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American Morning

Vikings Grieve Over Loss of Pro-Bowl Lineman Korey Stringer

Aired August 02, 2001 - 10:34   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.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: It was about 24 hours ago, we learned about the death of Korey Stringer, the lineman who played for the Minnesota Vikings, and the fact he died of heat stroke after practicing and really going through the -- putting body through the ringer, if you will, in summer training camp. And it shook up the team dramatically as we saw in the press conference here live yesterday.

We're talking this morning about it with a friend of his. Mike Morris is familiar with the heat that players deal with off the field and on the field. Mike Morris is a former Viking himself. He was actually a friend of Korey Stringer's.

Mike, we thank you for coming in and sharing with us this morning what you have on your mind and your heart about this. What were you thinking yesterday when you heard the news about all this?

MIKE MORRIS, FMR. MINNESOTA VIKINGS PLAYER: Well initially, I was absolutely shocked to hear about it. We knew that he had gone to the hospital in an ambulance, and we knew that that was probably pretty serious in itself. I can't remember the last time I saw a player taken away in an ambulance from the practice field, other than a knee injury. But we certainly none felt that he would lose his life. And when I was told 5:45 yesterday morning, I was absolutely shocked.

HARRIS: As were everybody else on the team. We saw Cris Carter and Randy Moss yesterday. Randy couldn't get through the news conference, and I'm sure you understand that?

MORRIS: I know he and Randy were very close, and Randy's got a big heart, as do many of the Viking players and coaches. This is something that really, really hit them very, very hard.

HARRIS: Let me ask you about this, because in the last 24 hour or so, I think there hasn't been one radio station or television station that hasn't had someone on talking about heat being a big problem and how many deaths there have been due to heat over the last 10, 12 years or so, and whether or not the coaches should have known better in this case. I want to know if you are concerned at all about overreaction, either by the league, or by the teams or by the players in the wake of this?

MORRIS: I think that the they have overreacted in some way, because it's just the nature of football. People don't understand, that to get ready for football and the football season, you have to go out in this type of weather, and it's not uncommon to go out on a day like it was last Tuesday here. The Atlanta Falcons, anyone down south, the Carolina Panther, Miami, Tampa Bay, they all experience that type of weather almost on a daily basis, and you have to get ready for it by playing in it. And there's really no shortcut around that.

I just feel that it was a very unfortunate incident that occurred Tuesday, and it could have happened to anyone. They always want to say it is because of Korey's weight. It had nothing to do with that. Certainly he was exhausted probably a little bit sooner than someone else, but there was nothing that anyone could do. It was just too late.

HARRIS: You are a radio personality for KFAN in Minneapolis. Have you had a chance to talk to the team members in the wake of all of this to see how they plan, or what they can do to get over with this and get on with the season?

MORRIS: Well, I had a chance to speak with Matt Burke, their offensive center, yesterday morning, and it's not even something they are thinking about at all right now. It's just a grieving period right now for the Vikings, thinking of his family and whatnot. The football side of it will have to continue sooner or later of course, but I don't know how they will pull up the bootstraps and get back. This is going to be really, really difficult. They lose their starting right tackle, returning Pro-Bowl right tackle, and a great, great person in that locker room. You'll hear from anyone you'll talk to. He was a very genuine person and someone that brought that really locker room together.

HARRIS: Yes, you are right about that, man. We've heard that everybody we've talked to, who knew Korey or ever crossed his path.

Mike Morris, thank you very much, man, we appreciate you coming in and sharing your heart and your mind with us this morning in all of this.

MORRIS: Thank you.

HARRIS: Good luck to you, take care.

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