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Report: NFL Commissioner Fears Player Death; Timberlake to Host SNL; Government Opens Probe of UNC Chapel Hill; Still No Date to Elect a Pope; Forced Spending Cuts Hurt College Aid

Aired March 07, 2013 - 10:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: About 40 miles of South Florida Beach front is off limits to swimmers and you can see why, it's because tens of thousands of sharks have been spotted just offshore. Imagine you're swimming and there is your buddy in the next lane right there. Marine biologists say they are migrating back up north after heading south for the winter. Boy oh boy.

The commissioner of the NFL reportedly makes a startling admission about the most popular league in the country. Roger Goodell has taken several steps to try to keep players safe, but he fears a player could die on the field.

That's according to an article in ESPN the magazine written by Dan Venatta Jr. The article quotes "An NFL Hall of Famer who speaks regularly with Goodell who says the commissioner is privately terrified. Another player could die on the field because of the league's violent culture."

It happened only once before. Lions' wide receiver Chuck Hughes suffered a heart attack in a game back in 1971. Goodell denied requests for an interview by ESPN, the magazine and recently denied ever making those comments.

So whether he said it or not, there are a lot of people associated with football talking about it today. And former NFL linebacker Coy Wire is here with more. Thanks for joining us. You used to play you know with the intensity and with the speed of the game. Do you think the game has become more you know more violent, faster could a player actually die on the field?

COY WIRE, FORMER NFL LINEBACKER: There is no question. And if those comments were made, they would have been made in vain. I mean let's just take the knowledge and information right. I mean, guys are getting bigger, faster and stronger.

So the collisions, the impacts are getting more impactful, more powerful. So the problem there is that the body's ability to protect the brain has stayed the same.

LEMON: Yes.

WIRE: So it's just physics involved. There could be a player who dies. LEMON: But whether we want to admit it or not, I mean that's what fans love, the violence. I mean and so the football commissioner if he reduces the violence in the game, can he be hurting the popularity of the game?

WIRE: I think that's a big misconception -- misunderstanding. The game can still be violent it can still be exciting with big hits, huge collisions while still making it safer. The issue is just to reduce the number of life threatening and life altering collisions. And if we can do that --

LEMON: Yes.

WIRE: -- while keeping the game exciting, then we must.

LEMON: You're getting a little bit ahead of me because there is a new study that college players could get long term brain damage even without getting a concussion Coy. And we are nearing a time -- and whether we're nearing a time where we need to say enough is enough the game needs to be drastically changed. A lot of people are wondering that.

WIRE: Yes and changes have made. They start -- they've started making changes and rightfully so and a step in the right direction. But all that we know now with concussions and the long term effects from Alzheimer's to dementia, changes must occur right?

It's not just the big concussive episode where you're knocked unconscious. Less than 10 percent of concussions result in unconsciousness. They're saying -- Dr. Sanjay Gupta here with CNN has reported that it's the sub-concussive blows, just the repetitive tiny hits to the head. It would be like Don, if I punched you in the arm right and you didn't let it heal up but I just kept hitting you and hitting you and hitting you over time it's going to bruise badly enough so there's going to be some long term damage.

LEMON: You mentioned Dr. Sanjay Gupta. He's been focusing on that but do you think there's enough focus on concussions in the long-term effect?

WIRE: I think so, it's all about awareness, right. I mean, this is a step in the right direction. The media is doing a great job of letting parents and young athletes know what a concussion is. There is no such thing as getting your bell rung anymore.

LEMON: Right.

WIRE: That's a concussion. And you have one, you have to take it seriously because if you don't, you're risking decreasing years on your life you're -- you're risking death. I mean, that will happen with the size and the physics of the game increasing and the impacts getting bigger. It would happen if we don't take the correct measures to correct it.

LEMON: Mr. Wire, it's good to see you.

WIRE: Always good to see you.

LEMON: It's good to have dinner with you the other night. And say hello to the wife.

WIRE: Yes I'm looking forward to the next time.

LEMON: Thank you very much.

Still to come, a church without a leader, an election without a schedule. We'll go to the Vatican for the latest on selecting a new Pope.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: This weekend Justin Timberlake will be putting on his suit and tie. The performer is entering a rare club this weekend, he'll host "Saturday Night Live" for the fifth time. JT has had some memorable SNL moments including this one.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Play back -- action.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Host of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, A.J. Hammer. SNL seems to like having him on as a host. How are they getting viewers excited to see Justin this time? They don't really have to. They just say "Justin Timberlake is coming on."

A.J. HAMMER, HLN HOST, "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT": Exactly Don. I think at this stage they get excited hearing his name and knowing that he's going to be on the show. But just in case you need more motivation to tune in, SNL once again has their promo department earning their money. Just watch these.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE, SINGER: Hey, I'm Justin Timberlake and I'll be the host and musical guest on SNL this week.

KENAN THOMPSON, COMEDIAN: I bet you brought your suit and tie.

TIMBERLAKE: No, I didn't.

THOMPSON: I mean like from your song.

TIMBERLAKE: I can't believe I forgot my suit and tie.

THOMPSON: It's a joke.

TIMBERLAKE: I don't have my suit and tie. How can I be so stupid?

THOMPSON: Well, come on we've got a lot of good costume people made. I'm sure we can get you a suit. TIMBERLAKE: Not my suit. Not my tie. I'm walking out of the house this morning. I'm thinking to myself you're forgetting something, J.T. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

THOMPSON: Hey, Justin. SNL.

TIMBERLAKE: Hey, I'm Justin Timberlake and I'll be the host and musical guest on SNL this week.

THOMPSON: What? Are you also going to run the cameras, too?

TIMBERLAKE: Yes Kenan I am. That's great. Keep going.

I also do sound.

THOMPSON: That's freaky.

TIMBERLAKE: Yes, it is.

Hold still, you're a little shiny.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HAMMER: I love it. It's going to be great Don. As you mentioned, this is his fifth time doing SNL and really he's quickly being seen as one of the best hosts in the show's history. He is joining the ranks of Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin for that title. I think he's the new host for the new generation.

LEMON: All right. We'll be watching. Of course everyone will be watching. Thank you, A.J. We'll be watching you as well on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.

We all know Mitt Romney didn't get the job he really wanted last November but now the former Republican presidential candidate has a new gig. We'll tell you what his new business cards say.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Right now a Senate committee is taking up the very first proposed changes to federal gun laws since the Newtown massacre. A bill aimed at curbing gun trafficking appears to be gaining steam, but three others backed by the Obama administration face stiff opposition. Those would expand background checks, ban assault weapons and outlaw magazines with more than ten rounds. They're taking it up right now.

An atmosphere of sexual violence that is how a complaint sums up the environment for sexual victims of sexual assault at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. Now the government is investigating.

And CNN's David Mattingly joins me now. This complaint was filed by five women including a former assistant dean. What prompted them to take this action?

DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well this is being handled by the Department of Education. And what they're looking at is complaint from five women, four of them claiming that when they were students at the University of North Carolina, they approached the university with allegations of sexual assault. And they're saying that the university, the administrators there actually fostered an environment of silence and hostility toward cases of alleged rape.

They're joined in this case by a former associate dean of students from the University of North Carolina and now this probe has been launched. And one of the most startling allegations among these women, the lead complainant tells the story of how she approached administrators when she was a student there, this was several years ago saying that she had been the victim of sexual assault. And she was told she says that rape is like football. You take a look back at it and wonder what you could have done differently.

So she and four -- and three other former students and this one former administrator now approached the Department of Education, this probe has been launched. And the department is saying, yes, we'll look into this, but the fact that we're doing this should not be looked at as a sign that something has gone wrong. But the allegations are serious enough, you've backed them up enough, we're going to come here and look.

The university for its part is responding saying that we know about this, we're going to cooperate fully. And in the months leading up to this, they've been defending themselves with the way they handle rape cases on campus.

LEMON: One woman says -- she tells that she was -- that the school like the Honor Court sought revenge of some type because she, you know, went to the court about her boyfriend or her ex-boyfriend?

MATTINGLY: Yes that case alone very complicated here drawing an awful lot of attention right now. This young woman is a sophomore at the UNC. She is part of the complaint that was lodged with the Department of Education.

But in her particular case, she approached the student-run Honor Court, the student-run court, with her allegation of sexual assault against her ex-boyfriend. This happened last spring. She tells us that the court found the ex-boyfriend not guilty and the ex-boyfriend has since filed a complaint against her with the court and they're now looking in to this case that she has fostered an environment of hostility toward him on campus.

Now, there are some consequences if they find that she is guilty of that, there is a number of things they can do. The most extreme is expelling her. So there have been demonstrations on campus. She's been very vocal about it. And now we have the federal government looking at the campus, as well.

LEMON: Oh David interesting. Ok thank you, David Mattingly. We appreciate that reporting.

An ancient church struggling with some of its greatest uncertainty in centuries. We'll have the latest on Catholicism's search for a new leader. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Checking top stories right now.

The U.N. Security Council has voted unanimously for tougher sanctions against North Korea. They include financial sanctions, travel restrictions and inspection powers. Leading up to the vote, Pyongyang unleashed a harsher bout of its typically fiery rhetoric. It included threatening enemies with the possibility of quote, "pre-emptive nuclear attack".

U.S. ambassador, Susan Rice and Senator Robert Menendez, head of the foreign relations committee, chairman, had this reaction.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. ROBERT MENENDEZ (D), FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN: I don't think that the regime in Pyongyang wants to commit suicide, but that as they must surely know, that would be the result of any attack on the United States.

SUSAN RICE, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO THE U.N.: We'll achieve nothing by continued threats and provocations. These will only further isolate the country and its people and undermine international efforts to promote peace and stability in northeast Asia. We have urged the North Korean leadership repeatedly and continue to do so to heed president Obama's call to choose a path of peace. And to come into compliance with its international obligations. That is what North Korea ought to do.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Another story making headlines, Gabrielle Giffords wants the U.S. Senate to require all gun buyers to get a background check. The former Arizona congresswoman and her husband, Mark Kelly, took that message to a gun control rally at the Tucson grocery store where she was shot in the head more than two years ago. Six people were killed and 13 wounded in the 2011 attack. Several victims and their relatives joined her at that rally.

Mitt Romney's got another job. The Republican nominee for president is going to work for his son Tagg's private equity firm. He'll serve as chairman of Solmair's -- Solmair Capital's the executive committee. After losing the race for the White House, Romney rejoined the board of directors at Marriott.

Let's turn now to the Catholic Church's election of a new pope. That task is left to a gathering of 115 cardinals. And today, the last one is due to arrive in Vatican City. But that may be the only progress to report. The Vatican says there is still no date to begin the selection process.

We turn now to CNN senior Vatican analyst, Mr. John Allen, he's Rome. John, why is this taking so long to set a date?

JOHN ALLEN, CNN SENIOR VATICAN ANALYST: Well Don, what the Vatican will tell you officially and on the record is that the cardinals simply want to be careful and deliberative about this process. They want to get things right.

What cardinals will tell you on background, however, is that another problem is that this is a wide open field in terms of the race to be the next pope. There is no clear frontrunner, no consensus around any one guy. Their fear is that if they went into conclave soon, they would be there quite a while before somebody got that two-thirds vote and they don't want images of paralysis and gridlock, so they're trying to take time now to do the political heavy lifting to make sure that doesn't happen.

LEMON: John Allen thank you very much.

Students feeling the pinch from those $85 billion in forced spending cuts. We'll tell you why college financial aid is in jeopardy.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: As millions of students prepare to head off to college, some financial aid officers aren't sure how much aid they will be able to offer. And it's all because of those $85 billion in forced spending cuts that went into effect last Friday. Alison Kosik at the New York Stock Exchange, as she always is. She's there -- you're permanently there I think. Alison, so tell us about the impact.

ALISON KOSIK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You're funny today, Don.

You want to know about how these spending cuts are impacting financial aid.

LEMON: Yes.

KOSIK: This is actually serious business for a lot of people because you know, we talk about these spending cuts so much in theoretical terms, but now this is an example of how this stuff is really hitting close to home. So this is going to make the whole financial aid process that much more unpredictable for countless families across the country.

So what usually happens around this time of year is colleges go and send their letters to students around this time this month telling everybody how much financial aid they're going to be getting. Here is the problem, though. And what's difference about this year is that these schools they don't know for sure how much money they're going to be getting from the government, meaning for federal work study programs, for supplemental educational opportunity grants.

These kinds of programs help students to the tune of $2 billion every year. So these letters this time around are going to be coming with a lot of asterisks. Some with a lot of fine print or maybe a big no, they're going to say that the award is subject to federal funding so it could change.

The good news is that schools aren't going to be going into this blind. They do have estimates from the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators. But some of these schools are going to be hit pretty hard. Some of the schools getting the biggest cuts include ITT Technical Institute, New York University, Nova Southeastern, all of those are facing cuts of over $400,000. That's not chump change -- Don.

LEMON: Yes. And you know, people who weren't paying attention to this sequester or this forced spending cuts or budget cuts, they are now because it's affecting us in ways that many people did not expect. If we get a deal soon though, could this clear up the confusion for these students?

KOSIK: It could, but you know, the letters still have to go out this month, students still need to make a decision on what school to go to. If the award changes, that means families will have to make up the difference especially the (inaudible) award. One note I have to mention though -- Pell grants, the big federal funding program, Pell grants are spared. They won't be touched -- Don.

LEMON: All right. Alison Kosik, at her permanent perch at the New York Stock Exchange. Thank you Alison.

KOSIK: Sure.

LEMON: First dinner, now lunch. The President and GOP trying to fix the forced budget cuts. We're going to talk to CNN's Wolf Blitzer, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: I'm Don Lemon, thank you so much for joining us. "CNN NEWSROOM" continues right now with Miss Ashleigh Banfield.

ASHLEIGH BANFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Hi Don Lemon.

LEMON: How are you? Let me guess.

BANFIELD: Yes.

LEMON: You're going to be talking about the President. He's is a skinny guy's thin. He's been doing a lot of eating lately.

BANFIELD: Is that ok to say "skinny guy"? Is that offensive?

LEMON: I like skinny.

Banfield: Because I like skinny girls.

LEMON: I was skinny after the flu. I'm not so skinny lately though.

BANFIELD: Can I ask what the crest is on the tie?

LEMON: The crest is St. George's Royal Academy -- Royal College. Prep school in Toronto, Ontario.

BANFIELD: You're fancy.

LEMON: It was a gift.

BANFIELD: Well, I know Toronto, that's for sure.

Don Lemon, nice to see you.

LEMON: Have a great show my dear.

BANFIELD: Thank you -- you too.

All right. So, hi everybody. Ashleigh Banfield -- good to have you here at this hour.