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CNN Live Today
Athletes Discuss Sports Charities
Aired March 18, 2002 - 10:44 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: You may not think about this connection here, but sports is actually playing into this as well. Sports is more than just a recreation; it could also be a huge social benefit, especially when you consider youngsters are being introduced to concepts such as wholesome competition and fair play and concern for others.
Today, the Sport for Good Foundation and the Inner-city Games Foundation in New York joined forces to promote athletic excellence as an antidote to the heartache of September 11.
You may recognize a couple of guys who are with us this morning. This guy, Edwin Moses, champion hurdler. Of course, he's much more than that; he is also an ambassador for sports and for all that is good in athletics. Good to see him this morning with us.
And with Edwin Moses in our New York bureau is this man, Michael Johnson. I don't even think we need to give this guy an introduction; so many people have seen his face all over the televisions around the world for so many years, from being a champion for so long. He is also a member of the World Sports Academy, as is Edwin Moses.
Gentlemen, thank you very much for coming in and sharing some time with us this morning. Sure do appreciate it.
EDWIN MOSES, ATHLETE: Thank you.
MICHAEL JOHNSON, ATHLETE: Thank you.
HARRIS: Explain first of all what is this concept here about this Laureus Sports Agency, the idea of coming in and using sports to help people deal with what happened on September 11 -- Edwin?
MOSES: We have an organization called the Laureus World Sports Academy. It's a global organization comprised of 42 of the biggest sports -- rugby, cricket -- we have the names that everyone knows. Very international organization.
What we do, through the gratitude of our sponsors, people from Mercedes-Benz, in Richmond, they have given us more than $1 million a year, and the academy decides on which projects we will work with. We have 11 projects currently throughout the world. We decide how the money is going to be spent. All this is done with the creedo of using sports to make a social change throughout the world. HARRIS: Michael, how has that worked out, in your involvement in this? How did you get involved with this, and what did see happen there with the kind of difference that sport can actually make?
JOHNSON: Sport can make a tremendous difference in the lives, particularly the lives of youth. And that's what I'm interested in, and that's why I've decided to support the Laureus Organization. The Sport for Good Organization does a lot of good around the world internationally, and as an international athlete, you recognize the challenges that athletes and young people around the world are faced with today, and certainly want to try to help in whatever way we can. So it's an Honor to be part of the organization and what's being done.
HARRIS: Tell us about what it is that you all do. In so many of these kind of efforts, the athletes come into it and they basically lend their name to but, but do you guys actually get your hand dirty in this, or what?
JOHNSON: We get our hands dirty. Of all the athletes on the World Academy, the main part of our mission is traveling to the locations -- being on the ground in South Africa, for example; I just returned back a few weeks ago with a group. It actually was a worldwide tour: We went to South Africa, to Australia -- we worked with the aboriginal people, and Kathy Freeman was there for four days.
HARRIS: Oh, man, I bet she got a great reception there.
JOHNSON: She got a great reception. We have people coming on buses and trains from 1,000 miles from all parts of Australia. In South Africa, we worked with kids that live out on the street -- street urchins, addicted to drugs, sexually abused, petty criminals. And in China, we worked with the Special Olympics.
Here in the states, we work with Midnight Basketball League, which has been very effective in keeping some of our young people out of crime and out of jail. And it's reduced crime in the Richmond, Virginia area. We are going to play basketball, the all-star game, with them tonight.
HARRIS: As a matter of fact, I think I just read something about that. This is in New York. You guys are both playing in this, or what?
JOHNSON: I might do some coaching. I think Mike was in better shape, but we're looking for a few all-stars, if you want to come and join us, Leon.
MOSES: I'm just going to try not to be a liability to the team.
HARRIS: So wait a minute, are you saying that Michael is the only one that can actually still run?
JOHNSON: I can run up and down the court now. Actually shooting the ball that could become a little challenging for me.
HARRIS: It's a whole different ball game there -- literally. What about this: I also read in the same set of notes about gymnastics, are you guys also supposed to be help in some gymnastics events as well?
MOSES: We're going to Sutton Gymnastics today, and our project there involves things like counseling, conflict counseling and resolution, and anger management. What we are going to do there is try to help the kids who have been affected by the 9/11, some of which have been forgotten. There's a tremendous amount of money that's going to be used and is available in foundations, but we want to target ours to kids who are surrounded by the problem. And we want to do it through sports.
HARRIS: I'm getting a mental picture here. Is there any chance we can get some video of you guys actually out there on the gymnastic floors doing these routines?
MOSES: I was doing gymnastics in China. There is video. Nadia Comaneci had me jumping around.
HARRIS: Sorry I missed that one.
Well, listen, guys, since you tagged teamed on me this morning, I have got a tag team surprise for you. I'm not sure if you know who is our weatherperson these days, Rosey Edeh, former Olympian herself, from '96.
ROSEY EDEH, FORMER OLYMPIAN: That's right.
You know what, Edwin Moses, I met you a few years ago, actually, in Germany.
And I just want to say good morning to you both.
JOHNSON: Good morning.
MOSES: Good morning.
EDEH: How are you?
JOHNSON: Good morning, Rosey. Good to see you.
EDEH: Good to see you too.
Edwin, I met you a few years ago in Germany. You gave me some wonderful training tips. I just want to know what do you tell the kids that you meet, in terms of training, because you've won so many consecutive races. Do you tell them about winning? What do you talk about when you talk about sports and how it has helped you?
MOSES: I talk a lot about not necessarily winning, because everyone is not going to be able to win. Everyone's not going to be an Olympic champion. What we talk about is discipline, using the sport and the elements of sport to make more complete and wholesome person. Everyone is not going to be a Michael or an Edwin, go to the Olympic Games; so many more other factors are much more important. After retirement, life is very long, longer than it is when you compete itself. That's the most important thing.
HARRIS: That's a good point.
EDEH: That's a very good point.
One question for you, Michael. I know you have got a son, a young son. What are you hoping that he is going to turn into? An athlete, or is he showing any potential for that?
JOHNSON: He's showing quite a bit of potential. You know, for me, I will support in whatever he decides to do. I actually do hope he does not choose track and field, because he won't have the opportunity that I had to really go out there without the world watching and wondering and measuring him against me.
But you know, if he wants to do that, as a child, my focus for him will be for him to have fun. I work with a lot of kids around the nation and the world to try to keep them involved in sports.
And the most important thing is that they have fun and enjoy it. You get parents saying how can I make my kid faster? And I say, How old is he? And they're like, Seven.
EDEH: What?
JOHNSON: Let the child have some fun. Let them have fun. That's what sports should be about at that age.
HARRIS: Well, man, look, son better be fast, because if he's the slowest kid on the block or in school, he is going to get dogged, and you know that.
JOHNSON: Exactly. Right. Right. So I'm trying to avoid that.
HARRIS: Good deal. Good luck. Good luck with the Laureus Sports Foundation that you guys are working with the Laureus World Sports awards, coming up. Michael Johnson and Edwin Moses, thanks very much. Gentlemen, it's a pleasure having you with us today. Good luck.
JOHNSON: Thank you.
MOSES: Thank you.
HARRIS: Don't hurt yourselves out there doing the gymnastics either.
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