March 17--Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon said he gave up chewing tobacco 15 years ago and would tell his players to abide by the city of Chicago's new ordinance banning chewing tobacco at baseball stadiums.
But Maddon made it clear Wednesday he is not in favor of the ordinance because it limits an individual's freedom of choice.
"I'm into personal freedoms," Maddon said. "I don't quite understand the point with all that. Just eradicate tobacco period, if you're going to go that route. I'm not into over-legislating the human race. I'll just have to listen and learn."
Maddon admitted he felt better after giving up his use of tobacco after being pestered by his two children.
"I know the pitfalls," Maddon said. "But I'm into education. Educate the masses and let everybody make their own decisions. That's what I'm about. Inherently, that's what I'm about. To tell me what I can and cannot do as an adult, unless it's illegal, is something different. So that's where I stand."
Maddon said he curbed his habit by rolling up a piece of a paper towel and inserting it in the lower right corner of his mouth for three weeks before quitting without any aids.
"When it comes down to telling me what I can and cannot do, it's illegal, I get it," Maddon said. "(But) don't try to make choices for me."
Maddon drew a comparison to New York City's failed attempt to limit the size of soft drinks.
"When everyone else thinks they know what's good for me, I don't appreciate that," Maddon said.
