THE AVERY EFFECT

Sean Avery’s short , turbulent and self-serving stint as a Dallas Star ended when the final buzzer sounded at the Sommet Center in Nashville a week ago today.

That was the end of his NHL imposed 6 game suspension and the beginning of his lifetime ban from the Stars.

July 7th was the start of a relationship that from the very start was as doomed as Britney’s first marriage – the one before she tied the knot with that Federline turd – which is saying something.

So what exactly did Avery do that was so toxic, so team destroying?

Why has a team that was floundering at 8-11-4 suddenly won five of the eight games without him in the lineup?

It was not all about what he did or didn’t do (Although there is a sizeable list of things that easily come to mind), instead it had a lot to do with what he stands for, how he carried himself , and what he had said in the past.

What he stands for is “me”. That seldom goes over well on a hockey team – never has, never will.

How he carried himself was like that of an egotistical, pick your spots, self-promoting little man. Hockey players can tolerate a lot in the name of team harmony, they’ll give plenty of rope to guys like that as long as they see that it’s mostly an act, and that there’s a caring teammate deep down underneath. In Avery they saw an arrogant individual who wouldn’t answer for past actions when challenged and seemed way more interested in whoever was on the other end of his omnipresent cell phone communications than in his teammates and the clubs fortunes. In short, they saw a designer draped dirtbag.

Literally every “pest” player in NHL history has had the following stated about him, “I hate to play against him but I’d love to have him on my team.” With Avery it’s, “I hate to play against him, I hate him, and I’d hate to have him on my team.” And that sentiment probably sums up the opinion of about 98% of the current NHLPA.

For this hockey team, the 08-09 Stars, the guy was like a skating, swaggering, insolent, Gucci-labeled case of necrotizing fasciitis.

And some pundits, those who wouldn’t know the foggiest about the value of a harmonic dressing room, have acted surprised, shocked and at times amused that both the NHL and the Stars have made such a big deal out of what they think is nothing.

Nothing?

Do you know the literal meaning of the vulgarity he spouted that morning in Calgary?

It doesn’t refer to a disheveled former significant other, I can tell you that.

But as I stated above, this wasn’t merely about an idiot’s grand standing statement, this was just a bad personnel decision, and the group that truly “owns” this hockey team spoke loudly and emphatically in favor of severing and cauterizing.

They can all now thank the man who actually owns the team, Mr. Hicks, for listening, acting and continuing to write the checks he’s obligated to write so that this team can move forward and possibly upward.

They owe him their very best every night as repayment.

He owes the problem a pile of money to “not play” for his hockey team.

And somebody owes Tom Hicks an apology – which I bet has already been taken care of.