logo
Don Cherry, 91, signs off podcast after 313 episodes, future uncertain

Don Cherry, 91, signs off podcast after 313 episodes, future uncertain

Famed Canadian sportscaster Don Cherry signed off from his podcast for the final time — or so it seemed.
The 91-year-old Cherry had hosted 'Don Cherry's Grapevine Podcast' since August 2023, producing 313 episodes in total. His son and co-host, Tim Cherry, said on the finale that it had racked up 6.5 million downloads.
'Well, Tim, this is our last show. ... Thanks everybody for listening and toodaloo,' Cherry said on the episode posted Monday.
Cherry's official X account shared a link to the episode with the caption, 'Don Cherry Says Goodbye in Final Podcast,' reinforcing the impression that the series had come to an end. But in a Tuesday interview with the Toronto Sun, Cherry said the goodbye was meant as a seasonal sign-off, not a permanent farewell.
Even so, Tim Cherry told The Canadian Press he doesn't foresee any new episodes in the future.
'That being said,' he added, 'if something wild happens like McDavid being traded to the Leafs, I'm sure Don will want to do a quick podcast about it. As for the start of next year, we'll see.'
The podcast has been Cherry's most regular platform since his departure from television — a continuation of a storied and often controversial career in broadcasting.
His bold suits were matched only by his even bolder opinions.
For nearly 40 years, Cherry — a pugnacious former minor league defenceman who later coached the NHL's Boston Bruins and Colorado Rockies — made his name on Coach's Corner during Hockey Night in Canada.
Cherry had long been known as a polarizing voice in hockey circles, but no moment left a lasting mark quite like Nov. 9, 2019, when he delivered a televised rant about people not wearing poppies, seemingly aimed at immigrants.
Cherry, who denied targeting new Canadians, was fired two days later.
Rogers Sportsnet president Bart Yabsley announced the decision, saying Cherry 'made divisive remarks that do not represent our values or what we stand for.'
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 24, 2025.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Cultural celebration brings hundreds to Earl Haig Park
Cultural celebration brings hundreds to Earl Haig Park

Hamilton Spectator

time44 minutes ago

  • Hamilton Spectator

Cultural celebration brings hundreds to Earl Haig Park

Several hundred community members attended Gihekdagye-BRISC Friendship Centre's National Indigenous Peoples Day celebration at Earl Haig Family Fun Park on Saturday, June 21, 2025. The event was held in partnership with Brantford Native Housing, Woodland Cultural Centre, Métis Nation of Ontario, Niwasa Kendaaswin Teg, Child and Family Services of Grand Erie, Aboriginal Health Centre, Brantford Public Library and the City of Brantford. During the eight-hour event, families of all ages came together to beat the heat and cool down in the park's pool, lazy river or splash pad. In between jumping from one source of water to the next, many took the opportunity to grab a bite to eat, sit down for a picnic or play a round of mini golf. Out in the parking lot, several service organization booths had the chance to interact with visitors, hand out program information and free swag, or and various craft activities. While exploring the area, attendees also had the opportunity to support vendors like Tanya's Dream Catchers, have colourful tinsel woven into their hair, or run around on one of the inflatable interactive play systems. The event also featured several speeches, as well as dances, both Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe, from First Nations dancers like Eddy Thomas and Daniel Secord of Springcreek Dancers. Michael Doxtator, a member of the board of directors for Gihekdagye-Brisc Friendship Centre and a First Nations historian, said the day marks a significant moment in history. 'Brantford is the centre of Canadian culture. It's where it all started back in the 1860s, and it needs to turn around and actually become the cultural mecca of the whole country again with creativity, arts, and theatre, all those practices, as well as building a local economy based on creative industries,' he said. 'When we talk about Brantford as being the centre of Canadian culture, that begins with what the idea of what happened here, which actually, is one of the reasons why there is a Canada today; it's because of the events like the adoption of Canada in the Longhouse in 1869, the formulation of Canada Day on June 21, 1880, which later became Governor General Roméo LeBlanc's cue to make June 21 'National Aboriginal Day' back in 1996.' Doxtator said the event was an opportunity for the community to celebrate and recognize the Indigenous people and their ways of being, especially given the city's proximity to Six Nations of the Grand River and the large urban Indigenous population within Brantford itself. 'Today is really a celebration where we get to welcome our cousins from the Canadian Rafter to come and celebrate Indigenous families,' he said. 'We have people having fun and frolicking around the grounds and watching some cultural activities taking place in the park, and we have the the service organizations out in the parking lot, with all their displays and their tables that offer information about the services that they represent, and it's just been a great turnout.' Kimberly De Jong's reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative. The funding allows her to report rural and agricultural stories from Blandford-Blenheim and Brant County. Reach her at . Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .

Non-traditional sports like pickleball and bouldering are helping Canadians get active this summer
Non-traditional sports like pickleball and bouldering are helping Canadians get active this summer

Yahoo

time3 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Non-traditional sports like pickleball and bouldering are helping Canadians get active this summer

On a warm summer Canadian evening, you might hear the pop-pop of a pickleball game, spot someone scaling a climbing wall at a community centre or catch players rallying on a padel court — a fast-growing racquet sport that looks like a mix between tennis and squash. What may once have seemed like fringe hobbies are now part of a growing movement. Canadians are seeking alternative ways to stay physically active, connect socially and improve their mental and physical well-being. While gym memberships and traditional sports will always have their place, more people are choosing leisure activities that are fun, flexible and social. Activities like pickleball, climbing, padel, disc golf, cricket, ultimate frisbee and stand-up paddleboarding are gaining momentum, offering a fresh approach to fitness that suits all ages, skill levels and motivations. The COVID-19 pandemic played a big role in reshaping how people get physically active. With gyms closed and organized sports on hold, people turned to parks, driveways and community spaces for movement. What began as temporary adjustments soon evolved into permanent shifts for some. Many people realized that being active didn't have to be rigid or repetitive; it could be more social and genuinely enjoyable. TikTok videos and Instagram reels showcasing everything from 'how to videos' to 'beginner fails' have also helped pique curiosity and increase participation in these activities. According to Pickleball Canada, 1.54 million Canadians are playing the sport in 2025 — a 57 per cent increase in participation over the past three years. Meanwhile, Padel, which is already popular in Europe and Latin America, is gaining ground in major Canadian cities like Toronto and Vancouver because of how accessible and easy to learn it is. Sales increases in paddleboards, the debut of sport climbing at the Tokyo 2020/2021 Olympics and the increase in popularity of spikeball (also known as roundnet) all signal a broader shift toward fun, accessible and social forms of physical activity. The physical and mental health benefits of being physically active are well established, and yet many Canadians are still not active enough to meet the 24-Hour Movement Guidelines. The guidelines recommend that adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous aerobic activity per week, perform muscle-strengthening activities twice a week, limit sedentary time and aim for seven to nine hours of quality sleep each night. Alternative sports may help address this gap by offering new routes into physical activity. Beyond the well-known physical health benefits, such as cardiovascular health, strength, agility and co-ordination, these activities are equally effective at supporting mental health and social well-being. For example, a recent study by Canadian researchers looked at 28 studies that investigated health and/or well-being of adult pickleball players. The results suggested positive social and psychological effects — in addition to health and fitness benefits — were evident, particularly for older adults. Read more: Sports like pickleball, padel and ultimate frisbee thrive on social connection, as players and partners often chat, laugh, build relationships and have potlucks or social time afterwards, all which help build community and foster a sense of belonging. Other activities, such as bouldering and climbing, encourage mental concentration, resilience and problem-solving, as routes are often designed to be attempted several times before being successful. This helps get people stronger and more confident, as they learn to keep trying even when something feels hard at first. This sense of progress and enjoyment keeps people motivated. When an activity is fun, social and rewarding, people are more likely to stick with it over time. When people want to be active, rather than feeling like they have to, they're more likely to reap the long-term benefits of being active. This is known as intrinsic motivation, a key factor for maintaining long-term physical activity because people are more likely to do something they genuinely like. Because these alternative sports are fun, low-pressure and easy to try at any level, they offer a great starting point for anyone, regardless of age, experience or ability. Across Canada, cities are increasingly investing in these growing recreational activities. Municipal parks and empty buildings are rapidly being repurposed for new pickleball and padel courts. According to an industry journal, the number of climbing gyms across Canada increased from 136 in 2021 to 169 in 2024. Part of the appeal lies in accessibility. These types of activities are beginner-friendly. Unlike many traditional sports where skills and speed are expected upfront, there is no need to be in peak physical shape or have the best gear. Most people can try these activities with little more than a pair of shoes and a rental. These activities are also adaptable and low-impact, making them accessible to a wide range of participants. They're often intergenerational and focused more on enjoyment than competition. Just as importantly, they support physical literacy — the confidence and competence to stay active throughout one's life. Building physical literacy early and sustaining it throughout adulthood is a cornerstone of long-term health promotion and chronic disease prevention. If you've been meaning to try one of these activities, this summer might be your chance. After all, fitness doesn't have to be a chore; sometimes it starts with just showing up and saying yes to something different. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organisation bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Sarah Woodruff, University of Windsor Read more: Pickleball's uphill climb to mainstream success Esports, pickleball and obstacle course racing are surging in popularity – what are their health benefits and challenges? Could flag football one day leapfrog tackle football in popularity? Sarah Woodruff receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council and We Spark Health Institute.

Capitals sign Justin Sourdif and the Kings trade Jordan Spence to the Senators
Capitals sign Justin Sourdif and the Kings trade Jordan Spence to the Senators

Fox Sports

time4 hours ago

  • Fox Sports

Capitals sign Justin Sourdif and the Kings trade Jordan Spence to the Senators

Associated Press The Washington Capitals signed a young forward they got from the back-to-back Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers, a young defenseman is getting a fresh start and a couple of Canadian teams re-signed veteran players on Saturday. Washington signed forward Justin Sourdif for $1.65 million over two years after sending a second-round pick to Florida for the minor leaguer with four games of NHL experience. Sourdif, 23, scored a goal in his lone call-up this past season and had 10 points in 18 games on the Charlotte Checkers' run to the American Hockey League's Calder Cup Finals. The Capitals are hoping Sourdif, making just over the league minimum at $825,000 annually, fills a hole on their second or third line. There was no room for upward mobility for Sourdif, especially after the Panthers signed playoff MVP Sam Bennett to an eight-year, $64 million contract and could bring back winger Brad Marchand. While hosting the draft in Los Angeles, the Kings traded 24-year-old D-man Jordan Spence to Ottawa for the 67th pick and Colorado's sixth-rounder in 2026. Buffalo also sent Connor Clifton and a second-round pick to Pittsburgh for Conor Timmins and Isaac Beliveau. North of the border, the Calgary Flames extended 6-foot-6 Kevin Bahl to a six-year deal worth just over $32 million, while the Winnipeg Jets shored up their blue line depth by giving Haydn Fleury $1.9 million over the next two seasons. Bahl will count $5.35 million against the salary cap through 2030-31. ___ AP NHL: recommended

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store