Boston mayor aims to ban chewing tobacco in baseball
BOSTON — Boston Mayor Marty Walsh on Wednesday took on one of baseball’s oldest traditions, saying he planned to ban chewing tobacco at the century-old Fenway Park and all other sporting facilities in the city starting next year.
Flanked by former Boston Red Sox pitcher and cancer survivor Curt Schilling, Walsh said the link between tobacco use and cancer was indisputable and ball players from the sandlot to the big leagues should set an example by giving up the habit.
“Boston loves baseball and ballplayers are our kids’ heroes,” Walsh said, standing by home plate at one of the city’s busiest youth baseball diamonds. “We owe it to the next generation to make public spaces safe, to listen to experts, and to get the facts. Tobacco has no place on our baseball fields.”
Smoking is already illegal in most public spaces in Boston, including restaurants, stores, public parks and the 103-year-old Fenway Park, which the Red Sox call home. Walsh’s proposal, which he plans to submit to the City Council on Monday, would ban chewing tobacco, snuff and dipping tobacco at all public sporting events in the city, from the professional level to youth leagues.
Schilling, who was diagnosed with cancer after using chewing tobacco for 30 years, said he felt a responsibility to educate young fans about the risk.
Rays claim Nava off waivers from Red Sox
The Tampa Bay Rays claimed outfielder Daniel Nava off waivers from the Boston Red Sox, according to reports Wednesday.
Nava was designated for assignment last week by the Red Sox.
Nava played in just 29 games for the Red Sox this season, hitting .152 with seven RBIs. He hit .303 in 134 games during Boston’s World Series-winning season in 2013. For his career, Nava is hitting .267, with a .357 on-base percentage, 23 home runs and 169 RBIs in 424 games.
The 32-year-old Nava can play first base, left field and right field.
North Dakota State tops FCS preseason poll
Defending national champion North Dakota State begins the 2015 season in a familiar position, ranked No. 1 in the nation and one spot ahead of Illinois State.
The two teams who met in the 2014 national title game are first and second in the 2015 preseason coaches’ poll released Wednesday.
The Bison finished (15-1) and beat the Redbirds, who are also members of the Missouri Valley football conference, 29-27 in Frisco, Texas, where North Dakota State celebrated four consecutive national titles.
Villanova, Sam Houston State, Coastal Carolina and Eastern Washington follow Illinois State in the poll and New Hampshire was seventh. Chattanooga, Jacksonville State and Northern Iowa round out the top 10.
Veteran Jefferson signs with Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers, trying to bolster their roster after falling in the NBA Finals, signed free agent forward Richard Jefferson on Wednesday.
The Cavs did not disclose terms of the contract, but the deal is reported to be for one year at the veteran’s minimum.
The 35-year-old Jefferson is a 14-year NBA veteran who could provide backup for Cavs star LeBron James.
Jefferson has played in 1,008 games with the Nets, Milwaukee Bucks, San Antonio Spurs, Golden State Warriors, Utah Jazz and Dallas Mavericks. He has career averages of 13.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game and has shot 38 percent from 3-point range.
