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Daytona International Speedway Mangled By A Fiery Crash; The Vatican Firing Back At Italian Media Reports On Why Benedict Is Resigning; Oscar Pistorius Granted Bail; Danica Patrick Hopes To Make NASCAR History Again
Aired February 23, 2013 - 22:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Airborne in the final lap. Tonight, the fiery end at Daytona International Speedway.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It happened very quickly. I think Natalie hear that number.
DOCTOR DREW PINSKY, HLN HOST: It's what ultimately ended up in her demise.
LEMON: Parents on drugs. Can prescription pills make you a better mom or dad?
And, the deadly silence that surrounds suicide.
And a president's take on a best picture nominee. Did Hollywood get it wrong?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Good evening, everyone. I'm Don Lemon.
As we go on the air tonight, there is a gaping hole in the only thing that protects the fans from injury or death at NASCAR's biggest race. That reinforced fencing wall at the Daytona International Speedway mangled by a fiery crash, leaving many to wonder, will the super bowl of NASCAR racing, the Daytona 500, even run tomorrow?
But to start us off tonight, we have new incredible video of today's fiery crash. We take you right into the stands, in the middle of the chaos. Watch.
(VIDEO CLIP PLAYING)
LEMON: And here is how it all started. The multi-car smash-up happened seconds before the checkered flag at today's nationwide series race. The cars were packed tonight jostling for position racing at the top of their speed. They got tangled up. The collision sent Kyle Larson's 32 car hurtling toward the fence that's supposed to protect the fans. They broke in the flaming pieces, some crashing through and over that fence, 14 people were taken to hospitals. Frantic repairs to the track are going on right now as we speak. We are going to update you on this story throughout the hour tonight.
NASCAR reacted immediately to the crash. And I talked with driver Brad Keselowski just moments after it happened. At that point, he didn't know about the injuries. We now know 28 people were hurt, two critically. Brad tells us what happens from a race car driver's perspective.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRAD KESELOWSKI, NASCAR DRIVER: Well, I think you look at the wreck. There was a battle for the lead. I was driving the semi car, the 22 car. And there was contact between me and the seen car who were going for the win and just one of those unfortunate accidents. And I think the most unfortunate part is it's not the accident itself but there were some injuries in the stands we hope and are all praying that everyone's OK. And there is too early to tell exactly what the situation is there, but a lot of thoughts going out to them. I think that's probably the most important thing.
LEMON: Yes. You're absolutely right. Thank you for saying that. Usually these fences hold. But I do see if you look at the video closely, looks like one of the tires did manage to bounce over that wall and go into the stands. And again, you are right, for the people who were in the stands and who were injured, because you guys walked away with no injuries, right?
KESELOWSKI: Yes, I think I'm fine. And so, I think all the other drivers and all the drivers involved in that wreck appeared to be OK to me. And I think we will at least, from what I could tell, treated and released. But, you know, still too early to tell from the fan perspective. And I know from a driver perspective that everyone's OK and it's just an unfortunate accident. And these things happen. It's important for us that, you know, as drivers, we assume the risk and fans do not. So, you know, for the most part, you know, the catch fence did stop some of the parts, obviously not all of them. But it could have been a lot worse, for sure.
LEMON: So this video, people in the stands, this is the view as that comes hurtling. I don't know if you're in a position to see this, but you can see that some people were -- got debris thrown on them. People are asking each other if they're OK. Let's listen in.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Holy crap.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Unbelievable.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you all right?
LEMON: That's video from you tube. That was inside the --
Brad Keselowski, thank you so much. I appreciate you joining us, OK?
KESELOWSKI: Yes, my pleasure. And like I said, I'm just hoping everyone's OK. I think that's where everyone here in the NASCAR community -- that's where our thoughts and players are at. I know the result of the race was unfortunate from a finishing position. But it doesn't mean anything to me right now. Just hoping that everyone's OK and we rely on our fans and we will get it right.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: And joining me on the phone is Tom Hoover, he calls himself a NASCAR super fan.
Tom, you were there today when the crash happened. Where were you and what did you see?
TOM HOOVER, NASCAR FAN (via phone): OK. We were in what's called the sprint tower. And it is where the battle -- we were sitting in the upper deck and it was about probably 15 feet to the left of where the car hit the fence.
LEMON: And so what did you see?
HOOVER: OK. We saw - well, we were watching -- it was a big finish and all of a sudden we saw a wreck and then we saw the car in the air and it hit the fence. And it was pretty scary because once it hit the fence; we saw parts flying off, and the car shredded into many pieces.
LEMON: Immediately did you know that people were injured?
HOOVER: No, we did not know because I think we were in a state of shock. It was such a big crash and it hit the fence. But, as, maybe after two or three minutes, we saw that there were parts of the car had broken the barrier and that people in the stands could have been hurt.
LEMON: So this was, you said, not until a couple of minutes after. What were people doing? How did people react to this?
HOOVER: Well, everybody in our area rushed to the front of the deck and looked down to where the car had hit the fence. We were somewhat isolated because we were higher up. But as we looked down, we saw people -- the EMS people started coming in and helping those people in the crowd. And later on we realized that people in the upper deck, maybe in the section down from us, had been injured also.
LEMON: I understand that you have taken your family to Daytona eight times now and never anything like this, right?
HOOVER: Sure. This is highly unusual event. It was very surprising. Usually if there's a big wreck, all the debris and action stays on the track.
LEMON: Going back?
HOOVER: Oh, yes. We will for sure go back. I feel safe. I'm not sure I would sit down low on the track, in any of the seats down low. But I do feel safe attending an event.
LEMON: Tom Hoover, NASCAR super fan, thank you, sir. HOOVER: My pleasure. Thank you.
LEMON: We're glad he's OK.
We have other news to tell you about. Let's get you to up to speed on the other news right now.
Europe's tallest active volcano, Mount Etna roared to life as it erupting for the first time in a year. It spewed red hot lava and gas lighting up Italy's night sky.
The Vatican is in rumor control mode right now. Just a few days before Pope Benedict XVI steps down, some major newspapers in Italy are printing details of an investigation that links senior catholic leaders to a church cover-up. Full details when we are live from Rome in just a few minutes here on CNN.
A fierce winter storm is headed right for the northeast. Parts of Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine and Massachusetts can expect up to 10 inches of snow. And rain will soak most of the east coast from Washington, D.C. to the south. Boston will get a slushy mix of rain and snow. The city still cleaning up after that big blizzard that hit two weeks ago.
Next, the deadly silence that surrounds suicide, one family's heartbreaking story.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Suicide is such a taboo subject. One man found the courage to go public about his older brother's suicide after troubled country singer, Mindy McCready, ended her life. "USA Today" cover story editor, John Siniff, wrote about losing his brother, Ted.
He wrote this, I knew that he'd been battling debilitating back pain, alcoholism, drug abuse and depression for years. This familiar cocktail steals lives every day in this country. I ache, still as I recall his sad eyes. And we can't keep looking the other way.
John Siniff joins us now live from Washington, D.C.
First of all, thank you for joining us. How are you doing?
JOHN SINIFF, COVER STORY EDITOR, USA TODAY: Hi. Fine, Don. Thanks for having me on the show and for tackling this topic.
LEMON: It is a difficult and emotional topic. So, tell us about your brother, Ted. Did he feel ashamed about seeking treatment for mental health issues?
SINIFF: I don't know if he felt ashamed as much as he was so far into it and his life had taken what he saw as such a desperate turn that it was not only the depression but it was the anxiety that accompanied that. It was the drugs that he had become accustomed to because of the really debilitating back pain that I wrote about. And it was really -- it was a lot more than that. And I think that people who are depressed and who have these things going on in their lives -- it gets to the point where sometimes they just see no way out. And it starts to spiral from there.
We have all seen it. We have all seen people who we think, where they are going to pull themselves out of it. And I think even with my family, as much pain and as much suffering and even as I wrote the sad eyes that he did had when we saw him a few weeks before he died that, you always think they're going to get out of it.
LEMON: Yes. And you know, having dealt with similar issues from people I know, many times people turn their backs on people who are suffering from depression or who may be having issues because they just don't want to deal with it themselves, they don't want to join the person in the pain, so to speak.
SINIFF: It's true. And it's not only not wanting to join them in the pain, but you feel - I mean, that's my big brother. You think that he's going to have the strength at some point to pull out of it. And if someone hasn't suffered from depression, you don't understand what a dark shade of black that is and how it's so, so debilitating that I think too often in our society people will say, oh, just you know buck up, kind of pull out of it, you'll be OK, you know, smile.
It's not that. I mean, it's something that I think we have got better at as a society in the past 20, 30 years. But it's not something that someone on their own can just say, hey, I'm going to have a better day tomorrow. It's not that simple.
LEMON: You know, John, I was speaking with Dr. Drew. And he actually read your article. And I asked him what he thought we need to focus on. Here's what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PINSKY: Let's keep in mind, it is the depression, it is the firearms, but it is the stigma that prevents people from getting treatment. It's the stigma that people are afraid to admit that they're having suicidal thoughts.
I just dealt with this poor Mindy McCready who is dead not because of stigma. That was death by stigma. I spoke to her a week and a half before her demise. She was stigmatized by her depression, fearful of going in the hospital. I have finally convinced her that she could be confident in a mental health facility, she would have confidential care. Within 24 hours, the press was feeding on her hospitalization. She freaked out, left, and stigma is what ultimately ended up to her demise.
LEMON: He said his brother is one of many suicides that go unreported each year. Why don't we talk about this problem?
PINSKY: Listen to the words we think of often come to mind when people talk about suicide -- weak, selfish, shameful, sinful, no wonder people don't want to talk about it. They have a grave misconception about what it is and how it affects people. It's a symptom of depression. When depression becomes so severe, that the thoughts, which are distorted and abnormal, begin occurring to somebody, that the only alternative to end the pain is to get out.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: John, you did not go public about your brother's suicide for a while. Why is that? Is it because your brother, you thought, or even your family was concerned about the stigma of suicide?
SINIFF: You know what, I didn't even think about it that hard. I just knew that it was something that I couldn't really share with a lot of the people closest to me. I mean, I had friends that I've known since I was 12 years old who didn't find out until this past week when I wrote that article how Ted had died and my co-workers as well.
I mean, my thinking was that it's hard for people to process. I know that when -- if I was to say, Ted died by killing himself, Ted died of a suicide, that it's something that people would immediately feel discomfort and it would maybe lock up the conversation.
The fact is, I can tell you that this week, after writing that column and reaching out to people, my friends who have known me, my colleagues, it's been not only cathartic. It's been emotionally draining to hear how many people are affected by this and how many people, whether it be guns or pills or whatever -- but how many people have experienced this kind of pain in their lives and haven't talked about it.
LEMON: Yes. Those words rang true for you, then, what Dr. Drew was saying?
SINIFF: Absolutely. And I think, too, one of the things I heard him say is weakness. And that's something -- it's not just weakness. But it's also the fact that a suicide is viewed in many quarters as a failure of some sort. And because family members and friends, because we were there through that painful path, some of that failure -- it reflects back on us or at least that's how we process it. And no one -- we're a very win-oriented culture. We're very, you know, be strong, carry on, go forward.
With suicide, it's the end. It's the finality and it's also seen in many corners as a failure. How do you process that? You take that failure and you bury it and then you don't recognize those symptoms in other people down the road. This conversation is so important.
LEMON: It is because I want you to give some advice because I know someone who when he and his partner broke up, one of them tried to commit suicide. And he said, I told you, you were my best friend. I told you, but you turned your back on me because you wanted to start a relationship with someone else. You wouldn't listen to me.
How, is it -- what do you do in that situation? How important is it to pay attention to someone else and help someone else in that particular -- who has that particular mindset? SINIFF: I think if I could give any one bit of advice to anyone out there, it's pay attention to the small things and always assume the worst. Always assume that this person isn't just talking. They aren't just morose. That really, that they're on the edge and that they could do something that is irreversible, my regret. And I know that many of my siblings, my mother, every family member who talks about this, the regret is that there's always something you think you could have done.
When I saw him the weeks before his death and my wife saw him, looking at him and saying, clearly he's not in a good place. But, you know, he will pull his way out of it. Assume that they can't pull their way out of it. That's all I would say, is that, reach out, talk to them, pull people together and find out a way to bring them forward.
LEMON: John Siniff, thank you so much for coming on. I really appreciate it.
SINIFF: Thank you, Don.
LEMON: Coming up next --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Parents on drugs. Can prescription pills make you a better mom or dad?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: This sounds weird. But I want you to listen. Popping pills to improve your parenting skills, a woman's drug can make her a better mom. Her comments.
That's what she says parenting.com article sparked a huge reaction. Do parents really need medication to deal with crying babies, cranky toddlers, moody teenagers? I talked with HLN's Dr. Drew Pinsky, again, about this subject, about the controversy.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PINSKY: Xanax, let's put that aside for a second, the Xanax, (INAUDIBLE) medication, OK? Anti -depressants may be helpful. If somebody has a bonafide (ph) depression, or somebody as bipolar and they don't get those treated, they are not going to be able to parent. They can't function or they might even become a dangerous parent. So, let's be clear, a properly diagnosed, properly treated medical problem, again, that we are talking about stigma, if they allow the stigma not to get -- allow them to get proper treatment.
Now, anti-anxiety medication, if somebody has a panic disorder, and it used to a board, a panic attack reasonable. But if it's used to deal with the feelings of being overwhelmed, and it sort of misery that we ought to as a parent, it is tough being a parent. We are going to pop a bill to make that better, to grotesque mistake as well.
Parenting is a tough job. It's an unhappy job a lot of the time. And that's just the way it goes. And if you take depends on (INAUDIBLE) to make that better, you actually block your ability to be attuned to the child.
LEMON: Wow, really? That's interesting.
Listen. For me, I know if I take a xanax, I'm just going to go to sleep. So I would be a terrible parent on a xanax because I would never be there for my kids.
But, let's talk about the article that talked about these anti- depressants and Benzos being making them better parents. It's also said that - it is called new generation or generation medication, that one in five American adults now take at least one type of medication to treat a psychological or behavioral disorder. That surprises me. Does that surprise you?
PINSKY: It doesn't surprise me. It's even higher when you look at, say, colleges and institutes of higher education. The use of these (INAUDIBLE) medications is off the chart. And that is sad.
I was raised by a family practitioner, a family doctor. And he always taught me growing up that medications are always dangerous. You only take medication when it really overcomes the potential adverse effects. You need it because it's worth the risk. To think that medications are going to simply make your life better, that's a mistake. The real core of this problem is most of that medication is prescribed by primary care doctors who don't have training in psychiatry. And they are encouraged because of the way the health care system is put together to be the ones that sort of advocate the use of medication and they may not be properly diagnosing people.
If you don't have a proper diagnosis, you can't have a proper treatment. And let's remind ourselves, our kids are seeing the casual attitudes we have towards medication. And believe me, they have adopted that in their relationship with medication as well.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: All right, that was Dr. Drew Pinsky.
OK, let's bring in the man who wrote the controversial article, parenting.com executive editor, Shawn Bean. He's in Orlando, Florida, for us tonight.
So Shawn, were you surprised by how many parents were taking anti-depressants or anti-anxiety pills when you wrote this article?
SHAWN BEAN, AUTHOR, SHOW DAD HOW: Yes, well first off, you know, the population of just people who are depressed or suffer from anxiety in the general population is huge. It is one in ten Americans are depressed, 40 million suffer from anxiety disorders. And then, when you layer on parenting on top of that, you see the numbers are even more inflated. Stay-at-home moms, mothers of multiples, pregnant moms, new moms and even dads all suffer from depression and anxiety at higher rates than the general population do.
LEMON: Then why have kids?
BEAN: Well, I think that's - I mean, I don't think anyone who's having kids knows they're going into this situation with any sort of expectation, you know. You are going to have your kid. You are going to dress them up. You are going to take them out and get them photographed. It seems wonderful. It's going to seem like a commercial. But obviously you don't know until you get into the trenches what you're really dealing with.
LEMON: Everyone who's had a kid was a kid and they should know what they're in for. So, you wrote that we're becoming a generation medication.
BEAN: That's right.
LEMON: Is popping pills a copout for people who really don't need the medication in the first place? Is that what you're saying?
BEAN: Well, I think it is one of the points we raise in the story, is whether or not we are medicating the everyday up and down roller commotional, roller coaster of parenthood. But at the same time, you have to realize that there are a lot of parents who really need this medication. And I think the problem is that -- and why we got such a bad backlash to this story, is that, you can't take a blood test for depression and anxiety. You know, you can't get an x-ray and say, there's your depression right there.
And because you can't really see it, it's this invisible enemy, you don't really -- people are a little suspicious about who has it and who doesn't, you know. So, and as Dr. Drew pointed out, I was surprised to find out that OB GYNs and general practitioners can prescribe these pills. I was really surprised about that.
So, I think there's an ease in getting them. And I feel like, you know, you go see one doctor, they say you need it. You go see another doctor, they says you don't. So, it's not like getting -- breaking your arm and putting a cast on it. This is a little bit more -- it's a little more murky, Don.
LEMON: Shawn, I'm just wondering, because we are talking about, you know, when everyone popping pills, but where is the disconnect here? Like what do people actually think life is like? Do they all of a sudden wake up in the morning and go, well, my life isn't like, you know, the soap opera or the fairy tale movie - I mean, it's never been like that. Like, where is the disconnect here? What's going on?
BEAN: Well, it's interesting that when you look at how they diagnose depression and you look at those symptoms, you know, fatigue, irritability, sense of worthlessness or hopelessness; that describes a lot of the parents that I know. So, again, you go into that area where you go, all right, am I just dealing with everyday parenthood, everyday parenthood, or do I have another situation that I've really got to get checked out? LEMON: I ask that because I would say that we have it much better, all of us, than the generations before us, people who actually dug ditches and who actually had to go out and work and do manual, hard labor and, you know, didn't always have mass transportation and had to walk. Like, didn't have it. Do we have it too good? It's just an odd situation for me. And as a parent of two, I mean, you would know better than anyone else here.
BEAN: Yes. You know, I was thinking about coming into this -- someone asked me, how do you deal with your anxiety or, you know, any situations of feeling stressed or anxious about raising kids?
I don't know that I do, do a good job handling there. My wife would probably say I could do a lot better. So, I don't think I have got -- there's no -- you don't open my fridge and there's a jar of anxiety juice that I drink in the morning that takes care of all my problems.
So, I don't know if I have the magic bullet, but -- and I don't know if we do have it too good. I do think that there is a really interesting point that wasn't in the story, which is that the United States and New Zealand are the only two countries in the world that allow directed consumer advertising of pharmaceuticals. Now, think about that. That's pretty amazing and I do think that plays into this whole story.
LEMON: Absolutely. You remember growing up, people had 17 kids. I was one of 17. I was one of 11. And now you have two kids and, you know, you can't deal with it.
BEAN: Yes, I've got two kids and we are not really sure about keeping the second one.
(LAUGHTER)
LEMON: Thank you, Sean bean. Thank you. Really appreciate it.
Next, an engine and a tire hit the stands in Daytona. Today's fiery crash and what problems it could mean for tomorrow's big race.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: It is Sunday morning already in Rome and in Vatican City where Catholic Church officials have their hands full with two extraordinary events.
In just a few hours, Pope Benedict XVI will address a faithful crowd at St. Peter Square for the very last time. He will resign on Thursday.
Vatican officials also will be dealing with newspaper reports that claim the Pope is stepping down for a different reason than he says.
On the phone with me now from Rome is the bureau chief from "Newsweek" and "the Daily Beast," Barbie Nadeau. Barbie, let's start now with those accusations that church is denying. Tell us what the biggest newspaper in Italy suggests is the real reason the Pope is stepping down.
BARBIE NADEAU, BUREAU CHIEF, NEWSWEEK, DAILY BEAST (via phone): There are reports that the Pope is stepping down under pressure that he can't deal with an ongoing sex scandal. This is not the pedophile priest, church sex abuse scandal. It's an alleged gay priest ring in Rome in which priests are being blackmailed by certain members of the secular community and that this is just too much for the Pope to bear. It supposedly three cardinals who were running an investigation into the leaked scandal when the Pope's butler last fall was convicted of stealing the documents and leaking in to the press. These three cardinals were running a tandem investigation and allegedly found these improprieties inside the Vatican.
LEMON: Yes. So Barbie, do these rumors have any weight at all? I understand the newspapers are not naming the sources.
NADEAU: No, the newspapers are not naming the sources. But in a city like Rome, you are dealing with the Vatican, (INAUDIBLE). These experts who deal with this very complicated beat, -- I don't think anyone really doubts that there's something to this. We do know that the three cardinals were doing an investigation. We do know that that report was supposedly delivered to Benedict XVI. But what the report says, of course, no one knows for sure. But I think many people believe here that there is some element of truth to it, certainly with regard to the gay priest scandal.
LEMON: Thank you very much, Barbie Nadeau. We appreciate your time.
Let's get you up to speed on the day's headlines.
This information is just in to CNN. Las Vegas police have identified a suspect in the fatal shooting on the Las Vegas ship. The man, 26-year-old, Ammar Harris (ph), still on the loose right now. An aspiring rapper, Kenneth Cherry, also known as Kenny Clutch, was shot dead as she drove in his macerate on Thursday. Cherry's car then collided with the taxi which burst into claims, killing the driver and a passenger.
Europe's tallest active volcano, Mount Etna roared to life, as go erupting for the first time in a year. It spewed red hot lava and gas lighting up Italy's night sky.
A former member of the temptations is dead. Otis Damon Harris joined the legendary group in the early '70s and changed his first name because the temptations already had an Otis. Otis Damon Harris died of prostate cancer in Baltimore. That's him on the far right. He was 62-years-old.
A day before NASCAR's signature event, the Daytona 500, a fiery crash at the Daytona international speedway, the video is stunning. Debris sent flying into the stands, including a flaming tire, 28 fans injured, two critically. Should the big race go on tomorrow? I spoke with Jon Wertheim, a senior investigative reporter for "Sports Illustrated."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: Jon, what a crash. It crashes happen all the time in racing and in NASCAR. But this was a bit unusual.
JON WERTHEIM, SENIOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER, SPORTS ILLUSTRATED: The drivers assume a lot of the risk but you don't think the fans do as well. You see that retaining wall they had and you're thankful that that existed. But this does happen from time to time where debris will breach that wall and fly into the stands. I've never seen a tire. But, you know, this was an unfortunate event. NASCAR needed some publicity. They thought they were going to get it with, obviously, with Danica Patrick. This is not the kind of publicity they need the day before the signature event of the year, really.
LEMON: Yes. Now, we are getting information that there were some fans who were injured. One is from a medical center in Daytona Beach saying this particular person, we are not giving out a name, but is being kept for observation after they were transported to the hospital complaining of pain in the chest and in the sternum.
So, if people are injured in this, what about the race must go on? Do you think that should happen?
WERTHEIM: I think it probably will happen. Whether it should is another conversation. But again, this is not the atmosphere in which they wanted to hold this race. I mean, remember, they are coming back less than 24 hours later and having really their biggest event of the season.
And, you know, I think, again, we have seen this in the past. We have seen worse injuries than this, we've seen fatalities where they held races the next day or continued racing on the day it happened. But, you know, it really is unfortunate, obviously, for the fans in the stands.
LEMON: Tell us about the precautions, the safety precautions that are taken when it comes to these races. You have that retaining wall which is reinforced steel. You have the cages in the car now. Tell us about the advances that have been made over the years as we look at that and also there is new video, the video that you're looking at now, the clean-up after this race - after this crash.
WERTHEIM: Well, the clean-up will be very swift. And you know, I mean, literally every year, we see advances, not just in NASCAR but in open racing as well. But still, it cannot hide the fact that we're talking about cars going in excess of 200 miles an hour sometimes, bunched closely together. A lot can happen. The cars have to be fairly light in order to, you know, in order to achieve these speeds.
And, you see the retaining wall, this is, obviously, this is one of the top tracks in NASCAR, you can see how the wall is built. You can see also that curved top which, obviously saved a lot of damage today.
But again, I mean, you cannot have an accident-free NASCAR. You can't have -- it's like helmets in the NFL in some level. I mean, this is inheritably a dangerous sport with a certain level of risk, presumption of risk. Again, we have seen drivers deal with this. It's rare we see fans have to deal with it. And it was obviously unfortunate today.
LEMON: As we are looking at this video, they are obviously trying to repair this. Can they repair this in time and have it strong and safe enough to keep people in the stands protected by tomorrow?
WERTHEIM: Yes, exactly. That's what's going to -- unfortunately that's probably, if anything is going to delay the starting time or even cancel the race, that's what it's going to be. But I do think, you know, the experts are -- they built the wall intending for that to happen and also you have to see how quickly they get that track cleared. And I do think the race will go on. But again, if that wall, if that retaining wall is a100 percent full-proof, that's what will delay the race.
LEMON: Jon Wertheim, "Sports Illustrated." Jon, thank you.
WERTHEIM: Thanks, Don.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: After a week holed up in a jail cell, Blade runner Oscar Pistorius is now staying here, right at that home, at his uncle's house as he fights charges that he murdered his girlfriend. Pistorius is banned from his own home which is now a crime scene. The Olympian is a hunted as a hunted man by the paparazzi. After posting bond, photographers chased his car.
CNN's Nic Robertson is in Johannesburg with the latest for us.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice- over): It has come to this, parole officers checking up on Oscar Pistorius. Behind the high walls and wrought iron gates of his uncle's security-secured mansion, banned from his own home, which is the crime scene, life for the man known as the blade runner forever changed. His glamorous fashion model girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, the one Pistorius told friend he might marry, dead. And the nation once united in its adoration of him divided over his bail.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think it's fair. I think the man is -- we don't know if he's guilty or not. And to try him now is not really fair.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE) to think that despite all the evidence that mounted up against him, he still managed to get bail.
ROBERTSON: Steenkamp's family appeared disappointed at the outcome, too.
NICOLAS VAN EDEN, STEENKAMP SPOKESMAN: Not sure what to feel in the case. They just want to know the truth. And whatever happens, it's not going to bring Reeva back, you know. We just want justice and the truth.
ROBERTSON: Her father, Barry, even more outspoken. Quoted in the African's language newspaper as saying, it doesn't matter how witch he, Pistorius is, and how good his legal team is. He needs to live with himself if he gets his legal team to lie for him. He will have to live with his conscience. But if he is telling the truth, I may forgive him one day. But if it didn't happen as he described it, he should suffer and he will suffer. Only he knows.
In the affluent Pretoria suburb, the Pistorius' home for now, his uncle issued this statement.
What happened has changed our lives irrevocably, saying it has drawn the family closer together, adding, we are acutely aware of the fact that this is only the beginning of a long road to prove that as we know Oscar never intended to harm Reeva, let alone cause her death.
Both families say they want justice. It will be a long wait. Pistorius' next court appearance is June 4th, unlikely his trial, many, many more months after that, possibly as late as next year.
Nic Robertson. CNN, Johannesburg, South Africa.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: All right, Nic. Thanks very much.
An odd question for you, how much coke can one rock star do? Wait until you hear how much Steven Tyler says he spent on blow.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Let's talk some entertainment, shall we?
Dean Obeidallah, he's back. I can't believe I still call you a comedian. Are you really a comedian? You have to be funny to be a comedian.
DEAN OBEIDALLAH, POLITICAL COMEDIAN: Thank you, Don. That's very nice. They call you a journalist. That's kind of funny, you know. Let's begin.
LEMON: At least I get paid for it. So, Dean --
OBEIDALLAH: Oh!
LEMON: You don't see me going to your comedy show trying to be a journalist. You're a comedian coming on --
OBEIDALLAH: That's right. I'm happy to be here.
LEMON: So, you see -- and it's Saturday night. Shouldn't you have a gig?
OBEIDALLAH: Please let's continue with the question.
(LAUGHTER)
LEMON: Dean, you've seen a lot of movies because you have a lot of alone time that you have to fill.
OBEIDALLAH: I do.
LEMON: God, I'm so nice to you. OK. So, some Canadians are grumpy that "Argo," which might get best picture tomorrow at the Oscars, they feel it doesn't credit Canada enough.
The former president of Greece, take a listen. This is former president carter.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JIMMY CARTER, SAYS CANADIAN NOT GIVEN ENOUGH CREDIT IN THE MOVIE: The only thing I would say was that 90 percent of the contributions to the ideas and the consummation of the plan was Canadian. And the movie gives almost full credit to the American CIA. And with that exception, the movie is very good. But Ben Affleck's character in the film was only -- he was only in Tehran a day and a half. And the main hero, in my opinion, was Ken Taylor, who was a Canadian ambassador who orchestrated the entire process.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: So, he's talking about the hostages, correct?
OBEIDALLAH: Yes, yes.
LEMON: OK. Do you think the Canadians should be upset, Dean?
OBEIDALLAH: I think Canada's barely a country. There are more people living in my apartment building than are living in the country of Canada.
So, Canada, you are lucky, we don't take you over. How is that for an answer, Don?
No. I don't think they should be upset. But, I think, honestly, if they win the award, Ben Affleck can thank them because there was a historical inaccuracy in this. And I'm sure president Carter who was president then knows the truth. So, you know, upset, no. No one cares about Canada.
LEMON: I like Canada. Speak for yourself.
OBEIDALLAH: You can like it. But come on?
LEMON: I'm going to Canada next week. Canada, I love you. Don't blame me -- send your, Dean, what is your e-mail? Send hate letters to Dean. OBEIDALLAH: Twitter, Deanofcomedy. Tweet me all you can, Canada. Assuming I can read Canadian.
LEMON: Oh, Canada, oh, Canada. I like Canada.
All right, so listen. Let's talk about Steven Tyler. Let's move on.
OBEIDALLAH: Yes.
LEMON: The lead singer for Aerosmith, he recently was a judge on "American Idol" as well. He tells "US Weekly" that he did a lot of drugs in the '70s and '80s, as much as five to $6 million of cocaine. I mean, I can see why he is so thin, if that is true. Is that even possible?
OBEIDALLAH: Well, you know inflation, in fact, probably a couple of million dollars. If Steven Tyler one day dies and they cremate him, they could sell his ashes by the gram (INAUDIBLE) and they could probably get high from it. I mean, that big as $5 million. He's the poster child for raising taxes on the rich people. You are not - you shouldn't be opening your mouth, now doing sequester time or they might be raising tax on rich people because we will be like, look at that? This guy is spending all his money on cocaine. Let's raise taxes.
LEMON: I didn't -- I have not read the article. I've only read about the article. So I don't read "US Weekly" a lot. But listen, five to six -- a lot of people have lost their fortune behind drugs. I mean, we have seen it. We've seen stars die. It doesn't seem out of the question to me. Does it seem out of the question to you?
OBEIDALLAH: I guess, I mean, frankly, I'm not being prudish. But I have no idea how much cocaine costs. I have never used it. But obviously, well joking aside, people have lost their fortunes to drugs and people have died, actually correct.
So, but he's over it. He went to rehab several times. He says now he's sober. And that's the most important part of this. And he wastes his $5 million. It was a waste. But now, he's clean and sober.
LEMON: First lady danced with Jimmy Fallon. Is this proper behavior for a first lady?
OBEIDALLAH: You know, well, we are trying to get through a Benghazi cover-up -- this is ridiculous. Now of course, she first of all, if you watch the clip, fabulous dancer. Jimmy Fallon looks like a character from a movie "days and confuse" from the '70s. He just looks your mom.
But she can really dance. I think it was a lot of fun. And of course, some people on the right will be upset with anything Michelle Obama does or anyone named Obama does. That's life. Get over it. It is fun.
LEMON: Dean, it was fun. I love that she did the sprinkle.
OBEIDALLAH: Exactly. I'm with you. I'm not fighting on this.
LEMON: Have a sense of humor.
LEMON: Thank you, Dean. Have a sense of humor. I'm telling you that. Appreciate it.
OBEIDALLAH: Thanks, Don.
LEMON: Dean, you got to love story that we have coming up, a cheerleader with some moves of her own. Hold it right there. Find out what made the money shot. That's next. Don't show it, don't show it.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The state took me and my siblings away from my mom when I was 14. Now, we live with our grandparents. I don't want to be faced with the limits that my mom faced. And that's why I want to go to college. My grandparents only went to grade school. There was nobody at home that could help me figure out how I could reach my dream.
MICHAEL CARTER, CNN HERO: Applying to college can be very bewildering. There's over 400,000 low income students every year who graduate, qualified to go to a four-year college and they just don't go.
My name is Michael Carter and I help qualified underserved students apply to, pay for and stay in college. I'm bringing college student mentors to high schools to help students through the entire process. How many more apps do you have to do?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: None.
CARTER: None. You are done?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I did it all.
CARTER: That's pretty good. It's completely free. Students pick their mentor and they meet weekly until they're accepted into college.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I have never really thought of myself as the greatest student. College was not on my mind. Now I'm a sophomore at Southern State University. My full tuition is covered and I'm mentoring a high school student. I'm have proof that strive for college works.
CARTER: Together we are going to solve this problem.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: All right, look at this. This can't be real, right? This can't be real. Look at that. Boom! Boom! A cheerleader at a small school in Mississippi did that amazing flip shot from half- court. And she sinks it. It was pure luck because we know no girl can make a shot like that. It was all luck.
No. I'm just kidding.
Ashley (INAUDIBLE), congratulations! He is a junior at William Care University in Johannesburg, Mississippi.
I'm Don Lemon. Thanks for watching. See you tomorrow. Good night.
