In Like Flint- A Tale of Two Millionaires From Flint, MI and The Latter Day War on Success

Boston Bruins goalie and Flint, MI native Tim Thomas made news this week with his decision to skip out a team visit to the White House where a luncheon was scheduled with President Obama to honor the defending Stanley Cup champions. On Monday, Thomas released a brief statement that read:

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

Not too surprisingly, the Conn Smythe and Vezina-winning goalie came under fire from both the liberal pundit class and various sportswriters for his decision.

Displeased Massachusetts Democrat party operatives proclaimed that Thomas should just 'stick to hockey' among other things upon hearing of the snub.

Massachusetts Democratic Party spokesman Kevin Franck told the Herald: “I think anyone who really cares about the lives, liberty and happiness of the American people wouldn’t miss an opportunity to shake the hand of the man who got bin Laden.”

[WOW! So not only were the Boston Bruins at the White House on Monday, but so was SEAL Team 6!? That is SO awesome!- NANESB!]

There is something to be said about respecting the Office, if not the man himself. However, this standard was noticeably absent during both terms of the Bush presidency when liberal actors and entertainers would frequently refer to both the president and vice president as fascists and war criminals with no rebuke from the very same party operatives who are critical of the Bruins goalie.

A 217th overall draft pick of the Quebec Nordiques in the 1994 Entry Draft, Thomas spent several years bouncing around the minors and Europe before ending up with the Bruins minor-league affiliate in Providence. He had a few starts for Boston before the 2004-2005 NHL lockout, where he returned to Europe and played for a season in Finalnd's SM Liiga.

With the lockout over, he returned to Boston and continued to primarily serve as a backup to Andrew Raycroft and Hannu Toivonen. Thomas saw more playing time as Raycroft was traded to the Maple Leafs [A trade Boston still reaps benefits from to this day- NANESB!] and Toivonen struggled.

Thomas eventually wound up as the Bruins starting goaltender, winning the Vezina Trophy (the NHL's award for best goaltender) in 2009 and 2011 and shut out the Vancouver Canucks on the road during the decisive Game 7 in last year's Stanley Cup finals, helping bring hockey's ultimate prize back to Boston.

I thought it was worth giving the rough outline of Thomas' career because unlike highly touted players such as Sidney Crosby or Alexander Ovechkin, Thomas' ascent was not the rapid, meteoric rise but rather years and years of paying his dues with lengthy bus rides in the ECHL or months away from his family while playing in Europe. And in due time, his hard work was rewarded when the Bruins took a chance on having him between the pipes on a regular basis.

In other words, because of his perseverance and hard work, Tim Thomas is a success.

However, 'success' has become something of a taboo phrase with the ascent of the 'Occupy' movement starting in late 2011. While Thomas made no secret of his political leanings, his brushing off an invitation to a luncheon with Obama earned him the ire of another Flint native- jowly schlockumentary filmmaker Michael Moore.


Moore, who's most recent film was the 2009 anti free-market paean 'Capitalism: A Love Story', had recently gained attention by appointing himself the bloated figurehead of the Occupy movement. While not in his multimillion dollar Michigan manor, Moore was speaking at various Occupy encampments throughout the country in the latter half of 2011 and trying to get in a plug for his most recent book.

In a message sent from Moore's twitter account on Tuesday, Moore stated:

Tim Thomas & I went to the same high school. I can tell u this: People in Flint LOVE Obama, desperately need Obama, & DETEST Thomas' actions

Like many a Moore 'documentary', this is a little deceiving in that it appears as though Moore is making it sound like he's contemporaries with Thomas when, as The Daily Caller points out, Thomas graduated from Davidson High School some 20 years after Moore.

Between promoting his numerous books and movies and speaking at the various Occupy Camps, Moore has gone on record as saying that those who are wealthy have not earned it [while inexplicably making an exemption for himself- NANESB!] and I would be very surprised if he didn't say the same was true of Thomas.

Of course, that seems to be reflective of the attitude of progressives, occupiers and liberals in general. Avarice seems to be the name of the game, and in Occupy's world wanting money entitles somebody to it, but actually earning it doesn't.

If Thomas was earnestly seeking approval from Moore, the Democrats and the Occupy Movement, perhaps he could abandon his job and his family for weeks at a time, squat in a public park, defecate on an NYPD cruiser, sexually assault some of his fellow squatters all while demanding free stuff from the government in the most shrill and incoherent manner possible.

Of course, given what is known already about Thomas' political leanings, I doubt he cares very much what his fellow Flint-onian has to say about him.