Soccer Player Chokes on Gum, Almost Dies

In retrospect, I suppose it seems like a bad idea -- chewing a mouthful of gum while head-butting things -- but since people have been playing soccer for centuries without incident, maybe we took for granted Bubblicious' hidden dangers.

In any event, Vasco da Gama strike Aloisio almost died after choking on gum during a recent match. And I don't mean "almost died" in a "I coughed a lot and threw up!" sorta way. I mean it in a "I quit breathing and turned purple."

Aloisio choked on his gum after going up for a header. And as Goal.com so eloquently put it, "With the chewy substance obstructing his airway, an ambulance had to be called to take him to the hospital."

''I don't remember a lot,'' Aloisio said, according to the New York Times. ''I only remember the doctor taking the gum out. I have never been scared like this -- no more chewing gum for me.''

That's a lesson we could all stand to heed.

Via Dirty Tackle