Don Cherry Blasts Leafs GM Brian Burke for an Alleged Firing Attack

This past Saturday night, Canada's biggest loudmouth Don Cherry ripped into Leafs GM Brian Burke during his Coach's Corner segment on CBC's "Hockey Night In Canada" broadcast.

The two outspoken individuals have been feuding back and forth seemingly all season long after Cherry publicly announced his criticisms of former coach Ron Wilson and of the lack of Ontario-born hockey players in the Leafs' organization. 

But what set Cherry's bomb off on Saturday night was an alleged attempt by Burke to get him fired.

In a rant for the ages, Cherry had this to say:

"

If he wants my job, if he wants to get me fired, like he tried to do, go behind my back with my bosses and try to get me fired. Not only that he went to the governors and said it too. You want to get me off? You want to take me on? And I said, 'Oh Brian Burke, I'm shaking in my boots. I'm shaking right now.' Do your best!

"

Those words left co-host Ron MacLean speechless and cemented what was perhaps Cherry's most entertaining Coach's Corner segment ever to air on "Hockey Night In Canada." 

In case you missed it, here is the video.

Burke hasn't been known to shy down in the past, firing back at Cherry on numerous occasions. However, this time around he has remained surprisingly silent.

Perhaps the "Fire Wilson!" chants from the beast known as Leafs Nation or the recent barrage of attacks from Toronto media—"piranhas" by his own description—have Burke thinking twice about roaring back in defense of his hockey club.

Can you blame him?

Let’s face it. Toronto’s hockey market is an open boxing ring, not an enclosed courtroom.

Grappling with any of Toronto’s media outlets would be suicide—grappling with Cherry in particular would mean a violent death.

As Cathal Kelly of the Toronto Star put it: Cherry would be more than happy using the Canadian flag to “...choke out the city’s most famous foreigner”—figuratively speaking.

All things considered, Burke would be wise to learn from the example that was made of Ron Wilson and remain quiet.

It will certainly cause a spike in his blood pressure, but Burke is better off visiting his physician than the morgue.

Calm down, pull back and most of all keep your mouth shut, Burke.

If Toronto's GM takes these suggestions to heart, he just might survive to live another day.

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