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CNN Sunday Morning
Interview with P.G. Griffin, Lisa LeBlanc
Aired June 02, 2002 - 07:31 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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Now, very special story. We're talking about the Special Olympics, some of the best athletes around the country.
And we're very lucky this morning to be joined by one of the competitors, P.G. Griffin and also Lisa LeBlanc. She's the public relations manager for the Special Olympics of Georgia. And this is something very close to my heart. So I'm very excited that you guys are both here. Welcome.
LISA LEBLANC, SPECIAL OLYMPICS OF GEORGIA: Thank you.
PHILLIPS: So now, I understand 600 medals. That's what you have. Tell me all the sports you have medals in?
P.G. GRIFFIN: Volleyball, softball, and track and field, and basketball, and some other sports.
PHILLIPS: Every sport, right?
GRIFFIN: Every sport.
PHILLIPS: And I know you've brought your shot-put here.
GRIFFIN: Right.
PHILLIPS: That's right. Is this one of your favorite sports?
GRIFFIN: Not really. All of them.
PHILLIPS: All of them are.
GRIFFIN: Got to be a real strong, real competitor, you know.
PHILLIPS: Well, and weight lifting or power lifting, right? I can obviously tell. Boy, when you came up here, I thought, Ooh, I don't ever want to make P.G. mad. I got to be very careful. How did you get into power lifting?
GRIFFIN: I started way back in 1986. I met a coach named Kim Brasswell.
PHILLIPS: Yes. GRIFFIN: He got involved with it. And he showed me a couple things. And I just went from there. They had come along, Ms. Devebraugh (ph), Mr. Chuck Campbell (ph) and Ms. Polly Griffin (ph) and Ms. Joycen Wein (ph).
PHILLIPS: So you had some wonderful people in your life?
GRIFFIN: Right.
PHILLIPS: Influencing you? How do you keep in such great shape? Do you work at this everyday?
GRIFFIN: Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.
PHILLIPS: Oh, my gosh. What do you do on the other days? Relax?
GRIFFIN: Well, I had to take care of some elder people, especially my great grandmother, Ms. Mary Lou Brooks (ph).
PHILLIPS: Aw.
GRIFFIN: So I did a love my great grandmother so much. She have done a lot of great things for me. And my mama deceased, my grandmother deceased. and my daddy deceased, and my granddaddy deceased.
PHILLIPS: Well, you're taking good care of her, and she's taking good care of you.
GRIFFIN: Right.
PHILLIPS: You're quite a successful athlete and person, I must say.
GRIFFIN: That's right.
PHILLIPS: All right. Lisa, let's talk about Special Olympics. What does it do for these athletes, the souls of these athletes? Especially people like P.G.?
LEBLANC: Well, Special Olympics, it provides for its training for these athletes, but aside from that, it also gives them life experience. We really try to emphasize our athletes going out and being members of the community, getting jobs, meeting the people in their community, and also helping other athletes, recruiting athletes become a part of the incredible program. And P.G. does a lot of that. We bring him out to prospective agencies and just to show the experiences that he's had and the way that he's benefited from the program.
PHILLIPS: And how do you tell these athletes, Hey, it doesn't matter if you got an intellectual disability. It's no big deal. You can do whatever you want. I mean, you're a prime example, P.G. How do you encourage these athletes? LEBLANC: Well, I think once they get involved in the program, it kind of is natural that it encourages themselves. Everyone of our athletes walks away with a medal. And that feeling alone, I think, makes them want to keep coming back.
PHILLIPS: So what do you tell other athletes? I know you coach, too, right?
GRIFFIN: Right.
PHILLIPS: What do you tell them when they may come to you and say, Oh, P.G., I don't know. I don't know if I can do this, but you know, I'm feeling a little stressed out?
GRIFFIN: Well first of all, you know, you got to be -- it's got to be real strong in the mind of your heart and your soul. And plus, you know, you just to got to really kind of understand yourself there. When you are competing, I mean, you just must be ready to go. You know? And we stretched out and everything. I mean, you just do what the coach tells you to do, and everything will be all right.
PHILLIPS: Now you're a minister, too, right?
GRIFFIN: Yes, ma'am.
PHILLIPS: So what -- do you go and visit certain churches?
GRIFFIN: Yes, ma'am. I have a lot of friends I have to pray for and a lot of churches that I deal with and volunteer my time. And that's the greatest feeling. Every day, I'm going to carry God with me wherever I go.
PHILLIPS: All right, you brought your shot-put. Now I know, obviously, we were trying to figure out maybe who in the news room we could throw the shot-put at. But no one's up to that this morning, thus far. And my co-anchor's not here. So what can I tell you? But maybe you can sort of show me, what's the key to the shot-put?
GRIFFIN: The key is...
PHILLIPS: If you were to coach me on how to do this, what would you tell me?
GRIFFIN: The first thing, I would show you a couple of exercises to strengthen your arm.
PHILLIPS: Yes, I need it, believe me, especially when I put them up to yours. Oh my gosh, that's scary.
GRIFFIN: You basically want to take your shot-put into your hand like this...
PHILLIPS: OK.
GRIFFIN: ...and grab around it like that. And you tilt your arm like this. PHILLIPS: OK.
GRIFFIN: And bring it in like this.
PHILLIPS: Right next to your face.
GRIFFIN: Right. And you'll be standing like straight, one leg leaning. And when you get ready to turn, you can turn all the way around, like a 360.
PHILLIPS: OK, oh my gosh.
GRIFFIN: That's about it.
PHILLIPS: Yes, you make it look real easy, P.G.
Now how many -- how often do you work with these kids, with the other athletes?
GRIFFIN: I try to do it every day or once a week. It don't matter what time it is, whatever, because I'm at a gym now called Body Garage in Stockbridge (ph) and working out is just one of my sponsors. And Mr. Rodney Kim (ph) joins. I thank them for that and thank Mr. (UNINTELLIGIBLE) for being involved with that.
PHILLIPS: You got a lot of support?
GRIFFIN: Right. And I tell that about, you know, it really ain't all about me. It all about Special Olympics, bringing people to Special Olympics. And when I go train, help train some of the kids, I just try to be -- I just try to have a good attitude.
PHILLIPS: Well, you do. It's so obvious. How -- is everyone this terrific?
LEBLANC: He's incredible.
PHILLIPS: Yes.
LEBLANC: He's actually -- he's a global messenger for our organization, which means he goes across the state, giving presentations and helping to recruit sponsors, volunteers and other athletes to become a part of the program. And he just, you know, talks to people like he's talking to you, sharing his experiences about Special Olympics and all the incredible ways he's benefited from the program. You can tell he just loves it.
PHILLIPS: How can people get involved? Let's say there's folks watching the segment right now.
LEBLANC: Sure.
PHILLIPS: And they want to get involved. How easy is it?
LEBLANC: Well most importantly, if anyone knows someone who's eligible for the program, which is -- IQ of 70 or below, that's the most important thing is we want the athletes to get involved. And we have local programs across all the states, especially this is an international organization. It's in over 160 countries. And that's the main thing if we want the athletes to get involved with the -- with local and state programs.
And then on a volunteer level, people can volunteer either locally, you know, around their city or country, or at a state event, such as state summer games. Or also if they want to get really involved year round, you can coach. There's wonderful coaching opportunities.
PHILLIPS: That P.G. does.
LEBLANC: Right.
PHILLIPS: How do the other athletes -- they look up to P.G.?
LEBLANC: Oh, he's an incredible mentor. For instance, this weekend is our summer games. And P.G. has been walking around the venues, just talking to people, shaking peoples' hands, signing autographs. I mean, he's just really idolized. It's wonderful.
PHILLIPS: I understand you set a world record for power lifting. Is that right?
GRIFFIN: Yes, it was great. Raleigh, North Carolina, 1999. Went in there and lifted 650 pounds and three-quarters. And it was good. I mean, it felt really good. And when I got through, you know, I (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
PHILLIPS: I should probably get his autograph.
LEBLANC: Yes, hey.
PHILLIPS: I'm going to do that afterwards. Now you bring a lot of joy into these kids' lives, P.G. You realize that?
GRIFFIN: That's right.
PHILLIPS: Is that what keeps you going?
GRIFFIN: Right. You know, and you got to take that time, and you got to take that great mentor. And you just got to be for real. You know, what come in your heart, what goes out of our heart. And any little kid that I see, I try to be there for them.
PHILLIPS: Do you have a mentor?
GRIFFIN: Ma'am?
PHILLIPS: Do you have a mentor?
GRIFFIN: Yes, ma'am.
PHILLIPS: Who's your mentor?
GRIFFIN: God is my mentor and friend.
PHILLIPS: I knew you were going to say that. What about an athlete? Do you have a favorite athlete?
GRIFFIN: Not right off hand.
PHILLIPS: OK.
GRIFFIN: Not right off hand. I mean, I try to look over a lot of players like regular sport. And my biggest thing now is that when I see a Special Olympic sign, or anything, that is really my mentor. But I have a uncle named Harmon Garter (ph). My aunt, she is my mentor, named Bernie Stroud (ph), and my great grandma Mary Lou Brooks (ph) and Willy James Brooks (ph) and Tony Brooks (ph) and Homer Brooks (ph). They are my family mentors. And that's what keeps me going. And my brother, too.
PHILLIPS: And that's what these athletes need, strong family network.
LEBLANC: Absolutely.
PHILLIPS: Lisa LeBlanc and P.G. Griffin, thank you so much for being with us.
GRIFFIN: Thank you.
LEBLANC: Thank you.
PHILLIPS: You are terrific. Quite an inspiration.
GRIFFIN: Thank you.
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