DOUBLE TAKE: Trouble brews between the American pipes

Andrew’s Take:

It’s time for the Double Take team to create a subcategory for our column called “Out of the Kitchen!”

It can be aimed at idiotic athletes who can’t take the heat.

Why are these adult-sized babies so stupid? Because they are talented enough to be over-paid, and they are dumb enough to misuse that talent.

Let’s start with Boston Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas, the latest star to transcend the sports world and cross over into regular, dinner table discussion.

Last Monday, President Barack Obama honored Thomas’ Bruins at the White House in a ceremony that has become customary, especially with our latest, sports-loving president.

Since then, Thomas has taken heat, because he didn’t show up!

In a league that is hosted mostly by American cities but dominated foreign talent, one of only two Americans on the reigning Stanley Cup-winning squad decided to skip meeting the president of the United States because he believes that the government is “out of control.”

Now, of course, Thomas is receiving criticism and support, and I’m sure you could guess political leaning of those offering each.

But let me redefine the line in the sand. This has nothing to do with red or blue.

Thomas’ mishandling of an honorable situation brings questions of human decency to light. It doesn’t matter whether or not I would vote for Obama. What matters is whether or not I have the capacity to respect a stranger who disagrees with my view of the world.

I’m sure that Matt disagrees with my view of Thomas, but I still respect him.

And I know Matt. Thomas doesn’t even know Obama. He’s never sat down and traded political philosophies, but he’s still willing to publicly disrespect the man.

Here’s what I know: Obama is a man working to do what is best for the United States. Maybe I disagree with some of his policies, but he is still doing something.

Thomas, on the other hand, is really good at jumping in front of a slab of rubber. That’s it! He can’t blame the media for the heat. He can only blame himself.

Matt’s Take:

Whether you like the decision made by Tim Thomas or not, you have to respect the Boston Bruins goaltender for standing behind his beliefs.

Unfortunately, there are too many people in our country who are willing to accept the status quo and keep their thoughts and ideas to themselves — Thomas is not one of those. He chose to honor his God given right to make a choice.

With the government “out of control,” the Stanley Cup winning goalie decided to snub the invite of President Barack Obama and not attend a White House ceremony to honor the victors.

Does this make Thomas un-American, a communist, terrorist or any other ridiculous anti-American comment the media can conjure up?

Jack Todd of the Montreal Gazette apparently thinks so, when he went as far as writing “Truth is, he felt free to dis Barack Obama, because Obama is black.” Really, Todd — the racism card?

On his Facebook page, the Vezina and Conn Smythe winner wrote that his decision to skip the event wasn’t about “politics or party,” but it was a “choice I had to make as an individual.”

Just to refresh your memory, Thomas isn’t the only athlete to snub the president as of late. In September, former Chicago Bear Dan Hampton declined an invitation to the White House, as did NASCAR drivers Greg Biffle, Kurt Busch, Carl Edwards, Kevin Harvick and Tony Stewart.

I wouldn’t pass up an opportunity to meet the commander in chief, but I can’t condemn someone for not accepting that honor.

Way to stand up for what you believe in Tim, maybe you can influence others to do the same.