Ron MacLean has claimed that Don Cherry made his "you people" remark with the goal of getting fired from Hockey Night in Canada.He suggested that his former broadcasting partner "needed an out," and used Remembrance Day as an opportunity to leave "on what was for him, a high.""It was a bit clumsy, but it was the right outcome," MacLean said of Cherry's November 9, 2019 comments in an interview with the National Post. "Ultimately, that's what needed to happen. It was liberating. Don needed out and the time was right."MacLean called Remembrance Day Cherry's "last swing," noting that in true Cherry fashion, he was "taking a stance that's unpopular, but that feels good in his world.""For Don, it's all a fight; it's all a battle," he added. "So he was happy and I'm happy for him.".MacLean went on to recall their interaction that night.“I was doing the honourable thing by making it look whole," he said. "The attack on immigrants was improper and I was not happy with it — it goes against my ethics. I was able to take my stand and he was able to take his, but I was also playing the game and that card allowed Don to gracefully get out. He could go out on what was for him a high."MacLean compared Cherry's comments to something "that would get you elected President of the US now.""I live in Mississauga," Cherry had said. "Very few people wear the poppy. downtown Toronto, forget it. Nobody wears the poppy ... Now you go to the small cities. You people ... that come here, whatever it is — you love our way of life, you love our milk and honey — at least you can pay a couple bucks for a poppy or something like that. These guys paid for your way of life that you enjoy in Canada. These guys paid the biggest price for that.".He was promptly fired, and went on to relaunch his show, The Grapevine, as a podcast.In June, after 313 episodes, the 91-year-old hockey legend signed off by saying, "this is our last show," adding, "toodle-oo!".UPDATED: Don Cherry says he's not retiring, will 'definitely' be back next season.Many people took that to mean he was finally hanging up the mic for good, but Cherry was quick to set the record straight, explaining that it was simply the last episode of the season. He added that he would "definitely" be back for more.
