Curt Schilling diagnosed with cancer — 'I'll embrace this fight,' he says
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Former MLB star Curt Schilling was always a gutsy pitcher on the mound, a guy you could call on in big moments and dire situations. He's going to need to bring some of resolve to his next fight.
Schilling, 47, announced Wednesday he's been diagnosed with cancer.
Schilling didn't share what type of cancer he has or what his prognosis is, but he did say he'd fight it "head on." He currently works as an MLB analyst for ESPN. The network published the statement below, but didn't specifically say how Schilling's health crisis will affect his time on-air, only that it would welcome him back whenever he's ready.
"I've always believed life is about embracing the gifts and rising up to meet the challenges. We've been presented with another challenge, as I've recently been diagnosed with cancer. Shonda and I want to send a sincere thank you and our appreciation to those who have called and sent prayers, and we ask that if you are so inclined, to keep the Schilling family in your prayers.
"My father left me with a saying that I've carried my entire life and tried to pass on to our kids: 'Tough times don't last, tough people do.' Over the years in Boston, the kids at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have shown us what that means. With my incredibly talented medical team I'm ready to try and win another big game. I've been so very blessed and I feel grateful for what God has allowed my family to have and experience, and I'll embrace this fight just like the rest of them, with resolute faith and head on."
Life post-baseball hasn't been kind to Curt Schilling. He attempted to launch a video-game company but failed. He lost about $50 million and was sued by the state of Rhode Island. Schilling was forced to sell a lot of his possessions in a massive estate sale in October. He also only recently shared that he had a heart attack in 2011.
Cancer is a bigger and more important battle than winning a baseball game or steering a fledgling video-game company. We wish Schilling and his family the best.
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