{"id":3115,"date":"2015-04-17T17:45:12","date_gmt":"2015-04-17T17:45:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pepesnonsmokingpartytimelounge.com\/?p=3115"},"modified":"2015-04-17T17:45:52","modified_gmt":"2015-04-17T17:45:52","slug":"curt-schillings-letter-to-his-16-year-old-self-stay-away-from-chew","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pepesnonsmokingpartytimelounge.com\/?p=3115","title":{"rendered":"Curt Schilling’s letter to his 16-year-old self — stay away from chew"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"curt<\/a><\/p>\n

Curt Schilling wrote an open letter to himsel<\/a>f on a site called “The Players’ Tribune” about the dangers of chewing tobacco.<\/p>\n

Curt Schilling as you know, was a longtime chewer who last year developed oral cancer. After months of chemo and radiation, he is cancer-free and is now a big anti-chew advocate.<\/p>\n

Schilling isn’t my favourite player out there. He’s a bit of a blowhard, I don’t like his politics and I don’t have a lot of patience for athletes who feel the need to rub their faith in people’s noses, but when it comes to the issue of chewing tobacco, he’s on the right side.<\/p>\n

A lot of his letter gets preachy — I’ll skip over that — but he says some great things about chew in his piece:<\/p>\n

\n

Tomorrow at lunch, a kid is going to dare you to take a dip of Copenhagen. If you say yes, like I did, you\u2019ll be addicted for the rest of your life. Well, the rest of your life up to the point when you are diagnosed with cancer.<\/span><\/p>\n

I get what you\u2019re thinking. You\u2019re 16 \u2014 you\u2019re invincible, just like all your buddies. If you were to jump ahead 33 years, you couldn\u2019t write a better dream than the one your life is going to be.<\/p>\n

With one exception.<\/p>\n

If you say yes tomorrow, you will become addicted to chewing tobacco and you will get mouth cancer.<\/p>\n

\"schilling3\"<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

OK, there is a long preachy part, I get the point that Schilling is trying to make, but it’s really preachy. Anyway, then Schilling returns to his chew use:<\/p>\n

\n

You will develop sores, you will lose your sense of taste and<\/em> smell. You will develop lesions. You will lose your gums \u2014 they will rot. You will have problems with your teeth for the rest of your life.<\/span><\/p>\n

You will meet men \u2014 many good, honest men \u2014 who chewed. None of them will have their entire face. They will be missing jaws, chins, cheeks, noses and more. None will live more than a year or two after you meet them. All of them were tobacco chewers.<\/span><\/p>\n

You will meet Joe Garigiola. He will introduce you to Bill Tuttle. Bill will have no lower face. His entire lower jaw is gone. It was that, or die of mouth cancer. Well, not \u201cthat or,\u201d because that mouth cancer would kill him inside of two years.<\/span><\/p>\n

You will brush your teeth and your mouth will bleed. Not light blood from your gums, but darker blood from deeper inside your mouth. That\u2019s the chew destroying your tissue. You will get message after message, but your addiction will always<\/em>\u00a0win, until it wins the biggest battle.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

You will get message after message, but your addiction will always<\/em>\u00a0win, until it wins the biggest battle<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

If you say yes tomorrow, you will begin to kill yourself from the inside out. It\u2019s difficult for you to understand in this current phase of your life, but by chewing tobacco, you are jeopardizing your participation in what will be some of your most important moments.<\/span><\/p>\n

You will risk any chance of seeing your four amazing children graduate high school. You will potentially lose the opportunity to walk your daughter Gabriella (who, like her dad, will be blessed with\u00a0simple yet outstanding pitching mechanics) down the aisle. You will risk not seeing Gehrig, your oldest son, pitch for four years at a New England college. You may miss your son Grant\u00a0graduating high school and changing the world. \u00a0And you may be absent as your youngest son Garrison \u2014 who aspires to follow in your father\u2019s footsteps and join the army \u2014 masterfully plays goalie with a remarkable passion.<\/p>\n

…<\/p>\n

Your dad is going to die in five years. You know what\u2019s going to kill him? A heart attack brought on by heart disease and lung cancer caused by tobacco use. He\u2019ll die right in front of you.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Finally, consider this: How many kids will start dipping over the next 32 years because they saw you<\/em> do it?<\/p>\n

Do you want that on you? No?<\/span><\/p>\n

Then my advice is simple. Tomorrow, at lunch, just say no.<\/span><\/p>\n

Make the right choice,<\/p>\n

– Curt<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Curt Schilling wrote an open letter to himself on a site called “The Players’ Tribune” about the dangers of chewing tobacco. Curt Schilling as you know, was a longtime chewer who last year developed oral cancer. After months of chemo and radiation, he is cancer-free and is now a big anti-chew advocate. Schilling isn’t my … Continue reading Curt Schilling’s letter to his 16-year-old self — stay away from chew<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3117,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[263,14,326,1],"tags":[272,108,674],"class_list":["post-3115","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-chew-in-baseball","category-chewing-tobacco","category-curt-schilling","category-uncategorized","tag-chew-in-baseball-2","tag-chewing-tobacco-2","tag-curt-schilling"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pepesnonsmokingpartytimelounge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/curt-schilling2.jpg?fit=2000%2C1325&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4hpEa-Of","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2386,"url":"https:\/\/pepesnonsmokingpartytimelounge.com\/?p=2386","url_meta":{"origin":3115,"position":0},"title":"Curt Schilling reveals he has oral cancer, blames chewing tobacco","author":"Pepe Lepew","date":"August 21, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Hey, back for an update after a long break. Another baseball, chewing tobacco bombshell: Former Red Sox, Diamondback and Phillies pitcher Curt Schilling revealed yesterday that he is battling oral cancer, and he directly blames his years of chewing tobacco while playing baseball. \"I do believe, without a doubt, unquestionably\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Chew in baseball"","block_context":{"text":"Chew in baseball","link":"https:\/\/pepesnonsmokingpartytimelounge.com\/?cat=263"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pepesnonsmokingpartytimelounge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/curt-schilling.jpg?fit=620%2C350&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pepesnonsmokingpartytimelounge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/curt-schilling.jpg?fit=620%2C350&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pepesnonsmokingpartytimelounge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/curt-schilling.jpg?fit=620%2C350&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2399,"url":"https:\/\/pepesnonsmokingpartytimelounge.com\/?p=2399","url_meta":{"origin":3115,"position":1},"title":"Boston Herald columnist calls for banning chewing tobacco in baseball","author":"Pepe Lepew","date":"August 24, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Boston Herald columnist Michael Silverman wrote a powerful column this week that it's time for Major League Baseball to ban chewing tobacco. This is hitting home in Boston right now because former Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling, who helped the Sox win two World Series, recently revealed that he is\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Chew in baseball"","block_context":{"text":"Chew in baseball","link":"https:\/\/pepesnonsmokingpartytimelounge.com\/?cat=263"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pepesnonsmokingpartytimelounge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/schilling777887.r.jpg?fit=460%2C385&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":3693,"url":"https:\/\/pepesnonsmokingpartytimelounge.com\/?p=3693","url_meta":{"origin":3115,"position":2},"title":"Los Angeles bans chewing tobacco at ballparks, including Dodger Stadium","author":"Pepe Lepew","date":"January 27, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Professor Farnsworth says, Big news, everyone! The city of Los Angeles, the second biggest city in the country, just banned chewing tobacco at all athletic venues. This includes Dodger Stadium. And this includes ballplayers ... on the field. L.A. is the third major city to ban chewing tobacco at ballparks\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Chew in baseball"","block_context":{"text":"Chew in baseball","link":"https:\/\/pepesnonsmokingpartytimelounge.com\/?cat=263"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pepesnonsmokingpartytimelounge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Dodger-Stadium.jpg?fit=1200%2C722&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pepesnonsmokingpartytimelounge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Dodger-Stadium.jpg?fit=1200%2C722&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pepesnonsmokingpartytimelounge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Dodger-Stadium.jpg?fit=1200%2C722&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pepesnonsmokingpartytimelounge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Dodger-Stadium.jpg?fit=1200%2C722&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pepesnonsmokingpartytimelounge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Dodger-Stadium.jpg?fit=1200%2C722&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3424,"url":"https:\/\/pepesnonsmokingpartytimelounge.com\/?p=3424","url_meta":{"origin":3115,"position":3},"title":"Boston mayor proposes ban on chewing tobacco at Fenway Park, other ballfields","author":"Pepe Lepew","date":"August 5, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Well, right on the heels of my story about the New York Times writing about San Francisco's ban on ballpark chewing tobacco, the major of Boston, Martin Walsh, is now proposing a similar ban on chewing tobacco at Boston parks and ballfields, which include Fenway Park. Walsh said he is\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Chew in baseball"","block_context":{"text":"Chew in baseball","link":"https:\/\/pepesnonsmokingpartytimelounge.com\/?cat=263"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pepesnonsmokingpartytimelounge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Fenway_from_Legends_Box.jpg?fit=1200%2C797&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pepesnonsmokingpartytimelounge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Fenway_from_Legends_Box.jpg?fit=1200%2C797&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pepesnonsmokingpartytimelounge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Fenway_from_Legends_Box.jpg?fit=1200%2C797&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pepesnonsmokingpartytimelounge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Fenway_from_Legends_Box.jpg?fit=1200%2C797&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pepesnonsmokingpartytimelounge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Fenway_from_Legends_Box.jpg?fit=1200%2C797&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3231,"url":"https:\/\/pepesnonsmokingpartytimelounge.com\/?p=3231","url_meta":{"origin":3115,"position":4},"title":"Madison Bumgarner, Bruce Bochy both support ban on chewing tobacco at AT&T Park","author":"Pepe Lepew","date":"May 13, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Surprised me a bit that these two would step into this issue, but I thought it was great. The city of San Francisco banned chewing tobacco recently at all sporting venues (It won't actually take effect until Jan. 1, 2016), including at the Giants' stadium, AT&T Park. This means that\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Chew in baseball"","block_context":{"text":"Chew in baseball","link":"https:\/\/pepesnonsmokingpartytimelounge.com\/?cat=263"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pepesnonsmokingpartytimelounge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Bumgarner-Bochy.jpg?fit=1200%2C454&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pepesnonsmokingpartytimelounge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Bumgarner-Bochy.jpg?fit=1200%2C454&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pepesnonsmokingpartytimelounge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Bumgarner-Bochy.jpg?fit=1200%2C454&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pepesnonsmokingpartytimelounge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Bumgarner-Bochy.jpg?fit=1200%2C454&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pepesnonsmokingpartytimelounge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Bumgarner-Bochy.jpg?fit=1200%2C454&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3362,"url":"https:\/\/pepesnonsmokingpartytimelounge.com\/?p=3362","url_meta":{"origin":3115,"position":5},"title":"L.A. Times: Chew is deeply ingrained in the culture of baseball","author":"Pepe Lepew","date":"June 18, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Here's a great story from the L.A. Times exploring the culture of chewing tobacco in baseball. San Francisco recently banned chewing tobacco at all ballparks, including AT&T (to take effect next year), while both the city of L.A. and the state of California are considering similar bans. The issue of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "baseball"","block_context":{"text":"baseball","link":"https:\/\/pepesnonsmokingpartytimelounge.com\/?cat=9"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pepesnonsmokingpartytimelounge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/Mark-derosa.jpg?fit=575%2C328&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pepesnonsmokingpartytimelounge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/Mark-derosa.jpg?fit=575%2C328&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pepesnonsmokingpartytimelounge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/Mark-derosa.jpg?fit=575%2C328&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pepesnonsmokingpartytimelounge.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3115","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pepesnonsmokingpartytimelounge.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pepesnonsmokingpartytimelounge.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pepesnonsmokingpartytimelounge.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pepesnonsmokingpartytimelounge.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3115"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/pepesnonsmokingpartytimelounge.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3115\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3120,"href":"https:\/\/pepesnonsmokingpartytimelounge.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3115\/revisions\/3120"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pepesnonsmokingpartytimelounge.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3117"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pepesnonsmokingpartytimelounge.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3115"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pepesnonsmokingpartytimelounge.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3115"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pepesnonsmokingpartytimelounge.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3115"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}