Terry Francona Admits to Gambling (But In a Good Way)

We all know how Bud Selig feels about gambling in the clubhouse, but I think he'll probably be willing to look the other way in Boston this year. From the Boston Globe:

[Red Sox manager] Francona is trying to quit his smokeless tobacco habit and has agreed to a bet with [team president Larry] Lucchino. If Francona lasts the year without chewing, Lucchino donates $20,000 to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. If Francona fails, he's on the hook for $20,000 to a charity to be named.

From what I understand, quitting smokeless tobacco can be harder than cigarettes -- especially for ballplayers and managers who are used to having a big wad of chew in their mouths for a few hours every night during the game. But the threat of cancer is very real, and when it hits, it hits hard, often disfiguring the face. So here's to Francona winning this one.

Ironically, the news of the wager was tacked onto the bottom of an article about Jon Lester, who's returning this spring after being diagnosed with anaplastic large cell lymphoma last August. After being treated all winter, Lester's cancer is fortunately in remission. He may need a few extra weeks in spring training after the season starts to build up his endurance, but he's already regained enough weight to be back to where he was before the diagnosis.