Jeff Suppan Delivers Pitch on Political Issue--NY Times

Suppan is one of several athletes who appear in a political advertisement to be broadcast regionally on the Fox network when Game 4 which was rained out Wednesday, is played. The ad urges Missouri voters to oppose embryonic stem-cell research and vote against Amendment 2 to the State Constitution, which will be on the ballot in the election Nov. 7.

In a video copy of the ad, produced and distributed by an anti-amendment group called Missourians Against Human Cloning and posted on the Internet, Suppan'’s face appears in the first 10 seconds. He is not wearing a baseball cap.

“"Amendment 2 claims it bans human cloning, but in the 2,000 words you don'’t read, it makes cloning a constitutional right," Suppan says in the ad. "Don't be deceived."

Other athletes who appear in the ad are Kurt Warner of the Arizona Cardinals, who formerly played with the St. Louis Rams, and Mike Sweeney of the Kansas City Royals. James Caviezel, the actor who played Jesus in the film "“The Passion of the Christ,"” also appears.

• (HERE'S THE REALLY GOOD PART.sm)

Tony La Russa, the Cardinals manager, was asked Wednesday his opinion of Suppan's involvement and his policy about players involving themselves in such causes.

"“Our organization encourages guys to get involved in something beyond just baseball,"” La Russa said. "“I just like the fact that guys make a commitment."”

• La Russa has involved himself in social causes, including the protection of animals.

From Joe LaPointe article, NY Times 10/26/06

(The NY Times considers "the protection of animals" a "social cause." I should think it's a matter of life and death, much more than a social cause. How quaint of the Times. sm)

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