Avery comments & suspension

[Guest Shoreline]

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 =)

Agreed on pummeling Avery if Avery consents to a fight, or takes a hockey hit.

But I'd like to know why you think the NHL should be a media circus like the other leagues.

[isbister 0]

Unbelievable. I don't mean to single you out, but your post in particular tweaked something....

Please READ what you are writing. Please.

Every player you've mentioned above is either a scumbag, a drug addict, a CRIMINAL, or a combination of "all of the above"!

Honestly! Do you REALLY want the NHL to attract more "fans" with a marketing campaign of:

"The New NHL! Tune in.....Our stars are just as scummy as THEIRS are, now!"

Puhlease! Keep those fans, AND those types of athletes, FAR away from the NHL.

Well apparently you didn't read my previous post that led to this comment bud. I'm basically arguing the same thing your saying. Its called " sarcasm " What Avery did wasn't even in the ballpark of what those " scumbags " did and the NHL is getting it all wrong. If Avery beat and killed dogs or shot up a strip club then I would be marching down main street with a sign to lynch him!!! The comment Avery made was stupid and immature but in my opinion worth a fine, not a flippin suspension. You should read all the post before you attack someone because it made you look dumb here. I wouldn't want any of those guys in my league yet the NFL let Irvin back in and put him into the Hall Of Fame disregarding the fact of his off field antics. The guy was arrested with 3 hookers and enough cocaine to supply Nam yet the Dallas fans cheered him when he made his comeback. I'm sorry but Avery will more than likely be boo'd by those same fans out here for making a comment about some hussy he'd ran through at his time in LA.

[VM1138 1,921]

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.

But that trash talk is exactly what most people complain about in boxing, football, basketball, etc.

And seriously, Avery has some sort of issue with women it seems.

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

Pffffft. Big Deal. What do you know about their relationship anyway? She's the one who dumped him so it's not like he needs to have a high opinion of her.

Ex's say and do worse things to each other all the time and this wasn't even that bad. Anyway, I think it's a joke he's suspended for speaking his mind.

It doesn't matter what I know about their relationship. As a person, I wouldn't publicly seek out a camera crew to speak bad about any of my ex's regardless of how I feel about them. It's called having class.

Of course some ex's do worse things than this to each other, but a good majority of them are above this petty bulls***. Clearly some people aren't.

[Guest Shoreline]

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.

How unfairly? He should be allowed to make whatever racist and bigoted comments he wants? This isn't anarchy league or the WWE where the game sells itself on sensationalism and away-from-the-rink antics. It's a league with professional players and it sells on gameplay, fighting, rivalries, things on the ice. The media already gives enough attention to the things said on ice, most of which should be (and usually is) out of bounds from punishment, minus the racism and bigotry.

Edited December 3, 2008 by Shoreline

[Guest GordieSid&Ted]

Unbelievable. I don't mean to single you out, but your post in particular tweaked something....

Please READ what you are writing. Please.

Every player you've mentioned above is either a scumbag, a drug addict, a CRIMINAL, or a combination of "all of the above"!

Honestly! Do you REALLY want the NHL to attract more "fans" with a marketing campaign of:

"The New NHL! Tune in.....Our stars are just as scummy as THEIRS are, now!"

Puhlease! Keep those fans, AND those types of athletes, FAR away from the NHL.

I guess you people have never watched a Terrel Owens sideline tirade or seen him verbally abuse one of his quarterbacks or insinuate that his quarterback is ***. I guess you've never seen him make an ass of himself completely outside of the football stadium.

Yes, there is such a thing as bad publicity. But this wasn't it. This game had the potential to be a great game. This game had the potential for true hatred and physical play. If one thing has been proven its that sports fans in the US love to see physical play and they love to see rivalries.

I too was eagerly awaiting this game as of yesterday morning when they posted Avery's old comments about Iggy being boring. I was amped and ready to watch last night. Then he makes the comments about his old flame and although not very nice IMO, it sure added some fuel to the fire. I can only imagine what he would've been saying on the ice. Would've been an entertaining game to watch.

Instead we get an Avery suspension. A ******* arbitrary suspension if I ever saw one. And did anyone check the boxscore of that game. Can you say "put a bullet in my head so I don't have to watch this boring ******* game" Ugghhh.....

Terrel Owens love or hate him can make people tune in. Sean Avery is no different. People like villians. They like drama and they like to see teams play that don't like each other. This is a fact.

[Guest GordieSid&Ted]

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.

Harold, considering the number of scumbags perpetrating crimes and getting busted over the years in the NBA, the NFL and in MLB. How can you explain or back up your position that this kind of thing is only a detriment to the NHL.

You're right, the NHL is by and large played by good guys who are very fan oriented and seem to stay out of trouble. And what has that gotten us? A backseat to the World Series of Poker and mixed martial arts.

You don't have to like it or agree with it but I think you are naive to think that this kind of thing isn't good for the league.

The people that I know who don't watch hockey or think its dumb think so because they don't know any of the players, they don't know the rules and they can't follow the puck. You are not going to draw those fans in with hugs and kisses and promises that our players aren't going to shoot up strip clubs.

And let's not compare apples to oranges here. Avery's antics are more like what Terrel Owens does and he puts asses in the seats. Of course he is an elite player but people also tune in because they want to see what kind of crap he's going to pull next.

The NHL could use a couple of guys like Avery to do exactly what they do best. Run their mouths, grab some media spotlight and maybe draw some new viewers in with the lure that maybe they're going to see a really great game of hockey.

[Dabura 12,232]

In any other sport, a guy like Avery would be a widely known person around the country. But because he's in the NHL, he like every other player not named Sidney Crosby, is completely unknown.

Here's the thing about the NHL and "any other sport": in the States, the NHL doesn't have a baseline foothold to work with like other professional North American sports leagues do. The NFL, for example, can afford to parade Avery-like ****** bags around and get them all the attention in the world because the NFL is so big that nothing short of a lockout is going to hurts its success. Another way of saying that: the NFL can afford to have villains because it has ultra-recognizable heroes who own the hearts and minds of the American public. The NHL, by contrast, is a bastard league in the U.S.; you can't even find it on ESPN. This owes to a lot of things, and the perception that hockey players are boneheads who get paid to break bones is one of them. I don't care if you don't think this misconception exists, because it absolutely does. It's a longstanding misconception the NHL needs to combat (not promote) if it wants to tango with the big leagues. I'm not talking about outlawing fighting; I'm talking about, for example, what the league did here, which is send a message that it won't tolerate going over the line. Trash-talking in the media is one thing, calling someone out is one thing. What Avery did is another. It's classless, offensive, it hurts the integrity of the league, and it put him in a position to have his neck snapped on live TV.

Guy's a moron.

Edited December 3, 2008 by Dabura

[egroen 384]

Here's the thing about the NHL and "any other sport": in the States, the NHL doesn't have a baseline foothold to work with like other professional North American sports leagues do. The NFL, for example, can afford to parade Avery-like ****** bags around and get them all the attention in the world because the NFL is so big that nothing short of a lockout is going to hurts its success. Another way of saying that: the NHL can afford to have villains because it has ultra-recognizable heroes who own the hearts and minds of the American public. The NHL, by contrast, is a bastard league in the U.S.; you can't even find it on ESPN. This owes to a lot of things, and the perception that hockey players are boneheads who get paid to break bones is one of them. I don't care if you don't think this misconception exists, because it absolutely does. It's a longstanding misconception the NHL needs to combat (not promote) if it wants to tango with the big leagues. I'm not talking about outlawing fighting; I'm talking about, for example, what the league did here, which is send a message that it won't tolerate going over the line. Trash-talking in the media is one thing, calling someone out is one thing. What Avery did is another. It's classless, offensive, it hurts the integrity of the league, and it put him in a position to have his neck snapped on live TV.

Guy's a moron.

Avery's a moron, we can agree there.

But since when are sports fans not watching hockey because hockey players are perceived as a bunch of "boneheads who get paid to break bones"? I'll be honest, if that perception really existed hockey would be ten times as popular as it is today. The UFC is more popular than hockey and that is their number one selling point.

Sports fans I know who do not get into hockey consider it boring, do not understand the rules and game and do not identify at all with any of the stars. Who is the NHL trying to attract? Sports fans, or church ladies?

[Guest GordieSid&Ted]

Here's the thing about the NHL and "any other sport": in the States, the NHL doesn't have a baseline foothold to work with like other professional North American sports leagues do. The NFL, for example, can afford to parade Avery-like ****** bags around and get them all the attention in the world because the NFL is so big that nothing short of a lockout is going to hurts its success. Another way of saying that: the NHL can afford to have villains because it has ultra-recognizable heroes who own the hearts and minds of the American public. The NHL, by contrast, is a bastard league in the U.S.; you can't even find it on ESPN. This owes to a lot of things, and the perception that hockey players are boneheads who get paid to break bones is one of them. I don't care if you don't think this misconception exists, because it absolutely does. It's a longstanding misconception the NHL needs to combat (not promote) if it wants to tango with the big leagues. I'm not talking about outlawing fighting; I'm talking about, for example, what the league did here, which is send a message that it won't tolerate going over the line. Trash-talking in the media is one thing, calling someone out is one thing. What Avery did is another. It's classless, offensive, it hurts the integrity of the league, and it put him in a position to have his neck snapped on live TV.

Guy's a moron.

Yeah Dab, the guy is a moron. But it's merely your opinion that this type of thing is bad for the league. I think it can be great for the league. The NHL hasn't gotten anywhere, hasn't gotten that "foothold" you're talking about and its due to a combination of things.

Go find 10 people who don't watch hockey and see why they don't watch it. I would bet you get more answers in line with "i don't know the rules", "i can't follow that little puck it moves so fast", and "i don't know any of the players". I would bet money you get more responses like that versus the "it's played by talentless thugs who knock out people's teeth".

If you haven't been living under a rock you'll know that people (the masses) like villians, they like hatred and rivalries, they like to see people beat other people up..just look at the explosion that mixed martial arts has seen.

People who are turned off by the fighting or nasty nature of hockey are (and this is an assumption by me) probably not big football fans nor MMA fans or wrestling fans etc... Those people probably like baseball and ******* golf.

You need to draw people in and show them what a great game hockey is. You need to get them to see it so they can learn about the players, the rules, the tactics, how the game is played so they can get hooked on it.

Having a touchy feely league where the commish is a spineless turd has never gotten it done.

IMO, the league doesn't need to promote the Avery antics, but let them be a part of the game and maybe, just maybe that will bring in some new viewers. All I can say is at least give it a try because the alternative has proven it does not work. nobody cares that our players sign autos and are nice and don't shoot up strip clubs. They just don't ******* care. We are boring and have no personality to those people. Why would they watch?

[55fan 5,133]

I'm confused. How can this girl be "sloppy" seconds if she is with Phaneuf? Aren't douchebags supposed to get rid of the sloppiness issue?

[Guest GordieSid&Ted]

Avery's a moron, we can agree there.

But since when are sports fans not watching hockey because hockey players are perceived as a bunch of "boneheads who get paid to break bones"? I'll be honest, if that perception really existed hockey would be ten times as popular as it is today. The UFC is more popular than hockey and that is their number one selling point.

Sports fans I know who do not get into hockey consider it boring, do not understand the rules and game and do not identify at all with any of the stars. Who is the NHL trying to attract? Sports fans, or church ladies?

well said, much better than my long-windedness.

[DraperFan MN 0]

How unfairly? He should be allowed to make whatever racist and bigoted comments he wants? This isn't anarchy league or the WWE where the game sells itself on sensationalism and away-from-the-rink antics. It's a league with professional players and it sells on gameplay, fighting, rivalries, things on the ice. The media already gives enough attention to the things said on ice, most of which should be (and usually is) out of bounds from punishment, minus the racism and bigotry.

It is a job, and he has employers. We couldn't go around our workplace saying things such as this, and neither should Avery. On the flip side, he's also pretty entertaining.

[Dabura 12,232]

No need for hyperbole; you know cleaning up the NHL's image isn't tantamount to courting "church ladies."

What I'm talking about is one of the main reasons (if not the main reason) fighting in hockey is so polarizing: it's helped cultivate this grotesque image of hockey players as goons. I agree that the "boring" argument has also hurt the league, but anyone who thinks there is not, in fact, a misconception about hockey players and thuggery...well, I don't know what to tell them. "Get out more," maybe.

Has no one heard the boxing match joke?

[egroen 384]

well said, much better than my long-windedness.

I gave the cliff notes version

That is funny though, we made almost the exact same points.

I consider myself a hockey purist, and I personally can not stand Avery. I also hate the shootouts, but I can admit they have been good for the game. It creates excitement, showcases individual talent, gets fans watching until the end and gets them off their feet. It is good for the NHL, and so is Avery.

[Guest GordieSid&Ted]

No need for hyperbole; you know cleaning up the NHL's image isn't tantamount to courting "church ladies."

What I'm talking about is one of the main reasons (if not the main reason) fighting in hockey is so polarizing: it's helped cultivate this grotesque image of hockey players as goons. I agree that the "boring" argument has also hurt the league, but anyone who thinks there is not, in fact, a misconception about hockey players and thuggery...well, I don't know what to tell them. "Get out more," maybe.

Has no one heard the boxing match joke?

You have a valid point dab. There are always people who will be turned off by such things. So what do we do to change it?

IMO, personalities can bring in fans. Rivalries can draw in fans. Excitement draws in fans.

What the NHL is doing image wise isn't drawing in fans. We need more mainstream headlines. And the only mainstream headlines we get are we somebody pulls a Simon or a Bertuzzi.

Constantly plugging at the skill and grace of the game isn't getting it done to bring in new fans.

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

Harold, considering the number of scumbags perpetrating crimes and getting busted over the years in the NBA, the NFL and in MLB. How can you explain or back up your position that this kind of thing is only a detriment to the NHL.

You're right, the NHL is by and large played by good guys who are very fan oriented and seem to stay out of trouble. And what has that gotten us? A backseat to the World Series of Poker and mixed martial arts.

You don't have to like it or agree with it but I think you are naive to think that this kind of thing isn't good for the league.

The people that I know who don't watch hockey or think its dumb think so because they don't know any of the players, they don't know the rules and they can't follow the puck. You are not going to draw those fans in with hugs and kisses and promises that our players aren't going to shoot up strip clubs.

And let's not compare apples to oranges here. Avery's antics are more like what Terrel Owens does and he puts asses in the seats. Of course he is an elite player but people also tune in because they want to see what kind of crap he's going to pull next.

The NHL could use a couple of guys like Avery to do exactly what they do best. Run their mouths, grab some media spotlight and maybe draw some new viewers in with the lure that maybe they're going to see a really great game of hockey.

You guys are all working on the assumption that somehow all the misbehavior of pro athletes is somehow an asset for the other major sports in the same way Im assuming it's ultimately bad for the NHL. It's a difference of opinion, but doesn't make you any more right. I think someone reading the headline "Hockey player suspended for making crude remark" and deciding to become a hockey fan is a pretty unlikely scenario.

And the rest of your argument is a weak one. Not tolerating Avery calling over the media for a badly rehearsed line about sloppy seconds does not equal the NHL trying to draw in fans "with hugs and kisses."

I think the NHL does a horrible job of marketing itself and marketing the game. Avery is not the solution. I agree that people who don't watch the game aren't interested because they don't know the players and can't follow the puck. Sloppy seconds isn't going to get them there. I do agree that the league could use a few more characters, but more along the lines of an AO, or even how Hull and Roenick used to be.

If the NHL is relying on guys like Avery to bring in new fans, this league is screwed.

Edited December 3, 2008 by haroldsnepsts

[egroen 384]

No need for hyperbole; you know cleaning up the NHL's image isn't tantamount to courting "church ladies."

What I'm talking about is one of the main reasons (if not the main reason) fighting in hockey is so polarizing: it's helped cultivate this grotesque image of hockey players as goons. I agree that the "boring" argument has also hurt the league, but anyone who thinks there is not, in fact, a misconception about hockey players and thuggery...well, I don't know what to tell them. "Get out more," maybe.

Has no one heard the boxing match joke?

I really do disagree. The WWE is more popular than hockey for christ's sake. A bunch of greased up goons in tights reading from scripts is more popular than hockey. The boxing match joke is just that: a joke. If people really thought that's what hockey was, they would be lining up to see it.

Don't get me wrong, I don't want the sport to change to cater to this audience, but it certainly could be marketed a hell of a lot better.

I do agree that the league could use a few more characters, but more along the lines of an AO, or even how Hull and Roenick used to be.

Exactly. I miss Hull's interviews. Avery should be fined for lewd comments, no doubt about it. But if that game started a rivalry and some passion between two traditionally good, Western Conference teams, that would have been great for the sport.

Avery's comment was out of line, but he has never been suspended before and is more of a target of Bettman because he is a character and speaks his mind. I'm somewhat suprised Semin was not suspended for his comments on Crosby... because we all know Avery was already on double-secret probation for his comments on Iginla earlier in the year.

Edited December 3, 2008 by egroen

[Guest GordieSid&Ted]

It is a job, and he has employers. We couldn't go around our workplace saying things such as this, and neither should Avery. On the flip side, he's also pretty entertaining.

Comparing sports jobs to everyone else's jobs is seriously flawed.

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

I really do disagree. The WWE is more popular than hockey for christ's sake. A bunch of greased up goons in tights reading from scripts is more popular than hockey. The boxing match joke is just that: a joke. If people really thought that's what hockey was, they would be lining up to see it.

Don't get me wrong, I don't want the sport to change to cater to this audience, but it certainly could be marketed a hell of a lot better.

link?

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

Comparing sports jobs to everyone else's jobs is seriously flawed.

So is assuming that the only two options are letting Avery say things like that to the press, or marketing the game to "church ladies."

This game can have characters and villains and rivalries. This is one case where a particular douchebag once again crossed the line.

I feel like people who support this are somehow lumping it in with all they hate about Bettman, the new NHL and trying to reduce fighting in the game.

[Guest GordieSid&Ted]

You guys are all working on the assumption that somehow all the misbehavior of pro athletes is somehow an asset for the other major sports in the same way Im assuming it's ultimately bad for the NHL. It's a difference of opinion, but doesn't make you any more right. I think someone reading the headline "Hockey player suspended for making crude remark" and deciding to become a hockey fan is a pretty unlikely scenario.

And the rest of your argument is a weak one. Not tolerating Avery calling over the media for a badly rehearsed line about sloppy seconds does not equal the NHL trying to draw in fans "with hugs and kisses."

I think the NHL does a horrible job of marketing itself and marketing the game. Avery is not the solution. I agree that people who don't watch the game aren't interested because they don't know the players and can't follow the puck. Sloppy seconds isn't going to get them there. I do agree that the league could use a few more characters, but more along the lines of an AO, or even how Hull and Roenick used to be.

If the NHL is relying on guys like Avery to bring in new fans, this league is screwed.

Harold, its not what Avery said that brings in the fans. Its the implications for what the game might bring that will draw them in.

And what we may see as crass and in poor taste, others may find funny, may find it an intriguing story line and may even tune in just to see what all the hubub is about.

You are right that its just an opinion. But the league hasn't gotten it done the other way so why not let this kind of stuff build some tension and excitiment for the potential new viewer.

I don't know but if I were a non hockey fan and I was presented with 2 headlines, which one do you think would get me to watch.

1. Last place Stars take on Calgary

2. Ill will. Stars' Avery calls Flames captain boring, makes vulgar statements about Dion Phaneuf dating Elisha Cuthbert.

I'd be more inclined to tune in for the latter.

[Dabura 12,232]

IMO, personalities can bring in fans. Rivalries can draw in fans. Excitement draws in fans.

I agree -- but the league has to know where to draw the line. And I think they did a good job of drawing it in this particular instance. Sean Avery saying something low about another player? OK, cool. That makes for good games, maybe a rivalry. But Sean Avery bringing his ex-girlfriend (who, if we're going to start talking politics, is not just any girl) into it and calling her sloppy seconds and basically asking Dion Phaneuf to murder him on live television? That shouldn't be part of any plan to un-bastardize this bastard sport.

Again, a league like the NFL can afford to promote assholes like Avery. The NHL can barely afford to promote its stars.

[Dabura 12,232]

You guys are all working on the assumption that somehow all the misbehavior of pro athletes is somehow an asset for the other major sports in the same way Im assuming it's ultimately bad for the NHL. It's a difference of opinion, but doesn't make you any more right. I think someone reading the headline "Hockey player suspended for making crude remark" and deciding to become a hockey fan is a pretty unlikely scenario.

And the rest of your argument is a weak one. Not tolerating Avery calling over the media for a badly rehearsed line about sloppy seconds does not equal the NHL trying to draw in fans "with hugs and kisses."

I think the NHL does a horrible job of marketing itself and marketing the game. Avery is not the solution. I agree that people who don't watch the game aren't interested because they don't know the players and can't follow the puck. Sloppy seconds isn't going to get them there. I do agree that the league could use a few more characters, but more along the lines of an AO, or even how Hull and Roenick used to be.

If the NHL is relying on guys like Avery to bring in new fans, this league is screwed.

Agreed.

[Guest GordieSid&Ted]

I agree -- but the league has to know where to draw the line. And I think they did a good job of drawing it in this particular instance. Sean Avery saying something low about another player? OK, cool. That makes for good games, maybe a rivalry. But Sean Avery bringing his ex-girlfriend (who, if we're going to start talking politics, is not just any girl) into it and calling her sloppy seconds and basically asking Dion Phaneuf to murder him on live television? That shouldn't be part of any plan to un-bastardize this bastard sport.

Again, a league like the NFL can afford to promote assholes like Avery. The NHL can barely afford to promote its stars.

Yeah, but they should've done it after the game. If I were a betting man (and i am ) I would say had Avery played last night it would've been a far more entertaining game than the BS I turned off after the 1st period ended.

And its an assumption to think Phaneuf would've done something insane to Avery. That's admitting that Avery's antics would've worked on poor old Dion. Who knows if it would've worked or if the Flames would've ignored him completely.

But instead of even having the opportunity to discuss what could've happened in an entertaining game, the only thing anybody is discussing are Avery's lewd comments. So by suspending him prior to the game the story became not about the game, the rivalry, the hatred, it became about a hockey player who can't control his mouth.

IMO, it would've been great to have him play and have the Flames challenge him all night. To have the Flames hack and whack at him and have him yapping back and forth and bringing tension and excitement to that particular game. But there was none of that. Hell, there was practically no game at all to speak of. And all we're left with is people discussing his suspension. Makes us look even dumber IMO.