(Image source: The Flint Journal)

BY BLAKE HANSON

For many star athletes, it’s part of the routine after winning a national championship. You visit the White House, get a photo op with the President and get back to business. But for Boston Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas it wasn’t a photo op … it was a political op. Here’s KOMO...

“Tim Thomas skipped the trip to the White House. He’s one of only two Americans on the team and he said the federal government is out of control. He is blaming both parties so he said he was not going to show up.”

Indeed -- Thomas posted on his Facebook page about the incident, writing:

“I believe the Federal government has grown out of control, threatening the Rights, Liberties, and Property of the People."

The player’s deke of the White House is polarizing pundits on all sides of the issue. NBC’s Nancy Snyderman gets fired up on the Today Show.

“This is not about the person who is there for four or eight years, this is the office of the presidency and this is just rude!”

It isn’t the first time an athlete’s skipped out on a visit to the White House. NFL player Mark Chmura dipped out because of the Bill Clinton - Monica Lewinksy scandal and Steelers linebacker James Harrison stayed home in 2006 and 2009 because he quote: “didn’t feel it’s that big of a deal”. A columnist for the Toronto Star says Thomas’ snub fits in with all the rest...

“...it's not a cultural catastrophone … Tim Thomas wasn't the first and he won't be the last.”

And Greg Wyshynski of Yahoo Blog “Puck Daddy” is in full support of Thomas.

“... Good on Thomas … It's a moment in which a professional athlete uses his fame, his influence for something he believes in, and does something that won't be popular among fans or media.”

Next time you’ll see Thomas will be on Sunday in Ottawa for the 2012 All-Star game.