Cherry On American TV

[blueblood]

CBC

Holy Crap, Don Cherry on NBC, I might have to start tuning into the NBC game, this is gold.

[leonardcohen]

CBC

Holy Crap, Don Cherry on NBC, I might have to start tuning into the NBC game, this is gold.

We want Americans to watch Hockey,

not a sartorially challenged, overbearing,loudmouth.

[guyser]

We want Americans to watch Hockey,

not a sartorially challenged, overbearing,loudmouth.

Which one are you referring to? Don Cherry or Brett Hull? They are appearing together. Should be fun to watch.

[blueblood]

I think it's good for hockey having old DC blabbing away down there. Having an icon like that should help out. Americans like people like DC, having him and his crazy suits might help push the game, provide some entertaining intermissions. I think NBC made a smart move. It should be a good watch.

I've seen Hull on NBC, he's pretty tame on there, Cherry will upstage him. it'll be nice watching on NBC where they're not demonstrating what an offside is for their intermission show. I can't see a downside to having DC on there.

[geoffrey]

Ugh Brett Hull. The traitor of all traitors.

Who in their right mind plays for Team USA when given the choice between that and Team Canada? I'm no nationalist, I just can't imagine why you'd play with a second rate group of guys when the top rated team in the world (at least at one point) is a possibility.

Brett Hull. Ugh.

My least favourite great of the NHL.

At the risk of turning this into an off-topic playoff thread, which it should be , I will note:

"If there's a team that reminds me of Edmonton last year, it's Calgary," Hull said. "I don't understand their difficulties on the road but they're unbeatable at home.

"If there is one team that has home-ice advantage in the NHL, it's the Calgary Flames. It's an intimidating building to go into."

Mmm hmm. Calgary is nearly undefeatable at home. Unfortunately, we won't have home ice advantage ever in the playoffs (unless we go to the finals against the Islanders). Calgary has the skill (Iggy, Conroy, Tanguay, Langkow, Huselius, Phaneuf, Stuart, Regher), has the goaltending in Kipper... but has been really streaky.

We just need to learn how to win on the road. It actually makes no sense.

The 4-1 loss tonight to Detriot was evidence of typical Calgary away play. If your an Easterner and don't catch many of the Flame's games, make sure to check out Tuesday evening's game in Calgary, it's a completely different game when they are in the Dome.

Tanguay was impressive, Stuart was impressive, even Zyuzin was impressive. And Kipper stole the show with some incrediable goaltending (he faced 46 shots). Unfortunately, that's about where the Calgary Flames ended. If Calgary wins Sunday, Detriot is in for a rough ride coming in for games 3 and 4.

[blueblood]

Ugh Brett Hull. The traitor of all traitors.

Who in their right mind plays for Team USA when given the choice between that and Team Canada? I'm no nationalist, I just can't imagine why you'd play with a second rate group of guys when the top rated team in the world (at least at one point) is a possibility.

Brett Hull. Ugh.

My least favourite great of the NHL.

At the risk of turning this into an off-topic playoff thread, which it should be , I will note:

"If there's a team that reminds me of Edmonton last year, it's Calgary," Hull said. "I don't understand their difficulties on the road but they're unbeatable at home.

"If there is one team that has home-ice advantage in the NHL, it's the Calgary Flames. It's an intimidating building to go into."

Mmm hmm. Calgary is nearly undefeatable at home. Unfortunately, we won't have home ice advantage ever in the playoffs (unless we go to the finals against the Islanders). Calgary has the skill (Iggy, Conroy, Tanguay, Langkow, Huselius, Phaneuf, Stuart, Regher), has the goaltending in Kipper... but has been really streaky.

We just need to learn how to win on the road. It actually makes no sense.

The 4-1 loss tonight to Detriot was evidence of typical Calgary away play. If your an Easterner and don't catch many of the Flame's games, make sure to check out Tuesday evening's game in Calgary, it's a completely different game when they are in the Dome.

Tanguay was impressive, Stuart was impressive, even Zyuzin was impressive. And Kipper stole the show with some incrediable goaltending (he faced 46 shots). Unfortunately, that's about where the Calgary Flames ended. If Calgary wins Sunday, Detriot is in for a rough ride coming in for games 3 and 4.

I don't see the flames getting out of this round at all, if and when Bertuzzi comes back there comes a whole new dynamic to Detroit's already very capable offense. I'll say Detroit and Calgary split when they go to the Dome. Whoever wins the next game will probably win the series.

Calgary's playbook of heavily defensive hockey relying on Kipper to bail them out may have worked in 04, but it is not the way to win hockey games in the new NHL, if Iginla is the main goal scorer and he goes cold there goes Calgary's offense. If the flames lose out in this round, Sutter is going to have to overhaul his team philosophy.

For Vancouver, the Sedins need to play much better in regulation, that was a fluke that Vancouver won the game, having your goalie getting peppered like that is no way to do it, besides Naslund and Morrison need to fire it up a little more. There were a few soft goals in that game, the goalies will tighten up accordingly.

Ottawa, well that was textbook Senators hockey, keep playing like they did in the first two periods and they'll do well in the playoffs. They should have played tighter D in the last period. Expect next game to be closer.

Buffalo is the team that most impresses me (my style of hockey bias showing). 3 solid scoring lines that can fly with any of the top lines in the league, much better D men, and a very good goalie in net. Providing nothing happens to Miller this team I think gets the cup. Listening to this game on the old sat. radio was priceless, Jeanneret was in his prime. "Chris DRUUUUUUUUURRYYYY!!!"

[geoffrey]

I don't see the flames getting out of this round at all, if and when Bertuzzi comes back there comes a whole new dynamic to Detroit's already very capable offense. I'll say Detroit and Calgary split when they go to the Dome. Whoever wins the next game will probably win the series.

I agree with whoever wins the next game... it'd be tough for Calgary to win a 3-4-5-6. Game 7 in Detroit is pretty much a lost cause. It's tough enough for the Flames to win out of town as is.

Calgary's playbook of heavily defensive hockey relying on Kipper to bail them out may have worked in 04, but it is not the way to win hockey games in the new NHL, if Iginla is the main goal scorer and he goes cold there goes Calgary's offense. If the flames lose out in this round, Sutter is going to have to overhaul his team philosophy.

Sutter's not the coach anymore. I disagree that that's the Flames plan anyways. Calgary has way more offense than in '04, look at the stats, Calgary is a leader in goals for now. Huselius was over 30 goals, Langkow has over 30 goals, Conroy was hot at times and Tanguay has been getting stronger ever week he's been with the Flames. The Flames have two solid lines up front, the other two lines have been known to pinch in with the likes of Lombardi, Ritchie, and the occassional goal from overpriced old guy Amonte.

Don't forget Dion for offense either.

For Vancouver, the Sedins need to play much better in regulation, that was a fluke that Vancouver won the game, having your goalie getting peppered like that is no way to do it, besides Naslund and Morrison need to fire it up a little more. There were a few soft goals in that game, the goalies will tighten up accordingly.

Luongo is Vancouver. Naslund has been very disappointing in my opinion, Morrison not much better. Other than Luongo and the twins, Vancouver doesn't have much to cheer about this year... somehow though those three carried them to first in the North West. Don't count out those three to carry them far in the playoffs.

Ottawa, well that was textbook Senators hockey, keep playing like they did in the first two periods and they'll do well in the playoffs. They should have played tighter D in the last period. Expect next game to be closer.

Agreed. The Sens are promising. The Pens are a tough first round though. Will Crosby crumble under the pressure? I'm going to say not likely. Should be an exciting series.

Buffalo is the team that most impresses me (my style of hockey bias showing). 3 solid scoring lines that can fly with any of the top lines in the league, much better D men, and a very good goalie in net. Providing nothing happens to Miller this team I think gets the cup. Listening to this game on the old sat. radio was priceless, Jeanneret was in his prime. "Chris DRUUUUUUUUURRYYYY!!!"

Ugh. Buffalo? You like watching women play too then?

Buffalo is very strong, and I can see them going all the way. Jersey will be a tough opponent, Brodeur is as usual as good as it gets and Jersey has been playing some solid D (which won't help them if they can't score).

It seems that Cherry and Hull believe in Anahiem. I don't. They've got skill, but I find their chemistry weak, and they don't play very firey. Who do they have on offense... Selanne and........ uuuhhh.... ummm.... Kunitz is good... McDonald plays ok on occassion.

Scott Niedermayer can only carry you so far. He's a one man army out there, but he's only one man. He can't play 60 minutes.

Other than my hometown Flames, Nashville I think will be suprising in the West, and I think that Jersey will be suprising in the East.

[Wilber]

Ugh Brett Hull. The traitor of all traitors.

Who in their right mind plays for Team USA when given the choice between that and Team Canada? I'm no nationalist, I just can't imagine why you'd play with a second rate group of guys when the top rated team in the world (at least at one point) is a possibility.

Hull was born, raised and has lived all his life in the US. The only thing Canadian about him is his parents. Even so, he only decided to play for the US after he wasn't picked for Team Canada. I don't see him as a traitor at all.

Cherry is entertaining and occasionally has some good insights but for substance, I'll take Kelly Hrudey any day.

[guyser]

Hull was born, raised and has lived all his life in the US. The only thing Canadian about him is his parents. Even so, he only decided to play for the US after he wasn't picked for Team Canada. I don't see him as a traitor at all.

Cherry is entertaining and occasionally has some good insights but for substance, I'll take Kelly Hrudey any day.

Just to clear up some facts, Brett was born in Belleville to an American mother. Thats why he has dual citizenship.

Kelly is the heir in training, and he is good. Very good.

But Cherry has some exposure already down there and hockey fans especially know all about him, US or Canada.

[blueblood]

Hull was born, raised and has lived all his life in the US. The only thing Canadian about him is his parents. Even so, he only decided to play for the US after he wasn't picked for Team Canada. I don't see him as a traitor at all.

Cherry is entertaining and occasionally has some good insights but for substance, I'll take Kelly Hrudey any day.

Just to clear up some facts, Brett was born in Belleville to an American mother. Thats why he has dual citizenship.

Kelly is the heir in training, and he is good. Very good.

But Cherry has some exposure already down there and hockey fans especially know all about him, US or Canada.

Kelly has big shoes to fill, not the same charisma cherry has. Kelly is too P.C. for my liking though, mind you that's why Danny Williams is my favorite politician. Cherry knows the game very well. I want to watch the NBC just to check out their reaction to him. I don't know if Cherry had THIS much American exposure. Part of being a good host is being an entertainer, cherry does this very well, plus he can back it up. I don't know if Kelly can, he needs an entertainer as a co-host.

[Wilber]

Just to clear up some facts, Brett was born in Belleville to an American mother. Thats why he has dual citizenship.

Kelly is the heir in training, and he is good. Very good.

But Cherry has some exposure already down there and hockey fans especially know all about him, US or Canada.

My mistake about Hull. He wasn't picked for Team Canada and the Americans wanted him. Almost always a good choice to go somewhere you are wanted. I think having a player of his stature playing for the US was a good thing for the game at that time, they didn't have many. I agree that Cherry is a good choice to market the game in the US.

[geoffrey]

Kelly is a real ass in person, I've had the misforunate of meeting him a couple times. Full of arrogance. I really dislike him as a person, he's a second rate analyst too. I suppose they needed someone though...

[BubberMiley]

Hull was born, raised and has lived all his life in the US. The only thing Canadian about him is his parents.

Not only was he born in Ontario, he was drafted out of the B.C. junior hockey system, and grew up in Winnipeg while his dad played for the Jets.

And yes, his mother is American.

[Wilber]

Hull was born, raised and has lived all his life in the US. The only thing Canadian about him is his parents.

Not only was he born in Ontario, he was drafted out of the B.C. junior hockey system, and grew up in Winnipeg while his dad played for the Jets.

And yes, his mother is American.

Played college hockey and has lived in the US since, as well as playing his whole professional career in the US. We don't have any trouble claiming athletes born elsewhere as Canadians. Donovan Bailey and Daniel Igali to name just a couple. Think what our track and field history would look like if it wasn't for foreign born athletes, yet we seem to think that if someone was born in Canada they should be Canadian forever or are traitors. Kind of hypocritical IMO.

[BubberMiley]

... as well as playing his whole professional career in the US.

Except when he played for Calgary.

[Higgly]

I have a close friend who once hired Brett Hull to speak at a dinner on the recommendation of the agent network Hull had managed to get himself wired up to. This was a serious business dinner with international insiders. They brought him in because hockey is Canadian and because they thought he would deliver some hockey attitude to stir the troops. Hull got up and offended damned near everyone at the meeting - women, europeans, asians.... They should have hired Walter Gretzky, although I doubt anybody would have undestaood what he had to say.

The most remarkable thing I remember about Mr. Gretzky is that when Wayne was a little kid, his old man sat him down in front of the TV with a piece of paper. On the paper was the outline of a hockey rink. The old man told him to trace the path of the puck throughout the game. That's genius. Cherry was a damned good coach (Orr still calls him Grapes) but he never would have thought of that. Maybe Bobby Hull would have, but I doubt Brett would.

[Wilber]

... as well as playing his whole professional career in the US.

Except when he played for Calgary.

So what. How many elite Canadian athletes went to US colleges on scholarships, still train in the US and in many cases live there because that is the only place they can compete at a level they need to be at the top of their sport? It's surprising more of them don't chose to compete for the US because they wouldn't be where they are without the US system. To say that Hull is some kind of traitor because he first learned to play hockey as a kid in Canada is nonsense.

[Higgly]

To say that Hull is some kind of traitor because he first learned to play hockey as a kid in Canada is nonsense.

Are you talking Brett or Bobby?

[BubberMiley]

So what.

I'm just fixing your numerous factual errors: that his parents are both Canadian, that he never lived in Canada, that he never played for a Canadian team. I don't really care what nation he identifies himself with.

[Wilber]

To say that Hull is some kind of traitor because he first learned to play hockey as a kid in Canada is nonsense.

Are you talking Brett or Bobby?

Brett. Bobby never played international hockey for the US.

[Wilber]

I don't really care what nation he identifies himself with.

Me neither.