If something happens in Curt Schilling's world, and he doesn't blog about it, I don't think it ever really happened. But since he's confirmed the season-ending shoulder surgery over at 38pitches, it's safe to say... yep, this is really happening.

His blog entry is written like a man who thinks the journey over and is saying goodbye - he talks about the possibility that he could emerge from the surgery with another shot at playing ball, but it doesn't sound like he really believes that's what will happen. So most of his post is summing up his 22-year career and saying au revoir to the fans.

To you fans, thank you, thank you, thank you. If it is all over, every single moment and memory I'll take away from my career comes with your involvement and support. More athletes than you know recognize this and appreciate it. The 4 years I was allowed the honor of wearing [the Red Sox] uniform I would hope you believe I did so with honor, integrity and respect, for the game but more importantly for my manager, coaches and teammates.

The game was here for well over a hundred years before I came along, and will be for that and more after I am gone, it owes Curt Schilling absolutely nothing, it gave me far more than I ever gave it.

If this was my last shot, and it is over, I wouldn't change a thing (ok well that's not totally true because I WOULD push rewind, go back to a few instances and shut my mouth, but hey we can't all be perfect) that happened to me, with me or on any teams I played on. In 22 years I would say I had the honor of playing with some of the greatest of all time, and at most 3-4 really bad people, that's not a bad thing.