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Rivalry Aside, Marlins and Rays Team Up To Fight Tobacco 

together the top-ranked Florida Marlins and Tampa Bay Rays are leading a campaign to educate Floridians about the dangers of tobacco. Tobacco Free Florida, an initiative of the Florida Department of Health, has teamed up with FSN Florida/Sun Sports to reach Floridians with its messages of smoking and smokeless tobacco prevention and cessation. Both Major League teams are seeing phenomenal success on the field and will be matched against each other in an Interleague series from June 24-26 at Dolphin Stadium.

With the start of the 2008 Major League Baseball season, eight players from both teams delivered the "I care. I don't chew. I don't dip. I don't smoke." message on video, and the finished product is showcased both in- stadium and on statewide television. By having hometown sports heroes voluntarily speak out publicly against smoking, chewing and dipping, and by showcasing those testimonials during live game action, fans hear loud and clear that the players care about this issue. The players featured on the "I Care" player IDs from the Marlins include Luis Gonzalez, Kevin Gregg, Matt Lindstrom, and Ricky Nolasco, Rays Manager Joe Maddon and players Jonny Gomes, Jason Hammel, and Carlos Pena. The videos can be viewed at http://www.tobaccofreeflorida.com/english/campaign/athletes/.

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