We should start and email campaign to both Cherry and Melrose (especially Melrose) that includes a link to Caputo’s article.

Good find Chief!

Posted by Osrt on 05/12/08 at 03:48 AM ET

In all fairness to Don Cherry, he has on several occasions stated that he fully expects the Wings to win the Cup.  However, his beef with how the Wings play is really nothing more than his same sentiment for how the league overall has been changed.  The Wings do not play North American Hockey (aka Canadian style hockey) which is much more physical than the European style that has become much more common in the league, a style which the Wings epitomize.

Does that make him a bigot?  Probably not by itself it doesn’t, but Cherry has on many other occasions left no doubt that he is rather Europhobic.  But as Caputo so deftly refers to him, Cherry is nothing more than a dinosaur (albeit an entertaining one in my opinion) that is lamenting the long gone days of the Golden Age of Canadian style hockey.  A style that still exists, just not to the same extent that Cherry wishes it did, and will probably never be as prevalent as it once was.

As for Melrose, why anybody listens to anything that guy has to say is beyond me.  I can understood why Sports broadcast shows feel the need to have old players and coaches on there for better “insight.”  To some extent it can lend the fan a different perspective on the game, but I really wish those Shows would exercise greater “insight” on who they choose to be those representatives.  Most of the old players and coaches were not sports reporters for a reason, because they stink at it.  Melrose certainly fits that bill.

Posted by Tim on 05/12/08 at 06:35 AM ET

As far as I can tell, Cherry only likes you if you play without a helmet and punch opponents for winning a faceoff. He’s probably a fan of Pronger, and thinks Yzerman was a wuss for advocating visors. There’s one way to play hockey: his way. And if you don’t measure up to his lofty standards, then you’re soft, no matter how many skills you have other than violence.

Have we even been watching the same series? Kronwall? Drake? Datsyuk?

Posted by Matt from Tennessee on 05/12/08 at 08:01 AM ET

Don Cherry is definitely Europhobic and anti-French Canadiens, but he has always had great things to say about Detroit. Stevie can do no wrong in his eyes and never could.

His beef is with how Babcock coaches them. He wishes they would stand up for themselves more, and so do I.

Posted by Chantel from The hockey hotbed that is Florida on 05/12/08 at 08:09 AM ET

That’s a good little article there…

Posted by mudshark from Divetown, Colorado on 05/12/08 at 08:14 AM ET

the reason Melrose makes his comments is when he was a wings assistant to Demers,he tried to get Demers fired by exposing things Demers allowed to go on,Melrose wanted the head coach position-but in fact he helped get himself axed.Ilitch considered Melrose a part of the problem i suppose.it explains his axe he’s been grinding.i was at Caesars hq the day Mr I headed to the Demers firing presser and a few ppl i knew at the time hinted at it.

Posted by Speedy Sammich from DTown on 05/12/08 at 08:32 AM ET

He wishes they would stand up for themselves more, and so do I.

I’m curious about that. In what way have they failed to stand up for themselves? Seems to me the best way to stand up for yourself is to send your opponents to the golf links to enjoy an extended off-season.

There’s a time and a place to respond to provocation; when you’re winning isn’t necessarily it.

Posted by Matt from Tennessee on 05/12/08 at 09:10 AM ET

I’m curious about that. In what way have they failed to stand up for themselves?

The only way they haven’t “stood up” for themselves is by taking stupid penalties or negating power plays.  I don’t know about you, but what fan is happy in the playoffs when their players don’t let things go and take an unnecessary shot at someone for doing something for feeling slighted?  No coach wants that, no player wants to do that.  You do that, you’re sitting down.

Posted by Heaton on 05/12/08 at 09:15 AM ET

Caputo is the most capable sports journalist in Detroit.
Cherry likes Detroit because it’s an Orignal Six city. He has some affection for Yzerman, but nowhere near the manlove he has for Doug Gilmour or Cam Neely. Or his crush on Bobby Orr, who made Cherry a ‘great’ coach and is probably responsible for him continually trying to relive his glory years by refusing to give up the 70’s Superfly look.
Granted, he is colorful and entertaining (I suggested on an earlier thread a good setup for his schtick would be to have him delivered to the set in a little clown car), and I enjoy his repartee with Ron McClean (unfortunately, I currently live outside the Detroit broadcast area and DishNetwork doesn’t offer CBC), but his reputation far exceeds his judgement and insight. He’s just never accepted the fact that the infusion of European players has elevated the skill level in the league (he probably bitches about all the Latin Americans in baseball as well). As for his appreciation of the Wings’ style of play, just stitch O’Mara or McGuire in place of Datsyuk or Zetterberg and Cherry would have a little tent in his pants.
Melrose? Obtuse as Cherry, but without Cherry’s charisma.

Posted by BobS. on 05/12/08 at 09:29 AM ET

Wings are too old,Wings are too soft, Wings are first round playoff chokers. Wings are too European NEXT!  You know, I’m almost o.k. with it, with everyone in the MSM being all over the other teams.  It just allows the Wings to quietly go about their business of winning. I’m tired of it along with the VS announcers.  Whatever.  Just watch this team win and make them all eat their words.

Posted by hockeychic from Denver, CO on 05/12/08 at 10:23 AM ET

Everything that is wrong with the freaking NHL is right here to see.  I grew up outside of Toledo and have been a Wings fan since childhood, so I’m biased, but here goes. 

The NHL has never been a bastion of professionalism.  For years the idea of “toughness” has been encouraged at the expense of solid organization and planning.

Meanwhile, the Red Wings organization, with Holland, Nill, Bowman, Andersson, and now Yzerman, has been am example that most Fortune 500 companies could look to for examples on leadership, planning, and effectiveness. 

The focus on good scouting, and selecting players (and coaches) who can fit into a puck-possession, proven system is remarkable in this league.  And to basically pull this off since 1993 (15 years!), leading the league in postseason appearances, three cups, etc. in the pre and post lockout NHL is absolutely remarkable.

Meanwhile, the “sages” who fans and the league turn to have fallen over themselves trying to paint the Wings as too European and too finesse-driven to win in the NHL.  Now Cherry says that even if they win, it doesn’t matter because they don’t play North American hockey.  If we need any further proof at how out of touch most of the mainstream media is with reality we need not look any further. 

I’m sick and tired of the Wings not getting any national attention, except for the odd column about how “soft” they are, of that moron Albom bemoaning the fact that not everyone in Michigan got rich off of writing crappy books.

Posted by TDeters on 05/12/08 at 11:04 AM ET

Cherry is nothing more than a dinosaur

Dinosaurs went extinct.  Cherry will kick the bucket someday.  The breed that long for a return to clutching, grabbing, and toughness trumping all will go the way of the well, dinosaur.  Maybe then the entertaining skill hockey that can be found in the New NHL (not that THAT doesn’t have its drawbacks) will be appreciated.

Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from the Badlands, hunting the fossil of Red Horner on 05/12/08 at 11:13 AM ET

Ribeiro’s response was a two-handed slash to Osgood’s chest over the back of the net that drew a match penalty.

since the match penalty was handed out after time expired in the game, it should apply to the next game.

Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 05/12/08 at 11:18 AM ET