Patriots are shorthanded in trip to White House without Tom Brady
The New England Patriots brought all four Super Bowl trophies to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Washington, DC for their visit with President Barack Obama today. Former players CB Darrelle Revis and RB Shane Vereen were in attendance, but absent from the proceedings were QB Tom Brady and former DT Vince Wilfork.
USA Today:
David Ortiz was just one of four current Boston Red Sox players who attended Johnny Pesky's funeral on Monday August 23, 2012 in Swampscott, Mass. David Ortiz, Clay Buchholz, Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Vincente Padilla were the only players who took the time to attend the services. Johnny Pesky is one of Boston's most beloved figures in Red Sox history. He spent 61 years with Boston as a player, coach, manager and broadcaster.
The 2012 Red Sox ended the season with a record of 69–93, finishing in last place in the American League East for the first time since 1992, and as the third worst team in Major League Baseball. For Boston, this was their most losses in 46 years.
With Major League Baseball facing a work stoppage to start the 1972 season, a union vote was taken by the players' association in 1971. The Los Angeles Dodgers voted 21-4 in support of a lockout. The 1972 baseball strike was the first organized player strike against Major League Baseball’s team owners. When Los Angeles Dodgers' owner Walter O' Malley learned of the vote, he confronted the Dodgers' player representative. O' Malley's issues were not with the 21 players who voted for the work stoppage, but the four who did not support their teammates. All four were traded following the 1971 season.
Cindy Boren, Washington Post
Boston Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas says he skipped White House trip because ‘government has grown out of control.' “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.
Following the snubbing of President Obama at the January 24, 2012 Boston Bruins' White House visit, the stellar play of goaltender Tim Thomas deteriorated rapidly. Just one year removed from being the Most Valuable Player(Conn Smythe Trophy) in the 2011 NHL playoffs, the Bruins were eliminated in seven games in the first round of the NHL playoffs by the Washington Capitals. Tim Thomas was not resigned by the Boston Bruins.
Let's hope that this is the reason that Tom Brady didn't know about the invitation to the White House.
Paul Murphy is a freelance writer from New Hampshire. .
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