U.S. Open champ Angel Cabrera's on-course smoking makes reader Bob Duffy fume
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| Angel Cabrera was all smiles after winning the U.S. Open. But his smoking infuriated a WorldGolf.com reader. (Courtesy USGA) |
It's very sad to see Angel Cabrera and other pro golfers smoking cigarettes while they're playing. Even the PBA (Professional Bowlers Association) doesn't allow the bowlers to smoke while they're bowling.
To make matters worse, while showing Cabrera smoking, the commentators at NBC tell their audience (incl. millions of kids) that smoking calms the nerves, which is not the truth at all. Nicotine is a stimulant, and it's only calming effects are to ease the symptoms of withdrawal pangs the body goes through every few minutes.
What the heck is wrong with the PGA Tour and the USGA that in 2007, they still allow their members to smoke WHILE participating as role models in front of millions of wannabe golfers who are watching intently? Apologies and changes are in order and should be addressed by NBC and the PGA/USGA very soon.
Bob Duffy
June 19, 2007
Any opinions expressed above are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the management.
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U.S. Open champ Angel Cabrera's on-course smoking makes reader Bob Duffy fume
What the heck is wrong with the PGA Tour and the USGA that in 2007, they still allow their members to smoke WHILE participating as role models in front of milli [...]
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Shane wrote on: Jul 24, 2009
Why give a toodles if a player wants to smoke. Kids can figure out smoking isn't the best for their health by going through the same things we all had to go through. Plus its a golfing tradition.
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James wrote on: Apr 12, 2009
Ohh reallY?? Is it movies?? Or is it our parent's smoking in the house, car, etc..
Aren't we just legal crack babies addicted at an early age from second hand smoke??? Movies?? really?? That may be the dumbest argument I have ever had the misfortune of hearing.
I smoke.
I'll cough.
I'll get throat polyps.
I'll get cancer.
I'll die.
Thank you!!
Never mind his means of transportation to the Masters or every world tour event...
Smokers must have created that smog cloud that so beautifully covers the LA skyline.
Diabetes and alcohol kill a lot of people, but that doesn't stop the endless parade of beer, Gatorade, Doritos and Snickers commercials that litter the airwaves whilst Angel Cabrera smoke's cigarettes on national TV. Where is your righteous indignation when you see a cute polar bear swigging Coca-Cola in the snow in between Sergio Garcia's birdie attempt? They may as well have Dora the explorer lighting up a square in front of a 7-11 shucking low cost health insurance!!
I feel my point is made so please don't debate me any further you complete wastes of epidermis. It's a funny, wonderfully dark story of a poor, hungry, homeless pauper who carried rich people's golf bags so he could eat and SURVIVE, who is now a 2 time Major champion.____+++$$$##@@ All while smoking cigarette's.
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Jan wrote on: Oct 10, 2009
LOVE IT!!!!!!
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chris wrote on: Mar 8, 2009
I don't see any good reason that golfers shouldn't be allowed to smoke on the golf course. Hell, they can't smoke anywhere else. And besides, you can't limit the freedoms of the players. If you take issue with the image of Cabrera with a cig hanging out of his mouth being broadcast, you should take it up with the television stations, not the players. By the way, I thought they weren't allowed to broadcast the image of someone smoking anymore...or maybe that's just in Canada.
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Cigars wrote on: Jul 27, 2008
It’s quite disturbing indeed to see them smoking – especially when you see them smoking big long cigars – coz it happens too see them smoking cigars too. But Angel Cabrera is not the only pro who does that. Many of them are fallowing the same example. Why you just point out one of them? If you wanna criticize this do it for all the golfers, not just for one. Fair game, right?
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dennis wrote on: Mar 8, 2008
Can you name another sport where the athletes can compete at the top level while smoking? Some golfers are athletes, and some athletes are golfers. Golf is just a game, let them smoke.
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Windy wrote on: Oct 18, 2007
ARE YOU KIDDING IS RIGHT!!! Who are these people who are so into controling what other people choose to do with their lives? What has happened to FREEDOM FOR ALL? I would like to ask why PGA smokers have no rights? Why some legal procedures can't be taken against the anti smoking campaigners? Why some attorney somewhere hasn't taken our loss of freedom to smoke a cigarette in the open air to task if nothing else but make a great name for himself. I feel we all have the God given right and freedom to LIVE, DIE, Bowl, and put whatever we want between our lips. When our concerned citizens become SO concerned about our health that they campaign for air filters on every street corner to remove carbon dioxide emissions from auto's, filters on all our water taps, remove HORRENDOUS ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINANTS from our soils then I will believe there may be hope for makind. Leave the PGA players alone. I honestly cannot believe this has gone so far.
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Bob Duffy (no, not that one) wrote on: Aug 11, 2007
The last I checked, smoking was still legal outside. Thats also why they don't smoke in bowling alleys anymore...its INDOORS! Some people really need to get a life and also tell they're kids themselves that smoking is not healthy, not people on TV.
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Bob Duffy (the one who wrote the orginal post) wrote on: Aug 16, 2007
If you would have read what I posted, or read it slower, you would have understood it. The point, was that it is the rules of conduct for a member of the PBA organization. Professional sports organization have rules of conduct that their members must abide by or they face potential fines, etc. I wasn't talking about the act of smoking indoors, that's a whole other issue in itself. During the bowling tournaments, the spectators could smoke if it was legal in that particular state/jurisdiction. It's the bowlers who couldn't smoke....do you get it now? That's why I quit bowling professionally because of the smoke in the bowling alley. I care about my health and my life.
FYI: smoking on tv and in the movies, is the #1 factor which leads kids to take up smoking. Many of those same kids will spend the rest of their adult lives trying to quit, or they become a "smokers rights" advocate who argues the right to smoke in public, so they don't feel like such a loser by doing it by themselves, or in the back alleys, like other drug addicts must do.
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John Doe wrote on: Aug 16, 2007
"FYI: smoking on tv and in the movies, is the #1 factor which leads kids to take up smoking."
I wonder why people smoked before the movies / TV...
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Paul D wrote on: Jun 21, 2007
Cabrera should quit smoking as a role model. His caddie to US Open winner story is fantastic, only to be marred by the disgusting display of smoking.
I'm a big fan, but was dismayed to see that.
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John Doe wrote on: Jun 19, 2007
He smokes and still plays a zillion times better than you! Is that your problem?
"It's very sad to see Angel Cabrera and other pro golfers smoking cigarettes while they're playing."
Oh, pass me a tissue, I'm crying like I haven't from "Titanic"... as far as I know smoking ain't illegal (yet). And since smoking doesn't give any unfair advantage over the others players ( as other things people seem less irritated about when it comes to sport stars ), kudos for those who still can win while having such a bad, outrageous habit.
"To make matters worse, while showing Cabrera smoking, the commentators at NBC tell their audience (incl. millions of kids)"
Oh, my god, think of the children!!! Who's fault is that parents leave kids watch golf? I mean come on! If your kid is that bored that he's watching golf on TV, your kid has bigger issues than seeing a guy smoking.
"smoking calms the nerves, which is not the truth at all."
Your are not a doctor but you play one on TV, right?Who cares what you think? He did won, right? Was it because of that cigarette or wasn't it... are you able to tell?
"What the heck is wrong with the PGA Tour and the USGA that in 2007, they still allow their members to smoke WHILE participating as role models in front of millions of wannabe golfers who are watching intently?"
Again, who's fault is that some people have issues picking their heroes? And yes, smart people do exactly what they see others doing... This guys are just people that happen to be good at golf and that's all! Are you asking them to be models for kids or people with a child's mind? Ain't that enogh they sell you the clubs they're playing with, clothes they're wearing, cars they're driving and so on? Do you want them to raise your kids too?
"Apologies and changes are in order and should be addressed by NBC and the PGA/USGA very soon."
Yeh, I heard they specifically will send you their apologies and also a box of the finest cigars... get off your couch and see there are places where people don't care about smoking and not smoking (and I'm not thinking of tobacco only here) and you know what? They're doing fine!!! Get out of your cave (or better - go deeper) and let others be like they are, not like you'd like them to be...
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dflee53 wrote on: Jul 22, 2007
Oh you bleeding heart smokers make want to puke.
There's no whining here. It's quite simple. Now pay close attention. Smoke kills air sacs in the lungs. Now you might care about that, but I do.
And, yes, it's not illegal, but there are a lot of things that aren't illegal that are just simply wrong. Can you not think for yourself? Do you need the legal system to make all of your decisions for you?
A deep, dark cave is where I'd like to send every self-absorbed, narrow-minded smoker who couldn't care less about blowing their secondhand smoke in my direction. Roll a big ole boulder in front of that cave and let all the smokers on the planet asphyxiate each other.
No, get of YOUR cave--smoking looks ridiculous, smells disgusting, and pollutes the air for everybody. Listen to the smoker's desparate arguements to justify their addiction--it's pathetic. Give it up. Seriously, GIVE IT UP!
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Frank wrote on: Jun 20, 2007
I agree and as long the protection of the environment in the USA is not existing and the smoke in the air in LA area is more than in any smker's lounge at airports, I love to see him smoking, as the smell of a cigarre is 100 times better than the smell out of the exhauster from a Hummer!
So what?
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George wrote on: Aug 11, 2007
"the smell of a cigarre is 100 times better than the smell out of the exhauster from a Hummer!"
Do you smoke...
Yes... Ahh that would explain your unusual sense of smell
I agree that smoking on a golf course is wrong, especially as many other sports have seen sense and banned ciggarette advertisments. And you are probably the same people who complain about the bad reputation golf has about being behind the times.
"If your kid is that bored that he's watching golf on TV, your kid has bigger issues than seeing a guy smoking."
Golf is a very popular sport amoungst children and a lot of people interested in golf watch the big tournaments.
And John Doe (although i doubt that is your real name and if it is, well, parents can be cruel), do you pretend to be a doctor, or someone who has any idea how to raise kids... and i dont think the arguement is about HOW he won the tournament, merely that smoking is a stupid habit that shouldn't be encouraged by people in the pulic's eye.
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John Doe wrote on: Aug 16, 2007
"merely that smoking is a stupid habit that shouldn't be encouraged by people in the pulic's eye."
Well... eating unhealthy junk food that makes people obese with all related health issues, not only is not blamed when done in public but in fact is encouraged and some of the companies behind the junk food industry are also official sponsors in different sport events. Go figure.
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George wrote on: Aug 12, 2007
And may I add that smoking inside a public place is illegal in the UK but driving a hummur through a traffic/pedestrian tunnel isn't. Does that offer an indication as to which smells worse and has more adverse health effects??
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John Doe wrote on: Aug 16, 2007
"And may I add that smoking inside a public place is illegal in the UK but driving a hummur through a traffic/pedestrian tunnel isn't."
UK has gone crazy about smoking... the worst part is EU joined it: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0f887cde-23df-11db-ae89-0000779e2340.html
It seems it's LEGAL in UK and by extent EU for an employer (call center IIRC) to discriminate smokers and refuse their right to apply for the job. It's not about smoking in public or at work. It's simply about people smoking home in their free time.
What's next? Denying rights to fat people because they are to greedy and eat junk?
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