Growing up in Western Massachusetts being a Red Sox fan was never really a choice, anymore so than being a Catholic growing up in an Irish Catholic family is.
One of my earliest memories as a Sox fan was when my father woke me up in 1986 to watch the finale of the World Series with him, so we could enjoy seeing the Sox win together. Of course me being six didnt realize when Billy Buckner made that ill fated grab at a slow grounder to first (nor the history of misery behind it) meant when my father scowled and told me to go to bed.
(Here is Billy Buckner, didnt anyone tell him in Little League to always put your glove on the ground for a grounder? Anyway I wont go any further down that rabbit hole, its been argued many many times.)
Back to Schilling, and 2004.
One of the biggest fears of my life was this: That one day the Red Sox would win it all and my father wouldn't be there with me to celebrate it.
Then came 2004 and the legendary series against the Yankees when we were down 3 games to nil and all hope looked lost. But then a funny thing happened. We had a game..a chance no matter how slim, and with D. Lowe pitching we won it, and we had a reason to (maybe) hope. Then we won another.
Then came Curt Schilling. He had been hurt like hell. His tendon was dislodged and tough bastard that he is he told the doctor to sew a stitch into the bone so he could play.
During the game it got so bad literally he was bleeding through his sock during the game:
But he pitched like a hero, and we won again. Against all odds we came back and I was able to sit on my fathers couch and drink Molsen (my Dad`s favorite) watching the Sox pound the Cardinals for 4 straight games and hug my father with tears in both of our eyes as we experienced victory for the first time in both of our lives.
Hell I even got a tattoo to celebrate it (sorry no pic but its a Red Sox B on my right shoulder).
Now that we have that behind us, I want to talk about Curt Shilling the politician.
I know the Republicans thinking in this. It goes like this:
Massachusetts loves the Red Sox + A Red Sox Hero = Senate Victory.. Im sorry guys, but that shit doesn't add up.
All of us in Mass cringed every time Schilling would spout on about supporting the President, and his support of the war. Many of us tolerated it while he was winning games for us. We viewed it as a minor character flaw as someone from outside Mass. We would say things like "shut the hell up and pitch".
Now dont get me wrong he and his wife have done great things for Boston on and off the field, and the city loves his family for it. They have an amazing charity which has done great work. He has donated time and money which has helped many folks.
But sorry Curt, your politics will not fly. He supported (vocally I might add) McCain in the Presidential election. and with the support President Obama won in my state you can see how much that did for McCain.
So to beltway Republicans who think they have a winner I say this: Nevahhhh.