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American Morning

Tiger Attack

Aired October 07, 2003 - 09:19   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.


BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Las Vegas entertainer Roy Horn of Siegfried and Roy is conscious and communicating. We're told this according to the duo's manager. Horn lost a whole lot of blood when one of the tigers dragged him off stage by the throat over the weekend.
Bernie Yuman, Siegfried and Roy's manager joins us now to talk about this from Vegas.

We really appreciate your time. Thank you. And our sympathies to you as you struggle to through this experience.

What have doctors told you about Roy's condition this morning?

BERNIE YUMAN, MANAGER FOR SIEGFRIED & ROY: Roy's condition is stable but critical.

HEMMER: Have you been able to see him lately?

YUMAN: I did see him a couple hours ago, and we did indeed communicate.

HEMMER: Yes. Can you relate to us that communication?

YUMAN: He is understanding of his situation, and he's fighting for his life. He knows that every second of every minute of every hour that passes, our chances for survival and recovery are increased.

HEMMER: Mr. Yuman, you talked about the communication. Was this verbal or nonverbal?

YUMAN: We are communicating.

HEMMER: Yes. There was a report that said he gave doctors the thumb's up sign, I believe it was yesterday. Were you there to witness that?

YUMAN: Yes, I have been there to witness that.

HEMMER: There was talk today about the possibility that this show may never go on stage again in Vegas. Have you stopped to think about that?

YUMAN: I've been the manager of Siegfried and Roy for over 28 years. And I must say that after managing Siegfried & Roy for all of my adult life, that I've really had a moment to reflect on the fact that they've done north of 30,000 live shows, 5,750 live shows for over 10.5 million people at The Mirage alone, and the reflection is that when you go to New York you see the Statue of Liberty, when you come to Las Vegas, you see Siegfried & Roy. They're a part of the fabric of what Las Vegas is made of, and it's something that is really hurting all of us.

But at the same token, we're proud we've had one heck of a run. I'm not sure anybody ever did this before and I'm not that sure anybody will ever do it again. Siegfried & Roy have changed the face of live entertainment in Las Vegas forever and paved the way for some of their colleagues here on the Las Vegas strip.

HEMMER: Are you saying you want the show to go on?

YUMAN: I'm saying that the Siegfried & Roy show is closed as of now.

HEMMER: Is it true that he said, don't kill the cat as he was led off the stage this weekend?

YUMAN: He would be the last person to lay blame, especially on the tiger. There is no blame to the tiger. We're not confused. Roy has had a relationship with exotics since he was a youngster. He was raised by a wolf as his nanny. Neither Siegfried nor Roy were ever confused about the simple fact that a tiger is always a tiger.

HEMMER: Best of luck to you.

YUMAN: Having said that, again, after north of 30,000 live performances and never a scratch, the one tragic accident is obviously an anomaly.

HEMMER: Our best to you. Our thoughts are with you, too, and certainly Roy and his family there in Las Vegas.

That's Bernie Yuman, the manager of Siegfried and Roy, talking to us about the latest condition, the situation there.

YUMAN: Thank you.

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 October 7, 2003 - 09:19   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Las Vegas entertainer Roy Horn of Siegfried and Roy is conscious and communicating. We're told this according to the duo's manager. Horn lost a whole lot of blood when one of the tigers dragged him off stage by the throat over the weekend.
Bernie Yuman, Siegfried and Roy's manager joins us now to talk about this from Vegas.

We really appreciate your time. Thank you. And our sympathies to you as you struggle to through this experience.

What have doctors told you about Roy's condition this morning?

BERNIE YUMAN, MANAGER FOR SIEGFRIED & ROY: Roy's condition is stable but critical.

HEMMER: Have you been able to see him lately?

YUMAN: I did see him a couple hours ago, and we did indeed communicate.

HEMMER: Yes. Can you relate to us that communication?

YUMAN: He is understanding of his situation, and he's fighting for his life. He knows that every second of every minute of every hour that passes, our chances for survival and recovery are increased.

HEMMER: Mr. Yuman, you talked about the communication. Was this verbal or nonverbal?

YUMAN: We are communicating.

HEMMER: Yes. There was a report that said he gave doctors the thumb's up sign, I believe it was yesterday. Were you there to witness that?

YUMAN: Yes, I have been there to witness that.

HEMMER: There was talk today about the possibility that this show may never go on stage again in Vegas. Have you stopped to think about that?

YUMAN: I've been the manager of Siegfried and Roy for over 28 years. And I must say that after managing Siegfried & Roy for all of my adult life, that I've really had a moment to reflect on the fact that they've done north of 30,000 live shows, 5,750 live shows for over 10.5 million people at The Mirage alone, and the reflection is that when you go to New York you see the Statue of Liberty, when you come to Las Vegas, you see Siegfried & Roy. They're a part of the fabric of what Las Vegas is made of, and it's something that is really hurting all of us.

But at the same token, we're proud we've had one heck of a run. I'm not sure anybody ever did this before and I'm not that sure anybody will ever do it again. Siegfried & Roy have changed the face of live entertainment in Las Vegas forever and paved the way for some of their colleagues here on the Las Vegas strip.

HEMMER: Are you saying you want the show to go on?

YUMAN: I'm saying that the Siegfried & Roy show is closed as of now.

HEMMER: Is it true that he said, don't kill the cat as he was led off the stage this weekend?

YUMAN: He would be the last person to lay blame, especially on the tiger. There is no blame to the tiger. We're not confused. Roy has had a relationship with exotics since he was a youngster. He was raised by a wolf as his nanny. Neither Siegfried nor Roy were ever confused about the simple fact that a tiger is always a tiger.

HEMMER: Best of luck to you.

YUMAN: Having said that, again, after north of 30,000 live performances and never a scratch, the one tragic accident is obviously an anomaly.

HEMMER: Our best to you. Our thoughts are with you, too, and certainly Roy and his family there in Las Vegas.

That's Bernie Yuman, the manager of Siegfried and Roy, talking to us about the latest condition, the situation there.

YUMAN: Thank you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com