Part of my objections to Cherry was that he was given such a big platform, including on a national broadcaster. I just didn't understand why that was allowed to continue for so long except for ratings.
And I also took major issues with his comments on concussions, even as the long-term severity of them was more understood. It's largely been buried because of his career ending rant, but a week before that he was also in hot water for laughing off this incident:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5DDoGDetxY
But back to the root of it, a lot of his comments are the type of quiet racism that is really damaging. It's the making fun of names:
“Alpo? Isn't that a dog food?"
It's the broad comments about entire groups:
“I’ve been trying to tell you people for so long about the Russians, what kind of people they are, and you just love them in Canada with your multiculturalism. They’re quitters and evidently they take a lot of drugs, too.”
It's the implication that certain cultures are weak including if they wear visors:
“Most of the guys that wear them are Europeans and French guys,” Cherry said.
It's the sexism:
"When you come to the games, keep your eyes on the puck. I’m telling ya, I’ve seen some awful smacks, and it’s always a woman yapping away there. Look at the game," Cherry remarked, after a woman was struck with an errant puck
I don't know what word to label him with, and perhaps trying to come up with a singular label is the mistake. But I think he was a narrow minded individual who spouted a lot of terrible things, and abused the platform he had. And it was allowed to go on for far too long.