Avery ripped for same-sex marriage stance

In his NHL career as a shift-disturber, Sean Avery has drawn the ire of opponents and officials for his face-to-face, not-for-prime-time chirping on and off the ice.

But his advocacy of same-sex marriage -- as part of a New Yorkers for Marriage Equality video campaign featuring more than 20 politicians and celebrities -- triggered an emotional response across social media, starting from another side of league operations: player agent Todd Reynolds.

Avery, 31, who grew up in Canada, was brief and straightforward in supporting the group's efforts: "I'm Sean Avery and I'm a New Yorker for marriage equality," he says, as photos appear of him wearing his Rangers uniform. "I treat everyone the way I expect to be treated, and that applies to marriage. Committed couples should be able to marry the person they love. Join me in supporting marriage equality."

Very few professional athletes have spoken publicly in support of gay and lesbian issues, but Avery doesn't fit the mold.

He is a dedicated follower of fashion, has interned at Vogue magazine, can be found at independent film festivals and music gatherings such as Bonnaroo, and is a partner in two lower Manhattan establishments, Warren 77, a bar, and the recently opened restaurant, Tiny's. His friends include musicians, artists, models, actresses and other denizens of downtown.

The recent salvo was fired from uptown: specifically, a series of tweets on Monday from Reynolds, a vice president of Uptown Sports Management, a firm based in Ontario that represents several NHL players including the Senators' Chris Neil and the Predators' Mike Fisher, who is married to country music star Carrie Underwood.

"Very sad to read Sean Avery's misguided support of same-gender 'marriage', " tweeted Reynolds, a former goaltender at Northeastern University in Boston and father of three. "Legal or not, it will always be wrong."

After a whirlwind of responses from the Twittersphere, Reynolds later explained: "This is not hatred or bigotry towards gays. It is not intolerance in any way shape or form. I believe we are all equal. But I believe in the sanctity of marriage between one man and one woman. This is my personal viewpoint. I do not hate anyone."

The Rangers and the NHL declined to comment.

Reynolds later appeared on TSN Radio in Canada, and declared: "If you oppose a viewpoint, you're immediately targeted by some people as a hater, a bigot, intolerant, homophobic and many other terms. That's obviously not the case for people who know me. . . . I've already been asked what happens if my clients disagree with this opinion and that's fine, we're going to disagree on all kinds of issues in life but we have to be able to talk about them. If Mike Fisher or any other client of ours agrees or disagrees on this position is of no consequence and they shouldn't feel compelled to comment."