Return to Transcripts main page

Live From...

Memorial Day Weekend Huge in Sports World

Aired May 26, 2003 - 14:48   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: A major league milestone looms in Yankee stadium, weather permitting, while a mainstay of the NBA 86er -- the 70 or the 86's -- the 76ers -- OK, that was a tongue twister.
Larry Smith joins me to sort this all out.

LARRY SMITH, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: I'm lost.

PHILLIPS: OK. Wait. Let me go back. I get it. '86 76ers.

SMITH: Got you. There you go.

PHILLIPS: All right, we'll get to that a minute.

But first, got to start talking about Serena. We got a lot of things to hit today.

SMITH: Yes, what a big sports day it's become all of a sudden this Memorial Day weekend as we kind of transition our way into summer.

Serena Williams today has already done it, winning her first round match, 29th consecutive victory in a Grand Slam tournament, trying to become the first woman since Steffi Graff back in 1988 and '89 to win five straight Grand Slam tournaments, and Serena, the defending champion at the French. This is where the Serena slam began. No problem at all beating Barbara Ritner (ph).

Also, Andre Agassi playing today as well. Agassi double faulted twice on match point, but finally beating Carl Beck (ph) in three sets.

PHILLIPS: All right. Now let's talk about the major league milestone. Roger Clemens.

SMITH: Yes, Roger Clemens, what -- the future hall of famer, only six time Cy Young awardwinner and we are waiting as they are still in a rain delay. He is trying to get it against the Red Sox of all times. But the game has been delayed. They're going to try to hold out as long as they can to get it in.

But what poetic justice, I guess. The team he felt -- kind of felt he was done and said his career was over. He was in the twilight. He leaves, goes on Toronto, wins two more Cy Young awards. Goes to the Yankees, he's won a couple of rings with the Yankees and another Cy Young award and today the career 300 victories is what he goes on. First try at that, weather permitting, but we will watch that and hopefully they get it up in New York.

PHILLIPS: All right, now that '86 76 Larry Brown story.

SMITH: The six and six. Well, here's -- speaking of sixes, here's another way that the six story fits into this.

Larry Brown, six years with the Philadelphia 76ers, his longest tenure in his long 31-year career. But the word is that he did is going to leave. Two team sources telling the Associated Press that he will step down as coach. If he does leave and if the Sixers release him from a contractual clause that says he cannot coach for the next two years, the remaining deal of his contract, he could be a candidate in Houston, where Rudy Tomjanovich stepped down last week.

Even in Cleveland, and last night on TNT, LeBron James, the Akron, Ohio teenager who's going right to the NBA from high school said on TNT he would love to have Larry Brown as his coach. Cleveland, by the way, does have the first pick in the draft next month and they are expected to take LeBron James just as sure as Haley's Comet is going to come by herein another few years. You can count on that. It's going to happen.

PHILLIPS: All right. We got to get in Indy 500.

Of course, we were there this weekend, you know, with our best friends.

SMITH: Yes.

PHILLIPS: Got to talk Indy 500. Sara Fisher, what a bummer.

SMITH: Yes. Yes.

PHILLIPS: I really wanted her to hang in there.

SMITH: But isn't that an exciting atmosphere to be in over there?

PHILLIPS: It's just -- you feel it in your heart, the rumbling.

SMITH: Yes.

The Indy 500, the old brickyard and -- well, once again, though, it was Gil De Ferran who did it and we had some highlights yesterday.

Just in case you missed them, the Brazilian winning the 87th Indy 500, finishes his career. Now Michael Andretti, lap 94, broken throttle as he is now winless in 13 attempts at Indy. Rookie Dan Weldon loses control of his car, but walks away from this accident. An incredible video, this happening on lap 187.

But again, Gil De Ferran holding off his Penske teammates and fellow country man Elio Castranaves to win 500. From De Ferran, his first win at Indy. And of course, you know what you do when you win at Indy. You've got to drink milk because...

PHILLIPS: Lots of milk.

SMITH: Milk does a body good and especially you need strong bones to help you heal after you crash if that should happen in a future race.

PHILLIPS: Ooh!

SMITH: Sorry, had to say that.

Not -- what a -- just a huge weekend. And of course, NBA Playoffs, in case you missed it, San Antonio beating Dallas last night. They lead three games to one now in that series. They could wrap it up at home tomorrow night with New Jersey waiting. The NBA Finals don't begin until July -- or June 4 so the Nets could have, like, 11 days off in between. That's a lot of golf waiting for the finals.

PHILLIPS: And Annika Sorenstam missing the cut by four strokes.

SMITH: Yes.

PHILLIPS: That was just bummer news to wake up and read the paper.

SMITH: Yes, but -- but how still exciting, and I think still was a victory for her. She played very well.

PHILLIPS: Oh yes.

SMITH: She proved she could play and not only that, she changed the minds of a lot of people who were against her at the beginning of the week that she certainly could compete. And when you see some one put so much of themselves into something like that, it was just a fantastic story and how could you not root for her the way that she persevered?

PHILLIPS: I'm with you.

SMITH: Yes.

PHILLIPS: I'm with you on that.

Larry Smith, thank you.

SMITH: Sure. Any time.

PHILLIPS: All right.

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 May 26, 2003 - 14:48   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: A major league milestone looms in Yankee stadium, weather permitting, while a mainstay of the NBA 86er -- the 70 or the 86's -- the 76ers -- OK, that was a tongue twister.
Larry Smith joins me to sort this all out.

LARRY SMITH, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: I'm lost.

PHILLIPS: OK. Wait. Let me go back. I get it. '86 76ers.

SMITH: Got you. There you go.

PHILLIPS: All right, we'll get to that a minute.

But first, got to start talking about Serena. We got a lot of things to hit today.

SMITH: Yes, what a big sports day it's become all of a sudden this Memorial Day weekend as we kind of transition our way into summer.

Serena Williams today has already done it, winning her first round match, 29th consecutive victory in a Grand Slam tournament, trying to become the first woman since Steffi Graff back in 1988 and '89 to win five straight Grand Slam tournaments, and Serena, the defending champion at the French. This is where the Serena slam began. No problem at all beating Barbara Ritner (ph).

Also, Andre Agassi playing today as well. Agassi double faulted twice on match point, but finally beating Carl Beck (ph) in three sets.

PHILLIPS: All right. Now let's talk about the major league milestone. Roger Clemens.

SMITH: Yes, Roger Clemens, what -- the future hall of famer, only six time Cy Young awardwinner and we are waiting as they are still in a rain delay. He is trying to get it against the Red Sox of all times. But the game has been delayed. They're going to try to hold out as long as they can to get it in.

But what poetic justice, I guess. The team he felt -- kind of felt he was done and said his career was over. He was in the twilight. He leaves, goes on Toronto, wins two more Cy Young awards. Goes to the Yankees, he's won a couple of rings with the Yankees and another Cy Young award and today the career 300 victories is what he goes on. First try at that, weather permitting, but we will watch that and hopefully they get it up in New York.

PHILLIPS: All right, now that '86 76 Larry Brown story.

SMITH: The six and six. Well, here's -- speaking of sixes, here's another way that the six story fits into this.

Larry Brown, six years with the Philadelphia 76ers, his longest tenure in his long 31-year career. But the word is that he did is going to leave. Two team sources telling the Associated Press that he will step down as coach. If he does leave and if the Sixers release him from a contractual clause that says he cannot coach for the next two years, the remaining deal of his contract, he could be a candidate in Houston, where Rudy Tomjanovich stepped down last week.

Even in Cleveland, and last night on TNT, LeBron James, the Akron, Ohio teenager who's going right to the NBA from high school said on TNT he would love to have Larry Brown as his coach. Cleveland, by the way, does have the first pick in the draft next month and they are expected to take LeBron James just as sure as Haley's Comet is going to come by herein another few years. You can count on that. It's going to happen.

PHILLIPS: All right. We got to get in Indy 500.

Of course, we were there this weekend, you know, with our best friends.

SMITH: Yes.

PHILLIPS: Got to talk Indy 500. Sara Fisher, what a bummer.

SMITH: Yes. Yes.

PHILLIPS: I really wanted her to hang in there.

SMITH: But isn't that an exciting atmosphere to be in over there?

PHILLIPS: It's just -- you feel it in your heart, the rumbling.

SMITH: Yes.

The Indy 500, the old brickyard and -- well, once again, though, it was Gil De Ferran who did it and we had some highlights yesterday.

Just in case you missed them, the Brazilian winning the 87th Indy 500, finishes his career. Now Michael Andretti, lap 94, broken throttle as he is now winless in 13 attempts at Indy. Rookie Dan Weldon loses control of his car, but walks away from this accident. An incredible video, this happening on lap 187.

But again, Gil De Ferran holding off his Penske teammates and fellow country man Elio Castranaves to win 500. From De Ferran, his first win at Indy. And of course, you know what you do when you win at Indy. You've got to drink milk because...

PHILLIPS: Lots of milk.

SMITH: Milk does a body good and especially you need strong bones to help you heal after you crash if that should happen in a future race.

PHILLIPS: Ooh!

SMITH: Sorry, had to say that.

Not -- what a -- just a huge weekend. And of course, NBA Playoffs, in case you missed it, San Antonio beating Dallas last night. They lead three games to one now in that series. They could wrap it up at home tomorrow night with New Jersey waiting. The NBA Finals don't begin until July -- or June 4 so the Nets could have, like, 11 days off in between. That's a lot of golf waiting for the finals.

PHILLIPS: And Annika Sorenstam missing the cut by four strokes.

SMITH: Yes.

PHILLIPS: That was just bummer news to wake up and read the paper.

SMITH: Yes, but -- but how still exciting, and I think still was a victory for her. She played very well.

PHILLIPS: Oh yes.

SMITH: She proved she could play and not only that, she changed the minds of a lot of people who were against her at the beginning of the week that she certainly could compete. And when you see some one put so much of themselves into something like that, it was just a fantastic story and how could you not root for her the way that she persevered?

PHILLIPS: I'm with you.

SMITH: Yes.

PHILLIPS: I'm with you on that.

Larry Smith, thank you.

SMITH: Sure. Any time.

PHILLIPS: All right.

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