Don Cherry Prevails Over Media Hacks

Sanctimonious pundits and self-appointed opinion cops will be furrowing their brows over this one. Don Cherry has made the top ten in a poll to choose The Greatest Canadian.

Wayne Gretzky is there too. But it is the appearance of Cherry that will get up the noses of media prigs. Many of Canada's sportswriters have long seethed over his popularity and resented his blustery presence. They were falling over themselves to join the campaign last year, when it looked like Cherry might be fired for his latest controversial comments.

The fact that most of them have not come up with an original idea in years and earn their money by parroting received wisdom does not deter them from tearing down one of the few authentic voices on Canadian television. But despite all the thunderbolts cast from newspaper columns, average citizens and hockey fans have an annoying habit of thinking for themselves.