The NHL today announced its decision in the ongoing Sean Avery madness, and the result is a six-game suspension, retroactive to Tuesday's game where this saga began. Avery is eligible to return to the Stars lineup on December 16 against Phoenix, though, it remains to be seen whether Dallas will welcome him back at that point.
Here's what commissioner Gary Bettman had to say on the suspension, via NHL.com:
"Mr. Avery has expressed remorse for his recent comments and has sought a professional anger management evaluation," NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said. "I will require that he follow through with that process as a condition of his returning to the ice and that he complies with any and all recommendations."Bettman also said that Avery has been warned "repeatedly about his conduct and comments which have too often been at odds with the manner in which his more than 700 fellow players conduct themselves."
No argument here. Though, in my opinion, the league suspending him for six games is a little much, considering that's triple the suspension Jarkko Ruutu received for trying to insert his elbow into Maxim Lapierre's nostril, for example (and there are more examples).
So, if you're in the NHL, I suppose it's better to potentially end a player's career, as opposed to not having a filter between your brain and your mouth.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
12-05-2008 @ 11:51AM
Mike said...
A joke that the NHL will suspend someone for these type of comments, because the commissioner doesn't like him.
Now we are legislating rudeness.
Ridiculous just when the NHL starts getting some credibility in the mainstream media we make a mockary of something that should have been handled in private. Talk about over the board desire to be politically correct.
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12-06-2008 @ 2:13PM
bridget said...
I totally agree with you! I mean come on-so, it was a rude comment... heaven forbid! I guess the NHL is now dictating when free speech is ok... n if they don't like someone; well, watch out!
12-05-2008 @ 6:52PM
J Harrow said...
I 100% agree with Mike!
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12-05-2008 @ 1:30PM
Odie said...
Avery is the epitome of douche, but I concur, the NHL has no reason to be involved. A suspension regarding comments like this should be the decision of the franchise, not the league.
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12-05-2008 @ 1:41PM
Don't worry about it said...
You've got to be kidding me. Listen to what he said. The comment is more of a rip on Dion Phaneuf not Cuthbert. But most people that are critical of the comments are flocking to her defense. If some of you aren't with the times, let me break it down for you. When you tell someone that they had your sloppy seconds, its a rip on the new guy and not the girl. The girl may take offense, but only emotionally weak ones would. Its a rip on the guy. So the idea that this is bad because he offended a woman is absolutely ridiculous. The NHL suspending SIX games over this has got to be one of the most ridiculous suspensions I've ever seen in any sport in my life. Sure slap him with a fine, or maybe a game. But 6 for ripping on a fellow player with no cuss words or OVERLY crude comments, get real NHL
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12-05-2008 @ 2:45PM
Joe said...
Its called freedom of speech, we all have it until you come to Betman's world. Betman is killing this league can't the owners see it !! Get rid of him now...
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12-05-2008 @ 2:46PM
Adam Gretz said...
The suspension from the league is dumb, but freedom of speech does not protect you from being suspended by a pro sports league. Just sayin'.
12-05-2008 @ 9:13PM
woody said...
So we allow the players to fight, but they can't make comments back to fans that have proven over and over again to aggressively harass the player. How about ejecting the fan for taunting a player with belittling things like "turtle"? Turtle to a man refers to his privates... They may say it's to something else, but come on!
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12-05-2008 @ 9:14PM
lcleejr said...
now trash talk is illegal in the NHL. wow, amazing that the NHL is nowing turning into pansies. Avery is not the problem, it is the likes of Bettman that give the game a bad name. 6 games for trash talk. what idiots.
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12-06-2008 @ 11:11AM
dennis said...
bettman makes me sick ,he protects deuschs like pronger and his idiot on the payroll officials ,,can you say disallowed goal in stanley cup playoff boys and girls ? watching him twitch through this was nausia .. all nhl media who agree with this you are nothing but spineless bettman puppets ,, bring back hockey !!!!! get rid of bettman and his vince mcmahon mentality ,,
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12-06-2008 @ 12:21PM
zbeautiful and fresh said...
I DONTCARE ABOUT SPECIFICS....I AM DAMN GLAD THIS AVERY DOESNT AND HAS BEEN GIVEN ANY AUTHORITY TO MANAGE ANY ONE ELSES LIFE. HE CANT HANDLE HIS. Let him horse down the coke and booze it up with his diarretic mouth in private to those who would listen. We PAY him big bucks to maintain a high level of PERFORMANCE, IN PUBLIC> HE FAILS>
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12-06-2008 @ 1:50PM
rufus 79 said...
gary your an idiot. your killing a great game. mind your bees wacks pal. sean frig them.
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12-08-2008 @ 5:49PM
Drew said...
He made a sexist remark and got punished for it. If he had made a racist remark, I would hope he would receive the same punishment. Is it better to be sexist than racist? No, they are the same ignorant evil.
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12-12-2008 @ 10:36AM
Nick said...
Sean already gave his thoughts about the NHL's mutt Jarome Iginla.
Simple thing he did. He got under the entire teams skin and allowed a subpar playing team to beat them 3-1.
12-08-2008 @ 5:52PM
Drew said...
Oh, and for those "free speech" commentors, he is and was free to say what he did. He wasn't sent to jail or court for what he said and is protected by the law. I guarantee that if I said that to my boss, I would not get 'suspended', I would get fired. Avery was lucky to only get a suspension.
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