We all know Philadelphia?s history and how long the city has been waiting for a championship. But, winning isn?t everything. I can't express how much I agree with a colleague's recent assessment of the Philadelphia Phillies? woes. As my partner so eloquently stated, the team has spent far too much time sacrificing arms at the expense of lumber. And, I think we all understand if the Fightin?s acquiesced to demands of Curt Schilling, they likely would have brought home some hardware in the past decade. But, it wouldn?t have been worth it. If there were an award for the most hated man in professional sports, Barry Bonds would likely win in a landslide. The undisputed champ in my mind is Schilling. I'm in the minority but I celebrate the fact that the Phils jettisoned this jackass, fully aware he has garnered two world championships. Anything that saves me from listening to this insufferable lout on a daily basis is a positive. Having seen a couple of Curt?s blowups behind the scenes, let?s just say there is a gap between the true nature of the man and the image he likes to project in public. Schilling?s self-serving rhetoric during the congressional steroid hearings last March was just the tip of the iceberg. If you want a few laughs, pick up the issue of GQ that actually rated the 10 most hated athletes in professional sports and you might begin to realize what a hopeless fraud we are talking about: On days Schilling doesn?t pitch, he is famous for paying homage to Adam Copeland by striking a series of five-second poses for the benefit of those with flash photography and of course, the TV cameras. His manager with the Phillies, Jim Fregosi, actually christened him with the nickname ?Red Light Curt.? In fact, Schilling?s need for attention is so overwhelming that many (including yours truly) doubt his legendary ?Bloody Sock? performance in the 2004 postseason, when this bastion of physical fitness supposedly pitched on an ankle tendon sutured back in place. You may be able to ignore the fact that pitchers in pristine physical condition couldn?t have pulled that off and Schilling?s next career move will likely be pitchman for Krispy Kreme. But during the game, as cameras continually focused on the red stain on Schilling?s sock, it, curiously, never spread. Well, as the Red Sox headed to New York this week, Schilling was back at it, calling the New York press ?bad people.? Nothing like a generalization to bring home intellectual inferiority. And after getting shellacked by an overrated Bombers team, Curt left Yankee Stadium before Thursday?s game in full uniform to go to the hospital for a ?personal matter.? Of course, he made sure to leave through the press exit so all those ?bad people? saw it and had to write about it. The malady confronting Schilling was so serious; he was back on the field 45 minutes later. ?I wouldn?t be surprised if Curt just wanted that picture of him coming out of the Stadium and getting in the car in uniform,? a Boston official told the New York Daily News. Yep, his own people are fully aware of what a phony Schill is. Winning isn?t everything... Let low rent towns celebrate pariahs...Philadelphia is better than that. You can reach John McMullen at [email protected]