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Millions Of Americans Face Severe Weather; Third Victim Of Hot Air Balloon Crash Found; Nigerian Girl Who Escaped Boko Haram Interviewed By CNN; Michael Sam Drafted By St. Louis Rams; Shelly Sterling Claiming Rights As Clippers' Owner; Polls Now Closed In Eastern Ukraine
Aired May 11, 2014 - 15:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Hello again, everyone. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. These are the stories topping our news this hour.
Over the several hours, millions of Americans could be hit by large hail, fierce winds, even tornados. Find out who is in danger.
And we just got word that crews in Virginia have found the third victim of that fiery hot air balloon crash. Details straight ahead.
Plus, new information about a disturbing Instagram posts from a woman onboard the doomed flight.
And a story you'll only see here on CNN. A correspondent of ours, Nima Elbagir makes a journey to the Nigerian village where hundreds of schoolgirls were abducted. She talks exclusively to a girl who escaped the terrorists. Hear her terrifying account of what happened and what villagers fear might happen next.
People in Orrick, Missouri, are spending mother's day cleaning up after a tornado last night. A national weather service team is now investigating the damage. There's been no word on injuries, but officials are going door to door to make sure everyone's out and OK. The state highway patrol estimates out of about rather 80 percent of the town, which is east of Kansas City, was affected. An entire silo, in fact, crumbled to the ground from the powerful winds. One woman said it looked like they got bombed.
And there's more severe weather to worry about. There's a tornado warning right now in southern Iowa and a tornado watch in effect for central and eastern Iowa and a warning along highway 35 there.
CNN meteorologist Jennifer Gray joins us now with more on this.
Jennifer, what do people need to pay closest attention to right now?
JENNIFER GRAY, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes, well, unfortunately, it's really the similar areas that we saw yesterday, once again, dealing with the possibility of severe weather and we're already seeing it. We have a severe thunderstorm warning in effect right now in southern Iowa. This is in effect until 3:00 central time. Cities of Cedar, (INAUDIBLE) all need to be on the lookout for this. We've got some very, very gusty winds, and damaging hail.
We also have tornado warnings in effect. This is for that area, and this is heading to the north and east as well. Eddieville needs to be on the lookout for this one also. These are very dangerous storms, very powerful storms. There's that tornado warning that just pop up. This is in effect until 2:45 central time, Mahaska County and also Pella County. And these are the same cities in that tornado warning as well. The details very, very dangerous, and so getting into that small, low interior room in your home and stay safe there over the next at least half-hour or so.
Also, we have some severe thunderstorm warnings in place for southern Illinois. So this severe weather stretches very, very far. A lot of the country dealing with this for today. And we basically have the perfect ingredients that's going to all come together, Fred. And that's what's going to be the support for the severe thunderstorms as we go through the next couple of days.
We've got very warm air coming in from the Gulf of Mexico combining with very cold air from the northwest. We have been talking about snow in the Rockies, so we have very cold air. And that warm air is going to collide and bring us that severe weather. We're talking about the possibility of large tornados, damaging winds, hail, anywhere from Wichita all the way through Kansas City, Des Moines. That's your main threat area.
But anywhere in this orange color, all the way from the hill country of Texas up to Chicago needs to be on the lookout for the rest of the evening through the overnight hours with this, and then, Fred, that severe threat will hang on for tomorrow as well.
WHITFIELD: Of course. All right. And people need to have those battery operated weather radios handy if they have those as well.
GRAY: Very important. Yes.
WHITFIELD: All right, Jennifer Gray. Thanks so much. Keep us posted.
GRAY: Will do.
WHITFIELD: And then we have this breaking news out of Virginia right now. Crews have found the third victim of a deadly hot air balloon crash near Richmond. Two other bodies were found yesterday.
Alexandra Field joining us live with more from New York with more on this.
Alexandra, what are you hearing?
ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well Fred, that third body was found today just about 100 yards from the spot three others were found yesterday. There were three people in the basket of that balloon when it crashed on Friday. Two of them were co-workers at the University of Richmond. The third was the pilot, Daniel Kirk. Just a few minutes ago, I spoke to his father. His father told me his son was a very good pilot. Something happened out there, he just doesn't know what happened. And of course, that is what investigators will now look into.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FIELD (voice-over): One of their last pictures posted on Instagram, two friends smiling in the basket of a hot air balloon, getting ready for what might have been a great adventure.
Another snapshot from their tethered practice flight Friday morning. It was hours before this fateful assent in the blue balloon. Tried it at 6:30 a.m. but was too foggy, will go up this evening, #anxiety, writes Jenny Doyle, a basketball coach for the women's team at the University of Richmond. Hours later, spectators at the Mid-Atlantic balloon festival in Doswell, Virginia see a balloon burning after hitting a power line.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Appears to be pretty high in the air.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Got a report that the basket has come off, so we're trying to find that right now.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Airborne balloons aren't the issue. We need to locate the basket.
FIELD: Doyle and her co-worker Natalie Lewis were onboard the balloon with their pilot.
CORINNE GELLER, SPOKESWOMAN, VIRGINIA STATE POLICE: He was taking every effort he could to manage the situation and extinguish the fire.
FIELD: But a small explosion in the basket and the balloon separated it.
HEIDI MOATS, NTSB AIR SAFETY INVESTIGATOR: During the investigation, we will examine the man, the machine, and the environment.
FIELD: Witness say as the balloon burned, they two people jumped or fell.
CARRIE HAGER BRADLEY, WITNESS: And you could hear them screaming, please, dear God, sweet Jesus help us. We are going to die. Oh, my God. Please help us. Please help us.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FIELD: The news that two University of Richmond employees were killed in the balloon crash comes this weekend as the university holds its commencement ceremonies. They are going on. You can see them right now. And certainly, adding a somber note to what would otherwise be a cause for celebration at that campus.
Investigators spent the weekend; of course, looking for the three bodies, recovering those bodies was their primary goal. Now that they have located the victims, they say their focus will shift and they will now search for the wreckage of the balloon and begin to collect the evidence to put this back together, Fred.
WHITFIELD: Very sad situation. Thank you so much, Alexandra Field.
And it's a historic day for the NFL. The first openly gay player Michael Sam drafted last night. What he has to say about playing for the St. Louis Rams now, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: A historic moment for one player, the NFL, and the world of sports. The first openly gay NFL prospect was drafted in the seventh round last night.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: With the 249th pick in the 2014 NFL draft, the St. Louis Rams select Michael Sam, defensive end, Missouri.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: And pretty close to that same moment, Michael Sam was on the phone with St. Louis Rams head coach Jeff Fisher, and you can see that moment very emotional there. And his boyfriend was standing right next to him. Sam talked about what it meant to him later on that night.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAEL SAM, NFL PLAYER: I am overwhelmed. I'm excited. And I'm proud to be a Ram. I knew I was going to get picked somewhere. And every team that passed me, I was thinking how I'm going to sack their quarterback. I'm proud to give everything I've got for St. Louis. So many people are proud of the St. Louis organization for being the one to make history.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: And the congratulations started pouring in after that, even from President Barack Obama. In a statement, the White House said quote "the president congratulates Michael Sam, the Rams and the NFL for taking an important step forward today in our nation's journey. From the playing field to the corporate boardroom, LGBT Americans prove every day that you should be judged by what you do and who you are," end quote.
That's from the president. NFL players and sports analysts have been weighing in since Sam announced that he was gay earlier this year. Here's what they're saying about what it will be like for him in the NFL.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Michael Sam, an all-American defensive end at the University of Missouri. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Michael Sam.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: 6'2", 260 pounds.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's a college football star.
SAM: Came to tell the world that I'm an openly proud gay man.
JAKE TAPPER, CNN CHIEF WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Could there be fallout?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: People are resistant to change.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The ultimate goal in this nation is that everyone has freedom to pursue their own life.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My first reaction when I heard it, I was surprised.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: First I thought it was very bold.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When I first heard that Michael Sam was going to come out was, it's about time.
DONTE' STALLWORTH, FORMER NFL PLAYER: I'm Donte' Stallworth, played in the NFL for ten years.
PETER KING, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, MMQB: I'm Peter King, editor-in-chief of the MMQB.
AMANI TOOMER, FORMER PLAYER, NEW YORK GIANTS: My name is Amani Toomer, I played for the New York Giants for 13 seasons.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Wherever he goes, there will be a lot of support for him.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's a very macho workplace.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think he's going to be greeted warmly by his teammates.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's a very religious workplace. And those believe, of course, don't fall in line with somebody like Michael Sam.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Some guys are not going to accept that there is a gay player in their locker room. But over time, they will accept it because they're not going to have any choice.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The opposing fans, the opposing team, they'll try to do whatever they can to get in your head.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't think he's going to have much of a problem, if he can play.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Michael Sam is going to hear it probably from some intolerant fans. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Social media in itself, there will be all kinds of jokes because it's faceless.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why should we pay any attention to a bunch of people making cracks about an openly gay football player trying to make a team? I think it's much ado about nothing, as much of what twitter is.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think it's a nonissue because you don't have to go to the combines and profess you're straight, so why should you have to go to the combine and profess you're gay?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If anybody can't handle the media coverage of draft with Michael Sam, then your team is already losing on the field.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I believe he's going to succeed or fail based on football alone and it's not going to have anything to do with the fact that he's gay.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: All right, from people who know the NFL. Michael Sam tweeting this picture of himself yesterday wearing a Rams hat. And he said quote "I am using every ounce of this to achieve greatness." Congrats to him.
All right, Michelle Knight survived years of abuse while being held captive. But she says the past year has been the best ever. Her interview with Anderson Cooper next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Michelle Knight says she hid from police when they came to rescue her because she thought they were intruders. One year after being rescued from years in captivity in that house in Cleveland, she is speaking out about what life is like now. She told our Anderson Cooper it's been amazing.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MICHELLE KNIGHT, KIDNAPPING SURVIVOR: Sometimes I felt hopeless because there was nobody out there for me. No one.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR, AC360 (voice-over): For 11 long years, Michelle knight was held captive inside 2207 Seymour Avenue, where along with Amanda Berry and Gina Dejesus, she was brutally raped and tortured. For them, it seemed there was no end in sight. That is, until May 6th, 2013.
Did it seem like any other day?
KNIGHT: For me, it was the most awesome day ever. But it was also terrifying at the same time because me and Gina, we actually thought somebody was breaking in.
COOPER: You heard noises downstairs? KNIGHT: Yes.
COOPER: What happened?
KNIGHT: There was crash, pounding on doors. Then we didn't hear no sound.
COOPER: Did you know that Amanda had run out of the house?
KNIGHT: No. We didn't have no clue, whatsoever that she had taken off.
COOPER: Did you know that he was gone?
KNIGHT: Well, yes. We knew he was gone somewhere. But we thought it was a trick. You know, like he was just in the backyard, but he was waiting for somebody to be stupid.
COOPER: But this time, it wasn't a trick. And Amanda Berry was able to break through the door with her 6-year-old daughter Jocelyn.
AMANDA BERRY, KIDNAPPING SURVIVOR: Help me. I'm Amanda Berry.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You need to wait for the balance.
BERRY: I need police.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. And what's been going on?
BERRY: I've been kidnapped and I've been missing for ten years and I'm here. I'm free now.
COOPER: The police arrived, but inside their boarded up bedroom, Michelle and Gina were hiding from what they thought were burglars.
KNIGHT: I heard a noise, but anybody can say police. And then I notice some form of a big person. I was like OK, maybe this might be. And I see a badge. I see numbers. And then I hear the police radio. I just said -- I ran right into her arms. And I literally choked her.
COOPER: To the policewoman's arms?
KNIGHT: Yes.
COOPER: Do you remember saying anything?
KNIGHT: I said please don't let me go. Please don't put me down.
COOPER: You actually in her arms?
KNIGHT: Yes. I actually had my legs wrapped around her and my arms like this. And she was like, that girl literally choked me.
COOPER: Did it seem real to you?
KNIGHT: At the time, no. It didn't. It seemed unreal. COOPER: At 32-years-old, Michelle walked out that front door for the very first and last time, rushed to a hospital she was treated for a long list of health issues due to the years of beatings and neglect. Although she was free, she was also all alone. Estranged from her family, when she was released from a hospital, she took refuge at an assisted living facility outside Cleveland. Far away from the media, it gave her the space to gain strength to face her captor in court.
KNIGHT: I spent 11 years in hell. Now your hell is just beginning.
COOPER: When I saw you in court that day at the sentencing, I was blown away. Were you determined to do that?
KNIGHT: Yes. It was important to me to express how I felt about what he did and how he did it. And let the judge know that he needed to be punished for what he did.
COOPER: The man who had held her for nearly 11 years was indicted on 977 counts and sentenced to life plus 1,000 years. Just a month into that sentence, however, he was found hanged in his jail cell.
KNIGHT: I understand why he did it. He couldn't face what he did with his head held high. He had to face it like a coward because he was ashamed and embarrassed of what he done. And he didn't want what he did to us to happen to him.
COOPER: Just three months after her rescue, Michelle returned to Seymour Avenue to witness the demolition of the house that was her prison. On our visit, she took us to see the park that now stands in its place.
KNIGHT: I was considered a forgotten one. That's the reason why I made a poem and said all the people that are out there right now, they're never forgotten in my eyes, never.
This is for all the missing people!
COOPER: Armed with friends and a good support system, Michelle is focusing on giving a voice to other missing people like herself.
What's it like -- I mean, I don't even know how to ask. What's the past year been like?
KNIGHT: Amazing. Overwhelming, but amazing as hell.
COOPER: What's it like to, I mean, have friends, to have a life? To be able to be the person you want to be?
KNIGHT: It's amazing. It's something that I never thought I would have, but I have it.
COOPER: But one thing Michelle doesn't have is her son. While in captivity, her Joey was given up for adoption. Now 14-years-old, she isn't allowed to see him, but has been able to see photos.
And you still think a lot about Joey? I know you write about him in the book.
KNIGHT: Yes. I think about him all the time. I'm glad he's doing good. And I'm very happy that he's happy right now.
COOPER: And you've seen pictures of him?
KNIGHT: Yes, I have.
COOPER: Is that painful to see, or is -- to know that he's OK.
KNIGHT: No, it's soothing to see. That he loves everything that I love. Even though I wasn't there, he's got a part of me inside of him.
COOPER: Today, Michelle is focused on starting over. She's changed her name to Lily after her favorite flower. She's also back in school with the hope of opening her own restaurant someday.
What do you see for your future? What do you hope?
KNIGHT: I see beautiful and amazing things coming to me.
COOPER: You deserve them.
KNIGHT: Yes.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER: She is truly brave and strong woman. When I asked her what has been the most amazing part of this past year, she told me it was celebrating her birthday for the first time in her life. She had a birthday party -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: God, that is amazingly compelling. All right, congrats to her. And our hearts are with her.
Thanks again for that, Anderson.
Michelle knight, in fact, has a book out. It is called "Finding Me: a decade of darkness, a life reclaimed."
All right, next, a CNN exclusive. Our correspondent makes a dangerous journey to speak to one of the girls who escaped her kidnappers, that Nigerian terror group. You'll only see Nima Elbagir's story right here. Don't go away.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: The worldwide "bring back our girls" campaign just got another high profile supporter. Pope Francis tweeted his four million followers earlier. He said quote "let us all join in prayer for the immediate release of the schoolgirls kidnapped in Nigeria, hash tag #bringbackourgirls."
British Prime Minister David Cameron also joined the campaign today during a TV show. He and our chief international correspondent Christiane Amanpour held a sign together with the popular hash tag on it. Cameron promised that Britain will do what it can to help find the girls.
Officials say the terrorist group Boko Haram wielded guns and forced more than 200 of those schoolgirls into seven cargo trucks last month. But one of those girls made a bold dash and escaped. Now the girl is telling CNN a firsthand account of what happened that day.
In a CNN exclusive, our Nima Elbagir talked to her. Nima made a dangerous journey herself to the town where the kidnapping took place. It took Nima, her producer and photographer four days on a treacherous road trip to get to Chibouk (ph), Nigeria.
Nima started in the capital of Abuja and then traveled around 500 miles before making make it to that town. It took four days then. She is the only journalist to reach the town where the kidnapping happened.
Nima is joining us now with her exclusive interview.
So Nima, tell us more about this dangerous ordeal and what this little girl went through.
NIMA ELBAGIR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That road that you described there, as you get further away from the Nigerian capital, it gets more and more dangerous. And in fact, in spite of the fact that there was supposed to be this extraordinary effort, this troop reinforcement, this search effort, we didn't really see that much evidence of that. When we were getting closer, all we really saw was the evidence of the continued devastation that the Boko Haram militants are wreaking in that area. And you can really sense that the fear continues to live within that community min Chibok (ph).
The girl we spoke, to herself, it was really, really brave of her to agree to speak to us, given the Specter that Boko Haram continues to cast there. But she has asked that we don't identify her. Take a listen to what she had to say, Fredricka.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ELBAGIR: We have definitely as we've been traveling north from the Nigerian capital Abuja, seen evidence of those promised security reinforcements that the government is sending to combat the Boko Haram threat. But as we travel --
By an absolute miracle, some of those girls managed to escape on that horrifying night. But even for them, this nightmare isn't yet over. One of them has agreed to speak to us, but she's asked that we don't identify her in any way, that we don't give away her name, her family house, anything that could bring about what she fears the most, that the kidnappers could come back for her.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He said go and enter this car.
ELBAGIR: What kind of cars?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A big Lorry.
ELBAGIR: Was it one or more?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Seven.
ELBAGIR: Seven Lorries?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
ELBAGIR: And this was at 10:00 at night?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
ELBAGIR: And this was at 10:00 at night? So did that make you feel like they had come to get you, the girls?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
ELBAGIR: That's when you knew that they had come to kidnap you?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They say OK, enter this Lorry, we go. I will drop down.
ELBAGIR: That was really brave of you.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, and we would rather die than go. We run in the Bush.
ELBAGIR: And what happened then?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We ran and ran and we were gone
ELBAGIR: Can you describe the men that took you? Were they wearing civilian clothing? Military uniforms? What were they wearing?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't understand.
ELBAGIR: What was their dress? What were they wearing?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I feel afraid.
ELBAGIR: Did they look like soldiers?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, we are a little afraid.
ELBAGIR: You're afraid?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
ELBAGIR: You don't want to talk about what they look like. I understand. I'm sorry.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ELBAGIR: There are, of course, a lot of families, Fredricka, that weren't as lucky as hers. The message they gave us was please keep the memory of those girls alive. Please keep praying for them with us. And please try and help us -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: And Nima, even the family members are fearing for their lives, too, aren't they? Right now.
ELBAGIR: Absolutely. And I think it is just the reality of the fact that this is an incredibly isolated place. It's difficult to get to. It's difficult to get out of. Word didn't actually reach the outside world about this attack for days after it had happened, so that gives you a sense of how cut off they are and how vulnerable that makes them. And so, they are every night going out on patrol. Most of the men we spoke to said that they haven't slept since the night of the attack, which was almost four weeks ago because they're so worried that Boko Haram will come back.
WHITFIELD: All right, Nima Elbagir. Thank you so much. Very courageous reporting, you, together with your producer (INAUDIBLE) and photographer Nick Nigway (ph). Thank you so much for that report.
And now to this startling report from amnesty international, saying the Nigerian government actually had advanced warning and that Nigerian military commanders knew the terror group was on its way to raid a boarding school, at least four hours before the girls were taken.
I want to bring in Makmed Kamara in London. He is an expert on Nigeria and a researcher at Amnesty International.
Makmed, good to see you. How did you learn of this information? What information was obtained to assure you that the Nigerian government knew that Boko Haram had this plan?
MAKMED KAMARA, NIGERIA EXPERT, AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL: Thank you very much for having us on the station.
Well, when this abduction took place, when the attack took place, we received information from our people on the ground and from different sources. And we have been working on this information for about three weeks, just to cross check and verify what people have been telling us. And what they have been saying is that on the 14th of April, information was sent to the security forces in Chibok (ph) by villagers in the village called (INAUDIBLE). And by vigilantes who have been set up by the local authorities together with the Nigerian security forces to pass on information about any strange happening or strange people in their localities.
So this information was sent at 7:00 and the officers in Chibok (ph) immediately after receiving this information transmitted the alerts to their seniors in Gambol (ph). Gambol (ph) is a Navy yard that has a battalion. And then in Maiduguri, which is the capital of Borno State. And all the local authorities also received information as the time progressed and that information was relayed to the security forces.
WHITFIELD: So then, I wonder right now, Makmed, if you're describing that, you know, there really are these checks and balances. There are various Nigerian government installations that are acknowledging that they received this information. Then why is the Nigerian government as a whole saying this is not true, they did not get any kind of information that Boko Haram would be carrying out this kind of attack on a boarding school four hours before it happened.
KAMARA: Well, the information, perhaps just to be clear, was about the attack on the town. That gunned men were heading to the town, not specifically on the school. But it's strange that the federal government is denying, but we are not surprised. As an organization, we used to the Nigerian government denying allegations that have come out in the past about the lack of response to their duties.
WHITFIELD: So, sorry to interrupt, but why would the Nigerian government not want to respond? Not want to protect these girls if it was a great possibility that they would be abducted, that the village in itself would be abducted, that the girls would be probably the most vulnerable?
KAMARA: Well, it's a very interesting dynamic that is at play in Nigeria. It will be really good for the Nigerian government to explain, because this is not the first time that we have received information about security forces receiving forewarning about potential attacks by Boko Haram and those prompt measures taking to prevent the attackers.
WHITFIELD: Are you willing to go as far as saying that Boko Haram has particular influence on the Nigerian government?
KAMARA: We don't have evidence to support that kind of claim. What we are saying that the Nigerian government has a duty and responsibility to protect, to provide adequate security for its people under all circumstances and to prevent the abuse of human rights, especially the right to life, by a group like Boko Haram.
So we have been ordering the Nigerian government in correspondences and whatever opportunities we have as an organization, we have been passing on this information and raising our concerns, and that's why we now stand in solidarity with the parents of these missing girls to call on the Nigerian authorities to be sincere with their communication process, to inform them of all the steps. Just listen to your reporter and mentioning that they didn't see any tangible evidence of very large scale rescue efforts going on. And that is what the people have been telling us, that they need to know what exactly the Nigerian security forces are doing to rescue their children.
WHITFIELD: All right. Well, of course, everyone is praying for the rescue of these girls worldwide.
Makmed Kamara, thank you so much, with amnesty international. And hopefully, some of their same sources that were able to provide you the information, maybe some of those same sources will be able to know the whereabouts of these girls. And we'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: All right. Welcome back to the NEWSROOM. The Los Angeles Clippers just started game four of their playoff series against the Oklahoma City Thunder. And they trail the series two games to one.
Owner Donald Sterling has been banned from the NBA for alleged racist comments. And the NBA is trying to figure out if the team will be sold. But Sterling's estranged wife, Shelly, says she wants to keep her half of the team.
Clippers coach Doc Rivers said last week that would be a tough situation and he doesn't know if everyone would be onboard with playing for a Sterling.
I'm joined on the phone now by Greg Anthony, an NBA analyst for Turner Sports.
All right, Greg, do the NBA owners, you know, now have a new issue to consider, that it's not just Don Sterling they have to contend with, but Shelly Sterling's stake in ownership?
GREG ANTHONY, NBA ANALYST, TURNER SPORTS (via phone): Well, you know, it's going to make it a little bit more interesting. First off, I wanted to wish you, Fredricka, and all your listeners happy mother's day.
WHITFIELD: Thank you.
ANTHONY: Hopefully you'll get to do something special with your family.
But in terms of Mrs. Sterling, the issue is simply that the league doesn't want to have any more involvement with the name Sterling because of the negative connotation. And we get into a whole plethora of other issues.
Firstly, you know, if it's the case where Donald Sterling is considered to be a racist bigot, let's say hypothetically, it would be really difficult for someone to imagine that they could be married to a person for 50 years and they not know about this.
And so, you know, the implication there is that well, you know, if he is of this mindset, and you have never, ever stated anything to the contrary, and you've also had some issues, from some things that I've read, again, allegedly in terms of her involvement or lack thereof with other ethnicities, I just don't see any scenario where anyone with the Sterling name is going to be allowed to own the team. I think the league is going to want to have a free and clean break away from them and basically try to put this situation behind them.
WHITFIELD: So the players, they've kind of been doing their thing on the court and they're trying not to be distracted. We know coach Doc Rivers acknowledged that it would be a problem if Shelly Sterling were to remain in the picture, you know, as part owner.
So does that sentiment to hear the coach say this about the team, the mindset of the team? Does this help set the stage for who would or would not be owning the Clippers?
ANTHONY: I think it will play a role. Remember, he is not -- Doc Rivers is not just a coach, he's also I think the vice president of basketball operations. So he's also one of the -- well, he's the highest ranking I think executive that the league has. I think Dick Parsons has now made CEO of the Clippers, the former boss at Time Warner. So he is now there as a representative for the league. Doc Rivers I think is the highest ranking official on the basketball side that was still a part of the original ownership. So I think he's going to carry a lot of weight in that situation.
And again, you look at the NBA much like you would look at a country club. You know, this is not about what's legal or not legal. This is about whether or not you want a certain type of person being representative of you. And that's the real issue for Donald Sterling and his family. And I just don't see any scenario moving forward where the league is going to want to be associated with him or anyone like him, in essence.
Let's not kid ourselves. There are those out there who are like- minded to Donald Sterling that are in sports, in other industries. It's just they haven't been caught. So, he's the one that's been caught and will have to pay the price, which is somewhat ironic, because that price that will be paid for his team will make him an exorbitant amount of money.
WHITFIELD: All right, Greg Anthony, thank you so much.
I think a lot of people forget this is a franchise. It's not a free- standing business. And so, there are certain bylaws and like we heard the NBA's own constitution, so all those things have to be adhered to, too. And that's why we're at this juncture.
All right, Greg Anthony. Thanks so much. Appreciate it.
OK, you may have heard of phrases like "the Tough Mudder" or have you? What s the appeal?
Here's CNN's Sanjay Gupta with more on today's "Fit Nation."
DOCTOR SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Fred, it was about four years ago this month when this phenomenon started catching fire of extreme endurance challenges. Nowadays, you have all sorts of different races. You got warrior dash, the Spartan race. But back then, there was just one. It was called the Tough Mudder.
And fun enough, one of our producers Ben Tinker decided he was going to partake and we decided to go along for the ride.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You guys have really, really comes out?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are just here to enjoy the people and a true challenge.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We've been talking about an adventure race for a while now.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I have committed to doing this race. I'm not sure if that's a good idea. When I signed up I thought, you know, there should be all shapes and sizes of people here. Everyone here is in really, really good shape and I'm starting to wonder if I can cut it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All right, we reached at the top of the hill. I have my number. Sophie says it's too late to turn back so you are going to mark me up, right?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. Too late now.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All right.
CROWD: Three, two, one.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Go. Let's go! Come on, come on, come on!
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Good job.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Started out with the guys you saw in the beginning of the race. They're a little ahead of me but I'm hoping they escape everything they got in the beginning. I can catch up to them right now.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Tough Mudder.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Come on, Mudders!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Got it. All right.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Get up there. Come on!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Almost to the end. How are you feeling?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Little tired.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How about you?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Fantastic.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's going to be something to test everyone. Every different person, the nice thing is it tests all of those people in all one day.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Come on.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you coming? Are you on?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do it!
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GUPTA: I don't know, Fred. What do you think? You want to do that with me, as well? I know you're doing the triathlon and that is going to be a lot of fun. Sometimes, it's nice to have the producers to do the heavy lifting as Ben did in this case.
But what you saw there was a lot of camaraderie and that is I think one of the big asset of these types of events, people really supporting each other. So grab a friend. Get outside and try to get fit.
Fred, back to you.
WHITFIELD: Yes. OK, Sanjay, I'll see you, yes, in Malibu. I will do the triathlon with you. But the Mudder? Well, that's for another year.
Dr. Sanjay Gupta, thanks so much. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: In eastern Ukraine, the polls are now closed in a controversial referendum that could see parts of the country declare their independence. But are crews there say it appears some people voted more than once.
Let's go to CNN's Nick Paton Walsh in Sloviansk.
So Nick, what do you we know about the turnout and the possible multiple voting?
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, and in many past elections in the form of Soviet Union, you see all sorts of irregularities and that has been no difference where we have been.
In Sloviansk, we have seen people turning up to (INAUDIBLE) vote station filling in a form which allowed them to vote there, that gives way for many multiple votes. Teams in Donetsk saying people vote twice.
But, you bear in mind, it is not the technical irregularities in the day that matter, it is the whole climate here. We're in a city here in Sloviansk which is surrounded by the Ukrainian army or the pro- Russian militants on the street quite regularly. And of course, it is that climate, this election actually happened.
There was no debate ahead of it. There was no campaigning. This is simply about getting people to endorse a choice that's already been made by the unrest here, by the decision of these militants to try and hold on to the town despite the Ukrainian army trying to move in around them.
We spoke to self-declared mayor of the city, literally a matter of minutes ago and said about 80 percent turnout they said and regional turnout count, about 80 percent turnout, they said. And the original count in one of the areas around here, 1,200 votes they counted and only 40 of them were against. That gives you an idea of the numbers they are going to bringing out here.
The question really is, not whether the result would happen. We always knew it would be positive. The question is what does Moscow do? Who were supporting, Washington says, this kind of unrest initially. And now in recent days, Vladimir Putin said the referendum should be delayed a bit and the presidential elections coming up to be respected. We don't know the final position on this and how the Kiev government react either -- Fred.
WHITFIELD: All right, fascinating stuff. Thanks so much. Nick Paton Walsh.
The next hour of the CNN NEWSROOM begins right after a short break.
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