By PAULA BOIVIN
The Arizona Republic

When Curt Schilling agreed to leave the Arizona Diamondbacks in November, he became not only a citizen of the Red Sox Nation but of an unparalleled universe where his popularity exploded like a supernova and his privacy vanished like a shooting star.

He wouldn't have it any other way.

"I'm ... I'm not sure if I can even translate it properly," the Boston pitcher said.

Schilling speechless? This is serious.

The Red Sox are at the heart of the best storyline in sports right now, one that has nothing to do with legal briefs or women's briefs, but of baseball pure and undiluted, of a pennant race that could make the final month of the baseball season must-see TV.

In a span of three weeks, the Red Sox cut the New York Yankees' lead in the American League East from 10 1/2 games to 2 1/2.

Boston just completed a 10-game home stand that included a four-game sweep of Detroit, a three-game sweep of Anaheim and winning two of three vs. Texas.

Schilling capped the home stand Sunday by logging his major league-leading 18th victory.

"They love him here," said John Wallach, a sports talk-show host on Boston radio station WEEI-AM. "And if he gets them a World Series, he'll earn godlike status."

Red Sox fans are in frenzy over a pennant race with a Yankees team that just lost starter Kevin Brown indefinitely after he punched a wall with his nonpitching hand. They love that Schilling is 10-1 at Fenway Park and 6-0 with a 2.33 ERA in his past six starts following a Red Sox loss.

The fervor "is every waking moment of every day," Schilling said. "It's like the National Football League except that the fans don't have six days to dissect every game, so they do it every night. It's unavoidable, but it's really cool, too. I'm sure if I was struggling, it would be a lot harder."

To protect his privacy, Schilling said he hasn't gone out since relocating to Boston, "in order to avoid the uncomfortable situations." He wakes up, plays with his four children and goes to the ballpark.

Even though he avoids public situations, he has made a strong connection with Red Sox fans. He periodically participates in chats on fan message boards. He calls into WEEI when he has an issue with the hosts.

"You look on the computer screen and it says, 'Curt on a car phone,' " Wallach said.

Last month, he took exception to comments that criticized manager Terry Francona for playing Gold Glove first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz at second base for one game and got into a spirited exchange with the hosts.

"But then right after that, he comes into the studio for our Gold Glove first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz (a fund-raiser for cancer awareness) and stays and was very generous," Wallach said.

His experience is a sharp contrast from Arizona, where the clubhouse was bigger, the media contingent smaller and the spotlight dimmer. Schilling was recognized in public but not to this extent.

He still sports the work ethic that defined his stay in Phoenix. He videotapes every start and spends hours talking with teammates about mental preparation and opposing players' tendencies.

Schilling is enjoying the ride but not dwelling on his 18-6 record.

"I know that's not what they traded me for," he said. "Those games don't start for four weeks."

Despite the loss of Brown, the Yankees will remain a formidable opponent. They have six more games against the Red Sox, but 16 against losing clubs.

"We just have to keep doing what we're doing," Schilling said. "It's fun, I'll tell you that."