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It Gets Better: Being Out as a Professional Athlete; New York City May Pass Sick Leave Bill; Report: Barbara Walters to Retire; NCAA Top Seed Toppled

Aired March 29, 2013 - 09:30   ET

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

FREDERICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Wow. Very candid, very revealing conversation with Kwame Harris and you. You know, he revealed he didn't ever consider coming out while he was playing, but now he's reflecting on it. Is he kind of exhibiting almost how instrumental or instructive it might have been, had he come out while he was an active player?

COY WIRE, PLAYED FOR ATLANTA FALCONS, BUFFALO BILLS: I think so. This process has been cathartic for him. He said that he wished that he were able to come out while he was playing, that he had the fortitude, the grace, the strength to be able to do that. The thing he wanted to get across is that any gay athlete who is out there, even the youth, especially the youth, he wanted them to know, look, you are not alone, the feelings of pressure, strain, torment are completely normal, but it does get better.

WHITFIELD: Now what for him? How does he convey this message, how does he assist or help a lot of young people or other athletes who might be grappling with the same thing he felt tormented by, keeping it quiet?

WIRE: I think that his purpose in this is to raise consciousness and awareness that like he said, they are to (ph)close the piece that he's a normal guy. This is not an issue that should be treated the way it's been treated in the past. This is a matter of equality. Much like marriage equality for interracial couples. It wasn't until 1967 that was completely acceptable and legal in every state here in the U.S. alone. So this is another one of the instances of inequality that continues to exist in our country.

WHITFIELD: Has he said anything about what it feels like to hear the Ravens current player really wrap his arms around him and say we need to be embracing everyone?

WIRE: Brendan Ayanbadejo, Chris Kluwe, those are the guys who are really empowering people like Kwame, and giving them the peace to talk openly about this, which ultimately will help the youth. That's what's important to have people embracing the gay community, and saying the equality is necessary, and that's a must.

WHITFIELD: Coy Wire, thanks so much for bringing that to us. Really, very touching. Thank you.

WIRE: Thank you. WHITFIELD: Coming up next, employees in one of the nation's biggest cities can now afford to get sick after a deal is reached following a face-off between politicians and unions. We'll tell you where, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: In New York City, a battle over paid sick leave may be over, that's according to the "New York Times," which reports a new bill would force companies with at least 15 employees to give full- time workers five compensated sick days a year. Mayor Bloomberg is expected to veto the bill, but there is enough support in the city council to actually override him. The sick leave bill was the result of a deal being reached between New York City politicians and a coalition of labor unions and activists.

Joining me now, Jason Johnson, chief political correspondent for "Politic365" and political science professor at Hiram college. Good to see you. And CNN contributor and senior political columnist for "Newsweek" and the "Daily Beast," John Avlon, good to see you as well.

JOHN AVLON, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: How are you Fred?

WHITFIELD: Good to see you both. All right, so the "Times" reporting this compromise by City Council Speaker and mayor candidate Christine Quinn with key. Quinn had been opposed to this bill. Does her compromise say anything about the strength of unions which have been the target of high-profile political fights in the past few years?

JASON JOHNSON, CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT, "POLITIC 365": It says it's common sense. Look if workers are losing benefits, it's going to be difficult to retain workers, so I think she was just realizing the political reality, something necessary. I don't think it's union's flexing muscle, as much as people recognizing if you don't provide a healthy or worthwhile workplace, people don't want to work there.

AVLON: This is political. Full stop. Christine Quinn, the city council speaker, had been trying to avoid a vote on this bill for years now. Because Mike Bloomberg and business leaders who she's trying to court in her mayoral campaign don't want it to move forward. It absolutely is a reflection of the strength of the labor unions in New York. And in the Democratic primary for mayor in particular, this is all politics much more than policy.

WHITFIELD: How will this not have a ripple effect? You're talking about the largest city in this country, New York City.

JOHNSON: They're not last. They are not the first too do this. Have you Connecticut doing it, Oregon doing, Washington state doing it a lot of places. I think to a small state like Ohio, where a lot of instances, paid sick leave already standard, because it's the only way you can attract people to unattractive parts of the country. The reality is it's a necessary evil for many businesses to pay for.

WHITFIELD: It's hard to argue not to have it.

AVLON: It is hard to argue not to have it from the simple decency question. The real question is that is this something businesses should be offered to attract workers, as is the case you gave in Cleveland? Or is it something that the state should be mandating on a city? And would that hurt the city's economic competitiveness and would it actually make some businesses move out? The fragile economy right now, that's a legitimate concern, especially for small and mid- sized businesses in a city like New York.

WHITFIELD: So, this won't take affect until next year. Who is this impacting the most?

JOHNSON: This is impacting single mothers. This is the thing. Most people who are using sick leave, it's not for themselves, it's for their children. And if you don't give people the opportunity to step out of work, look, my son, daughter has the sniffles, they will step out anyway. You're going to have problems. You're going to lose productivity. And so that's what I think is the important issue. These businesses are going to lose this money anyway. Might as well do something that's actually going to make it beneficial and productive for your employees.

WHITFIELD: That's the argument as to why it's not political.

AVLON: But it is basically political. Everything is political in a mayoral primary season, when the labor unions are basically the big dog to determine who gets the nomination. Look, this is a big thing for families at home and there is a sense for businesses to offer it. But when it gets imposed by government on businesses at times of a fragile economy, this isn't the late 1990's. Workers aren't in a position to say, fine if I don't like the health benefits package, I'm out of here. So, this is a philosophical debate. It is also a practical debate. It's where the rubber meets the road when it comes to a still recovering economy.

WHITFIELD: Except most employees feel like they don't have the strength to hold a corporation, a workplace accountable. But government perhaps does have the upper hand.

JOHNSON: Government does have the upper hand and they have to in this particular instance. We have been using the excuse, it's a bad economy for way too long.

AVLON: It's been a bad economy for way too long.

JOHNSON: But that doesn't mean that we need to lose the basics of how we keep a worthwhile business. And frankly you've got companies saying hey, whether you are losing productivity in March Madness, we'll put a TV in the room. There are things you can do in your business to keep it practical and functional.

AVLON: I love that from a worker standpoint. A strange new mandate. Government says you have to put the NCAA on, you may have a problem.

WHITFIELD: Something tells me no one would oppose that. All right, Jason, John, good to see you gentleman. Jay squared, thank you. Appreciate it.

(CROSSTALK)

WHITFIELD: Straight ahead in the NEWSROOM, a big announcement rumored for Barbara Walters. We'll take a look at the news woman who won't even let her colleagues off easy.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARBARA WALTERS, HOST, THE VIEW: You surprise us on the air. So the question people ask me and now they can do it, is why did you do it that way?

STARR JONES, HOST, THE VIEW: It was ugly.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Ew. You remember that one? Ouch. That plus some of her other greatest moments.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. TV news may be close to losing one of its biggest icons. After more than five decades as the grand dame of news, a report says Barbara Walters is set to retire next year. In 1974, Walters became the first woman to co-host a news program, it was "The Today Show." Two years later, she became co-anchor of ABC "Evening News," another first. Walters is currently host and executive producer of "The View."

Entertainment correspondent, Nichelle Turner, is in Los Angeles. So, Nischelle what gives? Barbara has had huge interviews over the course of years. But one of her biggest marks has been politics, among other things. So, is it true? Is she deciding call it quits?

NISCHELLE TURNER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: You know, there are lots of reports out there that say yes, so this could very well be a possibility, Fred. And it's hard to put Barbara's career into words, she was just that essential to news over the past half century basically and if you were a news maker over the past 40 years, chances are you were interviewed by her, and that does include all kinds of politicians, including every single president and first lady since Richard and Pat Nixon.

Now; here's a quick look at Barbara's work with President Obama.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WALTERS: Are we going it go over the fiscal cliff?

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: You know, I remain optimistic that there are enough people of good will in this town that recognize our economy will be much better off, American families will be much better off, if we get this done.

WALTERS: Prediction. Are you going to be able to raise taxes, yes or no?

OBAMA: Taxes are going to go up one way or the other.

WALTERS: When they call you an idiot to you write back and say no, I'm not?

OBAMA: Sometimes I do. I don't write back and say I'm not an idiot. I say, I have been called this before, but let me try and explain what we're trying to do.

WALTERS: When you hear people say he's cold, he's aloof, he doesn't show emotion, true?

MICHELLE OBAMA, FIRST LADY OF THE UNITED STATES: No, absolutely not. You know he's serious.

WALTERS: Mrs. Obama, how does one knock down the President a few pegs?

M. OBAMA: No one knocks him down. But I tease him a lot.

WALTERS: About what?

M. OBAMA: Any and everything.

B. OBAMA: My ears.

M. OBAMA: Oh yes, his dancing, his singing.

B. OBAMA: My dancing and singing.

M. OBAMA: He's just fun to tease. The girls love to do it too.

B. OBAMA: I'm basically the straight man for the Obama family.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TURNER: She gets it done, she just gets it done. You know it hasn't been just presidents though her most famous interview might very well be her sit down with presidential intern Monica Lewinsky. Remember that one Fred?

WHITFIELD: Who could forget?

TURNER: Exactly.

WHITFIELD: Yes we know that Barbara Walters can be very endearing and at the same time she can very hard-hitting, very intrepid. But you know we also have learned over the years, even through her show, "The View", that no one is spared kind of the tough questions, even if she has kind of a relationship or a former relationship with someone. We saw that interview with her former, you know, I guess co-star, Starr Jones and it was kind of biting, wasn't it?

TURNER: Yes. Oh you know what? I called it awkwardly awesome at that point in time.

WHITFIELD: Yes. TURNER: Because it was such good TV, but you were just cringing and you were holding on for dear life. And if you are a fan of "The View" then this will look familiar to you. Let's take back a look at that with Barbara and Starr Jones together.

WHITFIELD: Right if it was painful then, it will still be painful now.

TURNER: Yes. Yes.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TURNER: What has happened was your contract was not renewed and Bill and I then said to you, look, you can say whatever you want. Because we were trying to protect you. We loved you. You can say you've got another assignment, whatever. Instead you -- and you have suggested you were going to do that. And we had picked the day, instead, you surprised us on the air.

So the question that people ask me and now they can do it, is why did you do it that way?

JOY BEHAR, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": Why did you that?

STARR JONES, FORMER CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": It was ugly.

BEHAR: What was ugly?

JONES: Everything around.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TURNER: Oh, boy.

The look on Starr's face was not one of pleasure. Now Fred, we should remember there hasn't been an official confirmation from ABC or Barbara yet. There is speculation that the report may be an effort to nudge her out of the picture into retirement. But I would have to say I'm not sure Barbara Walters can ever be nudged --

WHITFIELD: No.

TURNER: -- anywhere that she doesn't want to go.

WHITFIELD: No, she's nudge proof.

TURNER: Exactly.

WHITFIELD: All right. Nischelle Turner, thanks so much. I know when there is confirmation, you will be the one to bring it to us, I appreciate it. It's good to see you.

TURNER: Absolutely. Thank you.

WHITFIELD: All right, a number one seed going down in the NCAA tournament. Syracuse knocking off Indiana, highlights next in "Bleacher Report".

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. Checking our "Top Stories".

The acting mayor of Brunswick, Georgia is in jail this morning. He's under arrest in connection with the murder of a toddler. James Brooks Sr. is accused of obstructing the investigation. Brooks wouldn't let a county investigator talk with the mother of one of two teenagers charged with the killing.

According to the Florida Times Union, Brooks who is a minister at a local church also has been indicted on unrelated public corruption charges.

And talk about a tax bill. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg owes the IRS about $1.1 billion. That's because he bought 60 million shares rather in his company's IPO last year. Zuckerberg may never sell the shares, but they are still taxed as regular income.

And good news at the pump: gas prices may have hit their peak for 2013. AAA reports the average price of a gallon of regular unleaded is now $3.64. That's down from $3.79 just a month ago. The drop comes at a time when gas usually gets more expensive. Some analysts say they now think that gas won't hit $4 a gallon this year.

And we'll be back in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right the Sweet 16 wasn't very sweet for Indiana fans. The Hoosiers became the second number one seed to go down in NCAA tournament after losing to Syracuse.

Andy Scholes with me now, with more of the Bleacher Report. Boy, this is one exciting March Madness, isn't it?

ANDY SCHOLES, BLEACHER REPORT: Oh it sure is Fred. You know the Hoosiers were a popular pick, though, to win it all after earning their first number one seed in nearly 20 years but last night they looked like anything but a one seed as Syracuse completely shut them down.

Now Ravens head coach John Harbaugh was in attendance last night to cheer on his brother-in-law Tom Crean and the Hoosiers but there wasn't much to cheer about. The Orange jumped on Indiana from the get go leading by as many as 18 in the first half and the Hoosiers just never able to get anything going against Syracuse's zone defense.

Indiana shot at 33 percent from the field as they saw their season come to an end in the 61-50 loss.

We had a great finish in last night's match-up between Ohio State and Arizona. The game was tied in the closing seconds when the Buckeye's La Quentin Ross nailed this three with two seconds left. That would be your game winner. Ohio State survives again and is now just one win away from reaching their second straight final four. The Buckeyes will face Wichita State in the regional finals. The Shocker handled La Salle last night to reach the Elite 8 for the first time in 42 years. Marquette also punched their ticket to the Elite 8 as they upset Miami.

Well Dunk City will make its Sweet 16 debut tonight as Florida Gulf Coast looks to continue their Cinderella run against the Florida Gators. The Eagles are the first ever 15 seed to make it this far in the tournament and the odds are once again stacked against the Eagles. Vegas has them as 13 point underdog in tonight's game and they're going to be the late tipoff from Cowboys Stadium. The game can be seen on our sister network TBS.

Here is look at the rest of the schedule for tonight, top seed Louisville and Oregon they're going to get things going at 7:15, and then Michigan and Kansas which is also going to be TBS. That Game is followed by Michigan State/Duke.

On Wednesday, Phil Jackson made a glorious debut to Twitter with this masterpiece. We all thought the old Zen master was having some trouble figuring out how to tweet, but it turns out it was all for a commercial.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: 140 characters? Umm. I just take these off, right?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: That's cute.

SCHOLES: We should have known the tweet and video are being used as a promotional tool for Jackson's new book called "11 Rings". And Fred it looks like it worked. Jackson picked up over 170,000 followers in the last 48 hours, including me.

WHITFIELD: Oh my -- to have just one ring. Quite impressive. To have 11 -- does that mean he had one finger that had two on --

SCHOLE: Yes, one of them had two on.

WHITFIELD: I have to see that clip again. All right. I like it. Thanks so much, Andy Scholes. Good to see you.

All right. The next hour of the CNN NEWSROOM begins right after this.

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