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OMAHA, Neb. -- Virginia pitcher Josh Sborz slips a pinch of chewing tobacco between his cheek and gum every now and then, even though the NCAA banned the substance 20 years ago, "I enjoy the taste. Its not like Im addicted to it," Sborz said. "I just enjoy it, definitely. I do it maybe once a month or every other week." Sborz said this weeks death of Hall of Fame baseball player Tony Gwynn might give college players some pause. Gwynn died at 54 of oral cancer believed to be connected to his long use of chewing tobacco. "It should have an impact when such a star-studded players life was ended by the addiction he had. Its sad," Sborz said. Whether Gwynns death has any real impact is an open question and it comes amid some concerns: Baseball players acknowledging using spit tobacco at least once in the previous month rose from 42.5 per cent in 2005 to 52.3 per cent in 2009, according to the NCAAs quadrennial survey substance use trends among its athletes. Results of the 2013 survey have not yet been released, though preliminary results suggest a drop since 2009. About 15 per cent of teams in each NCAA sport are asked to participate in the anonymous survey, with a total sample size of about 20,000 athletes. Among all male athletes, 16 per cent acknowledged using tobacco in 2005 and 17 per cent in 2009. Sborz said he thinks the survey is "skewed" when it comes to ball players. "All those people dont do it every day," he said. "If people do it every day, thats where it becomes a problem. If they do it once every week, I dont see any issue with it." Minor-league baseball banned tobacco in 1993, a year before the NCAA. Tobacco is not banned in the major leagues. Though tins of tobacco arent visible in college dugouts like they were before 1994, that doesnt mean players arent dipping when theyre away from the ballpark. "Its 100 per cent part of baseball culture," said Virginia second baseman Branden Cogswell, who estimated half his teammates chew tobacco at least occasionally. "Its kind of a habit for people, kind of a comfort thing. Ive never been a part of that group, but so many guys do it. People take those risks. Its their choice." Dave Keilitz, executive director of the American Baseball Coaches Association, said he was surprised to find out so many baseball players were using tobacco. "I think most of our coaches, if not all of our coaches, are very aware of the danger and also dont want their players using it," Keilitz said. "In my 20 years of doing this, I havent seen any evidence of that taking place in dugouts, in games. I hope the same holds true in practice sessions." Keilitz said his organization adamantly opposes the use of smokeless tobacco and participated in the making of a video that illustrates the dangers. Virginia coach Brian OConnor said he chewed during his playing days in the late 1980s and early 90s. Like Keilitz, he was surprised so many players acknowledge using tobacco. "If kids are doing it, theyre doing a heck of a job of hiding it," he said. The NCAA said the ban was put in place as part of its charge to protect the safety and welfare of athletes. The penalty for violating the ban was left to the committee that oversees each sport. The Baseball Rules Committee instructed umpires to eject any player or coach who is using tobacco or who has tobacco in his possession. Enforcement was spotty until the committee made it a point of emphasis in 2003. In spite of the warnings the players receive, Texas coach Augie Garrido said he knows some members of his team chew tobacco. "Theres a lot more of it in Texas," he said, "because its not only about the baseball. Its about hunting, its about fishing, its about being a man." As for Sborz, he started chewing for a simple reason. "I saw an older kid do it, so I thought Id try to do it," he said. Curtis Joseph Jersey . Yet heading to New York, the Habs remain positive as it all comes down to the one main ingredient that the organization has built its team on - character. Chris Chelios Jersey . The Rays hope to stay alive for the postseason and salvage the finale of this series Sunday at Rogers Centre, where they dropped a 7-2 decision Saturday. Chris Archer lasted 2 1/3 innings in the no-decision, charged with a run and five hits, and Alex Torres suffered the loss in relief. http://www.redwingshockeyauthentic.com/kris-draper-jersey/. Burkes Flames are one of several teams involved in heavy trade speculation going into next Wednesdays 3pm et deadline, with the most prominent name in play being forward Michael Cammalleri. Bob Probert Jersey . The $145.7-million Tim Hortons Field was slated to open this month, a year before it was to host all 32 mens and womens soccer competitions. The delay has forced the Hamilton Tiger-Cats football team to use a smaller facility for the first two home games of the season. Dylan Larkin Jersey . Goins is the early favourite to win the starting job at second base. Pillar is an outsider to secure a role off the bench, which becomes an even more difficult spot to win if the number of back up jobs is reduced by one. That happens if the Blue Jays decide to start the season with an eight man bullpen.TORONTO -- Jay Triano has set a gruelling summer schedule that will see Canadas mens basketball team play six games in six nights -- in three different countries. It wont be easy. But then again, thats the point. "We want it to be challenging. Youve got to go through these tough times in order to build your team," said Triano, Canadas head coach. The Canadian men failed to qualify for this summers basketball World Cup, and Triano said it was obvious at the qualifying tournament that what his young squad needed was international experience. So Canada Basketball set up this summers European tour that will see the team play 11 games between July 24 and Aug. 12. Among their opponents: five of the worlds top-15 ranked teams. "Were playing Slovenia in Slovenia, Croatia in Croatia, Spain in Spain. . . were going to be in some crazy basketball environments. And its what we need, we need to get these players playing the international game and understanding it a little bit more, when the conditions arent perfect," Triano said. "That was the goal. "We could have a training camp and bring guys in. But these guys train all year round with their respective NBA teams, we wanted to make sure we got more experience playing the games." Among their opponents, the 25th-ranked Canadians will play No. 2 Spain, seventh-ranked Turkey, Serbia (11), Slovenia (13) and Angola (15). Eight of the 11 teams will be using the games as part of their preparation for the World Cup. "The other three -- Italy, Bosnia and Georgia -- are kind like us, theyre playing games to get better and not have an off summer," said Triano, whos also an assistant with the Portland Trail Blazers. The Canadian players will gather in Toronto for a three-day camp, July 20-22 at the Air Canada Centre. With several of Canadas top young players such as Andrew Wiggins and Tyler Ennis gearing up for the June 26 NBA draft, Triano isnt sure who hell have this summer. Wiggins, Ennis, Nik Stauskas, along with several other Canadians hoping to hear their name called in the draft, are currently travelling around the NBA, working out for teams. Theyll head from the draft to play in the NBA summer league. "Its going to be a lot of NBA players on our team. But there are probably four or five guys who are in the draft that we have to wait until they get drafted and then confer with theeir team and then decide in conjunction with their team and their agents and them whats best for them," Triano said.dddddddddddd"Obviously we would love them all to play this summer but we also have to build a relationship with them moving forward and its going to be a busy summer for the guys who are in the draft." Hed like to take a page out USA Basketballs book and have players commit to more than one year. "We cant just all of a sudden, first time they play for our national team, is next summer at the Pan American Games, and then weve got to try to qualify for the Olympics," Triano said. "Were trying to build a basketball program, but we still have to be respectful to the fact that these guys are trying to get their careers on track and trying to do the right thing with the NBA." Triano said hell field his strongest team at next summers Pan Am Games in Toronto. Its perfect preparation for the FIBA Americas qualifying tournament for the Rio Olympics. Plus, its in Toronto, "so thats exciting," he said. With the likes of young stars like Wiggins, coupled with talented NBA players such as Tristan Thompson, Canadian mens basketball could be on the cusp of enjoying unparalleled success. "I would say the only negative is that were just so young. Even our NBA players are very very young players," Triano said -- Thompson (Cleveland Cavaliers) is only 23, while Andrew Nicholson (Orlando Magic) is 24. "This summer is a great summer for them, they can play lots of games, and we play in crazy environments like the international game sometimes presents," Triano said. "And well see what we get from that experience and then next summer weve got the Pan Ams here in Toronto and then the Olympic qualifying tournament later in the summer." Canada went 3-4 to finish sixth at last summers FIBA Americas qualifying tournament for the World Cup. One of their victories came against eventual winner Mexico. Triano pointed out his young team was up against the likes of Luis Scola (Argentina/Indiana Pacers), who at 34 years old is well-versed in the international game, and 32-year-old Jack Martinez of the Dominican Republic. "Its just the savvy play," he said. "And thats why when we finished we said we had to find a way next summer to play more international games." ' ' '