Socrates, by which name we knew the Brazil football captain Socrates Brasileiro Sampaio de Souza Vieira de Oliveira, was a force of nature – and nicotine. This perhaps helps to explain why he performed with such thrilling slothfulness in taking penalties – that short passage of play that distils all a footballer’s virtues and vices into his very essence. Examples abound: Cristiano Ronaldo exposed as a pathological show-off, Stuart Pearce as a sleeve with a pumping heart on it, Socrates as a two-pack-a-day man. While he was playing professional football he was also studying ... Jump to full article >>

More than 80% of people attending sporting events last year support the idea of smoke-free stadiums, according to research published today. The study by the Ulster GAA, the Ulster Cancer Foundation and the Office of Tobacco Control found that 72% of smokers support the idea. The three bodies are now encouraging people attending Ulster Championship matches not to smoke in a bid to protect other supporters and children. ... Jump to full article >>

Since rising band The Nunung Cs successfully popularized a soccer-themed song titled “S’pakbola” (soccer) and ended up with a record deal, possibilities have opened up for other over-18s to follow in the same direction. Earlier this month, the six-crew pop-dangdut band officially signed a contract with cigarette producer PT Djarum Super which had discovered their original song, “Gila Bola Gila Musik” (crazy for soccer, crazy for music), on Facebook. “S’pakbola” has now become the official song of the Indonesian Super League, Indonesia’s top ... Jump to full article >>

Wisconsin’s new public smoking ban would prohibit people from lighting up anywhere in Lambeau Field, according to Green Bay/Brown County Professional Football Stadium District Director Pat Webb. “Our first blush is that we would be covered by the law,” Webb told the district board today. Smoking is permitted in designated areas of the stadium concourse, but Webb said Packers officials admit it isn’t strictly enforced. Smoking is not permitted in the stadium bowl. The state law, which Gov. Jim Doyle signed May 18, includes “any stadium, pavilion, gymnasium, swimmin ... Jump to full article >>

Bethel Park’s Joe Sedon Jr. was sitting on a bench at South Park Golf Course, enjoying the last couple puffs on a cigarette before he played. When Sedon heard that there is a movement in some cities to ban smoking at public golf courses, he was quick to respond. “Are you kidding?” the Vietnam War veteran said. “I dodged bullets in a rice pad and got spat at when I got home, but at least I could smoke. Now, some government officials want to ban smoking in the outdoors?” It’s true. In some parts of the U.S., including Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Haw ... Jump to full article >>