The Penguins handled Recchi's release poorly

As a Nova Scotian living out here in California, about the only dose of true common sense I get is listening to 7 minutes of Don and Ron on Coach's Corner...there's a lot of reason's I'm proud to be Canadian, and you two embody most of them. Honesty, integrity and human decency might be in short supply most places, but I at least get a few minutes a week.

P.S....could you talk the CBC into putting the full HNIC broadcast online for us ex-pats so we can really feel like we're down home once a week?!

Don, I totally agree about Recchi. As well, I thought it was totally classless of Pittsburgh to honour Mark with a bobblehead in his honour the night before they kicked him to the curb. When they are really going to need Recchi is the playoffs--the young kids don't have the smarts the veterans have--and playoffs are a totally different game. The is when you see the vets shine--they have the experience.

The videotape reveals that the Canadian anthem performer last Saturday had a moment of indecision re his cap moments before he sang.
Why?
Because he was torn between his citizenship and his performer function. His cap is part of his professional costume just as much as the frequently featured OPP performer's hat is part of his uniform.

No one has complained that the OPP officer has not removed his hat during his rendition of the Canadian anthem.

I've read several negative comments about Don Cherry on this site. People who don't care for his personal views of the game.

The man has devoted his life to hockey, he's played the game, coached the game and given back to the game. He knows what every real hockey fan wants to see. Every Canadian should be proud of what Don has done for Canada's sport. I know that I am.

Keep it going Don, you have a lot of fans out there. We know what hockey means to you, and we know what Don Cherry means to hockey.

Any Team worth it's salt should Grab Mark Recchi. He was scoring a Point a Game which is a heck of a lot better than some of the High Priced Wizards, Who wait for some unsung defenseman to make the perfect pass to them.
Maple Leafs Think Goon Style will take them somewhere.....Thank Goodness it won't.

great suit sat night ,acouple things the tie that was givin to you, I think it was to show an igloo in water to represent the effects of global warming,second why do they not have era`s for stats .I know records are ment to be broke but the feild is not even,the resent Toronto records that Matts has been passing will also be passed by someone else later while playing a totally different kind of hockey.The hockey now compaired to the 70`s or even 80's is so different ,more games,equipmentis more advances,money, medical(if Bobby Orr played today his knees would not have been an issue that could not have been taken care of.And could imagine his career then "WOW"I think you know what I am talking about.We should look at maybe having say three era`s pre 60 60-90,90-now.It makes me mad when there was all the talk about #99 being the best ,there were alot of players given the muscle support he had would have done just as well.Toronto had some great players but chose not to protect them as the Oilers did .There were thing like hooking he was good at that turned into scoring attemps ,that today would have put him in the BOX changing the stats a bit I would say!The 70`s had some super stars that have all but been swept away by upcoming so called great players that are making more in one year than most ever made in their life.
As a kid in 1972 I got to drop the puck for a Toronto /Boston game (Boston fan at the time)but have yet to see a game since .You can't just phone up for tickets without paying some stupid marked up price for them,in fact I bought two tickets for my wife and one daughter and my other daughter and I went to a restaurant to watch, so now I just watch my Leafs from home.Love the show though say hi to Ron

For Coaches Corner,

Hi Don and Ron!
I watch you every Saturday Night, and love it!!
I am writing to tell you I am an artist who does sketches of hockey players..past and present. I am trying to raise money for a new hockey arena going up here, for the kids and players that will use it. We are in need of funds! I would like it very much if you could help me get one of the players who I've sketched, to sign a sketch I have done, so I can sell it to raise money for the arena! Kids NEED hockey! Please help if you can, I appreciate any help you could give, Thanks so much for your time,

Shannon Fleury
(519) 509-ARTS (2787)

Maybe Recchi was being shopped and nobody was interested. If there were teams that were interested in him then why wait until re-entry waivers to pick him up?? The Wrecking Ball still thinks he can produce on lines 1 or 2,but that's not the case. lets see what line he ends up on in Atlanta. Did anyone ever think that maybe the Pens were willing to play Rex on the 3rd & 4th lines, and maybe Rex didn't want to play on said lines.

Ray Shero's job is not to make sure Mark Recchi got a pretty little exit to his career. The guy can't play hockey anymore, lets face it. If you can't score with Sidney Crosby, you really can't play anymore. He should have retired after last season, and went out on top. The Penguins need to win hockey games, not worry about a washed up winger being embarrassed.

Don...

Greetings from Rochester, NY...

Thanks for publicly calling out the guy who did the national anthems before the Leafs/Bruins game. It's embarrassing that he didn't take his hat off (and even more embarrassing because every arena now asks for everyone to "Please rise and remove your hats"). Classless.

Nice to see Don talk about a couple of nobody Leafs this Saturday while Sidney Crosby went through western Canada for the first time in 3 years... and people wonder why we have a hard time stomaching Don. Are you a hockey fan or a Leafs fan? Wade Belak ???? WHO CARES- the leafs aren't going to make the playoffs so let's move on and talk about something that matters. What a joke!!

Recchi would be a great addition to the Toronto line up......he brings spunk and character to the team...

I don't understand how a man can be smart enough to make enough money so he can buy an NHL team and then sit idly by while the league is run so moronicly.
It's hockey, why try to change it? Maybe it's not the game that is keeping the fans away??
If they want this sport to go here in the US it's a MUST that ESPN carries it. Pay 'em if you have to, but get it on ESPN!

As a very patriotic Canadian and an aunt of a 21yr. old soldier who has served in Afganistan, I was absolutly disgusted to see our anthem sung at the Leaf's game Dec. 8th by someone wearing a hat. What a slap the face! That is probably the most disrespectful thing I have ever seen. That lad is lucky I'm not his Mom. Who chose him anyway? Shame on him and whomever was at the boards when he went out on the ice. It's too bad no one at the game had the sense to boo him.

Way to tell it like it is Don. Not other way to get your team going then to knock out some of the opposing teams teeth. Maurice listen up, your a good coach, but Don is the Don of hockey, and Mr. Maclean is a man with true class. These men are ruely ambassador's of the game.

For Coaches Corner (please)

Our friends (Marco& Donna) son Robert Bianchi is in Sick Kids Hospital and has been for quite some time. He had an accident at a practice where his stick got caught in the coaches skate blade and the butt end rammed into his stomach. He has already had surgery and may need more. He plays for the Pickering Panthers Double A Minor Bantam. I am sure it would lift his spirits if Ron and Don could give a shout out to him on HNIC.

Here is his Dad's email and work number if you are willing to do this and need more detail.

Marco Bianchi

1 PC Circle

Supply Chain Manager

905 459 2500 ext 5944

marco.bianchi@loblaw.ca

Thanks,

Dave & Evelyn Rivers

Hey Grapes,
I was at the Leaf game on Saturday and I am the one who yelled at the guy singing the national anthem to take off his hat. I actually said "take off your hat moron".
I later on heard you made a comment about it during Coache's Corner, did you hear me by any chance?
Richard

Hi there,

I was wondering if you could wish the crew on HMCS Charlottetown a safe and Merry Christmas. They are in the GULF for the next 6 months and missing the Holidays. A special Merry Christmas to Rich Trumble from his wife Alison and two sons Brandon and Jaxon.

just wondering if Don would do another grapevine t.v. show. i think it would be pretty cool. i remember when my dad used to watch it.

Watching Hockey Night in Canada Saturday night, how absolute disrespectful for the national anthem to be sang by an "entertainer" that was wearing a "toque". He should be ashamed and embarassed for his actions by not removing his "hat". Where is his national pride, but also, where was the responsibility of the people who contacted him to sing and not tell him proper protocal, mind you he should not have to be told. Again, more embarassment for us Canadians.

Grant Klatik
Penticton B.C.

Don Cherry's opinion of Wade Belak being used earlier in the season for that matter is strictly blow. What for!!, the guy is strictly a non-talent that when he is on the ice brings out the ugly side of hockey,Belak& the Brashears of hockey need to be removed from the game. Chris Pronger is another one, if they dont straighten him out, he is going to hurt someone big time, its obvious in bringing Neidemayer back that Pronger showed he doesnt have it. Cherry was backing water on the Bergeron debacle last night, his statement earlier that the hit was Bergerons fault showed the man is totally out to lunch. For a man that toots his own horn about his coaching skills, I recall watching Guy Lafleur destroy my beloved Bruins when Cherry screwed up & put too many men on the ice.Its clear he just doesnt ub=nderstand the skill side of the game.

Re Cherry:
On could tolerate his zany choice of clothes. Could somehow overlook his arrival in a trailer or rec vehicle with security that would make the pope appear tp be reckless.
might even bear his nonesnsical support of brute force including assault on ice which leads North American children to emulate such criminal actions on ice.

But when he is so egotistical and spiteful as to intentionally avoid speaking the name of possibly the best hockey player on the planet, I would suggest that he be sent packing. Bull dust is best spread on farmland.
Adios to Cherry

I suspect that the Penguins did Mark Recchi a favor by giving him a chance to prolong his career. Could the commentator be putting a negative spin on it because after all its Pittsburg --home of that festering saddle burr, you know that "C" fellow?

Hey Don, great show, watch it on cbc.ca when i cant watch the games. Regarding Recchi, it should have neem hamdled differently and they should have either tried to move him or other him a position within the hockey club. It sets a bad example when a guy gives his whole career to a team asnd is treated like that.

I big fan of Mark Recchi especially when he player for MTL, it is sad to hear that Pittsburg let him go. I'm sure that he can help out one of the teams in the league. I total agreed with the Coach on this Pittsburg should of work things out during the off season. Once again the public doesn't see what really goes on behind close doors. We only get the headlines. Like us here in Kandahar.

My American friend, who is not used to Hockey Night in Canada, stopped by as I was watching Coach's Corner last night. He had only this to say:

"The guy on the left looks like one of these days he's just going to SNAP!"

I'm originally from Pgh and went to many games at the igloo when Pgh got to the NHL in 1967. Hockey Night in Canada and specifically MacLean and Cherry work just great together. I subscribe to NHL Center Ice just so I can watch the Pens and HNIC. Last night I had the choice between the feed from Pgh or HNIC. There was no question as to what to watch. THANK YOU HNIC and Don and Ron thanks for the roles each of you play

Grapes, you are probably correct, the treatment of Mark Recchi by the Penguins was not done
fairly at all. It may come back to haunt them if
the reach the playoffs and need experience on
their side. I wish all the best for Mark and
the Penguins in their upcoming games. As a Red
Wing fan(staunch) Since Mr Hockey started back
in the late forties, I devote all my attention
to them with a passing glance at the Canadian
teams. As a former coach in minor hockey, I
realize that it is not all smooth sailing.
Cheers Grapes and keep up the good work with
CBC I know that my hard earned tax dollar(s)
will keep your program on CBC for a long time.
You and Ron are the best. Maybe you will
enter politics and sort out the government's
underhandedness with the money laundreyers.

Your in Hockey

Vincent James Kennie(ex military)

I understand the basic economics of the game but I don't understand the Penguins organization. Mark Recchi may be a step slower but he's still the same smart player he was in 1990. I suppose it hasn't occured to the management that should their team encounter some injury problems, they may need some experienced veterans to keep the young ones in the right direction. I haven't used my crystal ball since the Flyers; Lindros-Tocchet incident, but I used it this afternoon and guess who's names will be joining the injury list for the penguins very near future. Well there are few too many to list on here but everyone will see very soon.
p.s. Mark will have a good time in Atlanta and help them come close to a playoff spot

I also wish Wade Belak was in the staring lineup. I agree with Cherry.

Then the leafs would miss the playoffs by a long margin

Go everyone! (but leafs)