Sean Avery And Free Speech

I don't pretend to know much about hockey or its rules, but no matter how crude his comment may've been, the idea that a professional athlete can get an indefinite suspension for a remark he made off the playing arena just bewilders me:

On December 2, 2008; during the morning skate prior to the Stars' game against the Calgary Flames, Avery gathered a crowd of reporters and made the following comment about Flames defenceman Dion Phaneuf, who is dating Avery's ex-girlfriend Elisha Cuthbert:

“

I'm just going to say one thing. I'm really happy to be back in Calgary, I love Canada. I just wanted 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.[24][25]

”

Within hours of the remarks, the NHL suspended Avery indefinitely for "conduct detrimental to the league or game of hockey." Avery is scheduled to meet with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman on December 4 to discuss his comments. It is believed to be the first time in modern NHL history that a player has been disciplined for comments made off the ice.^[23]

Avery's comments were met with near-unanimous condemnation by the Stars. Owner Tom Hicks said in a press release that the Stars would have suspended Avery had the league not acted first and added that the team "would not tolerate such behavior, especially from a member of our hockey team."

"Sloppy seconds"?!? Seriously, big effin' deal. If anything Avery comes off as an insecure and jealous jock lamenting that his ex-girlfriend is with another player now. Ok, now move on already. Who knew that hockey had become so PC now? I'm sure the guy's longstanding bad rep in the NHL is playing a huge part on all if this, but still people really need to get a grip.