I've been a hockey fan for a long time, and I've always taken at least a little bit of solace in the fact that, despite being rich athletes, hockey players are a much more classy breed of professional than those in other sports.

The respect I have for pro hockey players stops short for a few thugs in the league, and there is one douche who takes the cake:  Sean Avery, of course.  Apparently he's trying to stir things up with Calgary, with this gem of a quote from a recent interview about tonight's upcoming match with the fLames:

"I am really happy to be back in Calgary, I love Canada, I just want to comment on how it's become like a common thing in the NHL for guys to fall in love with my sloppy seconds.  I don't know what that's about.  Enjoy the game tonight."

Now some of you may be aware that Dion Phadouche is dating Hollywood hottie Elisha Cuthbert, whom Avery is probably referring to as "sloppy seconds" since he previously dated her. 

I hate Dion Phaneuf.  But you don't talk about a man's woman like that.  Sean Avery is a classless, tactless turd, and someone needs to wipe him out of the NHL. He goes on to say that Jarome Iginla is a "boring" player.  Really?  That's why teams are sweating bullets when he as the puck.

Sean Avery is a disease.  The NHL could use some more exposure, but not the kind this guy brings.

Phaneuf?  Iginla?  Bertuzzi?  Someone please kill Sean Avery.

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EDITORIAL DISCLAIMER: Just in case anyone is completely dense and needs help, no one at Mile High Hockey actually endorses or encourages homicide.  That would be totally inappropriate.  Having said that, if Sean Avery had some kind of "accident," not many of us would mourn his loss.  Just sayin'.  -Joe