From: allan@cs.UAlberta.CA (Allan Sullivan)
Subject: Don Cherry's Coach's Corner summary - Dec. 12, 1992
Organization: University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1992 20:06:49 GMT



Here's a summary of Don Cherry's coach's corner from December 12, 1992.
(The episode took place during the first intermission of a Calgary-Ottawa
game.)

[Warning: Penguin fans may want to skip this article.]

Topics
------

Expansion, New NHL Commisioner, Penguin quick healing ability,
relaxing of rules, skate-a-thon.

Summary
-------

This episode opened up with a picture of Don holding a Mickey mouse-shaped
sucker. (Grape flavoured too...) Ron Maclean commented "I'm sure folks
in Southern California are all ears to see what you think of Anahiem and
also South Florida (getting teams)."

Don started out by talking about Hamilton: Best arena in hockey, 16,500 season
tickets sold, 8000 more waiting. But when two heavy weights like Disney
and Blockbuster come knocking at your door, you better answer it.

One major concern Don had was where these teams are going to get players.
The new teams will probably make Ottawa look like a Stanley cup contender.
The solution: Existing teams have to be more generous, and give up
2 good players each (instead of 2 marginal ones). (Teams have to start
thinking of the league, rather than themselves.) However, Don says
"They're not going to let this Video guy (guy with Florida franchise)
twist... He looks like a tough guy." Don also expressed conern over
the ability of the new teams to fill the stands. Overall, these
new expansion teams should be good for the league.

There are 18 American teams; if someone wanted to buy an existing
team and move them, it would require a 3/4 majority on the board of
governors. (So, it looks like Hamilton won't be getting an NHL
team... Why go to a place that has a good arena and strong fan support?)

Ron asked about the new NHL commisioner Bettman. Don said "At least
he knows something about hockey". He goes to Ranger games, and his
son plays hockey. Bettman hasn't stated a position on fighting yet.
"Were going to see what Gary-boy's going to do".

Don then brought up the fight between Hunter and Ulf Samuelson.
Don's explanation of the events: First, Ulf punched Hunter in the
face with his glove; Hunter, being a good guy, drops his gloves and hits Ulf
in the face, supposedly breaking his cheek. Ulf is playing again however,
and  Don is expressing doubt that it was ever broken. (He also brought
up Mario's "broken" hand in last year's playoffs, and how it may not
have been broken.)

Don then went into his impression of the referee, handing out penalties
in the Ulf-Hunter fight... "Look Mario, I have it kind of tough
here, because he did do it. I'll tell you what, I'll give
I'll give a 2 minute instigator, 2 minutes for the mask, and
another 5 minutes. I'll give Hunter an extra 5 minutes for high
sticking, therefore you'll get it... Hatcher, shut up... And listen
Mario... Hatcher, shut up, I'm talking to Mario."

"All of a sudden, he doesn't have a broken cheekbone! Remember Mario
with the broken hand? Pope Scotty lays his hand on him, and says
'Thou be healed'. He layed his hand on Ulf's cheekbone and says 'Thou
be healed'... You can't believe anything that comes out of Pittsburgh...
Dale, way to give it to that stiff."

Ron brought up comments by John Muckler and Guy Carboneau where they
said that referees were backing down from the tough stand on penalties
they had at the beginning of the year. This caused Don to go into his
pro-fighting stance. He began by challenging Ron to name one goal which
occured in the game with the Probert-Domi fight. Same for Wendel-Probert.
Fans like to see fights. To Bettman: Don't listen to the rich guys, listen
to the fans (the ones who pay to get in). "You said Entertainment... That's
Entertainment."

Don attributed Guy Carboneau's comments to the fact that the Canadiens
were playing Boston and New York soon, and it was a way to intimidate
the referees. Don DOES think that the referees have been relaxing the
rules lately, but he thinks that that's the way it should be.

Don's closing remarks were about a charity skate-a-thon. "Bobby Orr
Skate-a-thon tomorrow afternoon, I'll be there." [What, Don being at a CHARITY
EVENT? Boy, that will REALLY get the anti-fighting people mad.]

Ron's closing pun: "Don Cherry, with NHL developments from the Gulf
of Mexico to the Ulf of Sweden."

Rating
------
This was a pretty good episode. Don's explanation of NHL expansion
and Bettman was done quite informatively, while his explanation
of 'Pope Scotty' healing the sick was quite humourous.

I'd give it 8.5 out of 10.

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   \  \                   |Allan Sullivan (allan@cs.ualberta.ca)
    \  \                  |Department of Computing Science,
     \  \_______          |University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
      \    ###  \     _   |---------------------------------------------------
       \___###___\   (_)  |My opinions are mine and mine alone.
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"It is amazing how much can be accomplished if no one cares who gets the
 credit..."          - U. of A. Golden Bears Hockey Motto (C. Drake)
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