Briere rips 'killer' Avery; fan admits to throwing banana
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Flyers Report: Broad Street Bull
Briere rips 'killer' Avery; fan admits to throwing banana
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
(UPDATED at 1:46 p.m.)
Add another episode to the Flyers-Rangers soap opera.
Danny Briere, the Flyers’ star center, took verbal shots at the Rangers’ Sean Avery after practice Wednesday in Voorhees.
Avery had claimed the Flyers’ Wayne Simmonds used a gay slur when shouting at him during Monday’s exhibition game. The NHL found no evidence to support the claim and did not fine Simmonds.
In an audio from Monday’s game, Avery was heard screaming about the Flyers’ Claude Giroux: “I really don’t want to have to f---ing kill Giroux.”
Said Briere on Wednesday: “It’s ironic everyone is defending Avery and it’s OK for him to call guys out about killing them.”
Briere said Avery “just wants attention” and that he deliberately accused Simmonds because he wanted to pile on after the London, Ontario incident. In an apparent racial taunt, a fan threw a banana at Simmonds in that game.
In London, Chris Moorhouse, 26, admitted to throwing the banana, it was announced in a news conference today. He is charged with a provincial offense (not a criminal) and "engaging in a prohibited activity."
He can be fined a maximum of $2,000.
London police said he was remorseful for his actions.
London's police chief said the action did not meet the threshold for charging the individual with a hate crime.
Avery “didn’t mean it literally,” Briere said of the killing comment, “but we all know Sean Avery and how much he likes attention.”
Saying you want to kill someone is more inappropriate than an alleged slur, Briere added.
Ah, the Winter Classic should be, um, interesting. Ditto HBO’s 24/7. The HBO series could probably have an entire episode devoted to Briere, Avery and Simmonds.
The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), meanwhile, has ripped the NHL for not fining Simmonds. It called Avery a “marriage-equalty advocate.”
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The Flyers worked on their PP Wednesday. The units: JVR-G-Jagr, with Mez-Pronger at points; Voracek-Briere-Hartnell, with Carle-Timonen at points.
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The NHL suspended Tom Sestito for four games _ two in the preseason, two in the regular season _ for his major boarding penalty Monday against the Rangers. Sestito cleared waivers Wednesday and was sent to the AHL Phantoms.
He will be recalled during the season to serve the two regular-season games.
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Follow Sam Carchidi on Twitter at BroadStBull.
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Simmons did not say the word,he said "go listen to Foghat"...— mean mean pride,mean mean pride.- Current Athletes I hate the most
1. Pig Ben Rapistberger
2. Sean Avery
3. Eli Manning
4. Rashard Mendenhall
5. Cindy Crosby— bleedmidnightgreensection236 - So the guy premeditates bringing a banana to the game in order to ethnically intimidate Simmonds and is now "sorry"? Nope, not buying it. How about he and Simmonds get a face to face in a dark room and them we seee how sorry he is? Coward.— former Mt.Airy Kid
- Hey GLAAD, best be careful who you buddy up to. Simmonds has no prior history of saying or doing anything out of line. Avery on the other hand does. I guess it's ok to threaten to hurt someone, which Avery WAS heard saying on the broadcast audio. Choosing to back someone like Avery will quickly render your organization as second-rate and people will tune you out.— frombucks
- All this controversy has shown us is that GLAAD is not a very intelligent group. Avery is even less intelligent, but we all knew that already.— goeagles87
- the GLAAD better get a new spokesman...— azguz
- Avery is nothing but a punk. End of discussion.— Gord Grimmier
- It will all make sense when Avery comes out.— MichaelZoe
- I think GLAAD need to pick a better representative for their "marriage-equality advocate". I think people will have a tough time taking their organization seriously if Sean Avery is the poster boy. He is probably one of the most negative, unprofessional athletes in the game of hockey. Way to go GLAAD. Don't be mad with the NHL.....you should be mad at your PR department.— CoachK22
- Avery is such a joke! He talks and can't fight , if he was on the flyers he would be 4th line/healthy scratch. He is coming out of the closet on HBO 24/7 ..lol— northeast26
- drenner making threats... haha tool— hockeyfan00
- drenner making threats... haha tool— hockeyfan00
