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Unguarded with Rachel Nichols
Interview with Indianapolis Colts Quarterback Andrew Luck; Interview with Six-time Olympic Gold Medallist Amy Van Dyken
Aired November 21, 2014 - 22:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANNOUNCER: Tonight, on Unguarded with Rachel Nichols. Indianapolis Colts Quarterback Andrew Luck reveals what it is like being the NFL's top young quarterback.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDREW LUCK, INDIANAPOLIS COLTS QUARTERBACK: At certain points it is uncomfortable, I think, based on person, my personality, and I tend to try to avoid, you know, the spotlight.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANNOUNCER: After six-time Olympic gold medalist Amy Van Dyken, broke her spine in a crash, she was told she could never walk again. But, she's not listening.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AMY VAN DYKEN, SIX-TME OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST IN SWIMMING: I am not good at taking no for an answer. I was not even supposed to win a bronze medal so, let's not even tell me that I'm not supposed to walk and let's move forward.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANNOUNCER: And Bulls' guard, Derrick Rose, opens up on having his health and heart constantly questioned.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DERRICK ROSE, CHICAGO BULLS POINT GUARD: I could care less about what people say about me. It doesn't affect me at all. I think it affect people around me more than me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
RACHEL NICHOLS, UNGUARDED SHOW HOST: Welcome to Unguarded. It's never easy being tabbed the sporting world's next big thing. Not only do you have to excel, you have to do it why lugging around in entire country's expectations. That's what happened to Andrew Luck when the Colts drafted him in 2012. Scouts compared him to Steve Young, only a hall of famer. Then he had to replace the just departed Peyton Manning, only another hall of famer. But Luck is no ordinary next kid up. He's got an architecture degree from Stanford, the son of former Houston Oilers Quarterback Oliver Luck. And as you will see here, he is very much his own man.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NICHOLS: You are in your third NFL season, and you're 25-years-old, this is sort of kind of a grown-up. Do you feel like you are not this kid Andrew Luck anymore?
LUCK: That's a good question. I certainly feel like I've grown-up in some regards. I like to think in the football realm, you know, I continue to mature as a player, get better and improve. Out of football, I'm still a big kid, I think. I think the beauty of playing a sport for a job allows you to stay happy and fun.
NICHOLS: Your job is a part of your identity, but it's not your only identity. And it's not necessarily what one would expect from a guy who is second generation, NFL quarterback, the idea would be, oh, his dad played in the NFL, he grew up, eat, breathing, sleeping the game and that's all he thinks about and does. But, doesn't seem to be the case for you?
LUCK: You know, you know -- it's funny to say that growing up -- I don't think me and my siblings and I thought of my dad as an NFL player, maybe that goes -- they want -- I think I do on what he played.
NICHOLS: And you father Oliver did have a succession of jobs after football. You guys ended up moving to Europe for that. How did that shape the way you see the world?
LUCK: I think to, I think to be exposed to different cultures is good to. And see that, you know there is multiple ways to, to skin a cat. Different people do different things in different ways. And I think whether you realize it or not, you tend to -- be a little more open to, to, different parts of life.
NICHOLS: So when you moved back to the states, around age 10, pretty normal, teenage years, and then you decide to go to Stanford. Everyone wants to ask about your architecture major. But, what is about architecture that was so appealing to you?
LUCK: I grew up, loving playing with Lego's and you know, building one of those little things, and I loved traveling to stadiums in Europe and the old towns and stuff, with my dad. And I like projects, I enjoyed projects.
NICHOLS: You have talked about going on one day to maybe design an NFL stadium. Has there been anything, as you tour around, in the back of your mind, you like, I want to take that and put that in my stadium one day. I want to be that little things.
LUCK: The stadiums embrace the character of where they are, I think are great. I thought really neat going to the new soldier field, it was the exact the position of the old and the new and how Heinz Field sits right at the three rivers crossing, and you see the city.
NICHOLS: Any stadium you would design, the quarterback would have three lockers.
(LAUGHTER)
LUCK: Exactly.
NICHOLS: And for someone who does likes high tech stuff, you have now basically become famous at this point, partly for being an NFL quarterback partly for owning the flip phone.
LUCK: I don't think I want to be connected, you know, 100 percent of my time with e-mail and Internet and the social media stuff.
NICHOLS: Not wanting to have the whole world into every moment of your life, in social media, certainly an understandable feeling. You talked a little bit after the rookie season about that fish bowl feeling, everybody looking at you. What was that like for you?
LUCK: Yeah, now that is definitely an adjustment. At certain point, it is uncomfortable, I think based on -- my personality and I try to avoid, you know, the spotlight if I don't have to be in it. And I guess, you realize though when you play quarterback, you know, for better or worse, it's, it is what it is.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVID LETTERMAN, LATE SHOW WITH DAVID LETTERMAN HOST: One day you can be in the super bowl.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NICHOLS: It seems like you have gotten a lot of cool things coming your way. You've thrown a football around with David Letterman.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LUCK: Yeah, thanks, Dave.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NICHOLS: Parks and Recreation, the TV show.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NICK OFFERMAN, ACTOR: Pleasure to see you again, Mr. Luck. We are Parks and Recreation colleagues.
AUBREY PLAZA, ACTRESS: I saw your wallet.
LUCK: That is weird.
PLAZA: Thank you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LUCK: And you only get to, you know, say a line on a TV show, and you know, I did tell my sisters because, they were totally in their honor to see it if they actually watched it. Then I got, you know, bunch of call, or yelling, you didn't tell me and all of that stuffs so, it was fun.
NICHOLS: When you look forward to the next ten years, your to-do list how much is football, how much is other stuff?
LUCK: I'm struggling looking past tomorrow.
NICHOLS: Maybe becoming a grown-up finally -- could be the preferred ready?
LUCK: Learning how to be a grown-up. Yeah, that's number one on the list.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NICHOLS: Hey, he's already got the beard so, adulthood can't be that far behind. All right, coming up next, we've got the ultimate comeback story. I promise you, you're going to want to stick around to hear what happened to Olympic Swimmer Amy Van Dyken, after her doctor told her there was a good chance she was going to die.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DYKEN: He said you need to say goodbye to your husband. And he said, at very matter of fact -- Rachel, it was weirdest thing. It was like -- yes, that's what I need to do.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NICHOLS: Welcome back to Unguarded, I'm Rachel Nichols. The world learned a long time ago not to tell Amy Van Dyken she couldn't do something. She was a kid, she had such severe asthma, she struggled just to get from one side of the pool to the other. Two decades later, she had won six gold medals, making her one of the most successful American Olympians ever. So when Dyken was in a horrible accident this summer, those around her knew better than to doubt her and you won't either, after hearing our conversation.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NICHOLS: Well, Amy, welcome. First of all, how are you feeling these days?
DYKEN: Good. I'm actually, I'm feeling amazing. I am driving around by myself, so everyone on the road watch out. Getting really good at putting my chair in and out of the car, and I was so blown away that -- they actually modified it. With the Camaro SS, which I say its chance for super sexy, then I tell you what, I can still floor that baby.
NICHOLS: That's fantastic. We have been watching the videos that you've been posting online. I want to show everyone just how hard you are working here. This is you, literally crawling on the floor just to make some forward progress with your legs. Can you rate your level of determination in physical therapy as you approach this recovery?
DYKEN: Well, I say training for the games, my determination was a 10. Training for being able to hopefully walk again, I'm going to say it's a 10, plus, plus, plus. So, you know this time instead of training for gold medals for the country, I am training for my life, then to get my life back so, there is a little bit extra push in there.
NICHOLS: Yeah, it's amazing to see you move your legs at all there, considering the severity of this accident. You're riding ATV's with your husband Tom. What he told you about seeing your ATV tumble down at the embankment and just the condition that he found you at the bottom there?
DYKEN: It was crazy night. I don't remember leaving. I don't even remember leaving the restaurant. But apparently, I was having a problem with the throttle and the emergency brake. He said that he saw me go over this embankment. That was it. And he found me face down, not breathing. He could see that my back was broken. He rolled me over as carefully as he could, and he said, he lifted up my neck, and I started to convulse, and my eyes went two different directions, and -- then I started gasping for air. And then that's basically, you know, how I came become to life if you will.
NICHOLS: And we can talk about it now because, you are very much alive and well but, even before you went into surgery, what did doctors tell you about your chances of surviving that?
DYKEN: Well, they told me that it wasn't very good. And the more that I heard actually, since the accident, I should not be here. My doctor actually told me, he said, you need to say goodbye to your husband, and he said at very matter of fact -- and Rachel, it's the weirdest thing. It was like, yes, that's what I need to do, it's very businesslike and I looked at Tom and I said, I love you, if I do happen to pass away, I want you to know you that you can go ahead and date other girls. But Rachel, I would like you to know that since I'm still here, I would like to rescind that invitation.
NICHOLS: That permission is no longer granted.
DYKEN: Right, exactly.
NICHOLS: All right. So you do wake up from surgery, thankfully. And they initially tell you, hey, there is no hope of you ever walking again. But then as you progress at rehab, they started to change. What shifted?
DYKEN: I'm not sure what shifted my neurosurgeon is shocked. He said I literally saw your spine. You should not be doing what you are doing. There is hope that I will walk. Will I do it under my own power? I don't know. Will I do it with braces? Probably, but at least I'll be upright and six feet tall again, which be kind of cool.
NICHOLS: And I have to say it's impressive as your progress in the gym has been. Honestly, your attitude through all of this has been this incredible. This is a tweet you sent, just days after the accident. You said, "Now I will get really good seats at Diamondbacks games and my other favorite sports teams. Bring my own chair. Hey, good parking too."
DYKEN: You know Rachel when I told you the story earlier about how Tom found me face down. I wasn't here I'm not supposed to be here, and I am. I'm living, I'm breathing, I'm having these experiences and, you know what? It does stink that I can't walk, and some days are better than others with how you deal with it. But, you know what? There is a reason for this, and I truly believe that and, I will say, you know, before this accident, I was kind of looking at human kind with -- kind of a squint. You know, I would open doors for gentlemen and they wouldn't say thank you. Now I look at it completely the opposite now. People are amazing people. And I had a lady who was like 70-years-old with a walker offering to help me with my wheelchair, when I was trying to get out of the car. Who does that? It's just amazing.
NICHOLS: Well, Amy, you had millions of people cheering for you in the Olympic pool. But I am absolutely sure you have more people cheering for you now. Good luck with everything.
DYKEN: Thanks Rachel, I appreciate it. Thanks.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NICHOLS: I'm just so inspired by Amy's approach. She just floors me. Next time you are having a bad day. Go to the website and replay the interview, phenomenal. OK, we've got more great stuff after this break. Are you frustrated with the way Derrick Rose is managing his injury issues. Well, he explains himself, up next.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROSE: My game is getting better every day, just trying to get my teammates ready for this long season.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NICHOLS: I'm Rachel Nichols, welcome back to Unguarded. Derrick Rose didn't play for the Bulls last night. And if that sense (ph) sounds familiar, it's because after two major injuries in his many seasons, the former MVP is being overly cautious. He's in with dealing with something minor, like the strain hamstring he's experiencing right now. Last week Derrick explained his more careful approach. Saying, "I know a lot of people get mad when they see me sit out. But I think a lot of people don't understand it's not because of this year, I'm thinking about long term. I'm thinking about after I'm done with basketball." Now, that rubbed a lot of people the wrong way, considering Rose is getting paid $18.8 million to be on the court this year. So, I wanted to sit down with Rose and get a deeper explanation. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NICHOLS: How sick are you of the question, "Hey, Derrick, how do you feel?" ROSE: I tell them, I'm good with it, I'm fine with it. You know, it
was just people are concerned, but, I'm used to it by now, almost every interviews starts with that. So, I can't run away from it, I might hear it in the rest of my years in the NBA so, I just got to be used to it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANNOUNCER: Rose is down, to our right. But he is holding what appears to be a knee.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NICHOLS: You have been through so much. Nobody on the outside, knowing knows to what to expect. What kind of player you are going to be? What kind of person are you going to be? What do you think?
ROSE: I think it made me a strong individual. How I say that, it made me look at things totally different, and light period (ph) growing up in the area that I grew up in. The own thing that I did was, just watch these (inaudible) kid on to my everyday life. Where I didn't talk that much, I can talk, I just didn't want to talk as much. And, just trying to be more vocal now, is because, it is going to help me in the long run.
NICHOLS: You made comments recently...
ROSE: Yeah.
NICHOLS: About protecting your long term health.
ROSE: Yeah.
NICHOLS: And they just blew it up. People got very upset.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: As much as I like Derrick Rose, that was just flat out stupid.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROSE: Yeah.
NICHOLS: Do you want to clarify what you were really talking about there?
ROSE: I was just worrying about myself. Just worrying about my future and I don't know, I probably just think different, it's only my seventh year but, I think, further on into my career, further on into my life. I was being myself, and it's all I can be so, I could care less.
NICHOLS: What is your strategy about protecting your health both for the season and long term after the basketball? ROSE: Just knowing the ball is going to stop one day. I'm not saying
that I'm giving up on throwing in the towel that has nothing to do with it. But, I could care less about what people say about me. My thing is just getting better every day. Just trying to, get my teammates ready for this long season. And, just trying to be the best leader I can be for my teammates.
NICHOLS: When people get upset. When there's, "Oh, he is not tough enough." Or "Oh, he's not doing enough for the team." How much does that affect you?
ROSE: It don't affect me at all. I think it affect people around me more than me. But, for me, I could just only live my life, be positive, and let God handle the rest.
NICHOLS: You mentioned the place you grew up. You spent some of the time that you were away and you are injured, trying to help with violence in your hometown of Chicago. There was a 14-year-old girl killed earlier this year.
ROSE: Yeah.
NICHOLS: AND you showed up at the funeral...
ROSE: Yeah.
NICHOLS: Unannounced. What were you hoping to do there?
ROSE: Actually, the little girl grew up in my neighborhood. So, just trying to show my face, let people know that I'm not just as -- image or this person that you can't get in touch or can't touch, or can't see. I'm like, I'm real -- stay to myself, well, I still know what's going on and I'm still touched by what goes on in my city.
NICHOLS: Can you predict now, how your season is going to be health wise, how the Bull season is going to be, what would you say?
ROSE: It says my -- prediction?
MNICHOLS: Yes.
ROSE: Hopefully at the end, holding up that gold ball. But, it's going to take a lot of work, and everybody being on the same page.
NICHOLS: Do you see yourself holding up the ball your health?
ROSE: Yeah, that sounds good. It sounds good, but don't want to jinx myself with that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NICHOLS: So many injuries, the past couple years. You can see why he doesn't want to predict the future. But we will certainly all be watching to see what happens there. All right, coming up on Unguarded, a very special piece, starring LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Joe Montana, John Elway, Tiger Woods, Serena Williams, and a whole lot more. You're going to want to see this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NICHOLS: Welcome back to Unguarded, I'm Rachel Nichols. I was saying my favorite part about this job is the role sport has in our society. America is increasingly fractured. The Political divide is sharper. The entertainment we watch is split up over hundreds of channels and now, dozens of devices. But sports, is where millions of people, thousands of miles apart, cheer at the same exact moment. When there is a national tragedy, the football field or baseball diamond is often the first public place that we gather. You know when we started the show we wanted to bring you a deeper behind scenes look at those sports that we all love, the unguarded side. Tonight, will be the last time this show airs in this slot. While sports will still be very much be a part of CNN, with specials around events and big interviews, we thought it was a good time to reflect on some of our best moments. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ready. Cue.
NICHOLS: Welcome. Welcome. Welcome. Welcome to Unguarded Rachel.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Rachel, worthy?
LEBRON JAMES, BASKETBALL PLAYER: I'm out here. Get my year of the dragon on.
TIGER WOODS, GOLFER: What is something you can tell us that we don't know?
NICHOLS: Your girlfriend, Lindsey Vonn. She said he's funny and a little bit dorky.
WOODS: Team mates used to call me miracle (ph)
IMAGINE DRAGONS, ROCK BAND: So this is what you meant.
DEREK JETER, BASEBALL PLAYER: There is only one (inaudible) but I like to be as close to him as I could.
IMAGINE DRAGONS: You know it's time with you.
RICHARD SHERMAN, AMERICAN FOOTBALL PLAYER: I'm not out there beating on people or committing crimes. But I am playing for football fans.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is your time.
NICHOLS: Locker room speech is played in practically every arena.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Go out there and take it.
NICHOLS: You know that, right?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't know. I have never seen it. NICHOLS: Where do you think you rank on the list of the great?
PETE ROSE, BASEBALL PLAYER: Number one, number one.
IMAGINE DRAGONS: I never want to leave this town. Because after all. The city never sleeps at night. It's time to begin.
SERENA WILLIAMS, TENNIS PLAYER: Being able to come in everyday. Work hard, practice, train, train, train, for 30 something years is definitely not easy, and it's a choice.
BRUNO MARS, SINGER: When I see your face.
JIM KELLY, AMERICAN FOOTBALL PLAYER: Just to tell family that, everything came back negative. Yeah it definitely makes you feel good.
LAUREN HILL, OHIO BASKETBALL PLAYER WITH BRAIN CANCER: I was a bit worried about the (inaudible) If I be standing or able to play the game at all.
(APPLAUSE)
HILL: Today is been the best day I have ever had.
(APPLAUSE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Eventually just decided that I wasn't going to measure up to that.
MARS: Girl you're amazing...
NICHOLS: What has it might be, since you came out?
JASON COLLINS, BASKETBALL PLAYER: Incredible.
KEVIN COSTNER, ACTOR: I like sports enough to not want to embarrass myself.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I tend to get a little nervous, and I haven't walked out on such a large stage. I am banning Mr. Sterling for life.
NICHOLS: Yeah, that's us up in the box above super bowl boulevard.
MATCHBOX 20, ROCK BAND: I believe the world
NICHOLS: Are you surprised you never killed anyone in the ring?
FLOYD MAYWEATHER, PROFESSIONAL BOXER: Surprised no one killed me either.
NICHOLS: You have a history of domestic violence? Why should fans root for you? There have been documentations.
MAYWEATHER: Hearsay, allegations.
NICHOLS: Are you a good driver in a regular street? UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think I am that my wife is...
CHARLES BARKLEY, BASKETBALL PLAYER: I think they like when I play good. I say they suck. But I want to say something they suck.
JAMES: I could (inaudible) in my journey.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I could take LeBron James. Totally kidding, he's still fantastic. Lost his step, no he hasn't.
MATCHBOX 20: Let's see how far we've come let's see how far we've come, let's see how far we come.
NICHOLS: Where the end of the game. Where the end of the game. Where the end of the game, is just the start of the story. Goodnight.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NICHOLS: It has been such a great ride. I want to thank the amazing, Unguarded staff that brought you all those moments you just watched. They are terrific. And on a personal note I want to mention my family. Especially, my late father-in-law Mike, who passed this week, this man was not a sports fan, but without fail, every Saturday morning he would send me a note detailing all the things that excited and intrigued him watching our show the night before. I'm going to miss that note tomorrow. Thank you to all of you watching. Please keep watching. I will still be here on CNN to continue our conversation. You know in Unguarded we like to say that the end of the game is just the start of the story. Like can't wait to see what story, we tell next. Goodnight.
