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Piers Morgan Live
Interview with Chris Tucker; Super Bowl Preview
Aired January 31, 2014 - 21:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PIERS MORGAN, CNN HOST: This is Piers Morgan Live. Welcome to our viewers in United States and around the world.
Tonight, Super Bowl XLVIII in Sunday and on the eve of the big game, a big bombshell. The legendary quarterback Joe Namath who brazenly guaranteed victory in Super Bowl III announces that all the hits and tackles have left him with some brain damage. I'll ask him about that.
Plus, one of the best ever makes bold predictions for Sunday's match up. Hall of Fame Quarterback Dan Marino is here with me.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAN MARINO, HALL OF FAME QUARTERBACK: And the match up I look at as Peyton Manning having a great year. He's in offense, the number one offense in league, the number one defense in Seattle.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MORGAN: And Hollywood star Chris Tucker joins me with his hilarious take on the Manning-Sherman war. Richard Sherman accusing Manning of throwing ducks and Manning responding.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PEYTON MANNING, DENVER BRONCOS QUARTERBACK: I do throw "ducks". I've thrown a lot of yards and touchdowns "ducks" and so I'm actually quite proud of it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MORGAN: I'll ask Chris Tucker which one of these guys will take home a ring after the Big Apple Super Bowl.
Tonight's big story, a man who knows a thing or two about big words and backing them up. Broadway Joe himself, Jets legend Joe Namath despite as New York Jets' being huge underdogs, he famously guaranteed victory of Super Bowl III and he delivered.
My guest is Hall of Fame Quarterback Joe Namath. Joe, how are you?
JOE NAMATH, HALL OF FAME QUARTERBACK: Piers, I'm sensational. Feel great. Yes. MORGAN: And the reason you're laughing and you were chuckling earlier is that these stories come out, it has a serious edge to it, that you have basically indicated that all those hits and tackles over the years did cause you to suffer a form of brain damage from head injury. Tell me more about that.
NAMATH: Ed, you're right. This is a serious issue and I was thinking, I have grandchildren, I have daughters, it'd be who, me, to find out what was going on. I didn't have any symptoms to speak of but I did go get investigated, get looked at, get analyzed, took some treatment. Yes, there were areas in my brain that the cells had seized quite down tremendously and we were concerned a bit and so I have had some treatment and I feel great.
MORGAN: What was it that made you go and have the test? What was going on that made you think, "Some thing's not right here"?
NAMATH: This whole issue that's been going on for the last couple of years, you know ...
MORGAN: Do you? Reading about it, hearing about it and thinking ...
NAMATH: I'm going through it. I mean in the NFL, yes, I can count the times that I had situations where I hit the ground, hit in the head, you lose it, you don't know for well, we used to call it "getting your bell ranged". And then whenever you took some time maybe a little oxygen, you went back to work.
Well, hearing what was happening in today's game or the last 10 years, the awareness that we have now, I questioned myself, I remembered and like I say, I have children, I have grandchildren ...
MORGAN: Were you having symptoms though? Were you experiencing ...
NAMATH: No.
MORGAN: ... strange things or did you ...
NAMATH: No. No.
MORGAN: You were disconcerted after all that hitting?
NAMATH: Not that I might know it. Well, you know, I think of a lot of things that ...
MORGAN: So when they discovered that you had gotten these brain cells which slowed down or being killed off, how would you describe that?
NAMATH: I wouldn't say killed off because through the process that I've experienced, they regenerate it.
MORGAN: And do you personally feel better for this treatment?
NAMATH: You know, I was feeling pretty good ahead of time before ...
MORGAN: I'm going to say to you, I've always struck you as a pretty fair happy, happy guy.
NAMATH: Well, I'm taking care of myself pretty good over the years even though being a Gemini, I do mess up now and then and do some things, you see.
MORGAN: But the fact that they found that you had brain damage at all, did that make you realize that all this talk going on now when the players are bigger, faster, hitting each harder, it's a very serious issue and people should take it seriously.
NAMATH: What we're doing now with the science, the NFL is doing a wonderful job, a lot of people are investigating what is going on in our head from these jokes, from constantly hitting the ground or one lick when they happen we got to find out about that. But how to correct them? Can we regenerate the damage, regenerate the cells? And yes, there's some positive studies being done.
MORGAN: And you're the living proof of that, Joe, which is terrific to hear.
Let's move on to the game on Sunday.
NAMATH: What game?
MORGAN: Oh dear, it's even worse than I thought. Who's going to win?
NAMATH: I wish I knew. I'd go home first and I'm going to let my family know who's going to win. You know, these teams are both excellent teams, it's going to be decided. The old thing that my colleague's coach told us, "The team that keeps from beating themselves, the team that doesn't make as many mistakes is the other side." Mother Nature should have something to do with it or could have something to do with it.
But both of these teams have terrific athletes ...
MORGAN: Joe, let's talk about the weather over there. It's not going to be snowing and it's going to be reasonably chilly by normal Super Bowl standards. Should it make any difference to a great player whether it's a little bit cold or warm?
NAMATH: Maybe not the temperature when you a little bit cold. But the ball gets hard. It's harder. Something about it that's slicker and it's harder to handle. If Mother Nature is blowing a wind, the ball does adjustments and tricks in the air.
Only the guys that handle the ball care, you know. The center on a long snap to the punter, the ball can curve when the punter can't catch it. A receiver is running to catch a ball and the wind gust hits it. The quarterback throws it here and the wind blows it over here.
Yes. Mother Nature can influence the game and slipping and sliding, that may not happen but the wind is the most problematic part of the temperature only because the ball gets hard and slick.
MORGAN: Now, I've been incessantly blinded through this interview by your ring which turns out to be the Super Bowl ring.
NAMATH: Yes, that's ...
MORGAN: Except the one that you were 45. Isn't that amazing 45 years ago, you led the Jets to a 16 and seven win over the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III.
When you saw Richard Sherman and his outburst, when you saw that what did you think? What's your gut reaction to that?
NAMATH: My gut reaction is, "Oh man, you know, that's not cool." But on this ring, there are two words that are very important. One is poise, the other is execution.
Now, when we first saw Richard that we said, wow, is that -- the lack of poise or whatever. Excuse me, after a while I'm thinking this guy is still in game mode. He's still fired up, you know.
In my day, they didn't come right out with a microphone after a player, you know. So I quickly understood where Richard was coming from and can appreciate that game attitude at that time and I appreciate the fans being able to see it at home ...
MORGAN: Right.
NAMATH: ... too, yeah. So, no, I put more stock in what I hear and said about Richard from his coaches and from his teammates. And he seems like a good dude to me.
MORGAN: He does to me too. Now, you said famously, "We're going Sunday. I guarantee it." How could you have been so sure, Joe? What was it in your head that made -- you even ...
NAMATH: Our team -- Piers, our team, not only ...
MORGAN: But you weren't even favorites, right?
NAMATH: We were 17 and 19 point underdog ...
MORGAN: Right.
NAMATH: ... you know, we were far from favorite ...
MORGAN: You had no right to be this confident.
NAMATH: Well, other than the fact that for the last seven weeks -- six weeks prior to that, we played beautiful football. We didn't make mistakes. We didn't beat ourselves. We had intelligent players on the offensive side that could adjust when we were changing plays at the line of scrimmage because we were playing the Baltimore Colts then taunted as the best defensive team ever to be in the NFL, folks forgot to look at our defense. We had the best defense in the American Football League, you see.
So the combination of knowing what they were going to do defensive will be just like Peyton Manning has an edge looking at the Seattle Seahawk defense, the anticipation of what they're doing, putting his team in the right position to execute against the anticipated defense. Those are a big factor in this game.
MORGAN: Is your money going to be with the older, experienced, taller, bigger quarterback? Or the young pup, the smaller, perhaps a bit quicker. What do you think?
NAMATH: My money's going to be in my pocket to use at the grocery store, man. I tell you what, I know guys on both sides. The longer you're around this sport whether it's soccer, American football or whatever you know people that move around the league. I know coaches, Pete Carroll over there in Seattle, Peyton Manning's a -- I like to call him a buddy but I know his daddy better and I've met him many times.
So I'm not pulling for specifically or against either teams. I want to see the team come out ahead that's played the best and has earned it.
MORGAN: That's well said. Now, I'm going to ask you, you're Boadway Joe, you're on this famous sport in the history of this city. Did you ever pay for a meal or a drink and you ...
NAMATH: You bet I had.
MORGAN: Do you resent the fact you had to pay for a drink and a meal in the city?
NAMATH: No. No. I don't ...
MORGAN: I wouldn't pass Broadway Joe.
NAMATH: The years of resentment's not healthy, man. Get him out of there right away.
MORGAN: This is a segue I mean neatly into your name with Rapid Cooker. Tell me about that.
NAMATH: It's innovative, it's portable, it's light, the lady can handle it, its stainless steel and what we do is get it to 1,400 degrees. If you go to a great steakhouse here and you know they can get the temperature up there. Our heat source is at the top, we have three different levels, nine different heat sources and whenever the things drop the fat or whatever down, you're going to get a flare up.
MORGAN: Joe, I can talk to you all night. It's been fantastic to see you. You got a party on Saturday night with Phil Simms raising money for them (ph), the MVP party located at the Roseland Ballroom on Saturday at 7:30. It'll be a great night there and raising money for charity. Really good to see you. Come back again soon.
NAMATH: Thank you and that party would be better if you or one of your friends come over there or a couple of them. You're invited if you like.
MORGAN: I'm only coming if I get a meal on the rapid cooker. NAMATH: But it's a deal.
MORGAN: The great Joe Namath.
Coming up, the Super Bowl in the New York area in February now I though it can be done. I'll talk with the man who made it happen.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROGER GOODELL, NFL COMMISSIONER: Now, here is the decision of the clubs, Super Bowl XLVIII in February of 2014, will be played in New York/New Jersey.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PIERS MORGAN, CNN HOST: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announcing the Super Bowl XLVIII we played in the New York/New Jersey region, the first ever outdoor cold weather Super Bowl.
Joining me now, are the men responsible for bringing this year's Super Bowl to the region, the two Co-Chairman of the New York/New Jersey Super Bowl host committee, Jonathan Tisch, and Woody Johnson and Al Kelly, the President and CEO of the host committee.
Gentlemen, how relieved are you that it's not going to be snowing on Sunday?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you sure?
MORGAN: I think I can say that with some qualification, it will not be snowing.
WOODY JOHNSON, CO-CHAIRMAN, NY/NJ SUPER BOWL HOST COMMITTEE: I think we are relieved but we're on to other things now. But we're on to other things now, so we're done with the weather. The weather is going to be good. Even if it was snowing, it would be good.
MORGAN: Would it basically be a nightmare because I think persuading these people what you should be doing in New Jersey, this time of the year, and it was deluge with snow. Wouldn't everyone get, "See, we told you."
JOHNSON: Look at Atlanta.
MORGAN: Right, right.
JOHNSON: And Dallas, it's all cold -- whether, you know, in the 48 states, this time of the year, it can be cold.
MORGAN: Jonathan, it's a massive thing. I mean you just have to walk around New York at the moment, New Jersey, everyone Super Bowl fever at the moment. What are the biggest issues right now as we head towards the big day for you guys as an organizing committee? JONATHAN TISCH, CO-CHAIRMAN, NY/NJ SUPER BOWL HOST COMMITTEE: The three biggest issues since we brought Al on two and a half years ago who just become the head of our host committee, weather which is as what you know is off the table now.
Transportation, we're calling this the first public transportation in Super Bowl because we are losing at least half of the parking spaces around the stadium due to the security perimeter that will be in place and hence we've encouraged people to take public transportation, trains and buses, and then certainly security.
This is a level one security event, the only event in our nation higher is the presidential inauguration and I had a chance to go to the security center on Sunday morning. And when you see the coordination of Homeland Security, Secret Service, FBI, New Jersey State Troopers, NYPD, it's remarkable, the extent that we are going to, they are going to ensure that the fans are kept safe.
MORGAN: Al, we heard is like a perfect fusion really. You got this great stadium in New Jersey and you got all the hospitality you could possibly want in New York. New York is obviously claiming the bulk of the credit for this as are the New Jersey element.
Putting it all together, what are the social issues which you're facing too? I mean I heard this morning that someone said every single prostitute in America is of currently heading to the East Coast for this event. How do you deal with issues like that on the peripheral (ph) of the actual game?
AL KELLY: PRESIDENT & CEO, NY/NJ SUPER BOWL HOST COMMITTEE: Well, exactly how much of that really is myth versus reality. But from the beginning, whether it's been prostitution or sex trafficking or human trafficking of any type, it's been something both the NYPD and the New Jersey State Police have been all over and have had specialized units focused on it.
It's something that we depend on them to do their job and make sure that if they're doing their job, we're able to do our job.
MORGAN: In the end, it's about football. And, Jon, one of the issues, I spoke to Joe Namath earlier on the show and he talked about himself having suffered a form of brain injury from the repeated knocks that he took. The players are getting ever faster, stronger, the collisions getting tougher. It's obviously a big issue in the NFL, isn't it? How are the authorities do you think facing up to this challenge.
TISCH: It's a big issue on Commissioner Goodell and his colleagues are very focused on it, the owners. And if you notice the settlements in terms of the concussion lawsuit, that goes a long way to ensuring that those who might have been injured during their playing days will have some dollars so that they can take care of their medical needs.
But also, there is a whole new philosophy on how to hit. You don't lead with the head anymore and this is being taught at very young age as Pop Warner football, and it's going through high school and college.
So, people are keenly aware of the challenges but it's a focus of the league to ensure that the game is as safe as it possibly can be.
MORGAN: In terms of player responsibility, a lot of issues in the last few years about the behavior of NFL players as role models. We saw a little bit on Richard Sherman and I thought that was a bit of a stoned when (inaudible) him because he wasn't cursing. He wasn't threatening people. He wasn't carrying guns and so on. But we see a lot of players involved gun related incidents, involved in unsavory behavior of the field.
Woody, what do you think? I mean these players, they're earning vast amounts of money but not for a very long periods of time. But does that carry with it a responsibility to always conduct themselves to the best possible level?
JOHNSON: Yeah, I mean I think that there has to be a code of conduct.
On the other hand, if you get a guy like Richard Sherman that comes off the field, he's giving the audience a true glimpse of what the internal motivation and the adrenaline ...
MORGAN: The passion for the game.
JOHNSON: The passion, and they're getting a glimpse.
This gentleman is extremely smart. He went to Stanford, he's a 4.2 and all this, and great athlete and they got a glimpse.
Is that bad?
Well, parts of it were bad and you know, we don't condone that but on the other hand, you're getting the view.
MORGAN: But every fan wants Richard Sherman to kill these opponents metaphorically on the field and yet the moment he shows that raging passion to do exactly what the fans want, they all start jumping up and down saying, "No, you can't behave like that we want a quiet voice." Jon?
TISCH: But this is the media fanning an issue because it sells newspapers and it gets people to watch TV.
MORGAN: Are you blaming me jobless?
TISCH: No, not you personally, no.
If you want to be the ...
MORGAN: The fool ...
TISCH: White person, but I don't you're going to do that. But the media fancy it and he made an incredibly athletic move to block that move to block that pass. If he didn't extend himself which very few people can do, San Francisco is wining the game. And if he wants to be proud of what he accomplished in that split second, he should talk about it.
MORGAN: But what is the one thing that you guys really want to see out of Sunday when you talk privately? What is that thing you really want to talk?
KELLY: Yeah, I like to see just, just speaking for me, I think everybody has got their point of view. I'd like to see everybody have a good time and trust that you're going to have a Super Bowl in a cold weather city like New York, New Jersey, and have a lot of fun and give -- put out a great, great product.
MORGAN: It's going to make me laugh at this cold room in Atlanta, isn't it? I mean that's going to be the ultimate irony, isn't it?
Finally, just very quickly, one word answer or two word answers, who is going to win?
TISCH: The team with the most points.
MORGAN: No. No, you cannot really get away with that. Come on.
TISCH: I can't -- look, my look my quarterback's brother is playing for one team. I'm an NFC guy to the other team, so...
MORGAN: So you won't figure out. Woody?
TISCH: Right.
JOHNSON: I think it's a great challenge between old and new. The pocket quarterback person to react in quarterback for the Seahawks. And so, it's going to be very interesting to see which system prevails. They both have great defense...
MORGAN: Where's your money at?
JOHNSON: Well, it's hard to get a bet against Peyton. On the other hand, that defense of Seahawks is awesome.
MORGAN: Come on. Come on Woody, I need an answer.
JOHNSON: It's very, very close.
MORGAN: Your offense too. Al, it's all coming down to you.
KELLY: Well, you have to realize, my fantasy football team is one in 12 this year, but, I think given that it's going to be a good day, I would go with Denver. I think it's going to give them a chance to...
MORGAN: Well, I knew that one of you has actually stuck your neck out. OK.
JOHNSON: Who are you rooting for?
MORGAN: Of course the Seahawks just because he wants to (inaudible). Just best of luck...
KELLY: Right.
MORGAN: ... I think it's been brilliantly organized, great buzz around town. And I wish you all the very best. Thank God the weather won't now be a problem and I think it should be very great day.
TISCH: Thanks Piers.
MORGAN: Thanks for coming in.
TISCH: Thank you.
MORGAN: And up next. Here he comes, (inaudible) to get us ready for Sunday, and one of the greatest, Dan Marino.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MORGAN: Super Bowl 48 is almost upon us. Broncos, Seahawks, quarterbacks, old versus young, or whether be a factor. But to get us ready, the one who have best ever played a game. My guest is Hall of Fame quarterback and Nutrisystem Ambassador Dan Marino. Dan, how are you?
DAN MARINO, HALL OF FAME QUARTERBACK: Hi Piers. How are you doing? Good. I was great.
MORGAN: It was an honor to be in the same room with the great Dan Marino.
MARINO: Thank you. It's an honor for me -- honor for me to be here.
MORGAN: It was very kind of you to lie like that. And let's talk about the game on Sunday, who's going to win?
MARINO: Well, you know, I think it's going to be a close game because these two teams -- and the match up I look at is Peyton Manning having the great year's offense -- number one offense in league, number one defense in Seattle. They're very aggressive at the line of scrimmage. That's the match up I think it's going to be key. I like Denver. You know, I like Denver because they have more experience, got more guys that play in that game. Seattle's whole team, no ones played in the game for -- and it's all the first time. But I think it's going to be a close game.
MORGAN: Now, I'm not going to pretend to be the world's greatest NFL expert.
MARINO: OK.
MORGAN: 0:05:33 and that would be ridiculous. However, I do know this, I know this Peyton Manning is massive like you and Russell Wilson, his quarterback opponent, is a tiny guy by comparison, right, by the look?
MARINO: Right.
MORGAN: How much does that come into play in a Super Bowl if it's all (ph)?
MARINO: Well, I think first all is the experience. And Russell Wilson's a young guy and it does -- it will come into play a little bit, but not so much for the size. I mean, I think it's more of the experience. Russell Wilson has played incredible. He's got some really good players around him as far as the team is concerned. And for him, I think the key is to play a clean game. What I mean by a clean game is no interceptions, be very efficient, be good on third down. All those things will give him a chance to win.
MORGAN: Manning is on the verge of history. No one has ever won Super Bowls with two different teams.
MARINO: Yeah.
MORGAN: He's 37 years old. He's a bit of a cracked now. He's had a few injuries. You know, this could be the great swan song or it could be a bit of a dance group for him, couldn't it?
MARINO: You know, I think he's going to continue to play either way. I mean, he's 37, when he's come off of, you know, with the injury losing a whole year not knowing whether he's going to be able to play again. And then having a year -- a last year that he did, and now, it's an amazing year where he's breaking every record. If I was him, I'll play again, you know, I don't see why not, unless something happens health wise, he's just had an incredible year.
MORGAN: If I asked a hundred British sports fans to name a famous legendary NFL quarterback, many of them would say you, which makes it a little more extraordinary that you never won a Super Bowl. I found that amazing.
MARINO: Well, I played the first football game in Wembley.
MORGAN: You did?
MARINO: Yes, in London, yes.
MORGAN: I remember that.
MARINO: Yes, yes, I do that. That was while back, it was in '84 so -- '84, '85 I think it was something like that Montana and I.
MORGAN: But, how do you feel about never having won a Super Bowl?
MARINO: You know what...
(CROSSTALK)
MORGAN: You sit in your cabin -- low cabin at night and go what the hell happened?
MARINO: I'll tell you what it does affect me though, is when I watch the Super Bowl, you know, I feel -- I looked at it and after the game is over and someone's holding up the trophies and I say, you know, I never had that feeling. I experienced everything else you could have on a football field and a career as football player, but not that feeling to walk off the field and, you know, have that championship.
MORGAN: What was the -- what was the greatest moment of your entire career? The moment if I said, Dan I can let you relive that moment right now.
MARINO: Well, I guess, as far as an individual records and things is, you know, setting the touchdown record because of what it means to your team. It was a flat pattern to keep (ph) fires and it was in Indianapolis. It was on the road, and we we're losing at that time. And that was the play. I think it was called the 62 Texo (ph).
MORGAN: And it's all...
MARINO: I remember that. I can't remember calling plays.
MORGAN: When you do -- when you go and shout (ph) Hail Mary's.
MARINO: Right.
MORGAN: Do you actually start saying Hail Mary?
MARINO: That's what the players called.
MORGAN: As a player, as you're saying it to the air, do you actually start going "Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with me."
MARINO: If really...
MORGAN: (Inaudible) Catholic.
MARINO: OK. I'm a Catholic too. If it was really important, yeah.
MORGAN: Really?
MARINO: It was really, really important, you know, but that's what the play -- the play was called. It was called -- it would go, you know, a flood right gone (ph), Hail Mary on two.
MORGAN: Hail Mary, full of grace. Richard Sherman. I can't let you go...
MARINO: Yes.
MORGAN: ... without talking about Richard Sherman because I love this guy. And to me, I saw a man when he did this right. It was just full of passion. And when I talked to (inaudible) about this too, full of passion, full of anger and determination, but I didn't hear him curse, I didn't hear him threaten physical violence, I couldn't see what the problem was.
MARINO: You know, I think people expected that right away, you know, as soon as the game over. Usually, you know, guys are more -- what's the word, just cordial to the other players and if they win. But at the same time Richard has been like that, that's his style of play, that's what he does. He's one of the best corners in the league if the not the best. If you look at his career in Stanford, he was a great student, a great player there. And you know, he's a smart a guy and he's, you know, if you're on Seattle, you want him to be, you know, your teammate.
MORGAN: Damn right.
MARINO: Yeah.
MORGAN: Let's talk very quickly. I just want to say something to Jonathan Martin, the Miami Dolphins defensive line. And that this guy's is six foot five. He built like a brick outhouse. Does he hasn't got the tools to resolve it. Well, in my day, you would use these tools, wouldn't you? Get on the back of a locker room, boom.
MARINO: Well, I guess, you know, I guess that's a decision you make as an individual. And I'm sure...
MORGAN: Is he being a bit of a wusser (ph)?
MARINO: I'm not going to answer that. I'm not going to answer that. I would say...
MORGAN: No denial.
MARINO: Yes. Well, you know, I'm not saying he's a wuss (ph). You know, I think there's certain ways of handling it. And I'm sure that some players will do that and that's how they want to handle it. Jonathan Martin chooses not to do that and that's his view and you respect that as a player. I think, the Dolphins, you'd like to think that they were going to be more supportive in that position and I think they're going to do everything possible to make sure, you know, things like this doesn't happen again and make sure they help Jonathan Martin the best they can.
MORGAN: Let's go to the favorite Super Bowl dish, the Calorie Control Council. Reports said Americans eat 30 million pounds of snacks on game day.
MARINO: Right.
MORGAN: Average football fan consumes 1200 calories and 50 grams of fat just in snacking. Americans also drink about 25.5 million gallons of beer during the day. And I start to think, how on earth will I deal with this consumption level that I will be also taking positive. And then I remembered my favorite commercials of the year. Nutrisystem...
MARINO: Nutrisystem
MORGAN: ... Dan Marino. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARINO: OK guys. Let's settle up. Feel little tired, maybe little fat, let's do something about it. Come on guys. Off the couch, get in the game, grab your phone and call Nutrisystem right now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MORGAN: That's the answer.
MARINO: That's it.
MORGAN: When they talk about Super Bowl commercials, that's the most important commercial...
MARINO: That's the one.
MORGAN: ... you could possibly watch.
MARINO: And you know what -- and you know, Monday after Super Bowl is the second largest decision day for dieting, besides, Monday after New Years because you want to make a New Year's resolutions and all that. So, yes, it's Nutrisystem. Yes, for sure.
MORGAN: Could you (inaudible) a lot of that?
MARINO: I wasn't...
(CROSSTALK)
MARINO: That was perfect.
MORGAN: Dan, it's great to see.
MARINO: Piers, thanks.
MORGAN: Yes. We'll see what happens on Sunday. See you.
MARINO: I'll be happy to be back on some time.
MORGAN: I would love to be back and I have lot to tell about, about your amazing career. I've really enjoy that.
MARINIO: Thanks, yeah.
MORGAN: And surprisingly, I read on the best teams on each covers (ph) actually face off in the Super Bowl that's exactly what's happening this year. Some of these games seems to be more hype in Super Bowl usually does harshly of course because of this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RICHARD SHERMAN, SEAHAWKS CORNERBACK: Well, I'm the best corner in the game. When you try me with a sorry receiver like Crabtree, that's the result you're going to get.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MORGAN: Curt Menefee, Host, Fox Sports, award winning NFL pre-game show, Fox NFL Sunday, and he does know (ph). Curt, how are you?
CURT MENEFEE, FOX NFL SUNDAY: Good to see you.
MORGAN: So, it is been bosky (ph) in the glory to write down Marino.
MENEFEE: We all are.
MORGAN: Surely, one of the great legends.
MENEFEE: Yeah, absolutely. He's real (ph) world is living in it, you know.
MORGAN: Very nice man. But he was pretty confident of it. The Broncos were in the edge of this? Do you agree with it?
MENEFEE: No. I think -- look, I think, what I do agree with, Dan said, it will be close game. I really think it is. It's rare that you get the two best teams in football. Sometimes you get up sets here, because, you know, it's one game when it take off throughout the playoffs unlike other sports went to series. But I think going into the season everybody thought these were the two best teams. My prediction on Fox was that it would be Denver and Seattle.
So, we miss so many of this and we're going to take credit for that one. But all season long, they look to be the two best team, they have two best records. So, this is going to be a great match up and I think that will keep it close.
What I differ with Dan is I think that Seattle's defense, I think it's a special unit. I think they can put pressure on Peyton Manning unlike he seen maybe this season for sure. Manning has a very quick release though, not to get too technical. Marino maybe the best of all time, maybe things are not far behind.
MORGAN: Richard Sherman has made himself a number one target, of course...
MENEFEE: Yeah.
MORGAN: ... for the Broncos I guess. But he's also, I think raise his own intimidation levels to record highs. I like this guy.
MENEFEE: I do too.
MORGAN: I think he is more sports about.
MENEFEE: Yeah.
MORGAN: He's a passionate character who seems away from all the ranting we saw to be a perfectly (ph) nice champ. But, on a football field, you don't want to mess with it.
MENEFEE: No. And you know, I've gotten over to Sherman over the years and the thing that surprises me is first of all that almost two weeks later people still talking about this incident. If you look at it, I know you played the tape. He didn't threaten anybody.
MORGAN: No.
MENEFEE: He didn't swear... MORGAN: It's right. It's about success...
MENEFEE: He said he thinks that he is the best and don't challenge the best. 95 percent of the guys in the league think that they're best with their position or say would not have achieved the level of success they've got.
We always talk about athletes being cliched and boring and whatever happen to guys that stepped out. He talked about himself and said, "Hey, I'm the best." And everybody flip out and what -- that's for two weeks. I don't get it.
MORGAN: Most part of the problem that Fox cut away from them too early. They hadn't even just calm down a bit.
MENEFEE: Well, here's the thing.
MORGAN: You might get a longer slightly more clarified incident.
MENEFEE: Five minutes later, he was on the set with us and he was totally not calm and normal and, you know, I honestly -- I'll be honest with you. I don't this was going to be big deal. And then, you know, after the game, you get (inaudible) everybody on Twitter go in. The comments that were made about him on Twitter, which is the most evil place in the world maybe, was...
MORGAN: Or joyous depending on your viewpoint.
MENEFEE: It depends on who your followers are.
MORGAN: Right. So, final words from you.
MENEFEE: OK. But the thing is the comments that were made about him were much worst than the comments he said.
MORGAN: Right.
MENEFEE: I mean, he did nothing other than don't talk about me, which the other receiver Michael Crabtree had done that week and it got some personal history that a lot of people don't know about it.
MORGAN: More importantly where is Bruno Mars going to rank in the pantheon of great half time acts (ph)?
MENEFEE: I think Bruno Mars -- and I'm not joking about this, will be brilliant.
MORGAN: So do I.
MENEFEE: Because he is -- if you ever seem him live in front of Grammy's or in...
MORGAN: I didn't see Bruno Mars. And he's smart. He gets entertainment...
MENEFEE: He gets in the show... MORGAN: Show business.
MENEFEE: And that's exactly what he is. And the half time, you know, his performance, he's going to have the Red Hot Chilly Peppers with them. It's going to be 12 to 15 minutes. So, he'll play the hits. He will get everybody on their feet. I think people will leave this. We don't know and we go, "Wow, that guy was cool."
MORGAN: Yeah, I think he's going to blow them away.
But one other big concern is an opera singer...
MENEFEE: Yeah.
MORGAN: ... singing the national anthem. The first time...
MENEFEE: But when she does, it would be more...
MORGAN: The first time in 50 years.
MENEFEE: Yeah. But, you know, the temperatures they're saying 40 degrees for a higher by game time is probably in the 30s.
MORGAN: Are you (inaudible) to your opera, Curt?
MENEFEE: I've been to the opera.
MORGAN: That wasn't quite the question I asked.
MENEFEE: I've been through the opera. You know, I actually like ballet.
MORGAN: You do?
MENEFEE: Because as much as you can seat up close...
MORGAN: No offense, you don't strike me...
MENEFEE: No, I didn't say I do ballet.
MORGAN: Oh, sorry.
MENEFEE: I'm just saying, I like watching ballet, because -- it's because if you look it like -- I know it's going to sound weird, but like you seat in the first row you look at the legs and you can see that the muscle tone and how athletic it is, while they're performing.
MORGAN: You face the (inaudible) and look at women's legs, huh?
MENEFEE: No, men too.
MORGAN: Really?
MENEFEE: Yeah. And I say not to be weird. I'm talking about the athleticism of ballet dancing.
MORGAN: It does sound a bit weird.
MENEFEE: No, no, no. I'm saying I'm getting dancer's credit for being athletic. And that's what I like about the ballet, because it's a physical athletic performance.
MORGAN: I'm seeing a whole reality show out of it. Curt Menefee does the ballet.
MENEFEE: Will you sponsor it?
MORGAN: If you were doing it? Yes.
MENEFEE: One time only.
MORGAN: Curt, great to see you.
MENEFEE: Always good seeing you, Piers.
MORGAN: See you at the ballet.
MENEFEE: Can't wait.
MORGAN: Curt Menefee, this Sunday starting at 2:00 PM Eastern on Fox Sports. He's the host of Super Bowl pre-game show live from Time Square and at MetLife Stadium of course in New Jersey.
Good to see you Curt.
Up next, we'll rip (ph) out a "Silver Linings Playbook." One of the funniest man in America, Chris Tucker, joins me in The Chair.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNDENTIFIED MALE: What a treat.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Dad's got you sitting here?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, yeah.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He calls me "Jailhouse lawyer."
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hold the remote the way you were holding it before.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And now you're holding the remote?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And it's working. Your dad's a genius.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's enough.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And Danny's a good luck charm?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Danny's from you. This is your house so it comes down to you. You are the one. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yeah, you are the one, Pat.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MORGAN: Chris Tucker in the Oscar winning hit movie Silver Linings Playbook. Chris' best night (inaudible) comedy but he's also a very talented actor as seen in that clip. And Chris Tucker joins me now In The Chair. Welcome to you.
CHRIS TUCKER, ACTOR, COMEDIAN: Hey, Morgan. How are you doing?
MORGAN: How are you?
TUCKER: I'm good. I'm good.
MORGAN: You have grossed -- do you know of this, in 10 movies, you have grossed worldwide box office takings of $1.5 billion?
TUCKER: I didn't know. I sort of knew it, sort of knew it. Yeah.
MORGAN: That's unbelievable.
TUCKER: Yeah.
MORGAN: You're the 1.5 billion dollar man.
TUCKER: I like that. I like that.
MORGAN: Last time we met was at the president's inauguration ball and you were doing a bit of jiving for me on air. How do you think he's doing since we last met?
TUCKER: You know, I love -- I love the president and I think he's doing good. He's trying his best, you know, the mess he inherited. He's trying his best.
MORGAN: When we come back, let's talk a little bit more Obama in the next segment, but for now football. Are you a football man?
TUCKER: And, you know, I like football. I am. I am and it's a -- it's exciting year. This year is a good year so -- the football.
MORGAN: Who's your team?
TUCKER: You know what, I don't have a team, team but I like individual the players. I like Peyton Manning because I like, you know, the way he does his playings, you know, "I'm hot. I'm hot." When he say "I'm hot.", like "What is he saying? Why is he saying that all the time? I'm hot. Go over there. Get over there (inaudible)." I love that about him. He's a coach. He tells the coach what to do. "I got this. Just come down and relax. I'm hot. I'm hot." Manning's the man.
MORGAN: Did you ever play?
TUCKER: I played but I broke both of my wrists in practice. I wasn't that good.
MORGAN: Really?
TUCKER: Yeah, man. I jumped - I'm jumped up for practice ball and broke both of my wrists and kind of come down and save the fall.
MORGAN: And that was ...
TUCKER: That's when I start doing comedy. I said, "This is too much. I need to -- I need to get something that's more, you know."
MORGAN: And I want to play you a clip of Richard Sherman's rant. We already played it in the show tonight but I think you need to comment on this. Let's just watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RICHARD SHERMAN: Don't you ever talk about me.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Who was talking about you?
SHERMAN: Mr. Crabtree. Don't you open your mouth about the best or I'm going to shut it for you real quick.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MORGAN: I can literally play that clip on a redial every 10 minutes in every show for about a year is -- I mean I love this guy.
TUCKER: Yeah.
MORGAN: But when you watched that -- were people making too much fuss about Richard Sherman? Isn't that why we watch football for characters to show passion?
TUCKER: Yeah, you know, I guess he was in a moment because I think he's a great guy but that's a -- I think he -- he apologized and went there -- he probably went home and saw that and like "Oh, that was too much." "Don't you ever talk about me. You don't talk about but me." And I was like, "Man, you just won."
And that, you know, I remember I used to play basketball with my brother in the backyard. My brother would beat me. The worst thing you could do is don't say nuts. My brother would beat me, I run upstairs and won't play with me again. That was worst.
He would even say nothing, but, you know, so I think he was a young -- he is young and he'll get better over time.
MORGAN: Well, talking of young crazy guys. Justin Bieber all over the news at the moment Everyone's got an opinion about him. What I love about is that you got a teenager who's sort of 15 who's called destined (ph).
TUCKER: Yeah, destined (ph). Yes.
MORGAN: But he's doing one, two that is a move from Justin so this could be your problem in about three years.
TUCKER: Yeah.
MORGAN: What do you say to your son to avoid, perhaps, the Bieber pitfalls? And what do you think of Justin Bieber's problems alone?
TUCKER: Well, you know, I met Justin a few times and he's a great kid. I think he's a great kid, talented, of course, but I know he's going to stages and he's like unusual because he's just kid with all these fame and all these money and, you know, he's just having a lot of fun but he has to -- he has to, you know, wake up and grow up fast because he have a lot of responsibilities.
He have a lot of kids watching him and he has to be, you know, more of a leader than a follower and just, you know, he has -- he has more responsibility.
But I think he's a great kid and, you know, we've all been through stages in our life because I remember when I was a kid but some certain things I wouldn't do and he has to be that kid. Certain things you just can't do. You still can have fun but you can't go over it. And I think he's going to learn that.
MORGAN: What would you say to your boys if he's approaching adulthood? What advice do you give him about the real world of pitfalls certainly given the famous dad and so on?
TUCKER: Well, you know, I'll tell him, you know, I try to tell him that he could tell me anything and we could talk about anything because I know he's going to go through, you know, all the stuff that I've been through but I want him to handle it well, you know.
So I try to always ask him what's going on in his life so he could tell me so I could say, "Hey, handle it like this, handle it like this" and I think that's what Justin needs, somebody more to say "Hey, what's going on? What do you think about this?"
Well, you know, you could have fun but don't do that because you're going to get in trouble and then watch out, the paparazzi wants you to do this so why do that, why would you go to a club and put yourself out there like that when you're this big star. Don't be stupid, you know, but you still can have fun. He needs somebody like that and I think that he's going to -- hopefully he gets that, you know.
MORGAN: Is fame cloud a corrosive drug in your experience?
TUCKER: It's different. You know, fame I think is unnatural, you know, because I like my, you know, my anonymity. I love it, you know, when I can go to the stores and just be not bothered. So people see me at the store and they were like "What you're doing down here?"
MORGAN: And I haven't mentioned, you must have tremendous pressure everywhere you go, even down to like Walmart and if someone get, "Make me laugh."
TUCKER: Yeah. MORGAN: "Come on Chris Tucker. I want you to be hilarious."
TUCKER: But sometimes they ask stupid questions. I got to be at the store and they were like "What are you doing here?" I'm like, "I got to eat too. I'm not a superhero. I'm getting food. Get out in front of my shopping cart." You know. You know, it's different, you know, sometimes when you just want to just be normal but, you know, so it's a lot of responsibility.
MORGAN: Let's take a short break. Let's come back and talk, like I said, a bit more about Barack Obama. I'll tell you a speech on the State of the Union and how it applies to you personally, Chris Tucker?
TUCKER: OK.
MORGAN: You won't have a clue why you're here. I want you to sweat for a couple of minutes.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TUCKER: White people don't trust Black people. That's why they won't vote for no black president. Like a Black brother (inaudible) at the White House, like the grass won't be cut. They just (inaudible) because he's running through the White House, took out, basketball going on the back.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MORGAN: One of Chris Tucker's very funny stand-up routines that's one about race relations in the country and the White House.
Let me ask you this question because it's actually a series question really but based on what you just said there. Do you think Barack Obama, being president, for five odd years now, did he made America more or less racist having its first black president?
TUCKER: You know what, I don't know, I don't know but I know he's such - he's doing such a good job to me because I think he's - because he does more - he does what he could do as president but now, he just have some morals in some certain things he stand for. You know, that's what I like about him. You know, he's a good person, I think.
MORGAN: Do you think he's found that the problem of being president is it's very hard to get the stuff you really want done done?
TUCKER: Yeah.
MORGAN: And you're in a war zone everyday?
TUCKER: Yeah. So, you know, Congress fight and stuff, you can't just do what you want to do. The people don't know that. A lot of people know that.
MORGAN: You have a brilliant collection of pictures of you with presidents. Let's look at some of these.
TUCKER: From the campaign trail with Obama's first -- in his first winning (ph).
MORGAN: Yeah.
TUCKER: That's me on the end over there. I want to get in the middle but that guy, you know, is real good. We got a great black president.
MORGAN: You know, the ultimate presidential selfie boy.
TUCKER: Yeah.
MORGAN: Some more here.
TUCKER: Yeah.
MORGAN: You got Bill Clinton coming up. There you are.
TUCKER: My good friend, Mr. Clinton. Yes.
MORGAN: There is Bailey (ph). A picture of the Senate president or the next president but you don't pop up in the background.
TUCKER: Yeah.
MORGAN: The, I mean, it must kill you sometimes pinch (ph) yourself and I want to play you a clip from President Obama's State of the Union first and ask you about the pinching (ph) yourself pic. This is what he said in the State of the Union about what he thinks America at his heart really is.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: And I believe that here in American, our success should depend not on accident of birth, but the strength of our work ethic, and the scope of our dreams. That's what drew our forebears here. It's how the daughter of a factory worker is CEO of America's largest automaker, how the son of a barkeeper is Speaker of the House, how the son of a single mom can be president of the greatest nation on Earth.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MORGAN: And I wonder what you were thinking as when you heard that because you were a Burger King janitor in rural Georgia. But now, you're the $1.5 billion movie star Chris Tucker. You must have moments when you say back and go "Wow."
TUCKER: Yes, you know, because my dad he owned Tucker (inaudible) service and I work for my dad and, you know, he gave -- my dad, by having his own business, allow me to work for him and have a freedom to, you know, go to comedy clubs at night and to go after my dream. And that's what it's about.
America is the land of the free. And I had that freedom and that extra time that I can go with and go to comedy clubs and then eventually move to LA, Hollywood to become an actor, you know, stand up comic first and then an actor.
So, you know, America's about that freedom. You could be born one way and then you could dream, you could dream, and become, you know, whatever you want to become. That's what makes us great. That's why everybody want to come to America.
MORGAN: Do you remember working at Burger King?
TUCKER: I remember doing -- yeah, cleaning at night. I used to go to comedy clubs and then I would go like 2 in the morning to go clean up.
MORGAN: What were you dreaming when you were in Burger King cleaning at 2 am after being in the comedy store? Obviously, your dream was to become a successful comedian but did you have a bigger dream? Did you ever think, "I'm going to be a movie star one day? It's going to be -- what happens to me -- it's my destiny?"
TUCKER: Well, you know what, what kept me going with my dream, you know, that was my work. I was happy because I knew I had something that I love, you know, being, doing stand up comedy and I knew that one day, if I can't do it, can't good at, I think, you know, it could take me places I never knew.
And I grew up watching Richard Pryor's Stir Crazy or Eddie Murphy in 48 Hours and I was always fascinated. And once I've got -- became a comedian, yeah, I strived for that but I'm never knew that I would be, you know, up there, not, you know -- with those guys, you know, with the Rush Hour movies and always want to do something like 48 Hours or Beverly Hills Cop or Stir Crazy.
MORGAN: Who is the funniest person you've ever seen?
TUCKER: Funniest person I ever seen was -- you know, my family is funny but with far as entertainment, you know, Richard Pryor, Eddie Murphy. Those guys, I grew watching, I just love. It just still to this day, you know.
MORGAN: Let's take another short break. Let's get back and I want to get your prediction for the big game on Sunday.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MORGAN: I'm back with Chris Tucker. Here's amazing thing. In 2005, so it's 9 years ago, the Simpsons predicted the result of the Super Bowl on Sunday. Denver Broncos 19, Seattle Seahawks 14. Do you agree with that prediction?
TUCKER: It might be true, you know. You know, I think Denver got a good chance because Peyton, you know, Peyton, he's just bad, you know, "I'm hot. I'm going on. I'm hot. I'm hot. Get over here. Watch him. Watch him. Get off the way. Right there. Nearer. I'm hot."
MORGAN: So you're here in New York, apart from to make me laugh and to do a stand up gig for the All Day Foundation. Tell me quickly what that's about. TUCKER: Yes. This is Adrian Peterson All Day Foundation that deals with at risk kids and he's doing -- we'll be doing two shows tonight so it's going to be great. He's a great guy and, you know, you know, my foundation -- pretty much, it's his foundation, but I'm just doing it for his foundation so it's great.
MORGAN: Well best of luck with that, mate And it's great to see you. And you've got something in the summer called "Coming Home Chris Tucker: The Concert movie" ...
TUCKER: Yes.
MORGAN: ... which sounds terrific. Also a stand up date, get at christucker.com. And it's great to see you.
TUCKER: Yes, thank you. Thank you, Piers.
MORGAN: Come again soon.
TUCKER: All right. See you again.
MORGAN: Chris Tucker, funny guy. That's all for us tonight. We'll see you back here on Monday night. We have a fallout from what should be a special day on Sunday.
