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CNN Live At Daybreak

Interview with Dave Johnson

Aired November 08, 2002 - 05:37   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: When the Lakers come to town, it's always a big game for NBA fans, and that's true even when Shaq's out.
Dave Johnson of WTOP Radio in Washington and the voice of the Washington Wizards will be there tonight for a marquis match up.

Dave's on the phone for our Friday check-in.

Good morning, Dave.

Nice music, but that's not Dave. Do we have Dave?

DAVE JOHNSON, WTOP SPORTS DIRECTOR: Good morning.

CHAD MYERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: He's singing.

COSTELLO: Dave? Dave, are you on the line?

JOHNSON: I'm here.

COSTELLO: Oh, good.

MYERS: All right.

COSTELLO: That was nice music. Thank you.

JOHNSON: Well, I appreciate the intro.

COSTELLO: No problem.

Hey, I hear the game is sold out between the Washington Wizards and the Lakers.

JOHNSON: Yes, I'm worried they've sold my seat tonight. This is a hot, hot ticket in this town tonight. It's Koby Bryant, it's Michael Jordan, even with no Shaquille O'Neal, as you mentioned, as he's out with the foot injury. But there's going to be a lot of star gazing to do tonight to see who's sitting in those court side seats as this is a great match up.

Koby Bryant last night had 41, though, for the Lakers in their win over the Boston Celtics. So even without Shaquille O'Neal, the Lakers are going to be a big challenge for all to do some star gazing tonight.

COSTELLO: Oh, you were talking about star gazing. Does that mean politicos or Hollywood stars coming? JOHNSON: No, it's politicos. That's one of the things you do at NBA games. The other night I was in Minnesota and actually the artist formerly known as Prince, or Prince was there. But he's so reclusive I didn't even see him and he was sitting in the front row. But tonight it's the politicos that you look for to see who's...

COSTELLO: Hey, do you think George Bush will show up?

JOHNSON: Well, you know, we've had presidents here before. But I don't think George Bush has shown up to a Wizards game. Bill Clinton would make several appearances and we used to see Al Gore from time to time. But we've not seen George Bush, although it's been a big week for him so he may want to celebrate.

COSTELLO: That's right, exactly.

Hey, I hear this Kansas City first base coach that was attacked in a game...

JOHNSON: Yes?

COSTELLO: ... has accepted the apology of one of his attackers.

JOHNSON: A nice gesture of a bizarre incident. You remember in September it was actually a 15-year-old boy and his father, which is not the kind of take me out to the ball game experience you want from a father and son. They attacked Royals first base coach Tom Gamboa, a serious incident. He's accepted the apology of the 15-year-old boy. The father had previously said he doesn't remember much about the incident, which somehow doesn't come as a surprise.

COSTELLO: Well, what did the kid say to him?

JOHNSON: He just apologized for the incident and Tom Gamboa hopes that he gets probation and community service. So a nice gesture on the part of the Royals' first base coach.

COSTELLO: Oh, we're looking at the boy right now. Was he under the influence of his father?

JOHNSON: Well, you know, it's such a mystery as to what was going on. The father and son said after the game that Gamboa had done something to provoke them to come out of the stands. And, again, it just is something that is unexplainable. Although, again, getting back to the father's comments that he doesn't remember much about the incident, I think, tells us a lot about what was going on that night.

COSTELLO: I think it gives us a certain clue.

Hey, Dave Johnson, thank you very much.

JOHNSON: I'll let you know who was sitting court side next week.

COSTELLO: Oh, we want to know, too.

Thank you, Dave. 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 November 8, 2002 - 05:37   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: When the Lakers come to town, it's always a big game for NBA fans, and that's true even when Shaq's out.
Dave Johnson of WTOP Radio in Washington and the voice of the Washington Wizards will be there tonight for a marquis match up.

Dave's on the phone for our Friday check-in.

Good morning, Dave.

Nice music, but that's not Dave. Do we have Dave?

DAVE JOHNSON, WTOP SPORTS DIRECTOR: Good morning.

CHAD MYERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: He's singing.

COSTELLO: Dave? Dave, are you on the line?

JOHNSON: I'm here.

COSTELLO: Oh, good.

MYERS: All right.

COSTELLO: That was nice music. Thank you.

JOHNSON: Well, I appreciate the intro.

COSTELLO: No problem.

Hey, I hear the game is sold out between the Washington Wizards and the Lakers.

JOHNSON: Yes, I'm worried they've sold my seat tonight. This is a hot, hot ticket in this town tonight. It's Koby Bryant, it's Michael Jordan, even with no Shaquille O'Neal, as you mentioned, as he's out with the foot injury. But there's going to be a lot of star gazing to do tonight to see who's sitting in those court side seats as this is a great match up.

Koby Bryant last night had 41, though, for the Lakers in their win over the Boston Celtics. So even without Shaquille O'Neal, the Lakers are going to be a big challenge for all to do some star gazing tonight.

COSTELLO: Oh, you were talking about star gazing. Does that mean politicos or Hollywood stars coming? JOHNSON: No, it's politicos. That's one of the things you do at NBA games. The other night I was in Minnesota and actually the artist formerly known as Prince, or Prince was there. But he's so reclusive I didn't even see him and he was sitting in the front row. But tonight it's the politicos that you look for to see who's...

COSTELLO: Hey, do you think George Bush will show up?

JOHNSON: Well, you know, we've had presidents here before. But I don't think George Bush has shown up to a Wizards game. Bill Clinton would make several appearances and we used to see Al Gore from time to time. But we've not seen George Bush, although it's been a big week for him so he may want to celebrate.

COSTELLO: That's right, exactly.

Hey, I hear this Kansas City first base coach that was attacked in a game...

JOHNSON: Yes?

COSTELLO: ... has accepted the apology of one of his attackers.

JOHNSON: A nice gesture of a bizarre incident. You remember in September it was actually a 15-year-old boy and his father, which is not the kind of take me out to the ball game experience you want from a father and son. They attacked Royals first base coach Tom Gamboa, a serious incident. He's accepted the apology of the 15-year-old boy. The father had previously said he doesn't remember much about the incident, which somehow doesn't come as a surprise.

COSTELLO: Well, what did the kid say to him?

JOHNSON: He just apologized for the incident and Tom Gamboa hopes that he gets probation and community service. So a nice gesture on the part of the Royals' first base coach.

COSTELLO: Oh, we're looking at the boy right now. Was he under the influence of his father?

JOHNSON: Well, you know, it's such a mystery as to what was going on. The father and son said after the game that Gamboa had done something to provoke them to come out of the stands. And, again, it just is something that is unexplainable. Although, again, getting back to the father's comments that he doesn't remember much about the incident, I think, tells us a lot about what was going on that night.

COSTELLO: I think it gives us a certain clue.

Hey, Dave Johnson, thank you very much.

JOHNSON: I'll let you know who was sitting court side next week.

COSTELLO: Oh, we want to know, too.

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