PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Curt Schilling is blaming Rhode Island economic development officials and the governor for much of the financial troubles facing his video game company. The former Red Sox pitcher tells The Providence Journal that the state promised and did not deliver film tax credits for 38 Studios and refused to allow the company to defer a $1.1 million payment, forcing it to miss a May 15 payroll. In his first public remarks on the company’s problems, Schilling told the newspaper for its Tuesday editions that public remarks by Gov. Lincoln Chafee that the state was trying to keep his company solvent were “devastating.” He said that shortly after those remarks, a video-game publisher pulled out of a deal to finance a new game. “The governor is not operating in the best interest of the company by any stretch, or the taxpayers, or the state.” …Schilling, 45, tells the newspaper he stands to lose all the money he saved while playing baseball, and rejects criticism that he is seeking a public handout.
In my wildest dreams I never thought it possible, but one of our all time clutch athletic heroes is making a bunch of sleazy politicians look good by comparison. Rhode Island politicians, no less, who operate on a whole other plane of corruption from regular politicians. Harry Truman had a sign on his desk that said “The Buck Stops Here.” But the one on Schilling’s 38 Studios desk apparently says “I Pass the Buck to the Suckers Who Handed Me $75 Million to Make an Elaborate Toy For Entertaining Teenage Virgins.” Listen, were the hapless stooges who are running RI into the ground to blame? Absolutely. They got stars in their eyes and ignored every bit of common sense and sound business practices because they wanted to sniff the Bloody Jock for the rest of their careers. But if 38 Studios was such on such precarious footing that they couldn’t survive the governor of the state saying “Um, where’s our first payment?”, then Schilling never should’ve gotten involved in the business of making nerd-distractors in the first place. And please, he can knock it off with this “I wasn’t seeking a handout” nonsense. What does he think tax credits and deferred payments are? Presents? Rewards for a job well done? Thank yous for Game 6 in Yankee Stadium? Look, I’m sorry the company went under. When a business is successful it’s good for everyone. A rising tide lifts all boats. I wished he made a billion dollars on 38 Studios, honestly. But for Curt Schilling to suggest anyone not named Curt Schilling is to blame for all this is either laughable or cowardly and I’m not sure which is worse.
Now that he’s broken his silence, I’m going to suggest he go back to shutting up. He sounded a lot smarter running to his car No Commenting everyone. Of course if he was smart he’d just be telling the Rhode Island taxpayers this:
@JerryThornton1
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