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Dozens Killed by Fires in Southern Greece; Devastating Floods Across Midwest; Rapper's Dogs Seized; Harley in Africa
Aired August 25, 2007 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: From the CNN Center in Atlanta, Georgia, you are in the CNN NEWSROOM.
It is Saturday, August the 25th. It is 10:00 a.m. here in Atlanta, 9:00 a.m. in Iowa, where some people are praying the rain will stop.
Good morning to you all. I am T.J. Holmes.
ALINA CHO, CNN ANCHOR: We're so glad you're with us on this Saturday morning, everyone.
I'm Alina Cho.
Betty's on assignment in South Africa.
HOLMES: Yes. We've got some pictures here to show you first.
The big story this morning, these out-of-control fires being called a national tragedy. And now there's an arson investigation is under way.
CHO: And an unbelievable accident on a hot air balloon ride. Take a look at that photo. Wait until you hear what happened.
HOLMES: And going gray and getting it on. More empty-nesters are filling their time make whoopee. Does that include you?
Stick around for that story.
But we are going to start with those fires, deadly and devastating fires that are sweeping across southern Greece. And right now, arson investigators are on the scene looking into whether the fires were, in fact, deliberately set.
Dozens of people have been killed. One unofficial estimate says as many as 47 have died.
The story now from journalist Anthee Carassava in Athens.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANTHEE CARASSAVA, REPORTER (voice over): Greeks are calling it a national tragedy. More than 150 forest fires racing through thousands of acres of pine and olive trees in southern Greece, destroying scores of hamlets, killing dozens of people, including a pair of French tourists.
Trapped in the highlands of the Western Peloponnese, scores of people, mainly elderly and disabled, have been phoning in to local radio and television stations crying for help. Emergency services say they are overstretched, but on Saturday, rescue crews moved to evacuate nine villages around the worst-hit region near the town of Behado (ph), where at least 10 people were burned to death while trying to flee ferocious flames that surrounded them. Among the victims, three firefighters and a mother of four children.
"My house in Soharas (ph)," says this man, "was burnt to the ground. I lost everything. Three houses next to me were also destroyed. This is a big disaster."
Further south, near the seaside village of Areopolis, rescue teams trying to assess the damage found the charred bodies of a French pair of tourists who were caught in an inferno during an afternoon hike. Their bodies, said officials, were found clutched together.
Scores of hotels and villages in that area have also been evacuated as dozens of people were seen speeding to local hospitals for treatment of severe burns and respiratory problems. Counting more than 3,000 brushfires this year alone, Greece is grappling with its worst season of fires in decades.
Urgent help has been requested from the European Union and Athens' beleaguered government has pledged more than one million euros in aid for the flame-hit regions of the Peloponnese. Even so, public outrage has mounted over the government's handling of the deadly spate of forest fires and pundits now question whether the prime minister, Costas Karamanlis, will proceed with elections next month after suspending campaigning this weekend.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: That reporter, Anthee Carassava, joins us now by phone from Athens.
And Anthee, tell us, I guess, the progress of this investigation. What are the indications they have right now that, in fact, these fires, no doubt, suspicious and could be criminal here?
CARASSAVA: Well, T.J., this, of course, has been the source of investigation for the last 24 hours. Details are -- as the story is unfolding, are extremely sketchy, and authorities are very, very tight-lipped about what incriminating evidence they do have.
What they are saying, however, is that they believe that this is not just any brushfire that got out of control. They believe that this is an organized and orchestrated attack, and they are looking into several leads.
One of the reasons, of course, as a result of this, the country's counterterrorism force and the country's secret services are involved in this investigation. And they believe, of course, that they hope to unravel this mystery as to why these brushfires razed, basically, southern Greece.
HOLMES: And Anthee, we know there's been just severe heat and drought conditions there, and also the winds have been fanning these flames. Have firefighters been able to make any ground on these fires, or right now they're just so out of control that they can't make any ground before the fires grow even larger?
CARASSAVA: No, they are. Of course, emergency crews are stretched, and they are working intensely with local authorities trying to evacuate several scores of villages around these flame-hit regions.
Of course, now the government has come under fire for what is being called its botched handling of these forest fires. This is not the worst -- this is not the first forest fire that Greece has seen this season. It is the deadliest. It is the worst.
Three thousand have razed much of Greece in the last few months, and the government is under pressure as elections are being set and are ready to go for next month to answer why this is happening.
HOLMES: OK. Anthee Carassava reporting for us there from Athens.
Anthee, thank you so much this morning.
CHO: Also keep in mind, where there's news, there's a CNN I- Reporter.
Twelve-year-old Matt Veilleux sent in this photo of the smoke from the fires from a balcony in Athens. His family has been in Athens for about three years and they're working with refugees there. They're originally from Florida.
His dad said they've been watching the planes try to put out the fires. Mostly unsuccessfully.
You, too, can be an I-Reporter. Just go to CNN.com and click on "I-Report".
Bonnie Schneider watching the weather for us.
(WEATHER REPORT)
CHO: Floodwaters continuing to rise in parts of the Midwest this morning. People hoping for some relief may have to wait a bit longer.
Near Chicago, as many as 150,000 people are still without power, and in other areas, like in northwestern Ohio, people still can't get back to their flooded homes. They are, of course, anxious to assess the damage. And while many are left to wonder what happened to their homes, others are fighting desperately, trying to reroute the water, so to speak.
CNN's Jim Acosta live in Antioch, Illinois, this morning, not far from the Wisconsin state line. Hey, Jim, what's it like where you are? Not looking good.
JIM ACOSTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's not looking good, Alina. And I have to tell you, this is what life has been like in this community of Antioch, Illinois, for the last several days.
You can see this wall of sandbags behind me. And there they are, those water pumps pumping water. It looks like a futile sight from where we stand, but it is doing the job, pumping water from the other side of the wall which is protecting the homes and back into the swollen Fox River here, which has basically been inundating this neighborhood for the last couple of days.
And then what we've seen in the last -- in the last 24 hours up in southern Wisconsin, those communities up to the north of us, those flooded communities, that water has started to recede up there. And as that water has receded, it's moved this way.
But we do have some good news, an update to report to you from Illinois emergency management officials as you look at these communities across the river. They tell us that they are now getting some -- some relief from these conditions, that the floodwaters are starting to recede because they have opened up those locks on the Fox River dams.
So people who are waking up this morning and turning on the TV to find out what's happening, they should know that, according to Illinois emergency management officials, relief should be on the way. These floodwaters should start receding slowly but surely, as they have gotten those locks open, fully open, is what they've told us.
So, the folks here in Antioch, Illinois, and other places along the Fox River, they're just going to have to hang on, hold on just a little while longer. The weather is improving. The sun is out, and there really isn't any rain in the forecast over the next 48 to 72 hours, so if those conditions hold, hopefully things will improve dramatically.
CHO: Well, let's keep our fingers crossed and hope that those waters recede fast.
CNN's Jim Acosta in Antioch, Illinois, for us.
Jim, thank you.
HOLMES: And Bonnie Schneider keeping an eye on things for us in the Midwest.
(WEATHER REPORT)
HOLMES: Well, meanwhile, authorities in Arizona seized a dozen dogs from the home of rapper DMX. They say they received a tip that the dogs were being treated inhumanely.
CNN's Kara Finnstrom is on this story for us and she joins us now live from Cave Creek, Arizona. Good morning to you there, Kara.
KARA FINNSTROM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, T.J.
Well, this is the home of rapper DMX right behind us. All quiet here right now, but sheriff's deputies say they will be here throughout the coming week continuing their investigation, continuing to collect evidence.
At this point, they say it's too early to say whether DMX could face any charges and what those charges exactly would be. They also say it's unclear whether any dogfighting took place here. And that's been a big question of this community.
Here is what we do know.
Sheriff's deputies say they first received a tip that there was some animal neglect at this home, and that they came out to investigate that. They say they found 12 dogs here that are a mix of English Mastiff and Pit Bull that they felt were dehydrated and poorly fed. So they actually took those dogs into custody.
They also found the bodies of three dogs buried at this residence, and one of those bodies, they say, at least appears to have been burned. And they found drugs, drug paraphernalia, and some weapons.
So, what does all this mean for their investigation? Here is what the sheriff had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE ARPAIO, MARICOPA COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPT.: We're in a preliminary stage of investigating possible -- several different types of violations here. But right now we have the animal cruelty investigation, and we're going to develop and see what other violations he may have been involved in, especially with all these weapons that we found in the house.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FINNSTROM: Now, DMX's attorney says DMX has been in New York. He believed a caretaker was watching over his dogs and that he was very disturbed to find out otherwise.
Again, the investigation continuing here throughout the week -- T.J.
HOLMES: All right.
Our Kara Finnstrom on the story for us there in Arizona.
Kara, thank you so much.
CHO: A suspension and an admission for NFL star Michael Vick. In a written plea, Vick has admitted to operating and funding a dogfighting ring. Vick also admitted he was involved in the killings of six to eight dogs that did not perform well in test fights.
The NFL, incidentally, has suspended Vick indefinitely without pay. He's scheduled to formally enter a guilty plea Monday.
And stay with us, because we're going to talk much more about the Michael Vick situation. Coming up in about 20 minutes, former Falcons player Dr. Joe Profit will join us to talk about Vick and the message this sends to young people who look up to him.
HOLMES: Three hundred million dollars and growing. A lottery so big, you can't help but to dream.
Our Gary Nurenberg is dreaming. He has a live report in just a few minutes.
CHO: He bought us two tickets, too.
HOLMES: He did.
CHO: And get your motor running and head out for the highway. Your regular anchor wife, T.J., Betty Nguyen, finds an American icon hitting the open road in South Africa.
HOLMES: That makes you my anchor mistress, I guess, for the day.
CHO: That's right.
HOLMES: All right.
Well, fit to be tied. Oregon campers grab a man they say was a Peeping Tom and tied him to a tree. What happened next?
We'll tell you coming up later this hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHO: Welcome back to CNN SATURDAY MORNING.
It will take another election before Sierra Leone gets a new president. Elections were held earlier this month in the West African nation, but no candidate won 55 percent of the vote. That's what necessary.
So, Sierra Leone announcing today it will hold a runoff election on September 8th. Many observers see the election as a test of the country's ability to recover from more than a decade of civil war and brutality.
HOLMES: And our Betty Nguyen was in Sierra Leone, who witnessed those earlier elections. She's now moved on to South Africa, where she finds an American icon is crossing continents and breaking down barriers.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Athania Mothiba is a young entrepreneur on the cutting edge. She runs this beauty shop by day, but in her spare time she trades in her clippers for a pair of shades and slips into a sleek helmet. She's one of South Africa's first black female motorcycle riders, a symbol of the country's emerging middle class, and her style is very much American.
ATHANIA MOTHIBA, HARLEY ENTHUSIAST: It's another lifestyle. You know? It's another lifestyle. It's something totally different.
NGUYEN: Whether it's the roar of the engine, the distinctive design, or just the love of the open road, the Harley-Davidson persona fits like a glove. In fact, this great American icon has gained traction in the past few years.
There are some 3,500 members of the Harley Owners Group in South Africa. Anand Mudhan joined the Johannesburg chapter in 2003.
ANAND MUDHAN, HARLEY OWNER: There's about 60 to 80 new bikes a month being sold. There are. And that's growing. And as we make our presence felt in the streets (INAUDIBLE), you know, more and more people want to own a Harley.
NGUYEN: And while most are middle-aged white men, the lure of these bikes creates a friendship that knows no boundaries.
(on camera): Here in Johannesburg, Harley-Davidson fever is crossing the color lines and quickly becoming a reflection of this country's racial landscape.
MUDHAN: Everyone that joins Harley just feels so comfortable. We don't even think about, you know, who's black, who's white, or who's Indian or colored or anything like that. You k now? Everybody just fits in.
NGUYEN: Including black women, who are slowly finding their place in the pack and proudly taking a seat at the table.
MOTHIBA: So far I know three -- three ladies. But the Harley ladies, it's only two that I know.
NGUYEN: But she's sure more will follow as she blazes a trail that's becoming more like a welcome mat to women of color, because when you ride one of these, you're undoubtedly making a statement. And Athania wants hers to be loud and clear.
Betty Nguyen, CNN, Johannesburg, South Africa.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Well, coming up, we're going to be talking about protesting Michael Vick.
CHO: Everyone has an opinion about this. Our Veronica De La Cruz is tracking the response online -- Veronica.
VERONICA DE LA CRUZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Everyone sure does have an opinion about this. The outrage is mounting. What are your thoughts on the Michael Vick case? You can sound off at weekends@cnn.com.
And I'm going to be back with some of those e-mails next on the dot-com desk.
HOLMES: All right, Veronica.
Also, better with age. A new study looks at sex and grandma and grandpa. The findings may be encouraging for some folks out there.
Stay tuned.
GARY NURENBERG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Thanks, T.J. Say that, and then cue the guy with the gray hair.
This is a story about Powerball's $300 million, where your chances of winning are not encouraging.
Details when CNN SATURDAY continues.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: All right. Pull out those tickets, check them out.
These are the winning numbers for last night's $206 million Mega Millions lottery drawing. Now, you didn't win the $200 million. We know that. Nobody got the big prize. But 12 tickets out there matched five of the numbers, and those are worth $250,000 each. Not so bad.
The jackpot for Tuesday's drawing could reach $250 million.
CHO: Well, dreams of easy money not just for those playing the Mega Millions. Powerball players can get even richer tonight.
The estimated jackpot for tonight's Powerball lottery drawing, a jaw-dropping $300 million. By the way, that's just over $140 million in quick cash if you take it in one lump sum.
Our Gary Nurenberg is in Washington this morning with a look at all the people who are standing in line buying tickets.
Hey, Gary. Good morning.
NURENBERG: I'm going to look at some of them. Your chances of winning in this thing are infinitesimal, one in 146 million.
Nonetheless, people have been lining up here all day long to buy tickets, a dream. Maybe Tupac Shakur was right when he said, "Reality is wrong, dreams are for real."
We talked to some people who bought tickets and we talked to someone who didn't.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I had 20 bucks in my pocket, so I went ahead and got me $17 worth of powerballs. And I needed $3 to get on the metro to get home.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know, it's my cigarette money. Since I don't smoke, I just do -- everybody's got a vice. And, you know, somebody hits it. It might as well be me.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Put it this way, you're going to spend it one way or the other. So why not take a chance on $300 million?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Who knows? You know, somebody wins. Somebody is going to win soon, because the odds are that the higher it goes, the sooner someone is going to win.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, I'm not going to buy one because it wouldn't be fair. I have too much help.
Good-bye. Have a good day.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NURENBERG: So, is she the cool interview of the day, or what? Have a good day. If you win this thing, you're going to have a good day.
But as they told Harry Potter in "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," it does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live. Not in the bible, but perhaps the sister would agree.
Back to you guys.
CHO: You're all full of quotes this morning, Gary.
All right. Thank you very much.
Gary Nurenberg live in Washington for us.
Gary, thanks.
HOLMES: Boy, there's some strange things going on when Gary is quoting Tupac on a Saturday morning. Something's up.
All right. We'll tell you what else is up with these pictures here. A hot air balloon up in flames.
CHO: Just look at the scene from Canada. We're going to bring you the story behind these pictures. That's just minutes away.
DE LA CRUZ: Plus, your thoughts on the Michael Vick case. We have received tons of e-mail on this story. You can send us yours to weekends@cnn.com, and I'm going to be reading some of those next in the NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: And hello there, everybody.
If you are just joining us this morning, first of all, welcome.
And here's what's happening right now.
Parts of Southern Greece engulfed in flames. Officials say it's the worst fire season on record. Firefighters suspect arson because numerous blazes started almost simultaneously along a 12 mile front.
CHO: Another story we're following this Saturday morning, a last ditch attempt to reach six trapped coal miners in Utah. Drilling equipment is expected to punch through to the mine by tomorrow. The mine owner says if this effort doesn't yield any encouraging signs of the men, he's going to abandon the search.
And possible fireworks this morning inside the Democratic National Committee over Florida's alleged violation of DNC rules. DNC Chairman Howard Dean is threatening to invalidate Florida's January 29th primary or even keep Florida delegates out of the convention.
CNN, of course, is covering this meeting. And, of course, we will let you know what happens.
An accused peeping Tom got more than he bargained for when he allegedly spied on a group of campers in Oregon.
We're going to pick up the story now with Pat Dooris of our affiliate station, KGW.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
RICHARD BURKEY, SUSPECT: Good morning.
PAT DOORIS, CHANNEL 8 CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Mr. Burkey.
My name is Pat Dooris.
I'm a reporter with Channel 8 News.
(voice-over): Richard Burkey is 63 years old. He lives in Beaverton. This is what he looked like over the weekend after a group of campers caught him spying on women as they went to the bathroom at the Big Fan Campground.
The group who caught him say Burkey admitted to them he's been watching people go to the bathroom in the woods for 15 years.
(on camera): This is the campground known as Big Fan. It's 67 miles east of Portland and it's pretty remote. It's not even marked on the road. You just have to know it's here.
It's in the forest, but the trees are not thick and there's no bathrooms. Folks needing to go use the trees.
(voice-over): Jason Dugan is the man who caught Burkey. He thought the shadow he'd seen in the trees was a friend. When he saw it was not, he tackled the man and could not believe his eyes -- he caught Burkey doing the same thing last year.
JASON DUGAN, CAUGHT SUSPECTED PEEPER: Oh, infuriated. I mean just -- you can't even imagine, just looking at that guy -- and I remember asking him do you remember me?
DOORIS: Jason said Burkey admitted watching his wife and others go to the bathroom Saturday night.
VICKI DUGAN, CAMPER: Us women pretty much, I don't know -- I don't know if we necessarily felt violated or grossed out. I mean we just kind of couldn't believe that somebody would enjoy watching us go to the bathroom, you know?
DOORIS: Burkey apparently does not know.
When I asked him for his side of the story, he had little to offer.
(on camera): We believe that there's two sides to every story and certainly the police side is coming out and those campers' side is coming out. And if you'd have a different side you'd like to offer, you know, we'd like to make that available.
BURKEY: Well, I'm really shocked. I didn't know it was that big a deal.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
CHO: By the way, the 63-year-old man faces a public indecency charge -- T.J. .
HOLMES: All right, well, now we turn to Michael Vick, suspended by the NFL indefinitely without pay. The league making the announcement after Vick entered a written guilty plea in federal court.
In it, Vick admitted to operating and financing a dogfighting ring. But there's much more to that admission.
Joining me now to talk more about Vick and what his guilty plea could mean is Dr. Joe Profit, a former Falcons player and current president of the NFL Alumni Association here in Atlanta.
Sir, great to see you again.
Always good to have you here with us.
Tell me, it had to just hurt your heart to hear all this go down, just to watch this over the past couple of weeks, really.
What are your thoughts now that he has, in fact, admitted to some of this stuff?
JOE PROFIT, PRESIDENT, NFL ALUMNI, ATLANTA, FOUNDER, PRIDE INSTITUTE: Well, I'm very disappointed, as most of the fans in Atlanta -- Falcons fans -- and throughout the National Football League, that Michael could be involved. The fact that he has admitted to it and hopefully now we could pick up the pieces and move forward.
HOLMES: Does he deserve to play in the NFL again in your opinion?
PROFIT: T.J., I think he does. I think all of us deserve a second chance, especially when it comes to our livelihood. Now, if we do wrong, we've got to pay the price. But then once we've paid that debt to society, in this country, you get a second chance. And, you know, just a lot more than just being out of the game.
Michael contributed a lot to the economic welfare of Atlanta and this country. Michael operated -- his income was tied to some companies. He paid a lot of taxes.
So we want to be able to make sure we encourage people to continue to be employed and continue to helpfully help with the taxes.
HOLMES: Now, you mentioned some of that stuff there, some of the positive things he has done. And nobody can take that away from him, the things he has done around this city.
But, you know, should that be a part of the conversation right now or do you think it's not being talked about enough?
Is he getting a raw deal in any way that you can see?
PROFIT: Well, you know, it's amazing when I'm talking to people throughout Atlanta and around the country about this situation. Inadvertently, what comes up is the amount of money Michael makes.
HOLMES: Right.
PROFIT: You know, and that always happens to be the surface. And it's very disappointing in that we should treat Michael like any other citizen, any other person that's in his position that has actually admitted to wrongdoing, and give him an opportunity to fix it and to move forward.
HOLMES: Now, you work with an organization that coaches young players, young athletes, to stay on the right path. You know, after lot of these guys come in here and they're young and they've got all this money thrown at them and they start doing the wrong thing.
Is there any way that you see this Michael Vick story, I guess, having a positive and setting an example? They look, hey, wait a minute, if they can get Michael Vick, the biggest star in the NFL, on something like this, could this be some kind of a teaching tool and turning this into some kind of a positive?
PROFIT: Actually, you're absolutely right. It's called the PRIDE Institute. Professional Results In Daily Efforts is the acronym we use, PRIDE. And what we teach young athletes and guys into the league now -- how to conduct themselves, off the field, on the field, and how they should contribute to society.
This an opportunity. Let me give you an example. Last week I was up in a little county called Paulding County, Georgia -- Dallas, Georgia. And this kid came up to me and he said, "Dr. Profit, why are they going to kill all these dogs?"
And I'm going, "Like, what are you talking about?"
He said, "I heard that Michael Vick killed a lot of dogs -- eight or ten. But now they're going to kill 80 dogs."
And I'm saying, "They shouldn't do that."
I told this kid and I'll tell the audience that we should make something positive out of this situation.
There is a move afoot now called the Save the Pit Bulls that we're doing with
The NFL alumni has teamed with the PRIDE Institute to make sure that we do everything we can, the same energy that we are trying to use to put Michael in place where he should be, use that energy to something positive. Teach our children that we are responsible adults.
So we're going to save the pit bulls. Whether we put them to sleep legally or illegally, the end result is these dogs are dead.
Now let me give you an example, if you'll allow me.
HOLMES: Well, we've got -- I know we've got to run here and I know we've got -- I wish we could spend more time on it. I know you had brought some stuff here you wanted to show, but you hit on some positive notes there and I think somebody -- and a lot of people maybe hadn't thought about it. A lot of venom has been directed toward Michael Vick and a lot of it maybe deservedly so.
But, still, this could be turned into a positive for those players, also drawing attention to some of those dogs that -- maybe save some of those dogs.
Dr. Profit, I sure wish we could -- we could stick around and talk to you some more.
But you brought some good things to us this morning.
PROFIT: Thank you, sir.
HOLMES: Appreciate you, as always, Dr. Profit.
PROFIT: Yes, sir.
All right.
HOLMES: Alina.
CHO: Well, it seems everyone has an opinion about Michael Vick's legal troubles.
Veronica de la Cruz of the Dot-Com Desk has been tracking the responses online.
VERONICA DE LA CRUZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes.
CHO: Hey, Veronica, good morning.
DE LA CRUZ: Hey, Alina, good to see you.
You know, this story surely has generated a huge amount of e-mail and comment on CNN.com.
As you know, Vick has been suspended from the NFL indefinitely, yet the e-mails keep pouring in.
Now, someone who wishes to remain anonymous says: "I cannot imagine this Michael Vick person ever raising children. He deserves to have done exactly what he did to this dog. I will never buy anything associated with this inhumane creature. He is the lowest of low lives."
And on the flip side of things, Chauncey Powell says: "The matter may have been blown out of proportion. If I was Vick, I would never play for the NFL or in the United States again.
And from Patricia Earle in Greenville, South Carolina: "Michael Vick is a sadist. He did not need the money. To say this did not include gambling is ridiculous. To ever have him play football again would be to make a mockery of this event."
And then from Josh Ebert of Loganville, Georgia. He says: "He should take whatever punishment our government gives him, but when he has done his time, if he does do time, he should be able to continue playing football. The charges against him are not football-related in any way."
And, finally, a last minute ad from Janet, who is begging me to read her e-mail. She says: "Sick, sick, sick. Pathetic, pitiful, disgusting piece of garbage. Football not enough? I hope to god he gets the gambling charges."
And you, too, can still weigh in by videotaping your comments. You can send them to us at CNN.com/ireport. You can also e-mail us your thoughts to weekend@CNN.com. And we will continue to show those as the morning goes on -- Alina.
CHO: All right. People really not holding back.
Veronica de la Cruz, thank you very much.
We'll check back with you later.
Other news we're watching this morning, a developing story. Pakistan has test fired a missile this morning, within the past hour. CNN has confirmed that Pakistan successfully tested a new air launched cruise missile. A military statement says the missile has a range of about 220 miles and is capable of carrying all types of warheads.
Well, like fine wine it appears something else gets better with age -- T.J.
HOLMES: Sex.
Yes, people, sex, on a Saturday morning here at CNN.
We've got a new report that has some surprising findings about -- one more time -- sex. Stick around for that.
CHO: We're going to talk -- yes, we're going to talk to Dr. Judy about that on the other side of the break.
And this story, as well -- fuzz with buzz. Tiny police helicopters.
Would you want to ride in that?
But it could mean more police patrol for the bucks. The story, when we come back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Well, police say two people are unaccounted for after a hot air balloon caught fire then crashed in British Columbia.
Take a look at the whole scene being caught there on tape. It came down Friday in an R.V. Park and campground. Officials say three 30-foot R.V.s caught fire, as well, and at least 11 people were injured.
A dramatic scene here. Just unbelievable pictures of this thing coming down.
It's a video here by Don Randall, who witnessed this crash.
CHO: Well, just because you're getting on up there doesn't mean you still can't get it on.
HOLMES: Oh, no.
CHO: A new study examines sex among seniors.
T.J. can't wait for this interview.
HOLMES: Yes.
CHO: Joining us from New York to talk about the results, Judy Kuriansky, also known as "Dr. Judy."
She's a clinical psychologist, certified sex therapist and radio talk show host.
So this study says that 73 percent of seniors aged 57 to 64 are having sex on a regular basis.
So what's the deal here?
Some people say 60 is the new 40.
Are seniors having more sex or are we just talking about it more now?
JUDY KURIANSKY, CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST: Oh, they're having it more. And this is great news, Alina.
For years, 25 years or so, we, as sex therapists, have been encouraging and giving permission to older people. It's OK. You can still be sexual. As I always say, you never have to retire from sex.
And this is good news for older people and, Alina, for younger people, because it means when they get older, they don't have to withhold their sexual energy and desire either.
CHO: Thank goodness for twenty and thirtysomethings who look forward to that later in life, so that yes, that is good...
KURIANSKY: Yes.
CHO: ...good news, Dr. Judy.
Tell me, how much does that little blue pill have to do with it?
And, of course, we're talking about Viagra.
KURIANSKY: Yes. Viagra had a lot to do with it. And so did Bob Dole, when he came on TV and did his advertisements saying that, in fact, he had E.D. Erectile dysfunction, and used Viagra. Because that really physiologically, first of all, helps men to have erections. And that is, Alina, a huge problem for men even over 50. It's been estimated up to even half of men have difficulty getting an erection or maintaining one. So that's been very helpful, as LEVITRA and then CIALIS after that.
And so many of these pills have made a difference.
But I must say, Alina, that, also, another influence that has helped older people be sexual is the Internet.
CHO: Yes, you know, you think about the Internet as being something for twentysomethings, thirtysomethings, in terms of going online and looking for a mate -- Match.com and the like.
KURIANSKY: Right.
CHO: but these seniors are going online and finding love, too.
Or at least sex, right? KURIANSKY: That's right. They have been. And this has really been positive. I'm very much in favor of that. Of course you have to be careful. But, still, older people don't have to be alone. They don't have to think that they don't have to communicate with people. And when you go online, you're keeping up those muscles that are the flirtation muscles. And those are the ones that can really lead to more activity.
Of course...
CHO: Oh, yes, of course. It is exercise. Yes. OK.
KURIANSKY: Oh, yes. And it's good. Hormones flow in your body. This is the best news, Alina, for older people, that when you get those endorphins and adrenaline running in your body, it's a powerful cocktail. And it leads to less pain in your body and more joy in your life.
CHO: All right, more joy in your life. That's a good thing, of course, you know, but I'm just curious.
You know, for people who are getting up there in age, maybe, say, eightysomethings, is there anything they should worry about in terms of the health concerns if they're continuing to have sex?
KURIANSKY: Well, as we always say, be careful of your positions...
CHO: Oh, boy.
KURIANSKY: ...because, in fact, you could have some pains and lean on something that could end up hurting. And we do -- actually I have to give a concern because there's been an increase in sexually transmitted diseases in older people because they've been having more sexual activity.
CHO: Oh, boy.
KURIANSKY: But if you don't have a partner, you can be sexual with yourself even when you're 80.
So, you know, find a comfortable spot and enjoy yourself. And this is great news.
This study gives people reassurance that they are not the only one and takes away the taboo. So that's why I love that this research has been done and that the federal government has even supported it.
CHO: Dr. Judy, our crew is dying over there, OK?
So thank you for bringing us all of this on our Saturday morning as we wake up and have our coffee.
(LAUGHTER)
HOLMES: I was waiting on you to ask, Dr. Judy, you said they need to be careful of their positions. And, I mean the natural question was, well...
CHO: Do you have to go there?
HOLMES: ...what would you recommend?
CHO: Oh, my.
KURIANSKY: Well, I would recommend pillows to soften the spot. That's what, you know...
(LAUGHTER)
KURIANSKY: ...and that would really help, I think, a lot of the visual and the pleasurable.
CHO: Oh, my God he's left the set.
He's left the set, Judy.
He has left -- T.J. has left the set.
KURIANSKY: T.J., anytime. We can talk about it.
(LAUGHTER)
CHO: All right, Dr. Judy, thank you for that enlightening conversation out of New York.
We'll bring you back every five minutes or so.
(LAUGHTER)
KURIANSKY: Thanks.
CHO: Coming up, a museum of modern art or maybe just modern culture?
Food for thought from McDonald's.
That's next in THE NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: All right, extreme heat continues across the country.
Any sign much relief at all?
CHO: We hope so.
Our Bonnie Schneider in the Weather Center with a look at today's temperatures, hey, Bonnie, good morning.
BONNIE SCHNEIDER, ATS METEOROLOGIST: Good morning.
(WEATHER REPORT)
CHO: Some stories making the rounds today at the water cooler -- some really interesting ones this morning.
Well, this could be the future of law enforcement in Germany. Take a look at that. State police there are thinking about adding the two seat gyrocopters, as they're called, to their fleet of aircraft.
HOLMES: Yes, it has an especially attractive feature -- the price.
CHO: Oh, the price, yes.
HOLMES: Yes. Police could buy about 50 of these things for the cost of one full sized helicopter. That would mean more air coverage for the buck. And some think they're pretty sleek and well, James Bondish, if you will. Kind of cool.
CHO: Yes.
Well.
HOLMES: OK.
CHO: I don't know if I'd want to ride in one of those.
But, all right.
Anyone who hasn't heard of the Big Mac?
Probably not. Forty years. It's been 40 years since it was first introduced. McDonald's' double-decker hamburger has been enshrined in its own museum now.
HOLMES: Wow!
This McDonald's outside of Pittsburgh is recognized as the birthplace of the Big Mac. Company officials were skeptical when the franchise owner first introduced it in 1967.
CHO: But, of course, they quickly changed their minds when they saw just how popular it was -- billions and billions of Big Macs later. The sandwich, well, is synonymous with fast food.
HOLMES: Yes, it is.
CHO: Big Mac, Filet-O-Fish, Quarter Pounder, French fries.
HOLMES: By all means.
CHO: That's right.
HOLMES: Go right ahead.
Do your thing there.
We're going to talk about just one other thing then we're going to get back to her song. Public humiliation -- is that an effective punishment for certain crimes? A judge in Florida says yes, and this is what happens when someone is caught shoplifting.
CHO: Well, as you just saw there, the woman is compelled to walk back and forth in front of the courthouse for two hours holding a sign that, well, spells out the crime. The woman also had to pay a fine and was put on probation. But that seems to be the worst punishment there.
HOLMES: I want to see her face, though.
CHO: That's right.
The aftermath of a disaster from those who were there.
HOLMES: Ahead in THE NEWSROOM, the Minnesota bridge collapse -- what 911 operators heard in those first few moments after tragedy struck.
CHO: And this -- a ride in a hot air balloon goes terribly wrong. We're going to talk with a man who caught this fiery crash on tape.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: These pictures are telling the story this morning -- wildfires burning out of control across the southern part of Greece.
CHO: Some are calling it the worst fire season in that country's history. Officials think the fires may have been deliberately set.
The latest is straight ahead in THE NEWSROOM.
Well, we've heard horrific stories in the aftermath of last week's devastating earthquake in Peru. But there are some hopeful stories, as well.
Today's CNN Hero left Peru when she was just four weeks old.
Now, Ana Dodson is a remarkable 15-year-old girl working to improve the lives of orphans -- lives which could have easily mirrored her own.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANA DODSON: If my parents hadn't adopted me, I would have probably either been on the streets or in an orphanage.
I was born in the Hills of Pisco, Peru. My mom first got me when I was four weeks old. I really wanted to go see an orphanage in Pisco. I felt this great pull for these girls who had nothing. And I was like, wow, I could have been one of these kids.
But there was this one girl, Gloria, who came up to me. And she said, "Ana, I know you'll never forget me and I know that one day you'll help us." That just really made me decide I needed to do something.
My name is Ana Dodson and I've started an organization called Peruvian Hearts that help orphans in Peru.
ANITA (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): Hello, Ana.
I want to tell you that you're a good friend with a big and generous heart. They have given us vitamins and we are now in very good health.
DODSON: We have sent a stipend of money for food and for their education. Each day after school, a tutor comes over for three hours.
We've done renovations, painted the orphanage. And there are 19 children right now. The change that I've seen in them is amazing. One girl said, "We are now getting fat because of the vitamins."
ANITA (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): Ana, I will always carry you in my heart, no matter what happens in life.
DODSON: At this orphanage, it is to the point that these girls can dream.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
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