Sean Avery's ex, actress Elisha Cuthbert, is now dating Calgary Flames defenseman Dion Phaneuf. Talking earlier today, Avery said,
"I am really happy to be back in Calgary, I love Canada," Avery said on camera this morning in Calgary. "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."
While our local sports station and fan messageboards have been getting fired up on how best to destroy Avery tonight, the league stepped in and suspended Avery indefinitely pending a hearing.
I'm a little upset as I think it would have been a really entertaining game tonight.
TSN built that up far too much before I saw it. The sloppy seconds line seemed like an opening shot, rather than the entire statement. Seems kind of ridiculous for the NHL to suspend him over it; that should be a team decision.
Edit: Good catch. To be fair, if it was the NFL, he would have went through 8 weeks of appeals before being suspended.
(edited by hansen9j on 2.12.08 1851) It is the policy of the documentary crew to remain true observers and not interfere with its subjects.
If you wanna reach the Co-op, boy, you gotta get by me.
I don't care whether this was just for this incident or this punishment is a cumulative thing. Way too harsh, way too much of an overreaction, and proof once again that Bettman is the worst commissioner of all-time. He has thoroughly KILLED this great sport.
Michigan against the SEC: 20-5-1 (7-3 in bowl games)
Eric McErlain of AOL FANHOUSE skates over the story of Sandie Griffith, season ticket holder with the Nashville Predators and awoved Avery hater. Sandie’s sourness with Sean began a few years ago, when the usually thuggish player backed away from a potential fight with the Predators’ Darcy Hordichuk. Since then, Griffith has glady mocked Avery whenever he makes the visit to Music City, putting up posters on the glass calling him “Turtleman”, referencing the way he hid his face in his hands while skating away from the non-skirmish.
But during a game last October 11 in Nashville, unpleasantries between Avery & Griffith took an X-rated turn (with video goodness):
“He came up behind Dan Hamhuis and cross-checked him, and I went to the box,” said Griffith. That’s when she asked him, “aren’t you going to turtle up?”
Eric McErlain of AOL FANHOUSE skates over the story of Sandie Griffith, season ticket holder with the Nashville Predators and awoved Avery hater. Sandie’s sourness with Sean began a few years ago, when the usually thuggish player backed away from a potential fight with the Predators’ Darcy Hordichuk. Since then, Griffith has glady mocked Avery whenever he makes the visit to Music City, putting up posters on the glass calling him “Turtleman”, referencing the way he hid his face in his hands while skating away from the non-skirmish.
But during a game last October 11 in Nashville, unpleasantries between Avery & Griffith took an X-rated turn (with video goodness):
“He came up behind Dan Hamhuis and cross-checked him, and I went to the box,” said Griffith. That’s when she asked him, “aren’t you going to turtle up?”
Griffith insisted to me that while she taunted Avery, she never used foul language. So what was Avery’s response? According to Griffith, Avery said, “You’re nothing but an old ——-(*) —-(**), I wouldn’t even —(***) in your face.” After which he sprayed her with his water bottle. It was following that incident that the refs assessed Avery a second game misconduct, and Griffith is pretty much convinced Avery’s reaction to the confrontation with her was the reason.
(*rhymes with “trucking”)
(**rhymes with “runt”)
(*** rhymes with “rum”)
Guess this means Sandie’s off Sean’s Christmas card list.
Originally posted by hansen9j Seems kind of ridiculous for the NHL to suspend him over it; that should be a team decision.
I thought the same thing at first, but after hearing comments from Bettman and a few others, I can see why they suspended him. The league tries to portray a certain image, and they expect their players to uphold it, and Avery didn't.
The Stars said they would've suspended him anyway, the NHLPA isn't defending him, and no one on that team seems to want him back anyway. I'm a Gary Bettfan because I think the lockout was 100% worth it to get the cap, and he helped saved hockey in Pittsburgh.
Originally posted by Dallas Stars"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.' Really, he's just not smart enough."
You just know one more team is going to pick him up, and hopefully it's a team that still has Calgary on the schedule. Phaneuf is going to turn him into roadkill.
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