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DieHard: Tim Thomas Gave "Lame" Reasons For Skipping White House Event

BOSTON (CBS) - So, how's that "TEAM" thing working out for ya Tim Thomas?

Your "TEAM" was at the White House and you were not with your "TEAM." You always said it was about "TEAM, TEAM, TEAM, but really you said it all Monday when it was about TIM, TIM, TIM.

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And with such a lame excuse! Sorry, I'm not buying it. It wasn't about dissing the President, it was all about you and your politics!

For those that don't know what I'm talking about, your Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins were invited to the White House on Monday. The entire team showed up except for the Georges Vezina Trophy Winner Tim Thomas, who decided to boycott the annual visit of Champions to the White House. Thomas said he wasn't being political however, in his statement made on Facebook, it seems very political.

"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"

With this statement, Thomas has created a firestorm all on his own. Obviously, he did not think of the ramifications of his actions.

Does he remember when Curt Schilling chose to go on television to support then-President George Bush in his reelection bid? It did not matter that Schilling helped bring the Boston Red Sox their first World Series title in 86 years, all people heard was politics being injected into their sports.

With Thomas's boycott of the White House and his choice to bring politics into the equation, for some, he has ruined his reputation.

And as the media entered the clubhouse Tuesday afternoon, he was nowhere to be found. Did he think he could just do this, make the statement and with today's media it would all go away? Does he know the media in this town? Does he know the sports fans that idolize(d) him in town?

Some would like an answer as to why he chose this particular time to NOT be a part of HIS team that gave so many a lot to cheer about last June?

It makes you wonder who he really cares about. His country, his team, himself? These are all great things to take care of, but simple priorities would have made this such a non issue!

This shouldn't not have been a political issue. However, it was.

It should have been just a nice photo-op event and you go on about the season and hope to win a championship a second time. But, you left your team standing at the podium all alone and YOU, Tim Thomas, helped to spread the political divide in this country even further apart!

Shame on you!

Ric Duarte has covered hockey and the Bruins for various media outlets since 1986. You can follow Ric at BruinsDieHard.com and at twitter @bruins_diehard.

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