Tim Thomas Came Back To Hockey Because He Wants To Represent The USA In The Olympics... Wait, What?

VANCOUVER —  Thomas was the backup to starting U.S. Olympic goalie Ryan Miller in 2010 when America reached the gold-medal game only to lose 3-2 in overtime to Canada. Although Thomas only played briefly against Finland, he said Monday that returning to the Olympics in Sochi, Russia this February was one of the main reasons he decided to end his one-year hiatus. “Absolutely, absolutely,” Thomas said emphatically when asked about his Olympics hopes. “Yeah, it’s one of the major factors. I only got to play [part of one period] against Finland. But the whole experience was awesome. It doesn’t matter if you’re playing or not in the Olympics you want to be a part of it, and I’d love to be a part of it again.”

I’ll always be appreciative of the job that Tim Thomas did on that truly historic playoff run, which culminated in a Stanley Cup parade. He was an outstanding hockey player and deserved to be applauded when he returned recently. And, I get that goalies are insane. All of them. You don’t volunteer to stand in front of 100 MPH rubber bullets if you’re a rational, sane human being. But how fucking nuts does Tim Thomas need to be in order to publicly say that the major reason he returned to hockey is to play for Team USA? Dude, you hate the government. You hate the America that exists today. In case you forgot, here’s your exact quote:

“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 what are you talking about? How do you claim that you want to represent America when you claim to hate every aspect of it’s power. You refused to visit the hub of our government, lest it be confused as support. But now you want to don the red, white and blue and be the face of our country on the stage of international competition? How can you do that with a clear conscience when you couldn’t even shake Obama’s hand? The only thing I can think of is that it was never about a true political boycott, it was just about attention. And this is another play for it, another attempt to keep the shine on you for hockey’s biggest stage.