Avery comments & suspension

[Guest GordieSid&Ted]

I don't find that funny at all... He is a cancer for the team he plays for and for the league. What an idiot, he's going to let his stupid mouth ruin his career. Good riddence!

02-03 Kings (no Avery) 78 points

03-04 Kings (Avery's 1st full season) 81 points

04-05 Kings (lockout)

05-06 Kings (Avery's 2nd full season) 89 points

06-07 Kings (Avery traded after 55 games) 68 points Rangers lose in quater finals

06-07 Rangers (Avery played 29 games) 94 points Rangers lose in semi-finals

07-08 Rangers (Avery's 1st full season) 97 points Rangers lose in semi-finals

Aside from Dallas which has been murdered by injuries to key players all year, Avery has pretty much helped make every team he's played for better since leaving Detroit.

Just sayin'

[Guest GordieSid&Ted]

This suspension is a joke. Sure. Avery is a 3rd class Asshat, but c'mon. Fine his ass every time he opens his mouth, all ya gotta do. that WILL put a stop it.

Or let em spew his retardedness, someone on the ice will just take exception one time and feed him a composite popsicle.

So long as they do it within the rules. Frankly, nothing would've made me happier than to see Iggy challenge and beat up Avery. And then Phaneuf challenge and beat up Avery. And depsite what the Stars players are saying now, they would've had his back during the game had he played. It would've made for an entertaining game I think.

But dab is right that somebody going vigilante on him would've been bad.

In the end I personally don't have a problem with what he said. Had he said this on the ice we'd have never heard about it. It's the fact that he said it in the media that makes this such a big deal.

I think it was a joke intended to rile up the Flames and get Phaneuf off his game. Unfortunately it was not appropriate to say in the media and now we're left with yet another mess.

I don't blame Avery for wanting the spotlight, for wanting to stir the pot and I absolutely love it when he badmouths Bettman and the league for doing a bad job of marketing. But I will admit that he should not have said this to the media. Turned out to be 1 big cluster f*** and now not only did we not get to see an intense and exciting game. We have another bad episode for the league.

[The Secret 304]

02-03 Kings (no Avery) 78 points

03-04 Kings (Avery's 1st full season) 81 points

04-05 Kings (lockout)

05-06 Kings (Avery's 2nd full season) 89 points

06-07 Kings (Avery traded after 55 games) 68 points Rangers lose in quater finals

06-07 Rangers (Avery played 29 games) 94 points Rangers lose in semi-finals

07-08 Rangers (Avery's 1st full season) 97 points Rangers lose in semi-finals

Aside from Dallas which has been murdered by injuries to key players all year, Avery has pretty much helped make every team he's played for better since leaving Detroit.

Just sayin'

If only he could keep his stupid antics to out of the spotlight he could be a very valuable asset. Its his personality thats the cancer, not sure they have a cure for a bad personality yet.

Did you read the article a few weeks back about the Kings current Captain and how Avery made fun of him in the dressing room surrounded by his team mates for having a spech impediment? Making fun of a persons handicap! Thats the type of locker room cancer I mean. Dancing in front of Brodeur, creating that type of diversion, not a good show on a team image.

Sad thing is he does have ability to play he is just too much of a liability because of his mental disorder... or what ever is troubling him.

[toby91_ca 620]

The outcry for me personally is just that this game would've been a helluva lot more entertaining to watch had Avery played in it. Regardless of whether the Stars would've suspended him on their own. It just would've been exciting to watch what transpired IMO.

I understand that, the game would have had a better story line, would have been more exciting, but you could say the same thing if they were playing a home and home series where Avery viciously cross-checks a guy in the face in the first game......let's see what happens in game 2...payback. However, you don't ignore the incident and not suspend just because it will make the upcoming game less attractive.

[Guest GordieSid&Ted]

If only he could keep his stupid antics to out of the spotlight he could be a very valuable asset. Its his personality thats the cancer, not sure they have a cure for a bad personality yet.

Did you read the article a few weeks back about the Kings current Captain and how Avery made fun of him in the dressing room surrounded by his team mates for having a spech impediment? Making fun of a persons handicap! Thats the type of locker room cancer I mean. Dancing in front of Brodeur, creating that type of diversion, not a good show on a team image.

Sad thing is he does have ability to play he is just too much of a liability because of his mental disorder... or what ever is troubling him.

I'm with ya.

I was a terribly mean ******* when I played and I didn't hesitate to play dirty and try to verbally abuse and hurt (emotionally/pyschologically) as many opponents as possible. But that was always between me and the other guy. I would never disparage or embarrass the game pulling some of the stuff he does like the thing in front of Brodeur or making fun of my teammates in a malicious way.

Edited December 3, 2008 by GordieSid&Ted

[Guest GordieSid&Ted]

I understand that, the game would have had a better story line, would have been more exciting, but you could say the same thing if they were playing a home and home series where Avery viciously cross-checks a guy in the face in the first game......let's see what happens in game 2...payback. However, you don't ignore the incident and not suspend just because it will make the upcoming game less attractive.

That's very true. But your example is for an on ice offense. How often have we seen the league suspend a player for disparaging remarks? In reality, this truly is one of the most arbitrary suspensions the league has ever handed down. Yes they have a rule for it in place but its not clear cut. It's definitely arbitrary and the league uses it as such. But I get the gist of what you're saying.

[MaynardJKeenan 1]

Gotta love Skip on 1st and 10. "You wanna talk about cutting off your nose despite your hockey face here? c'mon!"

[Guest GordieSid&Ted]

I apologize if this article has already been posted or linked to but its an opinion that I happen to agree with and thought I would share. Take note of the bolded part. Quite frightening the complete and utter lack of top billing coverage we get. Not even a blurb about anything other than Avery's comment.

Markazi_arash

NHL should promote Avery, not punish him

Sean-avery

Bad or good, Sean Avery willingly shares his opinions.

AP

Like him or not, Sean Avery gets it. "It" is attention. "It" is media coverage. "It" is national exposure. Quite frankly the NHL hasn't gotten "It" in a long time and most likely won't judging from the way they handled Avery's latest headline grabbing comments.

The NHL suspended Avery indefinitely Tuesday for inflammatory comments he made following a morning skate in Calgary, Alberta. This is what he said: "I am really happy to be back in Calgary, I love Canada. I just want to comment on how it's become like a common thing in the NHL for guys to fall in love with my sloppy seconds. I don't know what that's about. Enjoy the game tonight."

For those of you who don't read US Weekly or People, Avery was referring to his past relationships with actress Elisha Cuthbert, who is now dating Calgary defenseman Dion Phaneuf and had been linked to Mike Komisarek of the Canadiens, and model Rachel Hunter, who is now with Los Angeles Kings center Jarrett Stoll.

This is why Avery is the best thing to happen to the NHL and why it's no surprise that the NHL, which seemingly does everything in its power to make the sport irrelevant, is trying to stop him.

I took a look at the front pages of five prominent sports Web sites Tuesday night and of the nearly 100 stories, columns and pictures there was only one mention of the NHL: Avery's "sloppy seconds" remark. If he hadn't made the statement and subsequently been suspended, I'm fairly certain the NHL, which is nearly at its mid-season mark, would have gone another day without being mentioned on the front page of any of those sites.

It's amazing that a league that condones fighting on the ice would be so adamantly opposed to a war of words off it. Some might say Avery's comments and behavior aren't the kind of attention the league needs. I couldn't disagree more. Avery isn't doing anything illegal. He's not shooting himself at a club or pushing a security guard against a broken mirror at a restaurant or taking illegal supplements -- he's trash talking. Suspending Avery for making controversial comments before a game would be like punishing a fighter for berating an opponent to hype an upcoming match. Avery knows what makes headlines; unfortunately, the NHL doesn't -- and doesn't seem interested in making them, either.

Even before Avery's comments about his exes essentially being "puck bunnies," I was looking forward to Tuesday's Stars-Flames game because of this summer comment: "Our commissioner hasn't realized that he needs to probably do a better job of marketing the game and certainly some of the players in it. Nobody cares about [Flames right winger] Jarome Iginla and guys like that. They're just not exciting enough. They don't bring enough to the game."

Avery, of course, is right. He single-handedly made a game between the last-place Dallas Stars and the sixth-place Calgary Flames relevant nationally -- and the NHL subsequently suspended him and any attention the game would have gotten. It's probably just as well. The only way to watch the game was through an online feed on the league's Web site, which streamed the game from Dallas affiliate My27. Like I said, the NHL doesn't get "It" and likely never will.

[vangvace 12]

Yes, but the point is to look at it from a non hockey fan's perspective. Which headline seems more intriguing to you? You don't have to know who the players are. If you're not a hockey fan the prospect of watching a last place team play a Canadian team probably doesn't appeal. But hey, what's all this drama about? Maybe I should tune in and check it out.

Neither, I'd wait for sportcenter or youtube, watch the highlights and skip the stuff I don't understand and move on.

Hell I live in the Philly broadcast area and didn't give to s***s about the world series. Didn't watch a single game despite the "hype"

[The Secret 304]

I'm with ya.

I was a terribly mean ******* when I played and I didn't hesitate to play dirty and try to verbally abuse and hurt (emotionally/pyschologically) as many opponents as possible. But that was always between me and the other guy. I would never disparage or embarrass the game pulling some of the stuff he does like the thing in front of Brodeur or making fun of my teammates in a malicious way.

Jawing at the guy on the ice you are battling with is one thing. Making public statements about a persons family, or significant other is a whole other game. If Avery didn't have a target on him yet this showing will likely make it open season for Avery hunting. And to say that about big Dion's chick? That guy wants to die. I can't wait to see that game after/if he is re-instated. Dirty Dion is going to pulverize him!

[Holmstrom96Screens 0]

I absolutely agree. That's the first thing I thought when I read his comments. I'm honestly surprised how people can ask how someone could be offended by such a comment!

I agree. Good god, I'm only 2 years older than Avery, but I have more maturity in one little finger. Good god. I'm actually friends with my exes, and when i broke up with my ex bf just after the wings won the cup in june, it was not exactly on good terms. It was a misunderstanding and a bit of a fight. But we're good friends now. But even with the ex I'm not friends with and havent seen in years, I still would not degrade him and call him sloppy seconds if a co - worker dated him.

even as much as it still would show immaturity and such to say it when you're not at work, it goes that its doubly wrong to say it in public, national tv, when you're still basically at work. and you're a professional person in the spotlight. Good grief.

I saw this and heard the avery interview while i was watching the habs/thrashers game. and i thought to myself, Wtf....

That said though, I like this here:

Couldn't they have suspended him AFTER tonight's game? Damnit. I wanted to see Phaneuf beat Avery's ass into next week, then Avery get suspended.

That would have been fun. I agree. But i do think the NHL did the right thing. It was degrading and sexist what avery said. Also a double standard. Why don't men really get called sloppy seconds. Its mostly just us females.

How is it that people even have to ask how it can offend someone. The answer is obvious. During intermission of the habs game that night, the announcer even warned that some viewers 'may find this offensive' before showing the interview.

[esteef 2,679]

So long as they do it within the rules. Frankly, nothing would've made me happier than to see Iggy challenge and beat up Avery. And then Phaneuf challenge and beat up Avery. And depsite what the Stars players are saying now, they would've had his back during the game had he played. It would've made for an entertaining game I think.

But dab is right that somebody going vigilante on him would've been bad.

In the end I personally don't have a problem with what he said. Had he said this on the ice we'd have never heard about it. It's the fact that he said it in the media that makes this such a big deal.

I think it was a joke intended to rile up the Flames and get Phaneuf off his game. Unfortunately it was not appropriate to say in the media and now we're left with yet another mess.

I don't blame Avery for wanting the spotlight, for wanting to stir the pot and I absolutely love it when he badmouths Bettman and the league for doing a bad job of marketing. But I will admit that he should not have said this to the media. Turned out to be 1 big cluster f*** and now not only did we not get to see an intense and exciting game. We have another bad episode for the league.

That's basically what it boils down to. Because who really gives a s*** about some dumb actress anyway? She don't have s*** to do with the league except schtooping the players. "Sloppy Seconds" is far from something I would consider suspension worthy. FREE AVERY!!!!!

BTW, I think Avery could kick Phaneuf's ass!

esteef

Edited December 3, 2008 by esteef

[finalfilppula 2]

co-GM brett hull was just on hockey central at noon and suggested something i've never thought about--should avery be looking into psychiatric help? hurm..

[Guest Shoreline]

If we're suggesting it's not out of bounds for Avery to talk s*** about another player's girlfriend, then we may as well turn it into a marketing scheme with players talking crap about other player's mothers and family, then we'll really see some attention to the NHL in new, low ways of promoting the game, outside of the game. We may as well not be arbitrary about it and just let it out in the open if Avery's antics are ok and are a draw for the NHL, if this is the kind of draw you want.

Flashing titties all over the place would also make the game more interesting. I'm sure men would go for that. I know I would.

I have yet to see, from those who are saying how bad this suspension is, making a suggestion as to where the line is drawn here. Last I checked this league was about sportsmanship, not about sleazy, s***ty ways of marketing the game.

Edited December 3, 2008 by Shoreline

[Dabura 12,232]

So what's wrong with someone perceived as a villain to have crossover appeal?

To certain demographics, Sean Avery is the face of hockey. By extension, then, the face of hockey for a lot of people is an ******* who calls his girlfriend "sloppy seconds." That's not good business for the NHL.

[MaynardJKeenan 1]

If we're suggesting it's not out of bounds for Avery to talk s*** about another player's girlfriend, then we may as well turn it into a marketing scheme with players talking crap about other player's mothers and family

I think I seen an ad like that with two goalies.

[Guest Shoreline]

I think I seen an ad like that with two goalies.

Who I'm sure were entirely serious about disparaging one another.

[egroen 384]

Who I'm sure were entirely serious about disparaging one another.

I've actually thought of the "Yo Mama" NHL ad a couple times now. Two goaltenders verbally abusing each other's mother? On a paid ad by the NHL? What of the children???

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

co-GM brett hull was just on hockey central at noon and suggested something i've never thought about--should avery be looking into psychiatric help? hurm..

That's probably something Hull should've considered before he signed him to a 4 year $15.5 million deal with a No Trade Clause.

[MaynardJKeenan 1]

I've actually thought of the "Yo Mama" NHL ad a couple times now. Two goaltenders verbally abusing each other's mother? On a paid ad by the NHL? What of the children???

It was actually an energy drink ad.

[Louisville 112]

To certain demographics, Sean Avery is the face of hockey. By extension, then, the face of hockey for a lot of people is an ******* who calls his girlfriend "sloppy seconds." That's not good business for the NHL.

Ok...but why? I'm a business major and I'm just trying to figure out your reasoning. Will on-the-fence could be hockey fans feminists now refuse to support the league? I don't get it.

[Guest Shoreline]

I've actually thought of the "Yo Mama" NHL ad a couple times now. Two goaltenders verbally abusing each other's mother? On a paid ad by the NHL? What of the children???

I'd ask the other goaltender how serious and abusing these jokes (clearly jokes) were. It's kind of hard to be verbally abusive when both sides are doing it in jest and in the same commercial at that.

Whereas, Avery was clearly not joking, and making a personal attack against another player and his girlfriend. This sort of thing is not the business the NHL does, and it's not the type of attention the league wants (by the suspension) or needs.

[Louisville 112]

That's probably something Hull should've considered before he signed him to a 4 year $15.5 million deal with a No Trade Clause.

He should probably have his head examined by the same psychiatrist after that one.

Edited December 3, 2008 by Louisville

[Guest Shoreline]

Ok...but why? I'm a business major and I'm just trying to figure out your reasoning. Will on-the-fence could be hockey fans feminists now refuse to support the league? I don't get it.

This isn't the Jerry Springer league.

I'm a business major as well, and I see perfectly why the league does not want it's name being related to this sort of crap.

Edited December 3, 2008 by Shoreline

[esteef 2,679]

YO-MAMA-WEEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!