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| Manny, JD, Papi, Lester and the NBA Finals. | 06.09.08 at 6:49 am ET |
Gabby texting (not a boy btw), Gehrig watching the Celtics dancers and Dad explaining to him, well, dad things….Manny hits 500, wow. 500 of anything means you’re good. Be it walks, hits, runs, anything, but 500 home runs, while it can be argued is not the milestone it once was, is still an incredible feat. The thing about Manny is this. Those 500 homers come with other even more impressive numbers that make his 1st ballot HOF selection a lock. His consistency year in and year out are astounding and in some cases unprecedented. I’ve said before, when you do something in a game that is more than a century old, for the first time, or only time, you’ve truly done something. Congrats to Manny and here’s to him hitting 600 here at Fenway.
Papi goes down and JD steps up. Nothing good comes from being in a hard cast. David having to be that way for a few weeks could be a season ruining event were we not as deep as we are, and were it not for guys like JD stepping up. No world championship team in any sport is ever built around 1 player and certainly not this one. Don’t mistake that for a devalue of what he means to this team, not at all. But this team and this game is always about depth and consistency. We lose 1 of the 2 best bats in the game and now we need others to step up. We don’t need one player to hit 15 homers and drive in 45 in his place. We need starters to pitch a bit better, the bullpen to pitch a bit better, someone in the lineup to do something a bit better, on each night. Each night will see one or two guys in the lineup that might not be, need to do one or two things right, or better, to makeup that difference. The main change, the bigger impact, is David’s lineup presence. No one on this team is as affected by David’s absence as Manny. The reason that’s perfect for us is that Manny NEVER allows things like that to change his approach. He’s done what he’s done, the way he’s done it, for that very reason. Manny hits and Manny approaches his AB’s in his way, every day.
Who isn’t blown away at the Jon Lester story? I know I am. I won’t belittle the off the field events, they are Hollywood in and of themselves. They are the reasons the world took notice a few weeks ago. Our advantage as his teammates was in already knowing what you all got to see. His character, his integrity, his Faith and his spirit are born of his parents and on display with him daily. From day one he was a kid that gets it. Total respect for the game, and his teammates, and a burning desire to be perfect. Having a ring side seat to the professional maturation part of this has been incredibly rewarding for me. I am by no means his mentor or anything like that, though I am comfortable in saying we have a fantastic relationship and I’d like to think I’ve helped him a bit. This has been all about Jon Lester and John Ferrel. He’s done so many things since coming to the big leagues, right and wrong, but at every turn there’s a hint of recognition on his part, that he’s learning, that his drive only increases with each bad day or game. I just think you can’t go through what he went through and not be able to put the game, your career goals and everything else into a nice little box and in better perspective, and benefit from it.
Manny vs. Youk, round 1. Trust me, this was a TOTAL non-issue and an event that happens far far more than you ever see or hear about. Many times, most times, events like this play out in clubhouses and no one outside the team ever knows about it. Bottom line is that 99 times out of 100 these are never personal, just like this one. The analogy I used was this. Most teams, most non-world championship caliber teams, have things like this crop up later in the year. For pretenders it happens in August, September, the “Dog Days”. It does so because there is an awareness or belief that games, ABs, innings are somehow more important now, and the intensity ratchets up. That’s not what happens here. Due to an organization wide commitment to winning the world series every year, and a fan base that will accept nothing less, we open the season, be it in Japan or Anaheim, and play 162 games with that approach, that intensity. Things happen when you have that level of intensity and our level of talent on a daily basis. It happens, punches might get thrown, and it ends, and we move on.
Ok, so I get some ridiculously good tickets for Game 2 of the NBA Finals last night. This was the 2nd chance to see the Celts up close. A few observations.
I had ZERO idea that the NBA game was that physical. Damn. The big boys are getting after it on every play.
Kevin Garnett, and not that this needs to be stated, but I’ll say it anyway, is as focused and locked in as any athlete in any sport I’ve been around. From pre-game shoot around to last seconds on the clock, this kid is legit. The intensity and reputation are there, wow. His eyes are on the floor, or the ball, all game. What an incredible pleasure it is to watch and be a fan of. I am blown away in that he came out of high school, something that can be a huge disadvantage, and has ALWAYS maintained who he was purported to be.
The first game I saw from these seats the Coach for Washington was basically taunting KG when he was at the line, saying a bunch of things, KG was ignoring him for the most part until he said something that must have been a bit too much, KG pauses, looks over and basically tells him to go piss up a rope.
Last night KG goes to the line, Lamar Odom (who I became a fan of last night) is saying “Hey KG why don’t you help on the ball down here?” Pointing to the paint, and I am guessing he’s referencing the fact that KG wasn’t down in the paint mixing it up. He says it again, loudly, KG doesn’t even acknowledge him, and sinks both. Impressive, total focus.
One thing I did learn was that in addition to not having one ounce of athletic ability, being white, and having no vertical, and only being able to dribble right handed, I couldn’t play in the NBA because about 43 times last night I heard things being said that would have made me swing at someone. These guys talk MAJOR trash on the floor, and the great part is that most of the times I’ve seen it the guy on the receiving end usually doesn’t respond much, if at all, and just plays the game, schooling the guy who feels like he needs to talk to make his game better.
Paul Pierce is friggin good. What a game. Who on the Lakers can defend him?
I always wondered about the bitching and moaning of NBA coaches and players with regards to officiating and last night I was literally on the floor to see and hear it first hand. Things I heard and saw.
1) KGs first quarter Technical. I heard EVERY word of his exchange with the ref. It’s nice to know that they share the same problems some players do with MLB umpires. He was giving a technical because he said the F word, period. He did NOT call the ref a name, he was bitching about a non-call and said “C’mon, what the F am I supposed to do” and got the T. Now I watch both Pierce, and I think Allen, talking to this ref and he shoots back to Paul this little tidbit. “I can’t let him talk to me that way.”
What? Dude, your an NBA official, not the stinking Pope. Not one person in the arena paid 1 cent of their ticket to see you, ref the game and shut your pie hole. These guys are playing for a world championship, they are as amped up as you expect the best players in the world to be, they are grown men, there’s going to be some PG-13 language, and you are giving a T to a guy for dropping an F bomb? Stupid.
2) Every SINGLE play up and down the floor has MULTIPLE fouls being committed by multiple players. These guys are in close, every play. They are beating the crap out of each other, and the refs see it. That makes me think that the game is called and paced exactly how the refs want it to be. I wondered aloud, a few times, how in the hell calls weren’t being made against the Celts on a ton of plays in the paint where there was some serious pugilism being committed. There were a ton of ‘non-calls’ in my incredibly amateur opinion.
3) Phil Jackson knew it. Early in the game, Farmar comes to the bench during Celts free throws and asks about the next series, Jackson says “One thing I do know is we’ve got to stop !@#$&@#%$#&*()@ fouling these guys” Farmar asks what he says and he repeats the line.
4) I don’t know much about the NBA beyond some of the star players and the famous teams. I heard that the Lakers got Gasol in a horrible steal of a deal and that the league should have investigated the trade for some sort of punishable crime 
I saw a 7 footer last night who grabbed like 4 rebounds and spent the entire game whining about getting fouled.
5) Kobe. This one stunned me a little bit. Who doesn’t know Kobe Bryant right? I only know what I have heard, starting awhile back with the entire Shaq debacle. I don’t really have an opinion one way or the other on or about him other than to know that people feel he might be one of the 4-5 greatest players to ever lace it up. What I do know is what I got to see up close and hear, was unexpected. From the first tip until about 4 minutes left in the game I saw and heard this guy bitch at his teammates. Every TO he came to the bench pissed, and a few of them he went to other guys and yelled about something they weren’t doing, or something they did wrong. No dialog about “hey let’s go, let’s get after it” or whatever. He spent the better part of 3.5 quarters pissed off and ranting at the non-execution or lack of, of his team. Then when they made what almost was a historic run in the 4th, during a TO, he got down on the floor and basically said ‘Let’s f’ing go, right now, right here” or something to that affect. I am not making this observation in a good or bad way, I have no idea how the guys in the NBA play or do things like this, but I thought it was a fascinating bit of insight for me to watch someone in another sport who is in the position of a team leader and how he interacted with his team and teammates. Watching the other 11 guys, every time out it was high fives and “Hey nice work, let’s get after it” or something to that affect. He walked off the floor, obligatory skin contact on the high five, and sat on the bench stone faced or pissed off, the whole game. Just weird to see another sport and how it all works. I would assume that’s his style and how he plays and what works for him because when I saw the leader board for scoring in the post season his name sat up top at 31+ a game, can’t argue with that. But as a fan I was watching the whole thing, Kobe, his teammates and then the after effects of conversations. He’d yell at someone, make a point, or send a message, turn and walk away, and more than once the person on the other end would roll eyes or give a ‘whatever dude’ look.
Let me reiterate that this is from a complete basketball newbie, so for all I know this could be exactly how these guys play this game and interact with each other.
The contrast though, for me anyway, was watching KG and Allen, Pierce, as the game went on. I was literally ON the Laker bench so I could only watch the celts on the floor, and it was just different. it was all about who has whom, who goes where, what’s up next. That could have been a direct result of the officiating and flow of the game though, more than anything.
It was just amazing to watch a game where the Lakers came out, completely set the tempo in the first few minutes and TOTALLY dominated the final four minutes, and in between the Celtics completely dominated them.
Anyway, what a rush and a total enjoyment to be a part of. Celtic fans were damn impressive. Oh and one more thing. I think it’s fantastic that there seems to be this mutual support thing going on here in NE. You fans are being treated to your third World Championship appearance since last October and that’s awesome. But at each one there seems to be a crossover, Celts and Sox at the Super Bowl, Pats, Bruins and Celts at the World Series, and last night Sox and Pats all over the place. Cool stuff.
June 9th, 2008 at 7:38 am
Wow lots to cover today.
Yes Manny in 500 was great, i wish he had done it at home tho.
Drew has been stepping up lately, and this is the kind of performance we were expecting last year. Good to know he’s getting his swing back.
Curt, do you ever get jealous at all these young pitchers throwing no hitters, and to think you too could have been part of the no hitter club that Red Sox fans have seen lately? I mean, you were 1 pitch away.
Youk and Manny was a very weird situation, and i kind of expected you not to write about the real issue or what Youk said to piss Manny off, but i’m still intrigued by it. Good to hear it’s a non issue in the clubhouse.
As for the Celtics, saw you on TV last night. I was worried in the 4th and thought the Lakers were gonna pull a comeback like the Celtics did in 02. Youtube videos below if you ever want to check it out. It was legendary.
(all fourth quarter)
Part 1 (Nets 74- Celtics 53) - http://youtube.com/watch?v=3MI3sj3XKrQ
Part 2 (Nets 76- Celtics 64) - http://youtube.com/watch?v=2c9pklLtkeE
Part 3 (Nets 85- Celtics 74) - http://youtube.com/watch?v=YSfIAb8G0_I
Part 4 (Nets 89- Celtics 82) - http://youtube.com/watch?v=MRkqWMX-Y7E
Part 5 (Nets 90- Celtics 93) - http://youtube.com/watch?v=m2D19TpKQJ4
FINAL (Nets 90- Celtics 94)
June 9th, 2008 at 8:34 am
Fantastic inside scoop on the Celtics and Lakers game. I also agree that the Lakers should have gone to the line more. But hey, I’m a huge C’s fan so it’s all good!
Kobe will drop 50 at home on Tuesday. Celtics will get NO calls.
C’s in 6.
Beat LA!!
June 9th, 2008 at 8:43 am
Very cool blog entry, Curt. Thanks for posting.
June 9th, 2008 at 9:21 am
“No world championship team in any sport is ever built around 1 player and certainly not this one.”
That’s why this team is so fun to watch.
There’s a lot of chance and luck throughout a baseball season. Weird things can happen that take a potential Championship contender down into the basement and wreck promising seasons. It’s a testament not only to the players stepping up, but to the management and ownership that have been such terriffic custodians of this franchise that these players were in place to step in and fill the breaches. So when you’re heaping praise on your teammates (rightfully so), don’t forget all the nameless, faceless people whom the fans will never know who are putting all these great kids in a position to succeed. From the rookie leagues to Pawtucket, your ownership, development crew and management have done a brilliant job.
I’ve been a Sox die-hard since about ‘81, and it took 20 years of watching some really bumbling, ego-driven teams flail about before Boston fans received an ownership group worthy of our respect and admiration. I’ll tell you now it was all worth it to get to this point, where we can look with pride on this franchise, and know that come whatever may, each and every year this team will make the best decisions possible to ensure putting their best foot forward on the field each and every day. It’s a tremendous, tremendous treat.
So, whatever happens - whether you go to the playoffs or not, whether you end up playing .600 or .500 ball - seeing how this team has prepared for adversity and dealt with it when it came has been worth the price of admission. Wherever the season goes from here, this team has done its fans proud.
Oh, and I think Manny would totally have whipped Youk’s ass. Even if Youk DOES look like a biker.
On a side note, I read that you’re doing well with your rehab. Great to hear! Being one of those guys that exemplifies all of the positive stuff I said about this team, here’s hoping you don’t hit any walls and we can get to watch the master do some more of his work this summer.
June 9th, 2008 at 9:33 am
thanks for the insight from courtside. good read!
June 9th, 2008 at 10:19 am
Great post, Curt. I’m only gonna comment on the basketball part because Manny… oh man, I love that guy. LOVE HIM.
One of the reasons I dropped following the Celtics and NBA ball in general was the thuggish behavior of the players. When Bird and McHale were playing all those years ago, there wasn’t that feeling of ghetto basketball like there is now. The game has drastically changed, and you got to see up close and a bit too personal how that plays out now. But I gotta ask: How did you sit there with your kids and listen to that language and watch that kind of prima donna behavior, especially from Kobe (who is not a favorite in this house)? Wasn’t it uncomfortable? How do you explain to your kids the full body contact, the screaming, the belittling, and the lack of team spirit? That, at least to me, isn’t what good sportsmanship is about.
Oh, and I agree that the crossover between sports in Boston games is awesome. I love seeing different sports personalities watching and enjoying games as fans. It’s humanizing and it makes you look like regular folk. Except you get to sit on the Laker’s bench and the rest of us get to sit up in the nosebleed seats! If we’re lucky.
Glad you enjoyed the game despite the weirdness. Your daughter looks totally enthralled by the whole experience. Texting. Ugh.
June 9th, 2008 at 10:49 am
Why are you calling them Boys? Curt I know you have a big mouth, but calling them boys is even bad coming from you.
June 9th, 2008 at 11:00 am
I saw the excerpts of Curt’s take on Kobe at Dirtdogs and was impressed by them - lifelong Sox fan but first time I have read this blog. The observations on leadership ring true, and we all know the nature of the game - hoops, baseball, field hockey - doesn’t matter. Leadership qualities remain the same, and it will be most interesting if the favored Lakers go down even in part to Kobe’s behavior.
Good read. i also enjoyed Curt’s take on the Youk-Manny thing, both here and as televised on NESN. Schilling has been far from my favorite Sox player, but oddly I have become fonder of him lately, sympathetic over his injury and rehab, and empathetic with his situation. Sometimes fans read players wrong, and I emotionally and misguidely long held Schill in someway at least partially responsible for the lack of respect Pedro was shown here in his final years. I also disliked him for publicized past interactions with and about Manny, especially the warwick ri ‘divulgement’ in 2006 - seemed to me he was anxious to shepard Ramirez out the door as well. It’s good to see him now in this new, saner light - Schilling does merit the player spokesman mantle I formerly resented him ‘usurping’
and margalitc - so do I!
June 9th, 2008 at 11:03 am
I was right behind Curt (and family) as they were walking out last night. How come they make you guys walk out into that crowded stair well? If it wasn’t for Russell walking out at the same time I think you would’ve been mobbed. I had to nudge my sister several times before she figured out who you guys were. I was trying to keep it low key so you could get out with out a scene.
But man, seeing Russell that up close. That was something special.
June 9th, 2008 at 11:23 am
Hey Curt -
Good review on Celtics game
How are you doing? What’s the progress? Any return date yet? Sox are so quiet about you and we all know you are working hard to get back into line-up. I had rotator cuff surgury in January and am pretty much back in shape (my fast ball is up to 22.5 miles an hour - not too bad for 71 years).
Keep the faith and come back soon!
June 9th, 2008 at 11:54 am
Firefligh,
Understandable, I suppose. As far as Pedro is concerned, I never really saw him as disrespected at all - like Manny, the club put up with a serious diva complex for years with gritted teeth and a forced smile. It was easy to love him, but harder to respect him. If there was a media obssession with Curt when he signed with Boston, that wasn’t Theo Epstein’s fault. The bottom line was that Pedro was in obvious decline at that point, with a shoulder attached by bubble gum and baling wire, while Curt was still near the top of his game (and proved it with a stellar ‘04 campaign). In the end, the club didn’t “lowball” him, as many perceive - they made what hindsight shows was a generous offer, knowing that a physical breakdown was preordained. They were right.
In regards to Curt, some people are put off by candid talk. I personally find it enormously refreshing when a celebrity actually has something sunstantive to say rather than just spitting out the same old tired cliches night after night after night. I don’t always agree with everything he might say, or every position he might take, but at least I get to see the working mind of an interesting person, not robotic responses spit out ad infinitum in an attempt to avoid offending any of America’s tender, politically correct sensibilities.
June 9th, 2008 at 12:13 pm
Ok, so it’s been a month since you started throwing again and there is virtually no news. Heard that you threw 25 pitches. Did they reach the plate? Where are you in the process?
June 9th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
Good stuff, I am a Celtics fan and although I was not at the game, I watched it on tv in HD, so the feel was good. I saw you on tv actually, the cameras focused on you showing your ring lol.
June 9th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
Glen Ordway is ripping schilling on WEEI today for commenting on the things he saw as a fan. Pretty much calling Curt a hypocrite for saying these things after his past complaints about the media.
June 9th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
I remember having Celtics floor seats many years ago (probably early 1990s) … the thing I still remember most, is how frigging huge these guys are … the average person has no idea if they haven’t seen an NBA game from that vantage … Curt’s right … the swearing, trying to get under the opponents skin, the subtle punching … unbelievable … oh yeah, and when you have floor seats, you constantly are getting the players’ sweat splashed on you … it’s almost like setting up your lounge chair right on the hash mark of an NFL game, looking down the line of scrimmage … intense !!!
June 9th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
That is some insight from a basketball newbie. Maybe next time you can get the seats behind the Celts bench.
June 9th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
@ dmartin17
Ordway is a f@@kin’ dunce…
we’re talkin about a guy (and his entire team) who predicted the Patriots to blow out the Giants (even after their near defeat in week 17).
Ordway rarely brings up good points in discussion and he also was in favor to give up Lester and Ellsbury for Santana… I wonder keeping them is working out for us…
D&C are the only ones worth listening to on that station. And the first 30 minutes of Planet Mikey isn’t too bad too.. i enjoy the theme song.
June 9th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
Great description!
I think RS fans got concerned about Youk and Manny partly because it has been a total pleasure to see a team the last few years that is not a collection of hired assholes. These things happen.
–J.D.
June 9th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
@14 - Ordway is just “stirring the pot” as he always does. I think it’s great that Curt posted this stuff…Long live the internet!
June 9th, 2008 at 4:38 pm
As Bugs Bunny would say: “What a maroon!”
A horrible steal of a deal, huh? Aside from Gasol getting 17 points, 10 boards and 4 assists(and 82 muggings) — how in the world does that trade compare with Kevin McHale selling out his own CURRENT team with the KG dump?
Cannot wait for the day when Barry Bonds kicks your ass.
June 9th, 2008 at 6:35 pm
Great blog today!!! More informative that ESPN or EEI. Tell’em for $13m you’ll be the best damn sideline reporter sports has ever seen!! Telling fans whats going on in our language. I check this site weekly and never expected to comment but todays writing was GREAT! Thanks for thinking of us fans and taking us places where we will never get a chance to experience. Thanks for sharing!!
June 9th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
What, no mention of Perkins? The guy was absolute dynamite in Game 2, outshining KG and even Allen (at least in my eyes). He deserves a Curt Cookie at least as much as those you mentioned.
On the topic of baseball: What are your thoughts on Masterson and his role in the Red Sox? Is he to be the Jacoby Ellsbury of pitchers this season, or is it possible that he earns a permanent spot in the line-up before the ‘09 season? Lester’s no-hitter is a Cinderella story and Matsuzaka is having one incredible season, but Masterson’s consistency and poise is what has me really excited for the Red Sox pitching line-up.
June 9th, 2008 at 7:58 pm
Kurt,
Great post!
Will be linking to it shortly.
All the best to you.
PS. Your son’s got a cool first name.
June 9th, 2008 at 7:59 pm
Curt,
Sorry about the typo in your first name.
June 9th, 2008 at 8:06 pm
hey curt
i left my comment on the wrong blog in response to this one. on my friend. hope you check it out. hope to see you on the mound healthy and ready to win another ring at some point this summer
June 9th, 2008 at 8:35 pm
I just want to say how ridiculous it is for Kurt to examine this game and PRETEND there is no judgment.
The Lakers were getting killed in the finals. If you went around a few years ago in game 2 of the Yankee-Red Socks series in the 8th inning, and then tried to say the way the guys were acting was interesting…come on!
You can’t pick the most pressure packed moment of these guys lives, when things are going terrible and decide that’s who they are.
How about watching the previous 90 games and choosing moments to define them. Will you pick from some of the dozens of times Kobe had his arm around guys teaching or picking up, will you pick a time to observe when things are going great, or will pick the finals when the Lakers are getting killed to try to see what kind of guy Kobe is?
June 9th, 2008 at 9:04 pm
It was incredibly interesting to read this — fun to get insight into the game from a professional athlete from a different sport. I admit I’m one of those who have just jumped on the Celtics bandwagon, I’m much more of a baseball fan. Partly that’s because of players like Kobe, who just strikes me as despicable however great a player he may be. But these NBA playoff games have been great and I have a newly discovered appreciation for players like Garnett, Pierce and Allen.
June 9th, 2008 at 9:38 pm
Curt - your honesty and candor are refreshing.
June 9th, 2008 at 10:03 pm
Wow, Curt. That was a great read…thanks so much for the insight! And your kids are adorable. We have 3 boys and 1 girl, too, and yes, they just love to text, don’t they? You know, I was watching the game out here in CA. and noticed that every time the cameras showed Kobe on the bench, he did look pretty pissed off. I figured it was the obvious, for the majority of the game it was the C’s dominating, but to hear how he goes after his teammates like that, really speaks volumes, IMO. You know first hand how important team chemistry is…my husband coaches baseball for our twin boys, age 14, and it can make or break a team, even at a young age. Thanks again, Curt, for the awesome blog entry. I’ve been waiting for a new one! And of course, the insight into the Sox is so appreciated and loved. Take good care, God bless you and your family. All the best- Amy
June 9th, 2008 at 10:09 pm
Hi Curt This is far you BEST BLOG!!!!!!!. Great INSIGHT from the Celtics Game. Hope you will be pitching sometime after the All Star Break. Curt You are really cool person!!!!!!!. I wish I could talk to you and say You are great and and a great player!!!!!!. Curt How could I volunteer and Help ALS? I would like to Volunteer. Curt who is your favorite player on the Celtics and why? I hope your shoulder is doing better. God Bless you.
Jeff
DUDE!!!!!!!!!
June 9th, 2008 at 10:44 pm
Great writing Curt, your impressions of Kobie were really spot on. I picked it up all the way out here in Las Cruces. Think its hot back home?
Thanks for all your work for the Sox, you and the family are really becoming Boston fans eh?
I’m from Walpole, if you ever do have the opportunity to visit the family emporium, look up give a wave to rest of the D’s (last name in there somewhere), and tell em’ that Dan said hello….
That’s a joke shill, you have to know Common Street.
Dan
June 10th, 2008 at 7:21 am
To comment 1 dukefrukem: Manny’s 500th was truly a great shot, I’d made the road trip to Baltimore (yet again) for the weekend series. It had just gotten dark and the number of camera flashes going off on every swing was distracting - probably just one more indication of Manny’s focus while hitting. I’m happy to see Eddie Murray — always a real class act of a guy — coming to Fenway to honor Manny, because I thought the Baltimore stadium management was so low-key about it as to be insulting — just a couple of lists on the scoreboards like “500th homeruns hit at Camden Yards”. You think they could have put up “Congratulations” at least? No. [So, to get even, every fan should make it a point to join the Red-shirted throng at Camden Yards. It's so easy to get to (by train, plane, or automobile) it's ridiculous. Maybe you'll see #600].
June 10th, 2008 at 7:59 am
Curt,
I know you’re “preaching to the choir” here in Red Sox fantasyland, but I thought your comments regarding the Lakers were pretty unfair. The Celtics took 26 of the first 28 free throws of the game and 38 of the 48 for the entire game. Powe took 3 more free throws than the entire Lakers team despite playing just 14 minutes.
You pretty much admitted that there was a foul on every play, so I’d like to hear your opinion on the reasons for the disparity? It couldn’t possibly be that the NBA gods wanted to ensure a seven game series, could it ($$$$$) ? Nah, that’s too Oliver $tonish.
Then again… On Sports Center, I saw one play where a Celtics player was grasping on to Kobe’s shirt and pulled it back when there was a loose ball. The official was RIGHT THERE looking directly at the play and he didn’t call a thing! And I thought the NBA got rid of Tim Donaghy!!!
If you threw 75 strikes in a game and the umps called a ball EVERY SINGLE TIME, do you think you’d be “pissed” like Kobe, or “whine” like Kasol. Dame straight you would. Fortunately for us Sox fans, that’s never going to happen, because unlike the NBA, the umpires don’t have 100% control over who could win and lose a game.
Is Kobe supposed to be happy and giddy because he had three immediate foul calls, two of which were obviously of the “ticky-tacky” variety, considering the physical nature of the game?
In the 1984 NBA Finals Larry Bird called his team a bunch of “sissies,” challenged their heart and character after a poor effort. He was heralded as a great teammate and motivator (and rightfully so) despite throwing his whole team under the bus.
His teammates have consistently praised Kobe’s leadership and every single one of them was at his MVP press conference to show their solidarity and support. Going to one hoop game and trashing a guy is a little “over-the-top,” don’t cha think? Cut the guy a break. The Lakers were getting royally screwed by the officials and he was rightfully pissed off. What true competitor wouldn’t be?
Also, how about giving the guy some credit for leading his team from a 24 point deficit with 7 minutes left down to a two point deficit. Seems like his approach couldn’t have been too far off. How about his 30 points and 8 assists which should have been 45 points and 15 assists if the officials called the game straight and his teammates actually hit open jumpers!
On another note, good luck on your rehab Curt. Can’t wait to see you on the mound again.
June 10th, 2008 at 8:00 am
Good insight into the Celtics’ game. It affirms what we hear, that Kobe is a tyrant who thinks he’s the coach; even Phil Jackson admitted 4 years ago he couldn’t stand the guy. Meanwhile, the Celtics are a team of which to be proud. These guys epitomize personal sacrifice for the team.
As for some of the reader comments, man, pretty embarrassing. I’ll correct a few of you imbeciles.
First, Ordway is just filling airwaves. Schilling qualified all of his comments numerous times as hs own personal observations, and they’re pretty intelligent & insightful, and at least they’re coming from a professional athlete.
Sports is about entertainment. The same people who criticize Schilling for speaking out are probably the same ones who complain when we hear the same old thing: ‘We’ll take it one game at a time’, ‘Wow, Kobe is really good’, etc. Schilling speaks his mind and is entertaining.
Second, “Mattingly23″, leave it up to a Yankees’ fan to look for an angle to attempt to fabricate a racial issue. Totally pathetic. Society uses “boys” and “girls” still for adults in an endearing manner, especially for someone younger than them. Really, get a life….
Third, “Mitchum22″, Bonds is done, in case you haven’t been paying attention. And Gasol is eaten alive by the likes of Leon Powe. Learn the game a little to see what’s more valuable, offense or the ability to assist n a lock-down rotating defense. Some players, such as KG and Pierce, do both.
Fourth, “EROD86″, a guy doesn’t have to witness every moment of a person’s life to pass judgment. I’ve never met O. J. Simpson but I’m pretty sure I don’t like him. Some people can come to reasonable conclusions on character without living with the guy if you use your brain and have a small degree of common sense. If I see a guy beating his kid on the street, I don’t need any more information on the guy to make an assessment; it’s obvious the guy’s a jerk. Same with Kobe.
It’ll be sad the day that Schilling succumbs to the imbeciles and folds up his mouth. I’m guessing that day will never come, thank God.
June 10th, 2008 at 8:35 am
Curt you were getting lambasted yesterday on radio and TV (Ordway on WEEI and Gresh on FSN) for your comments about Kobe. I just had to read your post to see what the fuss was about and I can’t see what those guys are even talking about. Seems like you wrote an interesting but fair and non-judgemental piece.
I guess some media hosts seem to think they’re the only anointed ones when it comes to expressing an opinion about sports in this town. Keep up the good work and ignore those bloviating yahoos. I think I see your second career just waiting to come out here.
June 10th, 2008 at 8:39 am
I am extremely disappointed that you would promote public profanity at a sporting event, particularly one in which your own kids sat within earshot.
In my opinion, there’s no excuse for it whatsoever and those who do should be fined and suspended/removed, fans included.
Being paid millions of dollars to play a game in front of the whole world does NOT give you the right to corrupt those young ears that are always listening and repeating what adults are saying. In fact, athletes should be held to a higher standard! The word PROFESSIONAL is defined as exhibiting a courteous, conscientious, and generally businesslike manner in the workplace. Act like it!
But my big question is why do you feel the need to not only publicly approve of but promote this type of behavior? It just continues to contribute to the ongoing moral decay of our society.
I suggest you step back and re-evaluate your thinking on this one.
Very disappointing…
June 10th, 2008 at 8:51 am
Curt thank you for this outstanding blog. Your recaps are more insightful then lifelong Celtic fan Bill Simmons. The red-headed step child should be worried-I think you could have his job if you wanted it upon retirement.
June 10th, 2008 at 11:56 am
jctilman - get off of Kurt’s lap and Kurt learn some objective reporting iof your going to blog. Oh ya, how can you be objective if you are wearing a celtcis jearsey.
LA will win game 3 and you both should just go away.
June 10th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Curt, I think you deservedly got lambasted yesterday on the WEEI Big Show. You were commenting/criticizing things that you saw/heard in the Celtics game that you would get all over any news reporter for airing such observations in public.
Then you act like every other FANBOY by criticizing the officials for assessing a technical foul against KG. I am a basketball official and it is illegal to use foul language in all levels of basketball–particulalry when it is directed at the officials. KG directed his F-bomb toards the official, and the official correctly assessed a T. The Ref did “officiate the game.” KG is an adult who should be able to control his emotions–he deservedly got the T.
June 10th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
Dropping the F-word is not what is causing the moral decay in our society. If only it were that simple.
Seems to me this was one man’s post regarding a game that he watched. He said he noticed calls weren’t being made, he talked about his view on what he saw. Not once did he claim that he was a professional sport announcer or reporter. He said it was one persons view on the game. Lighten up, relax. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. You don’t like it, don’t read it.
June 10th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
@ burkely
WTF are you talking about? Promoting? Did you read his blog? Professional athletes are human, which means they are competitive, get frustrated, and curse just like you or me. Has nothing to do with how much they get paid or who is endorsing them and it sure as hell isn’t portrayed in Curt’s blog as being a good thing in sports. And now that i’m reading your post I may have jumped off on the wrong foot because I just read the part about how you think fans should be removed from the game for profanity so you must be just kidding. Ha… good one.
June 10th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
Hey Curt
Could not agree more.. 500 of ANYTHING is huge at least when it comes to records.. Now in terms of Money.. Well for me it’s still huge
thougvh I’m working on it.
Last year I took my daughter and sat behind the Timberwolves bench. KG IS the real deal. At 10 I’m not sure she understands the business end of sports and we never talked about the good players we lost to make the team better, but she was THRILLED when I told her he was coming to Boston. and after completing fer first year of AAU basketball is beggining to understand what it takes to take your game to a higher level
This has been unrealist last few years being a Boston fan. starting in 2003 (yeah I know the RS lost but I think it all began there). Players wanting to stay around after their season is over or spending time watching other teams in the area really show us fans that we are ALL on this magical ride together.
PS..
BEAT LA
and I hope to see you pitching soon
June 10th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
great insight on the Finals game. I completely noticed that about Kobe too.. there was a point where he sat next to Gasol…didn’t even look at him…and just smacked his leg as if to say “what the hell are you doing out there?!”
His incredible game aside..considering his “trade me” act in the off season I’m guessing he’s not a favorite with the rest of his teammates.
June 10th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
Was that a serious post? Corrupting young ears, haha you gotta be kidding me. It’s all in the intensity of the game! Like you’ve never dropped an f-bomb when you shanked one into the woods playing golf or something like that, which is one of the most “professional sports” (to your standards). Love it Curt keep it up, and hope you get back out on the hill soon!
June 10th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
A really informative post. Appreciate your insights.
Wake up call to all the fans out there who think profanity is new to the NBA. As an ex-sportswriter, including NBA beat writer, the profanity is hardly new. Trash talking is an art practiced long before the current batch of players were even born. In fact, ask any star player from 10, 15 years ago who the best trash talker of all time is, and guarantee Larry Bird is in that conversation. The guy was an assassin with the basketball and his mouth and by the way, I mean that entirely as a compliment.
I got to know a lot of the old school players and they will tell you the game was just as physical back in the day, perhaps more so in that they were allowed to get away with a lot more “dirty” play.
And as someone who sat courtside for more 300 games, I can tell you profanity in the stands is MUCH worse than on the court. So let’s all get over ourselves, shall we?
Very insightful take on Kobe’s behavior. While he has fashioned himself a leader in the mold of Michael Jordan, I think there’s a disconnect in his execution of said leadership in that he thinks just yelling at guys is the way to do it. Jordan knew the importance of never kicking your teammate when he was down, of encouraging him to be special in that very moment when he was struggling to find a way to be special. While I think Kobe an amazingly gifted ballplayer, I don’t think he has natural leadership ability and his ego is way too big to accept this flaw in his own character.
Kudos to Jon Lester. I’m sure he hears every day how much his struggle inspires people, but I can’t help but add my thanks to the list. I’m a Cancer survivor, was once told I had five years to live. That was almost 20 years ago and every time I see a guy like Lester get back onto the field, my heart swells with pride. When he was shown on the t.v. during halftime the other night, it was a great, great moment.
I enjoy your blog. One of my favorite sports moments of all time was the 2004 ALCS against the Yankees. So thanks for being part of that.
June 10th, 2008 at 4:05 pm
very cool insight, thanks
June 10th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
Great insight on “Prince Kobe”. You confirmed what I have thought all along: He’s a petulant whiner who alienates rather than inspires.
June 10th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
Thanks for the insight Curt.
June 10th, 2008 at 5:03 pm
This is my first time visiting this blog and I was surprised. I thought I was the only one who noticed Kobe’s negative demeanor. When they showed him in the pregame warm-up, he was sitting on the bench stone faced and looked to be either very focused or upset. Then as the game went on, you could see he was clearly upset. He does a good job of trying to positive in Press conferences though. But you can almost get a sense that Odom is in pure hell when he gets interviewed out of the locker room. Almost like he got chewed out by Phil or Kobe or he was just very tired from the game. I wish more pro athletes blogged because it is nice to get an opinion from someone who reporting what they are witnessing instead of trying to put a spin on the matter. Sure it might be a little biased, but that’s understandable.
One thing I am worried about is the Lakers realizing that Kobe will get triple teamed and that they must get open. When you watch the highlights and clips you see Kobe Goes aroung the first defender, then around a second defender to be challenged by a third defender. At this point he either has to make a tough shot, or pass it to someone.
Where I get worried is that the first 2 defenders get caught watching Kobe instead of making sure his options are cut off. Kobe goes around Allen, then around Pierce and then has to shoot over Garnett. Well, Allen and Pierce are watching Kobe instead of cutting off his passing lanes.
In the 3rd game, I think the Lakers will exploit that and do a few things. Kobe will put the ball in the air for Gasol or Odom since all of the defenders will be watching Kobe instead of anticipating the pass. Or Kobe will pass it out for a 3 pointer because Rondo, Allen and Pierce are not anticipating the pass to an outside shooter.
If the Celtics hit Kobe with 3 strong defensive stops to keep him from reaching the basket, he will either have to shoot or pass and the Celtics just have to defend both. Get in Kobe’s path to the basket, challenge his shot and make sure you anticipate the pass. Everytime the Lakers hit a 3, watch what his defender, Allen, Rondo or Pierce was doing…..
….watching the game instead of playing it.
I am praying for a sweep. Go Celtics.
One last thing, every play the Lakers run against the Celtics, the Celtics can mirror and do the exact same thing. They need to understand that.
June 10th, 2008 at 5:03 pm
burkely,
I’m sorry, but this is professional sports, specifically basketball, and a majority of the passion of NBA basketball comes from competitive trash talking. In the heat of the moment, a common way to express this passion is through profanity. What do you suggest, that the Coaches/NBA staff keep some soap court-side to wash their mouths with?
June 10th, 2008 at 5:57 pm
Curt,
Although its your opinion and obviously its the first time you’ve seen Kobe Bryant, I have to disagree with your statement. I went to the first game of the 2007 season and I recall, you got shelled by the Kansas City Royals. Again, you have to realize the situation of the fact that they are in the NBA Finals and they’ve come to far to just lose.
Maybe on your next blog you can question the Red Sox clubhouse and blame the captain on why Coco Crisp and Kevin Youkilis began their altercations. Aight big guy, lets see you question Jason Varitek and why he is letting this happen in his clubhouse.
June 10th, 2008 at 6:27 pm
Hey Curt, love the blog. Just wanted to respond to what you said about Kobe’s interaction with his teammates. I grew up with a current Laker and know him well. I’ve recently talked to him about Kobe and his complete attitude change this year - being more positive, helping his teammates, befriending them, being involved, etc. He says the change is completely genuine and Kobe is now a phenomenal teammate. He still gets down on guys from time to time but that’s no different than any other star in the NBA when he has to carry his team. The other night I believe he was frustrated because he knows they can play better and he knows what his teammates can do and they simply weren’t doing it.
Also, all that angry yelling and stuff is the same thing Jordan used to do back in the day. In fact, it’s probably where Kobe learned it. Some guys take to it, some guys find motivation from it in an “I’ll show you” way and some guys hate it. Scottie Pippen, for one, hated it. At one point he and Jordan didn’t talk off the court for nearly two years.
June 10th, 2008 at 6:47 pm
Wow! Curt, you obviously don’t know much about basketball, you didn’t’ need to reiterate that your a newbie to the sport. Kobe got the MVP award for a reason. He’s a great athlete and great team leader. I’ve been to many Lakers games and Kobe has always been one to give positive criticism and lead his team. When your team isn’t playing well you must try all types of condemnation! I do believe you are bias. Kobe does have 3 rings (KG, Paul Pierce, & Ray Allen a combined 0) and that’s not just because he’s the best in the world that’s also because he helps his team come out on top. His team does respect him, and he respects them. Maybe you should visit Staples Center (you know… the Lakers stadium) tonight and see if any of the Celtics curse when they get there asses handed to them. Another thing… what’s wrong with cussing?
June 10th, 2008 at 7:16 pm
Can you imagine if there was a basketball player sitting near the red sox bench, telling the world what goes on on the bench in Fenway?
schilling your big mouth would be lambasting him. You complain about the media not staying out of the”clubhouse” and you pull this crap??
You are the biggest hypacrite in pro sports. don’t get me wrong I think Kobe is a me me me person but he fits right in with you!!!
Nice going Scurt.
June 10th, 2008 at 7:19 pm
as a Spurs fan and an Astros fan, I couldnt agree more w/ what you said about John Lester and Kobe Bryant. Great blog!
June 10th, 2008 at 8:06 pm
Curt,
I can remember you in the 1993 World Series carrying on in the dugout every time your teammate Mitch Williams came into save a game. The cameras panned to you several times making less than supportive gestures about the performance or lack thereof aimed at your teammate.
Why don’t you cut Kobe a break and remember what it is like to be caught up in the emotion and competitiveness of the moment. Surely, you can relate.
June 10th, 2008 at 8:08 pm
My father played professional basketball in the Michael Jordan era, and Kobe is NO different than Mike used to be with the “role” players who often made the most mistakes. He is like the father of the team, and when you do not do what you should the father will correct. Not to mention it is the NBA Finals, what would a lact of passion do for a team that is not producing…making them get embarrassed even more!!!! Kobe has definitely earned the right to be the Captain of his team and once they take heed to want he is saying they will play a lot better as a team!!! He can’t play all 1 on 5, and now he attempts to involve teammates they need to produce at the high level that is expected…it is the FINALS for Pete’s sake not regular season
June 10th, 2008 at 8:33 pm
Hi Curt -
Wow, this was such a fun one to read.
Let’s see. First off — great shot of you and the kiddies.
Manny/Youk: you know, at first it was exciting/drama - but then the next day after I thought about it, it makes sense. Truly, we (non professional athletes) put you guys on pedestals and expect you to be perfect human beings. Truth of the matter is that boys are boys - and with energy, excitement, frustration and of course testosterone flowing, there’s bound to be issues within any group. Kids in LL don’t always get along, why would pro teams be any different? Part of being a good, and cohesive group is probably to be comfortable enough to be that way with each other anyway. Thanks for the insight on it. And for the record, I love love love Manny and his whole not feeding into the frenzy over all of this.
Moving on…
Your thoughts on the game were pretty funny, and it was cool to hear from the perspective of being courtside which most of us won’t get to do. I totally thought that Kobe was very, miserable? But I thought maybe it was just the times the camera caught him, and that it might have been out of context. He just didn’t seem like the “leader” kind of player I thought he would be. So to hear that he was behaving that way as well supports what I saw on tv. Sad, huh?
Anyway, no need for me to write a book. Just wanted to comment briefly.
Have a good one!
Go Celts!
(watching right nowl Bos 16, LA 17)
June 10th, 2008 at 9:40 pm
CURT SCHILLING IS TRASH!!! haha
look at him in that pic with that tight a$$ jersey on
June 10th, 2008 at 11:13 pm
HEY CURT
I was just wondering did KOBE wear a towel over his head when he was sitting on the bench yes or no???
June 10th, 2008 at 11:48 pm
Paul Pierce was every bit the way Kobe was the last four years but Schilling is pretty oblivious to being fair minded so his obnoxious comments should be expected.
Kobe has a right to be pissed. None of his teammates have shown up this series. I hate when people make me defend the Lakers.lol Thanks a lot Schilling.
June 11th, 2008 at 12:56 am
Wow. You calling out Kobe after what you did to Mitch during the 93 Series? At least Kobe never sold out a teammate on National TV. Shaughnessy is right, you’re nothing but a big blowhard.
June 11th, 2008 at 1:02 am
Hey Curt, I just wanted to say that your basketball insights were interesting, yet disappointing. As a Boston fan, I wanted the Celtics to win. However, I have a great amount of respect for the MVP Kobe Bryant. I’m sure plenty of people would call out the role players in large games especially if you were the best in the game like Kobe Bryant. He was able to bring the Lakers to the NBA Finals through the various ways he got his teammates to focus and play whether its through constuctive criticism or straight up criticism.
It would seem to me that as you rooted for the Celtics and claimed that they weren’t getting any foul calls, the Lakers were clearly not getting any either. As a basketball fan, I was looking forward to watching a great matchup only to see it spoiled by the referees. This series would be so much better if the Lakers had won that game fairly, instead of the Celtics receiving it on a silver platter to only almost drop it.
As a baseball fan, I would love to hear someone sit inside the dugout and post a blog about what they hear in your dugout. I’m sure with Manny and Youk there’s a lot of interesting comments made during games. Especially with your interesting take on certain events. I’m also sure it wouldn’t be too pleasing for the ears.
Good Luck this year with the Red Sox. The Yankees seem to be slowly, but surely creeping up and the Rays seem to be an everyday threat now.
June 11th, 2008 at 2:20 am
Is this a Joke? If you ever saw Jordan play in person you would think Kobe’s actions were tame. I had a few chances to sit behind the bulls bench during their trips here against the Lakers and Clippers and let me tell you He constantly criticized his players. Toni Kukoc was the recipient of some of those criticisms but no one talks about that i guess since there was no blogging!. Dude it’s the championship game WTF do you expect? Ohh I forgot you play baseball, the least athletic team sport in the world!
June 11th, 2008 at 2:39 am
Curt, I am a big fan of yours. I appreciate all that you’ve done over that last decade for the sport of baseball and I especially love that fact that you’re a gamer. I am not going to be an idiot and say that I have a problem with you supporting the team of the city you’ve made your home to and have thrived in and won 2 world championships in. The only thing I’m going to say, is that if the umpires in either the world series that you pitched in were half as bad or incompetent as the refs have been in this NBA finals I know you’d be leading the charge at the press conferences and wouldn’t care about what fines you’d have to pay to get yourself heard. I’m not saying this as a Laker fan, because I am the first to admit that the Lakers simply didn’t seem to want to win games 1 and 2 bad enough and their play showed it those two games, but the officiating was just awful. I’m all for letting the guys play, but when 1 player on one team has 3 more free throw attempts than the whole other team combined… that’s just stupid. It would have been the equivalent of Jeff Francis or Ubaldo Jimenez throwing at multiple batters in last years series and you being the one that gets tossed for throwing in retaliation. So don’t go blaming the players for being pissed off on the sidelines when the calls don’t go their way. No one is happy when the calls (or lack thereof) don’t go their way.
June 11th, 2008 at 7:34 am
gotti202
Your Mom wants you to clean your room.
–J.D.
June 11th, 2008 at 8:09 am
I’m glad everything has been smoothed over with Manny and Youk. I really hate that it was caught on video.
As far as basketball goes I’m clueless. Kobe, from what I’ve read, sounds like a dick all the way around, personal and professional.
Seems like your rehab is going really well. I’m very excited to see you back on the mound soon.
Great blog as usual, Curt.
Peace
June 11th, 2008 at 8:23 am
Great post Curt.
I will be in Cincinnati Friday night and hope to see you there.
Don’t forget how much you helped mentor Brandon Webb too.
I know, he is a friend of mine and he told me the impact you had on his career.
June 11th, 2008 at 9:13 am
Hey Kurt…Your blog concerning the Laker bench was another “National Enquirer” moment for you. It really dosen’t mean much coming from a guy who poured ketchup in his shoe to gain attention in a world series. The ENTIRE sports industry considers you a freakin’ joke. You need to just go away. I’m sorry you didn’t get your 15 minutes.
June 11th, 2008 at 9:21 am
Curt,
I can appreciate your insight from the sidelines. However, it is clear that your basketball knowledge is non existent…I love how you are always trying to get in the news with your comments. You and Jesse Jackson are the two biggest media whores. Good luck with rest of season!
Go Lakers!!
June 11th, 2008 at 9:29 am
TJ Simers from the LA times is a complete moron. He goes on and on about how you have no right to an opinion and how “there’s no bigger sissy than a hit-and-run blogger.” Are you kidding me? If anything, you did your best to soften what was a wholly unimpressive showing from Kobe on every level. You reported what you saw and consistently referenced how it worked for Kobe. This douchebag took personal shots and went as far as he could to villainize you as much as possible. It’s obvious that this Simers guy has never played team sports, or at least never did in a way that his teammates would like or respect him. Otherwise he could never defend Kobe’s actions in this series. It’s obvious the pressure of the Finals has reverted Kobe back to the chemistry-slayer that he has always been. Simers goes on to brag about how he gave Phil Jackson a hard time at a pregame press conference.
My question: We all knew the annoying kid in middle school who tried to get attention by bothering everyone, but why would you hire him to represent your newpaper?
PS - I’m an Orioles fan ($%&#ing Glenn Davis?) and I’ve never read this blog before following the Kobe link from Buster Olney’s blog, so I’m not some Schilling apologist. I just can’t stand BS reporters trying to get readership by making themselves the story. At least get Kobe to talk back so we can get an opinion that’s relevant, not some jackass reporter.
June 11th, 2008 at 11:08 am
Sir,
I have a tremendous amount of respect for you and what you’ve done in MLB. That speaks for itself. Yet your blog on how you perceived the events of game 2 of the NBA Finals calls for a retraction of sorts. The blog bordered on irresponsible. Because of your celebrity, especially that of a well known professional athelete, you have to be as responsible with your writing as you would be with your words in front of live television cameras. Too many are swayed and influenced by your actions be they positive or negative. Did your blog contribute anything positive in the great scheme of things going on currently? Does the impact of it promote any good at all? Please apply a more thought out criteria before submitting something that might be controversial and not in the best interest of anyone. Good luck with your recovery and the best of luck to your team during the season.
June 11th, 2008 at 11:13 am
SFLaker, wow, there’s some good insight from you there, about the equivalent of a 3rd grader. Does your mom know you’re using the computer? Yeah, you’re obviouslyreal objective with that screen name.
Fact is I threw out a bunch of facts and you threw out, oh, let’s see, 3rd grade insults. You’re ignored, loser. Get a life instead of spending it perusing the Internet looking for rhetoric to spew against Boston.
What a clown.
You have losers like MATTINGLY23 on here with absolutely nothing but pounding his fists against the wall crying because his teams rots. I thought these comments were screened and approved? Why are the ignoramuses’ comments posted?
As for the language, well, nearly everyone in baseball is not close enough to the players to hear them, unlike basketball. At least I give props to Kraft and John Henry for making Gillette Stadium and Fenway Park places where you can take kids now. Sullivan Stadium had a horrible crowd previously, and just watch the video of the Lakers fans ganging up on a Celtics fan in L.A. with no security in sight. What class.
Pull up YouTube crowd fights and they’re usually NY or Chicago or Philly, as expected. Boston not only has the best teams but the best places to go to games.
June 11th, 2008 at 11:30 am
SCURT,
It’s funny what happens to a person when they win a few championships and move to Boston. (Celtics fans already Curt?, didn’t see you court side last year…)
You’re so busy trashing Kobe…but I remember a time…oh that’s right 1993 World Series. Mr. Classy (Curt Schilling) treated his teammates with TONS of respect and was SO cool headed. Has been said more than once that you are an awful teammate.
Let’s put a fan in the dugout or the mound and write about your talk.
You’re a chump. Always will be. Without the “ketchup” sock your place in the hall wouldn’t exist.
June 11th, 2008 at 11:31 am
tuck6778 - “coming from a guy who poured ketchup in his shoe to gain attention in a world series” ?!? you’re patheic if you really believe that
June 11th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
God, we are truly blessed to be part of your world Curt. A sure HOF pitcher, a political activist, sideline basketball reporter, first class known it all. Please send me an invite when Yavapai College dedicates a wing to your “greatness”.
Warmest Regards….
June 11th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
Great post Curt. Really good stuff and I am a huge Yankees fan. I don’t however hate everyone who loves the sox. I am one of those that believe everyone can’t love the same team.
Yeah, the NBA refs have a plan in their officiating and I’m sure that they ref according to that plan.
Good stuff on Kobe, he looks like he is demonically posessed to me.
Steve
Lexington, NC
June 11th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
Curt,
I’m a Red Sox fan, and I like you as a player. I can’t stand your politics, but I would defend your right to voice them with my last breath.
You know ESPN sent all these people to your blog, right? I think it’s just some BS how they try to make something out of nothing. There is no story here. In regards to basketball, you’re just the same as all of us, and I thought you made that pretty clear.
If you saw the body language you say you saw, and it was directed at players and not just general frustration, then he is NOT a leader. When his teammates are rolling their eyes at him, then he is not communicating anything that is conducive to winning. Period.
Heal up, and don’t sweat all the haters.
June 11th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
@ skidoosh,
you know he’s a Steelers fan right? And yet he knows what the fans want to see, and that’s him going to Gillett and waving to the crowd in a Patriots jersey. No big deal.
June 11th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
@ ctballfan
Sorry I missed your post. I’m jealous you got to see him hit it. I was planning on going to every home game until he hit it, just so i could be there to witness it. I would have expected the crowd to be the most electric EVER at that point.
I’ve been to a lot of playoff games (including the WS last year), but the game with the loudest applause ever, was when Pap made his first career start, and Manny was on the trading block… and he came up to pinch hit… and ended up knocking in the winning run. It wasn’t even a playoff game and it was the loudest I’ve ever heard Fenway.
http://bostondirtdogs.boston.com/Headline_Archives/MR_7.31.jpg
June 11th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
Whomever the user was that said that Michael Jordan inspired rather than alienated, making him a better leader than Kobe Bryant has clearly not been following basketball for a long time. Obviously, you weren’t watching basketball when Michael Jordan got into an actual fight with his teammates during practices (Steve Kerr anybody?).
I have seen Kobe in real life and on the TV, and in this series, with the way Pau and Odom are playing, I couldn’t help but ask myself, “when is Kobe going to put his foot in their @$%! and make these guys start playing on the level they need to be?” These guys did not come this far to the Finals to just lay down and die and let the Celtics run all over them. Clearly in game 3, Gasol had clearly ran out of motivation for the game of basketball. I say use your “constructive criticism” but if these guys stop responding to it, you’ve got to kick somebody’s tail, like Jordan did.
June 11th, 2008 at 4:10 pm
Hi Curt
A few thigns to say so I apologize for being long winded in advance.
i appreciate and respect that you do this blog. this is truly a service for the fans and above and beyond the call of duty.
As someone who oficiates and is a fan of Basketball and Baseball I must take issue with some of the comments expressed here.
*Firstly about the player using the “F” word on the court and the Ref saying he cant talk to me like that. I know on the amatuer level and I assume in the Prefessional level that word is not tolerated. In basketball on every level itis known that the use of the word gurantees a technical foul call.
On the diamond in baseball it gurantess that you can be thrown out the game. to say that people come to see the stars etc is missing the point. There must be order in the game and if people are disrespecting the officials there is no order and things can get out of hand which can lead to fights and other incidents of violence. for a refereee to have a player talk like that and not punish him is a serious error. that referee is asking for problems. the most likely scenario is that when Kobe said this he was trying to get a technical. That is actually what one of the announcers said. this is no different than when the manager intentionally gets himself thrown out of the game.
*The NBA is a much tamer and less physical league than it was in the 80’s or even the 70’s or 60’s. the games are called much tighter and there is less trash talking. People need to remember that Larry Bird and the mid 80’s Celtics were the biggest trash talkers in the league and they were hated by many teams.. We need to look beyond media portryals as the media is in the buiisness of creating,sensationalism good buys and bad guys.
there may have been a small number of calls missed but that is what it is when you have that much action with guys that size and only a few sets of eyes. Refereing had nothing to do with the disparity of foul shots in game 2.
You dont get fouled when you dont go to the hoop. Other than Kobe the lakers all shot jumpers.
*I hope baseball fans can appreciate the job that MLB umpires do. Granted there is less action but It is extremely rare to have a MLB umpire miss a call. Despite the grumblings of players and fans. Those guys are like machines.
*Its actually pretty riduculos when a fan in the seats is questioning a ball or strike call when they are 300 feet away but that is the culture we have today. People are always complaining about officiating because thats what they see on TV and hear on the radio. there is usually only one or two people on the field who are in postion to give a valid opinion on any call in a baseball game.
*The trash talking in basketball is nothing its just people trying to get an edge. With the way that Basketball is set up now with all the travel teams and AAU most of these players have known each other since they were 15 years old. Its just a bunch of guys who have known each other since they were kids trash talking.
*Its great that Manny hit his 500th and did it in a REd Sox uniform. It seems like he is finding his comfort zone in Boston. I always felt that this was the best place for him. he gets the appreciation form the biggest baseball fans in the world and his supreme concentration allows him to tune out any distractions.
June 11th, 2008 at 4:32 pm
Curt,
I like you alot, but I do think you’ll find most NBA superstars do what Kobe did with his teammates. I also am glad you confirmed to me that the Lakers were getting jobbed with the foul calls as it looked like on TV… only worse.
Also, seems like you have a lot of homers on your blog making comments. I guess New Englanders gotta stick together, despite reason and common sense.
Keep up the good work.
Tim
Chattanooga, TN
June 11th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
Thank goodness for the New York football Giants.
June 11th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
Come on Big Boy. You criticize Kobe like there are no baseball superstars who bitch, complain and criticize their teamates? The list goes on and on. Let me refresh your memory with two names…Jeff Kent and your old teamate Randy Johnson.
June 11th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
Curt.
It’s simple man; you’re not a good, observant or insightful writer.
The: “Kobe. This one stunned me a little bit…”
Lazy and gutless writing. If you really had the stones to call Kobe out, you would have.
What you should have written was: “I’m ashamed to be an athlete because of guys like him…”
But no, you went out, put on your little green dress and flirted with being tough.
And when someone states: “Let me reiterate that this is from a complete basketball newbie…” No way. That’s cowardly and you’re deflecting any criticism that may come your way because you supposedly don’t know any better. Wrong.
If you really don’t know about something then why write about it?
This faux shock and feigned ignorance is typical of people who have opinions but nothing more to offer.
Your musings are unsubstantial and trivial, at best.
I’m curious what your teammates (past and present) have to say about you.
Next time you write, put on that bloody sock of yours and cowgirl up.
June 11th, 2008 at 5:40 pm
Dear Mr Schilling,
Your comments in your blog are both uninformed and judgmental. Although you admit to not knowing much about basketball, you sure take many liberties in passing judgement when you admittedly have no idea what you are talking about. You being a self professed Christian, I take offense at your rush to judge and accuse others based off your limited knowledge. That my friend, is very hypocritical. You cannot be a Christian and act in an un-christian manor.
Now back to the real topic. Did Paul Pierce learn of the fake injury concept from you and your fake bleeding ankle? ” Do it for johnny”
What about Rondo? Did you also teach him how to fake a injury to inspire a team that is way out of their league?
Stick to baseball and shut your FAT obese mouth about basketball, I wish you would come to the Staples center in a paul pierce jersey so the fans can do to you like they did to the other loud mouth celtic fan( please see youtube.com) Looks under the catergory (laker fans beat celtic fan)
I wish you and Bill Simmons would go back to writing for the Boston globe because the national news readers dont care about you people in Boston, in fact we hate you all and wish terrible things in terms of sports. IE Patriots collapse
Thank you for your time
June 11th, 2008 at 6:20 pm
You go to 2 games, sit in some nice seats that the rest of us will NEVER be able to afford to sit in, and suddenly you think you’ve noticed something that the rest of us have been missing for the last ten years? YOU SUCK at sports journalism. Go away. You look like some homeless guy in that photo, just coming off a weeklong bender. Are you in injury rehab or drug rehab- did you just buy those celtics jerseys for you and your kids? Or were they gifts from some celtics VIP fluffer? I can’t believe this- a professional athlete like you, is no more than a bandwagon fan, suddenly discovering your town’s basketball team after being stationed there for how long? Yet you think you have something important to say about something you think that everyone else is missing- evidence of your GIGANTIC yet flawed ego. You got 15 minutes of fame by putting ketchup in your sock, that attention flamed out, just like you, and now you’re jealous because Kobe, a real athlete (as opposed to some stupid ball chucker who can’t run even run 100 feet without getting winded, such as yourself) is getting a break from the media over his intensity. Just because some mentally handicapped pink sox fans want to read your ridiculous daily musings, DOESN’T MAKE YOU A JOURNALIST! Go away.
June 11th, 2008 at 7:45 pm
What Curt has now just done is take Kobe out of his game. I’ve lived in LA for awhile and every time someone of any stature says something negative of Kobe, he acts in the opposite manner the next few games. Celts will roll in Game 4 thanks to the uproar from this blog.
Nice job Schill!!!
June 11th, 2008 at 8:31 pm
You know a blog is a place where someone can leave their thoughts, feelings, fromtheiown observations. i for one like, and agree with your persepective Curt. Kobe has always been a selfish, me first player and it doesnt suprize me he is bitching at the rest of his teamduring timeouts, and I agree it is WRONG! I am glad he actually acknoledged your blog today and said “go yankees”. Thats ok kobe is a typical yankees fan anyway. Hoe you are feeling beter soon!
June 11th, 2008 at 9:14 pm
Schill, great blog. I have been an NBA fan my whole life. I have grown up in New York as a die hard Knicks fan. We dont have much to root for these days except for the G-men, as they took down your fellow New England athletes in the super bowl. I have always liked the Red Sox (except in the movie fever pitch) and as a big Mets fan, glad they have recently this century have given the Yanks trouble during the season as well as the post season. I would like to disagree with you on the Kobe situation. As a recent observer to the NBA like you said you were, you noticed that Kobe isnt a “team” player by giving compliments and pumping them up when they are down. I think its tough in such an intense game and environment that Kobe expects his teammates to show up and not make those logical mistakes. They have had trouble rebounding the whole series and thats something that Pau and Odom should be taking care of. Pau is complaining about fouls, taking bad shots, and not boxing out. This is unacceptable to a player of bryants caliber, as a top 3 player to ever play the game. When I was younger and involved in high school sports I notice that when you’re winning, the players always tend to compliment each other, and when you’re down, every one starts pointing fingers. However, as a born leader, Kobe should not stoop to this level but it is very understandable that he does do this. If you pitched in the world series this year, pitched a perfect game but you didnt get run support and it at the end of 9 it was 0-0, and ultimately lost the game, would you point fingers to your star players such as manny for not doing his job? It can always go both ways but I think its understandable for kobe. Lakers in 7
June 11th, 2008 at 10:04 pm
Oh I hadn’t read some of the comments before sending my post in. People relax it’s Curt Schilling. You all know how he is missing a couple of wires up there.
June 11th, 2008 at 10:38 pm
The fact that Curt hated on Radny Johnson and Pedro Martinez stunned me way more than Kobe trying to keep this youing guys on their toes.
June 11th, 2008 at 10:52 pm
So I was watching the game with my friend and we could not figure out for the life of us who this “Guy” with three little kids was with the greatest seats in basketball. Honestly we thought this Guy must be a loaded exec or he is sleeping with Phil Jackson to get those seats. Well the fact that it was neither is hillarious. Kudos on blending into the crowd and looking like just a fan, I think alot of people lose sight of the fact that you as athletes have the same need to be entertained as the rest of us. Now with the knowledge that it was Curt Shi