l like sports because there is no BS politics. When athletes start displaying political partisanship, I guess I won’t be watching sports either.

Timmy T- I love you man but that was stupid.

What happens if fans stop showing up when Tim Thomas is in goal?

Then the fans are just as bad as they think Timmy is… He has the right as an American to refuse such an honor if he so chooses.  Just because he’s an athlete does no mean he gives up his rights to an opinion.  Personally, I would’ve gone anyway regardless of my views but that’s me.

It’s called ‘freedom.’
Thomas didn’t insert the politics, the POTUS did. At a time when the economy is free falling, he is putting trivia above content. He shouldn’t even have time to know there was a championship.

It’s tradition. If Obama decided to NOT have the Bruins come to the White House, it would have been an insult, as no other team has been pushed aside like that. Besides, considering the amount of time the whole ceremony takes, I don’t think it prevented the President from accomplishing anything.

Why was there no option for believing that Thomas should have gone, and spoken his mind somewhere as well? I don;t think it has to be an either/or situation. I respect (and even agree with) his opinion, but this wasn’t about politics, it was about celebrating a championship and being recognized for your accomplishments. Make the trip, accept the congratulations, and find another outlet (you’re a celebrity, Tim, there’s plenty available to you) to express your opinion. Doing it this way distracts from his message by making it all about him, even if that wasn’t his intent

Manny was ripped for not going in 08 — Thomas should be ripped too.
He thumbed his nose at the Office of the President and his team.

Manny was ripped for not going in 08 — Thomas should be ripped too.
He thumbed his nose at the Office of the President and his team.

Manny had to attend the funeral of his third mother;)

He should of gone and told the president exactly how he feels. The public rarely gets an audience with the president and Timmy blew his chance. Going to have to win the Cup again so he can do it right.

If it were GWB up there you idiots would be on Tim’s side.

Poor sportsmanship. Plain and simple. It’s like refusing to shake your opponent’s hand when you lose.

Thank you Tim Thomas! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Kudos to TT. Read the polls, a large majority of Americans think our Government is broken. No disrespect to the Bruins, Tim is the ultimate team player, but not at the expense of giving up his principles. Thank you Tim, you are the man!

Respect the office.  In the middle of a political race where all we hear are the idiot opinions of idiot politicians on both sides of the line, at least we can retain some respect for the institutions that make up our government.  Thomas is clearly a Republican.  If a Republican were in office, regardless of what was going on in the country, I’m guessing he would have showed up.  Don’t need your opinion on politics Tim, just get in the goal and do your job.

ridiculous who really benefits from this?  I can understand this ritual for football when 99% of the players are US citizens.  I’ve been in similar situation and would have done the same thing.  As for keeping his mouth shut, why?   Should he make up some lame excuse? Should he lie? We look down on people that don’t stand up for what they believe in when they have the platform to say something.  He took the middle road and made a simple statement that was the truth.

In this time of outrageous, wasteful spending of our taxpayer money by politicians on both sides, everyone who has a platform should do and say what he/she believes in.  We need change in spending policies now and any statements that help bring attention to this is good.

He should have put his country and his team first.  He can express his free speech at any time.  Refusing to accept congratulations from OUR  and HIS President was rude, and selfish.

This is America, he has the right to do as he pleases.I applaud what he did . I think everyone
 should just be concerned about how he does his job .

How does sportmanship fit this situation? Are athletes supposed to be sheep and do everything they’re told? Sounds like you believe that Thomas should go to show his support for the president, just like people in third world countries who support their leaders at gunpoint.

God Bless Tim Thomas!

What about the fact there are only 3 members of the Bruins who were born in the US. The rest of the team should have no political views.  GO THOMAS!!!

What about the fact there are only 3 members of the Bruins who were born in the US. The rest of the team should have no political views.  GO THOMAS!!!

Tim made this about him- this was a meeting to honor the team- nothing personal- his appearance does not endorse the policies- President Obama is the President of the United States- the Office should be respected-This was not a political event- Mr.Thomas has no problem earning millions playing a game in buildings being paid for taxpayer money- IF he feels the intrusion perhaps he should insist on playing in only privately owned arenas- Grow up-

Tim made this about him- this was a meeting to honor the team- nothing personal- his appearance does not endorse the policies- President Obama is the President of the United States- the Office should be respected-This was not a political event- Mr.Thomas has no problem earning millions playing a game in buildings being paid for taxpayer money- IF he feels the intrusion perhaps he should insist on playing in only privately owned arenas- Grow up-

It was a photo op for reelection otherwise why did’t this happen a 8 months ago when they won

It was a photo op for reelection otherwise why did’t this happen a 8 months ago when they won

What he did was bush league.  If he feels so strongly he could have told Obama to his face instead of sniping from a distance.

And on top of that his political views are simplistic and verge on the moronic.  Sort of like the jerks on WEEI in the mornings (but maybe they’re gone? I haven’t listened for a decade.)

The main reason Tim should have gone was to show his Team Unity and Loyality.  I believe he let the Team down by not going with them to the White House.  Never mind the fact that you do not get invited to the White House every day .. if he would have gone he could have said his peace to the President himself.  For Tim not to go is a slap in the face to his TEAM and to the Country where he is FREE to play his game

I hate Obama so I am glad he dissed the bum

regardless of ones political views or your party choice, if one is invited to the White House, it is an Honor and you also honor your Country by attending.

 I totally agree with Tim’s comment on government but this is NOT the time and place for making a statement. Tim says it wasn’t political but Tim made it political.  He also put himself above his own team mates which is wrong.  Politics and sports just don’t mix well.

It’s the office of the Presidency he insulted.  I think he should have attended.  What happens when 50% of a championship  team doesn’t show. because they don’t like a President.   Like the 50 50 split in our politics.  Then politics would overtake this minor, but fun, tradition. 

tim thomas can now join the ranks of other ignorant celebrities who think that because we watch him play we care about his political views. when you decide to run for a political office tim, then we’ll care.

This was an event to honor the Bruin’s and not a place to make a statement. Tim is capable of speaking his mind any time he wants to make his opinion known. By attending this does”t mean he supports the president or the government.
I think it’s a shame he chose to make this about himself instead of the team.
I for one think a lot less of him for doing this.

Being only one of three U.S. born players is one more reason he should have gone. Tim represents the U.S., not just TT. How would you feel if you were playing for a team in a foreign country and when your team is invited to meet the leader of the country the local countrymen bow out.

I, too, find it hard to be a hypocrite…so how can I be a fan of his after I found out he’s a douche bag?

i was outraged at first.  He was insulting not OBama, but the Presidency!  Then I read his statement.  And I changed my mind.  He is an American.  He not only has the right to do what he did, he has an obligation to speak his mind.  He has the Bully Pulpit.  He should use it.  He was NOT attacking OBama, he was attacking the “Government”. ie: congress,the supreme court and the white house.  He did so knowing full well the knee jerk reaction he would get.
well I knee jerked and then applauded.

Regardless of how you feel about this – the fact is he’ll have a chance to change his mind next year!

I do not and will not applaud.  I understand that although we think our sports heroes are like us, the fact is they are not.  They are wealthy and part of the 1%.  Now that is fine, and I understand that people are entitled to their opinion.  However, to not fight for the rest of us, THE ONES THAT PAY HIS SALARY, is a slap in the face that I won’t have.  I hate Shilling (for shilling for the rich) and now I want Thomas out of Boston, regardless of how good he can play a game.  When I go to a game, I am paying him.  The least he can do is keep his mouth shut and play.

I am so sick of “Patriotism” that totally misreads what the word means.  It takes a Patriot to question, it takes a Patriot to speak out against real or supposed tyranny.  To so many, Patriotism just means removing your hat for the National Anthem, (by the way,since when did all the cheering start during that?).  I get pissed off when Curt Schilling shoots off his mouth, but it is his right and duty.  too many respondents here think he was being “partisan”.  Not true.   He went way up in esteem.

If he’s upset that so many people are on food stamps, then he should use his millions to feed the hungry…not posture about how big the government has gotten.  A lot of people are on aid because, well you know how the rich bilked our country and moved all of our good jobs overseas.

Utter BS.

You make an assumption without any data to back it up.  Clearly a Republican?  What did he say that was Partisan?  He said “government”  The last I heard the House is republican majority.  If you’re going to make assertions you should at least offer proof. 

Because his assertion is about “the size of government.”  That’s code for anti-Obama, even though Obama has 273,000 fewer federal employees than George W. Bush did.  The hypocrisy stinks to high heaven and like I said, I don’t want to also be a hypocrite, so I want Tim Thomas gone, or I want an apology to the President and to this great country for being such a douche bag.

Seriously!  The first cup we win in 39 years and he goes and Schillings the whole thing up!

The leftish dolts who are so concerned about Tim Thomas’ perceived “dissing” of the presidency are the same ones who would have been loudly applauding if the player had been Rashard Mendenhall and the president George W. Bush.

Pathetic the way the sheep feel threatened by anyone having the nerve to exercise their constitutional rights of free speech (but only when that speech is not what they want to hear).

Two good Tims, Thomas and Tebow. More power to you, lads!

Read the EEI article on what a proud teabagger this jag-off is.

Read the EEI article on what a proud teabagger this jag-off is.

Nope, they are still there.  And I have laugh to keep from crying.  This is a democratic state, can we get some representation here?

Nope, they are still there.  And I have laugh to keep from crying.  This is a democratic state, can we get some representation here?

I may be wrong, but I think he spoke of a government that had “grown out of control”. I did not read that as a reference to size, but to administration. I don’t think anyone would quibble too much about our government being out of control. The President doesn’t even get to sign or veto a bill because none are coming out of the legislature. That is bi-partisan. do you really have to stoop to insults to prove your “assumptions”? Had Tim wanted to embarrass the President, he would have attended and spoken out there. That would have been inappropriate. What he did was what more people should do. People from the Occupy movement and yes, people from the Tea Party. Libertarians, Atheists, Christians, and Jews should cry out when their government fails to fulfill their mandate. I suggest that the next time Tim is goal, you stay home.

Jack, you sound like a reasonable person.  You sound just like the 49% of people that are duped and tricked into voting Republican.  Please, if you could wake up to the facts that these people want more.  As much damage as they did to our economy, they want to blame to poor and those who lost their jobs, homes, families.  Then, on the sly, they want you to think they are good Christians.  HYPOCRISY!

We stopped watching hockey after Bobby Orr retired until last year and we found the season and the playoffs wonderful  to watch again. After Tim Tomas action yesterday and bringing politics into sports we have lost interest.

That’s why we need to occupy!  Washington has become a monoculture and it’s rotting out everything good that this nation once has.  It’s about time we realize that “winning” isn’t everything.  Every athlete needs to learn this early in life. I stand with Tim…

Jay, oddly enough, I am about as radical a leftist as there is. But that doesn’t mean that I am blind to the weakness’s of the Democrats. I am all those good things we liberals live by: Move On, Alter-net, a lifelong member of the ACLU AND the Southern Poverty Law Center. I truly cannot understand the Republican agenda. All That aside, Tim is being reviled for taking action in a meaningful way. If You or I declined to meet the President (I would certainly have done so with GWB) it is of little note. I am a little confused as to why you would think my writings are pro right wing?

Who is Tim Thomas?

Tim Thomas is still a great goal tender and we as fans are fortunate to have him and Rask as the goal tenders. Tim is also one of the biggest jerks in Boston sports. He disrespected the Office of Prwsident. Traditionally the President,regardless of who he is, has honored our sports champions because this is something the American people want and appreciate. Tim was free to do what he did, but we are also free to severely criticize his loathsome actions. Tim it is time for you to give back your USA sweater.

Tim’s actions made it all about him, the INDIVIDUAL, instead of being the stand up TEAM player we all thought he was. He should have gone to represent the Bruins with his teammates and saved his anti government rhetoric for a face book posting. 

As a modern day Green Mountain Boy, Tim Thomas is not only a Bruin but also a Patriot !

Here’s the problem, this was a team function, and Tim decided to make it about me, me,me. That’s being a jackass !!!!!

It is a time to celebrate with teammates the great season Bruins had. Not time to make statements.

I feel he has every right to express his beliefs anyway he sees fit.  He demonstrated to the media what a lot of American’s feel today.  I would do the same thing.  This empty suit that resides in the White House doesn’t deserve to be given a Boston Bruins sweater.  He is the worst this nation has ever had.

Remember Theo didn’t go to the White House when the Red Sox’s were also invited.  Nobody in the media had a hissy fit over that snub, did they.

Funny…we love FREE SPEECH–STANDING UP FOR WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN-BEING AN AMERICAN…..as long as we agree with your view.  Where we were the free speech people by when the Dixie Chicks had death threats because of their opposition to a war? Michael Moore movies?   This station rips the “Hollywood Elite” because of their liberal statements.  I support TT’s right to say anything but you can’t have it both ways. You should support ALL free speech

That’s right…but GWB was a moron.

See Thoreau  ”Civil disobedience”    Tim Thomas brilliant  simple defense of liberty is profound.   Tim Thomas is my hero…  I would not know one hockey player with the exception of Bobby Ore,,,,  Tim Thomas you are a real Patriot defending liberty..    

Because this is America, Thomas had the right to skip the ceremony but, he should not have taken away from his team’s moment to foster his own personal beliefs.  He could have made his point in a separate press conference, if he had to, and still attended the ceremony as part of the team. 

I Salute Tim” “He gave his reason and we should respect that and actually I agree with him and would also vote for him for President feeling in my heart he couldn’t do any worse than what is there or what our options look like..

 How would the WEEI hosts have reacted if George Bush was the president and a left-leaning Boston player refused to go with the team to meet him? WEEI  is a very conservative bunch.

I personally admire him taking a stand for what he believes in. And with no better chance to prove it. He always has been a renegade of sorts who marches to his own drum. Besides… TT is THE biggest reason the rest of the B’s were able to stand at the White House steps in the first place. – If he reads the half of the opinionated columns out there telling him to “stick to hockey” or whatever… this ought to fire him right up for the rest of the season/playoffs. Competitive beyond belief. Always showing the doubting Thomas’ that he has his own way… and let us not forget that he help build this team to where it is since the ’05 season.

I absolutely HATE Obama, but I’d have gone…can’t see the White House any day of the week.

Tim Thomas has every right to skip the ceremony and voice his opinion, that is what makes the US unique from other countries. I personally would not have drawn attention to myself and away from the team event which was simply a celebration and acknowledgement of a great season. Tim obviously feels strongly about politicians in Washington and has voiced his position. It’s up to his teamates and team ownership to decide whether his actions were appropriate. I am sure that their opinions are as diverse as what you read on many of the postings here.

He makes  FIVE F’n Milliion American Dollars to play a childs game.   Why is he so self-important to diss his team and the President.      there are plenting of outlets for him to exress his political or even racial discomfort.    Obama is the president of the county.    He obviously is not statisfyed  in Amerca  Maybe Tim should go play for the Russiana or Czecks and ——-see hou much he is paid and how long he lasts.   

Manny WASN’T ripped in ’08, as he skipped out on a republican president, and that’s the problem. This is a democrat, and the majority of bruin’s fans are democrats. 

To call TT rude and selfish is your use of the first amendment rights, as was TT saying what he believes in and not going. Besides he actually showed us all the use of the phrase “If you have nothing nice to say, then don’t say anything at all.”. 

He put himself above the team….. a lil anti American on his part…

You are forgetting that this is his JOB…. if you had a company meeting at your job and you didn’t show up you probably would get in trouble over it
, correct?

It’s his right to boycott, but it was on poor taste. Not the right time to make his personal statement!

No, what prevents the President from accomplishing anything is his fundamental lack of understanding of how the American government is supposed to work! The man is a lousy community organizer who is in WAY over his head!

Tim Thomas is not a hypocrite, but an honest, fine gentleman….More power to him….
Why should he stand up behind or beside the President and smile if he doesn’t
respect what the man is doing?  This is honesty, the likes of which we need to see
more of………I’m proud of Tim Thomas!