Avery in Vogue: NHL\'s No. 1 pest is mag intern

Tag : men's cap
Sean Avery squeezes between two tables fullof diners, careful to avoid jostling anyone. He quickly skims themenu at a favorite SoHo eatery and orders: the pizza with blacktruffles, please.
The NHL's No. 1 pest is ready to dish — about food, fashionand a most curious job as an intern.
At Vogue magazine.
"People seem to find it strange that I worked there," the New YorkRangers forward said this week. "I don't."
"Fans see my on-ice character, my persona. Pushing it as far as itcan go. Play it to the max, crazy. Sometimes over the line," hesaid. "Off the ice, what do I do?" he said. "I'm in love withmusic. I'm in love with clothes."
With occasional hits on MTV and the dating scene with ElisaCuthbert and Rachel Hunter, he's more than hockey's best-knownagitator.
Avery made People's "Sexiest Scars" list for a gash on his lip andrecently showed up in a tabloid gossip column, where hishead-to-toe black outfit at an R.E.M. looked "straight out of a1998 J.Lo video."
So much energy, so many interests. But how to put them alltogether?
One night before the playoffs, in a hotel room in Pittsburgh, hewrote a letter to Vogue editor in chief Anna Wintour.
"I was wondering what I would do this summer," he said.
Pretty soon, the 28-year-old Avery reported for work in a RafSimons dress shirt, nice jeans and a bow tie.
During his month at the bible of couture, Avery did mosteverything. He helped set up photo shoots, served as guest editorfor the Men's Vogue Web site and just wrote a farewell essay.Didn't get coffee for the bosses, but made copies.
Oh, and he spilled a plate of beef Stroganoff over a woman in thecafeteria.
"Got her pretty good," he said.
Making a mess, that's sort of how Avery does it in hockey.
He once led the league in penalty minutes and during this year'splayoffs, Avery parked himself in front of New Jersey goalie MartinBrodeur, waving his hand and stick in his face.
The next day, the league put in the so-called "Avery Rule" toprohibit such shenanigans — he got his revenge by scoringthree goals in the series victory. But he lacerated his spleen inthe following round against Pittsburgh and was finished.
Then came the invitation from Vogue to work for minimum wage. He'dseen the movie "The Devil Wears Prada," a supposed send-up ofWintour and the magazine, but hesitated to draw comparisons.
"Vogue is a very private place," Avery said, softly.
At least one former opponent liked hearing that Avery was followinga pursuit that dealt more with YSL than NHL.
"Hey, he's making the most of it," said former Buffalo tough guyRob Ray, now a Sabres broadcaster. "You've got a short period oftime to lay the groundwork for after-hockey or whatever. Too manyother guys sit back and, when they're done, they try to figure outwhat they're going to do. He's smart."
"He's got personality. And I think that's something that the leagueis lacking. And I think the league just wants 750 robots. But thisguy walks to his own beat," he said.
His own look, too. Despite so much time around fashionistas, Averysaid he's still dresses the same.
"I think personal style is exactly that: Do your own thing, wearwhat you feel comfortable in, and what you feel confident in," hesaid.
At lunch, that meant a black newsboy cap, a white T-shirt, blackathletic shorts and something else on his must-have list for men, anice watch.
His quick list for women: flats, vests, knee-high socks, skirts andT-shirts.
In the next week, Avery will fashion his future. Along withColdplay and Pearl Jam concerts, a screening for the film "Gonzo"and a trip to Paris for a men's show, he'll pick where to play nextseason.
A free agent, Avery said he's not worrying.
"My biggest stress right now is finding a tour bus for the LatitudeFestival in northern England," he said.