1987: Don Cherry & Brian Williams React to Pistany Brawl

On CBC's coverage of the World Junior Hockey Championships. Canada/USSR was called off after a massive bench-clearing brawl in the 2nd period. These men clearly don't agree on anything here. Watch Grapes' reaction at the end, priceless.

[@eric21200]

Brian Williams arguing with someone who played the game and was a coach for years. Don Cherry has forgotten more about the game than most people will ever know. Kudos to Don for standing up for Canada!

[@altfactor]

And Brian Williams later moved south of the 49th parallel, adopted a New Jersey accent, became a White House correspondent for NBC News, and later became anchorman of "NBC Nightly News". Oops!......Wrong Brian Williams!

[@jrbear4466]

Grapes reaction in the end 😂😂 also couldnt agree more with Don . 🤘🍁💪

[@barrystewart9118]

Jr Bear We may have not got the gold but at least we stood up for it. "Sometimes you have to fight when you're a man."

[@cjbrown4905]

This nterview made Don Cherry. Don became a superstar after this interview.

[@HardRockMiner]

Don was ready to pull Brian's jacket over his head and lay a beatin on em.

[@bobivanski5635]

HardRockMiner I wish he would have

[@Seeker22000]

Somehow Brian Williams avoided getting the crap beat out of him live on air. Cherry looked like he was ready. Not sure how accurate the story is, but apparently right after the camera cut Cherry blew up at him and didn't hold much back.

[@johnpat3622]

They actually are and were good friends, for many years Williams co-hosted a daily radio segment with Cherry, "Grapeline", that was heard on many stations across Canada. Apparently at one point during this broadcast they jokingly thought about having Cherry putting his hands around Williams' neck when they came back from a break.

[@johnpat3622]

Later after the broadcast ended, Williams called Cherry at home in a panic, because he had received so many threats...he was actually fearful for his life.

[@ronnypaul1400]

LOL, I remember watching this game back in 87. The first time I've seen this since then. All I remember from then was when Don Cherry gave Williams that "Are you kidding me" posture at the very end when Williams lumped the Canadian's in with the Russians. A few years later Williams was a guest on Don Cherry's Grape Vine show and he apologized for his commentary. I believe Williams even dedicated a chapter in his autobiography concerning this interview with Cherry.

[@JohnCee754]

Ronny Paul -- I just posted a comment very similar to yours -- it's funny how a look like Cherry gave Williams at the end of this clip stays with you.

[@ronnypaul1400]

For those who don't know or can't recall, Don Cherry had a tv show back in the 1980's/90's called "Don Cherry's Grapevine". It was a weekly show where he would invite NHL players both active and retired onto his show to have a one-on-one with them about their career, Well, one episode he had Brian Williams on and it was many years after this incident. Brian Williams apologized emphatically to Don that he was wrong about what he said back in 1987 about the incident.

[@jongreeves2892]

Brian Williams said "you people" more than Don lol

[@619erify]

Theo Fleury said it best in his Playing With Fire book, the only ice Brian Williams ever had to deal with was when he slipped and fell on it walking to his car.

[@Yourmum1469]

Brian- “an ugly incident and the most rottenest brawl you will ever see in hockey” The rest of canada- rewind show me the start of the fight again

[@theblueoctopus4494]

Dons reaction at the end was hilarious.😂

[@NHLinden]

I love Don cherry he's right

[@gymguy25]

Apparently, shortly after this, Williams was staying in a hotel in Los Angeles, the front desk asked him "what did you do?" Williams: what do you mean? Hotel desk: 20 Canadian newspapers called and said they want to talk to the traitor!

[@robertgoodnow5069]

File this interview under : The Deplorables (Cherry) versus The Elitists (Brian Williams )

[@JohnCee754]

The look on Cherry's face at the end of this was the highlight of the entire 10-minute clip. I remember watching this live and I hadn't seen it since until just now.. but I remembered that look vividly. I would have loved to have heard what he said after the cameras stopped rolling.

[@PatFrenchLeafsFan1]

If you seen the 2nd movie that I remembered seeing when I was like 20 a few years ago, Jared Keeso as Grapes said, "Whenever you say this, I'll drill you on CBC!"

[@kissed61]

I'm offended. They called me "you people"

[@billyrock8305]

Grapes was just about to grab the tie and bring Brian over to his face. 🤬 “ Do you want to say our Canadian boys are a disgrace one more time?”

[@NHLinden]

Any kid in junior if someone cheap shots you you have every right to fight back and twice as hard!!!!

[@altfactor]

If my memory serves me correct, ESPN carried this game in the United States, simulcasting the CBC feed, but cut away to their Connecticut studio after the brawl, where the late Tom Mees analyzed the brawl.

[@lbboardingb3356]

Brian Williams wasn't a bad guy, I just think Cherry really got him heated here. But, I don't think any Canadian agreed with him here though, myself included.

[@leafyutube]

@10:40 Cherry gets really pissed at Brian.

[@anthonylarson7919]

8:18 Mr Williams says "you people".....

[@PHOTOGRAPHYBYDEREK1]

Grapes says it all @ 10:48.

[@princeofpop8]

Oh yeah I can tell he's mad at Brian for not standing up to the young Canadian team. Good thing majority of Canadians agrees with Grapes and even I agree. The result of the tournement ending because of the incident and Canada didn't win the gold is a joke.

[@xananadu]

Don was about ready to go off on that clown brian williams at the end there

[@CL-pe4ll]

3:33 YOU PEOPLE

[@keyguy4752]

God Bless Don Cherry, always standing up for Canada.

[@kikoredog]

Havin' a pop in a week..... lmao!!??

[@MrJack9one]

I agree with you buddy.

[@spadesjim]

Way to back Canada Judas Williams

[@patrickkeenan8109]

Brian Williams, the start of the woke culture.

[@richardmiller5818]

Hockey Rules

[@moontheloon8910]

The best part not shown when don says bad mouth our guys again I'm going to drill you. That's the best grapes a man of honor and integrity

[@brianlandes3739]

Don should have been the coach he would have done it right lol.

[@CL-pe4ll]

Russia blames Canada Canada blames Canada If everything happened with the roles reversed, the blame would still go the same way.

[@Chrisman77]

Also why is dons hair so brown on top? If u watch the game 7 from 79 he's grey all over and somehow 8 years later he's brown again? Grecian 5 much?

[@PatFrenchLeafsFan1]

Actually he had blonde hair in the 70s when he coached Boston.

[@louisruest6013]

Williams is a chicken.

[@kasandrapurplekitten]

violence never solves anything I agree with Brian Williams bloody disgraceful

[@RinoaL]

except war, that tends to solve issues, just inefficient.

[@brently16]

Sure violence solves problems, if you punch a bully in the mouth and he stops what does that do?

[@murphyotoole9014]

I bet your family got the crap kicked out of them all the time in school with that attitude . .

[@murphyotoole9014]

Don't bother trying to teach her that logic dude . .she would rather have her kid "turtle" on the ground and be labeled a "wuss" than stick up for themselves.

[@professorfoxtrot]

Defending yourself solves everything.