Curt Schilling- A Hero

Curt Schilling

            Everyone needs a hero or an idol that they look up to and admire. Some people choose world leaders, actors, celebrities, or a family member. Personally, I look up to Curt Schilling, one of the starter pitchers for the Boston Red Sox. I have greatly respected Curt Schilling for a long time, and I hope to have the honor of meeting him someday. Through his team loyalty, determination, and aw inspiring baseball skill, Curt Schilling has proved himself worthy of being my idol.

            One of Curt Schilling’s characteristics I admire the most is his loyalty, especially to the Boston Red Sox. In the fall of 2007, Curt Schilling filed as a free agent, and many Red Sox fans, including myself, were worried he would leave Boston for another team. Instead of testing the market as a free agent, where it is presumed he would have gotten a 25-30 million dollars over a two year contract, he decided to stay with the Red Sox with the promise of eight million dollars for a one year contract. His loyalty to his team, which is a trait I deeply respect, came before money. Other former Red Sox players, like Johnny Damon, can not earn this respect because they left Red Sox Nation for other teams.  Curt Schilling overcame one of the most influential traps, greed, and replaced it with a much nobler one, loyalty.

            Courage and determination can make a great man even greater, as it does for Curt Schilling. Every Red Sox fan knows of Curt Schilling’s bloody sock. Despite his hurt ankle, he continued to pitch in the 2004 World Series. He shows not only determination to win the most important game and devotion to his team and fans, but also courage. It takes a lot of guts to stand in front of thousands, maybe even millions, of people, and pitch in the most important game of the year. Then with the added factor that he was injured and many doubted his ability to continue, the pressure must have been overwhelming, but he managed to work through it and win. He was determined to not let his fans and teammates down and to win the game, and also had the courage to stand up against impossible odds. His ability to stand up in front of seemingly unconquerable odds and face them down makes him the most respected man in my mind.

            Alongside all these great traits, the fact that Schilling is a great pitcher makes me admire him even more. He has been playing professional baseball for twenty years. He has had 3,116 strikeouts, 216 wins, and only 146 losses.  On June 7, 2007, he was only one out away from the first no-hitter of his career. All this in a twenty year span is incredible. He helped the Red Sox win the World Series in 2004 and 2007. This is very impressive, especially since the Red Sox had not won the World Series for 84 years before 2004. Curt Schilling is an amazing baseball player, which is a factor I greatly admire him for.

            Curt Schilling is the most respectable person in my mind and one of the most respected in baseball.  With his charity work for a cure for ALS and donating over 150,000 dollars for it, he also proves himself as an overall good guy. He has shown that he is devoted and loyal to his teammates, his fans, and his job, while also demonstrating the courage and ability to get himself through even the most stressful situations. All these characteristics have made him not only my most esteemed person, but also a man to emulate.