The Sports Forum - Boston Bruins

In some people's eyes being invited to the White House would be one of the biggest days in their lives, but Tim Thomas thought otherwise.

.....hmmm, now what Smilie do I use here? :rofl: - :( - :thumbsup: - :banghead: - ;cool; - :bashhh: - :trout: - :o - ;? - :sleeping: - :nono: , heck even :joincc: can work.

Good for him.

I applaud the man for standing up for his principles. I have always thought it was tacky for Presidents to have these BS events. The current clown in the White House probably never played a competitive sport in his life, who cares if he congratulates you for winning an sport he doesn't have a clue how to play.

I have a new found respect for Thomas.

I applaud the man for standing up for his principles. I have always thought it was tacky for Presidents to have these BS events. The current clown in the White House probably never played a competitive sport in his life, who cares if he congratulates you for winning an sport he doesn't have a clue how to play.

:thumbsup::thumbsup:

Too bad someone didn't check BamBam over the boards.

when I was in the service as a non commissioned officer I always saluted the rank..but TT is not in the service and neither am I anymore BUT I salute TT..

:thumbsup:

Read the following article by Kevin Paul Dupont, one of the most respected hockey writers in the country. You may see the difference between politics and being a teammate, and being an Olympian.

On a Day for Team, Thomas Left Them Shorthanded (http://www.boston.com/sports/hockey/bruins/articles/2012/01/24/thomass_absence_left_bruins_shorthanded/?p1=Well_Sports_links)

DuPont sure does make an excellent point.

I'm not a hockey fun but I AM a fan for what he did. Stood up for what he believes in. Maybe that Dupont dude could have looked at it the other way... his team could have stood behind him and sent a team spokesperson to socialize with the anointed one on the hill. Nahh. They wanted the limelight instead. ;?

Read the following article by Kevin Paul Dupont, one of the most respected hockey writers in the country. You may see the difference between politics and being a teammate, and being an Olympian.

On a Day for Team, Thomas Left Them Shorthanded (http://www.boston.com/sports/hockey/bruins/articles/2012/01/24/thomass_absence_left_bruins_shorthanded/?p1=Well_Sports_links)

Well Kevin Paul Dupont just lost all my respect as a hockey writer.

Being a teammate is what you do on the ice, when the puck drops. Every team, every locker room is going to have its divides. What being a teammmate means, is putting those divides aside in the name of the team winning. Reality is that the rest of the Bruins are not going to care about Thomas' politics. I may need a fact check here, but I believe he is the only Amrican on the B's roster and would have been the only American at the event yesterday.

If you want to throw the teammate concept around, why didn't the rest of the B's rally behind Thomas decision? After all, they are visiting the leader of his country, where he, their teammate is a citizen, and none of them are. His no showing the even was no secret - he informed the team months ago that he would not be attending.

Further, his politics have been no secret. After the winning the cup, he publicly commented that he would love to be a guest on Beck's show. In an off season interview, he made it known of his support for the Tea Party.

Politics - that is what the even is all about. Nothing but a political photo op for the sitting administration. This of course holds true for any pro team visit to any administration regardless of their leaning. These ops have alwasy been about using athletes as props for politicing.

Politics - read Thomas' statement. He didn't just lash out at the current administration, he lashed out at both sides, and clearly stated that.

If the team is going to insert itself into a political event (photo op) they should not expect the players to follow as lemmings to the administration. It is akin to forcing a vegetarian to eat meat.

Being an Olympian has nothing to do with the event. Being an Olympian is about representing ones country. Last I checked, Tim is a US citizen and he did represent the US. As a citizen, Tim has rights to express his beliefs, and he chose to do so via no showing the event and his facebook posting.

While we are all free to agree or disagree with what he did, we cannot and should not dispute that it is his right to do so. Accordingly, I respect the man for his decision - a decision that he had every right to make.

Personally, I could care less about Thomas' politics. While I respect his decision, I only care about his save % and win/loss record.

Now, it is only a matter of time before this goes to the bilge - fair warning to all.

DuPont sure does make an excellent point.

Respectfully, I completely disagree with you.

I prefer this oped on the subject

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/bruins-mvp-tim-thomas-skips-white-house-event-203636656.html;_ylt=AoNLjrNO_wCrrQ6VFGCghQR7vLYF

I heard he was only willing to attend if the number on jersey given to Obummer was zero.

He didnt want to be the only one in the room that wasn't a Socialist.:thumbsup:

I wouldn't go in there and be a fake either and I would sure have to be faking to be nice.

The only bigger honer would be to decline the facade that all is perfect.

Last I heard Hockey is a team sport. It was a non political function to celebrate a team championship yet Thomas made it a political farce. He has every right to be there or not but to snub his own team for his own beliefs is down right selfish!

Okay, no problem... He claims it had nothing to do with partisan politics, just a protest against our country. Got it...

But then why the hell did he volunteer to represent our country on the US Hockey team?

Hypocrisy doesn't sit well with me.

The liberal media said not a thing when Theo Ebstien refused to attend both times because it was Bush in office. But because it is a conservative statement it will be overblown.
He could look like this
http://images.thepostgame.com/sites/default/files/johnkerry%5B012412%5D_portrait_0.jpg
NHL teams have visited the White House for years after winning the Stanley Cup, but it's a safe bet that never before has a Senator shown up more beaten and broken than the hockey players.
Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) was part of the ceremony honoring the Boston Bruins 2011 Stanley

This is a totally different time in the history of this country. Never before have we had a president who hated this country and the Constitution upon which it was founded. His politics are based on division and envy!

Okay, no problem... He claims it had nothing to do with partisan politics, just a protest against our country. Got it...

But then why the hell did he volunteer to represent our country on the US Hockey team?

Hypocrisy doesn't sit well with me.Simple,loves his country,just cant stand the A'HOLES DRIVIN THE BUS;cool;

Respectfully, I completely disagree with you.

I prefer this oped on the subject

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/bruins-mvp-tim-thomas-skips-white-house-event-203636656.html;_ylt=AoNLjrNO_wCrrQ6VFGCghQR7vLYF


Yeah, it is a tough call. Everyone else went.

If anything, do it for the kids.

I wonder, if little league world series kids were invited, and one of the kids didn't want to go for the same reason(s), or the parents didn't want the kid to go, I wonder? What kid would not want to go with his winning team to go meet the President at the White House?

I know, these were adults and I'm cool with all of it as it is already yesterdays news and the point was made and possibly, in the future, anyone who agrees/does not agree to go meet with the President will now be seen as . . . exercising their right(s)/choice(s)?

What's dumb is this is going to start a trend now... where athletes will "express" their political points of view by not attending.

People who support it now will be annoyed when a dopey Liberal player "protests" by not going to the White House when a Republican is President.

What's dumb is this is going to start a trend now... where athletes will "express" their political points of view by not attending.

People who support it now will be annoyed when a dopey Liberal player "protests" by not going to the White House when a Republican is President.

I don't think it will. Nobody is going to really remember Tim Thomas doing what he did. Already people have forgotten about it and have moved on. Besides, how many teams/people actually get the chance to go?

What's dumb is this is going to start a trend now... where athletes will "express" their political points of view by not attending.

People who support it now will be annoyed when a dopey Liberal player "protests" by not going to the White House when a Republican is President.

Start a trend? The trend has been going on for years. Theo Epstein refused to visit the Whithouse when the Sox won the world series. Only thing is, the team covered for him.

James Harrison did not visit the White House in 2006 and 2009. Larry Bird took a pass in 1984, Michael Jordan took a pass to, in 1991, and of course Manny Ramirez skipped the 2007 visit.

Athletes making a political statement by not visiting the whitehouse is nothing new at all.