I admit it: I'm a big fan of Curt Schilling as a ballplayer. And I love nothing more than a cutting blog post. Especially one about Dan Shaughnessy. But even still, tonight I feel like that guy who pulls Curt aside as he tries to learn Boston English in that commercial: No, no, Curt, you don't have to stoop to the CHB's level.
So Mr. Shaughnessy's daughter asks friends to write positive reviews of his new book on Amazon. Word of the e-mail gets out and, well, the results speak for themselves.
One guess whom Adam Reilly is writing about in the Phoenix this week. Even-handed article, includes quotes from the man himself AND gives us some new nicknames to use as synonyms for "CHB" (oops, did I just give it away?), such as: The Man in the Fright Wig.
Disclosure: I'm quoted in the article as a griper.
Dbvader tries to goad Shaughnessy into calling him up and yelling at him by declaring today's column on the Sox/Yankees game possibly one of the worst columns I have ever been forced to read.
Because, as Michael Femia points out, the CHB dares to point out the blindingly obvious facts you would never think of writing about - In this case, that sports fans are more forgiving of their own players. Bonus Shanky points for once again managing to slap Manny Ramirez in a column about Randy Moss and for being unable to figure out why Sox fans will cheer Trott Nixon later this year but still boo Johnny Damon.
It might look like The CHB Blog:
... Many people are surprised to learn that long before I was a world-class sportswriter I was one of the Campbells Soup Kids. ...
Via Dan Shaughnessy Watch, which today tallies up just how many times the CHB has used that "Sons of (current manager's name)" thing over the years, and adds:
Dave Scott gets all parental on Dan Shaughnessy and Curt Schilling:
... At some point you would think a higher-up in both organizations, the Sox and the NYT Co. (which, of course, are one in the same in 17 percent of the ways) would have a sit-down with their respective brushback pitchers and encourage them (strongly) to focus on the tasks at hand - throwing strikes for employee No. 38 and writing worthwhile content for Employee No. Whatever. ...
A cool thing about blogs is: If some warped, frustrated old man tries to put you down, you don't just have to sit there and take it:
... Putting his inherent 'toolness' on display for all the world to see did far more than I could ever hope to do by trying to explain what a dope he is. ...
Dan Shaughnessy Watch puts the kibosh on one explanation for his absence:
Contrary to rumblings on the internet, a freshly tanned Dan is not returning to Boston after failing to land the role of Beaker in the touring company of the Muppet Show. ...
Of course, his slamming of everybody who reads Curt Schilling's blog makes the wait worth it.
Dan Shaughnessy Watch compiles a list of terms the CHB uses over and over and over again, such as "Young Theo" and, oddly, "Grey Poupon" - and solicits your help:
What is your favorite Shankism?
OK, this isn't Dan Shaughnessy Watch and it's not like I actually try to read his column any more, but man his column today, in which he takes a break from bashing Sox players so that he can luxuriate in Tom Brady's impending fatherhood, is just puerile. And you can all but hear Herr Shank cackling as he spends - at most - 15 minutes writing it. It ends:
Off the playing field, in 2007, nothing is out of bounds.
Oh, please.
Make Dan Shaughnessy retire and just use some software to create columns consisting entirely of random Shaughnessy phrases (such as "Theo and his minions").
Brian McGrory turns in a tearjerker of a column today, in which he talks to a woman who watched her three brothers brutally murdered in 1997. Go read it - with a box of Kleenex. And then hope McGrory keeps it up.
Dan Shaughnessy Watch is back in operation (although Michael Femia has certainly been doing yeoman work on the CHB beat of late).
Not that it really matters, but: What kind of phone do you think Dan Shaughnessy uses to call in his columns?
Michael Femia dissects today's ADD special so you don't have to:
Suppose Barry Bonds gets hot early. Suppose he's closing in on Hank Aaron when the Giants come to Fenway June 15. Highly unlikely, but just suppose . . .
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