The bloody sock revisited

Remember Curt Schilling's famous bloody sock from the 2004 postseason? With the constant close-ups on TV, and endless replays on the Red Sox local affiliate -- ESPN -- who could forget it, right?

Ever since Schilling went to the mound against the Yankees in the LCS and the Cardinals in the World Series that season, there have been whispers and rumors about the red sock of the Red Sox pitcher (the one he used against the Cardinals in Game 2 of the Series is now in the Baseball Hall of Fame).

Broadcaster Gary Thorne said on television last night that the bloody sock was really just paint. He claims Boston catcher Doug Mirabelli as his source.

"The great story we were talking about the other night was that famous red stocking that he wore when they finally won, the blood on his stocking," Thorne told broadcast partner and Hall of Fame pitcher Jim Palmer.

"Nah," Thorne said. "It was painted. Doug Mirabelli confessed up to it after. It was all for PR. Two-ball, two-strike count."

Two innings later, according to media reports, Thorne explained Mirabelli had told him the story "a couple of years ago."

"Go ask him [Mirabelli]," Thorne said.

The media did just that after the game. Mirabelli says Thorne is…well…basically full of it.

"What? Are you kidding me? He's [expletive] lying. A straight lie," Mirabelli told the Boston Globe. "I never said that. I know it was blood. Everybody knows it was blood."

Newsday columnist Jim Baumbach has the same question I did after reading the story -- why would Thorne, a veteran broadcaster, lie -- especially on the air?

The mystery of the bloody sock continues.

Update: Thorne changes his story.

Update II: Schilling responds on his blog.

It was blood. You can choose to believe whatever you need to, but facts are facts. The 25 guys that were in that locker room, the coaches, they all know it. In the end nothing else really matters. The people that need to believe otherwise are people with their own insecurities and issues.

Update III: Schilling offers $1 million to anyone who can prove it was not blood. Anytime I read of anyone with a $1 million offer, I immediately think of Austin Powers. This whole thing has become insane.