Avery comments & suspension

[Dabura 12,232]

You guys are simply stating that Sean is bad for the game

Sean Avery is not inherently bad for the game. And in fact, most of his antics have probably helped the league in its quest to break into new markets, new demographics. However, in terms of that "outreach initiative" (i.e. courting a wider audience, trying to legitimize itself as a heavyweight North American sports league), this particular incident is bad news. That's what people are saying.

There are ways the league can earn more fans and respect. It can manufacture some crazily intense rivalries. It can stick some good-looking superstars in fashion magazines. It can find ways to get teams to stop playing the boring-as-hell trap. Those are all reasonable ideas. Condoning calling Elisha Cuthbert "sloppy seconds" at a media Q&A is quite a few steps below those sorts of ideas. In fewer words: it's stupid and offensive. And if you let it go, it could potentially bite you ("you" being the league, and by extension, the sport of hockey) in the ass.

Talk about crossover appeal -- the NHL loves Elisha Cuthbert because she's an (absurdly attractive) entertainment star who genuinely loves hockey and who has graciously pimped the NHL on more than one occasion. That's great exposure. You don't want to burn that bridge. And that's saying nothing of corporations, entrepreneurs, and deep pockets in general. They're usually big on "morality clauses" and things of that nature, the point of which is to say: "Be professional and we'll contribute. Be unprofessional and we'll walk (and possibly bury you in the ground, depending on the extent of your screwup)." I can assure you that most corporate suits with vested interests in the league aren't too thrilled about this incident.

That's not me being a Bettman apologist, it's just common sense. Contrary to what a lot of people here seem to believe, the league is not in a position to say, "Well, the NFL/NBA/MLB can do it, so why can't we?" It doesn't work that way. If the world of professional North American sports leagues were a court, the NHL would be held in perpetual contempt -- and then some.

Think, people. Think.

[DallasStars 0]

1. I agree 100%

2. The Stars have 0% chance. Wings will have a day off and there legs game over.

3. I will be in section 105 row 1 and will be supporting a Lidstom Jersey.

4. I drink Miller Lite, bring me a few.

I'm guessing by your seat location the last thing you need is free beer. Not too mention my pockets don't run that deep.

Edited December 3, 2008 by DallasStars

[esteef 2,679]

There are ways the league can earn more fans and respect. It can manufacture some crazily intense rivalries. It can stick some good-looking superstars in fashion magazines. It can find ways to get teams to stop playing the boring-as-hell trap. Those are all reasonable ideas. Condoning calling Elisha Cuthbert "sloppy seconds" at a media Q&A is quite a few steps below those sorts of ideas. In fewer words: it's stupid and offensive. And if you let it go, it could potentially bite you ("you" being the league, and by extension, the sport of hockey) in the ass.

Sounds great! Wait,...where on the list is the NHL in terms of popularity in the US again? Oh yeah, the bottom.

Next!

esteef

[Hockeytown Red Wings 245]

I just think it's strange that the league would suspend him for calling an actress "sloppy seconds", and not suspend him for calling Laraque a "black monkey".

[MacK_Attack 108]

I just think it's strange that the league would suspend him for calling an actress "sloppy seconds", and not suspend him for calling Laraque a "black monkey".

The comment to Laraque could never be substantiated. It wasn't said to a media scrum like yesterday's remarks.

[Guest Shoreline]

Sorry, can't agree with you on that one. A skate to the leg or a sucker punch to the face with your glove on is very different from calling an ex-girlfriend a *****. Plus, let's not kid ourselves, Avery knew exactly what he was doing. To be perfectly honest, he probably did it out of boredom. I'm starting to doubt what I said earlier, he probably doesn't care about Elisha or Dion. s***'s and giggles, I say.

The verbal side can be unacceptable, yes, but they are terribly different. I think Steve Moore would have preferred Bertuzzi calling him a spineless piece of s*** who should go to hell, and that his mother a ****, rather than have his neck broken...

I'd say you've never been verbally abused, otherwise you'd not minimize the effects it has. They both cause proportionate amounts of emotional distress. Anyways, what Avery did isn't good for the game at all. It's a distraction from it.

[MaynardJKeenan 1]

Quoting my old buddy, Artie Lang.....

Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

He said I got his sloppy seconds, whaaa!!

[hillbillywingsfan 794]

I'd say you've never been verbally abused, otherwise you'd not minimize the effects it has. They both cause proportionate amounts of emotional distress. Anyways, what Avery did isn't good for the game at all. It's a distraction from it.

and do you think that most if any other hockey players give 2 shizzles about what avrey says?

Edited December 3, 2008 by hillbillywingsfan

[isbister 0]

I'm guessing by your seat location the last thing you need is free beer. Not too mention my pockets don't run that deep.

LOL ya I'm just messin. If your going to the game tough, come say hey.

[Barrie 900]

Today on Hockey Central at Noon on the FAN590, they were saying Avery should have played last night and have to face Dion and Iginla (Who he said something about earlier in the year). If players could get their hands on Avery when he says something stupid, he'd probably shut up, instead of being suspended by the League. Suspensions don't do much to help this type of situation.

I find it funny that people get so offended when Avery opens his mouth. What do they expect? It's Avery.

[This Is Bida 0]

If anything the League did Avery a favor by suspending him. That way he doesn't have to face the music that is Dion and Jerome! Hell, if I was Bettman I would've called Dion and Jerome and told them to have their way with Avery and no suspension will be warranted. You wanna open your mouth, back it up!

Truthfully though, Bettman should've stayed out of it. If anything, he should've called the Stars organization and made them make a matter out of it. Make it a team thing, not the whole organization.

And as for the guy who said something about being verbally abused...

That crap will fly in everyday life with delicate people but not in the NHL. I whole-heartedly agree that verbal abuse can be just as bad as physical but c'mon... this is the NHL. If that were the case all the players would be in rehab dealing with psychiatrist and trying to kill themselves.

I really just don't see Dion (or Jerome for that matter) shedding a tear after Avery's stupid comments.

P.S. Can anyone tell me what Avery said about Iginla or point me in the direction of an article? I can't find it anywhere.

edit: nevermind, found it.

Edited December 3, 2008 by This Is Bida

[GMRwings1983 8,803]

If anything the League did Avery a favor by suspending him. That way he doesn't have to face the music that is Dion and Jerome! Hell, if I was Bettman I would've called Dion and Jerome and told them to have their way with Avery and no suspension will be warranted. You wanna open your mouth, back it up!

Truthfully though, Bettman should've stayed out of it. If anything, he should've called the Stars organization and made them make a matter out of it. Make it a team thing, not the whole organization.

And as for the guy who said something about being verbally abused...

That crap will fly in everyday life with delicate people but not in the NHL. I whole-heartedly agree that verbal abuse can be just as bad as physical but c'mon... this is the NHL. If that were the case all the players would be in rehab dealing with psychiatrist and trying to kill themselves.

I really just don't see Dion (or Jerome for that matter) shedding a tear after Avery's stupid comments.

P.S. Can anyone tell me what Avery said about Iginla or point me in the direction of an article? I can't find it anywhere.

What music?

They're 2 visor-wearing spotpicking fruits that are no better fighters than Avery is. He wouldn't have anything to fear from them.

[Guest GordieSid&Ted]

I'd say you've never been verbally abused, otherwise you'd not minimize the effects it has. They both cause proportionate amounts of emotional distress. Anyways, what Avery did isn't good for the game at all. It's a distraction from it.

I disagree. Physical is one thing. It's tangible and you can see it. You break somebody's leg with a slash, there's no denying the effects. Emotional or psychological MAY cause harm. You are assuming that the person being abused cannot take/handle it.

I've been called every name in the book. You either have low self esteem and therefore it affects you. Or you are self confident enough not to let it get to you and/or you know the other person is only goading you and perhaps doesn't mean what they're saying.

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

What music?

They're 2 visor-wearing spotpicking fruits that are no better fighters than Avery is. He wouldn't have anything to fear from them.

Word up. Captain Visor and his dopey sidekick, here to start s*** and take cheapshots when their team is down and out. Their whining and crying should not be misinterpreted as a tough guy act.

[This Is Bida 0]

Whoa whoa whoa! Let's back this train up guys. Never did I say that Iginla and Phaneuf were tough guys or anything like that. All I simply said is that if he's gonna run his mouth about people he should have to 'face the music' as in see them face to face. Trust me, I can't stand the Flames (most of them atleast) but if I heard somebody talking s*** about me I sure would want to see them. Especially on the rink. I definitely wouldn't want there mommy protecting them (not saying Bettman was protecting him).

All I'm saying is that Bettman shouldn't have suspended him for the simple fact that he should've had to face the people he cowardly talks about to the media. Thats all!

Edit: after re-reading my original post I can see how it came off as me saying that Phaneuf and Iginla were serious tough-guy contenders. My apologies but that's definitely not what I meant!

Edited December 4, 2008 by This Is Bida

[Guest Shoreline]

I disagree. Physical is one thing. It's tangible and you can see it. You break somebody's leg with a slash, there's no denying the effects. Emotional or psychological MAY cause harm. You are assuming that the person being abused cannot take/handle it.

I've been called every name in the book. You either have low self esteem and therefore it affects you. Or you are self confident enough not to let it get to you and/or you know the other person is only goading you and perhaps doesn't mean what they're saying.

Just because the perpetrator can't peer into someone's brain or emotions to see damage does not mean verbal abuse does any less damage. One can say being hit does no damage. Women I've talked to while assisting at the battered women's shelter have told me being hit actually hurts them less than the verbal assault they received. The high and mighty road doesn't work when trying to seriously discuss the issue. It's the same s***.

Edited December 4, 2008 by Shoreline

[jellytoast 1]

Hey Avery...Tell me how my azzzzzz taste>?!

[Hockeytown Red Wings 245]

Just because the perpetrator can't peer into someone's brain or emotions to see damage does not mean verbal abuse does any less damage. One can say being hit does no damage. Women I've talked to while assisting at the battered women's shelter have told me being hit actually hurts them less than the verbal assault they received. The high and mighty road doesn't work when trying to seriously discuss the issue. It's the same s***.

Just how in the name of Robert Lang did we get into this conversation?

[esteef 2,679]

Avery is hot.

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

Just how in the name of Robert Lang did we get into this conversation?

WHAT HAS SCIENCE DOOOOOOOOONE

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

Has anyone posted his official apology yet?

Funny how wanting your job back can make even a guy like Avery rather contrite.

"I would like to sincerely apologize for my off-color remarks to the press yesterday from Calgary," Avery said. "I should not have made those comments and I recognize that they were inappropriate. It was a bad attempt to build excitement for the game, but I am now acutely aware of how hurtful my actions were. I caused unnecessary embarrassment to my peers as well as people I have been close with in the past.

"I apologize for offending the great fans of the NHL, the commissioner, my teammates, my coaching staff and the Dallas Stars management and ownership. As many of you know, I like to mix it up on and off the ice from time to time, but understand that this time I took it too far."

http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=493216

[esteef 2,679]

"It was a bad attempt to build excitement for the game"

Bingo. Suspension = overboard.

esteef

[Mors 201]

For $15.5 million Avery will read anything the NHL wants him to

[Outsider 42]

And if the WWE is more popular than the NHL, that's really depressing...

Lowest common denominator, harold.....

Which restaurant sells more food? McDonalds, or Craft?

Now....does that mean that the food at McDonalds is "better" than the food at Craft? Does it mean that the service is better? The atmosphere?

Hell no. Ridiculous.

What it means is that it's cheap, easily accessible, and caters to the lowest common denominator.....

Those who are simply looking for "something", "anything" to eat, and don't really care that what they're eating is crap, made from crap ingredients, and "assembled", (I wouldn't even call it "cooked"), under crap conditions. Hey....some even take pride in the fact that they enjoy it. It's on TV, and there are catchy jingles, and attractive young people singin' "I'm lovin' it!" It's GOTTA be good. Right?

Look at the GARBAGE that passes for the most "popular", the most viewed, shows on television these days. Same scenario. I can't believe ANYONE would watch this stuff....let alone MILLIONS.

The collective IQ of this Nation has plummeted. It dips lower and lower with each episode of "American Idol" and "Dancing with the Stars", and with films, (films which USED TO BE based upon real literature), that are now based on VIDEO GAMES and COMIC BOOKS.

Watch the movie "Idiocracy" for a magical look into our inevitable future. We are well on our way.

***Edit***

<ahem>

Sorry. Not really sure where that came from, nor what it had to do with Sean Avery. Sorry, folks.

Back to your regularly scheduled programming....

Edited December 4, 2008 by Outsider

[Lovin Jiri Fischer 147]

Avery's apology:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=3743305