HockeyFanLand

It is a well known fact that hockey goalies are a breed apart.  Many of them have odd habits and generally speaking are not like the skaters on their teams.  After all, if you spent your career, your life's work, willingly watching players launch pucks from the point at you at 90+ MPH, you gotta be a different kind of person.

Proving this point, Boston Bruins Goalie, two time Vezina winner and 2011 Stanley Cup Champion Tim Thomas, declined the invitation to go with his teammates to the White House and be congratulated for their Cup win by President Barack Obama.  Thomas said his reason was "the federal government is  threatening the rights, liberties and property of the people."   This action has ruffled feathers as some people were offended that Thomas would do this.  Added to this situation is the fact that  the Bruins have been trying to replace Thomas since the day he showed up and have been unable too given that he was the best goalie they had at the time and has been the best goalie in hockey for at least the last three years (with some time off for injury).  I think they really want Tuukka Rask to start, however they have to go with Thomas because the guy does not quit.  He wins and wins and in the end, that is what matters.  The Bruins could use this incident to deal Thomas in the offseason, they certainly would have some takers (What about the Leafs?  They could find some room and he already knows Phil Kessel!). 

The thing I am wondering is, does it really matter?  Did Thomas really do anything wrong here?  I would definitely say no.  Anyone who objects is probably doing so for partisan political reasons.  Would those same people have objected if a player had done so when George W. Bush was President?  Do those same people support the right of the Occupy movement to protest in their way.  This is the United States of Amerca and we have the right of political expression.  All of us do, even hockey players.