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CNN Live At Daybreak

Strike Threat Hangs Over Major League Baseball

Aired July 08, 2002 - 06:10   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.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: The All-Star Game is tomorrow you know, but the talk is all about this possible baseball strike. Player representatives and union officials meet today outside of Chicago to discuss possible strike dates. And if there is a work stoppage, will baseball lose you all over again just like it did after the 1994 strike?

Doug Richards of CNN affiliate WAGA has reaction from Turner Field in Atlanta.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN SMOLTZ, BRAVES PITCHER: It's a public relations' nightmare as far as we're concerned, you know. The blame's always going to be put on the -- on the players.

DOUG RICHARDS, WAGA-TV REPORTER (voice-over): Baseball has been down this road before, and the memories are fresh for fans.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They punish the public. They punish the average baseball fan with this kind of stubbornness.

SMOLTZ: The bottom line is the game is great, the humans are what's messing up the game.

RICHARDS: Baseball veteran John Smoltz says the players are not trying to get more money. In fact, he says they're willing to get less.

(on camera): Is it reasonable for the owners to get some concessions from the players this time?

SMOLTZ: Absolutely.

RICHARDS: But players say they may have to strike because the owners have dragged their feet in negotiations for more than a year. And if the two sides don't reach a negotiated settlement before next season, then the owners can unilaterally impose a contract on the players whether the players like it or not.

SMOLTZ: One of the things that desperately would not be good for baseball and for baseball players is unilateral change. We want a negotiation.

VICKI PASLEY (ph): Right now I blame the owners.

RICHARDS (voice-over): Vicki Pasley is one of the few baseball fans we found sympathetic to the players.

PASLEY: I think the owners are just as greedy.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'd be inclined to blame -- to blame the players.

PHILIP ROSS: And that's even without knowing the facts.

RICHARDS: Philip Ross says he gave up his season tickets after the baseball strike eight years ago.

ROSS: I don't believe I've paid to go to a game since that strike.

PASLEY: It was hard enough after '94, but people are just not going to keep putting up with this.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just because it's only been eight years and it just shouldn't happen again already.

SMOLTZ: My main complaint as a player is the fact that there doesn't ever seem to be real negotiations until there's a pressure point of a strike date or this or that. And we've had plenty of time to do it.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: Be terrible for John Smoltz, though, he's having a great year. Hopefully there won't be a strike, but there may be.

That report, by the way, from Doug Richards with affiliate WAGA in Atlanta.

And again, we're seeking your opinion, DAYBREAK@CNN.com.

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