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Senators push for tobacco ban on players during World Series
A group of senators is urging Major League Baseball to use the World Series as a chance to step up and change a fairly recognizable scene at baseball stadiums: a group of players in the dugout chomping on chew and spitting tobacco juice.
Not only is it unhealthy, the senators said, but it sends the wrong message to children who look up to the players.
Baseball's smokeless tobacco problem
"An expected 15 million viewers, including many children, will tune in to watch the first game of the series," Sen. Dick Durbin and other senators said in a letter to the executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association. "Unfortunately, as these young fans root for their favorite team and players, they also will watch their on-field heroes use smokeless tobacco products."
It's a scene that's caught often on TV, as a camera pans the field during batting practice or the dugout during the game: Some players chew gum, others spit out sunflower seed shells, and others spit out tobacco juice. With the first game of the World Series set for Wednesday night, the senators are trying to use that national platform to urge players to opt for the sunflower seeds rather than the tobacco.
Sens. Durbin, Frank Lautenberg, Richard Blumenthal and Tom Harkin, who is the Senate Health Committee chairman, said the World Series is such a big stage that it would be a good opportunity to right a wrong as well as set a good example.
The senators cited the 2009 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey, which showed a 36% increase in use of smokeless tobacco products among boys in high school since 2003. The survey also showed that 15% of high school boys now use the products.
"When players use smokeless tobacco, they endanger not only their own health, but also the health of millions of children who follow their example," they said in a letter.
Matthew L. Myers, president of the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, echoed that sentiment wholeheartedly.
“Major League Baseball and the players union should follow the senators’ leadership and get smokeless tobacco out of the game,” Myers said in a press release.  “The calls for tobacco-free baseball have come from hundreds of diverse voices that have grown louder over the course of the 2011 season. Now it is time for baseball to act to protect the health of current players and millions of kids who look up to them.”
The senators had earlier in the year petitioned MLB Commissioner Bud Selig to ban tobacco in the major leagues, as the minor leagues already have.
"It is time for the players to take the lead and support extending this policy throughout MLB," the senators wrote.
Selig has said that he intends to propose the ban as a part of the players' new contracts next year.
On Twitter
I agree that it should stop, but you cannot change the routines of the ballplayers during the World Series!
ABSOLUTELY correct. Most of these players wont' even wash their socks mid-playoffs. You can't ask them to stop chewing tobacco now.
Isn't this a no brainer – what other sport do you watch players use tobacco on the sidelines or while playing... aren't they supposed to be athletes?
Sorry Millie but you will find chew in most of the major sports except basketball. Hockey players put the chew between their toes because they cannot spit on the ice and I've seen football players chewing on the sidelines. You cannot ban adults from making a choice if they want to chew or not. Focus on government if your senator not professional sports
America home of the free.... HA.
Down with Taxes!
Hooray for 2$ Gas!
Pray Away the Tobacco!
GO CUBS!
Bachmann 2012!
This so called "Goverment" keeps sending the same message to "the hands that feed them". You are an idiot and we know what is better for your children than you do!
Is this the work that senators think they need to focus on...please...jobs...economy...not a fan of ban.
TOTALLY AGREE....JOBS, ECONOMY JOBSBSBSBSBSB
Does this mean that movies should stop showing actors smoking as well because kids look up to them as well
Yup and no images of people eating anything that isn't deemed, "healthy".
This has already happened, our dear leaders passed a law that any movie showing smoking automatically gets an R rating. The childrens movie Rango almost got this rating because it had a lizard smoking a cigar.
Actually there is one movie I know of with Johnny Depp, called The Tourist. It did contain smoking but Johnny Depp's character was smoking one of those e-cigarettes instead of real tobacco.
I want my ball players to be ball players, not Disney mascots.
I can't imagine how ignorant people must be to want to allow a bureaucrat to decide what others can and can't do. You don't desearve your freedom you stupid sheep. You should be hearded back into the barn and away from the polls. What part of, "free country" don't you understand?
I'm right with you Adam. What is the matter with people today, go live you life and leave traditions alone damn senators and all you others trying to run other peoples lives. MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS!
A...FUGGIN...MEN!!!!!
Typical modern American BS, where false statements are presented as facts.
"When players use smokeless tobacco, they endanger not only their own health, but also the health of millions of children who follow their example,"
1) This statement is so ridiculous it childish. There is no physical connection between the player on TV and any of your children. They endanger no one. Your children are NOT endangered by an image on TV. Why not turn off the TV every time a gun is shown in some stupid action movie. Oh, Murder is fine? Chewing some nasty substance isn't.
2) Their health is their own concern. They MAY endanger their health, or not. But, you are not concerned about their health, you dislike their behavior. Are you everyone's mommy?? F-off.
Those players are not role models. Neither are the hateful, greedy corporate CEOs. Teach your own kids how to behave. It's your responsibility, not ours.
Agree-this is ridiculous. It would be more effective if all parents were banned from using chewing tabacco, or smoking, or doing anything that would send the wrong message to their children. Why not start with those who are really responsible? These guys are playing a sport, not babysitting America.
Worry about the economy and the fact that you keep dipping into the tax payers pockets to pay for your CORRUPTION!!
Funny, no word on banning those super cool beer commercials, must be contributors to your corruption!!!!
Well then, why not ban all parents from smoking, drinking, or chewing tabacco? That would be a stronger message to children if it was banned from their own household.
Why are Senators worried about this. They have way more imprtant things to be worrying about. Mind your own business and get back to work. If you ever get started...
Now on the other hand. My opinion... I totally agree that chewing tobacco should not be on the field. Fans can't smoke in the stands. I don't know about chewing tobacco in the stands. Which is another kind of smoking.
I don't like players with beards. Every player should be clean shaven. Also tattoos should be covered up. They send the wrong message.
Back in my day, ball players didn't have to be all sissy like and chew tobacco, we chewed tar, which in those days was called Black Chew. We'd chew it all night and all day while we fought off the Mexicans during the Great War. And that's why we have Columbus Day!
They should also ban the use of beer by the fans.....that's another nasty habit that cause way more social and health problems than tobacco.