Sean Avery: Jackass
By Wyatt Earp | December 3, 2008
Dude, this kind of nonsense is usually reserved for the NBA or the NFL. The NHL does not need this garbage. It tarnishes the entire league.
DALLAS – The NHL suspended Dallas Stars forward Sean Avery indefinitely Tuesday for making a crude reference to former girlfriends while talking with reporters.
Avery’s inflammatory comments came following a morning skate in Calgary, Alberta, where the Stars were to play the Flames on Tuesday night. He approached a group of reporters, asked if a camera was present, then said he wanted to say one thing: “I’m really happy to be back in Calgary; I love Canada,” he said. “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.”
He used a crass term to refer to ex-girlfriends now dating other people.
Avery’s ex-girlfriend, actress Elisha Cuthbert, is dating Calgary defenseman Dion Phaneuf and had been romantically linked to Mike Komisarek of the Montreal Canadiens. Avery also dated model and actress Rachel Hunter, the girlfriend of Los Angeles Kings center Jarrett Stoll.
Hours after Avery spoke, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman announced the punishment, saying Avery made “inappropriate public comments, not pertaining to the game.”
Thankfully, Stars management supports the suspension:
“I completely support the league’s decision to suspend Sean Avery,” Stars owner Tom Hicks said in a statement. “Had the league not have suspended him, the Dallas Stars would have. This organization will not tolerate such behavior, especially from a member of our hockey team. We hold our team to a higher standard and will continue to do so.” (H/T – )
Okay, here’s my take on this. First off, the quote was kind of funny: If it was said in a locker room with friends or through a snarky e-mail. It is not funny when it is said in front of cameras and microphones. Use your head Avery, and show some class for once in your miserable life.
Second, Avery’s suspension hurts no one except Avery. The guy is a mediocre player at best, whose only claim to fame is that he annoys the other team. Hell, by that reasoning, Dallas can hire Randal Graves to yell, “I love Barack Obama!” at the opposition. At least Randal can score points. Avery has 10 points in 23 games this season. He’s no Mario Lemieux. He’s not even Claude Lemieux.
Personally, I think they should sit Avery for the foreseeable future. A slap on the wrist by the league will just embolden this knucklehead. Pretty soon, you have another Plaxico Burress on your hands.
And no one wants that.
Topics: Ice Hockey | 4 Comments »
December 3rd, 2008 at 6:50 am
What a puck-head.
December 3rd, 2008 at 10:14 am
They bench a guy for stupid comments in a league where assault and battery is supported? I guess hockey fans have different taste’s than NASCAR fans.
You might be a hockey player if your car has a bra and your girl friend doens’t need one. (This is really an anti red neck joke but what the hey)
MUD
December 3rd, 2008 at 5:03 pm
That’s exactly how I feel about it — but you knew that.
December 3rd, 2008 at 8:31 pm
He’s an ass. MUD…you don’t know the NHL and what “on ice” behavior versus off-ice behavior.
Claude Lemieux….about a week ago, I was actually wondering what he’s up to…I’ve been wondering about a lot of the players from the ’90s (when I see the older players are from the ’90s).