Former ESPN analyst Curt Schilling tried to clear his name Friday after being fired from the network for sharing an anti-transgender meme on Facebook.
“I’m not transphobic,” Schilling said in an interview on SiriusXM radio. “I’m not homophobic.”
The baseball commentator insisted he has “never” treated an individual differently based on race, religion or sexual preference.
“I don’t care! I’ve never cared. As long as you’re not sleeping with my wife, I don’t care who you sleep with,” Schilling said.
ESPN dismissed Schilling on Wednesday for posting a meme that showed a man in a wig and women’s clothing along with this caption: “Let him into the restroom with your daughter or else you’re a narrow-minded, judgmental, unloving, racist bigot who needs to die!!!”
The network labeled his behavior “unacceptable.”
Schilling defended himself as an open-minded person in the Sirius interview, arguing the controversy over the post was overblown. He pointed out his 16-year-old son had helped found an LGBT club at his high school.
“That’s his group, that’s the people he loves and hangs out with,” Schilling said. “Those kids are in and out of this house all the time.”
h/t CNN Money
He’s not a transphobe. He just plays one in public.
I don’t think those words mean what you think they mean.
Just a variant on the very tired, very old, very familiar “I’m not a racist, but ni&&ers, amirite?”
No. Just go sell your crap on fox news. The job is waiting for you. Don’t turn back, follow Trump. Do what you do.
It’s always disappointing to find out that a sports idol is a complete douchnozzle. In the case of Schilling, he has worked hard to destroy the positive memory of his accomplishments in baseball, because he can’t keep from spewing whatever silly shit pops into his head.
Athletes should stick to athletics, and leave the social commentary to others. Having the ability to throw a 90 mph fastball, and to follow it up with a breaking ball that falls off the table does not mean that your random thoughts are relevant, accurate, or worthy of expression.