Cancer Society Burns Jordan Over Cigar Shots

61. michael jordan IS NOT a role model......he's an athlete.I wish people would be a role model for their own children and stop depending on others to set standards. GOSH!!! If the man wants to smoke....let him smoke. GET OVER IT

Posted at 8:48PM on Sep 2nd 2008 by nettie

62. er ah..just the facts, just a note that ASININE is really spelled INSANE

Posted at 8:29PM on Sep 2nd 2008 by Jr.

63. Did anybody ever give Tony Soprano crap for smoking a cigar??? I don't smoke - and people that do repulse me, I think it stinks, but if you wannna smoke a stogie, go for it. Its a free country.

Posted at 8:41PM on Sep 2nd 2008 by LarnieBelle

64. Oh TMZ... once again attempting to make news out of nothing. It's sad they took obviously general comments from a medical professional and turned into a celeb bash fest at the ACS's expense. TMZ is SAD!

Posted at 8:48PM on Sep 2nd 2008 by goodness

65. It's this kind of stuff that really ruins america and takes our freedoms away. I'm glad to see just about everyone agreeing that it's none of their business, but I still worry about the political correctness and cry baby antics of the future. Bring back the 80s

Posted at 9:06PM on Sep 2nd 2008 by wow

66. #55, why don't you go back to your trailor trash website, stormfront. We don't tolerate terms like "darkies" here. The criminal that runs that website is more your class.

Posted at 11:14PM on Sep 2nd 2008 by Kenn

67. TMZ, take a look at the remark #55. Are you going to let stormfront trailer trash post here? Who is minding the store here to keep the likes of trailer trash juniors like #55 off this site?

Posted at 11:35PM on Sep 2nd 2008 by Kenn

68. He has been paid to play basketball for us - which he did remarkably well from what I understand (don't know basketball).... HE WAS NOT HIRED TO BY YA'LL KID'S SUPER FRIGGIN HERO.... Geez... get a life and stop holding these people up on such a pedestal - any celebrity.... they were hired to be entertainment (actors getting paid to make movies, singers being paid to sing songs... you get the picture...).... we did NOT put them on payroll to be super heros to our kids when WE are the ones that should be their SUPERHEROS.... GET THE PICTURE???

Posted at 12:00AM on Sep 3rd 2008 by bvak

69. 1/3 of all cancers?

If you get colon cancer from a cigar, remind me to stay away from your humidor.

Posted at 10:46AM on Sep 3rd 2008 by Josiah

70. The greatest 'Role Model' I had was Grampa, it was rare he did NOT have a stogie sticking out! PLEASE.. STOP BEING OFFENDED!!

Posted at 12:23AM on Sep 3rd 2008 by Snowman

71. Seriously! Parents take some responsibility for their kids' actions! Quit putting all the pressure on celebrities.

Posted at 1:13PM on Sep 3rd 2008 by Cristina

72. Please, people, you can't CONTROL the world. Maybe, EVERYONE needs a cigar sometime!

Posted at 1:11PM on Sep 3rd 2008 by everclear

73. Michael Jordan And His Cigar
Posted on 9/3/2008 12:50 PM by Dr. Len Lichtenfeld
Sometimes you just can’t get it right for trying.



I must admit that I am not a big “media fan” or stargazer, and I know nothing about an online website called TMZ. What I have learned is that TMZ’s claim to fame is showing movie stars behaving badly.



Why am I even writing about this?



Because earlier this week, our division office in California was contacted by TMZ for a news comment. The topic was a photo of Michael Jordan smoking a cigar at a softball game. Nothing really unusual about that part of the story.



One of our respected volunteers responded, and was straight and to the point: celebrities set examples that other people—especially young people—follow. Cigar smoking is one example of an unhealthy behavior. Smoking is harmful for your health and causes one out of three cancer deaths.



That’s it. End of statement.



The next thing you know, the headline on the website proclaims that the American Cancer Society is “burning” over Mr. Jordan’s “cigar shots.”



Well, sorry to say, but we are not. It is not even a lingering topic of discussion in our offices.



No one is surprised to hear that the Society doesn’t consider smoking to be a healthy behavior. If Mr. Jordan were to ask us, we certainly wouldn’t encourage him to smoke.

But then it’s no secret that we don’t encourage anyone to smoke.



If Mr. Jordan smokes cigars, then that’s his business. We don’t think it sets a good example for others to follow.



We are even more concerned about the example set every day in movie theaters when smoking by actors is treated with cavalier disdain. And we have the research to show that smoking in the movies does influence teen behavior.



We were asked to provide a comment, and we did. Our comment was based on the request from TMZ. We didn’t even know about these photos until TMZ asked.



It certainly does show how good intent can be misrepresented for someone else’s gain (in this case TMZ). And once that cat is out of the bag, the denizens of the internet take over and create a controversy.



The Society certainly has no interest in becoming a personal “health nanny,” not for Mr. Jordan or for anyone else.

Posted at 12:07PM on Sep 4th 2008 by don't believe the hype

74. ACS' medical blogger just responded to this:
http://www.cancer.org/aspx/blog/Comments.aspx?id=242

Excerpt:
The next thing you know, the headline on the website proclaims that the American Cancer Society is “burning” over Mr. Jordan’s “cigar shots.”
Well, sorry to say, but we are not. It is not even a lingering topic of discussion in our offices.
No one is surprised to hear that the Society doesn’t consider smoking to be a healthy behavior. If Mr. Jordan were to ask us, we certainly wouldn’t encourage him to smoke.
But then it’s no secret that we don’t encourage anyone to smoke.
If Mr. Jordan smokes cigars, then that’s his business.

Posted at 2:20PM on Sep 3rd 2008 by Stu

75. I guess TMZ doesn't find it necessary to mention they THEY called the ACS and ASKED for an opinion. http://www.cancer.org/aspx/blog/Comments.aspx?id=242

Posted at 4:06PM on Sep 3rd 2008 by peachfish