It seems there are a lot of people who dislike Curt Schilling. Is it because he's a great pitcher, or has been for many years? Is it because he's nails when there's pressure? Is it because he is a republican? Is it because he will crack people regardless of which team the player plays for? It could be a number of things, but Schilling is one of the most hated men in baseball.
It's strange because I cannot remember the last time Schilling beat the #### out of his wife or carried a loaded gun or sexually assaulted someone. If he has (which I'm about 99.9% sure he hasn't), then he could merit some hate votes. Things just don't add up.
I would have thought he had commanded the respect of his peers and teammates by going out to the mound with the use of one real leg for about 3 games. It was visibly noticeable that he was having problems with his ankle. Sure, people will claim he made his sock bloody for show. Let's call it the way it was: Curt Schilling's ankle was damaged. To even suggest that any part of that performance was an act is absolutely hideous. The man put himself and his career on the line for his team to give them the chance to become World Champions. If I'm a teammate, I'd love that guy to death regardless of how nice he is because he was the guy that drove his team to win the World Series. You don't think he uplifted the spirits of his team?
Yes, he cracked Johnny Damon last season. Perhaps he knew something we didn't about Damon. Maybe he knew Damon was going to leave Boston if he didn't collect his Ben Franklin's. Or that Damon could be a selfish player. Is that a real stretch? Well he did make a fuss for a long time to get out of Kansas City. Then again, would you blame him? He went after the cash leaving Oakland and now went for the cash to play in New York. Not much of a situational change in terms of success between the two teams, although the changes could reflect something different. But Damon could be very selfish and Schilling knew it.
Agree or disagree with Curt Schilling, he does not hold back and is an honest man. I loved it when he dropped 'vote for Bush' after winning the World Series in 2004. No, I am not on the GWB bandwagon seeing that I cannot vote in America due to my citizenship being from another country. What I saw was a guy who was honest, and that the media was outraged over it. Because I realize with certainty that mainstream media is more Liberal/Left Wing, he would have been ok if he said 'vote for Kerry'. But he was honest, and Kerry being from the same state Schilling plays baseball did not force Curt to change what he believed in. You want people to be that way, and those are the kind of people that other can admire.
Schilling is pumped to start the 2006 season with Manny Ortez. I think he'll have a massive season. Will he hit ahead of David Ortiz or behind Manny Ramirez?
On a final note: If I had to pick one pitcher to win me a game, it would be Curt Schilling. He has been the best big-game pitcher that I have seen.
I think Schilling is a good representative for baseball...and seems to be an intelligent guy. I don't know if that many people actually hate him...but I can see him being under-appreciated. Call it the "what have you done for me lately" mentality. He did great in the Boston world series run...but struggled with health last year. It seems that people only remember the bad things.
But early reports show that he may be in good health again...and could surprise by returning to form. If so, watch out...he could lead the Red Sox back to the post-season.
He's a great pitcher...and I think he still has a few miles left.
Being honest is an admirable trait but when you repeatedly open your mouth when no one asked it gets annoying. He is a self-righteous blowhard who never met a topic he didn't have an opinion on. Speaking your mind doesn't mean you're right. Now I admit we all have opinions but we all have buttholes too. There's a proper time and place to open your mouth but I don't think Curt ever learned that skill. That is why so many don't care for him. I seriously doubt that people hate him for anything special he has done. Best Big Game pitcher you ever saw? Come on, he hasn't been in enough big games to deserve that honor. In no way am I knocking his skills, but I can think of others who merit that title more than him.
I know him personally, and he's about as far from a "blowhard" as you can get. Everything he does is for others, rarely for himself. About ten years ago, he and his wife Shonda started a foundation to help fight ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) and even though he is no longer in Philly, his foundations are still maintained here.
After Hurricane Katrina, he gave a family of nine a house in Boston, and donated a lot of money to other victims of the tragedy. He's extremely generous with fans anywhere he goes, even when he was in Baltimore (where he began his career).
He says what's on his mind, but he's usually right. He was openly critical of the Phillies management during his tenure there, and how right was he? It took the organization 5 years of extended failure after Schilling left to finally get rid of Ed Wade.
Do you know Curt Schilling? No, so don't act like you do.
ChinMusic: Manny Ortez is John Kerry's favourite baseball player on the Boston Red Sox. And let's get some facts straight: He carried Arizona through every round in the 2001 playoffs, and threw a gem in 2002. How could you bypass 2001 where he won the World Series Co-MVP?
Rivjo: Big game pitchers? Well, its not Roger Clemens. Curt carried Randy Johnson in the playoffs. Pedro? He had a knack for not beating the Yankees. Smoltz? I have him second on my list. Maddux? Unfortunately no. You must remember, I've watched since the beginning of the 1990's so Bob Gibson and Steve Carlton is before my time. Plus, Curt has more rings than some of the best active guys, tied with Roger who did not have to show up to get it in 1999 and 2000.
Ultra--Admirable of you to stick up for your friend. Also admirable of him to donate money to people in need. I would like to think that I would do the same if I had his cash. Do I know Curt? Of course not. However I reserve the right to my opinion, which obviously others beside myself share if we are commenting on this, that his opinionated ways are quite annoying. I am sure I have a friend or two that you might find annoying as well. Did I say he was necessarily a bad person? No. However, he definitely has the habit of offering his 2 cents on subjects that quite frankly no one cares what he thinks. I don't know how you define it but I consider a self-righteous blowhard someone who always thinks he's right and that his way is best. Maybe it's the media portrayal but that's how he looks to me. Once again...doesn't mean he's a bad guy. As for you saying he's almost always correct...well that's your opinion. Now let out a deep sigh and relax. Go have fun with your buddy Curt. I am sure he is every bit as nice as you say.
Dan--Nice to see you had Smoltz up there. He was someone I had in mind. My thinking was really based on number of opportunities to pitch in the postseason. I agree when you check Schilling's playoff stats that they are impressive. It's just that he has only started games in the postseason in 1993, 2001, 2002, and 2004. Guys like Smoltz, Pettite, Johnson, Cone, Maddux, Glavine, Wells, Clemens pitched in so many more playoff games that they had more opportunities to fail. I will give you this for sure. He has made the most of his opportunities and my comments were not made to imply that he in anyway lacks talent. One place I do disagree is that he carried Randy Johnson in Arizona. In 2001 and 2002 the Big Unit had the same amount of wins, 2 less losses, a lower ERA, and more strikeouts. Let's not forget that it was Johnson who shut the door on the Yanks in a tight world series game 7 in which Schilling would have been the losing pitcher. (Had Mariano Rivera not inexplicably thrown a double play comebacker into center field to start the rally that blew the world series.) Johnson also pitched exceptionally in his playoff starts in 2001. The only blemish was his one start in the 2002 playoffs against St.Louis. Otherwise you do make valid points and arguably are correct. Good job.
I don't hate Schilling. I think he's a great ambassador for the game. I respect the hell out of him for at least trying to be honest. Yes, he talks too much sometimes but in general I find Schilling to be an engaging personality.
And Schilling's performances in the playoffs have been pretty darn good. The performance in 2004 against the Yankees was downright legendary. That almost carries his whole career right there. Plus he's a Yankee killer so I respect that too.
Does it make me pathetic that I know based on a back view picture that your avatar is Tara Ried?? I was just wondering lmao! I was thinking of drafting Schilling in the third round this year, what do you think based on his recent history? Last year I read that most insiders felt that he was not Hall worthy unless he had at least three years of stellar baseball left in him, I see it otherwise, he is a big game pitcher and his performance in the 2004 playoffs is legendary.
Last edited by born2playin69 on March 2nd at 10:12 PM.
Dude you never posted anything on my blog and if you did it would never be removed at least not by me. I laid it out for all to see, I don't see any of you doing the same.
Rivjo: Sorry, I meant the playoffs where he carried Randy, not the regular season. Once Randy got settled in during the 2001 run, he was fine. But Schilling bailed him out in the early rounds in my opinion.
Born: Once I get a pic with me alone, then I'll drop it on there. Yes that is Tara Reid and I have never hit that raw. As for fantasy, I think you might be able to sneak him past round 3 but it depends on his ranking, league smarts, availability of others etc. Good luck with that.
Haz: It was Wes who deleted my comments, not you. Apologies for the mix-up. I enjoy your stuff, keep it up.
Dan - Schilling's okay, but let's get to something more important. You are nominated for Best Avatar. I am not sure who else is nominated or what award will be given, but I just woke up and let me say good morning. If my girl reads this I am dead.
Norcal: I am completely honoured for being the first person nominated for my very own category. If you hear your girl walking toward your room, tint that computer screen quickly. That means you cannot be on the computer with just one hand. (Y)
This one is simple: Schilling is hated because he has a loud mouth and a God fixation. If he dumps a bone dry, he thanks God. He's also melodramatic. Believe me, I admire the guy for getting his ankle ripped open, but am I really to believe he was bleeding through his sock? It's not like he came right from the walkup clinic. Change your sock, ya glory hound.
Schilling also has a comment for everything, and he memorably said he'd like nothing better than to make 55,000 New Yorkers shut up. Come on, I'm a Red Sox fan, and even I know why he's easy to hate.
Last edited by crookdnose on March 3rd at 10:34 AM.
Dan, I personally like Curt, but again I take up for most athletes including Bonds. Curt says what he thinks, but he does do many good things for his community and others. As to the sock, who cares. The media is the one who focused on his sock. If I am Curt and pitching in the biggest game of my life the last thing I am worried about is my socks. He did not zoom in on his ankle the media did.
As to the posts on Schilling on steroids and other such stuff, it makes for good drama and brings in readers. Blogs are just opinions and sometimes we all take them way to seriously.
Nice Avatar, I was just wondering if that is how you see yourself in the mirror every morning, as a woman?
Crookdnose: I would have left the sock on. His focus was on the game where it's suppose to be. Plus, the opposing players could take a good look at it. Yanks should have dropped a bunt or 7 on his ####.
Socal: I'd still be staring at the mirror if that was me. As for the tone of blogs, depending on what you write you can take them as fun or serious. Once the tone is set, we know what we're in for.
The ability to stick up for athletes, even those dislike, is the kind of trait that could make a great Sports Agent. I certainly would want one like that having my back.
From Toronto, CANADA. On hiatus from sports talk show. Also the starting shortstop for the Lizzards. Honorary member of "The Clique" because I am a made guy. If I ever got to work for Fox Sports I'd put into my contract that I must put in no less than 60 hours of work per week.
