Georges Laraque on Don Cherry

The former enforcer talks about Don Cherry's infamous comments, and his experiences as a tough guy in the NHL.

[@plymouthgtx1973]

Lot of respect for George's candid and true comments during this interview. Would have loved to have him on my team back in the day.

[@fastfootedone]

my respect for Laraque just grew leaps and bounds -- he speaks the truth

[@nationalduo4945]

As he speaks the snowflakes are melting before our eyes....he does speak the truth.....

[@SouthernSkeptic]

Awesome. We need more of him.

[@weaselsuit]

He's always been a class act.

[@joshuaschroeder8027]

He looks good! Especially considering how he earned a living.

[@TheCrazyCanuck420]

+joshua schroeder That's because before every fight we wished the other guy good luck, they tend to step it down a notch when you are polite :) (just kidding, he only did that a couple of times)

[@tonyg5132]

+joshua schroeder He looks good because he beat down all his opponents.

[@mat5473]

It's not the face that takes a beating. It's the hands. Most NHL enforcers have to undergo multiple hand surgeries after and their hands are mangled beyond recognition. I'm sure Laraque is no different.

[@bobprobert353]

@@tonyg5132 All? lol no I have seen losses but not many.Probert round 1 is an example

[@bcshooterfmjprime7540]

Thats cuz he was dam good at his living.

[@stacydornan9765]

George was one tough as nails Man,and a great human being

[@stevetaylor1520]

Such a nice, polite person. Off the ice.

[@loucifer4225]

One of the best fighters they should bring fighting back miss it

[@Nova902Scotia]

lou cifer "those people"won't allow it...

[@warsilver99]

Fighting/having enforcers is part of the game... it IS hockey.

[@ADA4750]

Yes Georges! As a CH fan, i think it just too bad that you forgot your words the last two years of your carrier. Too bad because you were one of the best. I very specially loved when Big Yellow Lucic made in his pants a all evening because he was scared of you.

[@GOREDWINGS186]

Not only is he right, he seems quite smart as well.

[@rcameron1000]

I miss George. great guy.

[@RunningP123456]

wanna see the whole interview!!!

[@ilylac]

georges speaking the truth. no one in pro sports should be as deluded as these retirees are claiming to have been -- peyton manning knows he's going to take hits, he's not going to petition the nfl to change its rules because he broke his back. nhl players know the danger of the game.

[@shanemvancouvergiant]

Put into perfect context for people who are boneheaded and don't understand our great game.

[@Jay-lr6ej]

Enforcers should have a shrine in the HOF. Those guys had a role that was a part of the game and if none of them get any recognition since they didn't put up big scoring numbers, they should still be remembered for their contribution whether you were a fan of that part of the game or not.

[@slushland]

That went from Don to himself in .003 secs LOL

[@mikegeiler2347]

“I didn’t mention any names or call people pukes” -things you have to clarify when saying you agree with Cherry lmao. Seriously though he was asked what he thought about what Cherry said, and he gave his thoughts on what he said. The question wasn’t about Cherry as a person. Title is slightly misleading

[@jkdm7653]

Georges was ONE TOUGH player!

[@daveyboy_]

Just like when a cop retires and he talks about how bad the cops act

[@mikebratton4418]

I consider George to be the heavy weight champ of all time in the NHL based on his won - lost - draw record which is far better than Probert's -- and it is not even close. That said, what is missing from his argument, here, is the neurological science behind the long term consequences (on the brain) of repeatedly getting hit in the head is overwhelming and definitely not made known or given as much attention as it should.

[@patrickbeltz138]

This brother is honest, love it

[@ThaLedg]

luuch is a "power forward" Laraque was a enforcer

[@classixdrummer]

George, make no mistake. You knew your job and you did it well. Like Probbie, you could also play the game.

[@ThaLedg]

the guy sure has some skills, i'm one of the few non-bruins fans who respects Louch... what can i say, my ducks have/had a rep of them selves ;)

[@MM-qi5mk]

They’re grown men who know the consequences. Leave it up to the man himself only

[@MosesxTwist]

Exactly :P As are most of the guys on the bruins....

[@bigtay522]

I'm glad they put him in "Goon"

[@SouthernSkeptic]

I miss him.

[@WELL.CHARGE]

Georges is a beauty

[@MosesxTwist]

yeah, he is. but he does play an enforcer's role. But because he's so talented he's a power forward :P

[@killakadafi77]

Well thats different, he wasnt speaking against fighting, he was trying to change his game, at least thats how it sounds to me. I remember he was a good puck handler and was good behind the net

[@rickrick5041]

So why did Cherry apologize?

[@chrislopez44]

who cares hockey is awesome watch it and cheer for your favorite team.

[@Musicrecords10]

That last name

[@enmac500]

makes no difference. but whatever makes you feel better.

[@GuerillaGrodd]

@ComingAttracti0n Agreed 10000%

[@caleallan1325]

He is not a goon, he's an enforcer. He "keeps the peace" so to speak. Goons are guys like Dale Purinton and Trevor Gillies who run around recklessly and give the game a bad image. That's also why guys like that don't last as long in the NHL as guys like Laraque or Brashear do... FYI Laraque scored a hatrick once. So he does have some skill.

[@angusandleigh]

BGL isn't a goon, he doesn't chase after guys without reason...he doesn't run guys like Boston guys do...what he does do is protect his fellow players...If Julien told ML not to fight BGL, it wasn't because he was worried about a penalty...he was worried that BGL would fuck him up....

[@Wellh0wrya]

Boxers retiring saying boxing should be outlawed? Cmon it’s a money grab

[@whoopdattrick9390]

I’d take a fighters injury’s over Eric lindros type …play 5 mins a game maybe fight once a week sounds easy to me

[@samslick9000]

Georges is so soft-spoken considering he was the toughest guy in the league

[@vikingkrigare5329]

AIK Hero 🖤💛🖤

[@ricklamarre4802]

I'm a proud "snowflake" or "woke" or any other shitty term conservative people use to describe someone who believes in equal rights for all. Yet I support 100% what BGL is saying because they chose to do this!

[@cgreeneblue]

I get where he is coming from; however, some people tend to have a different perspective when they are a few years removed from the game and experiencing things like constant debilitating headaches, memory loss, poor emotional regulation, failed marriages/ relationships etc. The calculation of "Was it worth it?" tends to change with time and it's no surprise some of them say that they wish they hadn't been a fighter or that fighting should be banned. The net effect was it contributed to (potentially) ruining the later years of some of their lives. Look, I still enjoy a good hockey fight, but, it's time in the game is finite...it will be banned eventually.

[@craiggraham3245]

I believe in free speech freedom . Every body has the right to his or her own thoughts .

[@Kenzinru]

Oh yeah definitely, doesn't mean everyone should agree with those thoughts.

[@craiggraham3245]

@@Kenzinru Everybody has the right to agree or disagree . Everybody has the right and should never be taken from anybody and I do not care owe they think they are .

[@Kenzinru]

@@craiggraham3245 exactly. People disagreed and he was fired. Free speech doesn't mean free of consequences.

[@craiggraham3245]

@@Kenzinru The people that fired Don Cherry will lose a lot more then they will gain . I for one will not watch Rogers sports net again .

[@Kenzinru]

@@craiggraham3245 and I for one will start watching. See how that works?

[@Leafsrule016]

I didn't say that though, I said an athlete who cant succeed at his sport is useless. A fighter that won't fight is useless.

[@Ampxxx99]

what does his colour have to do with anything?

[@Nova902Scotia]

Ampxxx99 just add blue...then you have a good fight...

[@mplslawnguy3389]

Can we go back to the days when everyone wasn’t worried about every little thing in the world? There is fighting in hockey, it’s a natural part of the game. IMO hockey without fighting is more dangerous as you have dip shits that will blow your knee out or hit you from behind in retaliation, with little fear of consequence other than a game misconduct or short suspension. Bodily harm is a more motivating deterrent.

[@chasenorman7709]

holy shit... at 45 i switched from facebook to youtube just to see comments and this is what i see...

[@Losrandir]

More enforcer than goon, right?

[@Handicripple]

Now that George can't do it and make money from it,it's wrong. 😅

[@fredblassie9523]

that guy was the last of his kind. Great fighter, never backed down and played it fair and old school. Hockey will never be the same with these 6.5 , padded tot the teeth robots that play now. Its awful what the NHL has become slowly but surely under the guidance of that little coward mouse Bettman. He stinks.

[@MosesxTwist]

He does have some skills =P I'm impressed that a non-bruins fan is actually aware than that :P Everyone else calls him a goon.

[@Kriegtime101]

I would love to see this guy beat the shit out of don cherry.

[@kevinsupinski119]

Just saw this. He is right.enrico chiconne is now running for the Liberal party in Quebec.he is trying to pass a law that no fighting in Hockey till 18. There is the biggest fuckin hypocrite in Hockey.the only reason the ankle skating defenseman played in the Nhl. ..cause he fought. Well said George

[@jackbauer555]

i always thought fighting was the dumbest thing, are you playing hockey or fighting a boxing match?

[@geeterdun5966]

You never played competitive hockey.

[@jackbauer555]

@@geeterdun5966 i never played hockey, period

[@Nova902Scotia]

Bet you made a snowman thou with a bunch of snowflakes squished tightly together...

[@tluns810]

Both it is a sport that involves multi talents & skills. The thing I like about most NHL fights is after the game is over, the good players are able to move on and wait until the opportunity is right for revenge...that is if they still feel like they still have a score to settle.

[@Leafsrule016]

It's called trolling and clearly it worked hahah

[@MosesxTwist]

You're saying Laraque isn't a goon... And no. Lucic is a first liner. Laraque is what? 3rd/4th?

[@Leafsrule016]

might have made a good 3rd or 4th line player if he had some speed .. guy was pushing 260 by the end of it, even more by some accounts.

[@leonardmccannon3136]

I can’t help thinking that if Georges starting suffering from CTÉ, and knew first hand what has driven a number of former fighters to struggle so mightily and even take their own lives, he might be be far less likely to use words like « hypocrite. « I bet there are a number of former NHL hockey players widows around who would have some sharp words for such a characterization. Just maybe he would acknowledge the issue here is much bigger than the mere rationalisations fighters use to justify or criticize their professions. Science has investigated the long term dangers of brain injury due to repeated trauma, and the verdict is in. We are only now talking about long term debilitating physical and mental health problems. These are risks fighters in the past neither accepted not understood. Now, fortunately new generations will know better what the real risks are. As a result, professional sports has been forced to take this into account, if for no other reason than to avoid future liability via lawsuits. Just because he’s a veteran, that doesn’t mean Georges gets to speak for the experience and judgment that other fighters draw. He should learn to only speak for himself and leave it at that.

[@mikefitz6957]

You think old time hockey players didn't know about the effects of fighting, of getting broken noses, chipped teeth, and busted eye sockets? How long do you think the term "punch drunk" has been in existence? You must think our ancestors were stupid.

[@TheCod5booster]

Lucic ain't an enforcer or a goon the guy has skill you need him on the ice

[@bluetarantulaproductions6179]

I like Don Cherry, though sometimes I want to tell him to shut it for a moment & let Ron McClain have a moment to say something

[@ThaLedg]

indeed, marchand is one of those guys as well

[@KnightsHospitallerBC]

Deputy Leader of the Green Party...interesting

[@ThaLedg]

yeah indeed, he's one of those guys you'd love to have on your team and hate if he isen't on your team

[@jd1655]

Deputy Leader of an national political party is nothing to sneeze at

[@dtown416]

I’m sorry George, I must disagree with you, so many players that are specificity fighters and inforcers didn’t and we’re not inform of CTE, the consistent hit to the head left many players, homeless, addicted to drugs and alcohol, suicidal Some will agree and others won’t but it’s my opinion and I’m not advocating to change the sport, not a snowflake lol, just sharing my opinion

[@Leafsrule016]

You don't know me, I could easily be in the nhl and you wouldnt know

[@angusandleigh]

...he would have if Lucic would've sacked up instead of running away....

[@playinragz8183]

Laraque Hypocrite! He made millions fighting and he wants it out? The guy woulda never been in the league if it wasn’t for fighting. What a 🤡

[@cliffallen1684]

If your going to fight for it.... you don’t need a pacifier. Go into teaching George. Canadians are soft.

[@peachman1970]

Bob Probert, Dave Brown, Tony Twist, Dave Semenko, Tie Domi, Tiger Williams, Rob Ray, Joe Kocur, Gino Odjick, Georges Laracue, etc...yeah Canadians are soft. Canadians kick Yankee ass on the ice.

[@cliffallen1684]

Dante Picchi, maybe back then. The names you listed haven’t played, in many cases, for decades.

[@47tooter]

I didnt see him running ? .. lucic diddnt fight George because he had just pounded Komiserik and his knuckles were bleeding and all cut up . the T.V. had shown his hands when he was in the penalty box..... Stupid.

[@Leafsrule016]

A political party we will never see elected or even mentioned ever. I could go join the Rhino party or some joke party as a head and have the same title without the sweet dreadlocks...

[@MosesxTwist]

He was told by Julien not to fight Laraque. It was meaningless. Lucic is a star player while Laraque is just a goon.

[@Leafsrule016]

No I'm not. I'm saying he couldn't play hockey and wouldn't fight so he lost his place in the game. Maybe if he rapped or played basketball he could have acheived something because clearly his life after hockey fighting has been mediocre at best, just like his playing skills.

[@itsnotme-jl9jt]

Hockey should be banned. It's a stupid sport created in Canada then exported around the northern hemisphere.

[@MosesxTwist]

Lucic is an enforcer. Laraque is a goon.