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American Morning
Elections Day in Iraq; Baby Dropped and Caught From Burning Bronx Building
Aired December 15, 2005 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.
I'm Miles O'Brien.
History unfolding in Iraq as we speak. Millions of Iraqis ignoring threats of violence to cast ballots for a new future. We'll go there live.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Soledad O'Brien.
Icy conditions are taking hold all along the East Coast. Very dangerous roads in several states. Your full frosty forecast is just a few minutes away.
M. O'BRIEN: And watch this -- amazing pictures. That's a baby being thrown out of a burning building, captured on tape. And we will talk to the man who made that life-saving catch ahead on this AMERICAN MORNING.
S. O'BRIEN: Good morning.
Welcome, everybody.
Let's get right to our top story this morning.
One hour left, just one hour left for Iraqis to v. By all reports, the turnout is heavy, especially among Sunni voters. It's their participation that's going to make all the difference in the success of this election.
Chief international correspondent Christiane Amanpour is live at a school which has now turned into a polling station in Baghdad -- Christiane, good morning.
CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.
And as you say, one hour left. And to be honest, the trickle here is sort of coming to an end. There are something like 6,000 polling stations around the country. This, as I say, is a school. And people just walk through here, as you can imagine, and go inside just behind me and cast their ballot.
It has been fairly steady all day. Here is a part of Baghdad that is quite a mixed area and there's been quite a heavy turnout.
What we noticed, which was different than the last time, was in the Sunni parts of Baghdad, down in the south of this city, for instance, in a place called Dura, there was a heavy turnout of Sunnis.
And we've also been calling around the country. We have evidence from one of the people in the governor's officer in the province of Salah ad Din, the capital of which is Tikrit. Saddam's hometown. Completely boycotted the election last year. We're told the turnout is very heavy today.
And everybody is looking to see what the Sunnis will do, how much they will come out and how many seats that they will win in parliament.
What many people are talking about here is trying to get more of a balance in parliament and sort of less religious parties in parliament, more secular parties. And, of course, why? Because everyone wants to see whether it's going to make a difference to the insurgency -- Soledad.
S. O'BRIEN: Christiane, we can see over your shoulder several, it looks like heavily armed guys behind you. And then I know you passed by one while you were sort of walking and talking for us.
What's the security like there?
AMANPOUR: Well, let me just show you.
There are police here. On the roof up there, there's an army -- well it's not a sniper, but it's an army soldier with a machine gun. The security is tight. There has been lots of police and army around here and lots around most of the other places. It is entirely the Iraqi Army and police and Ministry of Interior commandos who are responsible for the election security.
Of course, the United States Army is also there, but not at the actual polling stations. And it's the U.S. really, that's been organizing a lot of the security. Of course, all the roads are shut down. All you see is people walking to the polling stations. There have been no reports of any suicide car bombs. We have actually heard several rockets go off, but no reports of severe injuries or numerous injuries -- Soledad.
S. O'BRIEN: All right, we'll continue to watch that.
Thanks, Christiane, for the update.
And hopefully that good news will stay good throughout the day -- Miles.
M. O'BRIEN: This is the third important election we have watched unfold since the U.S. invaded Iraq nearly three years ago. And each time there has been hope that Iraqis would embrace freedom amid all the violence and anarchy.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
O'BRIEN (voice-over): January 30th -- a democratic groundbreaking in Iraq. Millions cast ballots in a landmark election, the country's first free vote in a half a century. Then, Iraqis were choosing an interim government to oversee the drafting of a new constitution.
Iraqi expatriates in more than a dozen countries exercised their vote, as well. Despite a national turnout of nearly 60 percent, the January election was largely shunned by Sunnis, enabling Shiites and Kurds to control the transitional government.
Then, on October 15th, a second historic step toward the country's democratic transformation. Iraqi men and women, proudly, again, displayed their ink-stained fingers as they approved the country's new constitution. That vote paved the way for today's election. Some 15 million registered voters eligible to cast ballots for Iraq's first full-time parliament since the fall of Saddam Hussein.
It's a complex political puzzle. More than 7,600 candidates, more than 100 political parties. They're vying for 275 parliamentary seats. The winners will serve four-year terms and in the process elect Iraq's new president, prime minister, cabinet ministers and supreme court justices.
In the last of a series of speeches leading up to today's vote, President Bush was optimistic about the future of Iraq.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We are living through a watershed moment in the story of freedom. Most of the focus now is on this week's elections, and rightly so. Iraqis will go to the polls to choose a government that will be the only constitutional democracy in the Arab world.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(END VIDEO TAPE)
M. O'BRIEN: CNN has continued special coverage of this turning point in Iraq on "ANDERSON COOPER 360." Anderson is live from Iraq all week. And join him tonight, 10:00 p.m. Eastern time.
Carol Costello here with more news for you -- good morning, Carol.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: I am, indeed.
Thanks, Miles.
And good morning to all of you.
President Bush says yes, there was bad intelligence on Iraq, but removing Saddam Hussein had to be done. He says today's vote in Iraq sends a message to the terrorists.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) BUSH: Our tactics continue to change, but our goal in Iraq has not changed -- a free and democratic Iraq. I strongly believe a democratic Iraq is a crucial part of our strategy to defeat the terrorists because only democracy can bring freedom and reconciliation to Iraq and peace to this troubled part of the world.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: The president's comments are not convincing Democratic House member John Murtha, though.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. JOHN MURTHA (D), PENNSYLVANIA: We go to war because of our national security interests. We don't go to war to start a democracy in another country. We go to war for one reason. And they keep mischaracterizing why we went to war by telling a history that turns out not to be true.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Murtha, a decorated Vietnam vet, caused quite a stir in Congress this fall when he called for a timetable for withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq.
Renewal of the Patriot Act now moves on to the Senate, where it faces an uncertain future. Several senators have said they oppose extending more than a dozen provisions of the measure because of concerns over expanded police powers. The House did approve the legislation's provisions. They're set to expire at the end of the year.
A very sad story out of Fort Wayne, Indiana to tell you about right now.
Police have accused a 33-year-old man of killing his wife and their three daughters. Court documents show Simon Rios told police he beat and strangled his wife after they argued over household chores. Police say he then strangled his daughters, 10 years old, four and 20 months.
In New York, the buzz words are get creative. That's the advice coming from Mayor Michael Bloomberg. The city's transit workers are preparing to strike at midnight over wage issues. If that happens, it would be the first subway and bus strike in more than 25 years and believe me, if it happens, it's going to be hell. Some seven million people ride public transit in the Big Apple. Those seven million people will have to find another way to work.
In much of the East, it's not a strike, but the weather, that's making travel quite difficult this morning. A large winter storm is bringing ice and snow to the region. Ice reported on trees and roadways from northern Atlanta up through North Carolina, into Virginia. Washington, D.C. could have a mix of sleet and freezing rain later today. And those of you who live there know how people drive in that stuff. It's a scary thing -- Jacqui. JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes, it is.
Luckily, I had no problems coming into work this morning, otherwise maybe I wouldn't be here.
(WEATHER REPORT)
M. O'BRIEN: Coming up, those dramatic pictures. We can't stop talking about them. Let's do it one more time -- baby, caught, yes. Thrown out of a third floor window, of a burning apartment. He wasn't breathing. The right place, the right time, the right man. And we will talk to him,
S. O'BRIEN: Also this morning, a wounded soldier fighting back against all odds. He's got an inspiring story of recovery. He's taking it one marathon at a time.
That's ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
S. O'BRIEN: We showed you pictures of this baby caught. Remember we told you about this fire in the Bronx, the mom panicking, answers the calls of people below saying, "Throw the baby! Throw the baby!" She tosses her baby out the window. Take a look at what happens.
M. O'BRIEN: All right, and that is the building's super here in New York, in the Bronx. Amazing catch. Get that man a contract for the Giants.
The infant dropped by his mom and well, there's more to it than that.
S. O'BRIEN: Yes, lots more.
And, in fact, Felix Vasquez is nice enough to come and talk to us about it.
How are you doing today?
FELIX VASQUEZ: I'm doing great. Nicely.
S. O'BRIEN: Do you feel like your adrenaline is still going?
VASQUEZ: Still excited, yes. Tired, but I'm excited.
S. O'BRIEN: What happened? I mean when did you realize that -- obviously the building was on fire. You guys all rushed there. Those are your workers -- you're the supervisor -- who had their arms up saying, "Drop the baby! Drop the baby!"
What was the mom doing?
VASQUEZ: The mom was panicking. There was a lot of smoke in the apartment. She was nervous. And she said, "It's either me or my baby" and she let the baby go and happily, thank god I was there at the right time. M. O'BRIEN: Were you scared at all or was it that you were just sort of on autopilot?
VASQUEZ: I was scared.
M. O'BRIEN: Yes.
VASQUEZ: I was.
M. O'BRIEN: So, I mean when that baby was coming at you, did you have time to think, oh boy...
VASQUEZ: No. It was an instant as...
M. O'BRIEN: Yes.
VASQUEZ: ... go for it. I just went for it and did what I had to do.
M. O'BRIEN: Yes.
S. O'BRIEN: Now the baby lands in your arms. And you were saying the baby is only a couple of weeks old.
VASQUEZ: That's correct. The baby was only three weeks old.
S. O'BRIEN: That's probably 10 pounds or something.
VASQUEZ: More or less, yes.
S. O'BRIEN: It felt like a feather, I bet.
VASQUEZ: Yes.
S. O'BRIEN: And then what did you notice, that the baby was...
VASQUEZ: I noticed the baby wasn't breathing or crying, so I gave him a quick mouth-to-mouth, cut him back. He started crying. And I gave him back to my caretakers and they took over. The fire department came over and they did their part.
M. O'BRIEN: And that's it.
S. O'BRIEN: Gosh, you're a hero on all fronts.
VASQUEZ: And that's it.
M. O'BRIEN: Another day in the Bronx.
VASQUEZ: Yes.
M. O'BRIEN: Now, wait a minute. You did CPR 20 years ago.
VASQUEZ: Yes.
M. O'BRIEN: And it came back just like that? VASQUEZ: It was just instant, yes. It's just amazing. I amazed myself that I was -- it was a quick reaction.
S. O'BRIEN: Were you shaking?
VASQUEZ: Yes, I was.
S. O'BRIEN: Are you still kind of shaking?
VASQUEZ: Yes, I am.
S. O'BRIEN: Really?
VASQUEZ: Yes.
M. O'BRIEN: It was probably one of those things that when you're doing it, you're probably not thinking so much about it. Afterward is when you go oh my god, I can't believe what I just went through, right?
VASQUEZ: That's correct. That's correct.
S. O'BRIEN: You have to talked to the mom?
VASQUEZ: Yes, I did speak to her yesterday afternoon. She's doing excellent, and also the baby.
S. O'BRIEN: Really, the story continues because, I mean, now the baby is out of the apartment, which is still on fire. The fire department goes in and has to go rescue her.
VASQUEZ: That's correct.
M. O'BRIEN: Right.
S. O'BRIEN: Because she couldn't get out the window because you've got those child guards.
VASQUEZ: That's correct.
S. O'BRIEN: And so they were able to bring her out, as well.
VASQUEZ: Yes.
S. O'BRIEN: How is she doing -- I mean...
VASQUEZ: She's doing great. She took a lot of smoke in, but she's doing excellent.
M. O'BRIEN: So what did she say to you, though?
VASQUEZ: She came up to me, hugged me, kissed me and just kept thanking me, thanking me.
S. O'BRIEN: That's never going to stop, you realize?
VASQUEZ: Oh, yes.
S. O'BRIEN: Like for the rest of your life she's going to be like...
VASQUEZ: That's correct.
S. O'BRIEN: Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
VASQUEZ: That's right.
M. O'BRIEN: Yes.
S. O'BRIEN: Gosh, how do thank somebody? I'm not sure -- I'm not sure I'd be able to throw my baby out the window.
M. O'BRIEN: Well, that's the thing, I mean it would be interesting to talk to her.
Did you ask her about that? Or did you have a chance or...
VASQUEZ: No, I haven't gotten a chance to speak to her about that.
M. O'BRIEN: Yes. Because imagine that, you really had -- talk about a leap of faith...
S. O'BRIEN: Trust.
M. O'BRIEN: ... or a drop of faith, whatever.
VASQUEZ: That's correct.
M. O'BRIEN: That whoever is at the bottom -- fortunately...
VASQUEZ: Catches.
M. O'BRIEN: ... a man with good hands...
VASQUEZ: Yes.
M. O'BRIEN: ... was there to do the right thing.
VASQUEZ: Thank you.
S. O'BRIEN: You're a catcher for the Port Authority baseball team?
VASQUEZ: For the Housing Authority baseball team.
S. O'BRIEN: The Housing Authority? Really?
VASQUEZ: Yes.
M. O'BRIEN: A golden glove for you now.
VASQUEZ: Thank you. S. O'BRIEN: How is the team doing? Like...
VASQUEZ: We took three years in a row, division champs for the Housing Authority.
S. O'BRIEN: On all fronts he's a rock star.
VASQUEZ: Yes.
S. O'BRIEN: I love it!
M. O'BRIEN: Felix Vasquez, what's next for you? I don't know.
S. O'BRIEN: This has...
VASQUEZ: I have no idea.
M. O'BRIEN: How are you going to top that one? It's going to be tough.
VASQUEZ: It's going to be tough.
S. O'BRIEN: Are people calling you to say listen, this has made- for-TV movie all over it, Felix? Come on, man, I'll be your agent.
VASQUEZ: I haven't had a break yet, but it feels good. It's hitting me now. It feels excellent.
S. O'BRIEN: I bet it does.
VASQUEZ: Yes, it does.
S. O'BRIEN: Good for you.
VASQUEZ: Thank you.
S. O'BRIEN: And, also, you know, to all your workers who were right under there...
VASQUEZ: Oh, definitely. Yes, I've got to also thank my staff for being there and supporting.
M. O'BRIEN: Yes, a tip of the hat to them all.
VASQUEZ: That's correct.
S. O'BRIEN: A great job.
M. O'BRIEN: Thanks for coming in.
VASQUEZ: No problem.
S. O'BRIEN: Job well done, as we like to say.
M. O'BRIEN: Yes.
S. O'BRIEN: Yes, thanks for talking to us.
VASQUEZ: No problem.
S. O'BRIEN: What a great story.
VASQUEZ: No problem.
M. O'BRIEN: That's Felix Vasquez. Not just a building super, a baby catcher, as well.
Thank you.
Our online gift guide is coming up.
You're going to want to listen to this, Felix. There's some ideas here you might want to put on your list. Hard to buy for man on your list. What do you get for a baby catcher? Gadgets that would make James Bond jealous ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
M. O'BRIEN: All right, we're trying to load up those Dannielle Romano Daily Candy sites. And as soon as I get them together, we're going to do our segment.
Back with more in a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
S. O'BRIEN: Take a look at this, everybody.
You're looking at that FedEx plane right there. This is at the Charlotte/Douglas International Airport. That FedEx cargo plane is stuck in the mud. It's about 32 degrees there and they've got rainy temperatures. According to the fire department in Charlotte, a FedEx Airbus 300 got its left main landing gear stuck as it was taxiing out on the runway there. Only the crew on board and it's not really clear at this point exactly how that accident happened.
We're going to continue to follow this story.
And, boy, that has the potential to be quite a mess. But it looks as if, at this point, at least, nobody has been injured seriously in any way.
Let's get over to Miles, because if there are any gifts on board this FedEx cargo plane...
M. O'BRIEN: I am looking -- could you put that shot back up, Michael?
Michael? I need to look at that shot. Can you put it back up?
Oh, that tape -- is my Xbox there? Can you see it? Can you see it?
S. O'BRIEN: Clearly it is.
M. O'BRIEN: All right, online gift shoppers, this could be trouble. But that is, you know, the vicissitudes of the season, if you know what I mean.
DANNIELLE ROMANO, DAILYCANDY.COM: It's the name of the game. I mean...
M. O'BRIEN: Yes, that is. You've got to...
ROMANO: I didn't see your Xbox. I did see some of the stuff I had ordered. I don't know, we could be in trouble. That's the thing...
M. O'BRIEN: Yes.
ROMANO: ... we have all these ways we can save time, save money. But then a little -- but you could, I mean...
M. O'BRIEN: It's a risky business and we should introduce to our viewers, for those of you who haven't been watching for the past couple of weeks, this is Dannielle Romano.
Dailycandy.com is her place of employ.
She is the editor-at-large.
And she's been sharing excellent sites to do some shopping and, assuming that all the delivery systems work well, it's a great idea, right?
ROMANO: It's a great idea. It's a great, relaxing idea. We're not going to worry about planes stuck in mud. You know, we could -- we can't control life and on the way to the mall something could happen, god forbid.
M. O'BRIEN: God forbid.
ROMANO: So, you know, online is just as risk-free and fun as anything else.
M. O'BRIEN: All right.
ROMANO: But...
M. O'BRIEN: We did gals yesterday.
ROMANO: The hard to shop for, impossible -- we've been crossing people off our list. Check, check, check. There are a few people, those women and now, today, men, who, you know...
M. O'BRIEN: You've got to be quiet for one second.
What is that? What is that noise? That Steve Alan noise? That is something.
ROMANO: It's hipster music.
M. O'BRIEN: It's his -- is that what that is?
ROMANO: I think that's the sweet sound of hipster music. Stevenalan.com...
M. O'BRIEN: Listen to this.
What is this place?
ROMANO: Stevenalan.com...
M. O'BRIEN: It doesn't look hip.
ROMANO: Steven Alan is a real person -- Miles, come on.
M. O'BRIEN: We're just looking at -- this shows you how out I am, that that retro stuff is in, right?
ROMANO: It's a little retro, but it's incredibly modern.
Will you click on men's, since we're talking about...
M. O'BRIEN: I would be happy to click on men's.
ROMANO: The man, he's a stoic. He won't breathe a word of what he wants.
M. O'BRIEN: So (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
ROMANO: He is, you know, has tons of hobbies, but they're all impossible to actually buy something for because it requires complicated (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...
M. O'BRIEN: Jackets, sweaters...
ROMANO: Jackets. So Steven Alan is a real man a very cool man.
M. O'BRIEN: All right, yes.
ROMANO: He has some shops in Manhattan...
M. O'BRIEN: He does? Yes?
ROMANO: ... where he sells all sorts of cool brands.
Isn't that cute?
M. O'BRIEN: You know, everybody -- every guy needs a pea coat, don't you think?
ROMANO: Totally.
M. O'BRIEN: Yes.
ROMANO: It's -- here's a secret, pea coats are... M. O'BRIEN: They're in.
ROMANO: ... surprisingly sexy.
M. O'BRIEN: Oh, they are?
ROMANO: And in. So Steven Alan has a...
M. O'BRIEN: And the Dalton blazer.
ROMANO: ... Web site, a blazer. He also makes these great shirts. So if you would...
M. O'BRIEN: All right, let's go down to Steven.
ROMANO: Click on reverse seam shirts.
M. O'BRIEN: Reverse seam shirts.
What does that mean?
ROMANO: There...
M. O'BRIEN: It's inside out?
ROMANO: ... so he does some French seams on the outside, so they're a little bit scruffy, but even a dignified news anchor could get away with them.
M. O'BRIEN: A little scruffiness would be good. All right...
ROMANO: It's calculated hipness. So I think a casual -- it doesn't look like you're trying too hard for that mystery man on your list. It would be good.
M. O'BRIEN: Stevenalan.com?
ROMANO: Stevenalan.com.
M. O'BRIEN: Now, we go to the alpha-male section.
All right, what have we got here, Dannielle?
ROMANO: We'll talk in our low voices.
M. O'BRIEN: Yes.
ROMANO: Alpha-man is the online home of a Los Angeles store called Alpha and their tag line is geared for gents.
M. O'BRIEN: Geared for gents.
ROMANO: So this is the place to outfit their, you know, the swinging pad of an avowed bachelor.
M. O'BRIEN: Oh... ROMANO: They have...
M. O'BRIEN: This isn't for me?
ROMANO: Well, you know, in your garage workshop or whatever this -- you know that all men have that place where they pretend they're bachelors...
M. O'BRIEN: I left it in Atlanta, unfortunately.
ROMANO: ... where they pretend their bachelors.
M. O'BRIEN: Yes, that's true.
ROMANO: Alpha has, you know, they have desk stuff.
M. O'BRIEN: Yes?
ROMANO: They have -- and this impossible to shop for man in our life, he doesn't like a lot of clutter. He lives a Spartan existence. But this is the perfect picture frame for your mug.
M. O'BRIEN: Right.
ROMANO: The stuff for his iPod, the, you know, just random but beautifully designed gifts that he's sure to enjoy.
M. O'BRIEN: All right, now, we go to this next site...
ROMANO: This is what's making us a little nervous.
M. O'BRIEN: Which crashed my computer.
So let's go to the one...
ROMANO: I just -- I'm done.
M. O'BRIEN: This is...
ROMANO: OK. This is called Bookofcool.com.
M. O'BRIEN: Book Of Cool. Not so cool for the G4 this morning, but let's talk about it.
ROMANO: Don't be afraid, viewers. If you have any kind of computer...
M. O'BRIEN: It's a cool site.
ROMANO: ... no offense, Miles. Book Of Cool is such a cool project that the man in your life that's hard to shop for won't think you're telling him he's not cool. This is a DVD set and 320-page book with instructions on how to be cool. So there are...
M. O'BRIEN: I do need this.
ROMANO: ... let's say you want to be better at rope twirling, like cowboy stuff?
M. O'BRIEN: Who doesn't?
ROMANO: They've got an expert who shows you and explains that.
Let's say you want to be better at bar flare, throwing bottles ala cocktail? They've got that.
M. O'BRIEN: Bar flare?
ROMANO: Street fighting, skateboarding...
M. O'BRIEN: Bar flare?
ROMANO: ... soccer. All these experts, you're...
M. O'BRIEN: Huh!
ROMANO: I mean...
M. O'BRIEN: Wow! I mean that's...
ROMANO: We can be a lot cooler.
M. O'BRIEN: I'm so uncool I didn't even know what bar flare was.
ROMANO: I think they have some special names...
M. O'BRIEN: That's how...
ROMANO: ... for this stuff.
Look how cool -- I mean it's just cool.
M. O'BRIEN: Yes.
ROMANO: We can still get this on...
M. O'BRIEN: I want that.
ROMANO: ... in time.
M. O'BRIEN: I want that. I need that. All right...
ROMANO: We all need that.
M. O'BRIEN: ... I'm going to read all 350 pages. I'll be a new man. I'll be wearing those French seams...
ROMANO: By tomorrow?
M. O'BRIEN: ... I'll be all ruffled and -- yes.
ROMANO: This is a life transformation. I'm really excited about it.
M. O'BRIEN: This is. This is big for me. This is big.
OK, now, let's go to Signaturedays.com.
What's this all about?
ROMANO: If he is so impossible to shop for, he wants nothing, no tangible thing, an experience is what you need to get for him.
M. O'BRIEN: Ah! Action and adventure.
ROMANO: Signature Days makes it easy. They have all these different -- like say he wants sea kayaking, a day of cooking lessons. You know, he might be highly evolved.
M. O'BRIEN: Action and adventure, and it says Detroit. That's a bit of an oxymoron right there. But...
ROMANO: Come on, now, sir.
M. O'BRIEN: I'm from there. I can say that.
ROMANO: There's plenty of snow boarding in the Big D.
M. O'BRIEN: Yes. I guess it's from Detroit.
ROMANO: So you pick one of these. It's where you can experience it. They have things that are nationwide that you can find or in your specific city. You say oh, he'd love this stock car racing...
M. O'BRIEN: Like stock car driving school.
ROMANO: Who wouldn't?
M. O'BRIEN: Yes.
ROMANO: So you pick the experience or just a general gift certificate and he gets to do something really fun for a day. He's that kind of guy.
M. O'BRIEN: All right, that might be fun, but it won't be as much fun as what we do tomorrow. Dannielle and I had a little contest. We had a contest. Yesterday afternoon, Sandy O'Brien and I went out on the street and we did some brick and mortar shopping, you know, the old-fashioned way, Dannielle.
Remember that?
ROMANO: What in the world is that?
M. O'BRIEN: That's a voodoo board.
ROMANO: Well...
M. O'BRIEN: And then we took the rattler, you know, because you wanted to -- we wanted to grab the straps while we could, because they probably won't be running tomorrow. Anyway, it took us a fair amount of time. And we're going to compare what it took to get these things by walking to stores versus your version, which is a click, click, click, and it's stuck there in Charlotte, North Carolina now.
So we'll...
ROMANO: No, it's not.
M. O'BRIEN: I don't know. Who knows?
ROMANO: And you were busy fooling around. Less voodoo boarding and more shopping, I should say. I have this contest in the bag. I can tell from that put-in (ph).
M. O'BRIEN: You think so?
ROMANO: Um-hmm.
M. O'BRIEN: All right. Well, we'll see about that tomorrow, won't we?
ROMANO: All right.
M. O'BRIEN: All right, Dannielle Romano, see you tomorrow.
ROMANO: Don't mind if we do.
M. O'BRIEN: All right -- Soledad.
S. O'BRIEN: Well, hasn't the gauntlet been thrown down on that one?
M. O'BRIEN: It has.
S. O'BRIEN: Ooh, I'm going to watch for that.
All right, well, Saturday night, 8:00 p.m. Eastern, our "THEN AND NOW" special with Larry King.
It's going to take a look at some of the newsmakers of CNN's first 25 years and take a look at what they're doing right now.
Here's a sample.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): The basketball court was his stage. And Earvin "Magic" Johnson could cast a spell over fans and foes alike. Magic led the Los Angeles Lakers to five NBA titles and was three times named the league's most valuable player.
But the superstar stunned the world on November 7th, 1991, and everyone was afraid the Magic would soon be gone.
EARVIN "MAGIC" JOHNSON: Because of the HIV virus that I have obtained, I will have to retire from the Lakers. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Magic took some time off, started a strict drug regimen and managed to make a triumphant return to the Lakers in 1992, playing in the NBA All Star game and later as part of the U.S. Olympic Dream Team.
JOHNSON: And I've always felt that I was going to beat HIV, and I had to put that in my mind, and I had to live and breathe that every day, have that type of attitude.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thirteen years later, Magic is more often seen in a suit than a uniform. Besides speaking about HIV and AIDS, he is now involved in several business ventures, from movie theaters to hamburger chains.
Magic lives in L.A. with his wife Cookie and their children.
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