Freedom of speech. It is an amazing right that we have. Tim Thomas just exercised his freedom, and hey that is what makes the good ole’ U S of A great. But, seriously Timmy, maybe try to take one for the team. I’ll first say this much, he had every right to do what he did, but it doesn’t mean it was a right or well thought out move.
If I am Tim Thomas I put aside any disdain for the way government is run and swallow my pride to support my team. My job as an athlete breaks down to this; I get paid millions of dollars to represent my club, play to my ability and win. Financial and contractual commitments aside, I especially want to support my guys in the locker room. It is very simple to show up to the White House, nod your head, smile for a picture or two and avoid a media circus. When asked how it was to meet the president, a simple “It was great to be there and be a part of the team and see them enjoy the experience, it meant a lot to the boys to be here and it was great to be with the team.” Simple, subtle and supportive.
Do you really think any non-American truly cares to go to the White House? It is doubtful and those who do would likely be the exception, but it is a simple courtesy to the way things work and to your team to be there in support. You are not endorsing anyone, you’re not agreeing with any foreign policy or online privacy acts. You’re simply saying to yourself that the team is bigger than you, and no good can come of protesting.
If this distracts the team in the least it is a problem. Judging by direct quotes from his teammates, and not “unknown sources” it is definitely not something they are just glazing over. These are guys who share a room with him who disagree with his stance and the actions he took. Some quotes indicate they barely understood his reasoning. He did not release a preemptive statement to soften it, he released a statement after the fact on Facebook and didn’t even give a hat tip to his team that were thrilled to be there. Maybe he doesn’t owe us anything, but he does to his team. The lack of support he showed them is only amplifying the lack of support those around him have for his decisions.
He refused to talk to media, even going so far as to being first off of the ice, and out of the locker room before the media was allowed in after practice. When the story of your career starts with “My dad sold apples, then turned the profits into two bags of apples so I could sell the second, and it went on like that until we could afford goalie equipment” all the way to playing in Helsinki and then the Olympic team and finally a Stanley Cup winner; your work ethic is better than being the first guy off the ice in practice. If it is not big deal, and it is what you believe then stand up and answer for your critics. You’re not a private citizen, you’re an idolized, championship athlete who could have put his teammates and organization ahead of himself. The sacrifice of being a super star is you in this day and age, rightly or not, lose the ability to hide in the shadows.
Good for Tim Thomas the individual to stand up for his own beliefs. Bad for the starting goaltender of the Boston Bruins for shining a huge spotlight on his team, and himself in an already pressure cooker atmosphere. What does he expect to do when he is surely asked about it in Ottawa? Or any city he visits for the next foreseeable future. Be bombarded with questions from reporters who are simply electing to exercise their freedom of speech to question his actions? Where does he hide then? If he ignores the questions eventually his teammates will get the spill over from them, it is the way the media works. It is what it is, whether he likes it or not.
Maybe it is time to stop pumping your own tires Tim, they seem like they’re about to burst.
