Share this
Twitter
Myspace
Digg
Del.icio.us
Reddit
Slashdot
Furl
Yahoo
Technorati
Newsvine
Facebook
Export PDF
Print
E-mail
Tags
BY BOB HOLT
NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM
The most valuable player in the 2011 Stanley Cup playoffs chose not to accompany the Cup champion Boston Bruins in their visit to the White House on Monday.
According to nhl.com, 38-year old Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas offered this statement about his decision: "I believe the Federal government is threatening the rights, liberties, and property of the people. This is in direct opposition to the Constitution and the Founding Fathers vision for the federal government.”
“Because I believe this, today I exercised my right as a free citizen, and did not visit the White House. This was not about politics or party, as in my opinion both parties are responsible for the situation we are in as a country. This was about a choice I had to make as an INDIVIDUAL.”
Boston GM Peter Chiarelli said that Thomas told him he would not attend the White House event months ago because of his political and ideological feelings. Chiarelli said he could have mandated Thomas attend the event, but did not do so. Team president Cam Neely said it was Thomas’ own decision and the Bruins accepted his decision.
Thomas has been known to express his political opinions in the past. According to Nesn.com, Thomas said he had wished he could be a guest on former Fox commentator Glenn Beck’s talk show.
Kevin Paul Dupont of The Boston Globe says the affair at the White House was about the team, not politics and government. He called Thomas immature, unprofessional, and bush league. But Greg Wyshynski of Yahoo! Sports poses the question: If Thomas is demonized, what does that say about our real tolerance of free speech? That it's only free when we agree with it?
According to the New York Times, President Obama praised Thomas at the ceremony saying, “He was only the second American to be recognized as the Stanley Cup playoffs M.V.P.”
