The hockey world is full of players you just love to hate -- players who are such PITAs on the ice that you actually celebrate when they go limping off to the dressing room with an injury or end up in the penalty box for one of their many infractions.
Sean Avery is one of those players -- a jerk on the ice and off. On the ice, he's in opponent's faces such as this clip of him mocking a Penguins player:
Off the ice, he's not much better; on learning that a player was dating his ex-girlfriend, he referred to the girl as "sloppy seconds."
But now I guess I have to hate him just a little less.
Hockey isn't a game for the weak -- you're on the ice skating at full speed, subject to hits from opponents and pucks; if you're lucky you just take a light hip check, not so lucky you get the full on hit at speed. And then there are the fights:
(Disclaimer: Put this one in because it features one of my favorite players, Douglas Murray of the San Jose Sharks, up against one of my least favorites, Steve Ott of the Dallas Stars.)
You'd think that a macho sport like hockey would be rife with homophobes. Well, think again. The NHL has actually taken a lead in the sports world when it comes to supporting equality for all, regardless of sexual orientation. Toronto GM Brian Burke marched in last year's Toronto Gay Pride Parade, in memory of his son Brendan who was killed in a car crash; he had promised his son that they would march together. The Chicago Blackhawks sent the Stanley Cup with player representation to the Chicago Pride Parade.
And now, Avery:
This isn't Avery's first statement in support of GLBTs. When asked about what his reaction would be if an active player came out.
"I'll stand beside him in the dressing room while he tells his teammates he is gay. Maybe if Sean Avery is there, they would have less of a problem with it."
That's in the locker room though, the inner sanctum, in defense of a fellow warrior. To have someone like Avery support marriage equality for everyone is a major step in the sports world, and maybe will free up other players in other sports to take the same step. (Would love to see Derek Jeter make a spot.)
So Avery isn't a full asshole...maybe he's a half or three quarter asshole. I'll still boo him on the ice, and think he's a jerk next time he disrespects an ex-girlfriend, but I can give him praise for this and hope he starts a trend in the sports world. (One bit of advice though, Sean: you might want to go with different glasses in the future.)