Don Cherry's Sports Heroes

October 31, 2016
In the foreword to sportscaster Cherry's latest book (after Don Cherry's Hockey Stories, Part 2), Bobby Orr accurately calls him a "master storyteller." Even readers familiar with many of these tales will enjoy the way "Grapes" spins a yarn. The book is based on his syndicated Grapevine television show, which ran from 1982 to 1993. He shares some of the behind-the-scenes details, but the focus is really on some of the guests; Cherry provides a little bit of information about their appearances on the show, including partial transcripts, and how he feels about them. He can move effortlessly from talking about hockey icon Maurice "Rocket" Richard to why Don Marcotte of Cherry's Big Bad Bruins was a great checker, or jump from describing Canadian snooker world champion Cliff Thorburn to recalling conversations with hockey executive Wren Blair. He's still a player's coach, loyally omitting names with discretion, including the "dead drunk" ex-player on the show. Naturally, there are Cherry side rants too, on topics such as body-checking in minor hockey and the importance of wearing shirts and ties to games. There are even some glimpses of Cherry beyond his bravado, describing nervously stumbling as a rookie broadcaster: "The more I screwed up, the more the audience would laugh." Fans are sure to be entertained.