AP: Curt Schilling could have been ready to pitch in the AL championship series, according to his surgeon.

Curt Schilling: I have not spoken with Craig in two weeks since our last 'check up' but the comments he made were his own:

He, unfortunately, like me has little to no filter when asked about things he feels comfortable with knowledge wise. My arm and pitching, and shoulders, are certainly topics he is smarter than anyone I've ever met on.

However, like so many times before, the timing is horrific. ...

Dear Curt offers advice on everything.

Oh, God, yes, make him stop.

No, he's a refreshing breeze in the stale room of jock talk.

Curt Schilling writes:

... My first thoughts a few weeks ago were that maybe I'd work to get healthy and shoot to try and make the WBC team, but I just don't think that's in the cards. Next I started thinking about the original plan of pitching the 2nd half of next season. Thing is, that urgency just is not there. I miss some things I didn’t think I would, and don't miss many things I expected too.

As I stated yesterday the pendulum is swinging very heavily in the direction of it just being over. ...

Schilling posts photos from his shoulder surgery. Fun for budding surgeons everywhere.

No. 38 posts: 3 World Series rings, 3k innings plus later, there’s a chance it's all over:

... To you fans, thank you, thank you, thank you. If it is all over, every single moment and memory I'll take away from my career comes with your involvement and support. More athletes than you know recognize this and appreciate it. The 4 years I was allowed the honor of wearing this uniform I would hope you believe I did so with honor, integrity and respect, for the game but more importantly for my manager, coaches and teammates. ...

To have shoulder surgery on Monday.

Photo plus bonus Curt thoughts on the Youk/Manny dustup (nothing to see, move along), Manny being Manny, the amazing Jon Lester story and, of course, his thoughts on the Celtics game:

... Kevin Garnett, and not that this needs to be stated, but I'll say it anyway, is as focused and locked in as any athlete in any sport I've been around. From pre-game shoot around to last seconds on the clock, this kid is legit. The intensity and reputation are there, wow. His eyes are on the floor, or the ball, all game. What an incredible pleasure it is to watch and be a fan of. I am blown away in that he came out of high school, something that can be a huge disadvantage, and has ALWAYS maintained who he was purported to be. ...

Shaughnessy is in full-bore shank mode today, ripping into Curt "Big Lug" Schilling. Why'd he wait so long? Now that he's getting older, must take him longer to collect all his bile in a jar. Or as Dan Shaughnessy Watch puts it:

... In the end, this was an amateurish hack job. In the ultimate irony....Shaughnessy, the media whore himself, is spread too thin with writing books and showing up on TV to be capable of writing a legitimate piece. I wonder if Shaughnessy wakes up in the middle of night and sees the beady eyes of a monster in the corner and thinks to himself "That must be the Big Lug" before he realizes that he is just looking in the mirror.

Maybe this will take your mind off this.