By PHIL MORLOCKSpecial to The Sun
The dust hadn't settled on the gravel airstrip at Knee Lake Lodge in northern Manitoba when the pilot asked Don Cherry if he would pose for a photo with the crew. Ever the gentleman, the legendary NHL coach and TV sports personality responded with characteristic grace.
Hockey is not the only Canadian heritage sport that has been important in Don Cherry's life. Sitting lakeside, taking time out from filming a TV segment with Bob and Wayne Izumi, Don talked with me about fishing near Kingston, Ont., while growing up.
"The best moments I had with my dad, my best memories, were when we were fishing together. It has been the same with my son, Tim," Don said. "There is something really special about it -- hard to describe really. We didn't have to talk a lot -- it was just special to be out there together. Sitting in a boat whether you're catching fish or not, the communication is great."
The first morning on the water at Knee Lake, Don and Tim both qualified for the Manitoba Master Angler Award by landing a 42-in. and 44-in. northern pike, respectively.
Recalling a fishing story about his son, Don smiled. "When Tim was only five or six years old he used to fish every day on a dock at Collins Bay on the St. Lawrence. He used to tell me that was Canada."
Some of Tim Cherry's earliest memories are of times fishing with his dad. When asked about fishing with Don at Knee Lake, Tim grinned. "Dad and I have had a little competition going between us over the biggest fish. A lot of time when Dad and I are together I have to share him with a lot of people. I'm fine with that -- but it's great to be together fishing, just us."
Reflecting on the Cherry family fishing heritage Tim said, "I took my daughter fishing last year -- she was five. She got spoiled catching a lot of perch, she still talks about it, and she wanted to come on this trip!"
Don added, "My daughter Cindy and I went fishing at Reed's Bay on Wolfe Island in the St. Lawrence. We caught 42 smallies in an hour and a half but we only kept a few. It was my best day of fishing."
"Parents need to get outside more with their kids," Don said. "I feel sorry for fathers that don't get to experience fishing with their kids. Take my own grandchildren ... They are caught up with other things -- even hockey.
"I see a real difference in Canada today compared to the past and if we don't get our kids outdoors I think it's going to be very sad -- very sad. The outdoors is a way of life -- we need to get back to it."
Anyone who has read the media reports following Coach's Corner will recognize the same unbalanced press coverage that is familiar to people who fish and hunt. When discussing the animal rights movement, anti-hunting and anti-fishing groups, Don was intense.
"Although I am not a hunter myself, hunters are always the first ones to protect fish and wildlife. Look at the example of Ducks Unlimited. There are more ducks in North America today than when Columbus landed."
Warming to his theme, Don continued, "We have not done as good a job at 'selling' the positive aspects of our outdoor life to those who are against it.
"We have to get the word out that hunting and fishing are not bad -- people who hunt fish are people who actually care a lot about fish and wildlife."
Don leaned forward in his chair and added with characteristic sincerity, "We have to keep working at it."
With his final cast of the trip, Tim landed a 42-in. northern pike, qualifying for another Manitoba Master Angler Award. Don was 40 miles away on another lake with Bob Izumi at the time.
Later we learned that Tim had hooked his fish just moments after Don had offered a little prayer that Tim would catch one more "good fish."
Don Cherry may have more influence than we think.
