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Democratic National Convention in Boston About to Get Under Way; Interview With the Sprys

Aired July 25, 2004 - 09:30   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.


BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: It is just about time for us to talk to Mark Shields and Al Hunt at CNN's "CAPITAL GANG." They are in Boston and they'll be talking with us and they will be answering your questions as well about the Democratic National Convention, so stay tuned to CNN'S SUNDAY MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

DREW GRIFFIN, CNN ANCHOR: Getting ready in Boston, putting the final touches on the convention preparations but what can we expect in the next few days from the Democrats?

NGUYEN: We'll tell you about that. Welcome back. We'll go live to Boston for some thoughts from our experts. That's just ahead.

But first here's a look at what's happening now in the news.

A firefight in Buhriz, Iraqi national guardsmen, along with U.S. soldiers, killed 13 insurgents in that town which is northeast of Baghdad. There are no casualties reported among Iraq and American forces.

The al Qaeda organization in Europe has posted a warning on the Internet. It demands that Australia and Italy pull their troops out of Iraq and threatens a bloodbath in those countries. Australia has already responded saying it will not give in to terrorists.

Also, a missile attack reported in Gaza. Palestinian security sources say an Israeli Apache helicopter fired a missile at a house in Gaza City and three bystanders suffered minor wounds. No other injuries are reported and the Israeli Army has not commented on this report.

Keeping you informed, CNN the most trusted name in news.

Time now to take questions from you in our "Talk to CNN" segment. Today's questions relate to the Democratic National Convention set to get underway tomorrow.

GRIFFIN: And so we take you and your questions to the experts at the convention site. They are Mark Shields and Al Hunt of CNN's "CAPITAL GANG," live from the Fleet Center. Good morning guys.

MARK SHIELDS, "CAPITAL GANG": Good morning, Drew.

AL HUNT, "CAPITAL GANG": Good morning, Drew.

GRIFFIN: You know we have no way to screen these e-mails and, Al, when I read this first question it's going to sound like it came from the pen of Terry McAuliffe but here we go.

"Do I sense the urgent desperation on the part of the Bush-Cheney team? Instead of laying out their good objectives for the next term, all I see is a barrage of attacks. I am a Republican, but I'm finding it difficult to support a null Bush agenda," so says Kwaku, Republican, from Worcester, Massachusetts. Al, do you want to take a crack at that one?

HUNT: Well, you know, it must be Terry McAuliffe because there are no Republicans in the state of Massachusetts. We know that, Drew. I think it is true that the Bush-Cheney team have run a largely negative campaign so far. They would say it's informational.

They want to define John Kerry before John Kerry defines himself but I suspect that before this is all over we're going to see both campaigns dishing out their share of negative messages.

NGUYEN: Mark, here's something...

SHIELDS: And I'd just add -- oh, I'm sorry. Go ahead, Betty. Pardon me.

NGUYEN: Go ahead and make your statement. That's fine.

SHIELDS: Well, I just wanted to add one thing to it. One of the great features sort of overlooked in this whole campaign finance reform law of John McCain and Russ Feingold and Marty Meehan and Chris Shays is that we now require candidates to appear themselves and give a disclaimer, say I was paid this -- I approved of this ad.

Therefore, we become more aware of the fact that a negative commercial on either candidate is done by that campaign and -- because George Bush or John Kerry has to appear in it. I think it really is a great, great source of information for voters.

NGUYEN: Very good point. All right, let's stay with that, Mark. We have a question now from Dave in Overland Park, Kansas and he writes:

"If John Edwards becomes the U.S. vice president, has there ever been another V.P. with younger or as young children while in office?" This is going to test your knowledge. What do you think?

SHIELDS: Well, I will say this. His children are young but we had a fellow elected in 1952 whose children were quite young. His name was Richard M. Nixon.

HUNT: Right.

SHIELDS: And he had two daughters, Julie and Tricia, and as a matter of fact Richard Nixon, I know Democrats hate to hear this, used to drive the carpool to his children to school but I think the Edwards' children are probably the youngest, aren't they, Alan?

HUNT: I would think so, at least, you know, I can't remember any younger.

NGUYEN: And they attracted quite of a lot of attention yesterday when they had those cheese head hats on.

SHIELDS: They sure did. I think, if anything, they've rejuvenated John Kerry who, if anything, looked like almost a geriatrics case at points and after he was exposed on the same platform with the Edwards' children he kind of came alive and showed a vitality and energy that I hadn't seen before.

HUNT: I think there's already, Betty, a (UNINTELLIGIBLE) for Jack Edwards in 2040.

SHIELDS: I think Emma, Emma maybe.

GRIFFIN: Hey, guys, I got a question that kind of follows the line of the Clinton conspiracy theorists. It's coming from Janice in Fort Worth, Texas.

She says: "How likely is it that the Clintons really want the John/John ticket to be successful?" She goes on to talk about the 2004 and 2008 elections but any undercurrents that maybe the Hillary Clinton for president in 2008 does not want this ticket to win?

HUNT: You know, Janet asked a good question because there is a lot of under, under, undercurrents, if you will, jockeying between people who are Edwards supporters and Hillary Clinton's camp about speaking and various press interviews and the like.

But you know something, in the final analysis, Drew, any Democrat that doesn't go all out for this ticket will pay a huge price and I have no doubt that Hillary Clinton will go all out for this ticket.

SHIELDS: In the final analysis as well, both Clintons realize that their influence over the outcome of this election is pretty limited. It's very much in the hands of George Bush, John Kerry, John Edwards and Dick Cheney and events. So, they better not be caught in any way lying down on the job and I don't think either one will.

NGUYEN: We want to get both of your answers to this e-mail from a disgusted non-voter.

This person writes: "I, for one, don't know why anyone should care about the Democratic Convention, Republican Convention, debates or anything to do with politics. I have met many politicians and, in every case, they tell you what they think you want to hear. After the election, however, they do exactly what they want to do. So, my question is what difference does it make who is elected" -- Al?

HUNT: Well, if that person doesn't care what kind of taxes he pays, if he doesn't care whether his children are going to be send to war, if he doesn't care about what kind of health care he's going to get, then I think he should maintain that attitude. But, if you care about those, politics does make a difference and there is a difference between John Kerry and George Bush. You clearly will have a different government under a Kerry administration than you will have under a Bush administration.

Half the country seems to prefer that. Half the country seems not to prefer that. But I think anybody who argues that this is much ado about nothing is really off base.

SHIELDS: And I would say in defense of George W. Bush that what he said he would do he has tried to do, I mean whether it was Leave No Child Behind, whether it was cutting taxes dramatically.

Whether you support that or oppose it, he was about that in the campaign of 2000 and Bill Clinton was about, very much about deficit reduction in 1992 and getting the economy moving again in his direction.

So, you know, I think that's a little unfair to say candidates don't do -- they don't do everything obviously because events change and improve. George Bush didn't say he'd invade Iraq but we hadn't had September 11 either.

NGUYEN: Sure.

GRIFFIN: Guys, this last one is going to be about your opinion on this, a couple of them that we're putting together.

"It is a sad state of affairs when the likes of bin Laden and his bunch can dictate events at either convention to the point of caging protesters in a wire pen." That's out of Texas.

And this one: "How can any red-blooded American not be outraged by this "Holding Area" at the DNC?" It seems like any news can usurp John Kerry is the pen issue, the holding pen issue going to knock them out of, knock the Democrats out of the center stage.

SHIELDS: It's a great question. It really is and I think if there's a guilty -- guilt in overreaction it certainly is in penning up the protesters. The first time Al and I were walking over this morning, we went by the pen.

And the first time I saw it was in 1984 long before bin Laden at the Republican Convention in Dallas. In 110 degree heat they had people penned off in an area several blocks from the convention hall and, you know, I really think it is -- it is overreaction. Some would say it's the price we have to pay but it's a very, very steep price for democracy.

HUNT: Yes. Drew, I would just add I think this is one of the most terrific cities anywhere in the world. It's going to be a great place for delegates and guests to come and I think the one discordant note is that the security is going to be absolutely suffocating.

I suppose if you're in charge of security you have to worry about threats but there may be a little bit of overreaction here and I think that pen falls in that category.

GRIFFIN: It is kind of sad.

NGUYEN: Absolutely. Al Hunt and Mark Shields staying on top of things for us at the DNC, thank you.

GRIFFIN: We look forward to the week ahead, guys.

Well, we have plenty of news from the world of sports today. Baseball prepares to welcome another Hall of Fame class to Cooperstown, New York.

NGUYEN: While, Ricky Williams drops the ball in Miami. We'll have much more on this ahead on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Top stories now. Dennis Eckersley and Paul Molitor will be inducted into baseball's Hall of Fame. Molitor was a career 306 hitter over 21 seasons, mostly with Milwaukee. Eckersley was the most effective reliever in baseball from 1988 to 1992 helping the Oakland A's win four division titles.

Former Phoenix Suns coach Lowell "Cotton" Fitzsimmons is dead. Fitzsimmons coached in more than 1,600 NBA games for several teams. He died of complications from lung cancer at the age of 72.

And it's all the talk, running back Ricky Williams reportedly is hanging up his football helmet. the "Miami Herald" says Williams has told the Miami Dolphins he is retiring after five years in the National Football League. Williams says he'll file his retirement papers Monday or Tuesday.

GRIFFIN: A lot of people waking up this morning, football fans, wondering what the heck is going on with Ricky Williams. They wonder that a lot, Michelle Bonner, but you're here from CNN Sports to explain why is he doing this? He's 27 years old.

MICHELLE BONNER, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Because Ricky Williams has always gone by the beat of his own drum.

I mean this is, you know, it was funny back in '99 when Barry Sanders, running back Barry Sanders retired from the Detroit Lions. He had played for ten years. He was 31 years old and everybody said, "Oh my gosh, you know, why is he doing this?"

People were stunned then. Well, they were stunned not because he was in the prime of his career but because he was barely 1,500 yards shy of breaking Walter Payton's NFL rushing record.

This, on the other hand, Ricky Williams is the franchise of the Miami Dolphins and he's only 27 years old. He's only played for five years in the league but, you know, in the "Miami Herald" it's talking about how he's been kind of on tour with Lenny Kravitz and backstage and seeing how Lenny Kravitz works incredibly hard, doesn't have much of a life. And Ricky Williams has never been about the money or the fame or anything and I think he wants to enjoy life and his three daughters and none of the fame or fortune that comes with playing in the NFL has ever been a factor him and this is just yet another chapter in the Ricky Williams saga.

NGUYEN: Now, you mentioned Barry Sanders. Ricky Williams is pretty good friends with him. Do you think that has anything to do with this?

BONNER: I don't think anything but Ricky Williams had anything to do with this. Now, in talking about why Ricky Williams made this decision, he says, "I'm finally free. I've never been happier in my life." You know, we'll see.

Coming on the heels of several reports, three reports out of Miami newspapers that Ricky Williams had tested positive for a second time of marijuana use, does that play any factor in this? You know, who knows? He was already going to be docked four games from testing positive the first time.

The NFL still has not formally come out and said that he had tested positive a second time, so whether that's a factor or not, you know, we may never know why Ricky decided to do this if he does decide to come back in.

But I will tell you Dave Wannstedt, the head coach of the Miami Dolphins, has to be livid this morning because it's a week before training camp opens. Corey Dillon, one of the best running backs, was available. The New England Patriots, the Super Bowl champs, got him just the other day.

Eddie George of the Tennessee Titans is now with the Dallas Cowboys. He was available. Ricky Williams being the franchise of the Miami Dolphins now they're without a premiere back in this league.

NGUYEN: Well, we want to hear from Ricky Williams quickly because he did give a few quotes to the "Miami Herald."

He said: "Everyone has thrown every possible scenario at me about why I shouldn't do this but they're in denial. I'm happy with my decision. I'm finally free. I can't remember ever being this happy." What does he mean "I'm finally free?"

BONNER: You know, he was one of the premiere backs in college when he won the Heisman Trophy back in '99 when he was with Texas and then, you know, the New Orleans Saints absolutely has to give the franchise away to get this guy in the draft.

And, if you remember that picture with him and former New Orleans Saints coach Mike Ditka on the cover with Ricky Williams in a wedding dress, signifying, you know, this marriage, he never lived up to that so-called hype, especially of that marriage between these two.

It came out that he had a personality disorder, had a hard time getting -- not so much getting along but dealing with teammates and talking with people. Even in the media, you know, he always did his interviews with his helmet on.

Then he goes to Miami and he started taking medication for this personality disorder and suddenly Ricky Williams is just, you know, Ricky Williams. He's more personable. He's very accommodating to the media and he goes out and does his thing and he seems to be thriving in Miami.

NGUYEN: Right.

BONNER: So, you might have thought that was the happiest he's ever been. So, what he means by that only Ricky Williams knows that really.

NGUYEN: Never a dull moment with Ricky Williams.

BONNER: No, and don't be surprised if he ever does end up back in the league again.

NGUYEN: Right, exactly. I'm retiring but I'm back. OK, thanks Michelle.

GRIFFIN: Well, they are off on another leg of their journey but where are the Sprys this week, a few moments on our favorite traveling family is ahead.

And good morning to you Seattle, coffee capital of America.

We will have a complete forecast for you and everybody else in the nation in about five minutes when CNN SUNDAY MORNING returns.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(WEATHER FORECAST)

GRIFFIN: Rob, thanks a lot for that.

And up next where in the world are the Sprys and what's the weather like there right now? We'll chase down America's traveling family. That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Well, for three months now we've followed a one-time California family across the country in their search for the so-called American dream. The Sprys sold their home on the West Coast, fast- paced Silicon Valley, bought and RV and set out to find a new quieter, perhaps more serene place to live and work.

The Sprys crossed the south, then traveled up the East Coast and now, Steve, Colleen and 4-year-old Ryan join us by phone live from a cold Cape Cod, Massachusetts this morning. Good morning to all of you.

COLEEN SPRY: Good morning.

STEVE SPRY: Good morning. NGUYEN: Well, Steve, let's start with you. Last we spoke with you, you guys were headed out on many adventures. What have you done since then?

S. SPRY: Well, we had a lot of fun up in the Bar Harbor, Maine area. We got to see the lobstering industry. We got to see some very dramatic scenery and we even managed to sneak in a quick trip into New Brunswick, Canada.

NGUYEN: We're taking a look at Ryan right now as he's enjoying this spot. Colleen, how close are you to coming, after you've been to all these places, to coming to a decision on where you want to plant some roots?

C. SPRY: Well, we're thinking about going back to the Virginia area and checking that out.

NGUYEN: Why Virginia?

C. SPRY: We've heard that there's a lot of nice places to live there and when we came up the East Coast we did not spend any time there.

NGUYEN: Steve, I have to ask you as America watches you guys crisscross across the country, at some point do you ever think we've sold our house. This is our life savings or at least a lot of it. What are we doing?

S. SPRY: Well, not really. I mean we originally planned and budgeted around, you know, taking 60, well we said 60 days but, you know, two, two and a half months to really sort of get out of our past frame of thinking and just put ourselves into a frame of mind to, you know, sort of open the book up and decide what and where want to do.

So, there's two things really at play. It's also, it's as much the where to go as well as, you know, what we're going to be doing. So, that's really the challenge that we're at right now.

NGUYEN: A challenge but definitely a fun adventure no less. Steve, Colleen and Ryan we thank you for being with us.

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 July 25, 2004 - 09:30   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: It is just about time for us to talk to Mark Shields and Al Hunt at CNN's "CAPITAL GANG." They are in Boston and they'll be talking with us and they will be answering your questions as well about the Democratic National Convention, so stay tuned to CNN'S SUNDAY MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

DREW GRIFFIN, CNN ANCHOR: Getting ready in Boston, putting the final touches on the convention preparations but what can we expect in the next few days from the Democrats?

NGUYEN: We'll tell you about that. Welcome back. We'll go live to Boston for some thoughts from our experts. That's just ahead.

But first here's a look at what's happening now in the news.

A firefight in Buhriz, Iraqi national guardsmen, along with U.S. soldiers, killed 13 insurgents in that town which is northeast of Baghdad. There are no casualties reported among Iraq and American forces.

The al Qaeda organization in Europe has posted a warning on the Internet. It demands that Australia and Italy pull their troops out of Iraq and threatens a bloodbath in those countries. Australia has already responded saying it will not give in to terrorists.

Also, a missile attack reported in Gaza. Palestinian security sources say an Israeli Apache helicopter fired a missile at a house in Gaza City and three bystanders suffered minor wounds. No other injuries are reported and the Israeli Army has not commented on this report.

Keeping you informed, CNN the most trusted name in news.

Time now to take questions from you in our "Talk to CNN" segment. Today's questions relate to the Democratic National Convention set to get underway tomorrow.

GRIFFIN: And so we take you and your questions to the experts at the convention site. They are Mark Shields and Al Hunt of CNN's "CAPITAL GANG," live from the Fleet Center. Good morning guys.

MARK SHIELDS, "CAPITAL GANG": Good morning, Drew.

AL HUNT, "CAPITAL GANG": Good morning, Drew.

GRIFFIN: You know we have no way to screen these e-mails and, Al, when I read this first question it's going to sound like it came from the pen of Terry McAuliffe but here we go.

"Do I sense the urgent desperation on the part of the Bush-Cheney team? Instead of laying out their good objectives for the next term, all I see is a barrage of attacks. I am a Republican, but I'm finding it difficult to support a null Bush agenda," so says Kwaku, Republican, from Worcester, Massachusetts. Al, do you want to take a crack at that one?

HUNT: Well, you know, it must be Terry McAuliffe because there are no Republicans in the state of Massachusetts. We know that, Drew. I think it is true that the Bush-Cheney team have run a largely negative campaign so far. They would say it's informational.

They want to define John Kerry before John Kerry defines himself but I suspect that before this is all over we're going to see both campaigns dishing out their share of negative messages.

NGUYEN: Mark, here's something...

SHIELDS: And I'd just add -- oh, I'm sorry. Go ahead, Betty. Pardon me.

NGUYEN: Go ahead and make your statement. That's fine.

SHIELDS: Well, I just wanted to add one thing to it. One of the great features sort of overlooked in this whole campaign finance reform law of John McCain and Russ Feingold and Marty Meehan and Chris Shays is that we now require candidates to appear themselves and give a disclaimer, say I was paid this -- I approved of this ad.

Therefore, we become more aware of the fact that a negative commercial on either candidate is done by that campaign and -- because George Bush or John Kerry has to appear in it. I think it really is a great, great source of information for voters.

NGUYEN: Very good point. All right, let's stay with that, Mark. We have a question now from Dave in Overland Park, Kansas and he writes:

"If John Edwards becomes the U.S. vice president, has there ever been another V.P. with younger or as young children while in office?" This is going to test your knowledge. What do you think?

SHIELDS: Well, I will say this. His children are young but we had a fellow elected in 1952 whose children were quite young. His name was Richard M. Nixon.

HUNT: Right.

SHIELDS: And he had two daughters, Julie and Tricia, and as a matter of fact Richard Nixon, I know Democrats hate to hear this, used to drive the carpool to his children to school but I think the Edwards' children are probably the youngest, aren't they, Alan?

HUNT: I would think so, at least, you know, I can't remember any younger.

NGUYEN: And they attracted quite of a lot of attention yesterday when they had those cheese head hats on.

SHIELDS: They sure did. I think, if anything, they've rejuvenated John Kerry who, if anything, looked like almost a geriatrics case at points and after he was exposed on the same platform with the Edwards' children he kind of came alive and showed a vitality and energy that I hadn't seen before.

HUNT: I think there's already, Betty, a (UNINTELLIGIBLE) for Jack Edwards in 2040.

SHIELDS: I think Emma, Emma maybe.

GRIFFIN: Hey, guys, I got a question that kind of follows the line of the Clinton conspiracy theorists. It's coming from Janice in Fort Worth, Texas.

She says: "How likely is it that the Clintons really want the John/John ticket to be successful?" She goes on to talk about the 2004 and 2008 elections but any undercurrents that maybe the Hillary Clinton for president in 2008 does not want this ticket to win?

HUNT: You know, Janet asked a good question because there is a lot of under, under, undercurrents, if you will, jockeying between people who are Edwards supporters and Hillary Clinton's camp about speaking and various press interviews and the like.

But you know something, in the final analysis, Drew, any Democrat that doesn't go all out for this ticket will pay a huge price and I have no doubt that Hillary Clinton will go all out for this ticket.

SHIELDS: In the final analysis as well, both Clintons realize that their influence over the outcome of this election is pretty limited. It's very much in the hands of George Bush, John Kerry, John Edwards and Dick Cheney and events. So, they better not be caught in any way lying down on the job and I don't think either one will.

NGUYEN: We want to get both of your answers to this e-mail from a disgusted non-voter.

This person writes: "I, for one, don't know why anyone should care about the Democratic Convention, Republican Convention, debates or anything to do with politics. I have met many politicians and, in every case, they tell you what they think you want to hear. After the election, however, they do exactly what they want to do. So, my question is what difference does it make who is elected" -- Al?

HUNT: Well, if that person doesn't care what kind of taxes he pays, if he doesn't care whether his children are going to be send to war, if he doesn't care about what kind of health care he's going to get, then I think he should maintain that attitude. But, if you care about those, politics does make a difference and there is a difference between John Kerry and George Bush. You clearly will have a different government under a Kerry administration than you will have under a Bush administration.

Half the country seems to prefer that. Half the country seems not to prefer that. But I think anybody who argues that this is much ado about nothing is really off base.

SHIELDS: And I would say in defense of George W. Bush that what he said he would do he has tried to do, I mean whether it was Leave No Child Behind, whether it was cutting taxes dramatically.

Whether you support that or oppose it, he was about that in the campaign of 2000 and Bill Clinton was about, very much about deficit reduction in 1992 and getting the economy moving again in his direction.

So, you know, I think that's a little unfair to say candidates don't do -- they don't do everything obviously because events change and improve. George Bush didn't say he'd invade Iraq but we hadn't had September 11 either.

NGUYEN: Sure.

GRIFFIN: Guys, this last one is going to be about your opinion on this, a couple of them that we're putting together.

"It is a sad state of affairs when the likes of bin Laden and his bunch can dictate events at either convention to the point of caging protesters in a wire pen." That's out of Texas.

And this one: "How can any red-blooded American not be outraged by this "Holding Area" at the DNC?" It seems like any news can usurp John Kerry is the pen issue, the holding pen issue going to knock them out of, knock the Democrats out of the center stage.

SHIELDS: It's a great question. It really is and I think if there's a guilty -- guilt in overreaction it certainly is in penning up the protesters. The first time Al and I were walking over this morning, we went by the pen.

And the first time I saw it was in 1984 long before bin Laden at the Republican Convention in Dallas. In 110 degree heat they had people penned off in an area several blocks from the convention hall and, you know, I really think it is -- it is overreaction. Some would say it's the price we have to pay but it's a very, very steep price for democracy.

HUNT: Yes. Drew, I would just add I think this is one of the most terrific cities anywhere in the world. It's going to be a great place for delegates and guests to come and I think the one discordant note is that the security is going to be absolutely suffocating.

I suppose if you're in charge of security you have to worry about threats but there may be a little bit of overreaction here and I think that pen falls in that category.

GRIFFIN: It is kind of sad.

NGUYEN: Absolutely. Al Hunt and Mark Shields staying on top of things for us at the DNC, thank you.

GRIFFIN: We look forward to the week ahead, guys.

Well, we have plenty of news from the world of sports today. Baseball prepares to welcome another Hall of Fame class to Cooperstown, New York.

NGUYEN: While, Ricky Williams drops the ball in Miami. We'll have much more on this ahead on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Top stories now. Dennis Eckersley and Paul Molitor will be inducted into baseball's Hall of Fame. Molitor was a career 306 hitter over 21 seasons, mostly with Milwaukee. Eckersley was the most effective reliever in baseball from 1988 to 1992 helping the Oakland A's win four division titles.

Former Phoenix Suns coach Lowell "Cotton" Fitzsimmons is dead. Fitzsimmons coached in more than 1,600 NBA games for several teams. He died of complications from lung cancer at the age of 72.

And it's all the talk, running back Ricky Williams reportedly is hanging up his football helmet. the "Miami Herald" says Williams has told the Miami Dolphins he is retiring after five years in the National Football League. Williams says he'll file his retirement papers Monday or Tuesday.

GRIFFIN: A lot of people waking up this morning, football fans, wondering what the heck is going on with Ricky Williams. They wonder that a lot, Michelle Bonner, but you're here from CNN Sports to explain why is he doing this? He's 27 years old.

MICHELLE BONNER, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Because Ricky Williams has always gone by the beat of his own drum.

I mean this is, you know, it was funny back in '99 when Barry Sanders, running back Barry Sanders retired from the Detroit Lions. He had played for ten years. He was 31 years old and everybody said, "Oh my gosh, you know, why is he doing this?"

People were stunned then. Well, they were stunned not because he was in the prime of his career but because he was barely 1,500 yards shy of breaking Walter Payton's NFL rushing record.

This, on the other hand, Ricky Williams is the franchise of the Miami Dolphins and he's only 27 years old. He's only played for five years in the league but, you know, in the "Miami Herald" it's talking about how he's been kind of on tour with Lenny Kravitz and backstage and seeing how Lenny Kravitz works incredibly hard, doesn't have much of a life. And Ricky Williams has never been about the money or the fame or anything and I think he wants to enjoy life and his three daughters and none of the fame or fortune that comes with playing in the NFL has ever been a factor him and this is just yet another chapter in the Ricky Williams saga.

NGUYEN: Now, you mentioned Barry Sanders. Ricky Williams is pretty good friends with him. Do you think that has anything to do with this?

BONNER: I don't think anything but Ricky Williams had anything to do with this. Now, in talking about why Ricky Williams made this decision, he says, "I'm finally free. I've never been happier in my life." You know, we'll see.

Coming on the heels of several reports, three reports out of Miami newspapers that Ricky Williams had tested positive for a second time of marijuana use, does that play any factor in this? You know, who knows? He was already going to be docked four games from testing positive the first time.

The NFL still has not formally come out and said that he had tested positive a second time, so whether that's a factor or not, you know, we may never know why Ricky decided to do this if he does decide to come back in.

But I will tell you Dave Wannstedt, the head coach of the Miami Dolphins, has to be livid this morning because it's a week before training camp opens. Corey Dillon, one of the best running backs, was available. The New England Patriots, the Super Bowl champs, got him just the other day.

Eddie George of the Tennessee Titans is now with the Dallas Cowboys. He was available. Ricky Williams being the franchise of the Miami Dolphins now they're without a premiere back in this league.

NGUYEN: Well, we want to hear from Ricky Williams quickly because he did give a few quotes to the "Miami Herald."

He said: "Everyone has thrown every possible scenario at me about why I shouldn't do this but they're in denial. I'm happy with my decision. I'm finally free. I can't remember ever being this happy." What does he mean "I'm finally free?"

BONNER: You know, he was one of the premiere backs in college when he won the Heisman Trophy back in '99 when he was with Texas and then, you know, the New Orleans Saints absolutely has to give the franchise away to get this guy in the draft.

And, if you remember that picture with him and former New Orleans Saints coach Mike Ditka on the cover with Ricky Williams in a wedding dress, signifying, you know, this marriage, he never lived up to that so-called hype, especially of that marriage between these two.

It came out that he had a personality disorder, had a hard time getting -- not so much getting along but dealing with teammates and talking with people. Even in the media, you know, he always did his interviews with his helmet on.

Then he goes to Miami and he started taking medication for this personality disorder and suddenly Ricky Williams is just, you know, Ricky Williams. He's more personable. He's very accommodating to the media and he goes out and does his thing and he seems to be thriving in Miami.

NGUYEN: Right.

BONNER: So, you might have thought that was the happiest he's ever been. So, what he means by that only Ricky Williams knows that really.

NGUYEN: Never a dull moment with Ricky Williams.

BONNER: No, and don't be surprised if he ever does end up back in the league again.

NGUYEN: Right, exactly. I'm retiring but I'm back. OK, thanks Michelle.

GRIFFIN: Well, they are off on another leg of their journey but where are the Sprys this week, a few moments on our favorite traveling family is ahead.

And good morning to you Seattle, coffee capital of America.

We will have a complete forecast for you and everybody else in the nation in about five minutes when CNN SUNDAY MORNING returns.

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GRIFFIN: Rob, thanks a lot for that.

And up next where in the world are the Sprys and what's the weather like there right now? We'll chase down America's traveling family. That's next.

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NGUYEN: Well, for three months now we've followed a one-time California family across the country in their search for the so-called American dream. The Sprys sold their home on the West Coast, fast- paced Silicon Valley, bought and RV and set out to find a new quieter, perhaps more serene place to live and work.

The Sprys crossed the south, then traveled up the East Coast and now, Steve, Colleen and 4-year-old Ryan join us by phone live from a cold Cape Cod, Massachusetts this morning. Good morning to all of you.

COLEEN SPRY: Good morning.

STEVE SPRY: Good morning. NGUYEN: Well, Steve, let's start with you. Last we spoke with you, you guys were headed out on many adventures. What have you done since then?

S. SPRY: Well, we had a lot of fun up in the Bar Harbor, Maine area. We got to see the lobstering industry. We got to see some very dramatic scenery and we even managed to sneak in a quick trip into New Brunswick, Canada.

NGUYEN: We're taking a look at Ryan right now as he's enjoying this spot. Colleen, how close are you to coming, after you've been to all these places, to coming to a decision on where you want to plant some roots?

C. SPRY: Well, we're thinking about going back to the Virginia area and checking that out.

NGUYEN: Why Virginia?

C. SPRY: We've heard that there's a lot of nice places to live there and when we came up the East Coast we did not spend any time there.

NGUYEN: Steve, I have to ask you as America watches you guys crisscross across the country, at some point do you ever think we've sold our house. This is our life savings or at least a lot of it. What are we doing?

S. SPRY: Well, not really. I mean we originally planned and budgeted around, you know, taking 60, well we said 60 days but, you know, two, two and a half months to really sort of get out of our past frame of thinking and just put ourselves into a frame of mind to, you know, sort of open the book up and decide what and where want to do.

So, there's two things really at play. It's also, it's as much the where to go as well as, you know, what we're going to be doing. So, that's really the challenge that we're at right now.

NGUYEN: A challenge but definitely a fun adventure no less. Steve, Colleen and Ryan we thank you for being with us.

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