Finally, Ron MacLean will work in a medium where Don Cherry cannot interrupt him

The long-time CBC broadcaster and Coach’s Corner good cop announced Thursday he’ll be publishing his memoir, and it’s clear from Ron MacLean’s first comments about the book that it won’t be completely divorced from his suited sidekick.

“My favourite stories come from Cervantes and Shakespeare, the two greatest writers of the past 500 years—Hamlet and Horatio, Don Quixote and Sancho Panza, and now, Ron and Don?” MacLean said in a press release. Although we haven’t brushed off our Don Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra lately, we have to wonder whether MacLean sees himself as the clearly mad Quixote or Panza, the goofy sidekick strung along for the ride. We’re guessing the latter.

For co-author Kirstie McLellan Day, who recently turned the troubles and massive cocaine consumption of NHLer Theo Fleury into the riveting tale Playing With Fire, covering the smooth-talking MacLean could wander into sleepier territory. Still, MacLean promises excitement: “After the show, at the hotel, with a few libations under our belts and our long, long conversations, comes the real story.” That real story better not be about late-night Timbits.

• Ron MacLean and Don Cherry = great literary figures? [Globe and Mail]