Spit Tobacco
 

Creeping back into umpires mouths is ths insidious habit. The prevalence of smaller but more nicotine saturated "pinches" can keep this violation, at most parks, hidden to most. MLB players have become especially good at mixing their dip with sunflower seeds, bubble gum - the kids know this and MLB and most ump orgs turn their backs when it comes to enforcement.

It’s not as uncommon as you might think. One out of ten 12- to 17- year-olds nationwide uses spit tobacco.
Smokeless is not harmless. Where cigarette smokers must be concerned about cancers of the lungs, spit tobacco users face mouth, throat and stomach cancers. It is not uncommon for these cancers to develop within 5 years of using.
It doesn’t take long to get hooked. Because there is more nicotine from smokeless tobacco than from cigarettes, users of spit tobacco become addicted within weeks of first trying chew.

What are we thinking about?

First off, chewing and dipping have NEVER been against MLB rules. My men Jake Peavy and Marcus Giles have big old wads of chew in their mouths at all times. It's only banned in MiLB, High School and some youth ball leagues. Whenever I did a NABA, ADABA, USABF, MSBL, Mexican-American, or any other "big boy" or adult league, I have dipped and chewed with total immunity.

I dipped and chewed as a prison guard in the late 70s, and also as an umpire when working baseball games for years and years, and never got any cancer. You either are susceptable to cancer or you're not. I smoked from age 12 until two and half years ago, and never got cancer from that either. Imagine that! You either have cells that can become cancerous or you don't. Once again, it is all in the genes.

I think you should stop trying to dictate what people do in their private lives. You seem to try to act like Big Brother all the time. Knock it off.

I never said usage was banned however in all parks I umpire, tobacco usage is prohibited. Your overt use of tobacco is your poor choice.

It is true that some are predisposed, it appears, others not. The fact that you have survived your abusiveness, and you seem to gloat about both your abusive health behaviors, is what it is. A combination of ignorance and luck.

And it is pure luck that you aren't in seriously bad health. Can you tell us what genetic test one can take to determine?

I'm not dictating anything, I'm commenting and bringing to bear truths. Your sensitivities are understandable, they flow with your poor choices. If you take offense, examine why.

Ya know, former NL umpire Doug Harvey was a chewer until he contracted throat cancer. He is a strong advocate against it and routinely speaks on the subject.

Yeah, kudos to Doug, a brave thing to do.

Oh, my. </comment>

Oh my is correct.

Peace

Probably why he developed diabetes. Smoking, drinking, excessive eating (especially the wrong foods like too many sweets) and lack of sufficient exercise through the years caused Steve to be stricken with diabetes.

Really. Kids, don't take medical advice from SDS.