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From msnbc.com's Vaughn Ververs:
There are some pretty common-sense rules of thumb that most candidates try to adhere to on the campaign trail these days: Don't say anything in public you wouldn't want to see on YouTube, don't stray from the stump-speech script and don't embrace the establishment even if you're part of the establishment.
Oh, and don't insult anything about the Boston Red Sox when you're running in New England. That's one former Sen. Lincoln Chafee broke on Monday.
In an interview with WPRO radio, Chafee, who is running as an independent candidate in the Rhode Island governor's race, was asked about a just-completed deal state development officials struck with 38 Studios, a video game company, which includes $75 million in state loan guarantees. The issue has been hotly debated in the state because of the hefty price tag involved.
The complicating factor: 38 Studios is a company co-owned by former Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling, one of the key players in Boston's 2004 World Series push that broke a championship drought reaching back to 1918.
Schilling enjoys a hallowed place in Red Sox Nation. Not only did he play a major role in the 2004 playoffs, he did so in heroic fashion, winning Game Six of the American League Championship series on a severely injured ankle that produced a now-famous bloody sock during the performance.
In his interview Monday, Chafee responded to questions about the 38 Studios loan guarantees by raising doubts about Boston's hometown hero. Chaffee said part of his concern was the "trust" that state development officials "have in him to deliver." He continued: "I just remember his own teammates didn't like him. They thought he was a bit of a salesman. I remember one of his teammates said he painted his sock, the bloody sock, he painted it. [His teammate] Kevin Millar, I think, said that. I don't know if I trust Curt Schilling."
Chafee spokesman J.R. Pagliarini later clarified the former senator's statement, telling the Providence Journal that his mistrust was not related to the sock. "We don't trust Curt Schilling in that he doesn't have a track record of running a business of this size, and as such we're putting the taxpayers' money in jeopardy. He's not questioning Curt Schilling's honesty and sincerity. He's just questioning whether he can produce what he says he can."
Pagliarini added that Chafee "respects Curt Schilling's achievements as a professional athlete and his support of charitable causes."
For Sox fans, it's not a minor faux pas to get on the wrong side of the beloved baseball team. During last winter's special election for the seat of the late Massachusetts Sen. Ted Kennedy, Democrat Martha Coakley helped solidify the perception that she was aloof and disengaged with voters with an offhand remark that drew plenty of attention.
In a radio interview shortly before the hotly contested election, Coakley mistakenly suggested that Schilling was a fan of Boston's sworn enemies, the New York Yankees.
Schilling, who was campaigning for Brown, offered a withering reply in a blog post. "I've been called a lot of things,'' he wrote, "but never, and I mean never, could anyone ever make the mistake of calling me a Yankee fan. Well, check that, if you didn't know what the hell is going on in your own state maybe you could…."
Leave a Comment:
I realize Red Sox fans are passionate, like all the other fans and I respect that. But isn't it a bit silly to take issue with candidates because they have a different thought about Kurt Schilling. He may have been a great baseball player but that doesn't mean everyone has to think he's a special guy. I would think Rhode Island would be more interested in Lincoln Chafee's ideas to improve their state rather than what he personally thinks of Schilling.
As a Red Sox fan for over 40 yrs, Curt Schilling is not one of my favorites, yes, he helped the team and helped bring the championship to us but that was what he was paid to do.
He was a great baseball player but he was not a special. I would take Lincoln Chafee and his ideas to help Rhode Island over anything Curt Schilling and his opinions or ideas might do.
The Thrill Is Gone
Well there really ARE people who believe the blood was paint. New York Yankees fans still believe it wasn't blood. Schilling wasn't a favorite while a member of the Red Sox. I think Pedro and Manny in particular didn't care for him. Schilling sort of came in and decided (he's a Republican) things would run his way or the highway. That didn't sit well with either the team or the fans. Not that Manny didn't give us hearburn. He did. But we LOVED HIM.
The Bloody Sock. To think I didn't think to look for it when I went to the Baseball Hall of Fame this spring. I forgot all about it.
Schilling can take a lot of the credit for getting Scott Brown elected. He sold him on the sports radio station and went campaigning with him.
That will all change in 2012. Right Senator Brown? Right.
Jody, I agree with you. It's silly what goes on up here with Red Sox Nation.
Pedro and Manny were not exactly consumate teammates in the locker room either. So saying that Petey and ManRam did not like Schilling is not exactly a shot towards the man's ability to to co-exist in a clubhouse. Schilling (a Republican) came in, ran things his way, WON a world series for the fans of Boston after how many years???? I think the World Series sat very well with the city, fans, and the team.
Hey Chris, I agree with you. We were thrilled to have Schilling and all he did for us. But when he first came? Yikes. But Pedro and Manny contributed to the World Series as well. Especially Manny.
But his act grew old. No question about it. He just about drove Francona to drink. A lot went on that we didn't know about in the locker room. But Manny always delivered. Same can be said about Schilling. But they were polar opposites.
Schilling at one time didn't give it all either if I remember correctly. I think it was Roger Clemens who had a talk with him and Schilling then changed his tune.
I miss the craziness to be honest.
I was wondering when the election season would finally get serious.
It's insulting to members of RSN (Red Sox Nation) because it's adding insult to injury.
Rhode Island steals away Curt Schilling's video game studio with money we couldn't match, and then a candidate in that state's gubernatorial race questions his honesty and character.
I find it wrong and (slightly) offensive.
Kurt Schilling is only a baseball player. Where did he gain management experience running a company? Besides throwing a baseball and running his mouth, what else is he qualified to do? Guess his business partners know how to line up at the government feed trough.
And you would know this because............................you're psychic.
Red Sox Nation my ass! I live in the heart of CT and nothing in sports gives me more pleasure than seeing a Red Sox loss and watching the frustration on their fans faces. I know I'm generalizing here but there are more jerks in the Nation than good people and that applies to Schilling as well. Despite his so-called heroics and God-like stature in the Nation, there is no escaping the fact that Schilling was a publicity-seeking, blood-sock-faking jerk whose jerk status was heightened in Boston, kind of similar to the jerk status of the current day Republican party. The only difference is at least Schilling had game. These modern day Repubs have nothing other than a big fat "NO" tattoed on their foreheads with no proposals, no new ideas or anything positive to show for all their grandstanding. In the end, Chaffee's apology is worth 10 Steele apologies: meaningless!
Stay mad in ct. Who do you have to root for???????????? New York's team....too bad you don't have a team of your own.
Yes you are generalizing. If you go to a game you will see 99.99% of the fans are v. respectful. But there are jerks I know. I've had my issues with them all through the years.
But come on. Going out to the mound in the playoffs? The 6th game? After being behind 3-0. And we beat the ba$tards in NY? He deserves to be a hero. Plus he took in a family from New Orleans after Katrina, which was a nice thing to do.
But his politics I can do without. But enough of this story. Bloody sock or no bloody sock should not decide an election.
Pat--For you I'll concede my generalization. I was at Fenway for Lester's no-hitter in May 2008 and it couldn't have happened to a nicer guy especially coming off cancer but I truly couldn't stand the idiot jerks around me. Anyway, you are so right, the fact that a Schilling diss could cost Chaffee the election is just ludicrous! After all, who says that Schilling's game automatically translates to successful video-game management?
Well Mad in Ct, just one more person who has seen a no-hitter. I've always wanted to, but have yet to see one in person. Good for you. Ignore the jerks. They're immature and have let the Red Sox recent successes get the better of them.
I'm just grateful to the Red Sox for seeing fit to allow my Mariners a split. That was generous.
I think they should name a virus after the Mariners, the W1L2. Win one, lose two.