Print      
Despite comments, Schilling back on ESPN
By Mark Shanahan
Globe Staff

ESPN has confirmed that Curt Schilling (inset) is returning to the network’s “Monday Night Baseball’’ telecasts despite controversial comments the opinionated former Red Sox pitcher made about Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. Appearing earlier this month on a Kansas City sports radio station, Schilling, who’s never been shy about sharing his political views, said Clinton should go to jail for using a private e-mail server. “I hope she does. If I’m gonna believe, and I don’t have any reason not to believe, that she gave classified information on hundreds if not thousands of e-mails on a public server after what happened to General [David] Petraeus, she should be buried under a jail somewhere,’’ Schilling said. “If [Clinton is] allowed to get to the general election before she’s in prison, I’ll be stunned and upset.’’ Although the comments would seem to violate ESPN’s policy against employees talking politics, the network hasn’t responded to the righthander’s remarks publicly. (Earlier this year, ESPN announced its “2016 Presidential Election coverage policy,’’ which stipulates in part: “We should refrain from political editorializing, personal attacks or ‘drive-by’ comments regarding the candidates and their campaigns.’’) An ESPN spokesperson did tell the website Vocativ that “we’ve addressed it with Curt.’’ This is not the first time Schilling has made provocative comments related to politics and world events. Last summer, he was suspended by ESPN after he tweeted a meme comparing Muslims to Nazis.