Sloppy Seconds? Is That Any Way To Refer To A TV Star & A Swimsuit Model?
posted 2008-12-05

So, who's for some sloppy seconds?

Apparently some of his brethren in the National Hockey League, according to bad boy Sean Avery of the Dallas Stars.

The 28-year-old Avery, whose mouth ranks second only to his fists in his role as one of the league's top pests on the ice, used that mouth off the ice, and it has cost him.

First, some background. Avery is a forward who plays for the Stars now, but for the last several seasons was a New York Ranger -- playing in a city that you would think would be big enough for him. Maybe too big. Avery loves the spotlight, and he loved New York. He also loved ladies who frequented the city as part of their job -- specifically, actresses.

Avery used to date Elisha Cuthbert of "24" fame. He's also been linked to former Sports Illustrated swimsuit model Rachel Hunter, who's now dating Jarret Stoll of the Los Angeles Kings.

But here's where it gets sticky.

Elisha is now dating Dion Phaneuf, a defenseman for the Calgary Flames. And, she has dated Mike Komisarek of the Montreal Canadiens. Yes, she likes her men on skates, obviously.

Apparently, Avery thinks it's bad form to date any girl after he's had his turn.

Of Phaneuf and Komisarek, Avery said on Tuesday, "I'm really happy to be back in Calgary; I love Canada. 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, but enjoy the game tonight."

Whoa!

Avery made the comments after a morning skate in Calgary on Tuesday. He made sure the cameras were rolling and the microphones were ready before launching into his rant.

Now, it's time to pay the piper.

The NHL reacted swiftly and decisively. The league suspended Avery for six games and ordered him to undergo anger management counseling. This after Avery flew to New York to chat with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman about his outrageous and unprovoked remarks.

"Sean had been warned over the last year that he was getting close to the line too many times," Bettman said in a conference call. "There were probably a couple of times where he may have been over the line, but we couldn't verify it based on the circumstances. He had a session within the last year with (NHL senior executive vice-president and director of hockey operations) Colin Campbell where he was warned, and he had a session with me during the playoffs where he was warned.

"So, at the end of the day, I felt we had to punish him and make clear that this was not appropriate. And from a disciplinary standpoint, I felt based on other cases and other situations of inappropriate comments, this was the right number, the right ballpark."

Before the incident, back when he signed the deal with the Stars in the summer, Avery seemed to revel in his bad boy image.

"I like to push it to the edge, no doubt about it," Avery said after signing his $15.5 million, four-year deal with the Stars. "That's how I play. That's how I live. That's what I'm all about."

Avery's past antics have included many a fight on the ice, plus a controversial move he made in last year's playoffs, where he stood in front of New Jersey goalie Martin Brodeur and waved his stick in Brodeur's face during a Rangers power play.

Avery also made headlines over the summer when he took an internship at Vogue Magazine. Sean is a fashion maven, you see, and he doesn't make any apologies for it.

Neither of Sean's "sloppy seconds" -- Cuthbert or Hunter -- were available for comment.

Can't wait till the next time Avery suits up against Calgary's Phaneuf, Montreal's Komisarek, and Los Angeles's Stoll!