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CNN Live Today

Senate Expected to Vote on Intel Reform; Maryland Arson Probe Continues; Analysis of Athletes' Bad Sports Behavior

Aired December 08, 2004 - 10:00   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.


RICK SANCHEZ, CNN CO-ANCHOR: Well, we've got some great stuff that we're going to bring you today. Controversial comments from candid individuals. Get this, Kofi Annan during our hour, and also Donald Rumsfeld during our hour with candid comments.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN CO-ANCHOR: A few questions he might not have expected from the troops. We'll tell you what his answers were. Right now we take a look at what's happening in the news.

SANCHEZ: The Senate is expected to follow the House today and approve the most significant intelligence reform in a half-century. House passage of the bill was held up for two weeks over Republicans' concerns about the military losing control over the intelligence, and also about border security. They won on one of those counts, we'll tell you which it is. President Bush had said he'll sign the bill into law.

As coalition forces prepare the way for elections in Iraq, there's a vote of confidence today from British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Mr. Blair said that U.N. officials overseeing the election do believe January 30 vote will happen. The British prime minister said more than 200 political parties have registered and the Iraqi people are yearning to vote.

He also had some comments about Kofi Annan. We'll tell you what those were.

And Mr. Blair and Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern won't be announcing a deal for a government for Northern Ireland, as they had hoped for. The Protestant-Roman Catholic power-sharing government collapsed two years ago. The issue of IRA disarmament has been a major big sticking point in negotiations. Mr. Blair said and we quote, "Immense progress has been made and work will continue on this matter."

Criminal charges are going to be announced today in connection with the NBA's basket-brawl. You're looking at it. Five Indiana Pacers and four Detroit Pistons fan reportedly are going to face misdemeanor, battery and assault charges. A fifth man accused of throwing the chair will be charged with felony assault.

We're getting started just a little late today. It's two minutes after the hour. I'm Rick Sanchez.

KAGAN: And good morning, everyone. I'm Daryn Kagan. Politics taking a back seat, a new intelligence bill is up for a decisive vote. The House has already signed off. Members of the Senate are rushing back. Congress is now on the brink of adopting the most sweeping changes to the intelligence community in 50 years.

Here is a look at what the measure calls for. It will create a national director of intelligence, also establish a counter terrorism center, the bill sets priorities for intelligence gathering and it would tighten U.S. border by adding thousands more border guards.

By the end of business today, the bill could be on its way to the president's desk. So the business at hand now rests with the Senate, where a late-afternoon vote now looms.

Let's go to Capitol Hill. Our correspondent Ed Henry standing by with more on this.

Good morning, Ed.

ED HENRY, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn. What's at stake for the American people is very clear. Supporters of this legislation say it will make the nation safer, will make the nation less vulnerable to terrorist attack.

And as is often the case in Washington after a long logjam, we're going to be seeing weeks of delays. All of a sudden, now that people are coming to the table it's moving at warp speed. It passed through the House last night by a wide margin, 336 to 75. It's expected to sail through the Senate as well. And could be signed into law by the president by the end of the week.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HENRY (voice-over): The Senate is poised to finish the 9/11 bill today, while the House passed the legislation last night, on the anniversary of Pearl Harbor. Supporters say the sweeping intelligence reform will help prevent America from experiencing another day of infamy.

SEN. BOB GRAHAM (D), FLORIDA: Today, after a half-century, we are committed and on the verge of making some fundamental reforms that will reduce the chances of another Pearl Harbor or another 9/11 occurring.

HENRY: But Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner, whose immigration revisions were left out, said the reform was incomplete.

REP. JAMES SENSENBRENNER (R), WISCONSIN: And how can we face grieving families in the future and tell them that while we might have done more, the legislative hurdles were just too high? I, for one, cannot. And therefore, oppose the bill.

HENRY: At a closed-door meeting of House Republicans, Sensenbrenner got sustained applause from angry conservatives, a sign President Bush's victory might come with some political costs. REP. ZACH WAMP (R), TENNESSEE: This may be the most divided, Republican House conference is on any major Bush initiative in the last four years, because I think we're still split sort of down the middle.

HENRY: Supporters of the 9/11 bill say Sensenbrenner's measures would have sunk the legislation.

SEN. SUSAN COLLINS (R), MAINE: We just could not let the most significant reforms of our intelligence community in 50 years go down, because of controversy over issues that were not recommended by the 9/11 Commission.

HENRY: The bill does include some immigration changes: an increase in border patrol agents, more detention beds, and stepped-up criminal penalty for alien smuggling. Negotiators admit they could have gone further, but they didn't want to let the perfect be the enemy of the good.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HENRY: Republican leaders are trying to complete the job in January, by bringing up Mr. Sensenbrenner's immigration proposals. But without consensus the Republicans could be headed for a messy fight, a divisive fight as well over immigration -- Daryn.

KAGAN: All right. Ed Henry on Capitol Hill. More on this later. Thank you.

SANCHEZ: You just Ed Henry referring to him just there, one of House Republicans who opposed the bill. He's planning a news conference at the top of the hour. He is none other than James Sensenbrenner who got quite an ovation yesterday. He's going to discuss his lingering concerns over immigration issues and what he's called, quote, "A recipe for disaster." He's literally denounced this bill, by the way.

And CNN is going to carry that comment from him live at 11:00 Eastern, 8:00 Pacific.

Now we move on to the fight for Iraq. Two U.S. soldiers are among those wounded in a car bomb attack on their patrol. It happened this morning around dawn in Baghdad. Several Iraqis are also reportedly injured.

Now, north of Baghdad there were no Americans hurt when their military convoy was targeted by a car bomb. It happened in the Samarra area, that's about 75 miles north of the capital. The driver of the car was killed when it suddenly exploded.

KAGAN: Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld faced some tough questions after a pep talk of sorts earlier today in Kuwait. He was there to rally troops bound for Iraq. And when he opened the floor for questions, several were candid and quite pointed.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Our soldiers have been fighting in Iraq for coming up on three years. A lot of us are getting ready to move north relatively soon. Our vehicles are not armored. We're digging pieces of rusted scrap metal and compromised ballistic glass that's already been shot up, dropped, busted. Picking the best out of this scrap to put on our vehicles to take into combat. We do not have proper armament vehicles to carry with us north.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: Secretary Rumsfeld answered that all the armor in the world can't protect a tank from being blown up. More on these questions and more of Don Rumsfeld's answers later when we're talking with our Don Shepard, one of our military analysts, a retired Air Force National Guard general.

The Pentagon is dispatching an anti-terror team of U.S. Marines to Jeddah and the U.S. consulate that came under attack on Monday. Terrorists stormed the facility and the gun battle left four of the attackers dead, along with five non-American employees of the consulate.

The threat of more attacks also prompted the U.S. State Department to issue a travel warning, urging Americans to not travel to Saudi Arabia. The warning now urges those Americans in Saudi Arabia to leave.

SANCHEZ: Back to the U.S. now, in our "Security Watch." Investigators may have a lead in the arson fire that destroyed 10 homes and damaged as many as 16 others. Arriving firefighters say that they noticed there was a blue van that was leaving this subdivision that's still under construction, the subdivision that is. A private security guard also reported seeing a van lingering on the site.

CNN's Brian Todd has the latest on this investigation.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Veteran investigators from the FBI and ATF tell CNN they've never seen a residential fire scene of this scope. More than two-dozen damaged homes over at least 10 acres, and a growing arson investigation.

W. FARON TAYLOR, MD. DEP. STATE FIRE MARSHALL,: Right now we have seven homes of the 26 the cause has been identified as arson.

TODD: Investigators fell CNN they expect that number to grow, but they won't discuss possible suspects, motive or means, saying only the perpetrators and law enforcement know some of those details. And they don't want to tip off the people they're chasing.

They also would not elaborate on information previously obtained by CNN, that according to law enforcement sources, incendiary devices consisting of accelerants in jugs were discovered at the scene. But they did talk about the difficulties of the investigation. MIKE CAMPBELL, ATF: One of the difficulties is the complexity and size. You have got approximately 10 acres of a crime scene; you've got multiple dwellings that have been damaged by fire.

TODD: The Hunters Brooke subdivision, about 30 miles southeast of Washington, was under construction when the fires began early Monday morning. No one was hurt. And only one house in the area of damaged homes was occupied.

Environmental groups had sued to try to stop construction, claiming the development would damage an adjacent wetlands area. But officials from three of the environmental groups involved in the effort to stop construction tell CNN they had nothing to do with it.

Law enforcement officials tell CNN they have received no claims of responsibility and found no signature markings left by groups like the Earth Liberation Front, or ELF, an organization that has resorted to violence for environmental causes.

BARRY MADDOX, FBI: I don't want to dwell on the ELF, ecoterrorism. I know you do, but that's not something that we're focusing on. We're well aware of the ELF organization, other organizations. Everything is in and everything is out right now.

TODD: (on camera): Investigators tell us a security company was contracted to the builders, and that security guards were scheduled to be on the scene at the time the fire started. When we asked them if guards were in fact there at the time, they wouldn't answer the question.

Brian Todd, CNN, Indian Head, Maryland.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: Still to come on CNN LIVE TODAY, flying fists and chairs, will those in the courtside brawl get a minor time-out or a serious punishment?

SANCHEZ: Also, her Olympic medals may be at stake. Track star Marion Jones back in the midst of this steroid scandal.

KAGAN: And later, Hollywood showcases them all the time, hunks. But are they the makings of an ideal man? Ladies, still to come, a book on how to re-model your own man. We have the tips coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Criminal charges are expected to be announced this afternoon in the brawl involving some Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons fans. Reports say that five Pacers and four fans will face charges of misdemeanor assault and battery. A fifth man, who is accused of throwing a chair, will be charged with felony assault. Three of the Pacers have received lengthy suspensions from the NBA.

And more violence on the court, actually want to tell you about this. There will be a news conference in Auburn Hills near Detroit about these charges. That will be taking place 2:00 p.m. Eastern today, 11 Pacific -- 11:00 a.m. Pacific. and you'll see it live right here on CNN.

Now the other violence on the court from Mobile, Alabama a high school basketball coach he's been suspended for allegedly allowing his players to beat up a teammate during practice. About 10 players were also suspended. That incident happened last month.

Surveillance video was released yesterday. The victim had reportedly broken team rules and was threatening to quit. A hearing next week will determine whether that coach will be fired.

SANCHEZ: Now to steroids and sports -- professional sports. Major League Baseball players have told their lawyers to make a deal with owners on tougher steroid testing. Now, the union and management have been in talks on this for a new agreement for more than a week now. Those negotiations, we're told, may resume next week. We're going to have more on this deal in a live report that we're going to bring you the next hour.

Meanwhile, the International Olympic Committee has launched an investigation of doping allegations against Marion Jones. The head of the California based lab accused of illegally distributing steroids told ABC he gave performance-enhancing drugs to Jones. The U.S. gold medal-winning sprinter has denied taking any of the banned drugs.

From performance-enhancing drugs to bad behavior, what type of message are athletes sending these days? And are fans showing a double standard when they criticize the players and yet keep buying the tickets and showing up at the events?

In today's "Culture and Decline" report, CNN's Casey Wian looks at un-sportsman-like conduct.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CASEY WIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The national pastime is tarnished. Fights used to happen between teams. Now fans and players like Dodgers' outfielder Milton Bradley are squaring off.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is last thing I want to do is hurt my team, and especially the fans out there.

WIAN: It's not just baseball, hockey players brawl with fans. College football players battle State Troopers, and the NBA has taken player/fan violence to a new level.

T.I. SIMERS, SPORTS COLUMNIST, "L.A. TIMES": Some of these athletes think he's Superman. He's invincible. He has so much money coming his way, endorsements and everything else. And so many second chances that they can hang in there and basically say or do anything, and feel like there's never going to be a repercussion.

WIAN: Take Bradley. This year alone he was ejected from four games, suspended twice, arrested on disorderly conduct charges and jailed for eluding police. Basket-brawl combatant, Ron Artest is serving his eighth suspension in two years. And Latrell Sprewell, best known for once choking his coach, recently called a $9 million a year contract offer "insulting," saying he has a family to feed. These words to a fan Saturday drew one-game suspension.

Then at there's cheating. Several Major League Baseball players have reportedly admitted steroid use to a grand jury, though home run king, Barry Bonds claims his use was unintentional.

Aspiring pros are taking notice. A recent survey found 56 percent of male high school athletes agree that successful people do whatever they have to do to win, even if others consider it cheating.

Today winning really is everything with an awful lot of young people. And when you think that this is the next generation of corporate executives and politicians and nuclear inspectors, it's a little bit scary.

WIAN: Even pro golf, which prides itself on honest, has problems. Twenty-eight percent of caddies told "Golf" magazine they've seen pros cheat.

(on camera): Owners aren't likely to crack down on player misconduct until fans revolt. And that doesn't appear likely. Attendance at major sporting events is at, or near record levels.

Casey Wians, CNN Los Angeles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SANCHEZ: Our "Culture in Decline" series continues on "LOU DOBBS TONIGHT." We're going to look at what some call the controversy surrounding immigrants who come to the United States, but don't assimilate. That's tonight at 6:00 p.m. Right here on CNN.

KAGAN: Is your boss doing a good job in the boardroom? Still to come, why his or her gender may make the difference.

Speaking of her, Gerri Willis is here with us.

Hi, Gerr.

GERRI WILLIS, CNN-FN PERSONAL FINANCE EDITOR: Hey there, guys. Good to see you. Coming up, I'll tell you how to help the people who help you all year long. Tips on tipping when CNN LIVE TODAY continues.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: This is a great segment we're going to bring you here. Are you ready? Are you thinking about spreading holiday cheer to the people who, well, help you out throughout the year? You like that? It rhymed. Perhaps you don't know how much or whom you're supposed to give money to.

CNN/FN personal finance editor Gerri Willis does. And that's why we're calling on her to help us out with this thing.

All right. Who's been naughty? Who's been nice? Who gets what? Who do you give to?

WILLIS: Well, you have got to give to people, Rick, who are important in your life who are providing you services that are critical. That means A-No. 1, if you have kids, it's it is baby- sitter, hands down. They're taking care of such an important treasure for you. So you want to give them if they're only taking care of your children, say on the weekend, maybe you give them one day's pay or two days' pay.

Now, if they provide services 9:00 to 5:00 every day of the week, you want to pay them a week's worth of salary. Now I know this sounds like a lot, Rick. But heck, these people give you a lot of their time and care. Look at the rest of the people on this list.

Look at the rest of the people we've got on this list here. We've got hairstylist, it's the cost of one visit. The fitness trainer, you want to give them $25 to $100, or the cost of one session. The newspaper carrier, a little less; maybe 25 bucks.

And here's where to be careful. The mail carrier, by law, you can't give them money. So maybe some cookies, maybe a little gift just to show your appreciation.

SANCHEZ: Yes, cookies that will go over real well.

(LAUGHTER)

WILLIS: It depends on how good the cookies are, right?

SANCHEZ: I suppose. You don't give money to everybody, though. Do you?

WILLIS: No, absolutely not. Friends, people you're working with, you don't want to give them cash. It looks like a transaction. Very bad so don't do that.

SANCHEZ: Well, Daryn is telling me it's OK. If you want to give me some money, I'll take it.

(LAUGHTER)

SANCHEZ: So, she's just incredible, this one.

How do you give them the money? I mean suppose there's a right way and a wrong way to do this, right?

WILLIS: Yes. There's a little etiquette involved with. Don't hand over cash, so get a card, put the money inside, cash if you're giving it out by hand, right? I mean it's just kind of tacky. So get a card, put the money inside; cash if you're giving it out by hand. And if not, if you're sending it through the mail, you might want to stroke a check. But make sure that you have a nice little message that you sign the card, so that people feel like it's from the heart and not just from the wallet.

SANCHEZ: I don't know if this is an excuse or not. But we live in a different society than we used to, where we're like very close knit. For example, the mailman, I never see my mailman.

WILLIS: Right. Most people don't. You may not even know who he is. But there's somebody there delivering your mail every day. Even if you don't see them, you should give them something to let them know you're thinking about them.

SANCHEZ: All right. Here's the big one. And I know -- I tussle with this one. Daryn and I were just talking about it a moment ago. When you say in a hotel, when you take a cruise, the people who make your bed, for example, do you tip them?

WILLIS: Yes, you got to give them some money. If you're traveling this holiday season, you want to be thinking about tipping people who are helping you out there. The maid who's making up the bed every night, you should leave a little something there. If you're on a cruise, there's a lot of tipping involved there, unless you're at an all-inclusive cruise line or maybe an all-inclusive resort. But you'll be ponying up about $25 each week for the steward.

There's a lot of money to give out. If you've got questions if you're traveling internationally, go to fodors.com, they have some good rules there about what to do in other countries, because it can be kind of tricky.

SANCHEZ: That's great stuff. Gerri Willis, thanks so much for bringing that to us.

WILLIS: You're welcome.

SANCHEZ: That's wonderful.

(LAUGHTER)

SANCHEZ: And here's a dollar...

KAGAN: Oh, thank you very much.

SANCHEZ: ... for looking adoringly at me while I was doing that segment.

(LAUGHTER)

KAGAN: Very good. Well, I'll put this in a safe place.

SANCHEZ: Just for being a great anchorperson.

KAGAN: Thank you. A dollar, this is CNN after all.

SANCHEZ: Yes. As much as I can go. All right?

KAGAN: OK. Every get the urge to just toss money out the window? SANCHEZ: Still to come, being traffic behind this car might not be so bad. But it wasn't good for whoever was in the car. We'll explain.

KAGAN: Plus some might think he's a perfect man. But now, ladies, maybe you can remodel your own man. Now, everyone can't have Rick Sanchez. I'll tell you that right now.

(LAUGHTER)

SANCHEZ: Here's another dollar.

(LAUGHTER)

KAGAN: That's a 10. I see it right there.

But we will have some step-by-step instructions. Literally, there's a new book out. It's called "How to Remodel a Man." That's just ahead.

SANCHEZ: Who's that Guy?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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Aired December 8, 2004 - 10:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
RICK SANCHEZ, CNN CO-ANCHOR: Well, we've got some great stuff that we're going to bring you today. Controversial comments from candid individuals. Get this, Kofi Annan during our hour, and also Donald Rumsfeld during our hour with candid comments.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN CO-ANCHOR: A few questions he might not have expected from the troops. We'll tell you what his answers were. Right now we take a look at what's happening in the news.

SANCHEZ: The Senate is expected to follow the House today and approve the most significant intelligence reform in a half-century. House passage of the bill was held up for two weeks over Republicans' concerns about the military losing control over the intelligence, and also about border security. They won on one of those counts, we'll tell you which it is. President Bush had said he'll sign the bill into law.

As coalition forces prepare the way for elections in Iraq, there's a vote of confidence today from British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Mr. Blair said that U.N. officials overseeing the election do believe January 30 vote will happen. The British prime minister said more than 200 political parties have registered and the Iraqi people are yearning to vote.

He also had some comments about Kofi Annan. We'll tell you what those were.

And Mr. Blair and Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern won't be announcing a deal for a government for Northern Ireland, as they had hoped for. The Protestant-Roman Catholic power-sharing government collapsed two years ago. The issue of IRA disarmament has been a major big sticking point in negotiations. Mr. Blair said and we quote, "Immense progress has been made and work will continue on this matter."

Criminal charges are going to be announced today in connection with the NBA's basket-brawl. You're looking at it. Five Indiana Pacers and four Detroit Pistons fan reportedly are going to face misdemeanor, battery and assault charges. A fifth man accused of throwing the chair will be charged with felony assault.

We're getting started just a little late today. It's two minutes after the hour. I'm Rick Sanchez.

KAGAN: And good morning, everyone. I'm Daryn Kagan. Politics taking a back seat, a new intelligence bill is up for a decisive vote. The House has already signed off. Members of the Senate are rushing back. Congress is now on the brink of adopting the most sweeping changes to the intelligence community in 50 years.

Here is a look at what the measure calls for. It will create a national director of intelligence, also establish a counter terrorism center, the bill sets priorities for intelligence gathering and it would tighten U.S. border by adding thousands more border guards.

By the end of business today, the bill could be on its way to the president's desk. So the business at hand now rests with the Senate, where a late-afternoon vote now looms.

Let's go to Capitol Hill. Our correspondent Ed Henry standing by with more on this.

Good morning, Ed.

ED HENRY, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn. What's at stake for the American people is very clear. Supporters of this legislation say it will make the nation safer, will make the nation less vulnerable to terrorist attack.

And as is often the case in Washington after a long logjam, we're going to be seeing weeks of delays. All of a sudden, now that people are coming to the table it's moving at warp speed. It passed through the House last night by a wide margin, 336 to 75. It's expected to sail through the Senate as well. And could be signed into law by the president by the end of the week.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HENRY (voice-over): The Senate is poised to finish the 9/11 bill today, while the House passed the legislation last night, on the anniversary of Pearl Harbor. Supporters say the sweeping intelligence reform will help prevent America from experiencing another day of infamy.

SEN. BOB GRAHAM (D), FLORIDA: Today, after a half-century, we are committed and on the verge of making some fundamental reforms that will reduce the chances of another Pearl Harbor or another 9/11 occurring.

HENRY: But Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner, whose immigration revisions were left out, said the reform was incomplete.

REP. JAMES SENSENBRENNER (R), WISCONSIN: And how can we face grieving families in the future and tell them that while we might have done more, the legislative hurdles were just too high? I, for one, cannot. And therefore, oppose the bill.

HENRY: At a closed-door meeting of House Republicans, Sensenbrenner got sustained applause from angry conservatives, a sign President Bush's victory might come with some political costs. REP. ZACH WAMP (R), TENNESSEE: This may be the most divided, Republican House conference is on any major Bush initiative in the last four years, because I think we're still split sort of down the middle.

HENRY: Supporters of the 9/11 bill say Sensenbrenner's measures would have sunk the legislation.

SEN. SUSAN COLLINS (R), MAINE: We just could not let the most significant reforms of our intelligence community in 50 years go down, because of controversy over issues that were not recommended by the 9/11 Commission.

HENRY: The bill does include some immigration changes: an increase in border patrol agents, more detention beds, and stepped-up criminal penalty for alien smuggling. Negotiators admit they could have gone further, but they didn't want to let the perfect be the enemy of the good.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HENRY: Republican leaders are trying to complete the job in January, by bringing up Mr. Sensenbrenner's immigration proposals. But without consensus the Republicans could be headed for a messy fight, a divisive fight as well over immigration -- Daryn.

KAGAN: All right. Ed Henry on Capitol Hill. More on this later. Thank you.

SANCHEZ: You just Ed Henry referring to him just there, one of House Republicans who opposed the bill. He's planning a news conference at the top of the hour. He is none other than James Sensenbrenner who got quite an ovation yesterday. He's going to discuss his lingering concerns over immigration issues and what he's called, quote, "A recipe for disaster." He's literally denounced this bill, by the way.

And CNN is going to carry that comment from him live at 11:00 Eastern, 8:00 Pacific.

Now we move on to the fight for Iraq. Two U.S. soldiers are among those wounded in a car bomb attack on their patrol. It happened this morning around dawn in Baghdad. Several Iraqis are also reportedly injured.

Now, north of Baghdad there were no Americans hurt when their military convoy was targeted by a car bomb. It happened in the Samarra area, that's about 75 miles north of the capital. The driver of the car was killed when it suddenly exploded.

KAGAN: Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld faced some tough questions after a pep talk of sorts earlier today in Kuwait. He was there to rally troops bound for Iraq. And when he opened the floor for questions, several were candid and quite pointed.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Our soldiers have been fighting in Iraq for coming up on three years. A lot of us are getting ready to move north relatively soon. Our vehicles are not armored. We're digging pieces of rusted scrap metal and compromised ballistic glass that's already been shot up, dropped, busted. Picking the best out of this scrap to put on our vehicles to take into combat. We do not have proper armament vehicles to carry with us north.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: Secretary Rumsfeld answered that all the armor in the world can't protect a tank from being blown up. More on these questions and more of Don Rumsfeld's answers later when we're talking with our Don Shepard, one of our military analysts, a retired Air Force National Guard general.

The Pentagon is dispatching an anti-terror team of U.S. Marines to Jeddah and the U.S. consulate that came under attack on Monday. Terrorists stormed the facility and the gun battle left four of the attackers dead, along with five non-American employees of the consulate.

The threat of more attacks also prompted the U.S. State Department to issue a travel warning, urging Americans to not travel to Saudi Arabia. The warning now urges those Americans in Saudi Arabia to leave.

SANCHEZ: Back to the U.S. now, in our "Security Watch." Investigators may have a lead in the arson fire that destroyed 10 homes and damaged as many as 16 others. Arriving firefighters say that they noticed there was a blue van that was leaving this subdivision that's still under construction, the subdivision that is. A private security guard also reported seeing a van lingering on the site.

CNN's Brian Todd has the latest on this investigation.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Veteran investigators from the FBI and ATF tell CNN they've never seen a residential fire scene of this scope. More than two-dozen damaged homes over at least 10 acres, and a growing arson investigation.

W. FARON TAYLOR, MD. DEP. STATE FIRE MARSHALL,: Right now we have seven homes of the 26 the cause has been identified as arson.

TODD: Investigators fell CNN they expect that number to grow, but they won't discuss possible suspects, motive or means, saying only the perpetrators and law enforcement know some of those details. And they don't want to tip off the people they're chasing.

They also would not elaborate on information previously obtained by CNN, that according to law enforcement sources, incendiary devices consisting of accelerants in jugs were discovered at the scene. But they did talk about the difficulties of the investigation. MIKE CAMPBELL, ATF: One of the difficulties is the complexity and size. You have got approximately 10 acres of a crime scene; you've got multiple dwellings that have been damaged by fire.

TODD: The Hunters Brooke subdivision, about 30 miles southeast of Washington, was under construction when the fires began early Monday morning. No one was hurt. And only one house in the area of damaged homes was occupied.

Environmental groups had sued to try to stop construction, claiming the development would damage an adjacent wetlands area. But officials from three of the environmental groups involved in the effort to stop construction tell CNN they had nothing to do with it.

Law enforcement officials tell CNN they have received no claims of responsibility and found no signature markings left by groups like the Earth Liberation Front, or ELF, an organization that has resorted to violence for environmental causes.

BARRY MADDOX, FBI: I don't want to dwell on the ELF, ecoterrorism. I know you do, but that's not something that we're focusing on. We're well aware of the ELF organization, other organizations. Everything is in and everything is out right now.

TODD: (on camera): Investigators tell us a security company was contracted to the builders, and that security guards were scheduled to be on the scene at the time the fire started. When we asked them if guards were in fact there at the time, they wouldn't answer the question.

Brian Todd, CNN, Indian Head, Maryland.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: Still to come on CNN LIVE TODAY, flying fists and chairs, will those in the courtside brawl get a minor time-out or a serious punishment?

SANCHEZ: Also, her Olympic medals may be at stake. Track star Marion Jones back in the midst of this steroid scandal.

KAGAN: And later, Hollywood showcases them all the time, hunks. But are they the makings of an ideal man? Ladies, still to come, a book on how to re-model your own man. We have the tips coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Criminal charges are expected to be announced this afternoon in the brawl involving some Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons fans. Reports say that five Pacers and four fans will face charges of misdemeanor assault and battery. A fifth man, who is accused of throwing a chair, will be charged with felony assault. Three of the Pacers have received lengthy suspensions from the NBA.

And more violence on the court, actually want to tell you about this. There will be a news conference in Auburn Hills near Detroit about these charges. That will be taking place 2:00 p.m. Eastern today, 11 Pacific -- 11:00 a.m. Pacific. and you'll see it live right here on CNN.

Now the other violence on the court from Mobile, Alabama a high school basketball coach he's been suspended for allegedly allowing his players to beat up a teammate during practice. About 10 players were also suspended. That incident happened last month.

Surveillance video was released yesterday. The victim had reportedly broken team rules and was threatening to quit. A hearing next week will determine whether that coach will be fired.

SANCHEZ: Now to steroids and sports -- professional sports. Major League Baseball players have told their lawyers to make a deal with owners on tougher steroid testing. Now, the union and management have been in talks on this for a new agreement for more than a week now. Those negotiations, we're told, may resume next week. We're going to have more on this deal in a live report that we're going to bring you the next hour.

Meanwhile, the International Olympic Committee has launched an investigation of doping allegations against Marion Jones. The head of the California based lab accused of illegally distributing steroids told ABC he gave performance-enhancing drugs to Jones. The U.S. gold medal-winning sprinter has denied taking any of the banned drugs.

From performance-enhancing drugs to bad behavior, what type of message are athletes sending these days? And are fans showing a double standard when they criticize the players and yet keep buying the tickets and showing up at the events?

In today's "Culture and Decline" report, CNN's Casey Wian looks at un-sportsman-like conduct.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CASEY WIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The national pastime is tarnished. Fights used to happen between teams. Now fans and players like Dodgers' outfielder Milton Bradley are squaring off.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is last thing I want to do is hurt my team, and especially the fans out there.

WIAN: It's not just baseball, hockey players brawl with fans. College football players battle State Troopers, and the NBA has taken player/fan violence to a new level.

T.I. SIMERS, SPORTS COLUMNIST, "L.A. TIMES": Some of these athletes think he's Superman. He's invincible. He has so much money coming his way, endorsements and everything else. And so many second chances that they can hang in there and basically say or do anything, and feel like there's never going to be a repercussion.

WIAN: Take Bradley. This year alone he was ejected from four games, suspended twice, arrested on disorderly conduct charges and jailed for eluding police. Basket-brawl combatant, Ron Artest is serving his eighth suspension in two years. And Latrell Sprewell, best known for once choking his coach, recently called a $9 million a year contract offer "insulting," saying he has a family to feed. These words to a fan Saturday drew one-game suspension.

Then at there's cheating. Several Major League Baseball players have reportedly admitted steroid use to a grand jury, though home run king, Barry Bonds claims his use was unintentional.

Aspiring pros are taking notice. A recent survey found 56 percent of male high school athletes agree that successful people do whatever they have to do to win, even if others consider it cheating.

Today winning really is everything with an awful lot of young people. And when you think that this is the next generation of corporate executives and politicians and nuclear inspectors, it's a little bit scary.

WIAN: Even pro golf, which prides itself on honest, has problems. Twenty-eight percent of caddies told "Golf" magazine they've seen pros cheat.

(on camera): Owners aren't likely to crack down on player misconduct until fans revolt. And that doesn't appear likely. Attendance at major sporting events is at, or near record levels.

Casey Wians, CNN Los Angeles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SANCHEZ: Our "Culture in Decline" series continues on "LOU DOBBS TONIGHT." We're going to look at what some call the controversy surrounding immigrants who come to the United States, but don't assimilate. That's tonight at 6:00 p.m. Right here on CNN.

KAGAN: Is your boss doing a good job in the boardroom? Still to come, why his or her gender may make the difference.

Speaking of her, Gerri Willis is here with us.

Hi, Gerr.

GERRI WILLIS, CNN-FN PERSONAL FINANCE EDITOR: Hey there, guys. Good to see you. Coming up, I'll tell you how to help the people who help you all year long. Tips on tipping when CNN LIVE TODAY continues.

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SANCHEZ: This is a great segment we're going to bring you here. Are you ready? Are you thinking about spreading holiday cheer to the people who, well, help you out throughout the year? You like that? It rhymed. Perhaps you don't know how much or whom you're supposed to give money to.

CNN/FN personal finance editor Gerri Willis does. And that's why we're calling on her to help us out with this thing.

All right. Who's been naughty? Who's been nice? Who gets what? Who do you give to?

WILLIS: Well, you have got to give to people, Rick, who are important in your life who are providing you services that are critical. That means A-No. 1, if you have kids, it's it is baby- sitter, hands down. They're taking care of such an important treasure for you. So you want to give them if they're only taking care of your children, say on the weekend, maybe you give them one day's pay or two days' pay.

Now, if they provide services 9:00 to 5:00 every day of the week, you want to pay them a week's worth of salary. Now I know this sounds like a lot, Rick. But heck, these people give you a lot of their time and care. Look at the rest of the people on this list.

Look at the rest of the people we've got on this list here. We've got hairstylist, it's the cost of one visit. The fitness trainer, you want to give them $25 to $100, or the cost of one session. The newspaper carrier, a little less; maybe 25 bucks.

And here's where to be careful. The mail carrier, by law, you can't give them money. So maybe some cookies, maybe a little gift just to show your appreciation.

SANCHEZ: Yes, cookies that will go over real well.

(LAUGHTER)

WILLIS: It depends on how good the cookies are, right?

SANCHEZ: I suppose. You don't give money to everybody, though. Do you?

WILLIS: No, absolutely not. Friends, people you're working with, you don't want to give them cash. It looks like a transaction. Very bad so don't do that.

SANCHEZ: Well, Daryn is telling me it's OK. If you want to give me some money, I'll take it.

(LAUGHTER)

SANCHEZ: So, she's just incredible, this one.

How do you give them the money? I mean suppose there's a right way and a wrong way to do this, right?

WILLIS: Yes. There's a little etiquette involved with. Don't hand over cash, so get a card, put the money inside, cash if you're giving it out by hand, right? I mean it's just kind of tacky. So get a card, put the money inside; cash if you're giving it out by hand. And if not, if you're sending it through the mail, you might want to stroke a check. But make sure that you have a nice little message that you sign the card, so that people feel like it's from the heart and not just from the wallet.

SANCHEZ: I don't know if this is an excuse or not. But we live in a different society than we used to, where we're like very close knit. For example, the mailman, I never see my mailman.

WILLIS: Right. Most people don't. You may not even know who he is. But there's somebody there delivering your mail every day. Even if you don't see them, you should give them something to let them know you're thinking about them.

SANCHEZ: All right. Here's the big one. And I know -- I tussle with this one. Daryn and I were just talking about it a moment ago. When you say in a hotel, when you take a cruise, the people who make your bed, for example, do you tip them?

WILLIS: Yes, you got to give them some money. If you're traveling this holiday season, you want to be thinking about tipping people who are helping you out there. The maid who's making up the bed every night, you should leave a little something there. If you're on a cruise, there's a lot of tipping involved there, unless you're at an all-inclusive cruise line or maybe an all-inclusive resort. But you'll be ponying up about $25 each week for the steward.

There's a lot of money to give out. If you've got questions if you're traveling internationally, go to fodors.com, they have some good rules there about what to do in other countries, because it can be kind of tricky.

SANCHEZ: That's great stuff. Gerri Willis, thanks so much for bringing that to us.

WILLIS: You're welcome.

SANCHEZ: That's wonderful.

(LAUGHTER)

SANCHEZ: And here's a dollar...

KAGAN: Oh, thank you very much.

SANCHEZ: ... for looking adoringly at me while I was doing that segment.

(LAUGHTER)

KAGAN: Very good. Well, I'll put this in a safe place.

SANCHEZ: Just for being a great anchorperson.

KAGAN: Thank you. A dollar, this is CNN after all.

SANCHEZ: Yes. As much as I can go. All right?

KAGAN: OK. Every get the urge to just toss money out the window? SANCHEZ: Still to come, being traffic behind this car might not be so bad. But it wasn't good for whoever was in the car. We'll explain.

KAGAN: Plus some might think he's a perfect man. But now, ladies, maybe you can remodel your own man. Now, everyone can't have Rick Sanchez. I'll tell you that right now.

(LAUGHTER)

SANCHEZ: Here's another dollar.

(LAUGHTER)

KAGAN: That's a 10. I see it right there.

But we will have some step-by-step instructions. Literally, there's a new book out. It's called "How to Remodel a Man." That's just ahead.

SANCHEZ: Who's that Guy?

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