Don Cherry appeared on 'Hockey Night in Canada' for more than 3 decades.
The country's most opinionated hockey commentators was fired this week for calling immigrants "you people" in a television rant Saturday night in which he said new immigrants are not honoring the country's fallen soldiers.
Rogers Sportsnet President Bart Yabsley announced the decision following discussions with the 85-year-old broadcaster.
"During the broadcast, he made divisive remarks that do not represent our values or what we stand for." Known for his outlandish suits and shirts, Cherry has provided commentary after the first intermission of Hockey Night in Canada for more than three decades.
The rant had to do with Cherry saying that "nobody wears a poppy" in downtown Toronto. It's a tradition on Remembrance Day (a Canadian Veterans' Day observation) to wear poppies which honors Canada's war dead. "You people ... 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," Cherry said during the broadcast. "These guys paid for your way of life that you enjoy." Cherry has not apologized.