Cincinnati Reds' celebration cigars bring smoking complaints

[JonLP24]

The Cincinnati Health Department will investigate the Cincinnati Reds for violations of the state smoking ban after people complained players smoked cigars indoors while celebrating their National League Central Division title Tuesday night.

A lot of players could be seen on TV smoking the cigars, and Reds owner Bob Castellini was passing them out. But video doesn't affect the investigation - the health inspector has to actually see someone smoking, said Rocky Merz, health department spokesman.

Five people called a statewide smoking ban complaint hotline, Merz said. Those complaints were sent to the city health department today for investigation. Castellini will get letter soon notifying him of the alleged violation.

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20100930/SPT04/10010340/Smoking-complaints-for-Reds-cigars

[charlie and algernon]

1. Five pissed off St. Louis fans?

Angry that they didn't win the Division? Buncha party poopers they are. :shrug:

[HuckleB]

8. That was my first thought, too!

:toast:

[Upton]

2. I'm not against smoking bans

in fact I voted for and like the one we have in Washington state, but reporting the Reds players for celebrating with a victory cigar seems way over the top.

[joeybee12]

3. I would have called and complained...cigars and smoking are vile..

I don't recall any other team celebrating this way...kids should not think there's ever a time when a cigar is a good thing.

[JonLP24]

4. You don't recall?

You say kids should not think a cigar is ever a good thing.. what about champagne which you know is used in every celebration? If you don't recall I got some Red Sox World Series pictures. :D

[joeybee12]

5. Champagne is fine....alcohol in moderation is fine...smoking is NEVER done in moderation...

any smoking is awful.

[TZ]

6. I'm not a smoker never have been and don't like it

but cigar smoke is generally WAAAAAAAY less irritating to me than cigarette smoke. And I think the complaints about the Reds are pretty unreasonable. Cigars are very traditional ways of celebrating. Not for me, but for others.

[madinmaryland]

7. Have you forgotten about Red Auerbach's signature stogie??

[El Supremo]

10. You'd probably take away their Gold Medals >>

like the smoking Nazi that you are.

:evilfrown:

[madinmaryland]

17. El. Those are Canadiens! What do expect from them!

:rofl:

[Ter]

15. Cigars are more casual and occasional

A few a year won't cause any problems.

[LisaM]

9. I thnk this is over the top

If the Reds, or any team, regularly smoked in their dressing rooms, it would be an issue. A one-time celebration is clearly different.

[Renew Deal]

11. 5 Cardinals fans called to complain

:smoke:

[Forkboy]

12. They all should have fired up some blunts.

If you're going to celebrate then celebrate, dammit! :smoke:

[JonLP24]

13. +1

[madinmaryland]

14. Dude! Stop bogarting it, and pass it around!

:smoke:

:D

[era veteran]

16. That was what I was thinking, it has been a long time

away from glory for the Reds. Toledo Window-box would be apropos.

[MrSlayer]

18. Idiotic. And not just the complaint calls.

Baseball is the only sport where they do champagne showers for doing nothing more than making the playoffs. It's stupid. The champagne and cigars should be for winning the championship only. It's not for every step on the way. The eventual World Series champ will have had four frigging champagne celebrations.

Calling the complaint line after seeing players celebrating on TV is the height of the "stick up the ass" mentality.