Boy oh boy, Sean Avery just can not keep himself out of trouble.
The infamous former National Hockey League agitator has become infamous for his used of the bike lanes in New York, and more specifically for aggressively defending his bike lane whenever he feels anyone has intruded on his space. Just earlier this year Avery was in court after he hit a vehicle that had blocked his bike lane, and it was quite obvious that the brash and confrontational Avery was there to make a point, not to see justice served. Avery was offered a very reasonable plea deal for "criminal mischief" but rejected it outright choosing instead to use himself as an example of rights for cyclists in New York City.
Avery was once again in trouble this week however, and once again it occurred as a result of someone rubbing him the wrong way while he was on his bike. Unlike the previous incident however this time the entire fiasco was caught on video, or rather I should say the argument that ensued from the conflict was caught on video. In the video the former National Hockey League forward can be seen getting into a physical altercation with a smaller looking man that absolutely no one would describe as intimidating.
Now I have no idea who is in the wrong and who is in the right here, the video only begins after the catalyst for the argument has taken place, but it is clear that Avery is using his stature and superior size here to bully the other man. To his credit the smaller men never seems to back down and in fact even grabs Avery to restrain him, all the while holding onto his coffee like the whole thing is no big deal.
I'm not inclined to give Sean Avery the benefit of the doubt here for just one reason. There was seemingly another witness to the incident, a woman, who can be seen in the video screaming something inaudible at Avery in a thick New York accent. I'm not sure what it is she's screaming but it is quite clear that she feels Avery was in the wrong here. Given that she and the second man do not walk off together after the incident, I suspect that they are in no way familiar with one another.
Here's the video.
Editor's note: Although the man in this video was initially identified as Sean Avery, and given his history I can certainly understand where the confusion came from, it now appears that this was in fact a case of mistaken identity.
