In the early 90’s the Philadelphia Phillies and the Toronto Blue Jays played in the World Series. Two young pitchers on the squad at that time were Curt Schilling and Mitch “Wild Thing” Williams. Late in the series Williams was pitching and I remember seeing Schilling in the dugout with his head down with a towel over it. Finally, Williams gave up a series-winning HR to Joe Carter and IIRC Schilling really went after Williams in the press; basically he was a royal ass towards his own teammate.
Since then Mitch has left the league and Curt is now in Arizona. After a business trip to Phoenix I kinda fell in love with the area and would like to root for the Diamondbacks (since my beloved Cubbies are done), but I can’t reconcile that with the colossal ass Schilling made of himself after the WS.
So, if there are any old Philly/D-Back/Schilling fans out there, please tell me if Curt ever apologized and grew up after that. It has always really bugged me.
Gee, it doesn’t seem likely. Schilling is the guy who complained – THIS YEAR! – when somebody bunted his way on to first base in the ninth inning when the score was 2-0. Why? Because it ruined his perfect game. WAH!
And he had the audacity to call it bad sportsmanship! Crying about your lost no-hitter is good sportsmanship?
He had the audacity to say that running out a bunt wasn’t earning your way on base! Never mind the intelligence, guts and speed it took to do it.
If a big leaguer really need to complain about something like that, I say save it for your mommy. That’s why they have phpmes in the clubhouse.
I think the complaints about the bunt came (publicly at least) more from Schilling’s coach, Brenly. " According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, Arizona manager Bob Brenly said, “Ben Davis is a young player. He has a lot to learn about how the game is played. But for a guy like him to put down a bunt in the eighth inning was uncalled for.” from Rob Neyer Archives - May .
I remember reading Schilling’s public response, but couldn’t find it. It was your basic vanilla media dodge, though, where he said nothing inflammatory.
The only thing I remember Schilling being pissed about this year had to do with Doug Glanville’s Everquest character (!).
Regarding the bunt, it was who did the complaining. Shilling said he didn’t agree with the strategy but understood and that it was part of the game. In other words, he didn’t have a problem with it.
No, I don’t think Schill ever apologised to Wild Thing. Then again, it wasn’t really anything that required an apology.
Case in point: earlier this year, Third Base coach John Vukovich had a brain tumor removed. While in the hospital, he was only able to watch the Phils on TV, and a nurse came to check his blood pressure during a game.
He told the nurse to wait, because “Mesa’s on the mound.” Does he owe Jose Mesa an apology? Nope.
Does Schilling owe [sub]that scumbag goatfelcher[/sub] Williams an apology? Nope.
He specifically said that the batter did not earn his way on. To me, using intelligence, skill, guts and speed to bunt your way on base IS “earning your way on.”
“I was a little stunned by it,” Schilling said. “I don’t know what the school of thought is. I’ve seen a lot of games go late, and I’ve always heard that after the fifth and sixth, you earn your way on.”