My take on the man in the Crazy suits

If you live in Canada you know who I am talking about. For everyone else, I am referring to Don Cherry. He co-hosts coaches corner, which airs during Hockey Night in Canada. He also does some stuff for ESPN toward the end of the playoffs. He played for "a cup of coffee" in the NHL with the Bruins, or one game. He later went on to coach them during the Orr days.
The reason I have decided to discuss him is because if you love him you love him and if you hate him you hate him. No one rides the fence on him. So as a 20 something female, where do you think I stand?
If you guess love him then you are correct. Many of you may not have come to that conclusion, and the reason being, this guy defines controversy, and that's kinda why I like him.
People have said his views are old fashioned and rude. I disagree. He got in major trouble for his views on why a woman got hit with a puck at a hockey game. I am paraphrasing here but he said she wouldn't have gotten hit if she hadn't have been flapping her jaw. Its true! C'mon we all go to hockey games and know a puck leaves the ice at least once. It shouldn't be a shock that a person can get hit by a puck. I'm not saying I don't do my fair share of talking at games, but in the back of my mind I am always aware that there is a possibility a puck could come flying up at any given time. If I were to get hit, I would know it was my fault for not being on point. Just saying.
He made huge waves in the media by criticizing Habs fans for booing the American anthem. He said CBC and the Canadian government should have stood behind him. Hey, I was born American, so you know where I stand there. Even if I weren't, I think booing another Country's Anthem is the same at spiting on someone, you don't do it. Politically I may not agree with the decisions on a Country's government  but that has no bearing on deserving the same respects, especially in the name of good sportsmanship.
I could continue to name off remarks that have put him in the hot seat, but that's one of the best qualities about him. CBC realized this and put a 7 second delay during Coach's Corner, but after all this time he still has a job. Grapes has been around for quite some time, and I wouldn't expect to see it change, which is fine with me. Both of our paternal grandfather served our Countries, both our fathers played Amateur sports, both have Irish in us, and both carry a deep respect for those who serve their Countries and have deep rooted patriotism in that sense.
As far as Cherry goes, he's good in my books! I hope he never retires, HNIC will never be the same the day that happens. But for now, I look forward to his off the wall remarks which are as unpredictable as the material for his next suit.

The Coyotes forever in my Heart

I have felt very strongly on the subject since I heard that were considering  moving the Coyotes. I realize that this is old news, but this is my first blog and I still feel strongly on the subject.
I couldn't believe something like that was even up for discussion! Although now living in Southern Ontario and a Habs fan, my heart will always have a place in it for the Phoenix Coyotes. I was born in Arizona, and there were no Coyotes when I was young. I didn't even hear of the concept of hockey until I was about seven years old watching Casey Jones in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Probably because the closest team was the L.A. Kings. Who in my eyes didn't grow popular until Gretzky played, and even afterward had a lot of growing to do, and is still nowhere near Canada or New England. I would have loved a shot of getting out there and playing the intense, physical, demanding game I have come to love. There were NO programs for hockey in the town I lived in. None, In fact the closest place to skate was an hour and a half away.
My point is having the Coyotes there is introducing hockey to children who would never had the opportunity to gain interest. Who knows what kind of talent we will see come out of there now, due to the growing popularity of the sport. However, growing it is. To even have considered taking the team away from there is cutting interest and support in that part of the USA off or to be generous to a mere trickle. I realize there are major politics associated with NHL organizations but essentially the NHL has to do what is best for the sport of hockey. It is the Professional level after all. The best thing for hockey is for everyone to have a shot to play if they want. To continue to grow in new populations. Eventually allowing these thing to take place will provide the NHL with a higher grade of talent and a more competitive game. In addition to that the growing fan base will also buy merchandise and fill up the arena, thus generating more money for the Organization and the NHL.
Under Tippet's reins, the Coyotes had a fabulous season. They truly were the underdog of the Playoffs last year. They have proven, as have their supporters, that they deserve a spot in the NHL and are truly a force to be reckoned with
I lived in North Carolina about 30 mins away from Raleigh, when the Canes won Lord Stanley's cup. In the short time until I left in 2008, fan base grew huge. There were more and more places popping up for kids to participate in hockey and learn it. I was fascinated at the growth. 
To take that away from Arizona would have been a crime. To take that away from any developing area, as far as hockey goes, is a crime. The folks in Winnipeg will have to wait. Its not like they don't have frozen ponds and shinny rinks all over.