I wasn't talking about Thomas. It was a reply to a suggestion that anyone who isn't American wouldn't care about the event. Keep up.
- Jeffmt

He's from an area of the united states that is struggling big time.

Thanks for the polite debate guys, it was nice there was no name slinging, I appreciate that and your opinions, but its really late and I got work tomorrow, Cheers to all!

So true, and I would love it, but I am saying that Tim's team mates aren't likely offended by his actions,it is a system they don't live by or vote to, sure the thrill of being at the White House is amazing, but I don't think the non-Americans put allot of thought into which political party is in power. Tim does because he is American.
- sloppyseconds2

I guess I just don't look at it as a political event. If I was one of his teammates, it would be sort of like skipping the Stanley Cup parade (to a lesser extent of course). I'd be thinking, "this is our last chance to celebrate something we did as a team and it would be nice if the whole team was here to do it". Any resentment that his teammates may hold against him now likely has nothing to do with politics and everything to do with the fact that he didn't want to take part in one last Cup event with them. Now maybe I'm right about that, maybe I'm wrong, maybe none of them care that he stayed home.

He's from an area of the united states that is struggling big time.
- duckyjets

I get what you're saying, but again, that really has nothing to do with what I said. I wasn't talking about Thomas in the post you replied to.

Ty, well written blog, but like a lot of other people supporting Timmy, you are taking his decision out of context. I don't think that anybody is hating on his RIGHT to decline the invitation. Fine, whatever, you have the right. This is an event honoring the athletic accomplishment. More importantly, the event is honoring the TEAM. For the past who knows how many years, the POTUS has invited the winner of the national championship from all 4 major national leagues. This was not a political event! This was a time to put the Boston Bruins in the spotlight. Thomas put himself in front of every other teammate, and that is what has me steamed.

He used this opportunity as a platform. I, before today, was completely unaware of his political stance, nor did I care what he believed. He had the right to use the invitation as a way to speak out against the Obama administration, but the manner in which he did it was not only disrespectful to the President (who wants to congratulate him), but to his teammates as well! This was supposed to be their day, and what dominated the headlines? The decision to decline the invitation to the White House.

This was an poorly planned move by Thomas. Find another way to make a political commentary without disrespecting the President and the Boston Bruins.

Absolutely classless behavior by Thomas. Bruins management all feel pretty disgraced at this moment.

- Maxbone

Agreed.

Real question to come out of all this: How the hell can Thomas and Andrew Ference play on the same team together? It would be like Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr working in the same bank. (If you don't get that nerdy joke, you have no idea what any of the underlying arguments in this political debate are about and should really study your own history better...just sayin)

Thomas can say, feel and do whatever he wants, as is his right (but really, if you believe so strongly in your rights, but the only thing that can guarantee and enforce those rights is the same thing you despise, why do you feel your rights matter?) but he'd better expect some attempts from the media to elaborate on his views and expose any flaws and factual errors in his belief system, of which I am sure there are many if he sources Glenn Beck as a source of political wisdom.

Totally agree, Thomas is a stand up guy and doing this has only reinforced that to me. Maybe you dont agree with his politics, but he has a right to make this decision and nobody has the right to say otherwise. It was a hard choice I'm sure, but the most important choices usually are the hardest. I guess a lot of people would rather he become a sheep and play along, but that's not what makes countries like the US and Canada great. It's standing up for what you believe and not being afraid to do unpopular things if it's what you believe.
- 13sundin13

+1
well said thanks

Real question to come out of all this: How the hell can Thomas and Andrew Ference play on the same team together? It would be like Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr working in the same bank. (If you don't get that nerdy joke, you have no idea what any of the underlying arguments in this political debate are about and should really study your own history better...just sayin)

Thomas can say, feel and do whatever he wants, as is his right (but really, if you believe so strongly in your rights, but the only thing that can guarantee and enforce those rights is the same thing you despise, why do you feel your rights matter?) but he'd better expect some attempts from the media to elaborate on his views and expose any flaws and factual errors in his belief system, of which I am sure there are many if he sources Glenn Beck as a source of political wisdom.
- ahjnkn

maybe his source is the constitution

Nobama.

Absolutely classless behavior by Thomas. Bruins management all feel pretty disgraced at this moment.

Hey, have all the problems you want with government...I get that. Thomas is a fool if he thinks he only represents himself at times like this. It was a BRUINS meal with the President to honor what the BRUINS did. Thomas's action was completely selfish and disrespectful to everyone else on the team and their fans.
- Maxbone

While I disagree with the move I defend his right to do so. Thats what makes this country so great. Move on.

Good for Tim Thomas. Uncompromising people are easy to admire. He doesn't like the federal government, and didn't want to go sit in the seat of the executive branch of it. He would have been a hypocrite if he did go.

I'm of the opinion that he should have just announced a week or two ago that he wasn't going for whatever reasons and left it at that, instead of upstaging the event for the rest of his teammates who maybe thought it was a thrill to go. He knew this would turn into a semi-circus if it was only yesterday everyone found out he wasn't going.

Right on, JS. I was so bothered by guys like KPD and others talking about what a selfish move this was and all this nonsense. Thomas exercised his right as an American, and a person that's sick of how this country is being run. That's his choice, and god damnit it's a beautiful one, for sure.

Also, I totally thought of the Michigan connection as well. That's a state that's been absolutely ravished by the hard economic times, and there's no doubt in my mind that Thomas is bothered by that. He's a prideful guy, he loves where he's from -- and he makes it known. Good for him.

We're now going to see the Boston media's attempt at running TT30 out of town and painting him as a bad guy. It's going to be really cute.
- tyanderson

The KPD insinuation that irked me the most was that if Thomas shouldn't have represented the USA at the 2010 olympics if he felt this way which is utterly bogus. So you shouldn't represent the country you love if you don't love the leader? Stalin would be proud.

Of course Thomas has the right to decide to go or not go, that is not the question. It is all about showing respect for the office during a time of celebration for your team, not for you. If the president asked Thomas to come and talk about politics or come on his day off and play some hoops then I can see taking a stand but this was selfish. Thomas was and is part of the team, he was a huge part of winning the championship and should have been with his teammates, politics out of it, this was a celebration of their success as a team. Bad call by Thomas and I think the organization feels the same way. Thomas put his thoughts and beliefs ahead of the team, nothing but family should be ahead of that team.

he follows Glen Beck

I applaud and have way more respect for Thomas now. It was great to have him show backbone. Those that are calling him classless and such are too dumb to see that he's right.

In a time of universal deceit - telling the truth is a revolutionary act.
- George Orwell

I guess I just don't look at it as a political event. If I was one of his teammates, it would be sort of like skipping the Stanley Cup parade (to a lesser extent of course). I'd be thinking, "this is our last chance to celebrate something we did as a team and it would be nice if the whole team was here to do it". Any resentment that his teammates may hold against him now likely has nothing to do with politics and everything to do with the fact that he didn't want to take part in one last Cup event with them. Now maybe I'm right about that, maybe I'm wrong, maybe none of them care that he stayed home.
- Jeffmt

I wonder if the irony has struck Thomas that he's earning more than enough to be in the upper 0.5% by playing in arenas that have been for the most part publicly funded? How about tax breaks or revenue sharing some teams may get from their respective jurisdictions? I understand he feels strongly about his political convictions, but he really should have stopped and looked at the professional situation he finds himself before using a hockey-related function to send his message.

I wonder if the irony has struck Thomas that he's earning more than enough to be in the upper 0.5% by playing in arenas that have been for the most part publicly funded? How about tax breaks or revenue sharing some teams may get from their respective jurisdictions? I understand he feels strongly about his political convictions, but he really should have stopped and looked at the professional situation he finds himself before using a hockey-related function to send his message.
- p_zub

How is that ironic? He shouldn't have dissenting political views because he happens to make a lot of money? The two are mutually exclusive.

This seems to be a norm for anybody who doesn't act star struck by the American government. The American government doesn't perpetuate the disbelief and chiding, more so the general American flag wavers. The ones who believe their country does no wrong at any times. Those people are involved in every facet of society, and EVERY country has them. The are the most vocal, most 'patriotic', most loyal. The problem is they are loyal to an image. Usually a totally propoganda oriented one. The ones who speak out usually are the ones who have no clue. I for one cannot stomach the puppet sheep in any country. If you echo propoganda of your country, like America the free, or Canada Eh?, European = healthier, You are one of these people. Learn about your country, learn about other countries. Do not assume that your grass is greener. At the very least learn that other people are allowed to make any statement they like in regards to government. Some are very strongly inclined to 'snub' the president. Just remember it is not about the president, the government, or the people. It is about YOU. Try to look outside yourself, your family, your country. See the world for the big place it really is. Then come back and look at what TT did.

Funny that there is so much talk about Timmy being selfish and not being a team player, yet no one thinks there's any onus on his teammates and organization to support his right to do what he thinks is important.

Ty your blowing this way out of proportion. Timmy T was youre main piece in the cup run. Let him do whatever he wants. Obviously he doesn't believe in what's going on in his home country. Those are his beliefs.

Do you think Obama really cares who wins the cup? I'm guessing he didn't even know who did.

They should've came to parliament hill to see Stephen Harper. A majority of the team is Canadain and at least Harper knows what he's talking about.

I applaud and have way more respect for Thomas now. It was great to have him show backbone. Those that are calling him classless and such are too dumb to see that he's right.

In a time of universal deceit - telling the truth is a revolutionary act.
- George Orwell
- I-own_da-Northwest

So he is OK to say that the US goverment is out of control, but it is ok for him to go the bank and deposit his oversized cheque he got for playing a game that has seen its costs on the fans become so expensive that the true fan can not afford to go to a game and in some cases, watch it on overpriced cable/satelite?

Yes he has the right to his opinion, but events like this are more about celebrating what the TEAM has done and getting the sport in front of more Americans who do not watch sportcenter, if he wasn't already enjoying his "15 minutes" I would say he was looking for it,

He put himself above his team, that is not a great hockey move no matter how I look at it, Bruins, Leafs, Ducks, no matter what team he is on, You gotta be a team player. What would people be saying if Steve Yzerman or Gretzky made the same comment and didn't go???? That is right, the americans would have been up in arms ready to kill all Canadians

There is a time for everything, a TEAM event is not the time for a ONE MAN show....no matter what team you play on

He absolutely has the right to make a choice. But...

What is wrong is that this wasnt a political meeting or discussion or showing support at a rally. It was a gesture as the best team in 2011 to do something not everyone gets to do. It is part of the tradition of being a champion in the US. He could have paid respect to the former presidents that he liked and most importantly support his team.

He doesnt have to like the president or support him in anyway. Just as he doesnt have to like the Canucks. Just because he doesnt like them doesnt mean he has to sit out the game to boycot their players. This really should not have been about TT and his beliefs, I mean it is not like he was going to get in a heated political debate while he was there.

He shared blood, sweat and probably tears through last season with his team and I think showing support for his team shouldnt stop because it doesnt fall into his politcal ideals. They are the Boston Bruins not the Boston Tea Party. You cant deny this but it was way over played on his part. Dont agree? Look at all the media hype coming from it.. Just something that takes away from what the TEAM accomplished. I think Bobby Lou could have even made that save

Congrats to the Bruins, sorry this crap takes away from something good.

This is so Stupid. I don't care about peoples political views, Nothing bores me more than politics.

TY, any word on Horton Only thing we know as Bruins Fans is that he has a MILD concussion. WTF