Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling announced he will be having a second shoulder surgery that will end his season and possibly his career.
This, if you can recall, is the same man who has pitched through considerable pain more than once during his career. I was reminded of this when watching Tiger Woods fight through the pain in his knee to win the U.S. Open - only to have season-ending surgery after the tournament. Like Schilling, certain people felt Woods' injury was fake or some bogus story. Perhaps these people have never played through pain, or perhaps these people cannot stand these two athletes so much that they will say anything to tick them off.
Regardless, these 'people' don't have a clue nor should they be taken seriously.
In fact, a lot of these people are here on this site on Foxsports blogging about it. The same people who can't get an All-Star vote right. The same people who recently crapped on Ken Rosenthal for questioning the New York Mets decision to fire Willie Randolph in the middle of the night on the west coast. The same people who hailed Kobe Bryant as the most clutch player in the NBA - who proved once again that he's no more clutch than the next superstar. The same people that call Chad Johnson selfish for celebrating a touchdown but applaud Brett Favre for throwing snowballs at teammates on the field.
So when I read about your comments regarding Curt Schilling as a (bleep) or a (bleep), my head shakes as I wonder how people can be angry at a man who's played the game the right way, kept his integrity off the field intact and has come through in some of the most pressure-packed games of our time. We are a culture that supposedly embraces athletes with guts, yet people seem so eager to cut Schilling's guts out whenever they get the chance. In case you haven't noticed, he is the anti-Jose Canseco, the anti-Barry Bonds, the anti-Rafael Palmiero and the anti-Roger Clemens.
He may go into the Hall of Fame. He may not. He may wear his heart on his sleeve. Is there a problem with that? No.
And I would not call pitching with 1 leg in the 2004 World Series selfish either. I doubt Schilling cares about the self-glory more than he cares about beating New York and winning championships. The guy is a true winner, a true bulldog, and a type of human we may not see from the new crop of pitchers coming up.
Appreciate what he has done for this game and the memories he has brought on the field. Although I am a fan of most of the things he says off the field, people seem to complain about it more than people complain about Ozzie Guillen.
In a world where athletes get arrested, cheat the game, cheat on their wives, we've actually been able to put a guy like Curt Schilling in that category of an athlete that fans can hate so much. Goes to show why organizations, sports talk shows and paid-writers on this particular site do not take you seriously.
What I don't get is that if someone gives the politically correct statements, we bash them, but if they truly speak their minds, we bash them more. I've never had a problem with Schilling. I enjoy his realness and honesty. If this is truly the end of his career, he can definitely hold his head up going out.
Kelly - He's a competitor who doesn't know the word QUIT.
edmonspk - I've never been offended by anything Curt has said. My only complaint would be that he is forced to apologize for things that he's said. Why should he be sorry for supporting Bush over Kerry or cracking Barry Bonds for his conduct?
Gotta agree with every word, Dan. Schilling was a throwback. I admire the way he played the game, even though he was only ever on one team----D'Backs----that I pull for.
Nolan Ryan, Carlton Fisk, and Schilling. All real men who showed others how to act like a man. Sadly, not many of today's ballplayers listened.
I realy enjoyed this piece and I really enjoyed watching Curt Schilling run a baseball game. I really hoped that he would have made it back this year if only to have the chance to go out with his boots on.
Besides, it would have dimmed the argument that so many have made that he duped the Red Sox out of $8 million in this last contract.
i have to ask one question.why is it you can't read a story or watch a sox/cards game without somebody bringing up tiger woods? is he the only person that plays golf or is it he's the only black golfer? better yet is it his pr guy is giving cash handouts everytime his name is mentioned. you know like payola.golf is not a sport in my eyes.golf is a getaway from the wife for the day thing.i do know that if you didn't have basketball and tiger espn wouldn't have air time at all.but don't bring up his name during baseball and football stories it just doesn't fit in anywhere.watching golf is like watching grass grow or tree bark age.but i hate to see the schill is gone and maybe for good.
Patsfan - Obviously you have not played enough golf to understand that what Tiger did last weekend under the circumstances was remarkable. Did he run a marathon? No. Did he have to be so mentally focused to block out the pain and make shots when he needed it the most? Yes.
You know who else has had tremendous mental focus? Curt Schilling. So the comparison is valid.
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I'm a diehard Yankee fan, and even I can like / admire Shilling, bloody sock and all. I can wish him the best and still hope the red sucks loose every game.
I thought that schilling was named in all of these steriod claims, i guess when your white in america they just sweep it all under the rug, poor barry gots to be the escape goat for everyone, to bad barry your not white or you would be in the on your way to the hall right now, and i'm not african american!! But dont worry barry, the minority will soon be the majority, and bias white racial old men will soon pass away and your day will come, schilling blows, you put that big mouth in, then you should put hershiser in!! But east coast bias will have another medicore white man in the hall!!
I was hopeing I could watch cards vs Redsox game today,without the commentary switching over to Schilling,it didnt happen,the million dollar question is Schilling hall of fame material?Lets talk about it in 5 years.I dont think he will retire,his ego wont let him.He will try to comeback and defeat father time so we can talk about him some more.
comeoneverybody - Last I checked, Schilling was still getting guys out, so if he does come back it will be because nobody has proved he's absolutely finished. He's earned his ego.
dodgernut - How this became a racial issue is beyond me. Ease up! Nobody is talking about black versus white. Schilling didn't take steroids, period. He hasn't been linked to anything or anyone, unlike Bonds. This has NOTHING to do with racism.
Orel Hershieser was a great pitcher in his day. Unfortunately its tough to compare the era he pitched in and Schilling's era, which was filled with jacked up juicers and homer-friendly stadiums. We'll see what happens.
Doggernut, schilling was never under su####ion for steroids,congress had him there because he has a big mouth,it backfired because Schilling had nothing to say.As for bonds its not about color,if you take the time to read the book game of shadows with a open mind,you will see it has nothing to do with race.
The question is how can you not like Curt Schilling,the answer is he talks too much.Unfortunately hes one of the most disliked players in the world,his ego is too big,he talks too much,I read over 700 blogs on Schilling yesterday,I tried to defend him,people just dont like this guy.
Comon - That is true, people don't like him. And all the reasons can be used for several athletes yet they love to pile on Curt. I guess we've lost love for those with heart, guts and toughness.
The only conceivable reason anyone would vote for this guy for the HOF is his postseason record. Otherwise, his career stats are unremarkable. Above average, yes. A career of sustained excellence? Hardly. Of course, a 14-win per season guy these days gets $12 million a year, so there's still value placed on someone who's above average.
Finally the pain that is Curt Shilling is going. I can give you a few reasons why i can very much dislike him. The guy was never that great. They hate him in Philly, he thought he was better then Arizona, and the only times he did well are when he had a good team to fall back on. He doesnt even compare to greats like Tom Glavine or Greg Maddux, and he was always the runner-up to Randy Johnson in Arizona. He's a little whiner who tried to put himself above everyone else. This is the man who took out a ad in a newspaper to thank the firemen and support the troops after Sept. 11th, which seemed like a way to make it more about him then those he was thanking. Then there was the "bloody-sock". I doubt that if his ankle bleeding like is was he'd have been able to pitch. Once again, he made it about himself. The Red Sox even tried to void his contract this last off-season when he wouldn't do what they asked him to do, for the team. He's a self-centered pansy who will never take a risk if he doesn't know he can make himself look good while doing it. Shame on the Hall of Fame if they put this man in there.
problem is that schilling likes to talk about things that are not his concern. sometimes guys need to learn when to shut up. the world isn't always wondering what curt schilling thinks of every situation.
JHC: You couldn't be more wrong about schilling. You mention that schilling was selfish when he pitched in the infamous "bloody sock" game for one. Riiight.....Schilling was willing to jeapordize his career for the good of the team, franchise and organization in an era of countless selfish altheletes sitting it out with far less serious injuries. Sure he speaks his mind BUT anyone on here willing to crucify him for voicing his opinion on things might want to take a hard look in the mirror (that's what all of us on here are doing-expressing our opinions). Unfortunantly for you, nobody cares what your opinions are and schilling's at least spark interest. I'm going to take a wild guess that you are one of these Boston haters and anything associated with Boston sports draws your ire. Stop hating for a while and myabe you'll attract better things in your own life.
curt had nothing postive to say, he just talked a bunch of smack and the media and igorant white people praised him for it but whenever black athletes shoot their mouths off, it would feel like a lynching on these blogs.
curt belongs in the HOF only if he had the stats but i don't think they ever matched randy johnson, maddox, or clemens. schilling had a few great years with the d-backs and that bloody sock game was staged. that bloody sock doesn't belong in the HOF and it would be disrectful to yankee fans if it were thrown in the hudson river!!!
Common: You hate schilling because he "talks too much". Just look how many posts you've made on this blog m.r.on (essentially talking through a computer). Maybe the old saying that we usually criticize things in others that we deep down hate about ourselves applies to you. It's called projection.
Lakersfan: We can all fully understand why you are bitter and need to vent these days....go ahead blame schilling and ol whitey for the pathetic showing by the mighty lakers in the finals. If you think the bloody sock was staged you are giving people way to much credit and obviously want to discredit anything associated with bosotn sports. Just realize that most people on here see right through ignorant agenda ridden opinions and you compromise your credibility.
Curt Schilling, the pitcher, is 100% a "class act" baseball player. Curt Schilling, the "mouth that shouldn't have", isn't a "class act" person. No one has the right to pass judgement on others, except ONE person, and Curt Schilling isn't that one person!
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I don't feel like Schilling is a throwback at all. I associate throwbacks with people who don't yap or self-promote; they just go out there and do their job. Schilling always has something to say, often on stuff that has nothing to do with him.
Maybe if his personal beliefs jibed with mine, the guy wouldn't rub me the wrong way quite as much. But when you combine being a blowhard with a bunch of beliefs that I am on the opposite spectrum from,AND you play for the Red Sox; well, sorry, I ain't going to like ya.
my old man use to tell me speak whats on your mind.tell people what you think.if they don't like it it's probably because they can't stand the truth about themselves.curt took out a full page ad to give thanks? never heard that one but when was the last time some on here gave thanks for the freedom we take for granted? i do everytime i see someboby who served for that freedom.when they talked about him during yesterdays game they compared him to some hof'ers and they talked about the things him and his wife do for others. most people don't lift a finger for others but sit and knock somebody that does.go figure, useless people come from all over but curt for the good you do you can say what you want.hof coming at you
Schilling is a loud mouth. I don't care to hear him (or any other athlete for that matter) weigh in on every non baseball subject of the day. Also, his stats are not even close to being Hall worthy. You're the one who's clueless Dan. Stop sipping the Red Saux koolaid.
To those of you who think Schilling is not a hall of famer, obviousely see with a blind eye. Forget the record because of the many bad Philly teams he has played for. Keep in mind he has by far the best strieout to walk ratio of any player to ever strike out 3000.
First, do you think a guy who has won gold gloves he should not have, would not move to third base for the guy who is clearly the better SS on his team, and buries teammates over personal grudges should be in? Does a .316 avg with 199 homers qualify you for the hall? The are borderline great stats. But hall of fame stats would be questionable. But, what will get Jeter in the hall will be his post season career and the fact that he has always played in NY. But if he played anywhere else, he would be just a very good SS with no chance of the HOF. That said, I think he belongs in.
As for the people who try to pull the race card here, you are abviously a little slow mentally. That is okay though. Barry Bonds is going to go to jail for being an #### about things. Palmeiro and McGwire have had to practically go into witness protection.(BTW, is anyone whiter than big Mac). If you think Barry is going to get it rough, wait until you see what becomes of Roger. Roger has been everything that Barry is but also a pedephile. If you think the government is not going to make him their #### after this lawsuit is over, you will have to wait and see.
Now, I did not think Schilling would go in first ballot because he likely will be matched against Smoltz, Glavine, Maddux, and Johnson. But, he will be i
Reading all these comments reminds me of an old saying. It is better to remain silent and have people think you are a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt.
curt deserves better? curt deserves to shut his mouth. the guy is a media ####, talks about anything thats going on just to get his name in the headlines, whetehr its bonds, politics or kobe bryant.
curt is not a HoF. and a GREAT example that shows strike outs do not equal wins. 206 wins? Mussina has 50+more wins and people question his HoF status???
11-2 postseason record, great. bernie williams is tied for the most homeruns in the postseason with 21, does anyone say that makes his career HoF worthy?
and Mr Allen. i LOVE how you turned this into a derek jeter HoF discussion. what a ####. distract everyone from the facts to try to make your own stupid point, congrats.
Wow thanks for the comments. I'll just throw a few points out here...
- I am not a Red Sox fan
- Schilling's win total has been affected from his days with Philly, otherwise he'd be closer to 250.
- Bernie Williams has the most post-season homers because Mickey Mantle didn't play in the ALCS or ALDS. Neither did Babe Ruth.
- You don't like what Curt has to say because you disagree with him. You disagree with him 3 or 4 times and then he "talks too much". No, Gary Sheffield talks too much. Schilling writes a blog and everyone is all over him for that. Well, don't YOU guys write a blog? What's the difference?
curt schilling was a warrior on the mound.. and probablly a great team-mate.. However he has always given the impression of being an arsehole off the field... say what u will .. thats my opinion..
-the argument that schilling was on a bad team so he doesnt have enough wins is ridiculous. i mean if arod had more strikes thrown to him he would have 800home runs.
-so bernie's postseason stats are inflated but curt's arent? interesting.
-it has nothing to do with if i agree with curt or not, im glad he uses his fame for his foundation for als and good causes.
-for speaking his mind, he showed how fake he was because after his bonds comments tito make him apologize with a "it was absolutely irresponsible and wrong to say what I did"
- and his love for the entegrity of the game, greatest game ever, plays for the team, etc. but yet he needs clauses in his contract to PAY him for keeping in shape????
by the way, i HATE sheffield. from him making errors on purpose in milwalkee, crying about contracts every day, to talkin #### about torre and jim "biggest fake ever" leyland not saying a word to shut him up.
schilling was a warrior on the field... great player.. But what an arsehole off the field.. i guess u luv him if he,s on your team.. However you can be a fiery determined great player with passion--- minus being a twatttt ....
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.
Just shows that sports is my life.
And check out the Samsung T10. Excellent MP3 device. For more info: http://www.an ythingbutipod .com/archives /2007/10/sams ung-ypt10-rev iew.php
