Four U.S. Senate Democrats and health officials from Dallas and St. Louis are urging the MLBPA to "agree to a ban on chewing tobacco at games and on camera" ahead of the start of the Rangers-Cardinals World Series tonight. The senators are DICK DURBIN (Ill.), FRANK LAUTENBERG (N.J.), RICHARD BLUMENTHAL (Conn.) and TOM HARKIN (Iowa). With the current CBA expiring in December, politicians and groups like the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids "want the players to agree to a tobacco ban in the next contract" (AP, 10/18).
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE: First Lady MICHELLE OBAMA; DR. JILL BIDEN, wife of Vice President JOE BIDEN, and MLB Commissioner BUD SELIG this afternoon will visit a VA Medical Center in St. Louis for a military family appreciation event. The event will also spotlight a new PSA for the Welcome Back Veterans charity debuting today on MLB.com and the MLB Network featuring Yankees 1B MARK TEIXEIRA and Rays DH JOHNNY DAMON. Mets Owner FRED WILPON, a key figure in the creation of the Welcome Back Veterans program that aids returning military personnel, also is slated to attend. Obama and Wilpon are also scheduled to attend Game One of the World Series tonight (Eric Fisher, SportsBusiness Journal).
DREAM ON: In Columbus, Ken Gordon reported PepsiMax Field Of Dreams video contest winner TIM WISECUP will get to "throw out the first pitch at a World Series game and -- in the spring in Columbus -- field a team to play against a 'dream team' of former major-leaguers." The Pepsi contest had entrants "voting for their favorite all-time players on MLB.com," and four finalists "were chosen via a random drawing." An MLB film crew helped each finalist make "a short video -- posted online -- suggesting why he should win the contest." Site visitors from Sept. 14 to Oct. 5 "could vote for the 'best' as often as they wanted." Wisecup's daughter, KATIE, "helped him set up a Facebook account to promote his candidacy, and he and his friends canvassed" Hilliard, Ohio, athletic events seeking support. Pepsi "did not release the final vote tallies" (COLUMBUS DISPATCH, 10/15).
NATIONAL PRIDE: Heat F MIKE MILLER, Bulls G DERRICK ROSE, Hawks G JOE JOHNSON, Hawks C AL HORFORD, Bobcats G D.J. AUGUSTIN, Kings G TYREKE EVANS, Wizards C JAVALE MCGEE, Nets C BROOK LOPEZ and Suns C ROBIN LOPEZ will appear in the "Hoops For Troops" USO/Armed Forces Entertainment tour Oct. 23-28 in Hawaii. The tour is scheduled to include "visits to multiple military bases, two youth clinics and time with military families" (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 10/19)....Former U.S. track athlete MARION JONES will represent the U.S. State Department this week in a "series of diplomatic visits" to Serbia and Croatia (AP, 10/19).
NAMES: MLS DC United F CHARLIE DAVIES filed a lawsuit last week in D.C. Superior Court against Das Enterprises, owner of nightclub Shadow Room, and Red Bull North America, the company that hosted a party on Oct. 12, '09 at which "alcohol was served to the driver responsible for a car accident that severely injured the soccer player and killed another passenger" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 10/18)….Late Dolphins TE and broadcaster JIM MANDICH will be “inducted into the team’s Honor Roll” on Dec. 4 during a game against the Redskins (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 10/19)….Martinsville Speedway “has painted its curbs in the inside of its corners pink in recognition of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.” The track will host the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Tums Fast Pain Relief 500 on Oct. 30 (ROANOKE TIMES, 10/19).
