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Don Cherry: Colorado Rockies
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Prior to his broadcast career, Cherry was a National Hockey League player and coach. He is ... well-known as an author, syndicated radio commentator for The Fan Radio Network, creator of the Rock'em Sock'em Hockey video series, and celebrity endorser. Many consider him to be a Canadian cultural icon.
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Finding his stride, Cherry spent three years behind the bench before being promoted to head coach of the Boston Bruins in 1974. The Bruins finished first in their division four seasons in a row and Cherry was voted coach of the year in 1976, before being fired in 1979. He would go on to coach the Colorado Rockies for one unsuccessful season, before a fortuitous on-air appearance changed his life forever.
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In 1965, Don shipped off to Vietnam, one of the few Canadians to fight in Vietnam. Using his skills of camoflage, Don Cherry was able to successfully infiltrate a VC base of operations; unfortunately, he tripped over a doorstop (who would turn out to be Kim Jong-Il). This injury forced him to be airlifted after he crawled out, disguised as seventeen grains of rice and a small rock. The elusive 'Red Balloon' award still haunts his dreams.
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With Cherry's Colorado Rockies out of the Stanley Cup playoffs in the spring of 1980, Mellanby asked Cherry if he would provide analysis on television during the postseason. Almost immediately Cherry began to offend.
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