Marlins Players Part Of Statewide Anti-Smoking Campaign

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Marlins LF Luis Gonzalez and Ps Kevin Gregg, Matt Lindstrom and Ricky Nolasco since April have been appearing in PSAs for Tobacco Free Florida (TFF) as part of the company's "$17[M] anti-smoking campaign," according to Sarah Talalay of the South Florida SUN-SENTINEL. The PSAs, which are shown during games at Dolphin Stadium and appear on local TV and radio, are just "one part of the more than $50[M] annually in tobacco settlement dollars freed up for anti-smoking programs." Zimmerman Agency, Tallahassee, developed the campaign, and the agency said that the endorsement of local sports teams "has brought the message more pop." When Zimmerman approached FSN Florida and Sun Sports to buy ad time, the nets "pitched involving all the teams they broadcast," including the Heat, NHL Panthers, Rays, Univ. of Florida (UF) and Florida State Univ. (FSU). The nets taped ads featuring Heat G Dwyane Wade, Univ. of Florida football coach Urban Meyer and Florida State football coach Bobby Bowden. FSN Florida and Sun Sports Senior VP & GM Cathy Weeden said, "It's unique to have all the teams come together and pitch a consistent campaign and message." Talalay reports just a small portion of the $11.66M spent on media placement goes to the Marlins and Rays "for in-stadium signage and ads on the teams' Web sites." TFF logos appear on the Dolphin Stadium scoreboard, and whenever fans listen to or watch a Marlins broadcast, they "can't miss the messages" (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 6/11).