It's a strange day in hockeyland. I am a proud supporter of the New Jersey Devils and Martin Brodeur, yet I find myself standing behind Sean Avery, one of the team's nemeses.
Avery has been suspended by the NHL indefinitely for a comment he made. The comment was not about poor officiating or goonish players. It actually had to do with his ex-girlfriend, Elisha Cuthbert.
Said Avery: "I'm 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, but enjoy the game tonight."
He's talking about Calgary defenseman Dion Phaneuf, the most recent NHLer to be linked to Cuthbert. For this, he's suspended indefinitely. For talking smack.
He didn't criticize anyone or bad-mouth the league. He simply said a line, a nasty line. It's part of the game. Seriously. Someone in the commissioner's office needs to grow a pair.
I just can't fathom this suspension. Was it rude? For sure. But you can't suspend someone for being rude.
I'm sorry, but this is Roger Goodell territory. It's utterly ludicrous. At worst, he should be fined, a slap on the wrist for being mean. But in a sport where Todd Bertuzzi still plays despite nearly murdering Steve Moore, you're suspending a guy for calling Elisha Cuthbert a name? You've got to be joking.
I feel a little dirty supporting Avery, but this is really one of the dumbest things I've ever heard.
16 comments Last one added 7 months ago — Leave a Comment
Clay Punk 7 months ago
I'm not that surprised by the suspension. From a public relations perspective Avery is a nightmare. And maybe the NHL has decided to set a precedent as to what players can say in the media.
As a Devils fan I used to hate Avery with a passion (like most) but the thing is nowadays I find myself beginning to pity him. The guys antics are just becoming a bit lame and silly.
Just my 2 cents.
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Plaxio B 7 months ago
Dude has anger issues, and his innocent little comment is typical of those that hate women. Its demeaning and goes way way offside compared to trash talking your opponent. Avery gets what he deserves out of this - the league has to respond, but don't expect the 'indefinite' suspension to last more than a few games. It might be a way for Stars to get out of their contract with him - plus, his teammates clearly don't like him. Watch and see Dallas pull together and rise up as a result of this idiot.
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Jersey 7 months ago
Oh please, Avery doesn't hate women. He hates Elisha Cuthbert. And he's probably not too fond of Phaneuf, for that exact reason. Smack talk, is all.
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S. Singh 7 months ago
I believe a lot of us feel dirty today for "supporting" Sean Avery. I am more embarrassed for the front office for making this non issue an issue.
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William 7 months ago
This is a case where someone who the front office looked away about because he got people talking about hockey that NEVER would show an interest otherwise. He made a name for himself and the NHL stole some ink space from football and baseball.
Now that he is out of the big money market of the Big Apple plus his antics against the NJ Devil's god between the pipes, they were just waiting for something to hit him with- no matter how small.
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Reg Hampton 7 months ago
I agree with Jersey. Come on...Bertuzzi is still hanging around despite his not only goonish but indictable behaviour and Dany Heatley killed a teammate for god sake. If an NBA player would've said it, you think the league would have responded this way. Yah, right! He'd be a hero on Leno. Oh wait...what was his name? Oh yeah, Kobe Bryant. Let me drop another name...Ray Lewis! Big NFL star and the NHL figures it holds their players to "higher standards".
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Justin Lowder 7 months ago
I'm not really a big hockey fan but there is no way you can suspend him for saying that. This is hockey, a physical sport where guys have fist fights and try to tear each other apart. Steve Avery then gets suspended for talking about his ex-girlfriend. You've got to be kidding me. I think for the sport of hockey though they need a player like this who causes controversy and sparks an interest in the game.
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Daniel Arouchian 7 months ago
The NHL is pretty much annoyed by Avery. They don't need him bad mouthing the league or the other players. If he's not happy,he can play in Europe or even retire. Trust me,no one will miss him.
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Chris DiFrancesco 7 months ago
He had every right to be suspended because it was pre-meditated by that guy. He brought it to himself. He is calculated and sick. Whoever believes he was right in what he did or is ok with it should be disgusted with themselves. This article probably just a devil's advocate im sure. Which is what makes it all the more interesting.
Still, he should be suspended and deserves to be so. Its ok Jersey, its only for a couple games so its fine. Hes a pig and the league knows it. They did something right here for a change.
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Jacob Mowat 7 months ago
I support Sean Avery because of like you said how pointless this suspension is. Who the hell does Bettman think he is the principle in elementry school who suspends you for calling someone dumb.NO for god sake the league hasn't had any big storys for a few days.I argee his comments were rude but so is calling someone a jackass Avrey wouldn't get suspended for that the NHL needs a new commisioner. Thats the just of it.
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levinakl 7 months ago
how do you think his friends at Vanity feel about having given this clown an internship?
It was premeditated, and suspending him is long overdue. That kind of remark may have been accepted on the ice, but do something like that off the ice, shows no class. Unfortunately, not very surprising at all, but I'm glad they are finally doing something about it.
How someone can try to defend what Avery did troubles me greatly... it was premeditated and I'm glad the NHL is sending this type of message. It's quite refreshing to see a league take a stand to nonsense. While I'm no naive to think this sort of thing will cease all together, maybe it will stop at least one of these types of incidents from taking place in the future, and if that's the case, then I'm even more glad Betteman finally had the guts to do something.
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Jersey 7 months ago
I'm really just not sure what he did that was so wrong. Is the guy a jerk? Sure. But come on, this action is NOT suspendable. How can you justify suspending him for this, of all things?
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Ron Van Lew 7 months ago
I don't think the suspension is all about this one incident. I think it is about a large amount of nonsense that Avery finds acceptable to do in front of or to the media. The Iginla comments, the french Canadien comment, the fight with a New York reporter this year where he threw so rather nasty insult his way that had nothing to do with hockey. Lets face it hockey is a sport where the athletes are the most down to earth people. A person like Avery hurts what hockey is trying to build.
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Ranger Fan 7 months ago
I support Avery 100% - he is all talk - it was all done for effect to get under Phaneuf's skin.
So now if Dallas does not want him anymore, as a NY Ranger fan, can we have him back?
He was very entertaining!
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Carolyn Lucas 7 months ago
As a Ranger fan, NO, we don't want him back.
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Carolyn Lucas 7 months ago
If he left what he said, on the ice, or in the locker room, no one would care. Saying it to someone in a bar may get you a pool cue upside the head.
Saying it in the media, that is a big PR nightmare, not just for the Stars, but the whole NHL. So I say teach the jackass a lesson.
But from this point on teach the Todd Bertuzzis of the game an ever harsher lesson.
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