Tim Thomas has found himself in the news spotlight for his off-ice antics for the second time in a month in recent days. We remember last month when he was the lone player to not attend the traditional White House champions visit because of varying political opinions he wanted to “exercise his right not to attend”.
This time, he spent time on the receiving end of a conversation with Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli in regards to recent postings he’s made to Facebook page. In a posting dated February 8, Thomas said on his official page:
I Stand with the Catholics in the fight for Religious Freedom.
“In Germany they came first for the Communists, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn’t speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me, and by that time no one was left to speak up.”
– by Martin Niemöller, prominent German anti-Nazi theologian and Lutheran pastor, best known as the author of the poem First they came….
What’s making Chiarelli speaking with Thomas is him turning away questions and inquiries from the Boston media in regards to his politically-charged postings like he does on a nightly basis between the pipes. CBC’s Elliotte Friedman reported the conversation over the weekend during Hockey Night in Canada. If you haven’t already ‘Liked’ his page, you can do so here and see his various postings. Most of his postings since Feb. 8 have been quotes from former presidents Calvin Coolidge, Ronald Reagan, and Henry Morgenthau Jr., the former Secretary of Labor under Franklin D Roosevelt.
Friedman reported when Chiarelli spoke with Thomas, Friedman reported “He didn’t say to stop, but did explain that you can’t expect the media not to ask about it. Thomas is adamant he shouldn’t have to discuss his personal beliefs, but it’s not that simple.”
I think Chiarelli said it best: You can’t expect to go on political-related rants on your social media page then become tight-lipped when the media comes and ask you about it. Either keep your political opinions to yourself (the preferred method) or when a reporter does ask you what is the meaning behind it to step up like a professional and have a non-confrontational conversation about it.
Instead of spending time researching obscure quotes, he should be spending more time winning games for the Bruins as he has not had the best season after winning the Stanley Cup last year. He currently sports a 24-12-0 record and has the Bruins leading the Northwest Division. Their division lead is down to two points over Ottawa as the Bruins have lost two straight games and the Senators have won three in a row. If the season ended today they would have the No. 2 seed behind the New York Rangers.
