Sean Avery Condemned by Agent for Gay Marriage Stance

Hockey star Sean Avery's recent statements supporting gay marriage has drawn fire from an unlikely source: His agent.

Hockey star Sean Avery’s recent statements supporting gay marriage has drawn fire from an unlikely source: His agent.

ESPN (“Todd Reynolds criticizes Sean Avery“):

Sean Avery’s support for same-sex marriage has drawn fire from hockey agent Todd Reynolds.

“Very sad to read Sean Avery’s misguided support of same-gender ‘marriage.’ Legal or not, it will always be wrong,” tweeted Reynolds. He’s the vice president of Ontario-based Uptown Sports Management, which counts Chris Neil, Cody McCormick and Mike Fisher among its hockey clients.

Avery, the New York Rangers agitator who is known for making headlines on and off the ice, stated his support for same-sex marriage in a video that is part of the New Yorkers for Marriage Equality campaign, organized by gay-rights organization Human Rights Campaign.

“I’m Sean Avery and I’m a New Yorker for Marriage Equality. I treat everyone the way I expect to be treated and that applies to marriage,” Avery says in the video.

“Committed couples should be able to marry the person they love,” he adds. “Join me in supporting marriage equality.”

After his initial tweet, Reynolds issued several more.

“To clarify. This is not hatred or bigotry towards gays. It is not intolerance in any way shape or form. I believe we are all equal.”

He also tweeted: “But I believe in the sanctity of marriage between one man and one woman. This is my personal viewpoint. I Do not hate anyone.”

In a subsequent radio interview, Reynolds said he was just saying what he believes.

“I believe in voicing your opinion and not being part of the silent majority,” he told TSN radio. “If Sean Avery or any other player can comment on one side of the discussion then — I work in hockey, I’m in hockey 24-7 — why can I not comment on it as well?”

Because you’re an agent?

While I’ve come to share Avery’s viewpoint on this issue, I would have been on Reynolds’ side not that many years ago. And I do believe it’s possible to be non-bigoted and to draw the line at marriage, whether for religious or other reasons.

But an agent simply has no business publicly criticizing his client. Period. If you can’t abide his conduct or statements, talk to him privately. Or resign you post. But an agent must act at all times in the best interest of his client.

UPDATE: I totally misunderstood the story. Following the front page headline “Agent chides Avery for gay marriage stance,” I assumed that Reynolds was Avery’s agent, not some random agent. Had I understood correctly, my reaction would have been: So? This is basically a non-story understood correctly but, since there’s an active discussion thread, I’m leaving it up.

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James Joyner
About James Joyner
James Joyner is Professor and Department Head of Security Studies at Marine Corps University's Command and Staff College. He's a former Army officer and Desert Storm veteran. Views expressed here are his own. Follow James on Twitter @DrJJoyner.

Comments

  1. CB says:

    as i understand it, reynolds is not actually avery’s agent.

    regardless, avery can go DIAF

  2. TG Chicago says:

    And I do believe it’s possible to be non-bigoted and to draw the line at marriage, whether for religious or other reasons.

    If a religion decides they don’t want to sanctify a marriage for whatever reason, that’s their business.

    When people want to stop couples from getting married on the basis of race or sexual orientation, it’s bigotry.

  3. Jason Yeoman says:

    Todd Reynolds is not Sean Avery’s agent. Avery’s agent (and several others) have come out in full support of the player’s comments. Todd Reynolds is a relatively small agent who currently represents Nashville’s Mike Fisher who is married to country star Carrie Underwood.

  4. pylon says:

    I agree with Avery’s opinion on this. That said, calling him a star is stretching it somewhat.

  5. James Joyner says:

    @pylon: My standard for players in hockey and other sports I follow only through news reports: They’re a “star” if I’ve heard of them.

  6. george says:

    Wow, hard to believe Avery did something decent. Its almost like this is a weird alternate universe.