And another Sean Avery round-up

From Deadspin:

Why Hockey Has Gone Totally Gay For The Latest Homophobia Debate

The counter-reaction was swift and condemning, at least among those who chose to get involved. As one wag pointed out, Uptown Sports had somehow ceded the moral high ground to Sean Avery. It became a story like it could never have before, because public homophobia is apparently a bigger story than public tolerance. It becomes a story for Uptown Sports' clients, for for the activists, for Uptown Sports itself.



From USA Today:

Avery backs same-sex marriage, sparks brief debate

So no matter what you think about Sean Avery, credit him with at least showing some brass. The Rangers' forward was already dubbed the "most hated man in hockey" because of his low-rent antics and even cheaper shots, but this once he was willing to provoke a reaction that wasn't simply for his own benefit.



From the National Post:

Avery’s agitation welcome, for once

If Mr. Avery is good at anything, of course, it is provoking a reaction, and one was forthcoming. Todd Reynolds, part of the father-son agency Uptown Hockey that represents about 10 NHL players, wrote on Twitter on Monday, “Very sad to read Sean Avery’s misguided support of same-gender ‘marriage.’ Legal or not, it will always be wrong.”



And off we went. I interviewed Todd Reynolds on TSN Radio on Tuesday; my colleague talked to his father Don, who essentially equated gay marriage to marriage between a man and a horse. Neither apologized for their beliefs, and that is their right.



Patrick Burke on TSN Radio HERE.



From Behind the Grid:

Barry Melrose On Gay Athletes: “It’s A Problem That Coaches Don’t Want To Handle”

Among the reasons given by the group were the usual – sports being behind the times socially, athletes are expected to be macho men, etc. – but it was an issue raised by hockey analyst (and former coach) Barry Melrose that really stuck out to some. Speaking from a coach’s perspective, Melrose didn’t so much voice an opposition to actually being gay as he voiced a reluctance to deal with the potential distraction caused by an openly gay player. Here’s how he put it:



“I think it’s a problem that coaches don’t want to handle, I think it’s something you do as a coach – you try to solve all the problems, and if there was an openly gay player in your [locker] room, all of a sudden you have to handle that. You have to handle it with the press, you have to handle it with the other players.”





From the Montreal Gazette (h/t Outsports):

Sportsnet cuts ties with broadcaster Goddard

On-air host Damian Goddard is no longer part of Rogers Sportsnet following a controversial tweet on Tuesday.



Goddard supported hockey agent Todd Reynolds’ anti-gay marriage stance on Tuesday. Reynolds spoke out against New York Ranger forward Sean Avery and his public service announcement which supported gay marriage.



“I completely and whole-heartedly support Todd Reynolds and his support for the traditional and TRUE meaning of marriage,” Goddard wrote in a tweet on his personal Twitter account.