Should Don Cherry get into the Hockey Hall of Fame ?

[Auston'sWilly]

I saw an interesting article by Steve Simmons over the weekend regarding Cherry and the hall of fame. I won't link to it, because, well I honestly don't like Steve Simmons' writing and I don't want to give him hits.

Anyway, it did give me something to think about. I was actually a little surprised - I assumed Cherry was already IN the Hall.

[MZac]

Automatic yes as a builder.

Edit: or broadcasting/media. Doesn't matter, just automatic yes.

[ericdaoust]

I don't care which "category" he's in. He deserves to be there. I don't think it's even a question. I'm disappointed it hasn't already been done.

[Axeman33]

I believe he deserves to be in the HOF (he should have been in there ages ago) under the builder or the media category but I think his recent firing will hurt/sink any chance he had of getting in. If the Hall didnt see his worth at this point, I doubt they will now. I hope I am wrong, but just the way I see it.

[ericdaoust]

I guess the purpose of this thread is for "Team Cherry" to finally win a poll at Dobberhockey

[Auston'sWilly]

I guess the purpose of this thread is for "Team Cherry" to finally win a poll at Dobberhockey

I can certainly understand how it would appear that way, but I was just genuinely curious if any felt he didn't deserve to be in the Hall. Hopefully he gets in before he dies. Cheers.

[2014olympicgold]

He's in the AHL Hall of Fame as a player, was inducted this yr actually. He can only go in as a builder since he never played a game in the NHL as a player.

Not having him and Ron MacLean in the HOF as a builder is ignoring the fact even the people who disliked him (I'm in this category) still tuned in and watched him on Saturday nights most weeks over the past 20+years (I've only watched for 20+yrs). He grew the sport. His show grew the sport. Ask people who barely watch hockey and they know Don Cherry.

I think he should be in already, but because of his latest issues, I'm curious when he'll get in. Might take a yr off and he'd go in with the 2021 class. Just hope he's alive when he's finally brought into that group of people.

[ericdaoust]

He can only go in as a builder since he never played a game in the NHL as a player.

He played one NHL playoff game.

[2014olympicgold]

He played one NHL playoff game.

Well slap me over the face, you're right. Wore #20.

[Eskimo Brother]

He played one NHL playoff game.

I still love that stat.

[Rylant]

He definitely deserves to be in the hall of fame. Whether or not you agree with his firing, you simply can't deny what he has done for the sport.

Rylant

PS. For the record, I also think that Pete Rose deserves to be in the hall of fame. It definitely gets a little murkier when you talk about guys who were found to be cheating while performing in their sport.

[lucafen4]

he didn't coach long enough to go in as a coach. I don't think he was ever a GM - so not as a builder.

but 35+yrs in media and one of the most captivating & polarizing personalities any sport has ever seen.

Should be 1st ballot media induction.

[hockeyrobot]

10000% should have been there already. I can only imagine this recent issue will push his waiting date back even further.

But Gary Bettman really had to go in last year as a Builder. What a joke.

[2014olympicgold]

he didn't coach long enough to go in as a coach. I don't think he was ever a GM - so not as a builder.

but 35+yrs in media and one of the most captivating & polarizing personalities any sport has ever seen.

Should be 1st ballot media induction.

I think in the "Builder" category it's just who "builds the sport up". Doesn't have to "build" a team.

This is from the wiki page

A builder is a person who has contributed to the development of the game of hockey, and as the name refers, one who has built the game forward.

[lucafen4]

I think in the "Builder" category it's just who "builds the sport up". Doesn't have to "build" a team.

This is from the wiki page

But if you look at the list of people inducted in the Builder category - there's not one who did so on the basis of media.
Click through the names and see their resume. They physically changed the game in a hands on way.
Cherry influenced the game of hockey tremendously but let's not get him confused with Herb Brooks, Scotty Bowman & Clarence Campbell who actually built the game.

Don Cherry's mark on the game is through the Coaches Corner platform.
He didn't even build the Bruins - he inherited a Cup winning team and didn't win a Cup.

Not to use current terminology but Cherry is much better described as an influencer. He's not a builder.