Curt Schilling

[SoxnCycles]

Red Sox fans used to boo the crap out of Bob Stanley - who was/is all by accounts a nice guy who always did his best - but he became a sort of symbol of the team's failures in the clutch.

 

So in 2004 Keith Foulke turns in one of the greatest clutch pitching performances ever as the team finally wins it all.

 

Next thing you know, Foulke is getting raked over the coals for his 'Johnny from Burger King' remark.

 

That really pissed me off. Do you want guys who are clutch or do you want nice guys? Make up your freaking mind.

 

In a nutshell, we expect perfection.

Little wonder we're continually disappoined and pissed off.

[Jack Flap]

From a baseball standpoint, Schilling has earned a lifetime pass with me. What he did in 2004 was nothing short of amazing. I do not understand anybody trying to downplay that.

Good attitude. The latter should have nothing to do with the former. Slasher and I are about as opposite politically as you can get, but we agree >95% of the time on the important thing here, the Sox.

 

Agree...and it's kind of sad that every discussion of his accomplishments as a player seems to invariably get tangled up with his political views and other off-field controversies. As Illinois said, one really should have nothing to do with the other.

[illinoisredsox]

Red Sox fans used to boo the crap out of Bob Stanley - who was/is all by accounts a nice guy who always did his best - but he became a sort of symbol of the team's failures in the clutch.

 

So in 2004 Keith Foulke turns in one of the greatest clutch pitching performances ever as the team finally wins it all.

 

Next thing you know, Foulke is getting raked over the coals for his 'Johnny from Burger King' remark.

 

That really pissed me off. Do you want guys who are clutch or do you want nice guys? Make up your freaking mind.

 

Again, flames fanned by the Boston media. They seemingly live to create controversy. You'd love to hear these guys (the media) talk in a bar sometime and report on what they say in private. My guess is they could never stand up to the scrutiny they hold others to.

[SoxnCycles]

Again, flames fanned by the Boston media. They seemingly live to create controversy. You'd love to hear these guys (the media) talk in a bar sometime and report on what they say in private. My guess is they could never stand up to the scrutiny they hold others to.

 

Agreed.

Mike Holley, from WEEI, was all over Hanley, and convinced he was going to fail at 1st base, bacause he had to borrow a glove at the start of spring training.

I usually like Holley, but that was trying too hard to find something to whine about.

 

Some fans eat that crap us, for some reason.

[a700hitter]

If the mess we make of former athletic heroes who have controversial opinions drives one guy who could have put us over the top, away from this town because for whatever reason the media declare him to be socially unacceptable and the general wool-bearing public goes along with it, then the media has stopped covering the story and started trying to become the story, and they have hurt our teams in the process. That is not OK.

The Boston Press is the toughest and most unfair sports press in the country. It has always been that way. If there had been Free Agency in Ted Williams' Day, he would have been out of here. They were miserable to him. He didn't play nice with them, but they tried to destroy him. They went after Yaz and Rice too. At least back then they did not write about their political and social views.

[a700hitter]

Red Sox fans used to boo the crap out of Bob Stanley - who was/is all by accounts a nice guy who always did his best - but he became a sort of symbol of the team's failures in the clutch.

 

So in 2004 Keith Foulke turns in one of the greatest clutch pitching performances ever as the team finally wins it all.

 

Next thing you know, Foulke is getting raked over the coals for his 'Johnny from Burger King' remark.

 

That really pissed me off. Do you want guys who are clutch or do you want nice guys? Make up your freaking mind.

Steamer was very underrated.

[a700hitter]

Agree...and it's kind of sad that every discussion of his accomplishments as a player seems to invariably get tangled up with his political views and other off-field controversies. As Illinois said, one really should have nothing to do with the other.

Their sports accomplishments are not only separate, but those should be the only thing discussed about the athlete or former athlete. Their political or social views are not news and really are not worthy of analysis or discussion,

[Dojji]

The Boston Press is the toughest and most unfair sports press in the country. It has always been that way. If there had been Free Agency in Ted Williams' Day, he would have been out of here. They were miserable to him. He didn't play nice with them, but they tried to destroy him. They went after Yaz and Rice too. At least back then they did not write about their political and social views.

 

I don't have a problem with a vigilant media, but when people talk about the Boston pressure cooker, that doesn't really have that much to do with the park or the fans, as much as it does on the aged hacks in the press box. And every few years you hear about a guy the Red Sox were considering acquiring but weren't sure they had what it took to survive the banshees, or a veteran who's been here too long and smelled wrong to some overripe pencil jockey, and we lost out on their talent over it. Something really needs to be done to pull their teeth

Edited May 17, 2016 by Dojji

[Dojji]

Their sports accomplishments are not only separate, but those should be the only thing discussed about the athlete or former athlete. Their political or social views are not news and really are not worthy of analysis or discussion,

 

Exactly. And I find it absolutely pathetic and deplorable to hear the suggestion made that the solution to this problem is for the athlete to avoid exercising his First Amendment rights. Schilling has just as much right to his opinion as every other American citizens. We can tolerate the 9/11 truthers, the anti-vaxxers, the alien watchers, why the hell can't we tolerate a guy who thinks God made the world in 7 days?

[a700hitter]

Exactly. And I find it absolutely pathetic and deplorable to hear the suggestion made that the solution to this problem is for the athlete to avoid exercising his First Amendment rights. Schilling has just as much right to his opinion as every other American citizens. We can tolerate the 9/11 truthers, the anti-vaxxers, the alien watchers, why the hell can't we tolerate a guy who thinks God made the world in 7 days?

It is socially acceptable to ridicule religious people and their beliefs. That is not considered intolerance.

[illinoisredsox]

Their sports accomplishments are not only separate, but those should be the only thing discussed about the athlete or former athlete. Their political or social views are not news and really are not worthy of analysis or discussion,

 

Agree. Unless they do something truly heinous (drug trafficking, molesting children or collies, etc), on the field is all that we need to talk about them.

 

Besides, who REALLY cares what any "celebrity" thinks about anything. Unless they are embarking on a political career (Reagan, Jack Kemp, Bill Bradley etc.), what difference does it make?

[a700hitter]

Agree. Unless they do something truly heinous (drug trafficking, molesting children or collies, etc), on the field is all that we need to talk about them.

 

Besides, who REALLY cares what any "celebrity" thinks about anything. Unless they are embarking on a political career (Reagan, Jack Kemp, Bill Bradley etc.), what difference does it make?

Agreed. if a sports or other celebrity is involved in criminal activity, that is news. It would be news regardless of their celebrity. Their celebrity makes it a bigger story. Their mere opinions are not news.

[Slasher9]

Exactly. And I find it absolutely pathetic and deplorable to hear the suggestion made that the solution to this problem is for the athlete to avoid exercising his First Amendment rights. Schilling has just as much right to his opinion as every other American citizens. We can tolerate the 9/11 truthers, the anti-vaxxers, the alien watchers, why the hell can't we tolerate a guy who thinks God made the world in 7 days?

 

he 100% has the right to free speech. and 50% of the citizens of this nation have the right to agree with him politically. and 50% of the citizens have the right to disagree with him. and his employer has 100% right to fire him.

you, me, and everyone that is lucky to live in our country have the right to free speech. but to think there are no consequences for exercising that right is being naive.

[Dojji]

he 100% has the right to free speech. and 50% of the citizens of this nation have the right to agree with him politically. and 50% of the citizens have the right to disagree with him. and his employer has 100% right to fire him.

you, me, and everyone that is lucky to live in our country have the right to free speech. but to think there are no consequences for exercising that right is being naive.

 

I agree with you actually, I had no problem with Schilling getting moved along by ESPN. If he wasn't a good fit for that company, they're within their rights.

 

But the level of what I can't find a better word for than "bullying" that religious and conservative people tend to get on a daily basis in certain parts of this country is something that should be spoken out against more than it is. And the fact that it's coming from the side that above all else should be the ones practicing what they preach about tolerance disgusts me.

[sk7326]

If you are a properly functioning adult - you can separate your feelings about the 2004 heroics and the general way he lives personally. Put another way, he can be an odious guy who sold out his own employees in a very dicey business deal ... AND a Red Sox hero ... all at the same time.

[sk7326]

Their sports accomplishments are not only separate, but those should be the only thing discussed about the athlete or former athlete. Their political or social views are not news and really are not worthy of analysis or discussion,

 

To a point - but he uses the fame from said accomplishments to advocate ... he is a public figure, it is fair game to some extent.

[Jack Flap]

Their sports accomplishments are not only separate, but those should be the only thing discussed about the athlete or former athlete. Their political or social views are not news and really are not worthy of analysis or discussion,

 

Well yeah, ideally, but Schilling chooses to be very public and vocal about his political opinions - which is fine, but it is inevitably going to spawn some reaction, positive or negative. To expect otherwise just isn't realistic.

[mvp 78]

politics are so divisive in 2016 that if you are an athlete (or ex athlete) and make political statements it will pizz off 50% of the USA population. no matter what stance you take or what you say you are going to make 50% mad. This is no secret. by continuing to speak and post his political agenda on social media platforms Curt was inviting the consequences.

 

As Michael Jordan once said to Kareem "Republicans buy sneakers too." If you want to be political, you are going to risk missing out on some people's adoration. If you are a public figure, you should just stay out of it. I don't feel bad for Curt.

 

I also don't care about the topic all that much either way.

[mvp 78]

Exactly. And I find it absolutely pathetic and deplorable to hear the suggestion made that the solution to this problem is for the athlete to avoid exercising his First Amendment rights. Schilling has just as much right to his opinion as every other American citizens. We can tolerate the 9/11 truthers, the anti-vaxxers, the alien watchers, why the hell can't we tolerate a guy who thinks God made the world in 7 days?

 

Schilling has the right to say whatever he wants. ESPN had the right to fire him for doing so.

 

What's so wrong with alien watchers?

[a700hitter]

If you are a properly functioning adult - you can separate your feelings about the 2004 heroics and the general way he lives personally. Put another way, he can be an odious guy who sold out his own employees in a very dicey business deal ... AND a Red Sox hero ... all at the same time.

"Sold out" "odious" "dicey" LOL!! I guess that you don't like the guy. Those are some pretty strongly negative words. Most evil businessmen don't lose everything if they are just out to screw people.

[a700hitter]

Schilling has the right to say whatever he wants. ESPN had the right to fire him for doing so.

 

What's so wrong with alien watchers?

True. The bad thing for ESPN is that they are hypocritical.

[mvp 78]

I agree with you actually, I had no problem with Schilling getting moved along by ESPN. If he wasn't a good fit for that company, they're within their rights.

 

But the level of what I can't find a better word for than "bullying" that religious and conservative people tend to get on a daily basis in certain parts of this country is something that should be spoken out against more than it is. And the fact that it's coming from the side that above all else should be the ones practicing what they preach about tolerance disgusts me.

 

At this point, the discussion has become a little to political. It's only a matter of time before this gets locked.

[a700hitter]

Well yeah, ideally, but Schilling chooses to be very public and vocal about his political opinions - which is fine, but it is inevitably going to spawn some reaction, positive or negative. To expect otherwise just isn't realistic.

Yep, I get it that if he puts it out there people will react to it, and he brings the attention to himself. I guess that my only point is that sports celebrity views about anything are meaningless to me, and I would not sour on a sports hero (especially one who played for the Red Sox and got us to the Promised Land in a dramatic way) because of their personal views. That would make me an ingrate.

[a700hitter]

At this point, the discussion has become a little to political. It's only a matter of time before this gets locked.

I don't think Doji is talking about politics. I will not speak for him, but I think he is addressing intolerance.

[Dojji]

Agreed, I got a bit carried away there, but I stand by what I said. you don't get productive discourse in this country if your approach to the opinions of half the country is to try to consistently shame them into silence.

[Slasher9]

"Sold out" "odious" "dicey" LOL!! I guess that you don't like the guy. Those are some pretty strongly negative words. Most evil businessmen don't lose everything if they are just out to screw people.

 

you dont really think Curt is broke, now do you? yes, he lost millions but he def had a golden parachute that the citizens of Rhode Island were not afforded.

[a700hitter]

you dont really think Curt is broke, now do you? yes, he lost millions but he def had a golden parachute that the citizens of Rhode Island were not afforded.

I didn't say that he is broke. He has his pension and the ability to still market his name. He had to sell his sports awards. He lost a fortune. He didn't steal money from the citizens of Rhode Island. Only their politicians could do that. And they can address that at the ballot box.

[Jack Flap]

Yep, I get it that if he puts it out there people will react to it, and he brings the attention to himself. I guess that my only point is that sports celebrity views about anything are meaningless to me, and I would not sour on a sports hero (especially one who played for the Red Sox and got us to the Promised Land in a dramatic way) because of their personal views. That would make me an ingrate.

 

No argument there.

[Dojji]

I don't think Doji is talking about politics. I will not speak for him, but I think he is addressing intolerance.

Sorta. I'm talking about judging people fairly and remembering that there's room in this world for divergent opinions, and when there isn't, therein lie the seeds of oppression.

[Dojji]

you dont really think Curt is broke, now do you? yes, he lost millions but he def had a golden parachute that the citizens of Rhode Island were not afforded.

 

Gonna demand a link for that. Unfounded speculative BS made up on the spot to accuse someone of wrongdoing is a job best left to our sportswriters.

 

he probably has the ability to leverage his playing career into some kind of income even if he did lose his savings, so no, likely not actually penniless or anything, but you made a specific allegation of a kickback from 38 Studios and I would appreciate it if you either defended it or retracted it.