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CNN Live At Daybreak
Zacarias Moussaoui Due to Enter Plea
Aired April 22, 2005 - 06:30 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: Good morning to you from the Time Warner Center in New York. I'm Carol Costello, along with Chad Myers.
Now in the news: Sources tell CNN that alleged 9/11 conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui is expected to plead guilty today. He's to appear in a Virginia courtroom this afternoon. He's charged with crimes that carry a possible death sentence.
Pope Benedict XVI meeting with the College of Cardinals right. The cardinals selected him as pope on Tuesday. An installation mass is scheduled for Sunday. Up to half a million people and several world leaders are expected.
The Senate now takes up an energy bill passed by the House that includes giving oil businesses hefty tax cuts and opening the Alaska Wildlife Refuge to drilling. But those provisions that may not make it into the Senate's version.
And around the world, people are celebrating the 35th annual Earth Day today. President Bush will mark the day with a speech at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
To the forecast.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: The man who has referred to himself as a natural-born terrorist is expected to plead guilty today for his involvement in the 9/11 attacks. Zacarias Moussaoui is due to enter his plea at Alexandria, Virginia.
CNN's Bob Franken is already there. He joins us now live.
Will he do it, Bob?
BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, that's always the big question. He has gotten this far before, then withdrawn his plea. But there is a belief, at least on the part of the legal officials, that he is going to plead guilty presumably to the six charges against him, four of which carry the death penalty.
It should be pointed out that his defense lawyers with whom he's had a contentious relationship are objecting strenuously. And it is their plan to request a formal hearing to challenge Zacarias Moussaoui's mental competence. In other words, they're saying that he doesn't really have the mental capability to decide whether he should plead guilty. But the judge, Leonie Brinkema, who has been the subject of taunts and insults by Moussaoui ever since she has had his case now says that he is competent. But of course, that is subject to challenge.
If he does plead guilty, then comes the question about the death penalty. The prosecutors say they want a jury to consider whether he should be executed as opposed to life in prison. But it's always a possibility that the judge will decide to make that decision -- Carol?
COSTELLO: I know you'll be following it.
Bob Franken, live in Alexandria, Virginia, this morning.
A British national will be sentenced today for his role in a terrorist plot against the United States. Prosecutors say the man backed out of a plan to blow up a jet with convicted shoe bomber Richard Reid. The man pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges. His confession is the first major conviction of a terrorist plot in Britain since the September 11th attacks.
In Madrid, three Al Qaeda suspects charged with helping to plan the September 11th attacks went on trial just about 90 minutes ago. Twenty-one others who allegedly belong to an Al Qaeda cell in Spain are on trial. The group is accused of using Spain as a staging ground to plot terrorist attacks. Most of the defendants are Syrian or Moroccan.
At three different hospitals, suspicious people have been found poking around pretending to be unannounced inspectors, fake inspectors. "The Washington Post" reporting those fake inspectors have been discovered in Boston, Detroit and Los Angeles. FBI and Homeland Security agents are now investigating.
In each case, the imposters were stopped by security guards or hospital staff. The national organization that does perform unannounced hospital inspections is now sending inspectors with additional identification.
Ladies, are you over 35? Then the new Gap could be just for you.
And what's making your stock sing? We'll ask Carrie Lee about that record jump in the Dow after really bad lows.
Plus, he wrote the book, "Worst Baby Names Ever." We'll pose a few monikers of our own to the author. Actually, we'll pose a few of yours.
But first, here's a look at what else is making news this Friday morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: If this (UNINTELLIGIBLE) this morning thought you had outgrown the Gap? Well, not anymore. The Gap will open five new stores this year designed to cater to women over the age of 35. The stores will be called "Forth & Towne."
I don't know what that means. Maybe Carrie Lee does. I don't know.
Officials say they'll offer more generous-fitting clothes using size 10 as its benchmark.
Qwest Communications is sweetening its bid to buy MCI. Qwest says its final offer is $9.9 billion. That's about $2 billion more than a buy-out deal MCI accepted from Verizon.
And we're not finished with our look at business. Beaten-down stock investors got a break yesterday. Carrie Lee joins us with more on the Dow's big day and whether we can expect more of the same.
Actually, it's been such a rollercoaster ride, I'm just wondering what's happening.
CARRIE LEE, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: That's what everyone wants to know. Was yesterday a one-day wonder or will these gains get some legs? That's the question. We'll tell you.
Yesterday, the Dow closing higher by over 200 points, up 206 points, the best one-day gain for the Dow in over two years; 29 of the 30 Dow Components closed higher. McDonald's was the lagger, but down by just 9 cents. On the NYSE overall, for every one stock that fell, three closed higher.
So what was behind the big rally? Well, strong earnings, of course. We'll right in the middle of the Q1 profit reporting season. And after some disappointments yesterday, Nokia, Motorola and others had very good things to say.
Now, we did get some weak economic news. And that actually eased inflation fears. It might sound strange that slow economic growth is actually good for stocks. Investors do want the economy to improve, but to do it slowly, not too fast, so that inflation and interest rates don't rise too quickly.
And then finally, stocks have been looking pretty cheap. The Dow lost over 500 points over the prior two weeks, including four days of triple-digit losses. So the bargain hunters coming right in.
Of course, that doesn't mean we're out of the woods just yet. There are still a lot of worries that could hold stocks back over the next couple of months. Inflation fears, of course, the background story. But yesterday looking good. Today, though, could see a little bit of a pull-back.
Not a big surprise. Usually when we see a big jump, people are going to take a little bit of profits.
COSTELLO: So, with that said, how are the futures looking?
LEE: Yes, they are looking a little bit weak. Now, we are going to get some more profit reports. We'll hear from International Paper, Eastman-Kodak, but, you know, yesterday was a very nice day for stocks. So we'll see if we can get some things going...
(CROSSTALK)
COSTELLO: It really was. But you know, you make these big gains, and then you lose it all the next day.
LEE: Yes, yes. And the major market indices still down for the year, especially technology stocks, the NASDAQ. But hey, we'll take the gains when we can get them, right?
COSTELLO: You've got that right.
Carrie Lee, thank you.
LEE: OK.
COSTELLO: Coming up on DAYBREAK, a legend from the good old days weighs in on some of the problems facing professional athletes. Can you believe they wore such short shorts back then? Dr. J...
(LAUGHTER)
More news in a minute, but first, a look at some famous people born on this day, April 22nd.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports. It's 6:41 Eastern. Here's what's all new this morning.
The only person charged in the United States in connection with the 9/11 attacks is expected to plead guilty today. Zacarias Moussaoui will appear before a federal judge in Virginia later this afternoon.
In money news, a report in "USA Today" says several states are looking at taking their lottery games to the Internet. Right now, 40 states and Washington, D.C., have lotteries.
In culture, a letter signed by 158 authors asked TV talk-show host Oprah Winfrey to resume picking new novels for her popular book club. But a spokeswoman for Winfrey's company says there are no plan to do that.
In sports, here's a possible first: University of Utah quarterback Alex Smith could become the first player drafted in the NFL. The Utes' Andrew Bogut could be the top pick in the NBA draft.
And another reminder, Chad...
MYERS: Yes?
COSTELLO: ... this weekend...
MYERS: NFL draft.
COSTELLO: ... NFL draft.
MYERS: Wow. On ESPN probably?
COSTELLO: Yes, all day and all night, I'm sure.
MYERS: You are going to be in front of the TV the whole time.
COSTELLO: Oh, yes.
MYERS: You know, for a guy, that's a big thing, Carol.
COSTELLO: Then why did it take me so long to get married?
MYERS: I hope Tim appreciates that.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Hey, you know, I interviewed Julius Erving, Dr. J, Chad?
MYERS: Yes, right.
COSTELLO: And I talked to him about the NBA playoffs and all. But I also wanted to talk to him about Gary Sheffield, because you know how angry I am about this.
MYERS: Yes?
COSTELLO: Because baseball has decided that he deserves no type of punishment at all for shoving the fan because the fan, they say, hit him in the head while he was going for the ball.
MYERS: Do I have a really short memory or did this never happen when Dr. J was playing? Did you ever hear...
COSTELLO: Well...
MYERS: ... about players going into the stands?
COSTELLO: No, but he did fight with Larry Bird a lot.
MYERS: Well, all right. But that was on the court.
COSTELLO: Exactly.
But I had to ask him what he thought about this, you know, after the NBA basketball brawl. So here's what Dr. J had to say about Gary Sheffield.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JULIUS "DR. J" ERVING, FORMER NBA PLAYER: If a player crosses the line, a fan crosses the line, you know, sometimes it's a judgment call. And in Sheffield's situation, it probably was a judgment call. I don't think the fan's going to sue, because nothing happened to him. Sheffield had -- I read that he got hit in the nose and he wanted to retaliate. He restrained himself. And he continued to play baseball.
COSTELLO: He didn't restrain himself, though. He shoved him before he threw the ball.
ERVING: But I think it's a judgment call. I think you look at each case individually and, you know, you have to go with what the commissioner decides.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Translation: It was the fan's fault. I think that's what Dr. J was going to say. Actually, he said it in so many words.
Maybe you've heard about the people flocking to Chicago to see an image of the Virgin Mary on a highway underpass. Some call it a miracle; others are rather doubtful. CNN's Bill Hemmer will have more on "AMERICAN MORNING."
You're going to talk to someone at the scene?
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Carol, Carol, Carol, let that Sheffield deal go, OK?
COSTELLO: I can't. It's like stuck in my craw.
HEMMER: It's almost the weekend.
We are having a closer look this morning. The story reported early in the week, the image of the Virgin Mary on a Chicago highway underpass. Some say it is just a salt stain. But for the faithful, it has taken on powerful meaning.
Hundreds, Carol, are turning to it for hope in troubled times. More on that emotional story out of Chicago.
Also, we're paging Dr. Gupta. A disturbing drug abuse trend among teens. More and more kids raiding the medicine cabinet for prescription drugs to get high. The results can be deadly. What parents need to know on that very serious topic this morning, as well.
It's Friday. See you in 15 minutes, all right?
COSTELLO: Oh, yes. Happy Friday. Thank you, Bill.
HEMMER: Bye bye.
COSTELLO: Still to come on DAYBREAK, is it too late for Pete Rose? The commissioner has a comment about that looming Hall of Fame deadline.
And you know the type. The expectant parent who wants to give their child the worst name in the book, even though they think it's the greatest name. What's a friend to do? We'll ask the guy who wrote the book.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: It's 6:48 Eastern. Here's what'll be making news today.
Good news for the owner of an irreplaceable violin. We told you earlier this week about the instrument that was stolen out of a student's car. Well, the prize violin made in 1792 has now been returned to a Los Angeles area police station.
The woman who says she found part of a finger in her Wendy's chili has now been arrested in her Las Vegas home. California police are holding a news conference later today with details on the arrest, including what exactly she was arrested for.
And the clock is ticking for Pete Rose to get into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Commissioner Bud Selig says there is no chance in his banned status. That means there's little chance Rose will make it onto the ballot for 2006. That's the last year he can be considered by baseball writers.
Let's talk about something good.
Let's give away a mug, Chad.
MYERS: We'll give away a mug from the questions yesterday about the Acela train, and how long it's going to be gone, and how many there were.
Here are the questions from yesterday. We do have a winner. "How many trains are there in the Amtrak Acela fleet?" And that number is 20. "And when will the new bankruptcy rules take effect?" And that is in October of this year, 2005.
The winner is from Florida, from Gainesville, Florida. Kara Wassman is the winner of today's mug, Carol. A beautiful mug there going to Kara Wassman.
And we don't have any questions for today because we're giving away a mug for the worst baby name ever.
COSTELLO: We have some good ones.
MYERS: Yes. And I actually...
COSTELLO: One of my favorites, Chad, was "Female."
MYERS: Yes?
COSTELLO: The newborn's name was "Female." It's spelled female, but she's called "Female."
MYERS: Yes? Cherry in Vermont doesn't like her name because if she ever marries Brad Pitt she's going to be Cherry Pitt. Charley (ph) in North Carolina doesn't really appreciate Wolf very much. He thinks Wolf Blitzer sounds like a tank. It's a wolf- blitzer.
COSTELLO: Aw, but Wolf is so charming himself. It makes you love his name.
MYERS: Absolutely. Love the beard, too.
Rock star Bob Geldof named his daughter Fifi Trixibelle Geldof. That's a handle.
COSTELLO: So wrong.
This is from New York: "Worst baby name ever? How about Rainbow Star Plant? And, yes, my mother was so kind to grace me with that crazy name, at 32, I've finally forgiven her."
(LAUGHTER)
COSTELLO: We're going to pick the worst baby name in a bit. But first...
MYERS: I have it. I have it right here.
COSTELLO: You do. Chad has a good one.
MYERS: I think. I think.
COSTELLO: But we're going to talk more about this with the author of a new book.
One of the biggest problems, as you know, Chad, facing parents- to-be is the name game. But how exactly do you pick that perfect moniker that will not haunt your new baby into his teen years and beyond? Well, we know that Carol is a perfect name but what about all the other choices?
As I said, there's a new book out there that could help. It's called "The Worst Baby Names Ever." The book's author, David Narter, joins us now from Chicago.
Good morning, David.
DAVID NARTER, AUTHOR: Good morning, Carol.
COSTELLO: This is sort of a funny take on names, isn't it?
NARTER: Yes. I hope it's a funny take on names. That was the idea.
(LAUGHTER)
COSTELLO: Well, some people might say it's kind of mean.
NARTER: Yes, I don't know. I've been a teacher for a number of years. And I haven't ever heard anybody say anything nice about anybody's name so far. So...
COSTELLO: So you just decided to write it all down?
NARTER: Pretty much.
COSTELLO: I want to give our viewers some examples of the names that appear in your book and what exactly they mean...
(CROSSTALK)
NARTER: All right, Mr. Russert, you bring it up there.
COSTELLO: OK, Doug, I like this one, because I'm just going to start with this one before I get to the others.
"Doug, you can always count on a guy named Doug to bore you to death. He'll be the only kid in the first grade to declare his ambition to sell life insurance."
NARTER: Yes, I...
COSTELLO: There's Doug right now in our studio. He's coming at you, except you're in Chicago.
NARTER: Well, he's got plenty other Dougs to come at me, as well. Yes, at book expos, generally people pick up the book and they seem really excited to read it. And they eventually get to their name. And by the time they actually get to me to sign the book, they're pretty angry with me.
COSTELLO: I bet, because this is what my name means according to you.
"Carol." Let's put it up on the screen now, because I didn't bother to write the definition down. You say, "Carol, an old standby of the middle-20th century. You could always count on a Carol when you ran out of all the other names you really wanted. A haggard veteran of the name game, Carol would come in and get the job done."
That's why I'm working at 5:00 a.m.
(LAUGHTER)
What was the reason you wrote this book?
NARTER: To meet girls.
(LAUGHTER)
I wrote the book, you know, because the idea that -- actually, to be able to write a book where you sit down in a coffee shop and come up with every, you know, every goofy joke that you can come up with as quickly as you possibly can. That's a pretty good way to make a living, if it's possible.
COSTELLO: Yes, you've got that right. Let's see what you say Chad means.
Chad, are you listening?
MYERS: I am. But you know what? I was named before all of these other wealthy jerks that he's talking about on the bottom.
COSTELLO: No, let me read the definition so everyone understands.
MYERS: OK, go ahead.
COSTELLO: Chad means, "Parents who named their children Chad know that they are flying in the face of common wisdom as anyone who's watched a sitcom knows that Chads are wealthy jerks."
NARTER: Did you generally find, Chad, growing up that people didn't like you much?
MYERS: No, I was pretty normal. I worked and played well with others.
NARTER: Most Chads don't know that. OK.
MYERS: I was supposed to be Kim, but I came out a guy. I was Kimberly Ann, but that just didn't work out. And then they wanted to do Seth. But Chad Everett was a movie star back then, and that's how I got this name.
COSTELLO: And that's cute.
Hey, one more. This is the surprise. Because Brian, our executive producer, told us, "Please, please, don't use my name." But we did it anyway.
So Brian means, "Many dyslexic parents generally choose this name when actually hoping to name their son Brain."
NARTER: I've got a feeling that "Female" has something to do with that whole syndrome, as well. I think someone just hit the wrong line.
(LAUGHTER)
COSTELLO: I think so. Well, thank you for joining us this morning.
NARTER: Thank you very much for having me on.
COSTELLO: David Narter, we've enjoyed it.
And of course, you were sending in the worst names ever. And Chad has the winner after a break. You're watching DAYBREAK for a Friday morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Now in the news.
The only person charged in the United States in connection with the 9/11 attacks is expected to plead guilty. Sources tell CNN that Zacarias Moussaoui will enter a guilty plea when he appears in a Virginia courtroom later this afternoon.
At the Vatican, newly named Pope Benedict XVI held his first working meeting with the College of Cardinals today. He thanked them for their support in electing him the 265th leader of the Roman Catholic Church.
At least five homes in Kansas were damaged or destroyed after tornadoes rumbled through the southeastern part of the state. Luckily, no injuries reported. Tornado fears also led to the temporary evacuation of a Kansas City airport.
So what's it looking like today, Chad?
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Hey, it's time to give away a mug already.
MYERS: Yes,.
And you know what? We both talked about this. The thing I like about this name was that, at the end, it was "III." So not only was this the terrible name, the father had it and the grandfather had it, as well. And they didn't figure out that this was a terrible name.
COSTELLO: What is it, the worst baby name?
MYERS: Graham -- like graham cookie -- Graham C. Hash Cookie III (ph).
COSTELLO: Do you believe that's a real name?
MYERS: I checked it on Who Where on Wahoo (ph) search. And that person exists.
COSTELLO: Say it again.
MYERS: Graham Cookie. The rest is just the middle names.
COSTELLO: Congratulations. I'm Carol Costello, along with Chad Myers.
"AMERICAN MORNING" starts right now.
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 22, 2005 - 06:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning to you from the Time Warner Center in New York. I'm Carol Costello, along with Chad Myers.
Now in the news: Sources tell CNN that alleged 9/11 conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui is expected to plead guilty today. He's to appear in a Virginia courtroom this afternoon. He's charged with crimes that carry a possible death sentence.
Pope Benedict XVI meeting with the College of Cardinals right. The cardinals selected him as pope on Tuesday. An installation mass is scheduled for Sunday. Up to half a million people and several world leaders are expected.
The Senate now takes up an energy bill passed by the House that includes giving oil businesses hefty tax cuts and opening the Alaska Wildlife Refuge to drilling. But those provisions that may not make it into the Senate's version.
And around the world, people are celebrating the 35th annual Earth Day today. President Bush will mark the day with a speech at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
To the forecast.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: The man who has referred to himself as a natural-born terrorist is expected to plead guilty today for his involvement in the 9/11 attacks. Zacarias Moussaoui is due to enter his plea at Alexandria, Virginia.
CNN's Bob Franken is already there. He joins us now live.
Will he do it, Bob?
BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, that's always the big question. He has gotten this far before, then withdrawn his plea. But there is a belief, at least on the part of the legal officials, that he is going to plead guilty presumably to the six charges against him, four of which carry the death penalty.
It should be pointed out that his defense lawyers with whom he's had a contentious relationship are objecting strenuously. And it is their plan to request a formal hearing to challenge Zacarias Moussaoui's mental competence. In other words, they're saying that he doesn't really have the mental capability to decide whether he should plead guilty. But the judge, Leonie Brinkema, who has been the subject of taunts and insults by Moussaoui ever since she has had his case now says that he is competent. But of course, that is subject to challenge.
If he does plead guilty, then comes the question about the death penalty. The prosecutors say they want a jury to consider whether he should be executed as opposed to life in prison. But it's always a possibility that the judge will decide to make that decision -- Carol?
COSTELLO: I know you'll be following it.
Bob Franken, live in Alexandria, Virginia, this morning.
A British national will be sentenced today for his role in a terrorist plot against the United States. Prosecutors say the man backed out of a plan to blow up a jet with convicted shoe bomber Richard Reid. The man pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges. His confession is the first major conviction of a terrorist plot in Britain since the September 11th attacks.
In Madrid, three Al Qaeda suspects charged with helping to plan the September 11th attacks went on trial just about 90 minutes ago. Twenty-one others who allegedly belong to an Al Qaeda cell in Spain are on trial. The group is accused of using Spain as a staging ground to plot terrorist attacks. Most of the defendants are Syrian or Moroccan.
At three different hospitals, suspicious people have been found poking around pretending to be unannounced inspectors, fake inspectors. "The Washington Post" reporting those fake inspectors have been discovered in Boston, Detroit and Los Angeles. FBI and Homeland Security agents are now investigating.
In each case, the imposters were stopped by security guards or hospital staff. The national organization that does perform unannounced hospital inspections is now sending inspectors with additional identification.
Ladies, are you over 35? Then the new Gap could be just for you.
And what's making your stock sing? We'll ask Carrie Lee about that record jump in the Dow after really bad lows.
Plus, he wrote the book, "Worst Baby Names Ever." We'll pose a few monikers of our own to the author. Actually, we'll pose a few of yours.
But first, here's a look at what else is making news this Friday morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: If this (UNINTELLIGIBLE) this morning thought you had outgrown the Gap? Well, not anymore. The Gap will open five new stores this year designed to cater to women over the age of 35. The stores will be called "Forth & Towne."
I don't know what that means. Maybe Carrie Lee does. I don't know.
Officials say they'll offer more generous-fitting clothes using size 10 as its benchmark.
Qwest Communications is sweetening its bid to buy MCI. Qwest says its final offer is $9.9 billion. That's about $2 billion more than a buy-out deal MCI accepted from Verizon.
And we're not finished with our look at business. Beaten-down stock investors got a break yesterday. Carrie Lee joins us with more on the Dow's big day and whether we can expect more of the same.
Actually, it's been such a rollercoaster ride, I'm just wondering what's happening.
CARRIE LEE, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: That's what everyone wants to know. Was yesterday a one-day wonder or will these gains get some legs? That's the question. We'll tell you.
Yesterday, the Dow closing higher by over 200 points, up 206 points, the best one-day gain for the Dow in over two years; 29 of the 30 Dow Components closed higher. McDonald's was the lagger, but down by just 9 cents. On the NYSE overall, for every one stock that fell, three closed higher.
So what was behind the big rally? Well, strong earnings, of course. We'll right in the middle of the Q1 profit reporting season. And after some disappointments yesterday, Nokia, Motorola and others had very good things to say.
Now, we did get some weak economic news. And that actually eased inflation fears. It might sound strange that slow economic growth is actually good for stocks. Investors do want the economy to improve, but to do it slowly, not too fast, so that inflation and interest rates don't rise too quickly.
And then finally, stocks have been looking pretty cheap. The Dow lost over 500 points over the prior two weeks, including four days of triple-digit losses. So the bargain hunters coming right in.
Of course, that doesn't mean we're out of the woods just yet. There are still a lot of worries that could hold stocks back over the next couple of months. Inflation fears, of course, the background story. But yesterday looking good. Today, though, could see a little bit of a pull-back.
Not a big surprise. Usually when we see a big jump, people are going to take a little bit of profits.
COSTELLO: So, with that said, how are the futures looking?
LEE: Yes, they are looking a little bit weak. Now, we are going to get some more profit reports. We'll hear from International Paper, Eastman-Kodak, but, you know, yesterday was a very nice day for stocks. So we'll see if we can get some things going...
(CROSSTALK)
COSTELLO: It really was. But you know, you make these big gains, and then you lose it all the next day.
LEE: Yes, yes. And the major market indices still down for the year, especially technology stocks, the NASDAQ. But hey, we'll take the gains when we can get them, right?
COSTELLO: You've got that right.
Carrie Lee, thank you.
LEE: OK.
COSTELLO: Coming up on DAYBREAK, a legend from the good old days weighs in on some of the problems facing professional athletes. Can you believe they wore such short shorts back then? Dr. J...
(LAUGHTER)
More news in a minute, but first, a look at some famous people born on this day, April 22nd.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports. It's 6:41 Eastern. Here's what's all new this morning.
The only person charged in the United States in connection with the 9/11 attacks is expected to plead guilty today. Zacarias Moussaoui will appear before a federal judge in Virginia later this afternoon.
In money news, a report in "USA Today" says several states are looking at taking their lottery games to the Internet. Right now, 40 states and Washington, D.C., have lotteries.
In culture, a letter signed by 158 authors asked TV talk-show host Oprah Winfrey to resume picking new novels for her popular book club. But a spokeswoman for Winfrey's company says there are no plan to do that.
In sports, here's a possible first: University of Utah quarterback Alex Smith could become the first player drafted in the NFL. The Utes' Andrew Bogut could be the top pick in the NBA draft.
And another reminder, Chad...
MYERS: Yes?
COSTELLO: ... this weekend...
MYERS: NFL draft.
COSTELLO: ... NFL draft.
MYERS: Wow. On ESPN probably?
COSTELLO: Yes, all day and all night, I'm sure.
MYERS: You are going to be in front of the TV the whole time.
COSTELLO: Oh, yes.
MYERS: You know, for a guy, that's a big thing, Carol.
COSTELLO: Then why did it take me so long to get married?
MYERS: I hope Tim appreciates that.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Hey, you know, I interviewed Julius Erving, Dr. J, Chad?
MYERS: Yes, right.
COSTELLO: And I talked to him about the NBA playoffs and all. But I also wanted to talk to him about Gary Sheffield, because you know how angry I am about this.
MYERS: Yes?
COSTELLO: Because baseball has decided that he deserves no type of punishment at all for shoving the fan because the fan, they say, hit him in the head while he was going for the ball.
MYERS: Do I have a really short memory or did this never happen when Dr. J was playing? Did you ever hear...
COSTELLO: Well...
MYERS: ... about players going into the stands?
COSTELLO: No, but he did fight with Larry Bird a lot.
MYERS: Well, all right. But that was on the court.
COSTELLO: Exactly.
But I had to ask him what he thought about this, you know, after the NBA basketball brawl. So here's what Dr. J had to say about Gary Sheffield.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JULIUS "DR. J" ERVING, FORMER NBA PLAYER: If a player crosses the line, a fan crosses the line, you know, sometimes it's a judgment call. And in Sheffield's situation, it probably was a judgment call. I don't think the fan's going to sue, because nothing happened to him. Sheffield had -- I read that he got hit in the nose and he wanted to retaliate. He restrained himself. And he continued to play baseball.
COSTELLO: He didn't restrain himself, though. He shoved him before he threw the ball.
ERVING: But I think it's a judgment call. I think you look at each case individually and, you know, you have to go with what the commissioner decides.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Translation: It was the fan's fault. I think that's what Dr. J was going to say. Actually, he said it in so many words.
Maybe you've heard about the people flocking to Chicago to see an image of the Virgin Mary on a highway underpass. Some call it a miracle; others are rather doubtful. CNN's Bill Hemmer will have more on "AMERICAN MORNING."
You're going to talk to someone at the scene?
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Carol, Carol, Carol, let that Sheffield deal go, OK?
COSTELLO: I can't. It's like stuck in my craw.
HEMMER: It's almost the weekend.
We are having a closer look this morning. The story reported early in the week, the image of the Virgin Mary on a Chicago highway underpass. Some say it is just a salt stain. But for the faithful, it has taken on powerful meaning.
Hundreds, Carol, are turning to it for hope in troubled times. More on that emotional story out of Chicago.
Also, we're paging Dr. Gupta. A disturbing drug abuse trend among teens. More and more kids raiding the medicine cabinet for prescription drugs to get high. The results can be deadly. What parents need to know on that very serious topic this morning, as well.
It's Friday. See you in 15 minutes, all right?
COSTELLO: Oh, yes. Happy Friday. Thank you, Bill.
HEMMER: Bye bye.
COSTELLO: Still to come on DAYBREAK, is it too late for Pete Rose? The commissioner has a comment about that looming Hall of Fame deadline.
And you know the type. The expectant parent who wants to give their child the worst name in the book, even though they think it's the greatest name. What's a friend to do? We'll ask the guy who wrote the book.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: It's 6:48 Eastern. Here's what'll be making news today.
Good news for the owner of an irreplaceable violin. We told you earlier this week about the instrument that was stolen out of a student's car. Well, the prize violin made in 1792 has now been returned to a Los Angeles area police station.
The woman who says she found part of a finger in her Wendy's chili has now been arrested in her Las Vegas home. California police are holding a news conference later today with details on the arrest, including what exactly she was arrested for.
And the clock is ticking for Pete Rose to get into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Commissioner Bud Selig says there is no chance in his banned status. That means there's little chance Rose will make it onto the ballot for 2006. That's the last year he can be considered by baseball writers.
Let's talk about something good.
Let's give away a mug, Chad.
MYERS: We'll give away a mug from the questions yesterday about the Acela train, and how long it's going to be gone, and how many there were.
Here are the questions from yesterday. We do have a winner. "How many trains are there in the Amtrak Acela fleet?" And that number is 20. "And when will the new bankruptcy rules take effect?" And that is in October of this year, 2005.
The winner is from Florida, from Gainesville, Florida. Kara Wassman is the winner of today's mug, Carol. A beautiful mug there going to Kara Wassman.
And we don't have any questions for today because we're giving away a mug for the worst baby name ever.
COSTELLO: We have some good ones.
MYERS: Yes. And I actually...
COSTELLO: One of my favorites, Chad, was "Female."
MYERS: Yes?
COSTELLO: The newborn's name was "Female." It's spelled female, but she's called "Female."
MYERS: Yes? Cherry in Vermont doesn't like her name because if she ever marries Brad Pitt she's going to be Cherry Pitt. Charley (ph) in North Carolina doesn't really appreciate Wolf very much. He thinks Wolf Blitzer sounds like a tank. It's a wolf- blitzer.
COSTELLO: Aw, but Wolf is so charming himself. It makes you love his name.
MYERS: Absolutely. Love the beard, too.
Rock star Bob Geldof named his daughter Fifi Trixibelle Geldof. That's a handle.
COSTELLO: So wrong.
This is from New York: "Worst baby name ever? How about Rainbow Star Plant? And, yes, my mother was so kind to grace me with that crazy name, at 32, I've finally forgiven her."
(LAUGHTER)
COSTELLO: We're going to pick the worst baby name in a bit. But first...
MYERS: I have it. I have it right here.
COSTELLO: You do. Chad has a good one.
MYERS: I think. I think.
COSTELLO: But we're going to talk more about this with the author of a new book.
One of the biggest problems, as you know, Chad, facing parents- to-be is the name game. But how exactly do you pick that perfect moniker that will not haunt your new baby into his teen years and beyond? Well, we know that Carol is a perfect name but what about all the other choices?
As I said, there's a new book out there that could help. It's called "The Worst Baby Names Ever." The book's author, David Narter, joins us now from Chicago.
Good morning, David.
DAVID NARTER, AUTHOR: Good morning, Carol.
COSTELLO: This is sort of a funny take on names, isn't it?
NARTER: Yes. I hope it's a funny take on names. That was the idea.
(LAUGHTER)
COSTELLO: Well, some people might say it's kind of mean.
NARTER: Yes, I don't know. I've been a teacher for a number of years. And I haven't ever heard anybody say anything nice about anybody's name so far. So...
COSTELLO: So you just decided to write it all down?
NARTER: Pretty much.
COSTELLO: I want to give our viewers some examples of the names that appear in your book and what exactly they mean...
(CROSSTALK)
NARTER: All right, Mr. Russert, you bring it up there.
COSTELLO: OK, Doug, I like this one, because I'm just going to start with this one before I get to the others.
"Doug, you can always count on a guy named Doug to bore you to death. He'll be the only kid in the first grade to declare his ambition to sell life insurance."
NARTER: Yes, I...
COSTELLO: There's Doug right now in our studio. He's coming at you, except you're in Chicago.
NARTER: Well, he's got plenty other Dougs to come at me, as well. Yes, at book expos, generally people pick up the book and they seem really excited to read it. And they eventually get to their name. And by the time they actually get to me to sign the book, they're pretty angry with me.
COSTELLO: I bet, because this is what my name means according to you.
"Carol." Let's put it up on the screen now, because I didn't bother to write the definition down. You say, "Carol, an old standby of the middle-20th century. You could always count on a Carol when you ran out of all the other names you really wanted. A haggard veteran of the name game, Carol would come in and get the job done."
That's why I'm working at 5:00 a.m.
(LAUGHTER)
What was the reason you wrote this book?
NARTER: To meet girls.
(LAUGHTER)
I wrote the book, you know, because the idea that -- actually, to be able to write a book where you sit down in a coffee shop and come up with every, you know, every goofy joke that you can come up with as quickly as you possibly can. That's a pretty good way to make a living, if it's possible.
COSTELLO: Yes, you've got that right. Let's see what you say Chad means.
Chad, are you listening?
MYERS: I am. But you know what? I was named before all of these other wealthy jerks that he's talking about on the bottom.
COSTELLO: No, let me read the definition so everyone understands.
MYERS: OK, go ahead.
COSTELLO: Chad means, "Parents who named their children Chad know that they are flying in the face of common wisdom as anyone who's watched a sitcom knows that Chads are wealthy jerks."
NARTER: Did you generally find, Chad, growing up that people didn't like you much?
MYERS: No, I was pretty normal. I worked and played well with others.
NARTER: Most Chads don't know that. OK.
MYERS: I was supposed to be Kim, but I came out a guy. I was Kimberly Ann, but that just didn't work out. And then they wanted to do Seth. But Chad Everett was a movie star back then, and that's how I got this name.
COSTELLO: And that's cute.
Hey, one more. This is the surprise. Because Brian, our executive producer, told us, "Please, please, don't use my name." But we did it anyway.
So Brian means, "Many dyslexic parents generally choose this name when actually hoping to name their son Brain."
NARTER: I've got a feeling that "Female" has something to do with that whole syndrome, as well. I think someone just hit the wrong line.
(LAUGHTER)
COSTELLO: I think so. Well, thank you for joining us this morning.
NARTER: Thank you very much for having me on.
COSTELLO: David Narter, we've enjoyed it.
And of course, you were sending in the worst names ever. And Chad has the winner after a break. You're watching DAYBREAK for a Friday morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Now in the news.
The only person charged in the United States in connection with the 9/11 attacks is expected to plead guilty. Sources tell CNN that Zacarias Moussaoui will enter a guilty plea when he appears in a Virginia courtroom later this afternoon.
At the Vatican, newly named Pope Benedict XVI held his first working meeting with the College of Cardinals today. He thanked them for their support in electing him the 265th leader of the Roman Catholic Church.
At least five homes in Kansas were damaged or destroyed after tornadoes rumbled through the southeastern part of the state. Luckily, no injuries reported. Tornado fears also led to the temporary evacuation of a Kansas City airport.
So what's it looking like today, Chad?
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Hey, it's time to give away a mug already.
MYERS: Yes,.
And you know what? We both talked about this. The thing I like about this name was that, at the end, it was "III." So not only was this the terrible name, the father had it and the grandfather had it, as well. And they didn't figure out that this was a terrible name.
COSTELLO: What is it, the worst baby name?
MYERS: Graham -- like graham cookie -- Graham C. Hash Cookie III (ph).
COSTELLO: Do you believe that's a real name?
MYERS: I checked it on Who Where on Wahoo (ph) search. And that person exists.
COSTELLO: Say it again.
MYERS: Graham Cookie. The rest is just the middle names.
COSTELLO: Congratulations. I'm Carol Costello, along with Chad Myers.
"AMERICAN MORNING" starts right now.
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