Freddie Brister asked: Curt Schilling is involved in more things than just being a pitcher for the Red Sox. He is a businessman. Last week he spoke at a corporation in San Francisco.
He is also a philanthropist. He held a reception Thursday night for all those who supported him in the American League Series against the Rays.
Schilling is planning on going to the Persian Gulf as part of the USO Tour. He will join other people as they thank our troops for serving our country so wonderfully.
He has gone under the radar this off-season as being a free-agent pitcher. Many people in the media have not even mentioned him. Schilling believed a few months ago that his time of playing for the MLB is coming to an end.
Now, he doesn’t seem all that convinced that his playing days are just about over. He doesn’t act or sound like somebody who in recent months thought wouldn’t be throwing too many pitches.
Everybody knows that words don’t matter, actions do. Schilling appears to be on his way to pitching for only half a season next year. Roger Clemens did the same thing for the last two seasons he played.
“Our plan right now is to raise our kids here in Boston,” Schilling said. “That’s one of the reasons I think that the ‘play a half-year’ decision was the only one that made any sense. The more I’m home, the longer I think they could tolerate it, but I think we could tolerate a half-season somewhere. It would be a lot easier traveling, which pretty much opens up where I would go play to any team at that point.”
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Schilling has to do what he feels he can do. He has a lot of physical questions to answer to. A young player typically has a better arm than a 42-year old. Sometimes Schilling seems like a youngster because he can adapt in certain situations.
Schilling will make a decision sometime in the future. He will have to consider his family and his personal feelings. He will have to make his decision soon because he has to start training if he is going to play next year.
Schilling said he was not stressed about it. He just wants something that will make him come back. He said that if he can’t find a reason to come back, then he probably won’t.
He is a big competitor and has a desire to give it another try. He had surgery in the middle of the season and now feels good.
Schilling might pitch for the Red Sox, the team he helped win two championships. He might exercise other options. It will likely come down to the money and years teams offer. He understands business is business. He won’t have any hard feelings as long as everybody is upfront and honest with him.
He wouldn’t hesitate to proudly wear a Red Sox uniform again.
Schilling talked recently to the Bud Selig, commissioner of MLB, to try to turn July 4 into Lou Gehrig Day since next year will be another anniversary of Gehrig’s big speech.
Schilling might go to the Persian Gulf. He had the chance to go right after the Red Sox became World Champs back in 2004. Since he has a family that has been in the military, it makes him want to go even more.
He has been at several events with John McCain, whom he endorsed for the general election, when many troops came home.
Schilling’s future is up in the air at the point but we will know his decision in a few months.
PRESTON
