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.”
* * *
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.
* * *
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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Comments (72)
Sticks and stones, Avery........sticks and stones— malfeasance- isn't Avery the guy who called Elisha Cuthbert "sloppy seconds"? That Avery is a classy guy.— paulNC
- Avery needs to go away...he isn't good for the league. Even his own teammates are tired of his act. It was pricelss against the Devils a few years ago when he was waving his stick and arms like a little girl in front of Martin Brodeur and his own teammate pushed him out of the way...he is a moron!— dgabs
- This has gotten so weird it's getting difficult to follow. I understand GLAAD's wanting to stick up for a guy who - for some unearthly reason that is totally beyond my grasp - publicly supports their position on marriage equality, but it seems they're accepting Avery's allegation as fact, and completely ignoring the fact that Simmonds denies having used an anti-guy epithet in their confrontation. Simmonds v. Avery would be a pretty even match, by the way, wouldn't it?— 1980
- Well said. — lacboi
- You had me until you said "even match". Simmonds would absolutely destroy Avery. It would look a lot like Zak Rinaldo's Ranger beatdown. — georgenhofer
- You shouldn't be surprised by GLAAD's position. In the P-C world, allegation IS fact. Orwell called it "thoughtcrime".
— icarus - GLAAD needs to chill out. Please people if get bent out shape about every little thing said our world should be covered in bubblewrap. As for Avery is a *ick, and is an atttention getter. For GLAAD to back him, show that thats what there are as well.— UGHROLF
- This guy has some serious mental health issues!!!!— quigly46
- I think that it's time for little Sean to finally come out. This is the same piece of garbage that made fun of Jason Blake when he made his comeback from cancer. A real class act. Ranger fans must be so proud. He just needs to go away...— drz2112
- Avery, I hear you like to have "the banana" thrown your way...— dasher
- Calling avery a marriage-equality advocate is like calling Lady Gaga a picture of normalcy. Or Chris Christie thin.— AEPi71
- GLAAD has an advocate in Avery. Political agendas supersede decency. Ask Ms. Cuthbert. Ask half the NHL who have been offended by this little, little manchild. Simmonds may have been a supporter of GLAAD. They should stay out of hockey and take Avery with them.— keith7470
- I honestly believe that Avery is gay. He's willing to say anything that comes to mind, regardless of whom it will hurt... and yet gay slurs are bad? Avery acts like he's living a lie. He's angry, impulsive, disregarding of any honor in the sport and needs to cause trouble for anyone. Simmonds called him out, Avery answered.— macd41144
- sportswriting at it's best, folks.— spittooncj
- Do you guys by any chance realize that the possessive of 'it' is 'its', without the apostrophe?
— 1980 - This whole situation is getting way too much exposure. Please just go play.— auspitz.paul
- GLAAD - Good Luck Attacking my A** with D***
Avery reminds me of Obama. A celebrity holding a professional position just for publicity— 420Phillie - I don't think you understand how acronyms work.
— ekw555 - Now now give him SOME credit.It probably took all of 15 minutes to figure out what to replace all the letters with and to make a poke at the gay community :)
- Dude. It's a HOCKEY article. Put your foil hat back on and go post on one of the Rick Santorum articles, dbag.— 1980
- Hey GLAAD, you people are know for being sissies and being ticked off about a hockey player saying the Fa@@ot word only solidifies that you are sissies!! Toughen up a little.. if you can anyways...— elfman
- And the 'yellow fruit' comment was my honest opinion of you. What, I'm not allowed to state it?— 1980
Comment removed.- Ha, if GLAAD is a regular part of HOCKEY articles these days, I must have really lost my favorite sport :-(— 420Phillie
- "The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), meanwhile, has ripped the NHL for not fining Simmonds." Ripped the NHL for what? I'm GLAD the NHL got their facts and not jump to conclusions.
- Some of you guys are missing some potential fun here. GLAAD put out a statement that the Flyers should educate their fans on why the use of such language is hurtful. Come on, Flyers, I say do it. Please invite GLAAD to hold an informative lecture after the first Flyers home game of the season. AFTER the game, you see, that's the key and when I think Flyers fans would be most receptive. And please televise it. Thank you.— mcsween
- I am down with your idea! I will even fly back to attend that game AND remain seated for the lecture. I would pay a premium to witness the fan reaction. Nobody would bother mentioning Santa Claus any time soon :-)
- Wow. A moron, bigot and homophobe. Triple threat. Love the emoticon - very cute and original, sweetie. — 1980
- Dasher that's funny dude!— Zeedog
- Really dude? That's the best you could do? Why don't you stick to the 420 you F'ing moron.— Drewmcc
- 1980, Avery vs. Simmonds would be an even match??? Yeah. Simmonds would break Avery's face. Avery knows this which is why he results to sucker punching and snitching on other players. Avery had every opportunity to fight Simmonds, and like the coward that he is, chose not to.— studiocity96
- Avery is a gutless punk who does nothing but flap his gums. He alleges a slur was directed at him, but talks about killing other plays on the ice. You stay classy sean avery........PUNK!— Tar Heel 1
- Once Avery loses pest status he will be retired. He has no game. Please ignore him.— CanadianPhilly
- It must realy suck (pun intended) to be so sensitive that any little thing creates this unholy outrage and always warrants a reprimand from someone, whether fact or fiction.
Bring back Riley for 1 game, pay him a lot, and send him on an assasination mission. I can see avery skating for his life like Domi did when Luke Richardson was chasing him.— drenner - Glaad has nothing to do with hockey.Who are they?— bill the pill
- Avery should know that these things are sorted out on the ice and not the press.— MH
- Oh yeah, another thing...better watch your back Danny boy, there's a cheap shot headed your way— drenner
- I'm just glad we have glaad to monitor the social injustice heaped upon such an outstanding individual as mr avery, a fine example of their membership indeed. Rangers, avery and coach tortellini I can't think of a time when I disliked the NYR more. (Ok I'm done)— drenner
- So how come GLAAD is not berating Avery for death threats on the ice?! Would certainly want him as my representative! :)(NOT)— RonnieBatt
- When Eric Staal gets healthy, Avery's big salary and little "production" are going to get buried in the minors with Wade Redden where he belongs. Simmonds and Hartnell WOULD beat him up, but since they won't be in Adirondack, they'll probably not see him on the ice anymore this season. Avery's going to be at the kid's table for Thanksgiving, mark my words.— Americanitis
- I think you mean Marc Staal. His brother Eric plays for the Hurricanes. Your point is a valid one. Avery is excess baggage.
- Someone needs to "sweep the ice" with Avery once and for all. If he instigates and goes into his shell again, like the sissy he is, clock him anyway...get your moneys worth if you have to take a penalty.— dogman5
- Studiocity96, I actually was asking. I've seen Avery fight but not Simmonds because I don't watch western conference teams until the playoffs.— 1980
- Wayne Simmonds is one tough customer. In a fight with Avery Simmonds would definitely take him. We saw a lot of Simmonds out here in Orange County, CA. He's no goon, he actually is a very good puck-handler and isn't afraid to go into the corners or stand in front of the net. I'd much rather watch him display those skills than have him stoop to Avery's level, but if Avery presses the issue Sean better hope he has adequate health insurance.
- Avery is the first one out of the locker room after a game...he gets his sh*t packed the night before— 2ndNlong
- Thank God that the NHL is not cow toweing to the GLAAD! At least some organization has some cajones! The fact that GLAAD would allow Avery to be a spokesperson for them speaks volumes. Avery is everything that is wrong with the NHL. He a cheap shot artist with no cajones! He runs, hides or curls up in a ball when it comes down to backing up his mouth and his actions! IF Gays want to dispell so called myths about gays having Avery as a spokesperson is not going to help! He is a wussy!— bluebellious
- Avery hids behind the instigator rule.— Ferrell31
- Avery hids behind the instigator rule.— Ferrell31
- Noone talks about Simmonds actions. Yakking on and on and on at Avery who really got to him. Wayne seems immature to me. Watch the tape.— scchask
- Stop by the Flyers Skate Zone in Vorhees, NJ and share that opinion with Simmonds. Make sure you have your organ donor card with you.
- UMM... Didn't you see Avery sucker punching him while the refs were pulling them apart? Yet, when it came time to go toe to toe he turtled as usual. Stop defending Avery. — frombucks
- avery is a complete a**hole and everyone in the league knows that. didnt he almost get arrested for pushing a cop this summer.— psualum
- Heck I played for years, suit me up for one game and Avery will be gone. I will of course be banned forever with the tactics but he deserves it.— TKL008
- It's only a matter of time before Avery gets one of Shanahan's mega-suspensions. Players like him are like cockroaches and Shanny needs to stomp on him with that giant disciplinarian shoe he's been wearing.— Kanayd
- 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
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Broad Street Bull is the Inquirer's blog covering the Philadelphia Flyers and the National Hockey League.
Reach Sam at scarchidi@phillynews.com.
Sam Carchidi
Inquirer Staff Writer
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