Schilling cancels scheduled appearance wih Bush

AP ^ | 10/29/2004 | AP staff

[wjersey]

BOSTON— Newly minted World Series hero Curt Schilling canceled a scheduled campaign appearance with President Bush on Friday, saying his doctors advised him not to travel because of his injured ankle.

An e-mailer identifying himself as the Boston Red Sox pitcher posted a message on the bostondirtdogs.com Web site saying, "I am now not medically cleared to do anything until I see Doc on Sunday, so I cannot travel with President Bush."

Schilling, who has been known to contribute frequently to online fan forums, did not immediately return a call from The Associated Press on Friday.

The pitcher endorsed Bush in an interview on ABC's "Good Morning America" Thursday, a day after the Red Sox won the franchise's first World Series championship in 86 years.

In his e-mail, Schilling said he should have kept his opinion to himself.

"While I am a Bush supporter, and I did vote for him with an absentee ballot, speaking as I did the other day was wrong. While I hope to see him re-elected, it's not my place, nor the time for me to offer up my political opinions unsolicited," he said.

Schilling turned in one of the most memorable performances in postseason history this year, winning Game 2 of the World Series and Game 6 of the American League Championship Series with his ankle sutured to protect a torn sheath around his Achilles' tendon.

[So Cal Rocket]

No kidding.

Oh, and by the way, I am really John Kerry and my psychologist told me that I'm mentally unfit to be President.

[international american]

One can only imagine the various and sundry threats against him....

[Andy'smom]

The 9:00-noon WRKO talk show is on it relentlessly.



Wait till Howie Carr comes on! Oh and isn't Sean Hannity coming to broadcast live today from Boston?

[RoseofTexas]

GUTS my friend.. is when you go against the grain!! And when you go against the flow! :(
REALLY SORRY TO HEAR HE BACKED OFF! He alone made that decision, no matter what, he made it!

[RedRepublic]

What a disappointment. I was looking forward to see Curt standing beside the president.

[Carling]

Curt weighed in with his statements on GMA.

Anything else was just gravy. I really can't be upset with the guy.

[twntaipan]

So he got chewed out for being a Republican and endorsing Bush. If he had endorsed kerry would there have been the same outcry? I doubt it.

[Publius6961]

does he have a webpage? i would like to contact him to change his mind

Why do we need to change his mind? Everyone knows how he feels politically, and he may have contractural obligations that are none of our business. The guy has already stuck his neck out. Let's give him a break.

BTW, although I have engaged in many sports over my lifetime, I am not a professional sports fan of any sort. I am 100% missing the "spectator jock" gene, but I can understand his problem.

[WoodstockCat]

If you think he made this decision on his own, you don't understand politics of an organization or the power of a union.

IHMO, Bush probably talked to him, heard the hurt said thanks for helping as much as you could and don't get yourself in any more of a bind.

[TRY ONE]

I'd bet it's his contract. Most contracts have a "keep you nose clean" clause which would be interpreted by the Sox Owners' as "Stay out of Public Politics".

[Rutles4Ever]

This doesn't make any sense. Schilling has the Boston front office by the balls with:

a) His IMMENSE popularity, and
b) Pedro's exit to the Yankees

The more I think about it, the more ridiculous it is to assume that his job's been held over his head. What's going to happen -

"Don't go or we'll release you?"
"You'll never work in baseball again?"
"We'll fine you 1/50th of 1% of your yearly salary?"

The pressure had to have come from outside the organization. Either someone physically threatened him, or someone has blackmail material (draw your own conclusions).

I would guess it's the former and not the latter...

[RogerWilko]

It looks like the DUmmies MAY have had A LOT to do with this after all!! Check out what I found here:

DAMN Dummies

[Rutles4Ever]

Schilling has more money than he'll ever need. And it would be suicidal to piss him off with Pedro walking out the door. He could just as easily "retire" like Clemens and sign with someone else in Spring Training.

[winner3000]

He probably found a dead horse in his bed.

The Dems have been very effective at silencing all dissenters. It's now the KGB party.

This year, their track record has been extensive: shutting up Sinclair, shutting out the Swifties from the news media, sending union thugs to vandalize GOP offices, intimidate early voters and steal GOP signs, attempting to disenfranchize the military vote, telling their base to complain about disenfranchisement and intimidation even if there's no evidence of such, and clobbering Schilling!

[My Favorite Headache]

Curt was well enough yesterday to walk around Disney World here in Florida and in the parade.

The story is just filled with B.S.

[Publius6961]

t sounds like it came from the baseball association.
One of the most powerful unions in the world.

You have identified the exact reason why I stopped, 100%, watching professional sports of any kind. About the time they started earning more than Congresspersons and even the president of the country. Wonder when that was? A long time ago...

[DoctorMichael]

Were his Doctors from the same school of thought and political philosophy as the esteemed, former Presidential Candidate Dr. Dean?

[nutmeg]

BOSTON— Newly minted World Series hero Curt Schilling canceled a scheduled campaign appearance with President Bush on Friday, saying his doctors advised him not to travel because of his injured ankle.

Huh? He spent the last couple of days at Disney World in Florida and was featured in a Disney parade down Main St. USA. (see pic above)

In his e-mail, Schilling said he should have kept his opinion to himself.

"While I am a Bush supporter, and I did vote for him with an absentee ballot, speaking as I did the other day was wrong. While I hope to see him re-elected, it's not my place, nor the time for me to offer up my political opinions unsolicited," he said.

Hmmm... Methinks the Red Sox management - not his doctors - put a fair amount of pressure on Curt to cancel his appearance with Bush. :-(

[JIM O]

They word was he was not going to pitch against St. Louis the morning he did pitch and we all know he showed up, lets see what happens later today

[Rutles4Ever]

If it was management who did this, the players' union would be all over them like a cheap suit with grievance filings.