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A Discussion With a Nuisance Alligator Control Agent; Monterey Jazz Festival

Aired September 17, 2004 - 13:30   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.


BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Getting answers from a once-missing Marine. Military investigators are questioning Corporal Wassef Ali Hassoun about his three-week disappearance from Iraq last summer. A spokesman says Hassoun is not being treated as a criminal suspect. Hassoun, who says he'd been kidnapped, returned to full duty at Camp Lejeune on Tuesday.
Michael Jackson is in a California courthouse this hour. His family and many fans turned out to support him. The judge heard testimony from the mother of the young boy Jackson is accused of molesting. At issue is whether some evidence can be admitted in Jackson's trial.

And will he homer at home? Barry Bonds tries again tonight for home run number 700. He'll do it on his home turf as San Francisco hosts San Diego. And if he makes it, Bonds will be only the third player to reach that milestone. Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron were the others.

MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Let's get back to our stop story, the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan. It's been more than a day since Ivan hit. More than 1.8 million customers from Louisiana to North Carolina without electricity today, and there's still no sign of a half-dozen alligators on the loose. They're missing from the Alabama Gulf Shores Zoo.

Dave Albright (ph), one of our photographers, caught one of them, it happens to be Chuckie, 12 feet long , about a half ton in weight, and definitely somebody to reckon with there.

So how do you catch a half-ton gator that is 12 feet long? I know, very carefully.

For some deeper insight, though, I have on the telephone a nuisance alligator control agent for the state of Florida, and this is his real name, folks, it's Tony Hunter.

Tony, good to have you with us.

TONY HUNTER, FLORIDA NUISANCE ALLIGATOR CONTROL AGENT: It's nice to be here.

O'BRIEN: All right. Now we've been hearing frequently in our reports from Gary Tuchman and others that the only way to get Chuckie and the others safely is unfortunately to kill them, but they can't be tranquilized. Is that accurate? HUNTER: It's very, very difficult to tranquilize an alligator without killing them.

O'BRIEN: Why is that?

HUNTER: Just their metabolism and the way that their bloodflow is.

O'BRIEN: So their metabolism is so low that if you tranquilize them, you're probably going to kill them anyway.

HUNTER: Most likely. It's very, very likely.

O'BRIEN: All right, if your mission was to get Chuckie, what would you do?

HUNTER: Not being there to see the situation, it's kind of hard, but I would make sure to try to contain him in a certain area and eventually capture him alive. I really would hate to see him be killed. If they can keep him contained in a reasonably small area, there shouldn't be any reason not to be able to catch him alive.

O'BRIEN: So it is possible to catch something as large, and perhaps angry, as Chuckie alive. How would you go about that?

HUNTER: Like you said before, very carefully. But...

O'BRIEN: We have some pictures right now. They're throwing a chicken at one of them. I think they were using that as bait.

HUNTER: Right. Those guys happen to be friends of mine, those three guys there.

O'BRIEN: Oh, really?

HUNTER: Yes, I've taken 120 live alligators up to 13 1/2 feet over to them this summer, and they've got another exhibit just north of there, and thank God none of those got out, but...

O'BRIEN: Wow.

HUNTER: Yes, I see what they're doing there, and hopefully they're just trying to bait him in with the food they've been feeding them until they can get them close enough to get a line on him.

O'BRIEN: So does the chicken have a line on it when they toss it out and then they hook it, or they just throw the chicken progressively closer to them to lure them in.

HUNTER: I'm assuming they're just trying to lure them in. I don't know if they're using hooks or not. I think they're trying to try and lure the gator in. And hopefully that's what they're doing.

O'BRIEN: So as you got closer to Chuckie, assuming you bated him, and got near him and got him in a contained area, then what do you do? HUNTER: Just try to get a line on him any way that you can, and basically fight him hand to hand, tire him out until he gets tired, and then pull him up, and tie him up, and tape his mouth and put him back in his enclosure.

O'BRIEN: I got to ask you, you fight an alligator hand to hand.

HUNTER: On the end of a line. I'm not going to get too close.

O'BRIEN: How long have you been doing this, Tony?

HUNTER: Almost 30 years now.

O'BRIEN: All right. If they you need your help there, you going to head to Gulf Shores?

HUNTER: Oh, absolutely. I've been waiting for a call from them most any time.

O'BRIEN: All right, maybe they're watching now and maybe you'll be over there soon enough. Let's hope that maybe you can help them out and bring Chuckie and the others back alive.

Thank you for your time, Tony Hunter.

HUNTER: I appreciate it.

O'BRIEN: Who handles alligator nuisances in the state of Florida, right next door to Alabama. He says he knows those guys, baiting him with chicken, and apparently they're doing all right.

All right, let's go now to Mobile, Alabama, a Blackhawk helicopter there. Inside that Black hawk helicopter, not too long ago, was the governor of Alabama, Bob Riley, taking a tour. There you see Old Glory in the foreground, obviously. And we expect to be hearing from him very shortly after taking his tour surveying the damage in the wake of Ivan, and we'll keep you posted on that one -- Betty.

NGUYEN: President Bush is raising money for his campaign today. Mr. Bush talked to supporters in the nation's capital. He warned that his rival has plans for big government. The president said John Kerry is proposing $2.2 trillion and new spending and hasn't said how he's going to pay for it. He said not enough money can be generated from Kerry's plan to tax the wealthy. Mr. Bush said the rich hire lawyers and accountants, and the middle class, well, they'll be stuck with the bill.

Meanwhile, Democratic challenger Senator John Kerry held a townhall meeting in New Mexico today. Kerry told a crowd of supporters, America needs a president who put the interest of taxpayers and troops ahead of big-money friends. Kerry accused the bush administration of ignoring waste and overcharging by Halliburton, a company once run by Vice President Dick Cheney, which is doing business in Iraq. Illustrating the difficulty in trying to handicap the presidential race, two polls out today have two very different sets of statistics. The latest Gallup poll shows Bush 13 point ahead of Kerry among likely voters, while a survey from Pew Research Center show the president and senator in a virtual dead heat. We'll have more on the numbers with "USA Today's" Walter Shapiro. That's in the next hour.

HUNTER: But in the meantime, should it or shouldn't it? The Florida Supreme Court is expected to rule on whether independent Ralph Nader's name should be on the state ballot. Oral arguments were heard today. The court warned election officials to not mail any absentee ballots until its decision is made. A footnote to this story, Arizona Senator and Bush supporter John McCain has asked the court to allow Nader's name on the Florida ballot.

O'BRIEN: Campaign stops in West Virginia, South Carolina and Pennsylvania all on the first lady's to-do list today. Thursday, Laura Bush was interrupted at a New Jersey rally by a protester. The demonstrator, who was escorted out of the rally, is the mother of a soldier killed in Iraq.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SUE NIEDERER, PROTESTER: All I want is one question answered.

QUESTION: What was the question you hollered?

NIEDERER: Very simple question.

QUESTION: What was it?

NIEDERER: Why aren't the senators, the legislators, the Congressmen, her children serving in this war? If this war is a war that they agree with, there are only three three...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You need to come with us, ma'am?

NIEDERER: You want to arrest me?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, we really don't want to arrest you, ma'am.

(CROSSTALK)

NIEDERER: Go ahead, come on, arrest me, right here in front of everybody. Go ahead.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'BRIEN: Sue Niederer was charged with trespassing, but was later released.

Still to come on LIVE FROM, two Christian groups have a bone to pick with a household products giant. Will there be any saving grace?

RHONDA SCHAFFLER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Miles, Procter & Gamble in a bit of hot water. I'm going to tell you why it's facing a boycott, after this break.

LARRY SMITH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Larry Smith. Later on LIVE FROM, did Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson prove to be a dynamic duo, or simply continue the struggles of the Americans at the Ryder Cup? I'll have an update on the way.

MARIA HINOJOSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Maria Hinojosa. The jazz is getting underway at the 47th Annual Monterey Jazz Festival. Coming up, live music with Terence Blanchard, after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(WEATHER REPORT)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Well, if you love jazz, Monterey, California, is the place to be this weekend. More than 500 performers are scheduled to take the stage at this year's festival.

CNN's Maria Hinojosa is covering the Monterey Jazz Festival and joins us live with a special guest. What an assignment you've got!

HINOJOSA: It's the best at CNN. What can I tell you, Betty -- it's great to be here. The mood is fabulous. Forty-seven years and counting; the longest jazz festival in the world. And that's why people keep on coming and people come back.

People like Terence Blanchard -- thank you for being here -- the fabulous, wonderful trumpeter. How do you feel?

TERENCE BLANCHARD, MONTEREY HEADLINER: Well, I feel great to be here with these great musicians, get a chance to play at this wonderful festival. It's awesome.

HINOJOSA: So, when you get the call that you've been invited to come to the Monterey Jazz Festival, what goes on for you?

BLANCHARD: First of all, it's kind of overwhelming, because I know of the great musicians who've come here before me: Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Dizzy Gillespie, Duke Ellington. So, you feel kind of honored to be put in the list of those names, and I'm happy to just be here with the guys that we have here.

HINOJOSA: Quickly, you -- like Art Blakey, one of your mentors, you really like to bring in young folks and give them creative expression. Why is that important for you as a jazz artist?

BLANCHARD: Well, I think it's important because Art Blakey gave us a lot of room to make mistakes and grow. And with these guys, these guys have their own visions. They've very accomplished musicians. They can play in all different styles, but I also try to give them room to be comfortable and just develop their own thing.

HINOJOSA: State of jazz now is good? BLANCHARD: State of jazz is very good, very good. We had a lot of young guys who have their own style and have a lot of interesting things to say musically.

HINOJOSA: So, you were commissioned by the Monterey Jazz Festival to create three songs for the great Dizzy Gillespie, who we lost in 1993 -- one of the first jazz artists I ever saw as a young child. What did you want to do this? What do you want to say with these songs?

BLANCHARD: Well, first of all, Dizzy was the kind of guy -- he was just a very open guy. He was a very loving, caring, kind of compassionate person. Whenever I saw him, you know, he gave me a music lesson.

And I mean, his relationship with me is invaluable. You know, I've learned so much from him throughout the years, I felt this was the least that I could do.

All right, well, let's listen to "Three Sweet Notes for Dizzy Gillespie."

(MUSIC)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: Team Europe is dominant early play at the Ryder Cup. Will the defending champs repeat their victory, even though America has the home course advantage.

Joining us to talk about that, CNN's Larry Smith, who is in Bloomfield Township at the beautiful Oaken Hills Golf Club there.

Larry, how are things going there?

SMITH: Well, if you're a European, you're very excited; if you're an American, you're hopeful the afternoon session will produce some better results. Because this is not the start the U.S. and team captain Hal Sutton had hoped for, four four-ball matches this morning, the Americans losing three of them, and needing a putt on 18 by Chris Riley to tie the other and earn a half point in that match.

Let's start with the opening match of the day, the marquee pairing of Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, the top two American golfers, taking on Padraig Harrington and Colin Montgomerie, Montgomerie, the veteran who helped put the Euros up, and they never trailed. In fact, no European team ever trailed all morning long. Woods kept the U.S. in it, as they won three of the next five holes to close out the front nine, but they won just one hole, he and Mickelson, the rest of the way.

Harrington here getting his putter going. Great shot making, by the way, by the Europeans. Montgomerie and Harrington beating Woods and Mickelson 2 and 1. That means that they were leading by two holes with just one hole to play, therefore, that match was over. Now the other matches on the day. Again, all Europeans, Darren Clark and Miguel Angel Jimenez defeating Davis Love III and Chad Campbell. That was 5 and 4 love, and Campbell failed to win a single hole throughout their match.

The one tie was Chris Riley and Stewart Cink, as they have their match with Paul McGinley and Luke Donald. The third match of the day, the final match I should say, fourth match, Sergio Garcia and Lee Westwood defeating Jim Furyk and David Toms of the U.S. 4 and 3.

You mentioned before the U.S. I mentioned that the U.S. had never led all morning long. In fact, they just did not make any puts. Take away the Woods-Mickelson duo, the other three duos combined only three holes the entire morning.

Now the afternoon foursome competition is just now teeing off. That's an alternate ball format. Woods and Mickelson the only U.S. duo to play together both in the morning and afternoon rounds. They will take the course here and tee off at 2:15 Eastern Time here at Oakland Hills, and they will take on Darren Clark and Lee Westwood. Again, the U.S. already down 3 1/2 to 1 1/2. Certainly their work cut out for them this afternoon and the rest of the weekend here in suburban Detroit.

Let's back out to you.

O'BRIEN: Larry, the greens there are just miserable. I mean, it's like putting off of cliffs in some places. What's the condition of the course? Why aren't they sinking those putts? Is it just because it's just so tough to putt there?

SMITH: Well, it's a very tough course. I mea, we were talking earlier, watching the morning round, that if someone designed this course now they'd be criticized for making the course way too difficult. It's a very difficult course to play, but everyone has been here all. They have known that.

And the one thing about the Ryder Cup, Miles, as you watch, every shot means something, unlike a regular tournament where you can make bad shots early and still rebound to win. Every shot here means something, no matter what it is, so that really adds an extra element of suspense and certainly gets the nerves going as well for all the players involved.

O'BRIEN: And a little pressure on Tiger Woods, huh?

SMITH: Well, on everybody right now. Woods actually played well in the morning, but the other team played better, and they were saying that they sensed once they got up, the rest of the Europeans playing behind them, playing behind this is Montgomerie and Harrington, playing against Woods and Mickelson. The rest of the players got up themselves and kind of took their lead. That was what Hal Sutton had hoped would happen with Woods and Mickelson. Instead, it had the reverse effect.

O'BRIEN: Larry Woods, thank you very much. We'll check in with you later on that.

(STOCK MARKET UPDATE)

NGUYEN: Speaking of Hurricane Ivan, had no regard for what was in its path. Coming up in the second hour of LIVE FROM, we'll meet victims of Ivan who are now roaming free with no place to call home. LIVE FROM's hour of power begins after this.

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 September 17, 2004 - 13:30   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Getting answers from a once-missing Marine. Military investigators are questioning Corporal Wassef Ali Hassoun about his three-week disappearance from Iraq last summer. A spokesman says Hassoun is not being treated as a criminal suspect. Hassoun, who says he'd been kidnapped, returned to full duty at Camp Lejeune on Tuesday.
Michael Jackson is in a California courthouse this hour. His family and many fans turned out to support him. The judge heard testimony from the mother of the young boy Jackson is accused of molesting. At issue is whether some evidence can be admitted in Jackson's trial.

And will he homer at home? Barry Bonds tries again tonight for home run number 700. He'll do it on his home turf as San Francisco hosts San Diego. And if he makes it, Bonds will be only the third player to reach that milestone. Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron were the others.

MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Let's get back to our stop story, the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan. It's been more than a day since Ivan hit. More than 1.8 million customers from Louisiana to North Carolina without electricity today, and there's still no sign of a half-dozen alligators on the loose. They're missing from the Alabama Gulf Shores Zoo.

Dave Albright (ph), one of our photographers, caught one of them, it happens to be Chuckie, 12 feet long , about a half ton in weight, and definitely somebody to reckon with there.

So how do you catch a half-ton gator that is 12 feet long? I know, very carefully.

For some deeper insight, though, I have on the telephone a nuisance alligator control agent for the state of Florida, and this is his real name, folks, it's Tony Hunter.

Tony, good to have you with us.

TONY HUNTER, FLORIDA NUISANCE ALLIGATOR CONTROL AGENT: It's nice to be here.

O'BRIEN: All right. Now we've been hearing frequently in our reports from Gary Tuchman and others that the only way to get Chuckie and the others safely is unfortunately to kill them, but they can't be tranquilized. Is that accurate? HUNTER: It's very, very difficult to tranquilize an alligator without killing them.

O'BRIEN: Why is that?

HUNTER: Just their metabolism and the way that their bloodflow is.

O'BRIEN: So their metabolism is so low that if you tranquilize them, you're probably going to kill them anyway.

HUNTER: Most likely. It's very, very likely.

O'BRIEN: All right, if your mission was to get Chuckie, what would you do?

HUNTER: Not being there to see the situation, it's kind of hard, but I would make sure to try to contain him in a certain area and eventually capture him alive. I really would hate to see him be killed. If they can keep him contained in a reasonably small area, there shouldn't be any reason not to be able to catch him alive.

O'BRIEN: So it is possible to catch something as large, and perhaps angry, as Chuckie alive. How would you go about that?

HUNTER: Like you said before, very carefully. But...

O'BRIEN: We have some pictures right now. They're throwing a chicken at one of them. I think they were using that as bait.

HUNTER: Right. Those guys happen to be friends of mine, those three guys there.

O'BRIEN: Oh, really?

HUNTER: Yes, I've taken 120 live alligators up to 13 1/2 feet over to them this summer, and they've got another exhibit just north of there, and thank God none of those got out, but...

O'BRIEN: Wow.

HUNTER: Yes, I see what they're doing there, and hopefully they're just trying to bait him in with the food they've been feeding them until they can get them close enough to get a line on him.

O'BRIEN: So does the chicken have a line on it when they toss it out and then they hook it, or they just throw the chicken progressively closer to them to lure them in.

HUNTER: I'm assuming they're just trying to lure them in. I don't know if they're using hooks or not. I think they're trying to try and lure the gator in. And hopefully that's what they're doing.

O'BRIEN: So as you got closer to Chuckie, assuming you bated him, and got near him and got him in a contained area, then what do you do? HUNTER: Just try to get a line on him any way that you can, and basically fight him hand to hand, tire him out until he gets tired, and then pull him up, and tie him up, and tape his mouth and put him back in his enclosure.

O'BRIEN: I got to ask you, you fight an alligator hand to hand.

HUNTER: On the end of a line. I'm not going to get too close.

O'BRIEN: How long have you been doing this, Tony?

HUNTER: Almost 30 years now.

O'BRIEN: All right. If they you need your help there, you going to head to Gulf Shores?

HUNTER: Oh, absolutely. I've been waiting for a call from them most any time.

O'BRIEN: All right, maybe they're watching now and maybe you'll be over there soon enough. Let's hope that maybe you can help them out and bring Chuckie and the others back alive.

Thank you for your time, Tony Hunter.

HUNTER: I appreciate it.

O'BRIEN: Who handles alligator nuisances in the state of Florida, right next door to Alabama. He says he knows those guys, baiting him with chicken, and apparently they're doing all right.

All right, let's go now to Mobile, Alabama, a Blackhawk helicopter there. Inside that Black hawk helicopter, not too long ago, was the governor of Alabama, Bob Riley, taking a tour. There you see Old Glory in the foreground, obviously. And we expect to be hearing from him very shortly after taking his tour surveying the damage in the wake of Ivan, and we'll keep you posted on that one -- Betty.

NGUYEN: President Bush is raising money for his campaign today. Mr. Bush talked to supporters in the nation's capital. He warned that his rival has plans for big government. The president said John Kerry is proposing $2.2 trillion and new spending and hasn't said how he's going to pay for it. He said not enough money can be generated from Kerry's plan to tax the wealthy. Mr. Bush said the rich hire lawyers and accountants, and the middle class, well, they'll be stuck with the bill.

Meanwhile, Democratic challenger Senator John Kerry held a townhall meeting in New Mexico today. Kerry told a crowd of supporters, America needs a president who put the interest of taxpayers and troops ahead of big-money friends. Kerry accused the bush administration of ignoring waste and overcharging by Halliburton, a company once run by Vice President Dick Cheney, which is doing business in Iraq. Illustrating the difficulty in trying to handicap the presidential race, two polls out today have two very different sets of statistics. The latest Gallup poll shows Bush 13 point ahead of Kerry among likely voters, while a survey from Pew Research Center show the president and senator in a virtual dead heat. We'll have more on the numbers with "USA Today's" Walter Shapiro. That's in the next hour.

HUNTER: But in the meantime, should it or shouldn't it? The Florida Supreme Court is expected to rule on whether independent Ralph Nader's name should be on the state ballot. Oral arguments were heard today. The court warned election officials to not mail any absentee ballots until its decision is made. A footnote to this story, Arizona Senator and Bush supporter John McCain has asked the court to allow Nader's name on the Florida ballot.

O'BRIEN: Campaign stops in West Virginia, South Carolina and Pennsylvania all on the first lady's to-do list today. Thursday, Laura Bush was interrupted at a New Jersey rally by a protester. The demonstrator, who was escorted out of the rally, is the mother of a soldier killed in Iraq.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SUE NIEDERER, PROTESTER: All I want is one question answered.

QUESTION: What was the question you hollered?

NIEDERER: Very simple question.

QUESTION: What was it?

NIEDERER: Why aren't the senators, the legislators, the Congressmen, her children serving in this war? If this war is a war that they agree with, there are only three three...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You need to come with us, ma'am?

NIEDERER: You want to arrest me?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, we really don't want to arrest you, ma'am.

(CROSSTALK)

NIEDERER: Go ahead, come on, arrest me, right here in front of everybody. Go ahead.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'BRIEN: Sue Niederer was charged with trespassing, but was later released.

Still to come on LIVE FROM, two Christian groups have a bone to pick with a household products giant. Will there be any saving grace?

RHONDA SCHAFFLER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Miles, Procter & Gamble in a bit of hot water. I'm going to tell you why it's facing a boycott, after this break.

LARRY SMITH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Larry Smith. Later on LIVE FROM, did Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson prove to be a dynamic duo, or simply continue the struggles of the Americans at the Ryder Cup? I'll have an update on the way.

MARIA HINOJOSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Maria Hinojosa. The jazz is getting underway at the 47th Annual Monterey Jazz Festival. Coming up, live music with Terence Blanchard, after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(WEATHER REPORT)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Well, if you love jazz, Monterey, California, is the place to be this weekend. More than 500 performers are scheduled to take the stage at this year's festival.

CNN's Maria Hinojosa is covering the Monterey Jazz Festival and joins us live with a special guest. What an assignment you've got!

HINOJOSA: It's the best at CNN. What can I tell you, Betty -- it's great to be here. The mood is fabulous. Forty-seven years and counting; the longest jazz festival in the world. And that's why people keep on coming and people come back.

People like Terence Blanchard -- thank you for being here -- the fabulous, wonderful trumpeter. How do you feel?

TERENCE BLANCHARD, MONTEREY HEADLINER: Well, I feel great to be here with these great musicians, get a chance to play at this wonderful festival. It's awesome.

HINOJOSA: So, when you get the call that you've been invited to come to the Monterey Jazz Festival, what goes on for you?

BLANCHARD: First of all, it's kind of overwhelming, because I know of the great musicians who've come here before me: Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Dizzy Gillespie, Duke Ellington. So, you feel kind of honored to be put in the list of those names, and I'm happy to just be here with the guys that we have here.

HINOJOSA: Quickly, you -- like Art Blakey, one of your mentors, you really like to bring in young folks and give them creative expression. Why is that important for you as a jazz artist?

BLANCHARD: Well, I think it's important because Art Blakey gave us a lot of room to make mistakes and grow. And with these guys, these guys have their own visions. They've very accomplished musicians. They can play in all different styles, but I also try to give them room to be comfortable and just develop their own thing.

HINOJOSA: State of jazz now is good? BLANCHARD: State of jazz is very good, very good. We had a lot of young guys who have their own style and have a lot of interesting things to say musically.

HINOJOSA: So, you were commissioned by the Monterey Jazz Festival to create three songs for the great Dizzy Gillespie, who we lost in 1993 -- one of the first jazz artists I ever saw as a young child. What did you want to do this? What do you want to say with these songs?

BLANCHARD: Well, first of all, Dizzy was the kind of guy -- he was just a very open guy. He was a very loving, caring, kind of compassionate person. Whenever I saw him, you know, he gave me a music lesson.

And I mean, his relationship with me is invaluable. You know, I've learned so much from him throughout the years, I felt this was the least that I could do.

All right, well, let's listen to "Three Sweet Notes for Dizzy Gillespie."

(MUSIC)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: Team Europe is dominant early play at the Ryder Cup. Will the defending champs repeat their victory, even though America has the home course advantage.

Joining us to talk about that, CNN's Larry Smith, who is in Bloomfield Township at the beautiful Oaken Hills Golf Club there.

Larry, how are things going there?

SMITH: Well, if you're a European, you're very excited; if you're an American, you're hopeful the afternoon session will produce some better results. Because this is not the start the U.S. and team captain Hal Sutton had hoped for, four four-ball matches this morning, the Americans losing three of them, and needing a putt on 18 by Chris Riley to tie the other and earn a half point in that match.

Let's start with the opening match of the day, the marquee pairing of Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, the top two American golfers, taking on Padraig Harrington and Colin Montgomerie, Montgomerie, the veteran who helped put the Euros up, and they never trailed. In fact, no European team ever trailed all morning long. Woods kept the U.S. in it, as they won three of the next five holes to close out the front nine, but they won just one hole, he and Mickelson, the rest of the way.

Harrington here getting his putter going. Great shot making, by the way, by the Europeans. Montgomerie and Harrington beating Woods and Mickelson 2 and 1. That means that they were leading by two holes with just one hole to play, therefore, that match was over. Now the other matches on the day. Again, all Europeans, Darren Clark and Miguel Angel Jimenez defeating Davis Love III and Chad Campbell. That was 5 and 4 love, and Campbell failed to win a single hole throughout their match.

The one tie was Chris Riley and Stewart Cink, as they have their match with Paul McGinley and Luke Donald. The third match of the day, the final match I should say, fourth match, Sergio Garcia and Lee Westwood defeating Jim Furyk and David Toms of the U.S. 4 and 3.

You mentioned before the U.S. I mentioned that the U.S. had never led all morning long. In fact, they just did not make any puts. Take away the Woods-Mickelson duo, the other three duos combined only three holes the entire morning.

Now the afternoon foursome competition is just now teeing off. That's an alternate ball format. Woods and Mickelson the only U.S. duo to play together both in the morning and afternoon rounds. They will take the course here and tee off at 2:15 Eastern Time here at Oakland Hills, and they will take on Darren Clark and Lee Westwood. Again, the U.S. already down 3 1/2 to 1 1/2. Certainly their work cut out for them this afternoon and the rest of the weekend here in suburban Detroit.

Let's back out to you.

O'BRIEN: Larry, the greens there are just miserable. I mean, it's like putting off of cliffs in some places. What's the condition of the course? Why aren't they sinking those putts? Is it just because it's just so tough to putt there?

SMITH: Well, it's a very tough course. I mea, we were talking earlier, watching the morning round, that if someone designed this course now they'd be criticized for making the course way too difficult. It's a very difficult course to play, but everyone has been here all. They have known that.

And the one thing about the Ryder Cup, Miles, as you watch, every shot means something, unlike a regular tournament where you can make bad shots early and still rebound to win. Every shot here means something, no matter what it is, so that really adds an extra element of suspense and certainly gets the nerves going as well for all the players involved.

O'BRIEN: And a little pressure on Tiger Woods, huh?

SMITH: Well, on everybody right now. Woods actually played well in the morning, but the other team played better, and they were saying that they sensed once they got up, the rest of the Europeans playing behind them, playing behind this is Montgomerie and Harrington, playing against Woods and Mickelson. The rest of the players got up themselves and kind of took their lead. That was what Hal Sutton had hoped would happen with Woods and Mickelson. Instead, it had the reverse effect.

O'BRIEN: Larry Woods, thank you very much. We'll check in with you later on that.

(STOCK MARKET UPDATE)

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