John Danks(notes) says he feels better ever since he loosened his grip on the dip.

Danks, a White Sox lefty, had been experiencing circulation problems and blisters with his left index finger earlier this season. He underwent several tests and doctors could not pin down a cause, though they did tell him chewing tobacco could be a factor.

So, Danks, who picked up the harmful habit in the minors, quit putting a pinch between his cheek and gum about a month ago and says he feels better.

From MLB.com:

“I think it’s something that it probably didn’t help, but I’m over a month now without a dip, and it was something I wanted to do even before the finger problem. But definitely it’s a battle for me to quit, but I feel like I’m past the worst, and it really is a big accomplishment for me to be able to quit.”

Quitting might seem like a simple act, but as anyone who struggles with an addiction knows, it’s anything but easy. A lot of players will agree, including the following …

• Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton(notes) relapsed with alcohol this off-season (at least once, that we know about) and also said he was going to quit tobacco. However, Hamilton recently said that he hasn’t been able to kick the habit as quickly as he wanted.

• Two years ago, Red Sox manager Terry Francona made a big money bet with a club executive that he could quit chewing tobacco.

• I’m not sure if Dodgers catcher Russell Martin(notes) is still abstaining from chew as he was in spring training, but more power to him if he is.

Some have called for MLB to ban chewing tobacco, as it did in the minors (with mixed success at best). The crotchety old man in me agrees that a business should be allowed to shape its image. The libertarian in me says grown men should be allowed to ingest whatever legal substance he wants. The librarian in me just wants to make everyone go “shush.”

But no matter if the stuff is banned or passed out like candy, players are on their own once hooked. Danks’ next start comes tomorrow at Fenway Park. Check on his progress.

– By David Brown | Yahoo!

Four months after securing one-day international status, Afghanistan on Wednesday celebrated their maiden first-class victory with a one-wicket victory over the Netherlands.

In the four-day match, part of the Intercontinental Cup tournament, Afghanistan began the final day needing 168 to win, with eight wickets to spare, and reached their target when Samiullah Shenwari smashed Mudassar Bukhari for a boundary.

In a low-scoring, rain-affected match, the Dutch were bowled out for 181 in their first innings with Hamid Hassan and Mohammad Nabi grabbing four wickets each.

Afghanistan were dismissed for just 107 with Nowroz Mangal top-scoring with 41 before the Dutch were then bowled out for 132 in their second innings.

This time, Shapoor Zadran and Mirwais Ashraf claimed four wickets each.

Opener Noor Ali top-scored for Afghanistan in their second innings making 56.

– AAP

ROME – Italy coach Marcello Lippi was rebuked by one of Italy’s leading gay associations on Wednesday for saying two members of the national team could not have an open homosexual relationship.

“Why, dear Lippi, couldn’t footballers openly experience gay love when they show their flirts with every type of showgirl in front of every TV camera?” said a statement on the Arcigay association’s website (www.arcigay.it).

The 2006 World Cup winning coach had made his comments in an interview with Swiss media expert and journalist Klaus Davi published on the internet (www.youtube.com/klauscondicio).

– Reuters

QUITO – Ecuador international Paul Ambrossi has agreed to join Rosario Central of Argentina from LDU Quito, the Ecuadorean Football Federation said on Wednesday.

The 28-year-old defender, who has played for LDU since 1997 and helped them win the South American Libertadores Cup last year, played for Ecuador at the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

Local media reported Ambrossi was moving for a fee of $700,000 on a two-year contract.

– Reuters

Australian driver Will Power remained in hospital on Wednesday in the wake of his IndyCar practice crash with French driver Nelson Philippe on Saturday.

The 28-year-old Queenslander has been fitted with a back brace and is expected to be transported to Indianapolis within the next two days for further examination by IndyCar Series orthopaedic specialist Terry Trammell.

The crash occurred when Philippe’s stalled car was hit by Power’s vehicle as the Australian driver rounded a blind corner at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, California.

Power suffered a concussion and compression fractures of two vertebrae in his lower back.

He remains at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital but is expected to make a full recovery, the Indianapolis Star reported.

Philippe has been released from hospital and has returned to his home in Florida after surgery to repair a serious fracture of his left foot.

– AAP

VANCOUVER, Canada – Despite dark economic clouds, the International Olympic Committee declared Vancouver ‘ready’ Wednesday, following its final inspection of the host of the 2010 Games.

“We are extremely happy with what we have seen and heard,” Rene Fasel, chairman of the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Coordination Commission, said.

“The venues are just spectacular and the plans for next February are very good,” said Fasel. “I am pleased to be able to say Vancouver is ready for 2010.”

Officials denied there is disagreement between the IOC and local organizers over a possible budget shortfall of about 30 million Canadian dollars.

To date the IOC has signed only nine instead of 11 expected sponsors at the international level.

“We haven’t generated the revenue from that area that we’d hoped and that we budgeted for,” said John Furlong, Chief Executive Officer of the Vancouver organizing committee (VANOC).

“At this stage we don’t know if we’ll have a shortfall” he said, but added, “we will deliver the games with a balanced budget.”

In the event of a shortfall, he said, “we have to deal with it… either through cutting costs or raising revenue in different areas.”

Officials said the IOC and VANOC are in discussions about an IOC proposal to help with 2010 games funding, but did not release details.

Furlong said that with less than six months left before the games in this Western Canadian metropolis, local organizers are focused on operational details.

“We obviously have many things to do,” Furlong said, adding that the priority is on transportation systems between the international airport here, local hotels and venues, and the ski resort Whistler, where alpine competitions will be held.

Officials were tight-lipped about their response to a human rights court challenge of the IOC’s decision not to add female ski jumping to the 2010 programme.

Asked if the Games could still accommodate a women’s event if a Canadian court ruling, expected this autumn, favours the women, Furlong replied, “We’re not planning any event at this point in time … we’re talking about something that’s completely hypothetical.”

“Seven Mondays from now, we light the flame in Olympia,” Furlong said of the traditional start of the Olympic torch relay, which will carry the flame 45,000 kilometers (2,800 miles) across Canada.

Officials also paid tribute on Wednesday to Leo Obstbaum, medals and mascots designer for the Games, who died suddenly at home last Thursday.

– AFP