Michael Jordan caught smoking

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 10/7/9 | Phillip Matier, Andrew Ross

[SmithL]

San Francisco is asking basketball superstar Michael Jordan to snuff out the cigars, after he was caught on the front page of The Chronicle's Sporting Green breaking the city's ban on smoking on public golf courses.

City officials sprang into action after seeing the full-color photo Tuesday of the NBA Hall of Famer enjoying a good cigar while teeing off at Harding Park's 14th hole during a Presidents Cup practice round.

In an interview with PGATour.com, Jordan was asked how many cigars he planned to smoke during this week's tournament.

"Well," Jordan replied, "that depends, because I heard this is a public place, so they limit what you can smoke. I'm not even supposed to be smoking, but this was a practice round and no one said anything."

If he is permitted to smoke, Jordan said, "I would say (it's) a three-cigar round. I would try to keep it at a minimum of three."

And what is the city's response?

"You mean about Spare the Air Jordan?" said Recreation and Park General Manager Phil Ginsburg.

"I've already sent off an e-mail to the PGA Tour director," Ginsburg said. "It was sort of a gentle nudge reminding them that smoking is illegal and that we would appreciate their support."

Initially, public golf courses were exempt from the city's many smoking bans. However, in 2006, after much debate, the Board of Supervisors narrowly voted to apply the same rules to golf courses as other parks - including the possibility of a $100 fine for violators.

"But don't expect me to ask him for it," said city attorney's spokesman Matt Dorsey.

[GOP_Lady]

Nazi’s.

[GOP_Lady]

"I simply turn on the Golden EIB Microphone and share my honest passions and beliefs with people. And they're free to go elsewhere. They're free to ignore; they're free to believe; they're free to be entertained, I don't care. They're free to do whatever they want. But a lot of people aren't free to smoke cigarettes where they want; they're not free to drink where they want; they're not free to eat the kind of food they want to eat; they're not free to eat trans fats; they're not free to drive certain places. Pretty soon we're going to be told what kind of cars we have to drive. I can't cause that. I can't restrict anybody's freedom. We've elected a guy who can, does, and wants to, all under the guise of saving us. So I appreciate the effort, and I appreciate somewhat losing my temper here. But don't compare me ever to an authoritarian who thinks so little of people that without him they can barely breathe on their own. Don't ever do that." LEARN IT, LOVE IT, LIVE IT! If one cannot understand Rush's words above, then one does not truly understand FREEDOM!

[GOP_Lady]

My husband (the great GOP_Harley_Guy) smokes a cigar in the car on the way home from work WITH ME IN IT. OH, THE HORROR, because the windows are opened a little.

Hey, can you still have an abortion in SF?

[bcsco]

I visited as a youth with my parents. Beautiful city. But the population now makes it unbearable for one like myself who has no need to patronize them.

[RinaseaofDs]

You can, in public, have unprotected anal sex with another man, and then engage thereafter in unprotected oral sex.

Lighting a roll of leaves on fire and tasting the smoke, however, is against the law, and a public health hazard.

Welcome to San Francisco.

[Drango]

I golf occasional at Harding Park. I don’t need to smell Michael’s cigar smoke no matter how much he’s addicted to cigars.

[GOP_Lady]

"I simply turn on the Golden EIB Microphone and share my honest passions and beliefs with people. And they're free to go elsewhere. They're free to ignore; they're free to believe; they're free to be entertained, I don't care. They're free to do whatever they want. But a lot of people aren't free to smoke cigarettes where they want; they're not free to drink where they want; they're not free to eat the kind of food they want to eat; they're not free to eat trans fats; they're not free to drive certain places. Pretty soon we're going to be told what kind of cars we have to drive. I can't cause that. I can't restrict anybody's freedom. We've elected a guy who can, does, and wants to, all under the guise of saving us. So I appreciate the effort, and I appreciate somewhat losing my temper here. But don't compare me ever to an authoritarian who thinks so little of people that without him they can barely breathe on their own. Don't ever do that." LEARN IT, LOVE IT, LIVE IT! If one cannot understand Rush's words above, then one does not truly understand FREEDOM!

[GOP_Lady]

Turn into my Rush In A Hurry page today.

You might learn about freedom.

[Gabz]

It never ceases to amaze me how otherwise normal, intelligent people (meaning conservatives) can be so absolutely abnormal and unintelligent when it comes to something like this.

It’s OUTSIDE for crying out loud...............

[Drango]

Rush was good today. Yet at the end of the day, his addictions or Michael Jordan’s or yours, don’t outweigh the freedom of the local people to proscribe disgusting behavior.

[Slings and Arrows]

I thought it was compulsory.

[GOP_Lady]

True, but when people are so inconsiderate as to vote against freedom by not coming together on what we agree on ...

When one side gets 100% of what they want, it is NEVER a good thing, because it limits freedom.

Hey, kill a baby in the womb, you have that choice, but don’t dare allow one place in the state where adults can be adults ...

[GOP_Lady]

These people need to mind their own business.

[GOP_Lady]

And a lady with whom he works with who got the car THREE WEEKS later said that she smelled cigar smoke. LOL.

She snitched on him. People like that need to be taken out back to the woodshed.

[GOP_Lady]

Why don’t you tell us what you’re “addicted” to, since you are so fast with using that word about people who enjoy a cigar every now and then?

[Gabz]

These people need to mind their own business.

Of course they do, but they never will.

[Drango]

I’m addicted to freedom. The freedom to regulate your addiction. You have a problem with that?

[Gabz]

When one side gets 100% of what they want, it is NEVER a good thing, because it limits freedom.

It does no such thing, as if you don't like it you can go elsewhere. (/pecksniff mode)

[A CA Guy]

"Michael Jordan caught smoking"

Any news on how many women were caught holding his cigar for him while on that public course?
Just wondering.

[Gabz]

Real nice way to talk to a lady. Didn’t your mother teach you any manners?