| Pitch for Awareness |
| 2010 National Tour |
| September 9, 2010 |
Producer Alex...
Recently Kevin, of your station’s Kevin and Bean, posted these comments on KROQ’s website:
"F**k you "Guy with no arms!"
(Tom's photo)
“This is Tom Willis. He was born without both arms. He’s trying to throw out the first pitch at every baseball stadium in the country.
I’ve tried that twice. First time? Fail. Second? Epic fail. And although I’ve got both arms, it takes super human strength to get the
ball away from the gravitational pull of my giant head.”
“Note to “guy with no arms,” as well as “guy who climbs Mt. Everest without legs” etc. I’m aware that I’m blessed, and I’m wasting
my life, and I still complain as if I’ve got real problems. But I prefer to live with my head in the sand. So, stop it.”
(Tom's video embedded)
“Here’s my message to kids: If you’re born without arms, you might be able to try and throw the first pitch at a baseball field, but
you won’t make it to the plate, either. You know why? No arms.”
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Tom Willis (via e-mail)
Tuesday, September 07, 2010 2:54 PM
KROQ Alex
Kevin's website comments
Tuesday, September 07, 2010 2:54 PM
KROQ Alex
Kevin's website comments
My name is TOM WILLIS and I’m the "guy with no arms" Kevin was referring to, as both a photo of me and a video of my pitch were
included in his post.
I live in San Diego and, to the best of my knowledge, have never listened to your station. Judging by your station’s website, and
programs such as “Vomit by Noon” (found on station website) I can see that Kevin plays the role of shock jock on this program.
So I have no complaint about Kevin’s comments – the First Amendment guarantees him that right.
I do, however, disagree with his statement that if a child is born without arms, “…you might be able to try and throw the first pitch
at a baseball field, but you won’t make it to the plate, either. You know why? No arms.”
Please point out to Kevin that I conducted my Pitch for Awareness National Tour this summer, during which time I threw a
ceremonial first pitch at eight major league ballparks. My goals for each pitch were simple: 1) get the ball to the catcher, 2) don’t
throw the ball past the catcher, and 3) don’t make a fool of myself.
Combined with my 2008 pitch at a San Diego Padres game (video on site), I am proud of the fact that I achieved my goals each
time. Of my nine MLB pitches to date: 3 were strikes, 3 crossed the plate after one hop (none more than 2 feet in front of the
plate), and 2 were outside, but never passed the catcher.
included in his post.
I live in San Diego and, to the best of my knowledge, have never listened to your station. Judging by your station’s website, and
programs such as “Vomit by Noon” (found on station website) I can see that Kevin plays the role of shock jock on this program.
So I have no complaint about Kevin’s comments – the First Amendment guarantees him that right.
I do, however, disagree with his statement that if a child is born without arms, “…you might be able to try and throw the first pitch
at a baseball field, but you won’t make it to the plate, either. You know why? No arms.”
Please point out to Kevin that I conducted my Pitch for Awareness National Tour this summer, during which time I threw a
ceremonial first pitch at eight major league ballparks. My goals for each pitch were simple: 1) get the ball to the catcher, 2) don’t
throw the ball past the catcher, and 3) don’t make a fool of myself.
Combined with my 2008 pitch at a San Diego Padres game (video on site), I am proud of the fact that I achieved my goals each
time. Of my nine MLB pitches to date: 3 were strikes, 3 crossed the plate after one hop (none more than 2 feet in front of the
plate), and 2 were outside, but never passed the catcher.
My Tour is in no way designed to make people think, “I’m aware that I’m blessed, and I’m wasting my life, and I still complain as if
Ive got real problems.”
I’m no better or worse than any other person. And my hope is that, after seeing my pitch, people will learn (as I did) to adapt to life
and move forward with what you have. The choice is yours.
Indeed, I encourage Kevin, “…to live with (his) head in the sand.”
But, as he suggests, I won’t “stop it!”
This Tour received coverage by Sports Illustrated, MLB.com, MSNBC, AOL News, ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, and countless other
news/sports outlets.
I received messages from people around the country who encourage me to continue to show the world what I CAN do… and not
worry about what I CAN’T do.
Finally, in response to his comment to me – "F**k you "Guy with no arms!" – I hear his message loud and clear.
My response is similar to what he likely tells callers who don’t like him and/or his program – change the station. He can skip on to
the next story buried with his head in the sand while the rest of us move forward to try and make the world a better place.
Tom Willis
Pitch for Awareness National Tour
Ive got real problems.”
I’m no better or worse than any other person. And my hope is that, after seeing my pitch, people will learn (as I did) to adapt to life
and move forward with what you have. The choice is yours.
Indeed, I encourage Kevin, “…to live with (his) head in the sand.”
But, as he suggests, I won’t “stop it!”
This Tour received coverage by Sports Illustrated, MLB.com, MSNBC, AOL News, ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, and countless other
news/sports outlets.
I received messages from people around the country who encourage me to continue to show the world what I CAN do… and not
worry about what I CAN’T do.
Finally, in response to his comment to me – "F**k you "Guy with no arms!" – I hear his message loud and clear.
My response is similar to what he likely tells callers who don’t like him and/or his program – change the station. He can skip on to
the next story buried with his head in the sand while the rest of us move forward to try and make the world a better place.
Tom Willis
Pitch for Awareness National Tour
| My pitches can – and do – make it to the plate. |
| So Kevin’s statement, “…but you won’t make it to the plate, either. You know why? No arms…” is false. |
