Dallas Stars (for now) forward Sean Avery strikes me as one of those guys who is probably a decent guy off the ice.

But I can’t judge him on that. I can only comment on his actions on the ice and with the media.

And there’s plenty to comment and talk about. Avery is basically a clown much like Plaxico Burress - but for different reasons. That’s pretty much the consensus among bloggers, journalists, fans and even his colleagues.

Nonetheless, his most recent brain-dead public outburst and the reaction to it leaves me scratching my head. No doubt, his past behavior plays a role on how the public views him. It’s hard to feel sorry for him. After all, we’re all accountable for our actions - and when it’s premeditated consequences usually and rightly follow.

And this is what happened.

Avery pushes the proverbial envelope. The more he does it the more he draws penalties and the more he gets media attention. Ah yes, the “moi?” media.

I love whenever something like this happens how the media goes off on a moral crusade as if they had no role to play in it. They loved it when Avery pulled his stunts and now that he went overboard they look on in horror. Please.

It’s all part of the same hypocrisy machine.

The other things that’s irksome is how the NHL decided to suspend him for six games. I don’t know how much of this is related to his past, protecting Avery from Dion Phaneuf (to whom the insult was indirectly aimed at) and towards protecting the integrity of the game. If it’s the latter then the NHL messed this one up badly.

Seriously. How can they nab Avery for a few disgusting words when disrespectful and dirty assholes still litter the ice? How many dirty plays have we seen these past few years that went off with basically a slap on the wrist? Moreover, the league always tolerated the Dale Hunter’s, Ken Linseman’s, Ulf Samuelsson’s, Bryan Marchment’s and Claude Lemieux’s of this world. Look at how Jarkko Ruutu, Steve Ott and Ryan Holwegg play in today’s game.

True, none go over the top like Avery (Ruutu comes pretty close for cowardly play) but I find it a tad absurd the NHL suspends a guy (and gives him anger management!) for six games over a few insensitive and classless words but needs convincing to sit someone for a violent dirty play.

This is why some consider the NHL a banana league. Spare us all the moral gesturing and go after violent players free of any excuses that sometimes come with dangerous acts.

I wonder what Alex Rodriguez thinks about all this.