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Rick’s Cafe: An athlete’s guide to snubbing the President of the United States

Jan 26, 2012, 6:25 PM EST

18 Comments
obamabruins Getty Images

As far as I can tell, the tradition of the President of the United States inviting championship teams to the White House began in 1924, when Calvin Coolidge welcomed the Washington Senators for a photo op outside on the East Lawn (Grace Coolidge: “We don’t want those people in our home.”) Linked here is a photo of that event, and … hey, where’s Firpo Marberry? I don’t see him in there anywhere. That disrespectful bastard!

Eighty-eight years later, Tim Thomas of the Boston Bruins turns down a trip to the White House, and the nation experiences palpitations and conniptions, and possibly the “yips”. Why is this important, and what can athletes do to prevent similar controversy in the future? Let’s take a look and try to figure this out.

Since 1924, dozens of winning teams have heeded the call to Pennsylvania Ave., to chat with Eisenhower, schmooze with Reagan, cuddle with Carter. Most athletes consider it an honor too dandy to pass up: even Muhammad Ali, who had a bone or two to pick with the federal government, set aside his differences to meet with every president from Nixon to Obama.

But Firpo Marberry aside (merely detained due to a butter churning mishap, I hear), snubbing a trip to the White House is a recent phenomenon: now the thing all the cool kids are doing. It first showed up in 1984, when Larry Bird declined to join the Celtics in a trip to visit Reagan & the gang. When asked why, Bird famously said: “If he wants me, the president knows where to find me.” Fun fact: Within two months, Bird’s nickname had been changed from “Larry Legend” to “Larry Audit”.

source: One could say that Barack Obama isn’t totally into this White House visit thing: he didn’t get around to asking the San Francisco Giants over until July of 2011: nearly nine months after they won the World Series. There was something mentioned by the administration about tornado victims and killing bin Laden … you know, the typical excuses. But still, when it was time to go, all of the Giants attended — even Willie Mays, who thought he had played in the games. No one had the heart to tell him this wasn’t 1954.

Which brings us to Thomas.

Look, I’m not saying that Thomas doesn’t have the right to skip the White House Dog & Pony Show if he so desires. This isn’t North Korea, and no one’s getting thrown in jail for failing to cry at The Leader’s funeral. But Thomas went about this all wrong. By explaining why he skipped the event (“the federal government is too big and out of control,” he said in part), he made it a political statement; thus declaring open season on his political views. This is the verbal equivalent of releasing your tax returns — all of your crackpot notions are now open to scrutiny. But the main thing is that no one really cares what your political convictions are; they only care that you’ve declared them. Face it, Tim: who’s basing their vote on the say-so of a Northeast Division goalie?

Example: So, Tim, you think the government is too big? Then why didn’t you boycott the Bruins’ victory parade, which was subsidized by the taxpayers? That was a terrific use of public money at the direction of big government, wasn’t it?

And how about your precious Tea Party? That’s the group that wants to amend state laws governing school curriculum in Tennessee to eliminate all references to the Founding Fathers owning slaves. Yes, the Tea Party wants the government to step in and change our textbooks. Seems pretty out of control to me.

In addition, Thomas’ snub has alienated some of his teammates, fans, and at least one member of the Bruins’ front office, who called Thomas an “[Expletive] selfish [expletive].” A reader wrote in our comments section that he misses the days when the sports pages were just about sports, and not about money or politics. But in this case that’s Thomas’ fault, not he media’s. Every president invites championship teams to the White House … it’s the one event in that building where politics are left at the door. It was Thomas who chose to change that.

So to avoid such grief in the future, here’s a handy list of excuses for athletes to use when they get an invitation to the White House, but don’t want to go due to differences with the president. Also included are phrases you can use to cause the Secret Service to ask you to stay home:

1. “I cannot attend, my cat has smallpox.”

2. “My several restraining orders extend 45 miles out from each side of the Potomac River.”

3. “I am allergic to high praise.”

4. “I will be happy to attend. Will there be snacks for my hamsters?”

5. “I will require a small room for my many costume changes throughout the ceremony.”

6. “I hope my frequent and uncontrollable flatulence will not be a problem.”

7. “Attendance may conflict with my duties as Aquaman.”

8. “I’ve been called up by the EPL.”

9. “I have no gift to bring pah rum pum pum pum.”

10. “That day I’ll be deathly ill.”

***
Rick’s Cafe Americain appears on Thursday. Contact: Rickchand@gmail.com.

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  1. skids003 - Jan 27, 2012 at 7:49 AM

    While I agree that sports should not mix with politics, you do it quite often Rick, portraying anyone who doesn’t agree with your obviously left leaning politics as an idiot, so why is this different? Sounds quite hypocritical to me.

  2. winkeroni - Jan 27, 2012 at 9:51 AM

    I don’t understand how they schedule these White House visits. It seems like President Obama took his time scheduling a visit for the Bruins. They won the Cup almost a year ago before they got to visit the White House. The Cardinals got to visit the White House before the Burins and shortly after winning it all and President Obama had nothing but praise for the Cardinals. He called the Cardinals the “greatest comeback team in the history of baseball.”

    If I was Thomas, I would be rubbed the wrong way, having to wait a long time to visit the White House and getting jumped in line for a White House visit by a baseball team. Seems like President Obama isn’t much of a Bruins fan.

  3. vette78man - Jan 27, 2012 at 10:28 AM

    So much for Thomas’ concept of “team.”

  4. wilbur8848 - Jan 27, 2012 at 10:49 AM

    Thomas is a first class douche bag

  5. mornelithe - Jan 27, 2012 at 12:04 PM

    Agree completely, honestly. Nobody cares (should care) what your political views are, they’re your own and you have a right to them. I think what irks people the most about this is that he made an obviously political statement, said it wasn’t about politics and that’s that. He belongs to a union, he enjoys the system he so thoroughly objects to, and makes an entirely contradictory statement when it’s the teams turn to be recognized for their accomplishment.

    My opinion on Thomas has changed greatly, since this happened. And I’m from his home State. It’s not necessarily that I’m on the left or the right, I simply feel he went about this in the worst way possible. And the one thing that pisses me off the most is that he feels so strongly about the situation, that he’ll only make one statement about it. As I’ve said before, way to stick by your principles.

    • teamcanter - Jan 27, 2012 at 12:11 PM

      He belongs to a union, he enjoys the system he so thoroughly objects to………

      He’s forced to be in the Union, he has no choice….that’s what is wrong! So a person is stuck in the situation of, do I not choose a profession that I love and have talent in, or do I join and go against my beliefs….pretty crappy isn’t it??

      • mornelithe - Jan 27, 2012 at 2:56 PM

        Um, no one is forcing Thomas to play Hockey. So your argument is invalid from the get-go. If his beliefs were _that_ strong, it wouldn’t be a question of do or don’t. It’d be finding another profession. I also think that someone with as much media attention as him, and as many twitter/facebook followers as him, he could easily be helping to educate people on this countries problems. But no, it’s much easier just to make a political statement, claim it’s not political and make no further comment (which is kind of ironic, since he’s praised his teammates for their support in his decision…)

      • teamcanter - Jan 27, 2012 at 4:28 PM

        Not forced to play hockey….forced to be in a UNION…so it’s very valid. Plus, try to find another profession that’s even close to the payscale, and/or skill-set. We aren’t talking about a construction worker.

        Think of it like this, you grow up wanting to be a police officer, all you want to do is protect and serve your city. However, your political views don’t agree with public sector unions. So now you have to take a job that is set up with you being in a forced union, or you go and be a security guard….so that is fair how?

  6. pwnyexpresss - Jan 27, 2012 at 12:23 PM

    what you fail to realize is that when he released his reasoning it was not for you or the media, it was for his fans (on facebook, a social outlet), whom he did not want to leave perplexed as to his personal reason for declining an invitation to the white house, ending the conversation there by saying that he would not again address that issue. thomas has not gotten onto a soapbox to try and overshadow his team or sport and take advantage of the situation by going onto radio shows or tv expounding upon his personal political beliefs. for you to say it is not the media’s fault for the backlash against his decision and many of the circumstances around it is utterly naieve, it is the purpose of the media to blow stories out of proportion in order to garner as much readership as possible. thomas has already moved on, his decision personal and final, it is the media that wants to drag it out, pinning about his personal beliefs and politics.

    beyond that, it seems spurious to try and separate the political aspect of an invitation from the white house from the situation. mr. obama, the office of the presidency and the white house are the most political of figures/establishments in this country, some individuals cannot simply take that out of the equation, no matter the situation. few things are held so strong as political beliefs, perhaps maybe religion. for someone to believe so strongly in those beliefs as to decline an invitation does not seem “a snub” nor something dishonorable, no matter if a powerful man in an important building are asking for your attendance.

  7. tuloisgod - Jan 27, 2012 at 12:57 PM

    The first time I was aware of politics and sports mixing was probably the best: When someone pointed out to Babe Ruth that he would earn more money the next season than the President, and he replied: “I had a better year than he did.”

  8. teamcanter - Jan 27, 2012 at 12:58 PM

    Example: So, Tim, you think the government is too big? Then why didn’t you boycott the Bruins’ victory parade, which was subsidized by the taxpayers? That was a terrific use of public money at the direction of big government, wasn’t it?—This is a terrible example…direction of Big Government? Hosting a parade on taxpayer money? That doesn’t even make sense….the thousands of dollars it cost to host a victory parade doesn’t even compare to the 500 million dumped into Solyndra by the socialists running the White House.

    And how about your precious Tea Party? That’s the group that wants to amend state laws governing school curriculum in Tennessee to eliminate all references to the Founding Fathers owning slaves. Yes, the Tea Party wants the government to step in and change our textbooks. Seems pretty out of control to me.
    —Precious Tea Party…Rick, you could name an example from every little political group across the board. What makes you and your liberal friends perfect? There are plenty examples of liberals trying to teach subjects in schools that are fictional and also destructive to our youth. http://www.onenewsnow.com/Perspectives/Default.aspx?id=277712

    Off the bench has some great stories, just wish you would report on stories with facts, no bias either way, and keep the religion/political talk out of it.

  9. goforthanddie - Jan 27, 2012 at 3:24 PM

    He should’ve just not gone and not said another word on the topic.

  10. ihatetoneydouglas - Jan 27, 2012 at 4:16 PM

    Hate to say it but uh…maybe he’s a bigot

  11. baddorange - Jan 27, 2012 at 9:38 PM

    Good for Thomas. The Federal Govt. is too big plus that dumb bell raised the deficit by 5 trillion bucks. That’s stupid and a major reason for our lousy economy. Good going. Obama deserves only our scorn

  12. metalhead65 - Jan 28, 2012 at 8:59 AM

    typical tree hugging liberal response to a belief different from theirs. hey agree or not he was honest about and stood up for his beliefs. it’s called free speech and you tree huggers are for it as long as it agrees with your views,if not then of course it is offensive and politicaly incorrect.

  13. 1historian - Jan 28, 2012 at 1:26 PM

    The guy declined the invite to the White House. He stated his reasons clearly and emphasized in his statement that he was acting as an INDIVIDUAL. It’s known as freedom of speech. End of story, or at least it would be in the case of the athletes who declined the invite to the WH when Bush was prez. The fatheads in the press are keeping this alive because – that’s what they do – they can’t help themselves.

    Ihatetoneydouglas – your 4:16 – hate to say it but, uh, you’re an idiot – no maybe about it.

    Thanking Obama for killing Osama Bin Laden is like going to McDonald’s and thanking Ronald McDonald for the hamburger – not the guy (or gal) who made it.

  14. rooney24 - Jan 30, 2012 at 1:16 PM

    Why can’t the guy have a political opinion? I can have one. You can have one. Why can’t he? It doesn’t mean we have to agree with it. You can even hate him for his opinion. But, it is not fair (or very American) to say that he can’t have an opinion.

    So, does that mean that only players can have opinions about sports teams? If someone outside of the sports establishment can have opinions about sports (which we all can), then why can’t someone outside of the political establishment (government), not have an opinion about it?

    Quit being hypocritical and let the guy have his opinion. It really is not a big deal that he did not attend.

  15. halflight420 - Feb 1, 2012 at 11:16 AM

    good for thomas, i bet half the people on here bitching about him have bumper sticker’s on their cars for some candidates, we all hve the right to support whoever we want, and not support whoever we want. SO good for him, celebrities always say who they are for ro against, why not athletes too

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