As the Dallas Stars visit the Calgary Flames tonight, the Canadian media had been hoping and praying for some sort of nasty fallout from Sean Avery's comments to ESPN about Jarome Iginla being a player "no one cares about."
Well, Iginla didn't exactly play along in creating a feud. But leave it to Avery to chum the water for the media in a rather hilarious way this afternoon with this statement:
"Uh, I'm really happy to be back in Calgary. I love Canada.
"And I just want to comment on how it's become like a common thing in the NHL for guys to fall in love with my sloppy seconds. I don't know what that's about.
"Enjoy the game tonight."
The Calgary Herald offers its interpretation:
The jab, of course, is directed at Calgary Flames defenceman Dion Phaneuf, who is dating Avery's ex-girlfriend, Elisha Cuthbert. The actress, reportedly, also dated Mike Komisarek of the Montreal Canadiens.
The 25-second clip - in its entirety; he refused to answer questions - got a rise out of some of his younger teammates. "He said what?" shrieked one. Many of them cackled, in fact.
Well, this should be an interesting one tonight, seeing as how the honor of Phuthbert is now at stake. That Sean Avery ... whatever will he say next?
Sports
Update: Puck Daddy has learned via email from the NHL that Avery is suspended indefinitely:
NEW YORK (December 2, 2008) -- Dallas Stars forward Sean Avery has been suspended indefinitely, pending a hearing with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, in accordance with the provisions of NHL By-Law 17 and Article 6 of the NHL Constitution for conduct "detrimental to the League or game of hockey," the National Hockey League announced today. The suspension was imposed following inappropriate public comments, not pertaining to the game, made by Avery earlier today.
"Inappropriate public comments?" What could that possibly be in reference to?
