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American Morning
Vocal Support
Aired April 28, 2003 - 09:52 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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Well, Natalie needed some help, and that's exactly what she got from the Blazers head coach Maurice Cheeks. He came in, as you saw there. He helped Natalie remember the words. and guided her to a big finish.
And we have both of them with us this morning. Natalie Gilbert and coach Cheeks with us this morning from Portland.
Good morning to both you.
Natalie, I want start with you, and point out to our audience, you are no slouch when it comes to performing in public, you had to beat out a lot of people just to get this opportunity to sing the National Anthem and turns out you were sick that day, had the flu, and crawled out of your sick bed to come and perform that day.
NATALIE GILBERT, 13-YEAR-OLD SINGER: Yes, that's right. I had the flu for about two weeks.
KAGAN: So you were trying to be a gamer, as they say, and step up and sing. Take us to that moment. You went out there, I know you know the words, because I know you've done this. You were looking around for help. Was coach Cheeks about the last person you thought who was going to show up and help you out?
GILBERT: Well, it was very unexpected. I couldn't believe that coach cheeks was walking over when I turned and he -- come on, you know -- just started singing, and it helped me a lot. It helped make me feel more comfortable.
KAGAN: Coach, let me bring new here. You obviously were feeling Natalie's pain, along with 20,000 fans. You had a lot on your mind, a lot of pressure, facing elimination perhaps in this playoff series, the first round. What took over in you to go over and help out this young lady?
MAURICE CHEEKS, PORTLAND BLAZERS COACH: You know, I don't know. I think as I saw her stumble on the words, she looked helpless, and I just started walking. I had no idea what I was going to do, what I was going to say. But as I approached her, I just wanted to help her, and I didn't know if I even knew the words.
KAGAN: That I was wondering. I mean, you had a lot on your mind.
GILBERT: You know, I just wanted to help her out. I didn't want her to stand there helpless, nothing to do. So I just wanted to help her out.
KAGAN: And then, Natalie, it kind of went from there. So you had coach Cheeks, and it sounds like as we listen to the tape, that everybody kind of joined in and it became this big group effort.
GILBERT: Yes, it was just like having a huge choir of 20,000 people around you, just singing a great patriotic song.
KAGAN: Real quickly -- you feeling better, Natalie?
GILBERT: A lot better. I still kind of have a minor cold.
KAGAN: Yes, we can kind of hear it in your voice. I'm sure a lot of great performances for you. And coach Cheeks, congratulations to you, staving off elimination against Dallas.
GILBERT: Thank you. That was a much-needed win.
KAGAN: That is an understatement. Good luck Wednesday against Dallas, game 5. Appreciate it. Thank you for joining us.
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 April 28, 2003 - 09:52 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Well, Natalie needed some help, and that's exactly what she got from the Blazers head coach Maurice Cheeks. He came in, as you saw there. He helped Natalie remember the words. and guided her to a big finish.
And we have both of them with us this morning. Natalie Gilbert and coach Cheeks with us this morning from Portland.
Good morning to both you.
Natalie, I want start with you, and point out to our audience, you are no slouch when it comes to performing in public, you had to beat out a lot of people just to get this opportunity to sing the National Anthem and turns out you were sick that day, had the flu, and crawled out of your sick bed to come and perform that day.
NATALIE GILBERT, 13-YEAR-OLD SINGER: Yes, that's right. I had the flu for about two weeks.
KAGAN: So you were trying to be a gamer, as they say, and step up and sing. Take us to that moment. You went out there, I know you know the words, because I know you've done this. You were looking around for help. Was coach Cheeks about the last person you thought who was going to show up and help you out?
GILBERT: Well, it was very unexpected. I couldn't believe that coach cheeks was walking over when I turned and he -- come on, you know -- just started singing, and it helped me a lot. It helped make me feel more comfortable.
KAGAN: Coach, let me bring new here. You obviously were feeling Natalie's pain, along with 20,000 fans. You had a lot on your mind, a lot of pressure, facing elimination perhaps in this playoff series, the first round. What took over in you to go over and help out this young lady?
MAURICE CHEEKS, PORTLAND BLAZERS COACH: You know, I don't know. I think as I saw her stumble on the words, she looked helpless, and I just started walking. I had no idea what I was going to do, what I was going to say. But as I approached her, I just wanted to help her, and I didn't know if I even knew the words.
KAGAN: That I was wondering. I mean, you had a lot on your mind.
GILBERT: You know, I just wanted to help her out. I didn't want her to stand there helpless, nothing to do. So I just wanted to help her out.
KAGAN: And then, Natalie, it kind of went from there. So you had coach Cheeks, and it sounds like as we listen to the tape, that everybody kind of joined in and it became this big group effort.
GILBERT: Yes, it was just like having a huge choir of 20,000 people around you, just singing a great patriotic song.
KAGAN: Real quickly -- you feeling better, Natalie?
GILBERT: A lot better. I still kind of have a minor cold.
KAGAN: Yes, we can kind of hear it in your voice. I'm sure a lot of great performances for you. And coach Cheeks, congratulations to you, staving off elimination against Dallas.
GILBERT: Thank you. That was a much-needed win.
KAGAN: That is an understatement. Good luck Wednesday against Dallas, game 5. Appreciate it. Thank you for joining us.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
