It's still almost impossible to comprehend everything that happened to Schilling in his first year in Boston. More than any athlete in the history of our town, he delivered what he promised. And the way the season ended -- with Schilling bleeding into his right sock for two clutch wins as part of the greatest stretch of postseason baseball ever played -- is already New England folklore.
Schilling said he hated the Yankees. He said he was coming to town to break an 86-year-old curse. And then he produced. Along the way, he established himself as the new sheriff in Beantown, which threw petty Pedro Martinez -- perhaps the best pitcher in the history of the Red Sox -- into fits of jealousy. Sad but true: Schilling's 2004 season expedited the departure of the Dominican diva.
In past years it would be the arrivals of Pedro and grouchy Nomar Garciaparra that would create minicam scrambles at the Red Sox minor league complex at the end of godforsaken Edison Road. Now it's Schilling's turn and it's Schilling's team and, as always, he was happy to share his thoughts on several million topics when he finally sat before the thirsty Boston media posse.
So, here's Curt.
On Bruschi: "Obviously our thoughts and prayers to the Bruschi family and to the Patriots family. I met Tedy a couple of different times. He's a fantastic guy, an unbelievable competitor, but more than anything just hope and pray that everything turns out OK."
On his surgically repaired ankle: "It's good. It's coming. I still feel like I'm a little bit behind, I'm not sure how much. I put a pair of spikes on for the first time last Friday and I'm making that adjustment. Just moving around in it. Throwing-wise, I'm just a little bit behind, but I'm working the mind-set that April 3 is the day . . . That's my target . . . I think I passed all my big tests. Now I just have to guard against trying to catch up in three or four days. And every day I feel better about things."
READER COMMENTS »
View reader comments » Comment on this story »