Steve Avery is moderately funny

[TheKilo]

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=258171&lid=headline&lpos=topStory_main

 

"I am really happy to be back in Calgary, I love Canada," Avery told TSN on Tuesday. "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. Enjoy the game tonight."

 

He ignored further questioning, but it was the first of what could be many verbal salvos ahead of the Flames meeting with the Dallas Stars tonight. Avery certainly has a lot of potential targets.

 

The most obvious is Flames defenceman Dion Phaneuf, who is currently dating actress Elisha Cuthbert, who happens to be an ex-girlfriend of Avery's. That gauntlet has, apparently, already been thrown down.

[Cocos Disciples]

Him and Matt Stairs.

[YanksHater213]

Suspended so Phaneuf doesn't take his head off.

[BoSox21]

Suspended so Phaneuf doesn't take his head off.

 

Seriously. Bettman did Avery a huge favor here. Still, Avery crossed a line here by saying that s*** to the media

[See Red]

Sean Avery's my favorite player. I can respect a man who is that hated.

[ARod2212]

Steve Avery was a pitcher for the Braves in the '90s. Sean Avery is a smartass hockey player who used to bang Elisha Cuthbert.

 

I like Avery, but he f***ed up by leaving NY for more money. He had an understanding in the locker room with the Rangers, but in Dallas they're already sick of his s***. They'll be looking to unload him soon, Modano wants nothing to do with him.

[rician blast]

How can anyone think he's funny? How can any fan like him?

 

IMO, anyone who played hockey or is an old school, long time fan would likely never say "I like him, and would definitely NEVER say "I respect him" because he goes well beyond the hockey "code."

 

I'd be ashamed to have him on my team...absolutely ashamed...and I'd make it known to my team's management that I don't want him around. I'd boo him at home every time he touched the puck, and I typically boo no one.

 

The guy is a douchebag. After a game vs. Boston this year in which Ott and Avery pulled all sorts of cheap s***, Mike Modano said "if this is what we're going for, find me an off ice job." He was appalled and has no respect for the guy. It's exactly that lack of respect from teammates that drove him out of New York.

 

But he gets the attention he is so starved for, so I guess this all plays into his plan.

[TheKilo]

Oh there's no doubt he's a douchebag and it should have been settled on the ice between him and Phaneuf, but the comment was moderately funny.

[rician blast]

Senses of humor differ from one to another, so I guess I can understand how some see it as funny, some don't.

 

Kinda like when I was a junior on the baseball team and a senior yells at some student he was arguing with in the parking lot after the game "how much does your mother charge"...some of the kids thought it was funny...others thought it was just a stupid immature retort, deviod of any real humor or creativity.

 

"sloppy seconds?" Great originality...what'd he do next tell someone to pull his finger and fart? Good old Avery.

[BoSox21]

the one thing about this that hasnt been mentioned in this thread is that when Avery walked into the locker room, he gathered all the media around him first and waited until they set up their cameras and whatnot, THEN delivered his stupid line

 

if he says it to Phaneuf on the ice, its a non-issue but the fact that he says it in the media to publicly embarass Phaneuf, Cuthbert, his team, the league and himself is the biggest problem I have

[ARod2212]

It's exactly that lack of respect from teammates that drove him out of New York.

He left NY because Sather didn't offer as much money as the Stars did. They made him a pretty significant offer, and he turned it down. His antics had a minimal impact on his staying with the team.

[rician blast]

He left NY because Sather didn't offer as much money as the Stars did. They made him a pretty significant offer' date=' and he turned it down. His antics had a minimal impact on his staying with the team.[/quote']

 

 

And why didn't Sather offer him more???? They'd have offered him more if he didn't have a negative impact in the room. He was not respected and several teammates wanted him gone. He wears out his welcome everywhere he goes.

 

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/hockey/stars/stories/120308dnspostarsquicktake.3ab071b.html

[rician blast]

if he says it to Phaneuf on the ice' date=' its a non-issue but the fact that he says it in the media to publicly embarass Phaneuf, Cuthbert, his team, the league and himself is the biggest problem I have[/quote']

 

nicely put.

 

he has "PATM" syndrome..."pay attention to me" goddamit!

[See Red]

His comment wasn't even that bad.

 

And I doubt his only motivation was just to get a little bit of attention -- he did it with the intent of getting inside Phaneuf's head, and it would've worked because Phaneuf probably would've tried to kill him. Save your ire for someone who deserves it, like Bertuzzi.

[rician blast]

A little more on Mr. Douche:

 

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/hockey/stars/stories/120308dnspostarslede.24c8965d.html

 

I agree that the comment itself was not realy that bad, but understand that the league, and especially the Stars, don't need this going on.

 

Bottom line is this guy pulls all this crap and fails too often (not every time, but way too often) to back it up. From what I've heard a teammate even set it should have been settled on the ice but Avery would have hidden in the lockerroom!!! That says it all.

[See Red]

How is he any worse than, say, Rodney Harrison? Who's annually voted the NFL's dirtiest player by his peers (and NFL coaches).

[BoSox21]

How is he any worse than' date=' say, Rodney Harrison? Who's annually voted the NFL's dirtiest player by his peers (and NFL coaches).[/quote']

 

To my knowledge, Rodney has never done any of the following:

 

- Called a black player a monkey

- Caracterize all french-canadian players as chickens

- Mocked a player battling cancer

- Referred to a player's girlfriend as sloppy seconds in public

[See Red]

To my knowledge, Rodney has never done any of the following:

 

- Called a black player a monkey

- Caracterize all french-canadian players as chickens

- Mocked a player battling cancer

- Referred to a player's girlfriend as sloppy seconds in public

 

- Allegedly.

- That's not even bad. These are grown men.

- Again, allegedly. According to an anonymous player.

- Again, not even that bad. Probably crossed the line, but that's hardly detrimental to the league.

 

Harrison's only been caught using HGH and is considered one of the dirtiest players in the NFL (as in physical cheap shots -- sticks and stones). But you're right, saying negative things about somebody is far worse.

 

I mention Harrison because it's funny how some of you guys paint Sean Avery to be this terrible person yet still love Rodney Harrison, who does worse things.

[rician blast]

How is he any worse than' date=' say, Rodney Harrison? Who's annually voted the NFL's dirtiest player by his peers (and NFL coaches).[/quote']

 

There are major cultural/social differences between the two sports and their players. In the NHL there has historically been a code which Avery continues to break. Players don't respect opponents or teammates that break that code. While Rodney may me hated for playing dirty, I'd venture to say he's still viewed as a better teammate than Avery.

 

Someone mentioned Bertuzzi earlier. I'll bet if the players around the NHL were asked who they respected more...Bertuzzi or Avery...they'd say Bertuzzi, despite the fact that he cheapshotted and seriously injured an opponent. Similarly, they'd respect McSorley more than Avery too.

 

Guys make mistakes, but those who own up to it retain some respect. Avery owns up to nothing, and runs away most of the time when he's challenged thus he gets no respect from teammates or opponents.

[See Red]

There are major cultural/social differences between the two sports and their players. In the NHL there has historically been a code which Avery continues to break. Players don't respect opponents or teammates that break that code. While Rodney may me hated for playing dirty, I'd venture to say he's still viewed as a better teammate than Avery.

 

Someone mentioned Bertuzzi earlier. I'll bet if the players around the NHL were asked who they respected more...Bertuzzi or Avery...they'd say Bertuzzi, despite the fact that he cheapshotted and seriously injured an opponent. Similarly, they'd respect McSorley more than Avery too.

 

Guys make mistakes, but those who own up to it retain some respect. Avery owns up to nothing, and runs away most of the time when he's challenged thus he gets no respect from teammates or opponents.

 

Rodney Harrison cheated. Took performance enhancing drugs, which goes against the integrity of the game -- that goes against the most important "code" of any sport -- verbal jabs don't, especially when the accusations never make it past the stage of being accusations.

 

As for the second part, that's the problem. What's Sean Avery ever done outside of hurt a few feelings, maybe? He's never blatantly cheapshotted anybody with the intent to cause injury, he used words. Words. I was the one who brought up Todd Bertuzzi.

 

Steve Moore hit Marcus Naslund on a legal hit as ruled by the NHL. In between that game, and the game in which Todd Bertuzzi cheapshotted Moore in Vancouver, the two teams played one another in Denver in which the only incident was a fight between Moore and Brad May. Then when they played in Vancouver, it was a hit from behind, completely out of the play, and a man was paralyzed -- career finished. Not only did he do the cheapshot that ended Moore's career, he wasn't man enough to do it in Denver. And you think he's more respectable than Sean Avery?

 

He said he was wrong and apologized, how else can he own up to it? Boo hoo... these are grown f***ing men -- they can't take verbal jabs? Complete overreaction from the League.

 

I think it's so odd that Avery's the guy people choose to focus their hatred on -- especially when they cheer for guys like Rodney Harrison.

[BoSox21]

im not gonna defend Harrison cause im far from being a Pats fan or a Harrison fan but in terms of Avery, what he said was more than just "verbal jabs". He embarassed the organization he plays for and like Tom Hicks said, if the NHL didn't suspend him then the Stars would have. And as far as the NHL goes, it's the same deal, those words were embarassing to the league and offensive to women, they have every right to make an example of him.

 

BTW, you bought up that he said he was wrong and apologized, while this is true, did you see that apology? It was so contrived and obviously fed to him by his publicist. He was quick to gather TV cameras around him to say his stupid comments but he wasn't apologetic enough to gather the cameras outside the NHL offices in New York today to deliver that apology, he had to do it through a statement.

[rician blast]

Rodney Harrison cheated. Took performance enhancing drugs' date=' which goes against the integrity of the game -- that goes against the most important "code" of any sport -- verbal jabs don't, especially when the accusations never make it past the stage of being accusations.[/quote']

 

With respect to PEDs, their being damaging to the "Integrity of the game" is mainly defined by the rules that have been put in place. Cheating by use of PEDs is or at least was rampant in professional sports. If PEDs are a such a detriment to the sport, and so damaging to a sport's integrity, why do so many players use them? Are they all such black-eyes on the sport htey cheat in? And how about those that that accept their teammates using them? Are they also guilty of damaging the integrity? PEDs go against the rules of the game, but, at least for a time, became so engrained in professional sports that cheating hasn't been viewed with as much disdain by players as other seemingly less important issues like we're talking about here..

 

 

What's Sean Avery ever done outside of hurt a few feelings, maybe? He's never blatantly cheapshotted anybody with the intent to cause injury, he used words. Words. I was the one who brought up Todd Bertuzzi.

 

I understand your point, but your missing the fact that, as I stated earlier, the CULTURE of hockey is different from other sports. Right or wrong...and I'm not defending either camp..in hockey guys are expected to stand up for what they do AND say on the ice...just the way it has always been. When a player high sticks, butt-ends, bumps after the whistle, chirps all game long, etc. the way Avery does, he is expected to answer the call when challenged. It is a process that's been in hockey forever...they call it policing themselves. As such, players have no respect for the Ulf Sammuelson's and Sean Avery's of the world. Avery too often puts on his performance and runs away. Read what his own teammates, his coach, and his team's owner are saying about him. They're disgusted...absolutely sickened...by his actions. Why? Because it is outside of hockey's culture. His own teammates have no respect for him. That says it all in a sport where teammates take care of each other and watch each others' backs.

 

Steve Moore hit Marcus Naslund on a legal hit as ruled by the NHL. In between that game, and the game in which Todd Bertuzzi cheapshotted Moore in Vancouver, the two teams played one another in Denver in which the only incident was a fight between Moore and Brad May. Then when they played in Vancouver, it was a hit from behind, completely out of the play, and a man was paralyzed -- career finished. Not only did he do the cheapshot that ended Moore's career, he wasn't man enough to do it in Denver. And you think he's more respectable than Sean Avery?

 

No, I never said I think he's more respectable than Avery. I said check around the league and players will have more respect for Bertuzzi than for Avery. I'm in finance and I don't skate well enough to be in the NHL, so it was obviously not my opinion.

 

He said he was wrong and apologized, how else can he own up to it? Boo hoo... these are grown f***ing men -- they can't take verbal jabs? Complete overreaction from the League.

Discussed already...hockey's culture is different...see above.

 

I think it's so odd that Avery's the guy people choose to focus their hatred on -- especially when they cheer for guys like Rodney Harrison.

 

I don't really hate him or any other guy...similarly I also don't share the same over-the-top unadulterated admiration for players that some fans do either. But I know hockey, I know how players see the game and I know he is constantly out of bounds. It is what it is and he's a douchebag.

[See Red]

im not gonna defend Harrison cause im far from being a Pats fan or a Harrison fan but in terms of Avery, what he said was more than just "verbal jabs". He embarassed the organization he plays for and like Tom Hicks said, if the NHL didn't suspend him then the Stars would have. And as far as the NHL goes, it's the same deal, those words were embarassing to the league and offensive to women, they have every right to make an example of him.

 

BTW, you bought up that he said he was wrong and apologized, while this is true, did you see that apology? It was so contrived and obviously fed to him by his publicist. He was quick to gather TV cameras around him to say his stupid comments but he wasn't apologetic enough to gather the cameras outside the NHL offices in New York today to deliver that apology, he had to do it through a statement.

 

It's cute that the Stars are acting like they didn't know what they were getting when they signed Sean Avery. He was a terrible signing for the Stars, he's been a disruption in that lockerroom, and they see this as a way out. They knew exactly what they were getting -- they wanted him for that exact reason -- now it's not panning out the way they had planned and they've found their way out. That's all that is. It's not offensive to women, it's offensive to those particular women -- I don't see any feminist groups coming out in droves to condemn him or his comments. I might be wrong on that one, though -- a quick google search showed barely even a mentioning on a feminist website.

 

And Rician, that doesn't excuse cheating in sports -- I don't see many people throwing that excuse out there for Bonds. As for Avery, give me an example where he crossed the line verbally and then ducked a fight. He said this before the game, knowing full well the consequences I'm sure -- his not playing was hardly his choice. And if NHL players do respect Bertuzzi more than Avery, then the 'culture of hockey' is f***ed up. Since guys like Modano are so disgusted by them, why don't they do something about it as opposed to, I don't know, bad mouthing him through the media?

[rician blast]

And Rician' date=' that doesn't excuse cheating in sports [/quote']

 

Ok, but if there is no excuse for cheating...knowing that cheating has been a huge issue in professional sports...then you may as well cast your integrity-destroying label over half of the athletes in pro sports who either do cheat or know their teammates and opponents do but choose to do nothing.

 

 

As for Avery, give me an example where he crossed the line verbally and then ducked a fight.

 

An example of Avery ducking a fight? Just look back at the B's-Stars game earlier this year. Avery was at his worst and made guys like Savard, Ference, Stuart, etc. his targets. When challenged by Thornton he declined. When challenged by Lucic he declined. Then the tough guy was the aggressor in a fight with none other than Andrew Ference.

 

Since guys like Modano are so disgusted by them, why don't they do something about it as opposed to, I don't know, bad mouthing him through the media?

 

Are you saying you think they haven't said anything to Avery? WTF do you suggest they do, kill him? Haven't you been reading any of this s***? His GM is on record saying he has had to talk DIRECTLY to Avery multiple times to change his approach. But you think the players are silent, other than going through the media? Read the following article:

 

http://www.tsn.ca/columnists/james_duthie/?id=258309

 

"We hope it's the last time we ever see him," says one veteran.

 

"Our locker room is the happiest it has been all year right now," says another player.

 

"An apology (to the team) won't work," says a third player. "There isn't much he can say to change the way we feel right now. We have a lot of pride in this organization. He isn't welcome here anymore."

 

He's been undermining everything we do," says the veteran. "He doesn't pay attention; he's not smart enough to play our system. He can't do some drills properly. He says it's because he's 'independent.'"

 

With all of these comments you still think they haven't dealt with this other than in the media?

 

Your man-love for Sean Avery is getting a little scary.

[BoSox21]

Id be shocked if Avery played another game for Dallas. Hell, even the Stars' farm team came out today and said under no circumstances will they accept Avery on their team

[ARod2212]

And why didn't Sather offer him more???? They'd have offered him more if he didn't have a negative impact in the room. He was not respected and several teammates wanted him gone. He wears out his welcome everywhere he goes.

 

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/hockey/stars/stories/120308dnspostarsquicktake.3ab071b.html

Because there is a salary cap in hockey and the Rangers have a lot of talent to retain.

[rician blast]

Because there is a salary cap in hockey and the Rangers have a lot of talent to retain.

 

Absolutely part of the equation, I agree. Still, if they wanted him enough, they'd have signed him. IMO, the cost-benefit analysis perfromed by the FO would have taken into account his antics and the fact that some teammates despise his style of play. They'd be blind not to.

[BoSox21]

The Rangers could still want Sean Avery while determining that he isn't worth $4 million a year. I believe setting a value on a talent and sticking to that is how every successful organization does business

[rician blast]

The Rangers could still want Sean Avery while determining that he isn't worth $4 million a year. I believe setting a value on a talent and sticking to that is how every successful organization does business

 

 

True, and I suppose no one outside of the FO knows exactly what criteria was used to measure his value. I'd like to think his "doucheness" was a factor, but admittedly I can't confirm that...just my suspicion.

 

At the time Dallas signed him I remember my buddy, a Rangers fan, being pissed that the Rangers didn't keep him...I also recall saying it was the best thing that could have happened to the Rangers, and worst thing for Dallas...seems to be playing out that way since no one wants him on the team.

[Dojji]

Id be shocked if Avery played another game for Dallas. Hell' date=' even the Stars' farm team came out today and said under no circumstances will they accept Avery on their team[/b']

 

And some people still want to try and pretend that what Avery did is somehow not serious?

 

I feel that there should be a distinction made between cockiness and arrogance like we see from Dustin Pedroia, Jonathan Papelbon, Kevin Garnett or Milan Lucic. That difference is that these guys back it up on the field/ice/floor. Their open displays of emotion and their words will get them in trouble, but they can cash the checks their mouths write.

 

Avery can't, never could, and never will. He just isn't a good enough hockey player to justify an attitude like his. Especially because he refuses to stand up, be a man, and account for himself. Players who want to get back at Avery have to take it out on other Stars players because of the way he is. I'm sure that contributes to the attitude of his teammates.