[Public_Domain]

[andyt]

The point I heard made is that he was not invited for himself but as part of the Bruins. He owed it to the Bruins to attend, this wasn't about him. Other than that, I think it's kind of cool when people decline invitations to the White House - Americans suck up way too much to the pres. They need to find a way to separate head of state with head of govt.

[andyt]

http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-pu ... 07124.html

Why the Boston Bruins should shoulder blame for Tim Thomas White House mess


In a standard player contract in the National Hockey League, the player agrees to the following in exchange for an annual wage from his employer (via Andrew's Stars Page):
"(d) to co-operate with the Club and participate in any and all reasonable promotional activities of the Club which will in the opinion of the Club promote the welfare of the Club and to cooperate in the promotion of the League and professional hockey generally,
"(e) to conduct himself on and off the rink according to the highest standards of honesty, morality, fair play and sportsmanship, and to refrain from conduct detrimental to the best interest of the Club, the League or professional hockey generally."
There's no question that attending a White House fete for the team is (d) good for "promotion of the League and professional hockey generally, while detracting from that event due to personal politics can be seen as (e) "from conduct detrimental to the best interest of the Club, the League or professional hockey generally."