In anticipation of Sean Avery's return to New York today, we sent him an E-mail with some questions we thought he might want to answer, even if he was otherwise blacking out the New York media. He hasn't answered us (so far) -- we're hoping he might do so at a later date when his gag order is removed. In the meantime, we're wondering how fans might expect him to answer these questions -- have fun with it, but please keep it clean. Here's the message in its entirety:
Sean -- Greetings from Blueshirt Bulletin, where we miss your presence more than we miss anyone else (OK, maybe equal with Jags) because you were such a great player to follow both on and off the ice. As a publication targeted at Ranger fans, we can tell you unequivocally that the Garden faithful were on your side and wanted you to stay in New York.
Everyone is looking forward to your return next week, although this being New York, we're sure you're expecting a mixed reaction. We bet you'll get more cheers than anything else. We're wondering if you could answer a few questions that we think would be fun and entertaining for our readers, your fans here in New York:
What restaurant are you going to first if you have some free time?
Who with, and what are you going to order?
If you had only one hour of free time in the city, where would you go?
How about if it's raining, where would you go instead?
Which current Dallas teammate would you most want to show around the city?
Which one would be least interested in it?
If you took the elevator up to the blue seats like you did last year, what kind of reaction would you expect before the game?
Would the reaction be different if you went up after the game?
Which Ranger players are you looking forward to greeting with a smile and a handshake off the ice?
Which Ranger players are you looking forward to greeting with a scowl and a fist on the ice?
Which new Ranger do you regret not having as a teammate?
Which new Ranger are you happy to be playing against rather than with?
If you had to choose between Henrik and Joel, who would you go out on the twon with?
What would rankle Henrik more, you scoring on him or Joel?
One concern about tonight: I'm expecting Avery to go after Dubinsky. The scrap against Richards notwithstanding, Avery remembers Dubinsky's fighting adventures (mishaps?) from last year. I'm sure Avery sees challenging Dubinsky as an irresistable combination of low-hanging fruit and revenge. So, keep your stick up, Brandon. And lets go Rangers!
Posted by: Chris | October 20, 2008 at 01:45 PM
i can see avery wishing that Malik was still here so he could continue from last year. i dont see him going after Dubi, they did play on a line together for some time and im pretty sure Voros will have Dubi covered. i do see him going after Rissmiller or Voros being that they we're brought in as his replacements, or even going after naslund or redden. it should be an interesting night
Posted by: njaco1215 | October 20, 2008 at 02:15 PM
Avery's answers:
What restaurant are you going to first if you have some free time? The coach doesn't let me have any free time. He didn't even let me wear shorts. But, whatever.
Who with, and what are you going to order? If I could go, I thought I'd invite Ricky and Marty, and then wave breadsticks in front of their menus when they try to order. It would be hilarious!
If you had only one hour of free time in the city, where would you go? How about if it's raining, where would you go instead? Umm, isn't this a family publication? I don't think I can answer this question truthfully. Let's just say where I would go wouldn't matter if it was raining or not!
Which current Dallas teammate would you most want to show around the city? Joel Lundqvist, because I just pretend he's Hank and knows his way around. Then I can ditch him and do what I want to do.
Which one would be least interested in it? Pretty much everyone. These guys are from Dallas. They wouldn't know culture if it slashed 'em on the ankles!
If you took the elevator up to the blue seats like you did last year, what kind of reaction would you expect before the game? I think they'd want to buy me a beer, I mean, who doesn't want to buy me a beer besides Fatso in swampland?
Would the reaction be different if you went up after the game? I would hope that they would still want to buy me a beer, since they would understand I was just playing up my personae when I slew footed Hank!
Which Ranger players are you looking forward to greeting with a smile and a handshake off the ice? Shanny. What? He's not there? Well, I'd still shake his hand. Smiling? That's not going to get me back in People's Sexiest Man Alive?
Which Ranger players are you looking forward to greeting with a scowl and a fist on the ice? Dubinsky. The kid is calling me out. I think he needs to remember that I had a right to haze the crap out of him last year. I kind of wish Valley was playing so I could give him the Marty treatment and let's see if he puts his money where his mouth is!
Which new Ranger do you regret not having as a teammate? Teammates? I don't need no stinkin' teammates? Just kidding, I'm just playing my role. I guess I would like to have played with the Russian kid Zherdev. He'd be fun to mess with since his English sucks.
Which new Ranger are you happy to be playing against rather than with? Voros is supposed to be me, right? Yeah, let's see him get an internship at Vogue!
If you had to choose between Henrik and Joel, who would you go out on the twon with? What's a twon? I wouldn't go out with either of them. Their freakin' twins and it's hard enough getting play without two Swedish guys. The fact that Hank was named one of the most People's Most Beautiful People doesn't help my odds of scoring, if you know what I mean!
What would rankle Henrik more, you scoring on him or Joel? He'd probably be more upset with Joel scoring on him, but this interview is all about me, so what do you think I'm going to say?
Posted by: Colorado Mark | October 20, 2008 at 04:28 PM
Rissmiller, Voros, Fritsche and Orr in the lineup? Two fights in a game and your out? I see a fight in the first 2 minutes. Can Avery control himself?
Posted by: rangerbill94 | October 20, 2008 at 04:38 PM
Bravo, Mark -- Any other takers? Although Mark got a lot of good answers in already.
Posted by: Dubi | October 20, 2008 at 04:46 PM
No one else wants to play? It's really fun letting your inner-Avery out once in a while!
Posted by: Colorado Mark | October 20, 2008 at 07:50 PM
Rissmiller on waivers. First $1ml victim.
Posted by: ibialik | October 21, 2008 at 01:21 PM
bout damn time.
Posted by: Amos | October 21, 2008 at 08:20 PM