To Finance the Fine, He Could Charge for Rides on Team Bus

Jimmy Bragan, president of the Southern League, said Friday that he is investigating whether Michael Jordan violated a minor league tobacco policy by having a cigar in the Birmingham Barons dugout.

The former NBA star was photographed with the cigar in his mouth before Thursday’s game against the Lookouts in Chattanooga.

The minor league policy states that no athlete, coach or anyone associated with a team can have tobacco products in the dugout or on the field. Violators can be fined $300.

“I don’t know if he was smoking or not,” Bragan said. “I don’t condone it, and he would be handled as if he were any other player or coach.”

Bragan said he is awaiting a report from the game’s umpires before making a decision on what action to take, if any. He said he does not expect to receive the report before Monday. He said it was possible Jordan was unaware of the no-smoking policy.

“We are tickled to death to have him in the league, want him to do well and expect him to follow rules like anyone else, and he will do that if he stays in the league,” Bragan said.