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American Morning

Interview with Joe Torre, New York Yankees Manager

Aired May 16, 2002 - 09:50   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.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: He is the legendary leader of perhaps the most famous team in all of sports, our New York Yankees. We're a little partisan here. But, managing the Yanks is not the only good work Joe Torre is doing. This morning, he is launching the "Joe Torre Family Foundation" and teaming up with some other famous athletes for a national charity program called "Four Seasons of Hope."

And the Yankee skipper, Joe Torre, joins us now from Chelsea Piers in New York. Good to see you, Joe, welcome.

JOE TORRE, MANAGER, NEW YORK YANKEES: Good morning, Paula, nice to see -- I don't see you, but nice talking to you.

ZAHN: Thank you. Just wanted to start off with a couple quick baseball questions: Speculation today that the baseball union may be pushing for a strike come fall. Do you expect that to happen?

TORRE: You know, I may be an idealist. I certainly hope that we all learned from the last work stoppage that something like this will be really tough getting the fans back and I would like to think that both parties, who I think have a certain element of trust for each other right now will find a way to make sure this doesn't happen, because I think that would be devastating.

ZAHN: So you really believe negotiation, then, could stop this?

TORRE: You know, it's all about negotiation; it's is all about give and take. Of course, I'm not allowed to talk about specifics; I'm not really familiar with exactly what's going on. But it's the only way to get things solved, is that you have to understand what's important, and baseball is important and the fans are important, and I think both sides have to understand that.

ZAHN: One last baseball question for you, Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig has put his sights on the Expos and the Twins as victims of so-called contraction. They're both playing very well this year. Is there any scenario where you think they could work their way in to the post season and not come back next year?

TORRE: Well, it would be hard to believe that would happen, Paula. Interesting, I don't think they definitively name those two clubs, it's been speculated along with several other clubs. But they certainly have made a case for themselves, and I know Minnesota is in first place, and we just played them last week and will play them again this weekend. But it certainly would throw a monkey wrench in to the plans.

ZAHN: All right, let's move on to why you are really here with us this morning -- to talk about this charitable foundation you have created. What will you do and why this charity?

TORRE: Well, Paula, Samsung gave us the opportunity to start the Joe Torre Family Foundation for Margaret; Margaret was my mom. I grew up in a violent household, abusive household, unfortunately. My dad was abusive to my mom and those were back in the days where you didn't say a whole lot about it or do anything about it.

You don't realize how many children are effected by this, and I know I do some work. Actually, we're working with the Center Against Domestic Abuse in Brooklyn and we visited over there a couple weeks ago and you see how many children are involved in just being sheltered there; and it's really sad and I think it's important that we raise money so we can educate, you know, we really can't do anything about the violence that's already happened. But it is important, I think, to educate the youngsters in school right now.

ZAHN: The tragic thing about domestic violence is as you have said, that there is this horrible pattern that goes on from generation to generation and I know you and I have both spoken with women who come to expect that kind of treatment, and they don't even know they can demand a different kind of treatment. What is the message these kids need to understand about getting out of these households?

TORRE: Well, there's no question. I think just because it happened the generation before makes it acceptable now, and I think that's where we have to draw the line. We have to make them understand that it's the wrong thing, and a lot of families stay in that situation only because they can't afford to go anywhere. And that's what we're trying to accomplish here: Find a place for them to go where there's a safe haven and plus, to get programs in to the high schools to inform these youngsters and teach the youngsters, educate them on why this is not the right course of action.

ZAHN: This is obviously something you have thought about for years and been very troubled by. I'm wondering to what extent 9/11 might have impacted your plans to sort of move up the time schedule for all of this.

TORRE: Well, I think Samsung helped me move up to the time schedule when they came up with the Four Seasons of Hope and funding this program, which is terrific. It's geared mainly at children.

9/11, there's no question, I think opened up our sensitivities to all of this. We realize we're living one day at a time, and every time I looked up on our stadium score board, there were children being held, and so many children's lives were impacted by 9/11 that you certainly wanted to do something if you possibly could.

ZAHN: How long are you guys going to still play "God Bless America" during the 7th inning stretch?

TORRE: As long as Mr. Steinbrenner wants to do it. He feels the rest of baseball has stopped doing it, since we are based in New York, he feels it's our responsibility.

ZAHN: Hey, by the way, I ran into your boss last night, George Steinbrenner.

He thinks you're doing a really good job, Joe.

TORRE: Was that before or after the game?

ZAHN: It was in the middle of the game. Actually he was more focused on the Nets and their performance. He had one victory last night.

TORRE: Well, thanks, Paula.

ZAHN: Good luck to you, and thank you very much for joining us to talk about baseball and about the important work this foundation plans to do. Nice to see you again.

TORRE: Thank you very much. Take care.

ZAHN: Take care.

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