Larry Brown Sports

Kate Upton is a Rangers fan, and she attended their November 28th game against the Penguins. She apparently spent some time checking out goalie Henrik Lundqvist, because Sean Avery mentioned it over Twitter after the game.

Avery, known throughout the NHL for being a “pest,” tweeted a jab at Upton earlier this month.

“Since u couldn’t stop looking [Henrik Lundqvist] last night now u can follow him…… #sorryhesmarried” he wrote to Upton.

Kate wasted little time zinging him back:

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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.

Normally I try to avoid stories about Rangers defenseman Sean Avery because the guy is such a tool. In general, I prefer not to a-holes like that publicity, regardless of what they’re doing (unless it’s about Elisha Cuthbert). That being said, after I saw the following video on Ballhype I felt no choice to post this so people could see exactly how much of a jerk Avery is. The Bruins beat the Rangers Sunday 1-0 to clinch the top seed in the Eastern Conference. Goalie Tim Thomas was on his game despite being smacked by Avery for no good reason. Let’s roll the tape:

It’s pretty clear that Avery did that intentionally. This is the same jackass that ruined the spirit of the game with his classless, annoying moves against Martin Brodeur in the playoffs last year. The NHL luckily was quick to respond in creating the “Sean Avery rule” to prevent those antics from ruining any more games. All they need to do is take one look at this tape to realize he should be suspended. There’s a difference between being a pest and a jerk. This certainly falls under the “jerk” umbrella.

OK, so it’s pretty unanimous that Sean Avery’s an idiot. The guy interned for some femme magazine over the summer and talks about women’s purses like Bill Belichick breaks down defenses. I don’t even want to get into his childish antics in the playoffs last year. But the guy does have a pretty impressive dating record, so I wouldn’t mind his sloppy seconds. And if you don’t understand that line, watch the following video:

That’s what Avery said to the media the morning before the Stars’ game against the Flames — the team for which Dion Phaneuf plays. Phaneuf also happens to be dating hottie Elisha Cuthbert, one of Avery’s ex-girlfriends. Another one of his exes is former SI cover girl Rachel Hunter, who’s currently engaged to Kings defenseman Jarret Stoll. Wyshinski over at Puck Daddy says the NHL is making fools of themselves by suspending a guy for merely making a silly remark. I agree. I even feel bad that I’m playing into Avery’s game by posting the video, but I found the remark too funny to ignore. At least the NHL is getting some publicity out of this.