Avery comments & suspension

[Heaton 1]

Haha, if it was Turco or Richards, I wouldnt be surprised. But the rest of him hate him too.

Makes me wonder what people woul'dve thought of Lemeiux if he hadnt won anything, because when Avery was on a winning team, they put up with it. But now that Dallas are falling faster and faster, and there's no Morrow to lead them, there fed up with Avery. Good on them, he's a tool. I hope he goes to Anaheim, belongs with Perry, honestly he can bring Ott with him so I can respect Dallas again.

They sort've put up with it. Glen Sather called him a detriment as soon as negotiations took place. The Rangers probably pitched an offer but he wore out his welcome there too.

[Outsider 42]

I'm not sure where I stand on the suspension but where would it end? First he calls someones girlfriend sloppy seconds, what's next callins someones wife a *****? Why bring significant others into the conversation? It's worthless and not needed.

Hey....why stop there? If he really wanted to get under a players skin, he could always wait until the next time the Stars face off against the Lightning, call the media to him, wait for them to get set up, and then start crackin' wise about Kolzig's dopey little retard kid.

Brilliant. All part of Avery just being Avery. Right?

[BeeRYCE 2]

He should have said in to him in person on the ice, nothing would have happened media-wise and suspension-wise... It probably would have got Phaneuf suspended to be perfectly honest, he would have went after him with pure hatred.

[HenryMalredo 2]

Its a shame. Avery really should of shouldn't talk to the media unless he's willing to utter one of the 10 or 11 cliches that are spouted by NHL players.

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

They sort've put up with it. Glen Sather called him a detriment as soon as negotiations took place. The Rangers probably pitched an offer but he wore out his welcome there too.

Well then, I guess no one can really stand Avery. He's an attention *****, and people get sick and tired of listening to him. What you just posted proves that not even a winning envoirment changes that.

[RockyMountainWingGal 108]

He's a curse.

I find it ironic that a Stars team that was supposed to be an up-and-coming team to compete for the West title - signs Avery to a dumb contract - and promptly tanks their season from the getgo. I know they have alot of other problems, but bad karma can go a long way.....

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

Who's it going to offend besides his ex-girlfriends?

Some of you guys are making ridiculous assumptions that have no reason whatsoever of being true. The average American sports fan loves this kind of stuff. Just look at the other leagues.

What makes you think this will offend non-sports fans in general? If some NASCAR driver said this, I wouldn't all of a sudden lose respect for all their drivers and assume that they were all animals of some sort. It's just unfounded assumptions on your part, and that of several other posters who happen to agree with your view.

So to be clear, you say I'm making ridiculous assumptions that have no reason whatsoever of being true, then you refute it with an unfounded assumption of your own? My unfounded opinion is wrong, but yours is right? Makes sense.

Do you really think most people watch football because of guys like Ocho Cinco and Plaxico?

Because in spite of the fighting and violence in hockey, it's a pretty family-oriented game. Most of their players stay out of trouble, are good teammates, and pretty humble. The league clearly is weary of Avery's antics and is sending a message. It's one thing to yap on the ice, but to intentionally call the press over to make an off color comment is idiotic.

As for Avery, he got exactly what he wanted. Attention. No matter what it does to his struggling team or the league that writes his paycheck.

EDIT: Watching the clip, it's even more pathetic. It was so rehearsed and was pretty much a non sequitur.

Edited December 3, 2008 by haroldsnepsts

[AtomicPunk 296]

I can imagine those face-offs should be pretty fun for the rest of his career...

"Hey! Avery! I (blanked) your girlfriend".

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

Another recent incident from Avery that I hadn't heard about.

Sources told ESPN.com on Tuesday that, a month ago, when the Stars were involved in an ugly loss in Boston, Avery was involved in an ugly incident with a Bruins fan. According to the source, Avery was being heckled by the fan, and as he exited the ice, he stopped and yelled up a string of obscenities at the fan, including comments directed at the fan's female companion. The profane exchange was heard by many in attendance, including a police officer, and prompted complaints to the league. A report was filed to the NHL, but Avery avoided suspension.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/columns/stor...&id=3740622

I'm soooo glad the Wings got rid of this guy early.

Edited December 3, 2008 by haroldsnepsts

[Drake_Marcus 890]

what a tool. he is in love with his own villainy. funny for only so long, as you can tell by going to tsn.ca/nhl and seeing how his teammates feel about things after only a quarter season of his bulls*** and a losing one at that.

That's pretty much the long and the short of it.

The saddest thing is he's such an effective player when he tones it down just a tiny bit. Then he goes and crosses a line like this and you really just have to shake your head.

[IceMunkee 15]

Usually I have Avery's back on his b.s. but seriously I dont understand him anymore. Your a f'n professional, not a pissed off exboyfriend in High School. F'em, he deserves what he gets and soon enough noone is going to pay him to play, then he can have all the free time in the world to watch fashion shows and keep pretending he does not enjoy weiner.

[hckypete96 3]

here's something i've been thinking about.... if avery was on the wings today and was pulling these antics... how would the team react? my guess is that s*** would not fly with bacock... and i actually think that if he was a member of the wings holland, illitch, yzerman, babcock and co. would do a good job taming avery. the guy is a valuable asset to a team if he would just tone it down a notch. what do u guys think?

[hckypete96 3]

avery was simply trying to stir the pot and get people to watch the game and to make it more interesting, such as in boxing when opponents talk trash about one another. i realize the nhl isnt boxing, but the game would have still been hyped up far more than a normal regular season game had avery had played in it. sadly, the nhl missed a great opportunity to market this, and to attract new fans, and decided to suspend him. lolz. how do u suspend him for saying "sloppy seconds" yet when he called laraque the n word everything was cool. stoopid move by bettman IMO. avery will be bought out, and i think he would really strive in toronto as a part of burkes new team. him and burke would really get along well IMO.

[P. Marlowe 748]

What does it matter how popular hockey is in the U.S.? I'm glad that hockey isn't marketed towards idiots like other American sports. Trash talking brings in people who aren't interested in the sport itself. Sure they might later get interested in hockey after they've been brought in, but is it worth it? NFL advertisements look like hip hop videos or college movies.

Hockey is a physical and sometimes violent sport, but I like how players usually have manners outside the rink. It actually makes an interesting contradiction.

BTW, imagine Avery and Emery in a same team.

[good morning 10]

this is equivalent to Scorcese winning Best Director for The Departed. It wasn't his best film, but they had stiffed him on it so many times they were going to have to give it to him for SOMETHING, eventually. Avery's been a thorn in their side for a long time and he finally got what was coming to him even if it wasn't his worst infraction...although frankly, as a woman, maybe it was. Why is Elisha his sloppy seconds? Why isn't he her's? And this is 2008, there's no way he was her first either, so if she's anyone's "sloppy seconds", wouldn't he be sloppy seconds too?

Edited December 3, 2008 by good morning

[BeeRYCE 2]

this is equivalent to Scorcese winning Best Director for The Departed. It wasn't his best film, but they had stiffed him on it so many times they were going to have to give it to him for SOMETHING, eventually. Avery's been a thorn in their side for a long time and he finally got what was coming to him even if it wasn't his worst infraction...although frankly, as a woman, maybe it was. Why is Elisha his sloppy seconds? Why isn't he her's? And this is 2008, there's no way he was her first either, so if she's anyone's "sloppy seconds", wouldn't he be sloppy seconds too?

YES IT WAS!

[egroen 384]

here's something i've been thinking about.... if avery was on the wings today and was pulling these antics... how would the team react? my guess is that s*** would not fly with bacock... and i actually think that if he was a member of the wings holland, illitch, yzerman, babcock and co. would do a good job taming avery. the guy is a valuable asset to a team if he would just tone it down a notch. what do u guys think?

You do know Avery was drafted by the Wings and played on the team, right?

He might be a 10 now, but he was traded away by the Wings when he was a 3 and would not tone it down, so of course it would not fly with the Wings.

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

Too bad that this isn't 24, I'd love to see Jack Bauer kick Sean Avery across the room after messing with Kim

Edited December 3, 2008 by Hockeytown0001

[Guest E_S_A_D]

This is a stupid supsension. It's absolutely ridiculous; it's humorous, and he implied no threats whatsoever. Just a jab, verbally.

However, on the other hand, this is why the instigator rule should be eliminated from hockey. Phaneuf has every right to go up to him if the game is out of hand score wise and pummel him to the ice, then take Alisha out to dinner on Avery's tab =)

[jellytoast 1]

Avery is my favorite non-redwing right now. I'm glad he is not here though!!!! I love when he stirs the pot with his nonsense, just waiting for someone to try and crush him!!!!!!!!!!!

[ManLuv4Clears 7]

avery was simply trying to stir the pot and get people to watch the game and to make it more interesting, such as in boxing when opponents talk trash about one another. i realize the nhl isnt boxing, but the game would have still been hyped up far more than a normal regular season game had avery had played in it. sadly, the nhl missed a great opportunity to market this, and to attract new fans, and decided to suspend him. lolz. how do u suspend him for saying "sloppy seconds" yet when he called laraque the n word everything was cool. stoopid move by bettman IMO. avery will be bought out, and i think he would really strive in toronto as a part of burkes new team. him and burke would really get along well IMO.

I've got to agree with this. Is what Avery said stupid? Yes. Do I hate him like the rest of you? Yes. But this pales in comparison to other negative things in the NHL and professional sports in general. This was a golden opportunity to bring some excitement to an otherwise boring regular season game. If Avery played and all hell broke loose in the game, you bet your ass it would be a #1 or #2 story on Sportscenter. Publicity in this form is better than none at all. Believe it or not Americans love drama, violence, and characters like Avery. The NHL will continue to be a third tier sport in America if it's marketed the way Bettman wants. If people are content with that, it's totally fine and their opinion, but don't turn around and ***** when the league gets treated like one on ESPN.

[Inultus 12]

I can't agree with this logic that because ratings would have been high, he should have been suspended after the game. That would be totally irresponsible on the league's part, tho I personally would not have minded watching Phaneuf knock him out.

Anyway, I agree with the suspension because it's one thing for things to be said on the ice, but do we really want to teach kids that it's ok to say things like this for the world to hear?

Screw Avery, I really don't care if he ever comes back. He's taken an opportunity and squandered it b/c he would rather be an ass, and IMO he should be suspended just for that.

[Opie 308]

This is nothing compared to what he has done, but I think the league is in a bit of a bind due to who the sloppy seconds was referenced to. If it is some woman in some city that no one knows than fine, they let it go. This is some one in the spot light who can cause a hell of a lot more negative press against the league than suspending Avery for his words would.

Having said that, I don't think he should have been suspended for what he said, suspended for the Bruins fan thing yes, fans in the enemy barn are always going to jeer names they recognize, he has made sure everyone knows who he is, everyone. And as Jeter put it (at least that is the last person I saw say it) "The opposing fans only jeer you when you are doing something good." Unless you are Sean Avery and then it is because of your mouth.

Having said that, a suspension was eminent from the dumb frenchman comment to Blake and cancer to the Broduer thing, the league has been unfairly watching him.

There is the saying that no press is bad press, "at least it brings the sport into the papers" but I disagree, I have always thought that while a physical sport it was one of the most respectful sports.

I have always and will always hate this guys antics, I think he is a very skilled player and if he focused as much on Hockey as he does himself he could have been a great player in this league, but he just can't help but do dumb s***.

I know he thinks it is funny and just being himself, but being himself is being a dumbass on most occasions!

[ManLuv4Clears 7]

So to be clear, you say I'm making ridiculous assumptions that have no reason whatsoever of being true, then you refute it with an unfounded assumption of your own? My unfounded opinion is wrong, but yours is right? Makes sense.

Do you really think most people watch football because of guys like Ocho Cinco and Plaxico?

Because in spite of the fighting and violence in hockey, it's a pretty family-oriented game. Most of their players stay out of trouble, are good teammates, and pretty humble. The league clearly is weary of Avery's antics and is sending a message. It's one thing to yap on the ice, but to intentionally call the press over to make an off color comment is idiotic.

As for Avery, he got exactly what he wanted. Attention. No matter what it does to his struggling team or the league that writes his paycheck.

EDIT: Watching the clip, it's even more pathetic. It was so rehearsed and was pretty much a non sequitur.

Unfortunately, not most, but a lot of people do. Every sport needs it's villain, and some people love the villain. I wanted to rip the TV out of the wall when watching Chad Johnson do his non-sense after touchdowns in years past, and I couldn't wait for someone to open him up going across the middle, but some people loved his antics. Either way, it made both parties pay attention with anticipation of what may happen next. The beautiful thing about the NHL is what you said, the majority of players are good guys, humble, and stay out of the negative lime light. However like the NFL it's not necessarily a bad thing for the NHL to have a villain. Though it may bring some negative publicity to start a lot of the things that make the sport great can also be brought to the fore front with more attention.

[JayUp88 1]

I like Avery, he's great to watch! Free Avery