The Cigar Lounge: Cigar Smokin Sportsplayers

For millions of young football-lovers, the French soccer star Zinedine Zidane is a powerful role model. So when the EU was looking for sportsmen to front a campaign against smoking in 2002, who better than 'Zizou' to bang home the message, 'Feel free to say no'?

It is hard to imagine Zidane doing something similar in 2006. A few days ago, a long-lens photograph captured him feeling free to say yes, as he sneaked a crafty cigarette before the World Cup semi-final against Portugal. Eyes closed, cheeks squeezed in tight, index finger stroking his upper lip, he seemed to be in heaven. Did it do him any harm? Well, it may have knocked two minutes off his life, it certainly did not help the campaign, but it did not stop him dominating the midfield to see France through to the final.

Cricket, too, has found room for hardened smokers. Ian Botham naturally enjoyed a cigar and a spliff, and never understood what the fuss was all about.
Which leads us to another reason to smoke: advertising money. The cricketer Denis Compton helped to sell Condor tobacco, Beefy Botham recommended Hamlet, Fred Perry was inspired by New White Owl cigars, while the baseball legend Joe DiMaggio used to claim that every smoker should smoke Chesterfield.

...after a win, what better way to enjoy a victory then lighting up a fine cigar...