Sean Avery Sits: A Good Move by the NHL

I rarely write hockey articles on here, as I typically stick with English football.   But I have been around the sport of hockey in numerous capacities since I started playing in 1986 as a four-year old. 

In those 22 years, I have never seen nor have I come across a player that disrespected the game of hockey quite like Sean Avery.  There have been other players like him such as Claude Lemieux, but the difference between Lemieux and Avery is this: 

Lemieux is a player who many said was a great teammate, but horrible to play against.  The case is different with Avery.  Avery's own teammates hate him.  Mike Modano went so far as to say he'd rather "work in the front office" than play with Avery.  Marty Turco was quoted relating Avery's antics to a "circus."

The story of Sean Avery's career is a sad story, I must admit.  Skill-wise, he really is a good solid hockey player.  He is a good skater, decent shooter, and he has good hands.

However, his attitude is what is so repulsive.  His attitude and his lack of any respect for the game is what has made him such a repulsive figure.

In hockey, when you are on a team the most important thing to your teammates is that you are a good teammate and that you do not bring negative attention and distractions to your team.  He has done nothing but the opposite. 

Yes, you need good agitators.  However, you don't need players doing that in the media in a pre-meditated way.  Hockey players don't like teammates who seem to want that kind of spotlight.  

Avery is selfish in his approach.  He does things not for the good of the team, but to bring all of the attention to himself.  

In general, the majority of NHL hockey players are good guys.  They quietly go about their business while doing a lot for the community.   Avery, on the other hand has done nothing but make others around him better, he has done nothing to help to general good of the community.   

As Don Cherry described Avery, "I've known this kid since he was about 16 years old—once a jerk, always a jerk."  It's time for Avery to learn that karma really does suck.

The suspension of Avery is the right move for the NHL.  The move is just a punishment to the player, but the league is also saving itself an even bigger headache when someone decides to turn Avery into ground beef. 

This wouldn't be just a drop the gloves incident, this would have been an "end Avery's career" type incident.  It would be an incident that would be similar to the Todd Bertuzzi hit on Steve Moore.  The type of ugliness that the NHL is trying to get rid off.

In my opinion, this should be Avery's final chance.  One more slip up, one more moronic incident and it's off to Hollywood, where he can focus on women's clothing on a full time basis. 

It seems he cares more about being a fashion poster boy than a hockey player anyways—so I say, "Good riddance Sean, and don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out."