Washington (CNN) - Former Red Sox ace Curt Schilling blasted Martha Coakley Saturday after the Massachusetts Democratic Senate hopeful told a Boston radio talk show host that Schilling, a Republican, is a Yankees fan.
This is a serious charge in "Red Sox Nation": Schilling is a part of baseball lore as the pitcher who battled through pain with a bloody ankle in 2004 to defeat the Yankees in Game Six of the American League Championship Series.
"I've been called a LOT of things," Schilling wrote on his blog at 1:06 a.m. ET. "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…."
Schilling, who considered running for the Senate seat, is backing GOP nominee Scott Brown in Tuesday's special election to replace the late Sen. Edward Kennedy.
Coakley quickly recanted her assertion after host Dan Rea challenged her on the statement in the Friday interview. A campaign spokesman told CNN that Coakley simply failed to deliver on the joke.
"Curt Schilling has been involved in a lot of strike outs over time," the spokesman said. "I guess Martha whiffed on that joke."
Follow Mark Preston on Twitter @prestoncnn
From CNN Politics
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| Advertising practices | Advertise with us | About us | Work for us | Help
How low the Republicans reach to find something to criticize about their opponents.
Amazes me that democrats can never believe that they have a bad candidiate running in an election. This lady is clueless. She should be a Chicago democrat. she would win here because the voters are clueless. And to Mark who says Schilling is just a baseball player and who cares who he is backing, I say the same to you, except, you and I are nobodies and nobody really cares what we say either.
coakly is such a joke. she is going to lose. another step to end regressive autocratic rule in this country.
Schilling may not be a Yankee's fan, but he certainly sounds like a shill for the Republicans and candidate Brown.
I'm confident the good people of Massachusetts are thinking a lot more deeply about this election than what Schilling and Brown assume – and will vote for Coakley.
really, just get over it...it was a quip...nothing more...Schilling is just being a baby about being called a fan of a team he does not like...OH WELL...BOO HOO....
Who cares... I'm tired of multi-million dollar athletes thinking they are qualified for public office. Public office is becoming more about celebrity than serving the public good, and understanding government, society and how to serve public needs – not self-serve their million dollar bank accounts.
Typical, thin-skinned Republican attempt to divide the voters over nonsense, right up there with Christie getting all offended by Corzine's saying he was "throwing his weight around."
Just more proof that the Republicans treat voters like their stupid and immature ... more like the Republican leadership is talking in the mirror ...
come on people dont let Republican take our DREAM away from us .We have came to far to let the republican pull the rug from under us .WHO LET THE DOG OUT !!!
I understand she is not running a great campaign. I just heard CNN speaking with someone in MA and was advised that even if Brown wins the Dem Sec of State will just postpone certifying the results. Now I get that is politics and i also get that the other side would more than likely do the same. What I found disturbing is the "journalist" reporting this only comment was "Interesting, so that is how it works" Now I watch all channels so I have no favorite and i read alot but to me this is why people do not trust the media. there was a time that a journalist would question this but I guess not anymore.
No one cares. Baseball. Politics. Unrelated – why bother? This is not news, it's a publicity stunt. It's no more than a desperate cry for attention.
Brown is a terrorist...He wants to kill the health care bill....Millions uninsured will die...Worse than anything Al Qaeda has ever done..
Coakley is encapsulated in the "Kennedy era' mindset of politics. indicated by an incredibly strong sense of entitlement and elitist attitude. Hopefully that era is past and the senate seat open during this election is a seat of the people of MA and NOT an entitled Kennedy seat.
It is so interesting that everyone praises Kennedy for his concern and passion for health care for the 'masses' and yet he never really stepped forward and said that 'if it is a plan good enough for the masses, it will be good enough for Congress'. This kind of double standard is elitism to the nth degree. 'Devise a plan for the people but we don't want it for ourselves' seems to be the pro-Obama care mantra. Disgustingly superficial and politically self-serving – and the American people deserve better!!!
Schilling may not be a Yankee's fan, but he certainly is a shill for the Republican party.
I trust the good people of Massachusetts will see through this juvenile ploy for votes – and elect Coakley to the Senate.
IT is time for the LADYES to take over maybe we can get something done!!!
Looks like she just struck out!!
This election in Massachusetts is an utter embarrasment for Democrats. Democrats typically win those elections by about 30 points. I don't think a worse candidate could have been found than Coakley. But, I guess when an election was supposed to be slam dunk they probably didn't think it mattered who the candidate was.
So many in my family are always staunch, vote for democrat no matter who it is. Even they aren't going to vote for her on Tuesday. I guess sometimes who the candidate actually is is more important than what letter they have next to their name. I wish more elections were like this – vote for the person not the party.
We really do need a viable third party.
What is wrong with Ms. Coakley? Speaking as one who was raised in Mass. (living afar now) & a diehard Sox fan, this is the easiest blunder you could make. Why don't you get some photos of you mugging a toddler for her lollipop now?
I a Yankee Fan and NY resident do solemnly swear that if the state of MA votes in Brown I will learn to appreciate my MA brothers and sisters more, love more, tolerate more, stop hating the Red Sox and never ever , ever talk down a Red Sox fan!
Please MA, go on show this administration the real meaning of People Power......!!!! – so much for their fake promises of transparency , they had us all fooled, now we as a people can unite and fight back!
Coakley got the woman vote in the primary. She is clearly not the better candidate, and universal health care is now doomed. Schilling is definitely opinionated, but to call him a Yankee fan, is down right dumb. Let us not forget the bloody sock which lead the Red Sox to their first title in 86 years. Plus Schilling is too busy playing World of Warcraft these days. Pitcher turned gamer, and a lousy democratic candidate. I love Massachusetts. Home sweet home.
That seals it for me, I'm voting for Brown!
She continues to show her incompetence........
Curt Shilling is a baseball baseball player that seoems to qualify him as a republican political pundit? Kinda like the ex-comedian (he's not funny anymore) Dennis Miller. Due to the 24/7 news environment, the news is 95% speculation & opinion, not news. Remember how convinced a lot of pundits, both dem & pubs) were so sure the 2008 presidential race was going to be between Hillary & "9/11" Rudy? If this is acceptable, and it appears it is, I feel real sorry for the next generations.
how funny another republican purist who played baseball for a living , just another intertainer and paid very well . Coakley will continue Ted Kennedy's great job of fighting for the average guy and gal in america . and boo hoo to this jerk about his injury . many people get injured every day on the job . and it wasn't palying baseball . it was a real job doing things like producing food and products to support this great nation and there own families . not some top paid sports person .
think pride and think america , and thank you president Obama for supporting Coakley and Ted Kennedy's legacy
gary davis Harbor Oregon
Everyone that I know from Mass. is a diehard Red Sox fan. She should have known that calling Curt Schilling a Yankees fan would offend a lot of people who she wants to vote for her. What a fool!