Update: At the end of his most recent podcast episode this week, legendary NHL broadcaster and former head coach Don Cherry announced it was his last show. He and his son and co-host, Tim, then proceeded to summarize the past success of the podcast and how many episodes they had done in their history.
Even his Twitter/X account made it sound like Don was calling it quits.
What Don meant to say was that it was his last show of the season.
"I'm coming back next season," Cherry said in an interview with the Toronto Sun's Joe Warmington. "We just meant to say goodbye for this year. We always do that at the end of the season. There's no more hockey this year, so there's no podcast for the summer.
"I guess we should have said 'for the season.'"
No harm, no foul. Just a misunderstanding. Onward and upward. As Grapes used to say in his hockey videos, "Let's go!"
Original article below:
After more than 300 episodes, we've heard through the Grapevine that Don Cherry's podcast has come to an end.
In a 13-minute episode published on Sunday, Cherry announced the end of Don Cherry's Grapevine Podcast. The legendary former Hockey Night in Canada broadcaster is now 91, and instead of the loud, brash delivery of his heyday, he signed off with a "toodle-oo" in a gentle, time-worn tone.
Ottawa Senators fans and their peers across Canada have decades worth of memories about Cherry's performances, whether it was his flamboyant NHL coaching career with the Boston Bruins, the swagger of Coach's Corner on Hockey Night in Canada, or his famous Rock 'em, Sock 'em videos that so many of us grew up with.
But he was also no stranger to controversial comments and landing in hot water over the years. Cherry was removed by CBC and Sportsnet following comments he made during a November 2019 Coach's Corner segment:
"You people that come here... you love our way of life, you love our milk and honey, at least you can pay a couple of bucks for a poppy or something like that... These guys paid for your way of life that you enjoy in Canada, these guys paid the biggest price."
Following his dismissal, as many former Rogers and Bell Media employees have done, Cherry started up a podcast. His son, Tim, gave him a hand with it, co-hosting the show.
On Sunday, in a farewell that lasted just 30 seconds, including an abrupt sign-off, Cherry closed the book on the popular hockey podcast.
Don Cherry: Well, Tim, this is our last show.
Tim Cherry: Yeah. How many podcasts have we done?
Don: I don't know.
Tim: This is our 313th.
Don: 313th...
Tim: Yeah. We've been listened to all around the world. It's just amazing how many different countries, you know, people download and listen. We've had 6.5 million downloads, which is pretty good.
Don: How many?
Tim: 6.5 million downloads.
Don: That's an awful lot. Thanks, everybody, for listening, and toodle-oo!
If Cherry is now setting down the microphone for good, it's hard not to tip your cap to a legendary media career.
Steve Warne
The Hockey News Ottawa
Banner image credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
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