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CNN Live Today

Will Boys of Summer be Around This Fall?

Aired July 23, 2002 - 12:43   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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: There the boys of summer, but will they be around this fall? One news account doubts it.

"The Los Angeles Times" reports that September 16 could be the day that baseball strikes out. The players union, though, insists no strike day has been set.

CNN's Keith Olbermann has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KEITH OLBERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Even a repeat of 1994's disastrous season-ending strike would cost the players just 1/12 of their salaries while devastating management's ticket revenues during the pennant races and its postseason income from tickets and television.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WILLIAM J. CLINTON, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: In a great event like the baseball strike, I think there is an assumption that customers are always there, but the only thing I'd like to say to both sides are that are there are a lot of little kids out there who want to see this season come to a close.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

OLBERMANN: Secondly, many, including the union, believe the owners cannot sustain a long strike. With a short one, the playoffs and World Series could be saved. And thirdly, September 16 is not September 11th. The players are terrified of public reaction if they are on strike on the anniversary of the terrorist attacks. They seem less concerned about public reaction if they are talking about a strike on the anniversary of the terrorist attacks.

Baseball has already taken heat for just scheduling games on September 11th. Fans, like those in Milwaukee for All-Star Game fiasco two weeks ago, seem to show undercurrent of anger, seem to be spoiling for a fight. The amount of heat (ph) were games to played on the anniversary while millionaires talked about striking can only be guessed at.

Moreover, there is the matter of September 17. Monday, September 17, 2001 was the day the baseball season resumed. And began to play its part in the healing of the nation.

Tuesday, September 17, 2002, in the midst of as solemn a time of remembrance as ever in this country's history, would be the first full day of canceled games, empty stadiums, and re-embittered fans.

Keith Olbermann, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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