The Wanna’be Politician – Curt Schilling

Curt Schilling must think that when he talks, everyone listens… well, he needs to think again because he’s no E.F. Hutton, these days, those that do listen to what Schilling has to say are beginning to laugh instead.

Over the years, we have all heard in some way or another the words and so-called wisdom of Curt Schilling – currently a member of the Red Sox and closeted politician. Schilling likes to talk out both sides of his mouth, and very few seem to remember how often this happens and what becomes of this.

When Schilling talks these days you begin to wonder if he’s playing a game of “Truth or Dare”… waiting for responses from his listeners so that he can refuel and purge again.  Refueling doesn’t cost Schilling a dime, but yet the hero of last season’s post-season is losing creditability and losing respect – especially mine, and I wouldn’t pay a dime, nickel or penny to purchase Schilling’s tell-all book “Curt Schilling's Guide to the Galaxy.”

Curt Schilling would be a great contestant on the Survivor… he could B.S. his way to a million bucks by telling his fellow tribe members just what they want to hear – just when they need to hear it… right before immunity challenge when he stabs his alliance friends in the back by voting them off, one by one.

Schilling has taken pokes at many… He once called Deion Sanders a “glorified flag-football player who can run” when Sanders was playing baseball for the Reds… Sanders, known for telling it like it is gave it right back to Schilling – which of course Schilling thrived on. During the ALCS last season, Schilling called the “glove-stab” by Alex Rodriguez “a bush-league play”… and of course waited until he was fueled up to spit out further comments on A-Rod during the off-season.  A-Rod didn’t give him the satisfaction to respond – he stood his ground in silence and let his bat do the talking.

Curt Schilling was subpoenaed to the Congressional House Committee hearings on baseball’s steroid problems… which was sort of funny because Schilling has held his ground by telling all he’s never done “juice.” So why then did the Committee subpoena him?  Well, the politicians know their sports and remember what they read – even it if comes from Sports Illustrated.

Back in 2002, Schilling told Sports Illustrated that steroids had become “prominent” in major league baseball and that he no longer patted teammates on the rear because, “They look at me and go, ‘Don’t hit me there, man, it hurts.’ That’s because that’s where they shoot the steroid needles.” 

Did Schilling mention names when he testified?  No.  When it came time to deliver the heat, Schilling ran out of the kitchen – he was all out of jalapeño’s… Schilling thought he’d be able to tell the committee what he wanted them to hear – when they needed to hear it… not this time.  Schilling’s future was evident from this point on – he was preparing his for his retirement as a politician… and it was even reported that a few congressman told him he sounded like a politician.

Schilling’s latest faux pas is that Lou Piniella, manager of the Devil Rays is an idiot.  How can he say such a thing?  Does Schilling have something on Piniella; has Piniella ever done anything to Schilling?

This past Tuesday Schilling was a guest on Boston radio WEEI… he told listeners about Sunday’s bench clearing incident in Tampa Bay –Schilling told listeners that players on that team (Devil Rays) are saying, “This is why we lose a hundred games a year, because this idiot Piniella makes us do stuff like this.” I take offense to that – I live in the Tampa Bay area and I’m a fan of the Rays… one of the few that they do have – and I find this extremely hard to believe.  If Piniella makes his team do such things, then why don’t the Rays go after all the teams they face? Why just pick out the Red Sox.

Schilling though didn’t stop there… he went on to say, “When you're playing a team with a manager who somehow forgot how the game is played, there's problems. This should have been over a little bit ago. Lou's trying to make his team be a bunch of tough guys, and the telling sign is when the players on that team are saying, ‘This is why we lose a hundred games a year, because this idiot makes us do stuff like this.’ They were saying this on the field.”

Needless to say, Sweet Lou wasn’t so sweet when he spoke back – especially in regards to Schilling’s comment of calling Piniella an idiot.  Piniella replied that he was appalled that he (Schilling) would actually say something like that… and how Schilling is questioning his character and integrity, considering that he has never played for Piniella, never really spoken to him – so, how does Schilling really know what Piniella stands for, or doesn’t stand for?  Is Schilling a mind-reader also?

Piniella finished his response by stating, “If I were Curt, I would really be embarrassed at the cheap shot he took and get the story correct.  I’ll tell you, I’ve always admired his pitching ability and competitiveness, but I can honestly tell you I’ve lost a lot of respect for him.  I’m looking forward to talking to Curt myself and get this matter cleared up.” As of this writing, Schilling has yet called Piniella.

While things were getting out of hand during Sunday’s game between the Sox and Rays, Joe Magrane color man for all the Rays broadcasts had a few comments of his own in regards to Schilling… well, that got back to Schilling via the Boston media, and Schilling went ballistic – He called Magrane “a frickin' idiot” and “a tool.”

Magrane, known for his very dry humor made his comments during the bench-clearing incident, when he said it was “shocking” that Schilling was “running his mouth again” and that Schilling was “too old for this” and that he “threw his walker down and tried to make his way out there.” I was laughing my a__ off when Magrane said that… and to add fuel to the burning fire, ESPN included Magrane's analysis in its highlights Sunday night and Monday.

So with that, it was certain that Schilling would fire back… and he did it in fine politician-Schilling fashion – “He's an idiot. He's a frickin' idiot. The funny part about that is a guy whose career is over at 24-25 (actually 57-67). He was a sub-.500 pitcher… but getting on my health when he was done at 25 (actually 31) and I had my best years after I was 34, I mean there's kind of an irony there I guess, I don't know.” Schilling said.

“But, you know, Joe Magrane (was a) tool when he played, and he is now. I mean, he's the kind of guy when you're in the clubhouse and the game's on, you turn the sound down. It's tiring to listen to, and it's the same way when he played. But you expect that from people like Joe. That's how he was when he played. He was an idiot.”

Well, Schilling has almost gone full-circle… from calling Deion Sanders a “glorified flag-football player,” from stating that A-Rod’s glove stab was a “bush-league” play, calling Jose Canseco a liar… and now this – calling Lou Piniella and Joe Magrane idiots.

The truth here though is that Curt Schilling is the idiot… Seriously, how can you believe anything that he says anymore?  I’m wondering if Kevin Millar was really telling the truth when he said it wasn’t blood on Schilling’s sock, but a red sharpie used to make it look like it was blood – at this point in time, I could believe that Schilling would do something like that.

Gimme’ A Break Curt Schilling, shut that mouth up of yours… everything you that’s coming out of it these days is a bunch of bull – and while you’re spending time on the DL these days, why not have your mouth permanently stitched to match your ankle... adding this to you're “Curt Schilling's Guide to the Galaxy.”