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Powerball Christmas

Aired December 24, 2002 - 13:03   ET

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

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


KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: 'Twas the day before Christmas and all through the land, visions of riches clutched in each hand: Powerball tickets, each just a buck, yet one worth millions to the person with luck. And what to my wondering eyes should appear, but Michael Okwu on the prize of the year.
Take it away, Michael.

MICHAEL OKWU, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The prize of the year, indeed. That's what every in this line thinks, anyway. The fact is, this is now up to $280 million.

So everybody is hoping that on Christmas Day they can cash in on the Christmas jackpot. People all day, Kyra, have been coming in from all over, from far afield, from Connecticut and New Jersey, and that's because Connecticut is one of the 22 states where you can actually play Powerball. If you're in New York state, for example, you can't play it. That is why there have been a lot of commuters into Greenwich, Connecticut this morning.

Sir, let me ask you something. I see you studiously studying these numbers. Is there a science?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There is no science. As a matter of fact, I went to New Jersey earlier with the mistake that they would have Powerball and they didn't. So I decided to come up here.

OKWU: Where are you from?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I am from Long Island, Great Neck.

OKWU: So you drove in today, or did you take the train?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, I drove. I drove.

OKWU: How much are you going to put down?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Not too much. If it is there, it is going to be there. If it was a dollar and you win, it's your number. I am going to put about $12 or $13.

OKWU: Twelve or $13, and then cross your fingers. Thank you.

Sir, how about you? Where are you coming from?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: New York.

OKWU: New York City. So how much are you going to put down today?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, ten dollars. That's all.

OKWU: Ten dollars, $10 investment hoping that maybe you can buy what, if you win?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I can't afford more than that. That's it. I am a construction worker. What do you expect?

OKWU: What are you going to buy if you win this thing?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: First, I am going to build a big church for the Lord, that's my priority. A big, mighty church. That is my goal.

OKWU: A big, mighty church. I have heard all sorts of things here, Kyra, today. It is remarkable. There are some people who have come in and have put down as many as $400 today. In fact, I am going to go inside now and see how ticket sales are doing. We understand from lottery officials that they are selling about 9,400 tickets per minute here in Connecticut.

Sir, can I talk to you for a second? How much money did you just put down?

Your English isn't very good? That's fine.

Sir, how much money have you put down today?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I just put down 30 bucks.

OKWU: Thirty dollars. What do you buy if you win?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Probably take you and all my friends to the south of France and give everybody 100 grand apiece, and have a blast for about six months.

OKWU: I have got to get to know you better. We'll be talking.

Kyra, basically, it doesn't really matter, the fact that you have very choice -- or, very little chance of actually winning. The odds are about 1 in 120 million. Doesn't matter. People are buying the tickets anyway -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Wow. You know I have to ask this, did you buy a ticket, Michael?

OKWU: I haven't, Kyra. But that could just be because it has been a busy day...

PHILLIPS: What are you thinking?

OKWU: You know, it has been a busy day. I have been focusing on doing my job.

PHILLIPS: Yes, the dedicated employee that you are. You're already rich in spirit. All right. Michael Okwu, thank you so much. All right.

OKWU: See you later.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired December 24, 2002 - 13:03   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: 'Twas the day before Christmas and all through the land, visions of riches clutched in each hand: Powerball tickets, each just a buck, yet one worth millions to the person with luck. And what to my wondering eyes should appear, but Michael Okwu on the prize of the year.
Take it away, Michael.

MICHAEL OKWU, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The prize of the year, indeed. That's what every in this line thinks, anyway. The fact is, this is now up to $280 million.

So everybody is hoping that on Christmas Day they can cash in on the Christmas jackpot. People all day, Kyra, have been coming in from all over, from far afield, from Connecticut and New Jersey, and that's because Connecticut is one of the 22 states where you can actually play Powerball. If you're in New York state, for example, you can't play it. That is why there have been a lot of commuters into Greenwich, Connecticut this morning.

Sir, let me ask you something. I see you studiously studying these numbers. Is there a science?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There is no science. As a matter of fact, I went to New Jersey earlier with the mistake that they would have Powerball and they didn't. So I decided to come up here.

OKWU: Where are you from?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I am from Long Island, Great Neck.

OKWU: So you drove in today, or did you take the train?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, I drove. I drove.

OKWU: How much are you going to put down?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Not too much. If it is there, it is going to be there. If it was a dollar and you win, it's your number. I am going to put about $12 or $13.

OKWU: Twelve or $13, and then cross your fingers. Thank you.

Sir, how about you? Where are you coming from?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: New York.

OKWU: New York City. So how much are you going to put down today?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, ten dollars. That's all.

OKWU: Ten dollars, $10 investment hoping that maybe you can buy what, if you win?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I can't afford more than that. That's it. I am a construction worker. What do you expect?

OKWU: What are you going to buy if you win this thing?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: First, I am going to build a big church for the Lord, that's my priority. A big, mighty church. That is my goal.

OKWU: A big, mighty church. I have heard all sorts of things here, Kyra, today. It is remarkable. There are some people who have come in and have put down as many as $400 today. In fact, I am going to go inside now and see how ticket sales are doing. We understand from lottery officials that they are selling about 9,400 tickets per minute here in Connecticut.

Sir, can I talk to you for a second? How much money did you just put down?

Your English isn't very good? That's fine.

Sir, how much money have you put down today?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I just put down 30 bucks.

OKWU: Thirty dollars. What do you buy if you win?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Probably take you and all my friends to the south of France and give everybody 100 grand apiece, and have a blast for about six months.

OKWU: I have got to get to know you better. We'll be talking.

Kyra, basically, it doesn't really matter, the fact that you have very choice -- or, very little chance of actually winning. The odds are about 1 in 120 million. Doesn't matter. People are buying the tickets anyway -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Wow. You know I have to ask this, did you buy a ticket, Michael?

OKWU: I haven't, Kyra. But that could just be because it has been a busy day...

PHILLIPS: What are you thinking?

OKWU: You know, it has been a busy day. I have been focusing on doing my job.

PHILLIPS: Yes, the dedicated employee that you are. You're already rich in spirit. All right. Michael Okwu, thank you so much. All right.

OKWU: See you later.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com