Days after addressing Don CherryB次元官网网址檚 dismissal during a B次元官网网址滺ockey Night in CanadaB次元官网网址� broadcast, sports broadcaster Ron MacLean said that he doesnB次元官网网址檛 believe his former co-host is racist.

MacLean, the long-time co-host of B次元官网网址淐oachB次元官网网址檚 CornerB次元官网网址� with Cherry, was in Edmonton Tuesday to receive an honorary doctor of laws degree at the University of Alberta.

Before receiving the degree, MacLean was asked by a reporter whether he thinks Cherry is racist.

B次元官网网址淲hat I know is that we made the mistake B次元官网网址� I mean, no,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淒on, I think, has started to come around B次元官网网址� he knows we projected an idea, an attitude or a behaviour on someone. He knows, I feel like in what IB次元官网网址檝e listened to, heB次元官网网址檚 trying now to admit to that.

B次元官网网址淚f I have one regret, itB次元官网网址檚 that when I apologized on the Sunday night, I used DonB次元官网网址檚 name and, if I am sitting at home watching it, that would hurt me. That might have created some resolve in Don not to apologize.B次元官网网址�

Sportsnet fired Cherry on Nov. 11, two days after controversial on-air comments during B次元官网网址淐oachB次元官网网址檚 Corner.B次元官网网址�

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The 85-year-old broadcaster made remarks that many felt were critical of immigrants for not wearing Remembrance Day poppies.

Cherry used the phrase, B次元官网网址淵ou people,B次元官网网址� during the segment but later denied that he was singling out visible minorities.

B次元官网网址淵ou people that come here, whatever it is, you love our way of life, you love our milk and honey, at least you can pay a couple bucks for a poppy or something like that,B次元官网网址� Cherry said on the segment. B次元官网网址淭hese guys paid for your way of life that you enjoy in Canada, these guys paid the biggest price.B次元官网网址�

In SaturdayB次元官网网址檚 address, MacLean said B次元官网网址淐oachB次元官网网址檚 CornerB次元官网网址� is no more.

B次元官网网址淲e are all hurting. I have collapsed 100 times this week, if not more,B次元官网网址� he said during the broadcast. B次元官网网址淲e are all disappointed.B次元官网网址�

MacLean said that he has received an email from Cherry since he spoke out Saturday.

B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 upset, but weB次元官网网址檙e all raw,B次元官网网址� MacLean said Tuesday in Edmonton. B次元官网网址淎s I said on the TV, I love Don. It doesnB次元官网网址檛 sound like I would be there for Don, but I am.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e just going through one of the most difficult situations because, as I said, we each made our personal decisions.B次元官网网址�

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MacLean said he will carry on with Sportsnet.

B次元官网网址淚 canB次元官网网址檛 back down from the difficulty, I was very keen to apologize, I felt very much the need to continue to represent the show,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲e all love hockey, we love Don, we love hockey, we love the bridge-building aspects of our game. WeB次元官网网址檙e caught in a situation B次元官网网址� it needed to be addressed.B次元官网网址�

In his address to U of A graduates, MacLean used the controversy as a teaching moment.

B次元官网网址淢y job is to teach you kids B次元官网网址� you young women and men B次元官网网址� how to stay out of trouble,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭his ought to be good.B次元官网网址�

MacLean, who grew up in Red Deer, Alta., said heB次元官网网址檚 struggled to find words in the past 10 days.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e looked to certain people to influence my opinions,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭his week, IB次元官网网址檝e talked to First Nations chiefs, people of colour, women.

B次元官网网址淲hile you think for yourself B次元官网网址� please listen to your friends, please listen to others and it will help to imbue you going forward.B次元官网网址�

Other honorary degree recipients during this fallB次元官网网址檚 convocation ceremonies include minority language rights advocate Claudette Tardif and award-winning poet Alice Major.

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Colette Derworiz, The Canadian Press

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