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Heart of a Champion

Aired September 26, 2002 - 19:57   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: Whether it's Mickey Mantle at the plate, Michael Jordan in the air or Joe Montana moving the team, Americans view professional athletes with awe and envy. Fans want to join the celebration of their achievements. They rarely glimpse the spirit and the character that drives them. "The Heart of a Champion" provides that all for us, and it's the latest book by Frank Deford, a senior contributing writer for "Sports Illustrated," and a man knighted by "GQ" magazine as the world's greatest sports writer, and a distinction with which I can not disagree.
Frank, good to see you. How are you?

FRANK DEFORD, AUTHOR, "THE HEART OF A CHAMPION": Well, Leon, it seems like it's more competition down in Washington right now than in the arena or stadium. So thanks for letting me in.

HARRIS: That's The next book for you then. We only have a couple of minutes because of all that, so let's get right to it. This book, you went and looked at all of the Wheaties boxes, and the figures that have graced that box over the years, and you picked out some that you say best exemplify these at least five characteristics, commitment, grace, courage, team effort and perseverance. Why these particular traits?

DEFORD: Well, I think if you add them all up, you are going to get what the book says is the heart of a champion. It's so hard to make these kinds of elemental comparisons. Who knows really what makes a champion. You hear the athletes say we want it more, but you know that's not true; you know that Venus Williams wanted to win just as much as Serena, you know the Yankees wanted to win just as much as the Diamondbacks.

I think it's an ability to put all those things together, and to concentrate on wining, that is -- gives you your best chance to win. And then, of course, Leon, you've just got to be better, that -- no doubt about that.

HARRIS: That helps, too.

Of these different traits that you did pick, is there any one that means the most to you, between commitment, grace, team effort and perseverance?

DEFORD: I am not so sure that grace is going to win you the most games, but you asked what's the most important to me, and I think that the athlete who displays grace, whether in victory or defeat, is the one that over the long run, I am going to like the most. And so maybe that's not the most important part of victory, but it may be the most important part of being an athlete, a person.

HARRIS: I got to tell you, you picked the one that I picked. That's great.

DEFORD: Oh, yes.

HARRIS: Another reason why I love you man. And also great picture of Chris Everett's grace at the beginning of that segment.

DEFORD: She's one of my favorites. Thank you.

HARRIS: And one of the most graceful, too, and you, very graceful for being patient with us. We sure you appreciate your time today.

DEFORD: No, I understand. Thank you, Leon, for having me on.

HARRIS: And thanks for the great work over the years. You're one of the greatest. Take care.

DEFORD: Appreciate it.

HARRIS: Frank Deford.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired September 26, 2002 - 19:57   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Whether it's Mickey Mantle at the plate, Michael Jordan in the air or Joe Montana moving the team, Americans view professional athletes with awe and envy. Fans want to join the celebration of their achievements. They rarely glimpse the spirit and the character that drives them. "The Heart of a Champion" provides that all for us, and it's the latest book by Frank Deford, a senior contributing writer for "Sports Illustrated," and a man knighted by "GQ" magazine as the world's greatest sports writer, and a distinction with which I can not disagree.
Frank, good to see you. How are you?

FRANK DEFORD, AUTHOR, "THE HEART OF A CHAMPION": Well, Leon, it seems like it's more competition down in Washington right now than in the arena or stadium. So thanks for letting me in.

HARRIS: That's The next book for you then. We only have a couple of minutes because of all that, so let's get right to it. This book, you went and looked at all of the Wheaties boxes, and the figures that have graced that box over the years, and you picked out some that you say best exemplify these at least five characteristics, commitment, grace, courage, team effort and perseverance. Why these particular traits?

DEFORD: Well, I think if you add them all up, you are going to get what the book says is the heart of a champion. It's so hard to make these kinds of elemental comparisons. Who knows really what makes a champion. You hear the athletes say we want it more, but you know that's not true; you know that Venus Williams wanted to win just as much as Serena, you know the Yankees wanted to win just as much as the Diamondbacks.

I think it's an ability to put all those things together, and to concentrate on wining, that is -- gives you your best chance to win. And then, of course, Leon, you've just got to be better, that -- no doubt about that.

HARRIS: That helps, too.

Of these different traits that you did pick, is there any one that means the most to you, between commitment, grace, team effort and perseverance?

DEFORD: I am not so sure that grace is going to win you the most games, but you asked what's the most important to me, and I think that the athlete who displays grace, whether in victory or defeat, is the one that over the long run, I am going to like the most. And so maybe that's not the most important part of victory, but it may be the most important part of being an athlete, a person.

HARRIS: I got to tell you, you picked the one that I picked. That's great.

DEFORD: Oh, yes.

HARRIS: Another reason why I love you man. And also great picture of Chris Everett's grace at the beginning of that segment.

DEFORD: She's one of my favorites. Thank you.

HARRIS: And one of the most graceful, too, and you, very graceful for being patient with us. We sure you appreciate your time today.

DEFORD: No, I understand. Thank you, Leon, for having me on.

HARRIS: And thanks for the great work over the years. You're one of the greatest. Take care.

DEFORD: Appreciate it.

HARRIS: Frank Deford.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com