If we were to tell you an NHL player spoke out in support of gay hockey players, I doubt the first name to come to mind would be Sean Avery. Avery is the guy who smacks goalies in the head with his stick and has unsportsmanlike conduct rules created on his behalf, not the guy who supports a group that is discriminated against. Or is he?
On Thursday, Avery told the Toronto Sun that he is willing to support any player who is gay and worried about the consequences of coming out and openly revealing his sexual orientation.
“If there’s a kid in Canada or wherever, who is playing and really loves the game and wants to keep playing but he’s worried about coming out, I’d tell him to pick up the phone and call (NHLPA executive director) Donald Fehr and tell him to book me a (plane) ticket,” Avery said. “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.”
Wait, what? Is this the same Sean Avery that referred to his ex-girlfriend as “sloppy seconds?” I don’t know if I buy it. If he’s serious, you have to commend Avery even if he is a major d-bag. I’m sure there are plenty of gay players scattered about professional athletics, and one of the most significant challenges they face is having to keep their sexual preference a secret from their teammates. Support from uber-heterosexual chauvinists like Avery would probably help influence others to support gay players.
In any event, congratulations to Sean Avery for opening his mouth and not saying something obnoxious.
