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wotmatt
Alan Shore Of Forums
360 Posts |
 Posted - 12/03/2008 : 07:27:07 AM
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Gary's NHL at it's finest
Stars forward Sean Avery was suspended indefinitely by the NHL on Tuesday, pending a hearing with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman. The League said the suspension was issued in accordance with the provisions of By-Law 17 and Article 6 of the NHL Constitution for conduct "detrimental to the League or game of hockey." The suspension was imposed following inappropriate public comments about the personal lives of opposing players, and not pertaining to the game, made by Avery earlier in the day.
The date for the hearing has not yet been scheduled. He was not in uniform for the Stars' 3-1 victory in Calgary on Tuesday night.
Dallas owner Tom Hicks issued a statement on the Stars' Web site backing Bettman's decision.
"I completely support the League's decision to suspend Sean Avery,” Hicks said. “Had the League not have suspended him, the Dallas Stars would have. This organization will not tolerate such behavior, especially from a member of our hockey team. We hold our team to a higher standard and will continue to do so.”
Stars coach Dave Tippett said before the game that Avery had gone too far.
"I think everyone in our room believes there is an integrity that has to go along with the game, respect for the game and respect for your opponents and Sean crossed that line," Tippett told reporters in Calgary prior to the game.
"I think the words, the words and disrespect for an opponent like that is something . . . there's lots of trash talking that goes on on the ice. But then to announce something like that for everybody to hear, to me that crosses the line and the League — and our ownership felt that, too."
Dallas concludes a two-game Alberta swing in Edmonton on Wednesday, but Avery will not be with the team.
"Sean crossed that line," Tippett said. "He won't continue with us on the trip. We've always professed that there is nobody that's ever bigger than our group or bigger than the team.
"Sean said something that just doesn't paint our organization in a good light, and appropriate steps are being taken."
When asked if Avery's relationship with the Stars can be repaired, Tippett responded: "Time will tell."
The NHL has fined Avery in the past, and he was once suspended by the Los Angeles Kings, the second of the four teams he's played for. Other players have been suspended for retaliating against Avery, including Chicago's Ben Eager, who got a three-game suspension for swinging his stick at Avery. However, this is the first time in his seven-year career that the NHL has taken him off the ice.
"Maybe they decided that this one crossed the line further than all the others," said Stars co-general manager Brett Hull, who played with Avery in Detroit several years ago and was a driving force behind signing him.
"More than anything, he's let his teammates down. That's the worst part of it," Hull said. "It's basically a fundamental — you don't embarrass the team and you carry yourself with class and good character. I've told him before, there's more to the game than just lacing up the skates. There are things you have to be accountable for."
Whenever Avery is cleared to play again, he faces the task of trying to repair the damage he caused within the Stars' dressing room. It doesn't figure to be easy.
"It's going to take some time," teammate Mike Modano said. "It's a situation we'll have to address when that time comes, if it does."
Avery's comments following the morning skate in Calgary didn't seem to surprise his teammates.
"We expect that out of him like we have all year. The show continues," goalie Marty Turco said. "We all are competitive enough and focused to get out there and do your job. But when it continues over time, things certainly can be (distracting)."
Center Brad Richards said he'd "rather not talk about Sean."
"I don't care what he says," Richards added. "It's none of my business what he says. He's got his own thing going on."
Avery, 28, has 3 goals and 7 assists for 10 points and has 77 penalty minutes in 23 games with Dallas, including a goal in Sunday's 4-3 win over Edmonton. He is in his first season with the Stars after signing a four-year contract with the team this summer. But the Stars, who made the Western Conference finals last spring, went into Tuesday night's game with only 20 points, fewest in the conference and near the bottom of the NHL.
Avery is playing with his third team in as many seasons and the fourth of his career. He's also become a celebrity beyond the sports world through his interest in fashion, including a summer internship with Vogue magazine.
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Derek
American Gladiator
USA
317 Posts |
Posted - 12/03/2008 : 12:37:27 PM
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| He should not have been suspended for this, the NHL was just stupid as usual and didn't think how they could use this to promote a truly meaningless game between Calgary and Dallas. Also I wouldn't mind sloppy seconds from Elisha cuthbert, I'm just saying. |
"I am the king of wishful thinking!"
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Motor City Machine Guns
Token Minority Of Forums
USA
266 Posts |
Posted - 12/03/2008 : 8:21:47 PM
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Bettman is a moron. This is how good rivalries start. Dion would have kicked Avery's ass had he played and ESPN would have splashed it all over Sports Center.
This was a chance to actually have interest in a Dallas and Calgary game.
It's no secret that Avery is a complete pain in the ass. And probably is loved and hated by teammates at the same time.
Sean Avery = Good the for the game |
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Ain't No Stopping Me Now!!!
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Derek
American Gladiator
USA
317 Posts |
Posted - 12/04/2008 : 12:08:27 PM
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| I hate the NHL and want it to die. |
"I am the king of wishful thinking!"
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Nero
Voice Of Reason In Forums
246 Posts |
Posted - 12/04/2008 : 6:41:40 PM
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I love the NHL. I just hate the way it is ran.
I still can't figure out how certain teams are in the western conference and I miss the old division names. |
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wotmatt
Alan Shore Of Forums
360 Posts |
Posted - 12/05/2008 : 07:06:56 AM
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| That whole mid-west teams the western conference thing is the most irritating part of the NHL. Especially when the Wings against the Ducks or Oilers game doesn't start until 10. Us old folks go to bed WAY before that. |
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wrestlingontap
Denny Crane Of Forums
USA
671 Posts |
Posted - 12/05/2008 : 10:33:38 AM
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| WORD! |
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Derek
American Gladiator
USA
317 Posts |
Posted - 12/05/2008 : 12:38:05 PM
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| How does avery get suspended for six games for talking, and in the NFL, matt jones gets arrested for cocaine posession before the season starts and is still playing 14 weeks into the season. |
"I am the king of wishful thinking!"
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wotmatt
Alan Shore Of Forums
360 Posts |
Posted - 12/05/2008 : 1:07:43 PM
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That is because gary Bettman and the powers that be in the NHL turned the greatest sport in America (I'd say north america, but then it would be tied with curling) into the American version of Cricket. Bettman deemed Avery's behavior "detrimental to the league or game of hockey." Are you kidding me?! This is the guy that will bring people into the game of hockey. Larger than life and over the top personalities are what drive most sports. You put the spotlight on Avery, Foote, McCarty and so on. Not guys like Syd Crosby or Pavel Datsuk. Don't get me wrong those two are great players but you can't sell a entire sport on them. In public Bettman should have said, "His conduct was wrong, he will be suspended for a given time and fined." Then behind closed doors he should have said, "Thank you and good job." Which is excatly what didn't happen. Hockey needs to get back to what it was before Bettman, before the 2 line pass, before the trapazoid, forward progress and way before the 4 on four shoot out.
Speaking of which, anyone going to the Winter Classic this year? |
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winstonsmith1984
The Dude Of Forums
361 Posts |
Posted - 12/05/2008 : 5:27:35 PM
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NO way will i be going to the winter classic, for two reasons.
1. its in chicago. i hate chicago almost as much as ohio. also Wrigley Field is a giant shit hole, complete with large chunks of concrete that fall on people
2. you just listed some of the reasons that the NHL sucks. i wont give the NHL any money until they do away with some of the stupid rules, starting with the shootout. |
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winstonsmith1984
The Dude Of Forums
361 Posts |
Posted - 12/05/2008 : 5:28:09 PM
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| oh and one more reason, ITS IN CHICAGO!!!!! |
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