By Lauren Spencer, Executive Sports Producer
The word spread like wildfire. According to an Internet report, the Rangers resident antagonist, Sean Avery, had suffered a heart attack. Rumors and speculation swirled.
The truth, although frightening, proved not quite as grim. Avery’s affliction was not life threatening. He had suffered a lacerated spleen in Game 3 of the N.Y. Rangers Eastern Conference semifinals series with the Pittsburgh Penguins. According to the Rangers, he will make a complete recovery.
But Avery remained on everyone’s minds — even with a less dire outlook. And therein lies a tale.
Quick, turn around and ask your non-hockey-fan friend, colleague or loved one to name a hockey player. It can’t be Wayne Gretzky or Mark Messier. It has to be an active hockey player. And he has to play for one of the three tri-state area teams.
Ten bucks they say “Sean Avery.” Oh, you may get the occasional “Martin Brodeur” or a stray “Rick DiPietro.” But it’s Avery who has made an instant impression since landing in the Big Apple last year.
Avery is not just a hockey player any more. He’s transcended that. Now, he is a guy who dates starlets and allegedly has ties to prostitution rings. He has been linked to the Olsen twins, Elisha Cuthbert and Rachel Hunter. His bizarre faceguarding antics against Martin Brodeur (the other hockey player your friends might know) prompted the NHL to swiftly implement a rule change. He has a rule named after him. The next day, he gave a News 4 New York camera the finger. He dominates radio talk shows. He’s going to intern at Vogue this summer.
And he’s a hockey player?
Love him or hate him, he’s good for hockey. Hockey just doesn’t get this kind of attention in baseball-crazed city. He’s controversial. But in this case, that’s not a bad thing.
Get well soon, Sean.
