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CNN Live At Daybreak
Congress Prepares for Hearings on Steroid Use in Baseball; Luck of Irish May Have Run Out for One Northern Ireland Leader
Aired March 18, 2004 - 05:00 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: Straight ahead on DAYBREAK, they've got an invitation to the White House today. But the luck of the Irish may have run out for one Northern Ireland leader. Ooh, that's hard to say.
Plus...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're not capable of doing this. You say what?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Meet me on the mat.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You've got to come up behind them and wrap...
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Oh, teaching police techniques in life or death situations. We'll have a demonstration.
And saddle up, we'll introduce you to a North Dakota girl and her gray, 4-year-old school bus. She's riding it, Saint Patrick's Day.
It's Thursday, March 17.
This is DAYBREAK.
And good morning to you.
From the Time Warner Center in New York, I'm Carol Costello, along with Chad Myers.
Now in the news, baseball and steroids are in the spotlight on Capitol Hill today. A House committee is looking into the sports drug policy and already the two most influential members of the panel say baseball is behind in the count.
A memorial service is being held this afternoon in an Atlanta suburb for the Fulton County judge, Rowland Barnes. Barnes is one of four people gunned down in a shooting spree that began in his courtroom last week.
Five sisters and the fiance of a man killed by members of the Irish Republican Army attended a reception today at the White House. Not on the list of invited guests, Gerry Adams, the leader of the political wing of the IRA.
It's March madness and the nation's top ranked team, Illinois, opens play tonight. The Fighting Illini take on Fairleigh Dickinson in Indianapolis. Illinois is favored by -- Chad, they're favored by 26 1/2 points.
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: That's not enough.
COSTELLO: Oh, jeez.
MYERS: Not nearly enough, I'm afraid. There are going to be some first round blowouts. But there always are. But then you know what? Cinderella always shows up, too, somewhere at the dance. So we'll see.
Good morning, Carol.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Stick around, Chad, because we're going to get to our E-Mail Question of the Morning right away.
MYERS: OK.
COSTELLO: We're talking about major league baseball's steroids policy. We just had to talk about it.
MYERS: Is there a policy?
COSTELLO: Well, yes, there is a policy, and Congress has a problem with it. Is it a gold standard or is it just brass plated? A House committee opens a hearing five hours from now on that very policy. Several current and former players have been called to testify, including Jose Canseco, who wrote that tell all book on his use of steroids. Also on the list, noted slugger Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire and Commissioner Bud Selig. Jason Giambi was called to testify, but he has been excused.
You know what will be interesting, Chad?
MYERS: Yes?
COSTELLO: Because, you know, Mark McGwire may be sitting there and a member of Congress may ask him, "Have you ever used steroids?"
MYERS: I wonder if...
COSTELLO: And what's he going to say?
MYERS: Are they going to interview them one at a time or are they going to have everybody in the room at the same time?
COSTELLO: Well, they're all going to be in the room at the same time at different times. Like all the players will be there at once. But I'm sure they're going to interview them one at a time. MYERS: I think you could get more truth out of them if you did them one at a time where the other ones couldn't hear what the other ones were saying.
COSTELLO: Yes.
House members Tom Davis and Henry Waxman, they wrote to Bud Selig.
MYERS: Yes?
COSTELLO: He's going to be there. He voluntarily agreed to appear before Congress. Waxman and Davis say they have a lot of questions, so it'll be interesting to see what they put forth. And they appear especially upset about one part of the new steroid policy in baseball that says if the government investigates, then the policy is suspended immediately.
MYERS: That's (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
COSTELLO: And the other thing Congress is really upset about, remember when Bud Selig came out and said the policy will make public the names of those who took steroids?
MYERS: Yes. Yes.
COSTELLO: Not true, according to the written policy.
MYERS: (UNINTELLIGIBLE). That's right.
COSTELLO: Anyway, that brings us to our DAYBREAK E-Mail Question of the Day. What will this hearing accomplish? Let us know what you think at daybreak@cnn.com. That's daybreak@cnn.com.
A Texas man has made it his mission to speak to high school groups about the dangers of steroids. Don Hooten should know. His son used steroids to improve his chances of making it to the big leagues. But he didn't. At 17, he committed suicide.
Ed Henry has this steroids tragedy.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
ED HENRY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Don Hooten is a plain- spoken Texan who's furious at some of the baseball stars who have been trying to avoid testifying.
DON HOOTEN, FATHER: They've been crowds in cheating and using steroids to set major league records. And what message are we sending the kids now, when we're not prepared to stand up like men and take responsibility for what we've been doing?
HENRY: Tough talk. But if anyone has the right to speak out, it's Hooten. His son Taylor became hooked on steroids and fell into a depression. Twenty months ago, at age 17, he committed suicide.
HOOTEN: There's no words you can put into it. Your whole life is your kids.
HENRY: Taylor was a right-handed pitcher with a nasty fast ball. He had been playing since he was five and wanted to make it to the big leagues, like his dad's cousin, Bert Hooten. Taylor was already 175 pounds, but a coach urged him to bulk up, so he started secretly taking steroids and put on 30 pounds, but soon developed side effects, from acne to terrible mood swings.
HOOTEN: On at least two occasions, he had took -- he's a pitcher now -- he'd take his fist and drove them through a sheetrock wall, only to find out 10 minutes later, find him downstairs crying, telling his mom and his dad that he felt sorry for what he did.
HENRY: There were other danger signs, all of them missed.
HOOTEN: We used to, you know, have to bring him bottle after bottle of mouthwash. We couldn't figure out, what are you doing with all of this mouthwash? Well, as it turned out, one of the symptoms of steroid abuse is bad breath.
HENRY: On a plane ride back from a family vacation, Taylor wrote a long love letter to his high school sweetheart and talked about marriage. The next day, he took his own life.
HOOTEN: Here was a kid who was looking about the future, planning his future, and just one day later would take his life. It just doesn't make sense.
HENRY: So Don Hooten is on a mission, speaking at high schools like this one, where nine teens had just gotten caught using steroids. And Hooten is testifying on Capitol Hill.
HOOTEN: Today's high school student has no fear of getting caught.
HENRY: It's difficult for Hooten to discuss, but a grief counselor told him that every time he talks about his loss, it takes away a little bit of the pain.
Ed Henry, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
COSTELLO: He smiled and then he broke down sobbing in court. And why not? Actor Robert Blake had just heard he was found not guilty. A jury in Los Angeles has found Blake not guilty of murdering his wife, Bonnie Lee Bakley, who was shot to death in 2001. After the verdict, as you can see there, the one time star of the TV series "Beretta," well, he broke down in court. But then he lashed out at friends and relatives who had criticized him during the trial and he said this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERT BLAKE, ACQUITTED OF MURDER: I wasn't concentrating on the verdict. I was concentrating on my grandbaby being born healthy and strong. If that sounds crazy, people have always said I'm crazy. And that's all right, just so I ain't a fool.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: He then said he's going to go cowboying, whatever that means.
Jury Foreman Thomas Nicholson claims prosecutors did not present enough evidence against Blake, saying, "They couldn't put the gun in his hand."
Following a jury's recommendation, a California judge has sentenced Scott Peterson to death for killing his pregnant wife, Laci, and their unborn son. Peterson to be executed by lethal injection, will be taken to death row at San Quentin. Prosecutors charge Peterson dumped his wife's body into San Francisco Bay on Christmas Eve, 2002. Her brother, Brent Rocha, alluded to that in his statement in court. He said: "You're evil. Why did you have to kill? Did you really hate Laci and Conner that much? On January 4, I bought a gun. I chose not to kill you myself, to make you sweat it out. My sister's head is probably rolling around on the bottom of the Bay."
During her statement, Laci's mother assumed her daughter's persona and that of her unborn grandson. She said, and I quote: "You, Scott, are proof that evil can lurk anywhere. Scott, why are you killing us? Please stop. I don't want to die. Daddy, why are you killing us?"
A very dramatic day in court in California.
The U.S. Congress is intervening in the case of Terri Schiavo, the brain damaged Florida woman. A state court has ordered Schiavo's breathing tube removed tomorrow afternoon. But the U.S. House has approved a Republican bill giving federal courts jurisdiction in the case. The Senate will take up a different measure today. And if that passes, the matter will go to a conference committee.
Police are still searching for a missing 9-year-old Florida girl, but now they've identified a person they want to talk to. He is a registered sex offender. John Couey lived about two miles away from Jessica Lunsford, but he left the area without telling authorities. The girl has now been missing for more than three weeks.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHERIFF JEFF DAWSY, CITRUS COUNTY, FLORIDA: This is a person of interest. And I don't want to mislead anybody. Until we get in and talk to him about the basis of the crime, no, we're not going to classify him as a suspect, just a person of interest.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: The case of another missing Florida girl takes a turn. The former caretaker of Rilya Wilson has been charged with murdering the 4-year-old. You may remember, she's the little girl who was missing for two years before child welfare workers knew anything was wrong. Now investigators say the woman who was supposed to take care of the girl has confessed to killing her.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KATHERINE FERNANDEZ RUNDLE, MIAMI-DADE COUNTY ATTORNEY: She passed away in a very painful way. You all know there is no crime scene. There is no body in this case. But we feel very comfortable with our charges here.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Rilya's case prompted a major shakeup of Florida's Department of Child Protective Services. No trace of the girl has ever been found.
In the Atlanta courthouse shooting, so many things seemed to go wrong.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do it!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Some wonder if the right person was chosen to guard Brian Nichols. Just ahead, a behind-the-scenes look at a deputy training program.
And later, you need to get your exercise in, but does a trip to the gym expose you to a very serious illness? What you need to know before stepping onto the mat.
But first, here's a look at what else is making news this Thursday morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(STOCK MARKET REPORT)
COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports.
It's 5:14 Eastern.
Here's what's all new this morning.
Baseball is in the House -- the House of Representatives, that is. A Congressional committee will hear testimony today from execs and players about the use of steroids in major league baseball. The lineup includes Jose Canseco, Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa.
The FCC gets a new chairman today. His name is Kevin Martin. President Bush's pick is already serving as FCC commissioner. Martin replaces Michael Powell and is expected to crack down even further on broadcast indecency.
In money news, President Bush is calling on Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz to head the World Bank. The nomination must be approved by the board of the Bank. Initial reaction from Europe is cautious, but supportive of Wolfowitz.
In culture, country music is picking its favorite music videos. Newcomer Gretchen Wilson is among them. Her videos "When I Think About Cheating" and mega hit "Redneck Woman" are both up for CMT Video Awards.
In sports, the office pools are set and the play starts today. It is round one of the NCAA basketball tournament. The country's number one team, Illinois, goes up against Cinderella hopeful, Fairleigh Dickinson.
Ooh -- Chad.
MYERS: Do you have your final four picked yet?
COSTELLO: No.
MYERS: No?
COSTELLO: Because, you know, I don't pay much attention to college basketball. But I know you love it, so I'm sure that you do.
MYERS: We'll get to that later.
COSTELLO: OK.
MYERS: Good morning, Carol.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Those are the latest headlines for you this morning.
In "News Across America," Scott Peterson is on his way to California's death row for murdering his pregnant wife. As expected, the judge agreed with the jury's decision to sentence Peterson to death.
In a Houston, Texas suburb, police have charged two students with capital murder for the contract killing of a follow classmate. And it looks like the two did the job for a payoff of $46. Police say the dead 18-year-old was an honors student who was supposed to testify in an assault trial. Police are looking for some other people, as well.
Three of the men who were part of the infamous basket brawl have been sentenced to probation and community service. The brawl was between fans and players at a Pistons-Pacers game last November. One fan still faces felony assault charges for, yes, throwing that chair.
Call off the dogs, the Iditarod is over. The winner is a Norwegian. The 1, 100 mile race across Alaska took nine days, 18 hours and then some. The winner is a firefighter who has now won the race twice in only three tries. Ooh.
Some big names in baseball on deck on Capitol Hill. Ahead, a live report as Congress takes on steroids in major league baseball. Send us your thoughts this morning, daybreak@cnn.com. Do you think anything will come of this?
And you go to the gym to get healthy, but there is a potential danger you need to know about. Just ahead, our Dr. Sanjay Gupta on a serious super bug.
You are watching DAYBREAK for March 17, Saint Patrick's Day.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(QUESTION ON SCREEN)
What does "Erin, go braugh" mean?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Did you know that, Chad?
MYERS: I thought it meant "Erin, go get me a brew."
COSTELLO: You know, it probably does mean that to many people today. You know, the Saint Patrick's Day Parade is going to happen here in New York.
MYERS: Yes, the one in...
COSTELLO: And I understand a lot of people drink a lot and have a really good time watching that parade.
MYERS: A big one in Savannah, Georgia, too, Carol. Can't forget about that.
COSTELLO: Oh, my.
Well, who can resist a little humor on Saint Patty's Day?
David Letterman poked fun last night at a couple of high profile people.
Even CNN got a little ribbing.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "THE LATE SHOW WITH DAVID LETTERMAN, COURTESY CBS/WORLDWIDE PANTS)
DAVID LETTERMAN, HOST: So this is exciting. In honor of Saint Patrick's Day, Martha Stewart will be wearing her green electronic ankle bracelet. Very nice accessory.
And out in California, earlier today, Michael Jackson paid off a leprechaun. So that's...
Tonight is Wednesday, March 16, and it must be a slow news day. Did you get the sense that it was a slow day?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What makes you say that?
LETTERMAN: I was watching CNN and it just didn't seem like much was going on.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why -- what do you mean?
LETTERMAN: And if CNN doesn't, you know, I mean if anything is good, it would be CNN is where you'd find out.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's where you go for news, yes.
LETTERMAN: Here's how I got the idea that it was a very slow day.
Take a look at this.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: CNN tonight, a special report on Hump Day. Which part is the humpiest? How can you avoid hump related stress and injury? And what will rising interest rates mean for your hump. CNN, the most trusted name in news.
LETTERMAN: Whoa. Whoa. Hump Day.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Special report.
LETTERMAN: A special report on Hump Day.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was a slow must have.
LETTERMAN: And what it means...
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: I worked hard on that story, Chad.
MYERS: Did you?
COSTELLO: Hump Day is Wednesday? I never knew that? I'm just kidding. That was pretty funny.
MYERS: It was.
COSTELLO: Time for our DAYBREAK "Eye-Opener."
Take a look at this, Chad.
MYERS: Yes?
COSTELLO: You're going to see it in just a second.
MYERS: I'm waiting.
COSTELLO: There it is! It's a cat.
MYERS: It's a cougar.
COSTELLO: It's a cougar. This is video shot from a Sterling Heights, Michigan police car. Police estimate the animal, which, as you said, is believed to be a cougar, weighs between 40 and 60 pounds. They say it was probably a pet that just got too big for someone to keep and then release -- you know, they just released it.
MYERS: In the jungle, the mighty jungle, the cougar sleeps tonight.
COSTELLO: In Michigan.
That was beautiful, Chad.
MYERS: Thank you.
COSTELLO: Take a look at this face.
MYERS: Oh.
COSTELLO: Who could not fall in love with that baby giraffe?
MYERS: Oh.
COSTELLO: It was born Sunday at the Miami-Dade Metro Zoo.
MYERS: Look how big his eyes are.
COSTELLO: He's very cute.
New giraffes are getting to be pretty routine at the South Florida zoo. This baby giraffe is the 34th born there.
MYERS: Wow!
COSTELLO: There's something in the water there, Chad.
MYERS: I guess so.
COSTELLO: Well, you know, at the Washington Zoo, the National Zoo, they can't get the pandas to breed.
MYERS: Right. Right.
COSTELLO: So maybe they should like check out what they're doing for the giraffes here in Florida.
Veterinarians have given the infant a clean bill of health, by the way.
MYERS: Oh, excellent.
COSTELLO: And just how to you get to school when you were young? This is 9-year-old Saje Beard of North Dakota, a third grader, and her mule, Ruth. Saje says Ruth is gentle and smart. She rides the 4- year-old mule to her one room schoolhouse every day of the week. It's about a half hour ride. The little girl's four classmates think Ruth is cool. Saje is an old hand at handling mules. She's been doing it since she was in the first grade.
And don't you just love that coonskin hat?
MYERS: I can just hear when she's a grandma, uphill both ways on a mule.
COSTELLO: Yes. Exactly. It's really a cute story.
MYERS: Yes.
COSTELLO: It's time to read some e-mail.
Our question this morning, you know, baseball and steroids. The whole thing is going to go to Congress today. We wondered what you thought of the hearings. Will anything come of these hearings?
MYERS: Ron in Elmira, New York: "The baseball hearings will take the focus away from Congress away from important issues. But, on the positive side, at least we're not going to have to listen to Martha Stewart, Michael Jackson or Scott Peterson."
COSTELLO: You've got a point there.
Let's see, this is Ron from Louisiana: "This will probably accomplish nothing. The penalties baseball has set for steroid use is a joke. There should be a no tolerance rule. Suspend them for the season on the first offense."
Maybe something will come out of it and they'll be able to do that after these hearings. Who knows?
MYERS: "Nothing is going to change except for more investigations and lying low for about five years and then down the line we'll hear about another steroid baseball scandal."
COSTELLO: This is from Richard from Chesapeake, Virginia: "I hardly think this issue rates Congressional scrutiny. If players are violating drug laws, arrested them, convict them and toss them in the pokey."
MYERS: I know.
COSTELLO: "Surely there are plenty of talented men ready to replace them."
MYERS: Well, of course, all those guys in the minor leagues. But, you know, you've got to test them, too.
Hey, James in California: "I think this will be an important stepping stone in getting rid of steroids in the big leagues. Public accountability and embarrassment is an important way to send a message to these guys."
So there's one who's...
COSTELLO: Waxman and Davis will be happy to hear that one.
MYERS: There's one for the good guys.
COSTELLO: Exactly.
Here's what's all new in the next half hour of DAYBREAK.
Oh, my. We know a taser can overpower a CNN anchor, but can deputies overpower criminals and protect their own safety? The taser guns, are taser guns the answer? We'll take a closer look.
And Gerry Adams won't be meeting President Bush today, but these Irish sisters will. That story still ahead on DAYBREAK.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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 March 18, 2004 - 05:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Straight ahead on DAYBREAK, they've got an invitation to the White House today. But the luck of the Irish may have run out for one Northern Ireland leader. Ooh, that's hard to say.
Plus...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're not capable of doing this. You say what?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Meet me on the mat.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You've got to come up behind them and wrap...
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Oh, teaching police techniques in life or death situations. We'll have a demonstration.
And saddle up, we'll introduce you to a North Dakota girl and her gray, 4-year-old school bus. She's riding it, Saint Patrick's Day.
It's Thursday, March 17.
This is DAYBREAK.
And good morning to you.
From the Time Warner Center in New York, I'm Carol Costello, along with Chad Myers.
Now in the news, baseball and steroids are in the spotlight on Capitol Hill today. A House committee is looking into the sports drug policy and already the two most influential members of the panel say baseball is behind in the count.
A memorial service is being held this afternoon in an Atlanta suburb for the Fulton County judge, Rowland Barnes. Barnes is one of four people gunned down in a shooting spree that began in his courtroom last week.
Five sisters and the fiance of a man killed by members of the Irish Republican Army attended a reception today at the White House. Not on the list of invited guests, Gerry Adams, the leader of the political wing of the IRA.
It's March madness and the nation's top ranked team, Illinois, opens play tonight. The Fighting Illini take on Fairleigh Dickinson in Indianapolis. Illinois is favored by -- Chad, they're favored by 26 1/2 points.
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: That's not enough.
COSTELLO: Oh, jeez.
MYERS: Not nearly enough, I'm afraid. There are going to be some first round blowouts. But there always are. But then you know what? Cinderella always shows up, too, somewhere at the dance. So we'll see.
Good morning, Carol.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Stick around, Chad, because we're going to get to our E-Mail Question of the Morning right away.
MYERS: OK.
COSTELLO: We're talking about major league baseball's steroids policy. We just had to talk about it.
MYERS: Is there a policy?
COSTELLO: Well, yes, there is a policy, and Congress has a problem with it. Is it a gold standard or is it just brass plated? A House committee opens a hearing five hours from now on that very policy. Several current and former players have been called to testify, including Jose Canseco, who wrote that tell all book on his use of steroids. Also on the list, noted slugger Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire and Commissioner Bud Selig. Jason Giambi was called to testify, but he has been excused.
You know what will be interesting, Chad?
MYERS: Yes?
COSTELLO: Because, you know, Mark McGwire may be sitting there and a member of Congress may ask him, "Have you ever used steroids?"
MYERS: I wonder if...
COSTELLO: And what's he going to say?
MYERS: Are they going to interview them one at a time or are they going to have everybody in the room at the same time?
COSTELLO: Well, they're all going to be in the room at the same time at different times. Like all the players will be there at once. But I'm sure they're going to interview them one at a time. MYERS: I think you could get more truth out of them if you did them one at a time where the other ones couldn't hear what the other ones were saying.
COSTELLO: Yes.
House members Tom Davis and Henry Waxman, they wrote to Bud Selig.
MYERS: Yes?
COSTELLO: He's going to be there. He voluntarily agreed to appear before Congress. Waxman and Davis say they have a lot of questions, so it'll be interesting to see what they put forth. And they appear especially upset about one part of the new steroid policy in baseball that says if the government investigates, then the policy is suspended immediately.
MYERS: That's (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
COSTELLO: And the other thing Congress is really upset about, remember when Bud Selig came out and said the policy will make public the names of those who took steroids?
MYERS: Yes. Yes.
COSTELLO: Not true, according to the written policy.
MYERS: (UNINTELLIGIBLE). That's right.
COSTELLO: Anyway, that brings us to our DAYBREAK E-Mail Question of the Day. What will this hearing accomplish? Let us know what you think at daybreak@cnn.com. That's daybreak@cnn.com.
A Texas man has made it his mission to speak to high school groups about the dangers of steroids. Don Hooten should know. His son used steroids to improve his chances of making it to the big leagues. But he didn't. At 17, he committed suicide.
Ed Henry has this steroids tragedy.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
ED HENRY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Don Hooten is a plain- spoken Texan who's furious at some of the baseball stars who have been trying to avoid testifying.
DON HOOTEN, FATHER: They've been crowds in cheating and using steroids to set major league records. And what message are we sending the kids now, when we're not prepared to stand up like men and take responsibility for what we've been doing?
HENRY: Tough talk. But if anyone has the right to speak out, it's Hooten. His son Taylor became hooked on steroids and fell into a depression. Twenty months ago, at age 17, he committed suicide.
HOOTEN: There's no words you can put into it. Your whole life is your kids.
HENRY: Taylor was a right-handed pitcher with a nasty fast ball. He had been playing since he was five and wanted to make it to the big leagues, like his dad's cousin, Bert Hooten. Taylor was already 175 pounds, but a coach urged him to bulk up, so he started secretly taking steroids and put on 30 pounds, but soon developed side effects, from acne to terrible mood swings.
HOOTEN: On at least two occasions, he had took -- he's a pitcher now -- he'd take his fist and drove them through a sheetrock wall, only to find out 10 minutes later, find him downstairs crying, telling his mom and his dad that he felt sorry for what he did.
HENRY: There were other danger signs, all of them missed.
HOOTEN: We used to, you know, have to bring him bottle after bottle of mouthwash. We couldn't figure out, what are you doing with all of this mouthwash? Well, as it turned out, one of the symptoms of steroid abuse is bad breath.
HENRY: On a plane ride back from a family vacation, Taylor wrote a long love letter to his high school sweetheart and talked about marriage. The next day, he took his own life.
HOOTEN: Here was a kid who was looking about the future, planning his future, and just one day later would take his life. It just doesn't make sense.
HENRY: So Don Hooten is on a mission, speaking at high schools like this one, where nine teens had just gotten caught using steroids. And Hooten is testifying on Capitol Hill.
HOOTEN: Today's high school student has no fear of getting caught.
HENRY: It's difficult for Hooten to discuss, but a grief counselor told him that every time he talks about his loss, it takes away a little bit of the pain.
Ed Henry, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
COSTELLO: He smiled and then he broke down sobbing in court. And why not? Actor Robert Blake had just heard he was found not guilty. A jury in Los Angeles has found Blake not guilty of murdering his wife, Bonnie Lee Bakley, who was shot to death in 2001. After the verdict, as you can see there, the one time star of the TV series "Beretta," well, he broke down in court. But then he lashed out at friends and relatives who had criticized him during the trial and he said this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERT BLAKE, ACQUITTED OF MURDER: I wasn't concentrating on the verdict. I was concentrating on my grandbaby being born healthy and strong. If that sounds crazy, people have always said I'm crazy. And that's all right, just so I ain't a fool.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: He then said he's going to go cowboying, whatever that means.
Jury Foreman Thomas Nicholson claims prosecutors did not present enough evidence against Blake, saying, "They couldn't put the gun in his hand."
Following a jury's recommendation, a California judge has sentenced Scott Peterson to death for killing his pregnant wife, Laci, and their unborn son. Peterson to be executed by lethal injection, will be taken to death row at San Quentin. Prosecutors charge Peterson dumped his wife's body into San Francisco Bay on Christmas Eve, 2002. Her brother, Brent Rocha, alluded to that in his statement in court. He said: "You're evil. Why did you have to kill? Did you really hate Laci and Conner that much? On January 4, I bought a gun. I chose not to kill you myself, to make you sweat it out. My sister's head is probably rolling around on the bottom of the Bay."
During her statement, Laci's mother assumed her daughter's persona and that of her unborn grandson. She said, and I quote: "You, Scott, are proof that evil can lurk anywhere. Scott, why are you killing us? Please stop. I don't want to die. Daddy, why are you killing us?"
A very dramatic day in court in California.
The U.S. Congress is intervening in the case of Terri Schiavo, the brain damaged Florida woman. A state court has ordered Schiavo's breathing tube removed tomorrow afternoon. But the U.S. House has approved a Republican bill giving federal courts jurisdiction in the case. The Senate will take up a different measure today. And if that passes, the matter will go to a conference committee.
Police are still searching for a missing 9-year-old Florida girl, but now they've identified a person they want to talk to. He is a registered sex offender. John Couey lived about two miles away from Jessica Lunsford, but he left the area without telling authorities. The girl has now been missing for more than three weeks.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHERIFF JEFF DAWSY, CITRUS COUNTY, FLORIDA: This is a person of interest. And I don't want to mislead anybody. Until we get in and talk to him about the basis of the crime, no, we're not going to classify him as a suspect, just a person of interest.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: The case of another missing Florida girl takes a turn. The former caretaker of Rilya Wilson has been charged with murdering the 4-year-old. You may remember, she's the little girl who was missing for two years before child welfare workers knew anything was wrong. Now investigators say the woman who was supposed to take care of the girl has confessed to killing her.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KATHERINE FERNANDEZ RUNDLE, MIAMI-DADE COUNTY ATTORNEY: She passed away in a very painful way. You all know there is no crime scene. There is no body in this case. But we feel very comfortable with our charges here.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Rilya's case prompted a major shakeup of Florida's Department of Child Protective Services. No trace of the girl has ever been found.
In the Atlanta courthouse shooting, so many things seemed to go wrong.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do it!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Some wonder if the right person was chosen to guard Brian Nichols. Just ahead, a behind-the-scenes look at a deputy training program.
And later, you need to get your exercise in, but does a trip to the gym expose you to a very serious illness? What you need to know before stepping onto the mat.
But first, here's a look at what else is making news this Thursday morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(STOCK MARKET REPORT)
COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports.
It's 5:14 Eastern.
Here's what's all new this morning.
Baseball is in the House -- the House of Representatives, that is. A Congressional committee will hear testimony today from execs and players about the use of steroids in major league baseball. The lineup includes Jose Canseco, Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa.
The FCC gets a new chairman today. His name is Kevin Martin. President Bush's pick is already serving as FCC commissioner. Martin replaces Michael Powell and is expected to crack down even further on broadcast indecency.
In money news, President Bush is calling on Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz to head the World Bank. The nomination must be approved by the board of the Bank. Initial reaction from Europe is cautious, but supportive of Wolfowitz.
In culture, country music is picking its favorite music videos. Newcomer Gretchen Wilson is among them. Her videos "When I Think About Cheating" and mega hit "Redneck Woman" are both up for CMT Video Awards.
In sports, the office pools are set and the play starts today. It is round one of the NCAA basketball tournament. The country's number one team, Illinois, goes up against Cinderella hopeful, Fairleigh Dickinson.
Ooh -- Chad.
MYERS: Do you have your final four picked yet?
COSTELLO: No.
MYERS: No?
COSTELLO: Because, you know, I don't pay much attention to college basketball. But I know you love it, so I'm sure that you do.
MYERS: We'll get to that later.
COSTELLO: OK.
MYERS: Good morning, Carol.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Those are the latest headlines for you this morning.
In "News Across America," Scott Peterson is on his way to California's death row for murdering his pregnant wife. As expected, the judge agreed with the jury's decision to sentence Peterson to death.
In a Houston, Texas suburb, police have charged two students with capital murder for the contract killing of a follow classmate. And it looks like the two did the job for a payoff of $46. Police say the dead 18-year-old was an honors student who was supposed to testify in an assault trial. Police are looking for some other people, as well.
Three of the men who were part of the infamous basket brawl have been sentenced to probation and community service. The brawl was between fans and players at a Pistons-Pacers game last November. One fan still faces felony assault charges for, yes, throwing that chair.
Call off the dogs, the Iditarod is over. The winner is a Norwegian. The 1, 100 mile race across Alaska took nine days, 18 hours and then some. The winner is a firefighter who has now won the race twice in only three tries. Ooh.
Some big names in baseball on deck on Capitol Hill. Ahead, a live report as Congress takes on steroids in major league baseball. Send us your thoughts this morning, daybreak@cnn.com. Do you think anything will come of this?
And you go to the gym to get healthy, but there is a potential danger you need to know about. Just ahead, our Dr. Sanjay Gupta on a serious super bug.
You are watching DAYBREAK for March 17, Saint Patrick's Day.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(QUESTION ON SCREEN)
What does "Erin, go braugh" mean?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Did you know that, Chad?
MYERS: I thought it meant "Erin, go get me a brew."
COSTELLO: You know, it probably does mean that to many people today. You know, the Saint Patrick's Day Parade is going to happen here in New York.
MYERS: Yes, the one in...
COSTELLO: And I understand a lot of people drink a lot and have a really good time watching that parade.
MYERS: A big one in Savannah, Georgia, too, Carol. Can't forget about that.
COSTELLO: Oh, my.
Well, who can resist a little humor on Saint Patty's Day?
David Letterman poked fun last night at a couple of high profile people.
Even CNN got a little ribbing.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "THE LATE SHOW WITH DAVID LETTERMAN, COURTESY CBS/WORLDWIDE PANTS)
DAVID LETTERMAN, HOST: So this is exciting. In honor of Saint Patrick's Day, Martha Stewart will be wearing her green electronic ankle bracelet. Very nice accessory.
And out in California, earlier today, Michael Jackson paid off a leprechaun. So that's...
Tonight is Wednesday, March 16, and it must be a slow news day. Did you get the sense that it was a slow day?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What makes you say that?
LETTERMAN: I was watching CNN and it just didn't seem like much was going on.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why -- what do you mean?
LETTERMAN: And if CNN doesn't, you know, I mean if anything is good, it would be CNN is where you'd find out.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's where you go for news, yes.
LETTERMAN: Here's how I got the idea that it was a very slow day.
Take a look at this.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: CNN tonight, a special report on Hump Day. Which part is the humpiest? How can you avoid hump related stress and injury? And what will rising interest rates mean for your hump. CNN, the most trusted name in news.
LETTERMAN: Whoa. Whoa. Hump Day.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Special report.
LETTERMAN: A special report on Hump Day.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was a slow must have.
LETTERMAN: And what it means...
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: I worked hard on that story, Chad.
MYERS: Did you?
COSTELLO: Hump Day is Wednesday? I never knew that? I'm just kidding. That was pretty funny.
MYERS: It was.
COSTELLO: Time for our DAYBREAK "Eye-Opener."
Take a look at this, Chad.
MYERS: Yes?
COSTELLO: You're going to see it in just a second.
MYERS: I'm waiting.
COSTELLO: There it is! It's a cat.
MYERS: It's a cougar.
COSTELLO: It's a cougar. This is video shot from a Sterling Heights, Michigan police car. Police estimate the animal, which, as you said, is believed to be a cougar, weighs between 40 and 60 pounds. They say it was probably a pet that just got too big for someone to keep and then release -- you know, they just released it.
MYERS: In the jungle, the mighty jungle, the cougar sleeps tonight.
COSTELLO: In Michigan.
That was beautiful, Chad.
MYERS: Thank you.
COSTELLO: Take a look at this face.
MYERS: Oh.
COSTELLO: Who could not fall in love with that baby giraffe?
MYERS: Oh.
COSTELLO: It was born Sunday at the Miami-Dade Metro Zoo.
MYERS: Look how big his eyes are.
COSTELLO: He's very cute.
New giraffes are getting to be pretty routine at the South Florida zoo. This baby giraffe is the 34th born there.
MYERS: Wow!
COSTELLO: There's something in the water there, Chad.
MYERS: I guess so.
COSTELLO: Well, you know, at the Washington Zoo, the National Zoo, they can't get the pandas to breed.
MYERS: Right. Right.
COSTELLO: So maybe they should like check out what they're doing for the giraffes here in Florida.
Veterinarians have given the infant a clean bill of health, by the way.
MYERS: Oh, excellent.
COSTELLO: And just how to you get to school when you were young? This is 9-year-old Saje Beard of North Dakota, a third grader, and her mule, Ruth. Saje says Ruth is gentle and smart. She rides the 4- year-old mule to her one room schoolhouse every day of the week. It's about a half hour ride. The little girl's four classmates think Ruth is cool. Saje is an old hand at handling mules. She's been doing it since she was in the first grade.
And don't you just love that coonskin hat?
MYERS: I can just hear when she's a grandma, uphill both ways on a mule.
COSTELLO: Yes. Exactly. It's really a cute story.
MYERS: Yes.
COSTELLO: It's time to read some e-mail.
Our question this morning, you know, baseball and steroids. The whole thing is going to go to Congress today. We wondered what you thought of the hearings. Will anything come of these hearings?
MYERS: Ron in Elmira, New York: "The baseball hearings will take the focus away from Congress away from important issues. But, on the positive side, at least we're not going to have to listen to Martha Stewart, Michael Jackson or Scott Peterson."
COSTELLO: You've got a point there.
Let's see, this is Ron from Louisiana: "This will probably accomplish nothing. The penalties baseball has set for steroid use is a joke. There should be a no tolerance rule. Suspend them for the season on the first offense."
Maybe something will come out of it and they'll be able to do that after these hearings. Who knows?
MYERS: "Nothing is going to change except for more investigations and lying low for about five years and then down the line we'll hear about another steroid baseball scandal."
COSTELLO: This is from Richard from Chesapeake, Virginia: "I hardly think this issue rates Congressional scrutiny. If players are violating drug laws, arrested them, convict them and toss them in the pokey."
MYERS: I know.
COSTELLO: "Surely there are plenty of talented men ready to replace them."
MYERS: Well, of course, all those guys in the minor leagues. But, you know, you've got to test them, too.
Hey, James in California: "I think this will be an important stepping stone in getting rid of steroids in the big leagues. Public accountability and embarrassment is an important way to send a message to these guys."
So there's one who's...
COSTELLO: Waxman and Davis will be happy to hear that one.
MYERS: There's one for the good guys.
COSTELLO: Exactly.
Here's what's all new in the next half hour of DAYBREAK.
Oh, my. We know a taser can overpower a CNN anchor, but can deputies overpower criminals and protect their own safety? The taser guns, are taser guns the answer? We'll take a closer look.
And Gerry Adams won't be meeting President Bush today, but these Irish sisters will. That story still ahead on DAYBREAK.
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