I am not a fan of the Boston Bruins.
Never have been. Not even when my boyhood idol and one of the greatest hockey players to hit the ice, Bobby Orr, played for them.
My dislike of Boston was compounded when my beloved Vancouver Canucks lost in 7 games for the Stanley Cup.
But it is not my dislike for Boston that has motivated this diary. Nor is it my disgust towards the Tea Party movement or the Anarchist Capitalism being espoused on the Right these days.
What motivates this diary is a single player who has forgotten the meaning of the word TEAM.
First a little background:
As Stanley Cup champions, the Boston Bruins were invited to the White House to meet the President, press the flesh, get the pictures taken; the traditional stuff that champion teams get to do when they win. Had the Canucks won, they would be in Ottawa right now shaking hands with the Prime Minister.
It is good optics for the team, it is good for the fans and it is good for the sport. In short, it is a COLLECTIVE good for the people who play, support and love the game, whatever the game maybe.
Tim Thomas, goalie for Boston during the Cup games, has refused to go to the White House, refused to meet with the President and instead issued this statement:
Goalie Tim Thomas Skips Bruins White-House Visit With Barack Obama
“I believe the Federal government has grown out of control, threatening the Rights, Liberties, and Property of the People. This is being done at the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial level. 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. This is the only public statement I will be making on this topic. TT”
So I wanted to craft a little reply to Tim, on behalf of hockey fans everywhere, the ones who pay Tim’s salary and give him such a large stage to stand on.
Tim, you are a disgrace to Boston. You are a disgrace to your team and you are a disgrace to the great game of hockey.
Here’s why Tim, although Lord knows I shouldn’t have to explain it to you.
On one point, you are right Tim. You are a free man, protected by the Constitution and are not required to bend knee to anyone. You are free to say and do whatever you please so long as it is within the limits of the law. So it is not your bizarre take on reality that is the objection here. No, it is that you Tim, have sullied, shamed and brought disgrace to something larger than yourself. You have brought shame to the sport of Hockey. And for that there is no excuse.
You are not an INDIVIDUAL Tim. You are a member of a TEAM. My coaches all through my boyhood would repeat the mantra “There is no I in TEAM” like it was one of the 10 Commandments Tim. What? You never heard that? You are NOT representing yourself. You are representing the Boston Bruins, City of Boston and the Game of Hockey. And that is why Tim, that is why you are a disgrace.
Perhaps it is because I am Canadian - who like many Canadians feel Hockey is our game and represents our country in the same way that Baseball represents the United States - that I am taking this so personally. I mean think about it Tim; if a member of the Toronto Blue Jays had refused to meet with the Prime Minister for political reasons, you don’t think that you as an American, might have objected on the same grounds as I am objecting to you?
I would like to think you would.
I considered taking issue with your Ron Paul, Libertarian, Anarchist Capitalism, Tea Party line of Bullshit Tim. It is such a crock of absolute garbage that it offends me as a thinking rational human being. I was prepared to offer you a choice of what part of government you feel should be eliminated; such as defense, social security, medicare, aid to the poor, education. But then I realized I would just be playing your game and letting you escape the bigger picture, which is this:
You don’t get to decide this issue Tim. Not here, not now. Your insane bullshit beliefs have no place in a tradition for winning U.S teams to meet with the President. You do not have the right to push your bullshit into the locker room or onto the ice. You put on that jersey and you are no longer an individual. So your entire line of reasoning Tim, such as it is, is bullshit. It doesn’t matter what you think or believe. You don’t have the right to push them onto this stage. EVER!
But here’s the other thing Tim. Your reasons for refusing to shake the President’s hand or have your picture taken with him, smells. It smells because of history of the city you play in.
Do you realize Tim, that racism runs pretty damn deep in Boston? The reason the Red Sox never won a World Series had nothing to do with the Bambino and everything to do with racism that kept black players off the team.
Did you know that Boston is America’s third whitest city and has been called the most racist city in America?
So, many might wonder Tim, where this sudden spirit of “independence” from the Federal Government comes from? Especially as it was so conspicuously absent during the 8 years of the Bush administration that expanded government, ran up deficits and exploded the budget. I’m sure, (and I mean this sincerely Tim) that the race of the current President has nothing to do with your sudden spirit of independent individualism and your self-righteous stand against your own government. I'm sure that the fact that you grew up in a lily white working class town, is just coincidental as well.
But you have to admit Tim, the optics look horrible and you haven’t done Boston’s reputation any favours.
I know you won’t accept any of the above Tim. By your actions and your statements you have proven yourself to be as big an asshole as any other Teabagger; and we all know Teabaggers are never wrong, no matter what the facts say. So I have no hope that you are capable of being educated or of seeing what a colossal douchebag you are for bringing shame to your team, your city and your game.
But I do want to thank you for one thing Tim. You have proven to me that the better club did not win the Stanley Cup. I want to thank you for giving me yet one more reason to hate the Bruins and for being able to say to all the Bruin fans out there “Yeah, but at least we don’t have that douchebag Tim Thomas on our team”.
Think about that Tim, if you are able.