Every GM has their perceived downfall.

Cliff Fletcher: Draft Shmaft
Mike Smith: Only got Europeans
Pat Quinn: Couldn't get a long with young players, had his favourites
JFJ: couldn't handle the ownership
Burke: (right now i would say...) Likes the things that come with being Leafs GM a little too much and the perceived focus on Americans

All of these are just underlying factors to one constant cause and that is the team hasn't won since 67

You mean the Komisarek of now, or the Komisarek who was a solid dman when he was signed?
- jbold

keaterdixon is clueless.

This bullpoop goes way back to the late 70's/early 80's when Cherry learned that Canadian born Wilson was playing for the US national team - "not Larry's kid!?" In 1996 during the World Cup when Wilson as coach of the US team ticked Cherry off with comments about the Canadian media, and then sent him over the edge by gloating after winning Gold.

I don't remember any of the quotes but I'll bet Cherry remembers it all word for word. Basically what Cherry heard was "IN YO FACE, CANADA" coming from a Canadian with USA gold around his neck. Considers him a traitor and said so post-game on HNIC a year or two ago.

This is all about Cherry's hyper-patriotic feelings getting hurt, nothing more.

Agree that they're too alike to ever see eye-to-eye. Also agree that this nasty personal disagreement should be kept behind-the-scenes.

Burke should be smart enough to know that Cherry just blathers for rating's sake, and should focus on making the team better. The media can't be changed.

Don Cherry is the John Madden of the NHL. Yeah he rants, but when he does it's something no one cares about, has no relevance, or isn't even the correct info. It's his personality people love though even if he wears a suit that belongs in a coffin

Every GM has their perceived downfall.

Cliff Fletcher: Draft Shmaft
Mike Smith: Only got Europeans
Pat Quinn: Couldn't get a long with young players, had his favourites
JFJ: couldn't handle the ownership
Burke: (right now i would say...) Likes the things that come with being Leafs GM a little too much and the perceived focus on Americans

All of these are just underlying factors to one constant cause and that is the team hasn't won since 67
- MasWE

Burkes problem isnt that he focuses on americans.... Gardiner seems to be working out fine... Yes he has the team USA background that may help bring some players in BUT burkes biggest downfall is his big mouth... If he learned to shut up once in a while, the toronto media wouldnt take grapes' side sooo easily. He has made the media hate him with everything he does and says. Also Grapes owns toronto... its his turf... burke was stupid even going to CBC to tell him to tone it down... let Cherry run his mouth and everyone knows he will say something stupid on his own.

Im impartial on this... Both are idiots... both need to learn to shut up. Burke should focus on making the leafs a playoff team and to stop feeding excuses down fans throats every 3 weeks. Cherry should focus on his view of headshots/fights and what not and showing clips of canadian guys doing work on sat nights.

I like Don Cherry because I find him entertaining. Sometimes I agree with him, sometimes I don't but I don't watch it in order for him to tell me how to think, I watch because he is entertaining.

The guy talks every week and he isn't shy to take a stand on a subject even if it is touchy, even if he knows it'll upset the masses. Thats balls. He doesn't care and when he talks, he gives an honest opinion of what he thinks and doesn't cater to anyone.

If you talk enough all the time, people will agree with you and disagree with you. Its the nature of being a commentator whose job is to give opinions. He could easily take the route of a lot of these guys and offer opinions about things like "kids, don't cross check another kid in the face" and everyone just nods and agrees. He brings up points to get people talking. Thats why he does it.

The story is less about what he thinks (and if you are like me, other peoples opinion doesn't really effect my life) and more about getting you to form your own opinion and talk about his segment... talk about CBC.

Whether you care for his opinions or not is secondary in the grand scheme of things.

HUGE Burke supporter here. Might be a FORMER Burke supporter pretty soon if this poop keeps going. Cherry did the right thing and called out a guy publicly who tried to get him fired. Burke is an egotistical fool who uses the media to try and get his way. While he constantly runs his mouth on tv and on the air his counterparts in 29 other cities doing their job QUIETLY and, some of them atleast, are building stronger teams. Just shut the (frank) up Burke and build us a winner. If you can't do it, give your notice and give Nonis the reigns, that man is a young superstar GM in the making.
- leafscrazy22

Nothing gets done "quietly" in Toronto, or Montreal for that matter. It's the nature of the beast. You been living under a rock????

Don Cherry definitely talks alot.....but he needs to do his homework.....of their 44 top prospects, the Leafs show......24 Canadian "boys" (more than 1/2)......15 players from Ontario (more than 1/3).....and oh yes, 8 Americans.

He has become a parody of himself.

Don Cherry definitely talks alot.....but he needs to do his homework.....of their 44 top prospects, the Leafs show......24 Canadian "boys" (more than 1/2)......15 players from Ontario (more than 1/3).....and oh yes, 8 Americans.

He has become a parody of himself.
- graemerbooth

He's just using the stats relevant to his own arguement. Pro players on the Leaf roster. If he uses Burke draft picks, his point is lost. He probably did his research, saw the prospect list and decided to stick with the big club.

Jesus H christ does no one else find it odd that Cherry decides to have his most dramatic rant on "Obituaries Corner" on the eve of CBC showing his life story.
To quote Gob from Arrested Development "COME ON"!!!!!!