hit from Mats Sundin and wound up in the hospital. When people came to visit him, his only concern was, "What will Grapes say? I got knocked out by a Swede." Oh, yes, they listen. We all do.

Crass. Brash. Honourable. Find your own descriptive term. He at one point or another will have fit it. And now he fits into the Hall of Fame.

The nefarious group that comprises the Hall of Fame committee has no rules to follow really. Just the rule of common sense: Don Cherry has done more to grow the sport of hockey than any man alive and he should be inducted without any delay.

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