While Avery is statement was crude and not needed and his past history contains no highlights, how does someone get suspended twice as long for a verbal jab, than NHL players for hitting violently from behind?

It is just the NHL overreacting on an issue. l totally agree some of the hits this year deserve a suspension much longer then given. Avery is suspension is stupid, and should have never happened.

It makes just as much sense as it did to the last 100 people who asked this same question already.lol

It DOESN'T make sense. That is the point.

Nothing in life has ever made sense before this, so why should Bettman start making sense now? Lol. What a complete joke.....

You know, if Gary stopped worrying about who Avery is insulting with some pointless words maybe he could fix this ''cheap-shots-to-the-head'' problem!

Political Correctness at it is best.

Oh, and the fact that the NHL could not make a dime in a wish fountain does not help either.

Personally, l think that the suspension is ridiculous. Those kind of crude comments go on all the time in other sports such as football & these kind of penalties r not handed out. l think that some of the comments Avery makes r good for the League, as they attract interest to the ''American'' hockey fan. The comment Avery made caught a lot of attention to sports stations in the States, & directed interest towards the game, which is exactly what the League needs right now.

l really think that the suspension was unrealistic, as u said players r getting shorter penalties for hits from behind, & to the head.

- think back to the playoffs last year, when Chris Pronger almost knocked a Dean Mcammond is head off. He was only given a one game suspension, to me that is ridiculous.
(if u do not remember heres the clip)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=4bJXgDCbICM

l do not feel avery deserved any suspension at all for the comment he made, the league could have just given him a fine & got on with it.

Anyway, If Avery was not suspended & was allowed to play in the game against Calgary, it would have made for a more exciting game.
Most likely Dion Phaneuf would have taken matters into his own hands & taken care of him in a fight, or one of his monstrous hits.

thank u Gary, for ur knowledge & great insight towards the game of hockey.




Lindy, just for the record l am not an Avery fan or supporter, l am just saying that Avery is drawing attention to the game in the U.S, where it basically gets next to none coverage. l really do not think that the NHL wants to go towards ur ''family friendly'' idea, since people love hockey because of its''blood sport'' characteristics. Do u want the NHL to get rid of fighting as well?

l was not expecting this to be one of those ''Avery questions'' but since l am here l will answer.

No, it does not make any sense. Please stop ruining the NHL. Go get a job in the NFL Gary Bettman, l am sure you could assist them in their goal of making it a flag football league. Leave Hockey alone.

James, the reason why there is a difference between the NHL & the other leagues is the fact that NHL players are, for the most part, polite, reserved, humble, & deserving of their tiny-by-comparison contracts. l do not want to hear a bunch of trash talking ghetto gangster wannabes running their mouths. That is why l watch the NHL, not the NBA or the NFL. Comparing the leagues is preposterous, so do not bother. The NHL is also considered to be more of a family-oriented league, & trying to explain to ur child what ''sloppy seconds'' r is not a conversation a parent should have to have. Sean Avery should have been suspended for the crap he pulled with the ''Avery Rule'' with Brodeur (waving his arms & stick, blocking Brodeur is view completely, being unbelieveably unsportsmanlike). Avery should have been suspended for his nasty comments about Jason Blake when he was diagnosed with, pardon my ignorance for large medical terms, the long named type of leukemia. Avery should have been suspended just about every time he started a fight, as he is notorious for skating up to players on the other team before the game has even commenced & starting the $hit talking. He is scummy, he is rude, he is egotistical, & he is not talented. All those penalty minutes, & how many goals scored? How many assists? Just a bunch of pi$$ing people off, being a metrosexual b*tch-boy, & racking up the penalty minutes. There is no need for Avery in the NHL. He belongs in Siberia with the other useless former NHL players.