Reporters were waiting to speak with Avery about disparaging remarks he'd made last month about Flames star Jarome Iginla when Avery walked over to the group and asked if there was a camera present. When told there was, he said, "I'm just going 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. I don't know what that's about, but enjoy the game tonight."
One of the things I've always admired about hockey players is that, generally speaking, they manage to conduct themselves with a reasonable degree of class and dignity. On the ice, they may pound the crap out of one another, and the insults may fly, but that behavior stays on the ice. Off it, players tend to recognize that professionalism and humanity requires that they set and respect boundaries. Because of this, it generally goes without saying that players respect one another off the ice, and the keep their disputes on the ice and out of the media. Of course, there's an exception to every rule, and the one of the NHL's most notable exceptions is Sean Avery, who really should have his own Dickipedia entry.
Never mind the disturbing mental imagery created by Avery crude disrespect of both Dion Phaneuf and Elisha Cuthbert; Avery's immaturity is slowly managing to take the Dallas Stars' season south.
"I like to push it to the edge, no doubt about it," Avery said this summer, after signing a $15.5 million, four-year deal with the Stars. "That's how I play. That's how I live. That's what I'm all about."
Actually, no; being an immature dick is what Avery seems to be about. Even his new teammates in Dallas are growing tired of his act. Signed by GM Brett Hull to add an "edge" to the Stars roster, Avery is instead managing to alienates teammates and fans. Other players have long since detested him for being the irritant and @$$hole he's always been.
Teammates were in the locker room when Avery spoke Tuesday, but didn't necessarily hear his interview. Told what he said, most were not surprised.
"We expect that out of him like we have all year," said goaltender Marty Turco, who was critical of Avery's agitation of Brodeur during the playoffs when it happened. "You know, the show continues."
I've been HUGE hockey fan my entire life, but I'll admit that this season I could really care less about the NHL. Part of my antipathy is because the league continues to tolerates immature sideshows like Sean Avery. In a team-oriented sport, Avery through his actions continues to demand that the spotlight be focused directly on him.
I applaud the league for finally deciding that Avery's crossed the line, and I applaud Dallas Stars owner Tom Hicks for saying that if the league hadn't suspended Avery, the Stars would have. At least we finally have been provided evidence that the NHL is capable of policing itself...now if teams would just stop paying top dollar for @$$holes like Sean Avery, they might win me back.
Like that's going to happen any time soon....
You don't have to be a dick to be a successful professional athlete. In fact, a modicum of class and dignity goes a long way- particularly in a sport in which participants have historically been criminals on the ice but gentleman off. It would seem that Sean Avery didn't get that memo. If he can't let his game do his talking for him, perhaps it's time or Avery to find another line of work.
