Did the Don really mean it?
By David Lefort, Boston.com Staff
November 7, 2007 | 04:46 PM
Nah.
Here's what I think went down.
Don Shula has known Bill Belichick since he was little Billy Belichick, Steve's son. Start with that.
Don Shula's phone rings one day, and it's Bill Belichick.
"Coach, I need a favor," Belichick says. "We're on our bye week, and they're all going home, or wherever, and everyone's going to be talking 19-0 and how great they are. Our next game is at Buffalo now, and, you know, they're playing better, and there is no way, no matter what I say or do next week, I'll be able to keep them from sticking their heads up their you-know-what when we get to Buffalo. We should win by 30, and we'll be lucky to cover.
"So what I'm asking is this: Would you mind coming out and saying something like, 'Ha! If the Patriots go 19 and Oh they should put an asterisk on it?' Something like that. OK? I need something to get their attention. I'll make a donation to your foundation, or take everybody to dinner at your restaurant when we come down next year and maybe we'll tip the waiters big-time. Think you could do that for me?"
All right, it probably didn't go down like that. But it might as well have, because it was just what Belichick needs right now.
The two best things to happen to the New England Patriots this year were 1. Randy Moss and 2. Spygate. Both are gifts that keep on giving.
Moss is self-explanatory. Spygate is fascinating, because it never goes away, and has provided Belichick with a built-in motivational tool. They are playing with an Ayers Rock boulder on the shoulder every week.
People will not let it go. Never mind that the Shula comment was silly, for the simple reason that Spygate happened on the first day of the year. There would have been no conceivable gain from that day's proceedings, anyway.
This entire season has been played on the up-and-up. No one can argue otherwise. If the Patriots do go 19-0, there will be nothing anyone can say except, "Congratulations."
Don Shula is understandably proud of his 1972 Dolphins. That's why I can't get exorcised over what he said, particularly since it can only help the Patriots prepare for the remaining 10 games, capped off by the Super Bowl on February 3.
Everything is going Coach Bill's way. Has ever a coach of a then unbeaten team, as the Pats were after beating the Cowboys, had a comparable motivational tool in preparation for a game against a winless team, which the Dolphins were at the time (and still are), as Belichick had? At the conclusion of his Cowboys postgame press conference, he referenced the game from 2006, when the Dolphins shut out his team, 21-0. He never does that. But he had a reason to do it this time.
Anyway, Coach Bill owes Coach Shula a cigar, or something. It was almost as if he were on the Patriots payroll.
Aw, we love the big lug
Schill, I mean. I almost broke out the bubbly when I heard he was coming back. For a writer or columnist, there's nobody like him.
Did I think there was any chance it would happen? Nope. I was wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong WRONG! And happily so.
So what did happen?
Six weeks ago, uh-uh, no way, Jose. The Red Sox were ready to say good-bye, no matter what Schill or his blog buddies think. They were grateful for all he had done, but they were ready to move on.
The first thing that happened was that Schill once again walked the walk, winning three post-season games with his new toned-down repertoire.
You think he'd be here if he had been lit up in the playoffs? Please.
Then Schill fooled everyone. He came down from the guaranteed $13 million and actually did the reasonable thing, which was settle for an incentive-laden deal. The Red Sox knew what was out there in the market and decided that they would take him back on their terms. Schill capitulated, not that we should be feeling sorry for a guy who will pocket $10 million guaranteed next year provided he can avoid the dessert tray every now and then. He gets $2 million simply for not being fat. On behalf of just about everyone in North America, I say, "Where can we sign up?"
What a complicated guy. He has a huge heart. Few people do the legitimate charity work Curt Schilling does for both ALS and anything to do with cancer, especially skin cancer. But he does have a some major blowhard proclivities, shall we say. To me, it just makes him fun and interesting.
And he can still get people out. That's what matters in the long run, nothing else.
Welcome back, Curt. And think salads.
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