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American Morning

Chicago First Game Not to Be Played in Event of Strike

Aired August 30, 2002 - 08:03   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Of course, we are watching very carefully what is taking place with the baseball negotiations and negotiators there have been up pretty much all night. It's kind of like a triple header for them. Talks continuing here in New York between owners and player reps. There is some word that they have narrowed gaps. But still there is no agreement.
If there is a strike, the first game that will not be played would be in Chicago.

And that's where we find our Jeff Flock, at Wrigley Field -- Jeff, it could be a very lonely, slow day for you there today.

JEFF FLOCK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Could be. And, you know, I've been peering inside the ball park, trying to see if the preparations are still under way, Daryn. And it does look as though they are still preparing to play baseball today.

The latest word we heard from one of the negotiators coming outside said that he was optimistic. He thought that perhaps they would be able to get it done. And, of course, that would be great news here at Wrigley Field. This, of course, the bleachers the Wrigley Field, one of the best places to watch a ball game.

But, of course, also people preparing in case that doesn't happen. Big impact if it doesn't.

This is Murphy's Bleachers. Anybody who's been to Chicago probably has been to Murphy's to watch a game. This is the classic place to go and congregate. We thought we'd come down this morning and see if we couldn't find Murphy and see what he's doing.

He's polishing his taps this morning. That means it looks to me like you're preparing for baseball today.

JIM MURPHY, OWNER, MURPHY'S BLEACHERS: Well, we're going to be prepared. But I don't know if we're going to play ball, but I'm sure the fans will be out here waiting to see what's going to happen.

FLOCK: Now, the clock is really ticking down, because they need to make a decision. Because you're going to get fans out here anyway and you're guessing, it's a Cardinals game, big rivalry, you're going to get a lot of fans here whether there's a game or not, is that correct?

MURPHY: Well, on a day like today normally they start showing up about nine or ten o'clock. So I'm sure that if you stick around for a while, we'll see plenty of them showing up from St. Louis. And it's right around the corner.

FLOCK: Now, as you and I look here, and maybe Jeff can back off and just drink in the ambience of this place because this is one of the places that people definitely come if there's a game. What is the impact to you if they go on strike today? We said they'll probably be people here today, but the rest of the season, what is the loss to you?

MURPHY: The loss is huge to everybody around the ball park here. After all, it's the neighborhood that makes the ball park what it is and it, you know, we're, it takes about, oh, I don't know, maybe 90 percent of our business away.

FLOCK: Ninety percent of your business?

MURPHY: Yes. The summers are very big here and baseball and the way the Cubs draw and with St. Louis coming into town, this would be our biggest weekend normally.

FLOCK: Where is your head right now? Have you got sympathy on either side of this?

MURPHY: Well, not really, not when these people are making this kind of money should they forget about their fans. I think the fans should have a seat at the bargaining table and let their feelings be known and maybe we'd settle the strike a lot sooner.

FLOCK: Yes, Jim, I appreciate it.

Thank you, sir.

MURPHY: Yes.

FLOCK: I'm going to let you go back to it.

And as he says, it's going to be a busy day out here one way or the other. And I asked earlier would it possibly get ugly out here, perhaps fans show up to this ball park and there is no baseball, there is a strike? He says he's hopeful that won't be the case. But, of course, we'll be here to watch it.

That's the latest -- back to you.

KAGAN: Very good. We'll count on you hanging down at the bar all day.

Jeff Flock, thank you so much.

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