Jayson Stark - One Silly Rabbit

Yesterday, on his espn.com Blog, contributing writer Jayson Stark threw his support behind a notorious douche bag. With Curt Schilling deciding this week to finally excuse his balsa-wood shoulder from the table of major league baseball, "Playboy" Stark went on record to plug Schilling as Hall-of-fame material. Among other things Stark counts Schilling’s three World Series rings, 11-2 post-season record, and three second place Cy Young finishes as being sufficient credentials for HOF entry. We’ll get back to Mr. Stark in a moment. In the meantime I would like to channel the career of another douche bag – ice hockey forward Claude Lemieux.

Like Curt Schilling, Lemieux was known as a gritty player who thrived in the postseason. He is 8th on the all-time list of post season scorers resulting in 3 Stanley Cup championships with 3 different teams. Completing the 1995 post-season with 13 goals, he was also awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy that year as the playoff MVP. Further to that, Lemieux was – and most likely remains – a miserable player and human being. Among his finer moments are the Jim Peplinski finger-biting incident and the blind-side hit on the pint-sized Kris Draper that required considerable facial reconstructive surgery for the Red Wing. And who could forget Lemieux turtling after Darren McCarty’s phantom right hook toppled him in the playoffs. I remember Lemieux on his knees cowering and covering his head while a disgusted McCarty gave him every opportunity to get up and stand up for himself.

Using “Playboy” Stark’s criteria, Lemieux is also Hall of Fame material and to that I say, in the words of Brigadier General McAuliffe, “NUTS!” In the history of the game, no player has made the Hall based on post-season production. That is why MVP and CY Young voting is done before the playoffs begin - so the successes of world series flukes like Brian Doyle and Buddy Bianacalana don't distract writers like Stark from the long grind of the regular season where true HOF credentials are earned.

At no time in his career was Schilling considered the best in class at his position. Second best three times? This places him behind Orel Hershiser and Doc Gooden (and Mark Davis and LaMarr Hoyt) in that category. Further to that his 216 career wins place him behind perennial HOF also-rans Bert Blyleven, Tommy John, and Jim Kaat, not to mention Jerry Reuss and Joe Niekro. If the doors won't open for Blyleven, Schilling shouldn't even reach the valet. And finally Schilling was – and is – a loudmouthed self-promoter who alienated clubhouses nation-wide. In recent history, maybe Barry Bonds is more reviled, it would be a close race. While no one could prove that wasn't actually Schilling’s ankle blood on the infamous playoff sock, I don’t buy it for a second. And his face in the towel antics during the 1993 World Series are the epitome of poor sportsmanship.

“Playboy” Stark’s advocacy of Schilling is sheer bush-league. The normally erudite Stark ends his article with, “I can’t wait for the debate to begin. See ya in 3 ½ years.” Well the debate starts and ends here. Like many who came before him Schilling can take a measure of pride in his championships and individual accomplishments. The retired Schilling can look forward to baseball card shows, the occassional analyst gig during the postseason, and his make-believe “World of Warcraft." As for the HOF, he can certainly get in with his paid admission ticket, but odds are even he disappears with less than 5% of the vote after the first ballot. As for "Playboy" Stark, he should stick with topics he knows – like whether or not the Rabbit should get to eat Trix. And that’s the Word of Sand.