Player agent calls out Avery for stance on same-sex marriage

[gymmonster 4]

An agency representing several NHL players has publicly called out New York Rangers forward Sean Avery for supporting same-sex marriage.

In a series of messages put out on Twitter on Monday, Burlington, Ontario-based Uptown Sports Management criticized Avery after he recorded a video supporting the New Yorkers for Marriage Equality campaign.

"Very sad to read Sean Avery's misguided support of same-gender 'marriage,'" wrote Uptown's Todd Reynolds in the tweet. "Legal or not, it will always be wrong."

In the video, Avery looks into the camera and says: "I'm Sean Avery, and I'm a New Yorker for marriage equality. I treat everyone the way I expect to be treated, and that applies to marriage. Committed couples should be able to marry the person they love. Join me in supporting marriage equality."

Good on Avery in my opinion.

[stevo_323 0]

I honestly thought it was going to be the complete opposite when I read this thread title. Kudos to Avery, and Todd Reynolds is a conservative douche.

[AIREAYE 248]

An agency representing several NHL players has publicly called out New York Rangers forward Sean Avery for supporting same-sex marriage.

In a series of messages put out on Twitter on Monday, Burlington, Ontario-based Uptown Sports Management criticized Avery after he recorded a video supporting the New Yorkers for Marriage Equality campaign.

"Very sad to read Sean Avery's misguided support of same-gender 'marriage,'" wrote Uptown's Todd Reynolds in the tweet. "Legal or not, it will always be wrong."

In the video, Avery looks into the camera and says: "I'm Sean Avery, and I'm a New Yorker for marriage equality. I treat everyone the way I expect to be treated, and that applies to marriage. Committed couples should be able to marry the person they love. Join me in supporting marriage equality."

Good on Avery in my opinion.

This might be the key, if only he had said "...Legal or not, it will always be wrong in my opinion." Now he just trying to kick up the anthill

[chrisg19 5]

I hate Sean Avery, but I agree with him on this one.

[jds 20]

"Legal or not, it will always be wrong."

It's one thing to have a completely misguided opinion but to then broadcast it?

[psh 25]

This is even more impressive. And I say that as someone who is no fan of the guy:

http://www.torontosun.com/sports/hockey/2011/02/03/17146546.html

On a related note, I've never understood objections to gay marriage. I can't say I've heard any good faith defense of prohibiting it. Most seem to object on religious grounds, but it's hard for me to see any Christ-based moral objections. It seems to me all those citations to Leviticus might support a religious objection if you're an orthodox Jew, but are basically meaningless if you claim to be a Christian.

[VakarLajos 5]

I'm with Avery.

[EBondo 233]

He completely breaks the code by giving an opinion on a business-based account. It doesn't look good for your company when one of your representatives is a homophobe. I was scrolling through Twitter for a good hour getting people's opinions on this, and there was one, count it, one person who agreed with Reynolds, versus the dozens and dozens of people who were enraged, myself included. For once, Sean Avery brought the hockey community together in a way that didn't involve being outraged over questionable hockey plays. Not to mention, with every tweet posted on the account, he just contradicted himself more and more. He supposedly believes in all people being equal, however, denying the right for two people to marry solely based on their sexual orientation is equal to you? Glad to see Sean Avery take a stand on such an important issue, especially in light of the incident with Brendan Burke.

[raganblink 82]

I honestly thought it was going to be the complete opposite when I read this thread title. Kudos to Avery, and Todd Reynolds is a conservative douche.

ditto. Was thinkin oh sh what did this guy do now?

I love how people who claim they are for equal rights say stuff like that. I'm sure he wants non white or Asian people double checked at security points, all Muslims to be under constant observation aswell.

[Chadd 916]

If the agent is still employed by the end of the week, I would expect them to start losing clients.

[gymmonster 4]

He has some big name clients as well, I think the article I pulled the abstract from cited Mike Fisher as one.

You would think with all the recent Twitter scandals people would be more aware of what they post; nothing is safe once it hits the net these days, even if you delete it.

PSH I'm having trouble opening your link it keeps redirecting me to the main page, probably because I'm on my smart phone. Would you mind giving me a summary, I'm curious lol

[Scotty 8]

Hope the agent loses his job over such a classless manner of doing things.

[the iceman 132]

I'm with Avery.

Same here.

[sickwilly 37]

This is even more impressive. And I say that as someone who is no fan of the guy:

http://www.torontosun.com/sports/hockey/2011/02/03/17146546.html

On a related note, I've never understood objections to gay marriage. I can't say I've heard any good faith defense of prohibiting it. Most seem to object on religious grounds, but it's hard for me to see any Christ-based moral objections. It seems to me all those citations to Leviticus might support a religious objection if you're an orthodox Jew, but are basically meaningless if you claim to be a Christian.

Good article. As much as I don't like a lot of Avery's antics, that's great stuff.

[Axxion89 32]

This is even more impressive. And I say that as someone who is no fan of the guy:

http://www.torontosun.com/sports/hockey/2011/02/03/17146546.html

On a related note, I've never understood objections to gay marriage. I can't say I've heard any good faith defense of prohibiting it. Most seem to object on religious grounds, but it's hard for me to see any Christ-based moral objections. It seems to me all those citations to Leviticus might support a religious objection if you're an orthodox Jew, but are basically meaningless if you claim to be a Christian.

Just because something is in the Old Testament doesn't mean it isn't part of the Christian bible...

Anyway, people have a right to their opinion, but if you are going to post your opinion on twitter, be prepared for the consequences. I will be surprised if this man still has a job by the end of the week, or he issues one of those phony apologies to save face ala Rashard Mendenhall

[HockeySavants 5]

This doesn't change how I feel about Sean Avery on the ice but off the ice I agree.

But if Mike Fisher or anyone wants to be affiliated with this company that guy is either fired or find a new agency.

[number21 3]

Good for Avery. He's annoying, but if this gesture helps some kid/adult feel more comfortable with themselves, that would be great.

[psh 25]

He has some big name clients as well, I think the article I pulled the abstract from cited Mike Fisher as one.

You would think with all the recent Twitter scandals people would be more aware of what they post; nothing is safe once it hits the net these days, even if you delete it.

PSH I'm having trouble opening your link it keeps redirecting me to the main page, probably because I'm on my smart phone. Would you mind giving me a summary, I'm curious lol

Avery said that if there is any kid who loves the game and who is gay but afraid about what his team mates think, the kid should contact the NHLPA. Says he'll fly out to the kid's rink and stand beside him as he comes out to his team mates. I'm not a fan of Avery, but that is class. Putting his money and reputation where his mouth is and taking a stand, and helping kids. That could potentially serve a much bigger and longer legacy than anything he'll do on the ice.

Just because something is in the Old Testament doesn't mean it isn't part of the Christian bible...

I don't mean this to turn into an argument on theology. But, what I'm saying is that if you call yourself a Christian, I assume that means you adhere to Christ's teachings. The very essence of Christian belief is that Christ came bearing, indeed incarnating, the new covenant. His way was the new way, a way that grew out of, but that was entirely separate from, Judaism. The old law, set forth in the Old Testament, and most notoriously in Leviticus, is just that--the old law that was displaced by the new covenant and the teachings of Jesus.

If you want to enforce the rules of the Old Testament as being part of the Christian bible, knock yourself out and beware of shellfish, eating pork, menstruating women, and be sure to shave the heads of widows and marry them off to their husband's brothers. If you want to do so, you should probably call yourself an orthodox Jew and not a Christian, though, because that bears no relationship to Christ's teachings. In fact, it was what he and his disciples left behind.

[goblue9280 33]

On a brighter note, isn't it nice to see hockey taking the professional sports lead when it comes to sexual orientation equality? You had the good press with the Brendan Burke story (before his tragic death)... and now the Avery PSA. Will the NHL be the first of the major 4 N.American sports to have an active player come out?

[skeeter14 0]

the ever-opinionated Paul Bissonnette weighed in:

I agree with Sean Avery and his comments on the same sex marriage issue @NortonSports. If 2 people are happy together let them be happy.

http://twitter.com/#!/BizNasty2point0/status/67725002945986561

[the iceman 132]

Todd Reynolds:

"If Mike Fisher or any other client of ours agrees or disagrees on this position is of no consequence and they shouldn't feel compelled to comment.

Nice name drop. Fisher must be happy to have his name mentioned in this.

[chippa13 1844]

Thread title is misleading, makes it sound like Avery is against the idea.

[Joshison 1]

Thread title is misleading, makes it sound like Avery is against the idea.

Probably so people would make the assumption and read it. Good stuff though.

[raganblink 82]

It's not misleading. It's just that a vast majority of people are for sane sex marriage and equality, thus assume its about him not for it. Also its avery so people already have a negative conception about him.

[shoeshine boy 242]

I like how the guy tries to hide behind, "I'm not a bigot." ummm...yeah, you are. you see gay peoples lives as less worthy than your own.

gay marriage does not "cheapen" traditional marriage one bit and preventing gay marriage isn't going to keep any two people who love each other from being together.