ESPN poll: Schilling’s sock
Schilling’s bloody sock from the fall of 2004 has gotten renewed attention of late because Gary Thorne can’t detect sarcasm in a clubhouse. I actually like Thorne on hockey telecasts. He does a nice job. I didn’t realize he did Oriole telecasts, apparently with Jim Palmer - but earlier in the week when Schilling was pitching (lights out) against the Orioles, Palmer and Thorne took to badmouthing Curt… including Thorne’s assertion that Mirabelli told him the sock was paint, not blood, and Curt only did it for PR.
In the aftermath, ESPN came up with the following poll - the results of which I found interesting:
“1) What was on Curt Schilling’s sock in the 2004 postseason?
70.7% Blood
29.3% Something else
2) Should the bloody sock currently in the Hall of Fame (from Game 2 of the 2004 World Series) be tested to determine the stain’s composition?
51.7% No
48.3% Yes
3) Was the extent of Curt Schilling’s injury overplayed by the media?
51.6% No
48.4% Yes
4) If it is proven there was something other than blood on the infamous sock, how would you then view Schilling’s 2004 postseason performance?
58.0% No change; it was still a gutsy performance
33.0% Worse; he played up his injury for selfish reasons
8.9% Improved; he was still injured, and the ‘blood’ was a clever mind game
5) What is the best injury-hampered performance in postseason history?
40.8% Kirk Gibson’s hobbled home run, Game 1 of the 1988 World Series
29.8% Curt Schilling’s ankle injury, 2004 MLB ALCS/World Series
13.6% Michael Jordan’s flu game, Game 5, 1997 NBA Finals
7.2% Willis Reed’s torn muscle, Game 7, 1970 NBA Finals
6.4% Steve Yzerman’s one-legged triumph, ‘02 Olympics and Stanley Cup
2.2% Kellen Winslow’s multiple ailments, 1982 AFC divisional playoff game
Total Votes: 14,929″
My comments, by question:
1. I’m not surprised that 1/3 of respondents are conspiracy theorists. It helps explain why the Thorne story got so much play - cuz people *want* to believe it was something nefarious.
2. Only if, as Schilling as proposed, the following results: If the sock isn’t blood, Schilling donates $1 million to ALS. If it is blood, then whoever requests the test donates $1 million to ALS.
3. I think it was impressive what Schilling did - considering he was a power pitcher with an injury to the ankle he uses to push off from the rubber, which clearly gave him problems in his first ALCS start… yet he was able to overcome them in Game 6 (and then in the WS). That said, yes - the media focused too much on it. I guess what I’m saying is this: Frank. Drebben. You’re *both* right.
4. I could see arguments for all three responses - but I’d probably go with the first one. It’s clear something was bothering him given his first appearance in the series. And it’s clear that *something* was done to help him perform in Game 6 - and he went onto pitch great in game 6, bloody sock or not.
5. I wouldn’t put Gibson first. Yes, I understand it was The Eck and The Mighty A’s - but it was one swing and he got to jog around the bases. I don’t recall Yzerman’s thing. I think Jordan’s flu was overplayed - given that some of the temps they were ascribing to him would’ve killed him (”he’s playing with 108 degree temp!”), as well as the fact that admittedly, that guy did so many amazing things that I stopped being amazed by him. I could see an argument for putting Schilling first, given the givens, but I’m clearly biased so I’ll eliminate him from consideration for now.
To me, its between Winslow and Reed. I remember watching the Winslow game. Just amazing. IIRC, he was spent - and *still* came onto special teams to block a late FG try. Football is obviously a physical sport, and he kept playing. Just amazing.
But… Willis Reed’s was in game 7 of the NBA Finals. He couldn’t walk, but he played. He had to get up and down the court. He didn’t move quickly, but he moved. He scored a few points as well, if I’m not mistaken. He willed his team to victory in the last game of the season. Willis Reed would get my vote on that question, given those choices (and probably given any other choice that’s presented).
Okay, I’m done now.