Don Cherry Not a Fan of Ovechkin

Lately, it's become all the rage for fans and players around the NHL to pile on Penguins captain Sidney Crosby. The latest player to jump on the pile was Atlanta Thrashers forward Ilya Kovalchuk, who responded to Crosby's criticism of Alex Ovechkin for his often times over-the-top goal celebrations.

On Saturday night, legendary Canadian hockey analyst Don Cherry offered up his opinion on Ovechkin, and, well, if you're familiar with Cherry, it shouldn't be much of a shock. Video after the jump.

Wow, was that bizarre. After comparing Ovechkin's celebrations to international soccer players, Cherry pleaded with the children of Canada to follow in the footsteps of Joe Thornton, Joe Sakic and Brendan Shanahan when it comes to celebrating goals.

It's also worth pointing out that Cherry is somewhat of a homer towards Canadian hockey players, and this Don Cherry's scale of player greatness from a Hockey'sFuture future member using the alias, "Octopi," is hilarious, not to mention, alarmingly accurate:

Don Cherry's scale of player greatness 10 Doug Gilmour, 9 Kingston Boy, 8 Ontario or BC boy, 7 Boy from any other part of Canada except Quebec unless he wears visor, 6 Members of the Women's hockey team, 5 Any Guy from Europe or Quebec who is exceptionally good, 4 Any guy from quebec, or visor wearing guy(Unless he had eye injury), 3 Figure skaters 2-0 Insert most Russians, swedes here.

It's funny because it's true.

Cherry also predicted that somebody, somewhere, is going to get fed up with Ovechkin's antics and eventually take a run at him. Whether he's talking about a good, clean hockey hit, or a Dale Hunter type of thing I'm not sure, but here's my opinion on the matter:

If you're a player in the NHL, and you don't want to see Alex Ovechkin launch himself against the glass and scream like a banshee after he scores a goal, consider this strategy: don't let the man score.

It's a crazy thought, I know. But it might be crazy enough to work.

Look, aside from being entertainment for us, the fans, sports are also emotional and passionate games played by real people with real emotions. Not robots.

People get excited. People express that excitement in a variety of ways. If Alex Ovechkin, as a 22-year-old hockey player, decides to express his excitement by sliding across the ice and whooping it up with his teammates after a goal, I say more power to him.

Let's not turn this into the NFL or college football where the slightest bit of excitement after a big play results in a 15-yard penalty or $10,000 fine.

(H/T HFBoards for the video)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

3-01-2009 @ 12:44AM

amandacvr said...

Don Cherry is hilarious. Nice schtick. Ovie or should I say MVP is the best thing going in the NHL right now. Does this moron really think someone is going to cheap shot Ovechkin without getting a world class beat down from the rest of the Capitals? The kid is 22 and has been a breath of fresh air from the get go. It's quite obvious the Russian players are more exciting to watch. The face of the NHL is not even the best player on his team; that would be Malkin. I found it humorous the way Sid was crying last week on NBC. Not one of his mates came to help him.

3-01-2009 @ 9:51AM

Colonial said...

What if guys started doing a "lights out" dance after every big hit. Would that not be disrespectful? After all, one could avoid being disrespected by simply not being hit.

Alex is a talented player but he doesn't need to rub it in when he scores. I have no problem with anyone celebrating a goal but OV looks like a goof when he celebrates like he won the Stanley Cup after scoring an insurance goal during a blowout. On a side note, how would he celebrate if he scored a championship winning goal? Self-immolation?

Crosby might be a whiner but Ovechkin likes the spotlight a little bit too much for the traditional hockey crowd. Having played with both types of players, I'd rather have a whiner than someone who needs to be the center of attention on my team.

Also amandacvr, Saying Crosby isn't even the best player on his team isn't a knock against him at all. After all, if Malkin was a Capital Ovechkin wouldn't be the best player on his team this year either.

So should Evgeni Malkin (he of the poor English skills) be the face of the NHL?

pladd said...

Alex the Grate is an NBA wannabe.

Braid his hair, teach him how to dunk and send him on his way, I say.

This is hockey, pal.

3-01-2009 @ 4:30PM

lmuha89903 said...

NBA players don't celebrate after ever basket, it was the soccer guys.

tigerclaws56 said...

grapes is right, he ran crosby the same way he did overchkin. for those of us that are lucky enough to get hockey night in canada, we listen and most of the time side with don cherry. cherry is so convincing he got most people to think that bobby orr was a better player than gordie howe, without either playing for the past 25 years.

3-02-2009 @ 10:33AM

G said...

The definition of irony is Don Cherry dressing like...well...Don Cherry, and chiding someone for being too exuberant. The guy acts like he's all about the honor and integrity of the game, and yet his reporting and analysis could come straight from the WWF.

3-01-2009 @ 12:04PM

swwlu73 said...

I tend to agree with Cherry here but in most cases, he is the Al Davis of hockey.

3-01-2009 @ 12:13PM

Bruce Ciskie said...

What?

Who's going to take a run at Ovechkin? 8 will give it right back.

I think someone is still mad about Ovechkin getting in Crosby's kitchen last Sunday.

3-01-2009 @ 1:53PM

SQUAD DAT said...

pladd you are a freaking moron, your comment was beyond pathetic...Ovechkin doesn't try to 'rub it in' after he scores, it's just part of his personality and enthusiasm for the game...I've seen Malkin, Wheeler, Carter and many other players get as excited when they score...Alex doesn't even want attention, he's going to be himself regardless of the media, just because he is getting such high praise now doesn't mean he brought it upon himself through antics....He just scores, hits, passes and skates like a god.....Crosby can be the face of the NHL for the next 20 years and nobody gives a fuck cause he's not taken serious around the league, for god's sake his teammates dont even respect him Im sure..hence why they rarely come to his defence....players have alot more respect for ovechkin so don cherry is another moron for saying somebody will cheap-shot him...Kovalchuck is going to woop Cindy Crosby's ass one of these days

3-01-2009 @ 2:21PM

Niv said...

Guys as a long time hockey fan and Don Cherry fan I've come to a conclusion on Grapes a while ago, he's freakin lost it.

Don Cherry is generally a very knowledgeable hockey man, but he's always been very biased against Europeans and has always been biased towards the Leafs or Bruins.

As things are here with Ovechkin I can't believe anyone out there can't be excited by watching this guy play. He's simply the best and most exciting player in the world today, and at 22 years old it's great watching a pro athlete who plays for the love of the game.

I and my buddies at work can't help but be excited every time we talk hockey Ovechkin's name comes up. He's good for the sport and as stated before I can't help but get into games that he's playing in.

Good for Ovechkin and the NHL, Grapes on the other hand needs to retire his schtick is boring now. As G stated above I find it highly hypocritical of Cherry to criticize someone for standing out in a crowd when the message is relayed in a freakin clown suit.

3-01-2009 @ 4:11PM

Jim said...

Ovechkin is by far the best all around player in the league. He plays every shift balls out and with total enthusiasm. I love watching this guy play. Crosby is a good player, but seems to be overhyped and Cherry is bias to Canadien players. So, it seems funny that Cherry with his loud suits and his always seeking attention would have anything to say about Ovechkins celebrations.

3-01-2009 @ 4:44PM

Peter said...

I'll take Oveshkin celebrating "like a soccer player" anytime over Crosby whining and diving "like a soccer player"!!!
I love Don, but he gets a bit redundant with his all Canadian thing.

3-01-2009 @ 5:13PM

Give him hell, Grapes!

3-01-2009 @ 6:53PM

ixxlikeyhipposx3 said...

F**k you Don Cherry! Ovechkin has a passion for the game all his own. He plays hard and he plays with ethusiasm. Who do you think you are comparing him to Avery or saying he's a goof? He is the greatest most eciting player in the NHL so don't be bashing him for his goal celebrations! He's a genuine player who plays the game amazingly. Don't think your fellow Canadians are the power in the league, they're not. Right now it is Ovechkin's time. It's his moment let him celebrate all the amazing things he does for his team. And you showed a clip of him when he kisses hsi hand and holds it in the air as an emaple of him being a goof... that's a tribute to his brother Sergei who died when he was young. Don Cherry you're the goof.

За Россия!

3-02-2009 @ 11:59AM

Paul C. Dahan said...

what a joke. Don Cherry the biggest Clown and buffoon of all, is critising ovechkin for his exuberance. He wants hockey goals to be celebrated in staid canadian fashion. Is the clothes he wears and promotes the latest canadian fashion. Cherry was a clown when he coached boston and could not win much when he coached. remember his bowing to the crowd in montreal when the bruins where penalized. he could not make it as a coach so he became a clown, unlike ovechkin who makes his living at scoring which is what forwards are supposed to do. That he can be as enthusiastic today as he probably was when he first laced them on is marvelous.

3-12-2009 @ 9:09PM

AFFA said...

If you don't like seeing Ovechkin celebrate then stop him from scoring. Liberace, I mean Don Cherry needs to shut his mouth.

3-01-2009 @ 9:51PM

rubrtrukr said...

"He's not interesting to me, so he can say whatever he wants. I don't care about him," Ovechkin said.

Grapes is a pathetic excuse for a human. Sasha rocks!

3-01-2009 @ 10:39PM

al said...

Look who is talking!!!The exuberant clown and the most pathetic person who thinks he is representing Canadian hockey.He was nothing when he was player,he was nothing when he was a coach and he is blanc spot now.

3-02-2009 @ 8:25AM

chrisp tha ghost said...

Ovechkin is an all around better player than Crosby. Everyone jumped on the Sidney bandwagon years ago and they're having a hard time jumping off. Crosby is a wimp. The dude punches people in the groin in his fights. Haha.