Schilling Stops Dipping

Philadelphia Phillie pitcher Curt Schilling, who’s been using smokeless tobacco for 15 years, must stop immediately or risk developing cancer.

A dipper for more than a decade, Schilling quit cold turkey on Monday, days after having a white lesion removed from his mouth.

“The sad thing about it is I had to wait until I had no choice,” Schilling said. “I would like to think I know what it’s like to be addicted to drugs. I made the choice to dip, but I didn’t choose the addiction.”

*

Aaron Boone has been told he will need surgery to correct a heart valve problem. But the Cincinnati Red infielder may not have to undergo the operation for 10 years, doctors told him. . . . . Florida Marlin President Don Smiley was given approval by baseball’s ownership committee to become the team’s controlling owner if he can finalize his purchase from H. Wayne Huizenga. Smiley has put together a group to buy the team for about $150 million. . . . Outfielder Dave Nilsson of the Milwaukee Brewers underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee and is expected to be out of action until May, the club announced.