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CNN Live At Daybreak

'Talk of CNN'

Aired August 29, 2002 - 05:36   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Talk radio has its fingers on the pulse of the nation. You know that. Chad, come here and join in. We're going to check in with Jimmy Barrett at WRVA News Radio 1140 in Richmond, Virginia. Jimmy is on this line with us.
JIMMY BARRETT, WRVA CORRESPONDENT: Right now, part two while we wait from the gang from CNN DAYBREAK to join us.

COSTELLO: Hey, we're here.

BARRETT: Actually, I think they're probably ready to join us now.

CHAD MYERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Jimmy!

BARRETT: Hey, Chadley! Hey, Carol!

COSTELLO: How are you? We love your video cam.

BARRETT: Well, that's good. Do you like my outfit here today?

MYERS: Oh, no Tigers.

BARRETT: Yes, I'M getting...

MYERS: I'm ready for the major league baseball players to walk out and I'm offering myself up, by the way, as a replacement player here.

MYERS: Yes.

COSTELLO: You would cross the strike lines?

BARRETT: I'm willing to cross the strike line as soon as -- there you go.

MYERS: We'll play...

BARRETT: Do you see the sign?

MYERS: ... for beer.

COSTELLO: We'll play for...

BARRETT: We'll play for -- and, by the way, I priced this out at major league baseball parks. I figure that's worth at least $10 at your average major league baseball park. Right there. MYERS: Yes, that's per inning, my friend.

COSTELLO: Hey, Jimmy, let me ask you this. Do you think fans are serious this time? Are they angry enough to boycott the game if these players strike?

BARRETT: You know, Carol, that's a great question and I'm not going to pretend to know the answer to that. I see a lot of polling information that says, what, about 20, maybe 28 percent of Americans are calling themselves baseball fans these days. And we all made this big stink back in '94 and '95 during that players strike that we weren't going to forget baseball.

But somehow or another, a pennant race or something along those lines and, of course, the Atlanta Braves fans know all about that, and nothing like a good pennant race to bring back the fans, right?

MYERS: Yes, the Chicago fans say they've been on strike since May anyway because the teams haven't won many games anyway.

BARRETT: Well, and you can tell I'm wearing a Detroit Tiger jersey. I was the public address announcer there for nine years and I've got to tell you, I saw a lot of lousy baseball in nine years. I think that's a mercy killing if the season ends for them.

COSTELLO: You're right.

MYERS: You know, they were rebuilding for nine years and they still are.

BARRETT: Here's the thing I think we need to, need to address. If they do go out on strike, the only prayer that baseball has is it will have to have been for something. They will have to make some fundamental changes in baseball to assure that this does not happen again.

Now, the NBA and the NFL, both have realized that they have to save themselves from themselves and have gone to a, you know, a salary cap structure. I think major league baseball is going to have to do the same thing. There's only so much money coming in, so much money going out, and these are businesses. They have to be, expect to make a profit. That's just what they're for.

COSTELLO: Well, but that sounds so logical. Why do you think that these baseball players can't get that through their thick heads?

BARRETT: Well, do you think if we were making $15 million a year we'd be logical?

COSTELLO: Actually, I think I would be. I mean how much money do you need in this life?

BARRETT: Well, you don't, you certainly don't need $15 million. And I don't think anybody can argue with that fact. The problem here gets to be that the players' union doesn't want to give up something they felt that they worked so long and so hard. And I think the contraction thing also has them scared. They're afraid that they're going to lose jobs. And that's where the union mentality kicks in here. We don't want to give up any jobs.

The owners, on the other hand, every time in the past they've tried to get a handle on baseball salaries, they've been called guilty of collusion. Collusion. You can't do that! So, again, we're going to have to come up with a salary cap. I think it's the only answer.

COSTELLO: Do you know what would be really funny? If they do decide to go out on strike, and, you know, the baseball players have to travel to wherever they're playing on Friday, you know, just in case they do play, they'll all be stuck there.

BARRETT: I wonder how many of them will be looking for cheap airfares.

MYERS: Yes.

COSTELLO: A lot of them are asking well, how are we going to get back?

MYERS: Or the AAA bus home, how about that?

BARRETT: Oh, shoot.

MYERS: Hey, you know what? If they go on strike, let's support our AAA and AA teams, because those guys are playing for $26,000 a year and they're playing because they want to play.

BARRETT: Right.

MYERS: They're playing for the fun of the game.

BARRETT: And you know what else is nice here, too? How about that little league team from Louisville, Kentucky?

MYERS: Yes.

BARRETT: Now, that's really what baseball is all about.

MYERS: Good stuff.

BARRETT: But, again, I remain available. I remain available. I'm more than glad to be a scab player for a good beer, $10, hey, with my skills, that's all I'm worth anyway.

COSTELLO: We'll start circulating the petitions now.

BARRETT: Thank you.

COSTELLO: Thank you, Jimmy Barrett from WRVA News Radio 1140 in Richmond, Virginia. We'll catch you next week.

BARRETT: All right.

MYERS: I've seen him golf. I'm not sure he could hit the ball or not.

BARRETT: Well, I can hit the baseball about the same as I hit the golf ball. That should be enough of an answer for you.

COSTELLO: That's his problem.

BARRETT: Exactly.

COSTELLO: Thank you, Jimmy.

MYERS: Take care, Jimmy.

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