nn on Jun

MINNEAPOLIS -- Major League Baseball players say they may consider whether to discuss a possible ban on chewing tobacco when they negotiate their next labour contract in two years. cheap jerseys . For now, they hope individuals decide on their own to stop dipping. Players union head Tony Clark said Monday that several of his members have quit cold turkey following the death of Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn on June 16 from oral cancer. While the use of smokeless tobacco was banned for players with minor league contacts in 1993, it is permitted for players with major league deals. The labour agreement covering 2012-16 says players may not carry tobacco packages and tins in their back pockets when fans are permitted in ballparks, and they may not use tobacco during pregame and postgame interviews and at team functions. "I think what we have been doing thus far has been a positive, and although Im not going to offer you a bargaining proposal today on chewing tobacco, we could have that conversation," Clark said Tuesday before the All-Star game. "Then we will see where the guys are and continue the education and their appreciation for or against, or what the many considerations that need to be made in the area even look like, and well have that conversation with Major League Baseball," he said. Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig, who plans to retire in January, promised "it will be a subject that theyll discuss at the next collective bargaining" but acknowledged "I understand that individuals have the right to make their own decisions." Gwynn, 54 at his death, attributed his cancer to years of chewing tobacco. "We believe that the numbers suggest that the usage has declined significantly, declined in the minor leagues, declined in the majors," Clark said during a question-and-answer session with the Baseball Writers Association of America. "Our hope is that we continue to educate guys on that the damage that dipping can do, that they will continue to decide not to dip and chew." Clark, a former All-Star first baseman who never dipped, said Gwynns death "really smacks you between the eyes, and its unfortunate sometimes, that an event like that brings that decision instead of that decision being made beforehand." No change is planned during the current labour contract. "We give the players the opportunity to make the decision that theyre going to make against the backdrop of it being legal," Clark said. "We dont condone it. They know we dont condone it. ... So at the end of the day, yes, we will continue to educate guys, and yes, the players will continue to have a decision that they make in that area." cheap jerseys from china . Now its going to cost him -- four games and four paychecks. The Colts career sacks leader was suspended Friday by the NFL after violating the leagues ban on performance-enhancing substances. Cheap San Francisco 49ers Jerseys . - Gaston Fernandez is making the most of his new job with the Portland Timbers. CHICAGO -- After another dominating performance, nothing could wipe the smile from Joakim Noahs face. Noah had 21 points and 16 rebounds, Carlos Boozer added 15 points and 13 boards, and the Chicago Bulls beat the Philadelphia 76ers 103-78 on Saturday night. "I havent felt healthy like this in a long time. My feet dont hurt, my bodys feeling good," Noah said. "I put in a lot of work in the summertime. The third day of camp I got hurt (strained groin). It was an unfortunate setback, but now Im feeling like its all coming together." Noah extended his streak of double-digit rebound games to 12, the longest stretch of his career. The duos powerful performance was awfully similar to the teams last meeting at the United Center, when Noah posted a triple-double and combined with Boozer for 44 points and 33 rebounds on Feb. 28, 2013. "You cant play any better than (Noah is) playing right now, in every aspect of the game," Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said. "The defence has been there all season, the rebounding off the charts, but the playmaking, the quick decisions, the multiple effort . it sets the tone for the team." Chicago (19-20) has won seven of nine games in 2014. The Bulls led by as many as 36, their largest lead this season. D.J. Augustin scored nine points and dished out seven assists in the pivotal second quarter, in which Chicago extended its lead from five to 20. He finished with 19 points and eight assists. Only three 76ers scored in double digits, Thaddeus Young leading the way with 12 points. James Anderson had 11 points and seven rebounds for Philadelphia (13-27), which has dropped six of seven. Augustin brought the fans to their feet two minutes into the second when he threaded a cross-court bounce pass to Jimmy Butler, who finished strong with a thunderous slam. Augustin later fed Noah on a two-handed dunk in transition to cap the dominating quarter. Noah and Augustin combined to make eight of 10 shots in the second period, outscoring Philadelphia 17-12. Augustin has been a spark since the Bulls signed him on Dec. 13. The 26-year-old is averaging 11.5 points with Chicago and has led the team in assists 11 times. The Bulls are 11-8 with Augustin on the roster, and 7-2 in 2014 -- their only two losses coming to the Washington Wizards within the last six days. "Im just going out there, playing freely, doing whatever Coach needs mme to do, whatever my teammates need me to do," Augustin said. wholesale jerseys. "Basically, just trying to get them the ball, trying to get them open. At the same time, Coach wanted me to look (to score) for myself." The 76ers missed all 11 3-point attempts in the first half and committed 17 total turnovers. Philadelphia shot 35.1 per cent from the floor (10.5 per cent from 3-point range) and has turned the ball over 64 times in its last three games. "(The Bulls) play really good defence," 76ers coach Brett Brown said. "In general we struggled finding ways to play freely, to get out in the open court, and the physicality of the game wore us down." The Bulls have won nine of their last 10 regular-season games against the 76ers, who rallied from 20 points down on Nov. 2 to halt a five-game skid against Chicago in a 107-104 victory in Philadelphia. There would be no comeback this time. Spencer Hawes, who averaged 19 points and 13 rebounds in his last two games against Chicago, was largely ineffective. The 7-foot-1 centre had nine points and six rebounds. Michael Carter-Williams scored 10 points and dished out five assists. He had 26 and 11 in the November meeting. "Thats how it goes," Hawes said. "You go through stretches like that, and who knows, the next two or three games maybe we come out and cant miss. Its a long season." Philadelphia guard Tony Wroten sprained his right ankle in the second quarter when he stepped on Nazr Mohammeds foot awkwardly, staying on the ground for a couple minutes. He limped off the court gingerly with the help of his teammates and did not return. Brown couldnt give a timetable after the game, but said "it looked bad." Notes: The Bulls agreed to trade point guard Marquis Teague to the Brooklyn Nets for F Tornike Shengelia, a person with knowledge of the deal said Saturday. Teague was dressed but did not play. "Marquis is a good, young player. Hes had some good moments," Thibodeau said. "Hes had some moments that he can obviously do better, but thats to be expected. When you come into this league as young as he is, thats what youre going to get. Hes much further along today than he was when he was first drafted." ... Philadelphia F/C Lavoy Allen (left knee) scored six points in 15 minutes, playing for the first time since Jan. 7. He had missed four games. cheap jerseys cheap jerseys from china ' ' '