So this is how it ends in Boston for Curtis Montague Schilling. Our brave patriotic warrior is leaving Massachusetts in search of “nice people.”
At least he didn’t saddle us with a $53 million tax bill.
Schilling told USA Today he’s tired of facing scorn around these parts, and is seeking redder pastures. “Outside of our circle of friends, it hasn't been a real pleasant experience in Boston," he said. "So we're just trying to find a place to live out our lives with happiness with people that are nice, and Tennessee is it.”
Apparently, Big Schill wants to spread his hate with impunity, whether it’s sharing transphobic images on Facebook or “joking” about lynching journalists. More recently, there’s been his support of the Capitol Insurrection, where five people died — including a police officer.
It’s been an embarrassing run for Schilling, who was ESPN’s lead MLB analyst just five years ago. The World Series hero had the best job in baseball broadcasting, and was excellent at it. But tragically, he couldn’t stop posting repugnant commentary on social media, whether it was disparaging Muslims or proclaiming Hillary Clinton belonged “buried under a jail somewhere.” He was warned repeatedly, and finally, a juvenile barb about transgender people using bathrooms resulted in his dismissal.
Since then, Schilling has been unsuccessfully playing up the cancel culture schtick. He was once known for his postseason heroics and bloody sock. Now, it’s just grievance.
This year, Schilling demanded to be removed from the Baseball Hall of Fame ballot, after he had again fallen short of the vote.
He shared his 1,200-word screed on Facebook.
My interactions with Schilling have been equally as outlandish. During one absurd exchange, he told me all about QAnon.
And he wonders why the Red Sox didn’t invite him to their World Series reunion?
Schilling loves to blame his alienation on politics, but that isn’t true. He was telling us to “vote Bush” back in 2004. Politics aren’t the issue.
The issue is, Schilling’s public persona has turned dark and conspiratorial. He may just be physically leaving Massachusetts now, but he left our hearts long ago.