Avery Reaching Out to Gay Hockey Players

Whether you like him or not you have to appreciate things like this. Classy move Aves.

over 1 year ago Dig Deep 9 comments 0 recs |

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I love this guy. Just does what he wants and screw whoever doesn’t like it. It’s called courage.

by Joe1969 on Feb 5, 2011 1:31 PM EST reply actions

Agreed. Love what he does off the ice (other than the dramatic crap). Good heart.

@DigDeepNYR
"I like a man who grins when he fights." -Sir Winston Churchill
"It's just pain." -Brandon Prust | "In Prust we Trust."

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by Dig Deep on Feb 5, 2011 1:41 PM EST up reply actions

Thanks for pointing this out. Hopefully more players step up like that.

by Hoggo on Feb 5, 2011 1:36 PM EST reply actions

Devils fan here. I guess you probably know what I think about Avery on-ice pesting and his off-ice antics (“sloppy seconds,” “fatso” etc). But that’s hockey, so it’s cool.

What he’s doing here is definitely commendable. I wonder if it’s his connection the fashion world or the neighborhoods where he lives that opened his mind on this issue. Maybe it’s because he’s from metro Toronto.

Honestly, I think a lot of Americans don’t realize how cosmopolitan and diverse Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver really are. It’ll mean big changes to the “face” of hockey in our lifetimes. If the NHL is the first major professional sport which is openly tolerant of sexual freedom and identity, then more power to the NHL for letting real hockey – not politics and bias – stand in the way of people’s dreams.

by Alan Wright on Feb 6, 2011 6:19 PM EST reply actions

The article said he had some exposure to that world during his time playing for the LA Kings. It is also present in the fashion industry, so I am not surprised that he has run into it there. He has never been shy or transparent when it comes to how he thinks about something. I am glad that this time it is something positive. Thanks for stopping by.

@DigDeepNYR
"I like a man who grins when he fights." -Sir Winston Churchill
"It's just pain." -Brandon Prust | "In Prust we Trust."

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by Dig Deep on Feb 7, 2011 5:28 PM EST up reply actions

No prob.

You are right that he isn’t shy about sharing what’s on his mind. I think that might be a factor. Maybe the same goes for calling out homophobia and BS like that as well. Hopefully he’s on board to shut-up players and fans who spout off racist talk, too.

Players in European soccer and FIFA are quite big on the “say no to racism” campaign as they try to shut up their fans’ bigotry. I wonder if the NHL will try something like that in a concerted way. Or, at least, hockey in Canadian youth leagues.

by Alan Wright on Feb 8, 2011 7:40 PM EST up reply actions

I’d love to see a program like that but I don’t think it is quite as big of a problem in the NHL. There is more tension about minority players in the league than I would like but I don’t think it warrants a project like ‘Say No to Racism’. It is really a disservice to the sport to make anyone feel unwelcome based on their sexuality or the color of their skin. I think we have come to expect better from our hockey athletes, who are almost always among the very best of people.

@DigDeepNYR
"I like a man who grins when he fights." -Sir Winston Churchill
"It's just pain." -Brandon Prust | "In Prust we Trust."

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by Dig Deep on Feb 8, 2011 10:30 PM EST up reply actions

I don't know if I'd say hockey players are

“almost always among the very best of people”

Hockey players almost always come from much more privileged backgrounds than other athletes. They tend to have better opportunities and educations and less exposure to unhealthy influences. But I don’t know if they’re better people.

by dar9898 on Feb 9, 2011 9:26 PM EST up reply actions

Hence the phrase ‘almost always’ which is a lot like saying ‘sometimes’ lol. Hockey players have several bad trends including alcohol abuse, homophobia, and throwing their fists around when they are off the rink. But in terms of what professional sport has the ‘classiest’ or most generous athletes I would put hockey players very, very high on that list. I can think of more good examples than bad examples, especially within the Rangers organization.

@DigDeepNYR
"I like a man who grins when he fights." -Sir Winston Churchill
"It's just pain." -Brandon Prust | "In Prust we Trust."

Blueshirt Banter

by Dig Deep on Feb 10, 2011 12:46 PM EST up reply actions

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