While it is hard to imagine Sean Avery being associated with a group of heroes like the members of the US Marine Corps, there is a saying in the Marines that is as familiar as "Semper Fi". It is, "no better friend, no worse enemy." That describes Sean Avery particularly well.
Most players that have played with and against Avery will most likely prefer to be in the "with" column; as opposed to the "against". I personally have a passionate dislike of Avery, bordering closely to hate. Sean Avery can play that game, he can score, he can manufacture plays, he is a good skater. So why does a player blessed with these skills lack the one thing that separates good players from bad ones? Of course I speak here of respect.
Love him or hate him, Sean Avery is paid a lot of money to play a game. As is the case in other professional sports, actually all sports in general, the main goal is to win, otherwise why bother to keep score? The NHL is one of the toughest professional sports, in my honest opinion, it takes more skill, athleticism, and perseverance to play in this league.
The Stanley Cup is the hardest trophy is professional sports to win. However, Sean Avery consistently and maddeningly disrespects opposing players and in turn, the game as a whole. Sean Avery is a talented man, being paid million of dollars to play a game.
Sean Avery occupies the auspicious post of "pest" in hockey vernacular. Among his compatriots are players like Darcy Tucker, Jordan Tootoo, Matthew Barnaby, and Mario Lemieux's least favorite player, Darius Kasparitis. These players' role is to agitate and attempt to get high-skilled players to change their focus from playing the game. A lot of people look down on these players as players who don't possess the size or skill to excel in the NHL and are therefore resigned to secondary roles on the team. With the exception of players like Darcy Tucker and Matthew Barnaby, these pests are timid to drop the gloves. Avery will only fight after he has taken the first punch.
- B/R Ticket Guide
Pests have a place in the game, they can be valuable assets at times. Some of them can also chip in offensively. But a lot of what Avery does crosses the line. I'd like to hear what is really said out there by mic'd up players.
Avery has gone on record about giving Martin Brodeur a hard time about the divorce from his wife 5 years ago. Something of a very personal nature almost set things off in the pregame warm up in a game against Toronto this season, where Avery started giving Jason Blake a hard time and Darcy Tucker came to the rescue. Avery goes after the star players, and if he was playing about 10 years ago, he'd be taking a lot of the first punches before the instigator rule was enforced.
Avery also talks about his reputation like it's a badge of honor, sort of like, "I'm a hack and damned proud of it!" Please. Avery is a player in the National Hockey League, and by association, a professional. Also, Avery whether he likes it or not, is a role model. Players may pattern their play after him, after all, he's a New York Ranger, that kind of idiocy must be what the NHL wants, right?
So, hearing that Avery ruptured his spleen in a game against the Pittsburgh Penguins and will unavailable for the remainder of the Stanley Cup playoffs (which may end Thursday anyway) was did not arouse any sad feelings within me.
While I maintain that I never want to see a player, any player, hurt, (I am not a masochist who likes to see people suffer), I think that maybe Avery is experiencing a little bit of karma. Or, perhaps divine intervention.
The Stanley Cup Playoffs should not be a venue for Avery to display the same behavior that saw teams like Detroit and Los Angeles do whatever it took to ship him off to another team. And now, no matter what happens to New York, it won't matter.
At least Avery fans can take solace in the fact that he will make full recovery in the off season and will be back to his same old antics this fall. At least Martin Brodeur will be able to fend off the tiresome barbs about his divorce with a snappy retort like, "Hey Sean, how's the spleen?"
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6 months ago
Avery should be banished from the game.
6 months ago
not a bad article, I agree with you on just about every front, and I agree with Anthony; Avery is an embarrassment to the New York Rangers, the NHL, and the game of hockey. (You really should read this article over again though, and do some grammatical editing, etc)
6 months ago
I personally like Avery.
He has earned his reputation, but he said no such thing to Blake about his battle with cancer, of that I know for a fact.
He doesn't need to do the antics though, since he is a pretty talented guy.
But I think now he just gets the bad rap due to reputation. It's funny how Shanahan does basically the same thing Avery does, sticking his arm in a goalies face to distract him from seeing the shot, and it's not frowned upon. Sure Shanahan wasn't facing the goalie, but it's still unsportsmanlike in my opinion.
As a Leafs fan I can say this, I hope Toronto can sign Avery, because they need some spunk, even if it is from a punk.
6 months ago
Derek, your comment further solidifies Shanahan's nonexistent nature.
6 months ago
One word for Avery: Karma. Plain and simple.
6 months ago
You don't have to like him on the ice, the guy almost died and you sound like you can't care less.
6 months ago
First of this entire article is totally biased and most of the people commenting are ridiculous. First of all a human being was seriously injured and could of died if it actually ruptured but you keep your tears to yourself because Avery wouldn't want them anyway but his family might.
Second your whole karma point is ridiculous because I assume you and others on this board are perfect but for some reason I highly doubt that so you better watch out, I bet yours is coming especially after showing no compassion for another human being, how does that make you any better than the man you are tearing apart?
Also, no where in your biased commenting did you talk about how Avery played the entire game with a lacerated spleen because he is a dedicated hockey player and cares about his team. Also you want to put him down as being an aggravator, you say it crosses the line? Why is it not true that Brodeur slept with his sister in law? Is it Avery's fault that he can successfully get into his head and did you comment on how many goals Avery scored in that series of course not because then you would have to admit that he is a successful agitator and a good hockey player. I didn't see you mention all the things that Clarkson did in the series, oh yeah that's right, all you amateur commentators and non amateur’s out there only like to harp on Avery, I wonder why that is, that's right because he is darn good at what he does. Also about him not dropping his gloves please, please watch some Rangers game before you talk because one he does drop his gloves and two did you ever stop to consider that he is out there trying to draw a penalty. No I bet that never crossed your mind. I see Tucker do the same thing except he will go after Straka or Petr, guys that he know won't fight him. Rutuu and Clarkson do the same thing but yet you harp on Avery. So it's ok for some guys. You talk about Brodeur like he is a class act but he isn't. He dives, he slashes, he pushes guys out of the way, and then we whines and cries, he shows no sportsmanship, and a loss is never his fault, and any goal that is scored on him is lucky, yeah that is a class act. That's right you don't like Avery so he is worthless, you like Brodeur so he can do anything that he wants. Are you secretly a ref?
And for the person who commented that Avery should be banished, why because he talks crap and is successful at it. If Simon was not banished after the things that he has done then how can you even justify saying Avery should. Sean Avery has never used someone's head as batting practice or his skate as a weapon.
This article and comments show that not one of you is better than the man you have so blatantly put down.
Sean Avery, we, your fans wish you a full recovery and cannot wait for next year, back in the red, white, and blue playing your game, scoring goals and being a very good agitator. We respect and acknowledge all you have done for and brought to the New York Rangers.
6 months ago
You are entitled to your opinion, and I respect that. So too, I do I, and I am not required to give a fair and balanced view on the situation. Yes, there are players who also play dirty, on the edge of rules, and do far worse and act more irresponsible that Avery on his worst day. If you saw through my bias, I do not want to see any player hurt, not Avery, not Simon, not Broduer. What I am glad to see is the game on display without Avery and his antics. Yes, a ruptured spleen is a high price for him to pay to be out of the game, but yet and still, I believe the game is better off without his Sideshow Bob routine. I can see you are passionate about your opinion and that is good!
from 6 months ago
Yes you are entitled to your opinion. I read through your entire piece more than once and never once did I get the feeling that you felt any compassion for him or for his injury. You might not like his side show antics but he is not the first hockey player to do these things yet he is the one that gets the most press about it, like I said he is darn good at what he does and is a good hockey player so I guess that is what makes him stand out. But again he is still a human being and deserves compassion. But we will just agree to disagree but I do believe 99.9% of his bashers would love him if he did for their team what he has done for the Rangers.
Also the reason I say bias is because I dont' see you commenting on any of the other "agitators" or "jerks" in hockey and their are plenty or the guys out there trying to injure with more than just words so maybe deep down you really like AVery, I mean you did dedicate a whole lot of time and thought to him.
6 months ago
It's hard to believe that a ruptured spleen causes cardiac arrest. Now they're saying that he wasn't unconscious and he walked into the hospital by himself and checked himself in. It sounds like a cover up to me. If this ruptured spleen incident was SO serious, why did he play the whole game with it? They claim that he went to the hospital hours after the game. What did he do in those hours after the Penguins jumped to a 3-0 lead in the series? Get himself another hooker? Did you happen to mention that Angela? That Avery has been arrested for prostitution?
from 6 months ago
Actually if you new anything he wasn't arrested for being with a hooker and the story that was printed wasnt' even true. Just like he was in cardiac arrest which wasn't true either. Imagaine that the media getting something wrong. He went to the hospital right after the game with a ranger medic and was checked out and admitted. Why do people try to make a point when they don't even know what they are talking about.
6 months ago
With Tom Renney and Avery behind it, I wouldn't be surprised to see Avery in the starting lineup for the Rags tonight...
6 months ago
I don't personally like Avery, i think hes bad for the game. At the same time though i understand he has a job to do on the ice, a job that when i played i held that title and not half as successfully as he does. Either way to show no remorse for his near death experience is just childish. He may be a thug at times but he is a human being.
6 months ago
"He was never in a life-threatening situation,"- John Rosasco, Ranger's spokesman commenting on Sean Avery's condition after being admitted into St. Vicent's Hospital following Game 3 of the Rangers/Penguins Series. Rangers management also stated they will not be making an contract offer to Avery, who is set to become an unresricted free agent at the end of this season.
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