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Two Democratic senators are asking baseball commissioner Bud Selig to ban all tobacco use in the sport, specifically citing smokeless products.
Sens. Dick Durbin of Illinois and Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey are suggesting that Selig push for a ban as part of the negotiations in the players' collective bargaining agreement later this year.
Major League Baseball banned tobacco use in its minor leagues in 1993, but still allows it in the big leagues. The senators say Major League Baseball "is undoubtedly complicit" in the increase its use with school-aged boys.
In a letter to Selig, Durbin and Lautenberg wrote, "We now know conclusively that smokeless tobacco endangers the health of baseball players who use it, but it also affects millions of young people who watch baseball."
"The use of smokeless tobacco by baseball players undermines the positive image of the sport and sends a dangerous message to young fans, who may be influenced by the players they look up to as role models," they wrote
The senators say they were motivated to write the letter because of an recent newspaper article written by Washington Nationals pitcher Steven Strasburg. The pitcher said his initial use chewing tobacco stemmed from a desire to emulate pro baseball players.
Referencing a National Youth Risk Behavior Survey, the senators say the use of smokeless tobacco products has increased 36% among high school boys since 2003, raising its use among all boys to 15%.
"While tobacco companies spend millions on ads tailored to attract young people to use tobacco products, MLB is undoubtedly complicit in attracting many young people to try smokeless tobacco after seeing their baseball heroes chew tobacco," they wrote.
The senators sent an identical letter to Baseball Players Association Executive Director Michael Weiner.
Leave a Comment:
For Pete's sake!...who the heck ARE these people! This is a joke.
I like this. Lots of people fill the same way, to bad the two @!$%#'s wont read this.
Well hell as long as we are pushing for bans so our youth are not exposed to bad influence lets get it all on the table. Lets rid ourselves of overpaid out of touch do nothing but waste Americans hard earned tax dollars on crap we ask them not to politicians.The ones who get caught at a house during a police raid for marijuana growing and distribution but gets off because he didn't know what it was even though he pushed for legalizing it.The ones who regulate us out of jobs for our own good because the planet has a "fever"?The same ones that refuse to make the main source of transportation energy affordable for working class Americans because they are trying to squeeze it out for their friends invested in alternative energy resources.Lets do away with all the deadbeats before our children want to be just like them.Well they did call MLB players heroes......Damn sure haven't got many of those in Washington.
I thought that our "Senators" had work to do; like developing jobs, putting brakes on inflation, stopping federal bankruptcy spending, and defending our borders. Tobacco at ball games by those "rich" players is of no concern of government. Tax it some more and shut up; wimps.
Congress has exempted themselves from the smoking ban in government buildings. When they follow the laws they impose on the rest of us.....maybe...I'll show them some respect. Until they remove the ashtrays in the hallways of Congress and Boehner and Barney Frank have to go outside, and 15 feet from an exit they should keep their mouths shut...and no smoking in their offices either....paid for by the public, not by them....so no smoking.
"Senators: Ban smokeless tobacco use in MLB"
Oh My F--ing G!!! If They Have Time for This kind of BS Then We Need To Fire All Senators That Have Time For This Kind Of BS!
This IS Without A Doubt The Dumbest Thing I have Heard All Week!
just wondering what happened to rights... if people wanna dip or chew its their issue how about our nanny government deal with some real issues? like the economy? ohh yea forgot they arent intrested in solving real issues...
I agree the government is getting way too involved in our private lives. Like getting into a woman's private health care decisions anda womans private choices made with her private Doctor, in his private clinic....
Cheers for the senators--way, way overdue. Even worse is the blatant advertisements of alcohol use on live TV sports programs. SAD ! Corporate America has no conscience and they will not regulate their own immorality in their quest for profits. Sad ! My grandson , while watching an NBA game,asked if the players drank the Beer being flaunted every pause in the game. The seeds are being planted. Ban ALL potentially life destructive addictive drugs from TV !
It is up to the parents to be parents and guide their children. Just because They may see something on TV step up be parent and get involved and that SEED won't take hold.
Yeah, this is just retarded. This is not a liberal vs. conservative issue. I consider myself a liberal but I'm also against the government getting involved in stupid wastes of time. To me, being liberal means leaving people alone to make their own decisions.
i am embarrased to live in New Jersey with this kind of senator....
See what your elected officials do in Washington, when they are'nt taking kickbacks or working up some sex scandal or texting/molesting pages. smoke and mirrors boys! smoke and mirrors!!!
Wow-you would think the senators were asking to take their tobacco and booze away from them !! They merely think it is a bad example for impressional youngsters-No more, no less-Grow up !!
Btw, Big Brother is watching you and me too,that's why I'm afraid to wash my hair when I shower, cause I might open my eyes and find someone standing there, people call me on the phone I'm trying to aviod, can the people on tv see me or am I just paranoid!!!! (lol)
Don't Sens. Dick Durbin and Frank Lautenberg have anything better to do than worry about what MLB players do. Let's worry about taking care of our veterans and their families.
Nellie Fox wouldn't be happy but I would like to see steroid abusers dealt with in a much harsher manner. Why does anyone including Major League Baseball recognize anything Bonds, McGwire, Sosa, Clemons and a slew of others did on the baseball field. I guess dying does matter more than cheating.
tTe whole tobacco debate started with 2nd hand smoke affecting non smokers. Now smokeless tobacco since it sets a bad example for the kids. What about no alcohol in the stands? Drunk drivers leaving the games can affect everyone on the road and it sets a bad example. What about all the unhealthy foods that are sold in the concession stands to adults and children? Let's just ban all unhealthy things in our society. When will it stop??
I knew a guy that had tongue cancer, and doctors removed his tongue. He didn't smoke, but he did chew tobacoo.
Also know several with mouth and throat cancer caused by the stuff.
Get it through your thick skulls, just because you think chewing tobacco is healthier than smoking it, your dead wrong. The stuff still causes great pain, suffering, and in some cases, death.
Don't be stupid. Don't start the habit. If your friends are doing it, it doesn't mean that you have to. And if they make fun of you, wait 20 years, when they're in the hospital. That way you can go in there, look at him and go, "Dumbass."
They also need to stop Wimpy from eating all those burgers on the Popeye cartoons. Makin' our kids fat! Maybe the president should quit smoking. Hmmmmmmmmmmm Oprah is having dog killing Vick on her tv show so we can all see how sorry he is for doing it. Plllllllllllllease! It will show our youth how lowdown you can be and then worshiped because the law straightens you out. You get more attention with bad behavior. Why don't they stop the sale of cop-killing rap music??....it promotes killing and racism!! No more violent video games. Stop selling meat with fat and outlaw whole milk. Kids shouldn't be allowed to take Twinkies from home for their school lunch, only carrots and water. If a fight breaks out during a sporting event, arrest the people fighting. Heaven knows there are enough cops at sporting events but no one ever gets arrested and the fights are in plain sight. Cops aren't doing their job. If I started a fight in the stands, I'd be arrested. C'mon, let's get this society under control you libbys!!!
More Democrats trying to exert more power over private individuals and organizations - again. Nothing to see here, folks, they already try and tell you what you can and cannot drive, what you can and cannot eat, what you can and cannot smoke, what you can and cannot say, what you can and cannot believe, what you can and cannot worship, etc...
LOL. Are these two clowns for real.....???? They need to get a life.
I have been waiting for this. All tobacco should have been banned long ago. The kids should not have to see tobacco being used and it certainly is harmful to those who use it. Just shows the mentality of the players.
We have been civil, polite and politically correct with liberals way too long.
That got us, "for our own good laws like seat belts, no smoking in public places laws all of the other libbie nonsense.
Maybe it is timme top get nasty about it.
It's not healthy for the "entertainers" of MLB, (who are all adults over the age of consent, consuming a LEGAL product), but its ok for you and me??
WTF?
Make it illegal already...
Budget cuts can start with these two idiots jobs!
that would be to easy & they would F-I-UP!!