I tried your advice but the axis is already set on Y.
My problem can be fixed if I rotate the avatar -90 degrees then I have no problem mdelling around using Alt and my mouse button, but if I use the default secen brought in and try those commands, it only allows me to rotate up and down not around the avatar model in Maya. Rotating -90 degrees I was wondering if that was ok to do or if it well mess up my import into SL.