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CNN Sunday Morning

Rebuilding Begins in Florida; Swimmer Phelps Shines in Olympics; "American Idol" Runner-Up Touring, Working on Album

Aired August 15, 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.


DREW GRIFFIN, CNN ANCHOR: The damage is done. Now it's time for recovery to begin. Easier said than done. It's not just homes and businesses that must be rebuilt in the aftermath of Hurricane Charley. Emotional mending, part of the healing process. We will have an update on the next step towards recovery in Florida, plus where the storm is now.
CNN SUNDAY MORNING will be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: We welcome you back to CNN SUNDAY MORNING. The Olympics under way in Athens, not without controversy, though.

BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: We'll get a live update. That's just ahead. But first here is what's in the news.

From the air and the ground, President Bush is taking a look at hurricane damage in Florida this morning. He'll fly over hard hit communities in a helicopter. Mr. Bush will also visit Punta Gorda, where Hurricane Charley did the most damage.

The president has already issued a disaster declaration for parts of that state.

Turning now to events overseas. New violence this morning in two Iraqi cities. There's word U.S. and Iraqi forces have resumed their fighting against Shiite militiamen in Najaf, where peace talks have collapsed.

And in Baghdad, a mortar attack killed two people and injured several others. That attack happened near the site of a national political conference.

Indian officials are blaming separatist rebels for a string of bombings and grenade attacks this morning. Those attacks targeted ceremonies marking India's independence day. More than 20 people are reported dead and many of them school kids.

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

In the 8 a.m. Eastern hour of CNN SUNDAY MORNING, we talked with the national director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. He updated the ongoing efforts to help people devastated by Hurricane Charley. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAEL BROWN, FEMA DIRECTOR: What we're going to do is we're going to provide them with mortgage and rental assistance. We're going to provide them with some immediate places to live, either near their home or someplace in the near vicinity.

But we're going to make sure they have their housing needs taken care of. Then we'll start doing some long-term recovery efforts. It's not only the individuals, but the municipal governments, the state and local governments have suffered here. So we're going to help them rebuild that infrastructure also.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GRIFFIN: No specific estimates yet, but an insurance industry spokeswoman says the hurricane in Florida will cost at least several billion dollars.

Hurricane Charley killed 13 people in Florida. The remains of Charley, a squall now, are over New England.

President Bush arrives in Florida, is actually there, flying over the damage. He's getting a firsthand look at the destruction with his brother, the governor.

After the damage is assessed, the rebuilding begins. And with us from Tallahassee is Thaddeus Cohen, the Florida secretary of community affairs.

Mr. Cohen, thank you for joining us.

Understandably, the statistics coming out of Florida have been relatively slow. I'm wondering if you have any updated numbers as to the damage. Are we still talking about 13 people dead? And any injury count?

THADDEUS COHEN, FLORIDA'S SECRETARY OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS: The confirmation of the numbers is still where you've got them placed. We'll be getting an update as the day goes on. Our official spokesman on that at is the FDLE, who's working with the local medical examiners on that process.

So as we get more information, we're looking to them to provide us with the official numbers.

GRIFFIN: We have been focusing on Punta Gorda and Port Charlotte, but yesterday as we were actually covering this event over the past two days. We were seeing destruction all the way up towards Orlando and Daytona Beach.

Give us a sense of how wide an area Florida is dealing with statewide in terms of rebuilding and helping people.

COHEN: As you've indicated, it's very significant. The entry point was at Port Charlotte, but it goes up, as you said, all the way up through central Florida, the Orlando area, even out to Daytona.

So our focus today is on mass care, being able to get the distribution center set up, being able to get the food and supplies down to the local levels, to the county level.

Our assessment teams are currently going out to the small rural areas to assess their impacts: Osceola County, Polk County, Lee County. So those are the areas that we're starting to move to now, working on door to door, being able to find out the needs of the individual families and being able to provide them with opportunities to be able to get assistance.

GRIFFIN: We talked about the death toll, now at 13, and we have heard door-to-door searches are going on basically just about anywhere this thing hit. When do you think we will put an end to that search for more victims of this storm?

COHEN: Well, as you can appreciate there was a lot of damage being done at the impact area. It's a very slow, meticulous process for us to go through each of the areas to -- with the search and rescue organizations to be sure that we're thorough, that we've had an opportunity to be sure no one has been left behind.

We're leaving it up to the law enforcement and to the search and rescue organizations to have them go through their process before we can say that there's an end to it. But clearly, it's something that we have at the utmost priority, and as we work our way through the process, get more information, then we turn that over to the public.

GRIFFIN: Mr. Cohen, we wish you luck. We wish you and the state luck as you overcome this disaster. The Florida secretary of community affairs, Thaddeus Cohen.

COHEN: Thank you.

NGUYEN: We want to update you now on the weather situation. Things seem to be a lot better out there today, Rob.

(WEATHER REPORT)

NGUYEN: Thanks.

GRIFFIN: Thanks, Rob.

Well, one down, plenty to go for U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps. An update on the pool shark and the other games in Athens.

And it's been quite a year for this young singer from Georgia. A whirlwind tour for one of America's idols. We will talk with Anna DeGarmo (sic) a bit later on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: Golf's best will battle it out, right down to the last hole, apparently. A preview of the final round of the PGA Championship in Wisconsin, coming up. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: You've been waiting for it. "INSIDE POLITICS SUNDAY," that's up next, right here on CNN, so we want to get a preview of what's ahead from Kelly Wallace.

Good morning, Kelly.

KELLY WALLACE, HOST, "INSIDE POLITICS SUNDAY": Good morning, Betty.

Well, coming up next on "INSIDE POLITICS SUNDAY," President Bush is in Florida this morning, surveying the damage of Hurricane Charley. We'll bring you the first pictures from his trip just after the top of the hour.

Plus, a Garden State scandal. The New Jersey governor resigns amid rumors about a sexual harassment lawsuit. We have new information about when and why James McGreevey is actually leaving office.

That is all straight ahead on "I.P. SUNDAY." Back to you, Betty.

NGUYEN: All right. Thank you, Kelly -- Drew.

GRIFFIN: Thanks. Top stories now.

Some major U.S. troop movements are imminent. Sources say President Bush plans to reduce and reposition a large chunk of American forces. The cuts, in Europe and Asia. The move will not affect troops in Iraq, where there's new violence in the city of Najaf.

U.S. and Iraqi forces apparently resumed fighting the militants there that are loyal to the Shiite cleric after an attempt at peace talks fell apart on Saturday. And there was this this morning; several explosions have been heard.

Meantime, in Baghdad, at least two people dead and several hurt after a series of mortar explosions. The blasts come near the site of a national political conference in Iraq today, discussing the future democracy.

NGUYEN: At the Olympic games in Athens, swimmer Michael Phelps was the first to strike gold for team USA, and he broke his own world record in the process. That was yesterday.

Mark McKay of CNN sports joins us today from Athens with Phelps. He is on fire in the water. Good morning.

MARK MCKAY, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: You got that right, Betty. That is right. Good morning and welcome to a blustery Athens.

We learned over the past couple of hours that Michael Phelps could, in fact, have two of the possible eight gold medals he's seeking at these games by nightfall. Already qualified for the 200-meter semifinal, which will run tonight in Athens, Phelps has also been chosen for the United States spot for the 4-by-100 meter relay. That will run tonight.

Now Saturday, Phelps struck gold for the first time in the 400- meter individual medley, a performance that even had the silver medal winner impressed.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ERIK VENDT, WON SILVER IN SWIMMING: It's a great honor to be -- to get in a race against him, because I think after this meet he will be recognized as the greatest swimmer in the history of our sport. I already think it, and so does pretty much the rest of the guys' team.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MCKAY: The Olympic tennis competition got under way on day two here in Athens with some well-known names already on their way to possible gold.

Andy Roddick, the second seat on the men's side, behind world No. 1 Roger Federer, won his match in straight sets. So did Venus Williams, the reigning Olympic champion. She needed only 47 minutes to get out of the searing Athens sun.

Well, U.S. 100 meter sprinter Torri Edwards will have a hearing Monday before the Court of Arbitration for Sport, in hopes of remaining eligible to compete here in Athens. Edwards is currently suspended as a result of a positive drugs test.

We got our first look Sunday at Greek track and field hero Kostas Kenteris, who's been hospitalized since late last week. Kenteris and fellow Greek sprinter Katerini Thanou are on the mend following a motorcycle accident.

The pair have been withdrawn from the games by their nation's Olympic committee after the two missed a mandatory doping test. Now, Betty, the International Olympic Committee says that, no matter what the Greek Olympic Committee did, it will have no bearing on that hearing, which is being held Monday here in Athens.

NGUYEN: Very interesting. Mark McKay, thank you very much. Looking forward to today's events.

GRIFFIN: Let's stay with sports and go to golf.

Long considered the least glamorous of the four major championships in professional golf, today's final round of the PGA looks like more an all-star event. Plenty of golf's big names battling it out on this final day.

Masters champ Phil Mickelson once again in contention for the win. He's already finished in the top three of this year's other majors. Ernie Els, runner-up at both this year's masters and British Open, is tied with Mickelson, four shots behind the leader, is Vijay Singh right there. He'll be paired with American Justin Leonard in the final twosome of the final day, Leonard just one stroke off the lead.

It could be quite a finish at Whistling Straights up in Haven, Wisconsin. The big news about Tiger Woods, he's getting angry at all the photographers taking pictures of him.

Where were you on this very date 35 years ago? Were you one of them, 400,000 people packed onto that farm in Woodstock, New York?

NGUYEN: One of them, hum? Well, one person who definitely was not there was this rising young star. No, it's not Drew, this rising young star, Diana DeGarmo, one of America's idols, will join us next here in Atlanta on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: Thirty-five years ago this weekend a muddy dairy farm in upstate New York, the place to be. Four hundred thousand people, more than expected by far, rocked and partied at Woodstock, the music fest that helped define the hippie generation.

Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix and The Who, among the more than 30 acts that played over the course of the three-day concert. Many of those hippies, now eligible for AARP, but won't admit it I'm sure -- Betty.

NGUYEN: Well, our next guest didn't make Woodstock. It happened almost 20 years before she was born.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DIANA DEGARMO, "AMERICAN IDOL" RUNNER-UP (singing): Keep it inside...

NGUYEN: Listen to that voice. Diana DeGarmo is the 17-year-old survivor of last year's "American Idol," who endured the judges' hits and the audience's fits to land in the final two.

And for DeGarmo, the future is hardly final. Instead, it's just beginning to form. Armed and ready for her next challenge, Diana DeGarmo joins me with more on the present and the future.

Good morning to you.

DEGARMO: Good morning.

NGUYEN: Looking like a rock star.

DEGARMO: Thank you. You know, I have my little bling.

NGUYEN: Yes, exactly. When you become a rock star you have to have the bling.

DEGARMO: Exactly. Exactly.

NGUYEN: So tell us; what are you working on now? I know you're in town for the concert, the "American Idol" concert here in Atlanta.

DEGARMO: Yes, we're having the tour, which is going great, and the cities have been amazing. And I'm also working on my album, which will be end out the end of October. So everybody needs to go out and get it.

NGUYEN: So on this album, you've got a single out. It's really doing well in the charts. But radio really isn't playing too much of that. Is that a concern for you?

DEGARMO: Well, with these singles, these singles are kind of like souvenirs from the end of the show. Actually, if anybody had a choice, at the end of the day, Fantasia, neither one of us would have really picked that as, like, a single to come off our album, because it is -- it's like a souvenir from the show.

So fortunately, it's going to be separate from our albums. They're great songs. We've enjoyed performing them, but they're mainly just for the people that have watched the show to have a memento -- so...

NGUYEN: But do you feel that the audience, the public, radio, all these other types are giving you as much play as the past contestants?

DEGARMO: Well, if you look back on, you know, Ruben and Clay's first song that when they came out after the end of the finale, their songs really weren't that well known. I know them personally from being an idol, but a lot of people, every day people would not recognize their song off, first hand.

But their first songs from their albums: "I'm Sorry for 2004" and "Invisible," people know those songs because those were more meant to go onto the radio. And -- with Kelly Clarkson's "Moment Like This," it was an amazing song the first season, and people just...

NGUYEN: It grows on the charts. Now you've got one, this album coming out. What can we expect from you?

DEGARMO: You know, it's a lot of fun. It's a really upbeat album. I've had a great time recording it so far. I'm about halfway done. So it's going to be amazing.

I'm working with a wonderful producer and I'm so excited that David Foster is going to be working on it. He's an amazing producer. He's -- One of the first songs that he has written in a long time. And I'm proud to say that it's mine.

NGUYEN: We're at looking at some video now of fans. You have fans from all across the country, across the world. I mean, how exciting is that for you? You're just 17 years old.

DEGARMO: You know, it's very exciting to get letters from people in, like, Singapore and Australia and you know, countries that I have never been to. And they say, "We loved you on the show. We weren't able to vote but we watched you, and we'll buy your album." It totally blows my mind that "American Idol" has been able to reach that many people. And I'm -- I'm very blessed for what it has done for me.

NGUYEN: And quickly, you're in town in Atlanta tonight for the "American Idol" concert. Give us a little behind the scenes. Is that competition still going on between all of you?

DEGARMO: You know what? It really isn't, which is surprising, actually.

NGUYEN: Really?

DEGARMO: Because most people are, like, "We want the dirt." But, you know, we've really kind of put it behind us. And we go out there. And once we hit the stage it's so much fun. We're just, like, a bunch of goof balls, get out there and have a great time.

NGUYEN: You a goof ball? No way.

DEGARMO: The audiences have been amazing, and they've helped us, because they are so much fun. They make us have a lot of fun. And we make sure that everybody has a great time before they leave.

NGUYEN: Well, you seem to be enjoying it.

DEGARMO: Thank you very much.

NGUYEN: Thank you very much for joining us today. Best of luck to you.

DEGARMO: Thank you.

NGUYEN: Not that you need it -- Drew.

GRIFFIN: Next on CNN, chasing the biggest storm in years.

We will have this firsthand account of Charley's fury through the lens of some intrepid storm chasers. Stay with us for that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's roughly 4:37.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GRIFFIN: Plenty more ahead on CNN today. Next, it's "INSIDE POLITICS SUNDAY" with Kelly Wallace, focusing on a natural disaster and its impact on the race for president.

Followed by "CNN LIVE SUNDAY" at 11 Eastern, more on the aftermath of Charley. And at 11:30 Eastern, it's "RELIABLE SOURCES" with Howard Kurtz.

NGUYEN: Not everyone was trying to get out of the way of hard- charging Hurricane Charley. Some people literally threw caution to the wind to document the sound and the fury.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh (expletive deleted). Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Oh, my God.

OK. Right now, the time here is roughly 4:37. We are watching a neighborhood disintegrate. This is Hurricane Charley. For the past five minutes or so we have been experiencing winds in excess of 100 miles an hour. It is tearing off roofs.

Category Four hurricane. I hope I'm recording. This is it right here. This is Hurricane Charley, August 13, 2004. If you ever wanted to know what it looks like inside a Category Four hurricane, this is it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: It's one thing to talk about 100 mile per hour winds, and it's another thing completely to see it. The person who shot that video said it was his tenth hurricane, and he's never experienced anything like it.

GRIFFIN: Amazing, just amazing.

For families with loved ones in the Ft. Myers area, Hurricane Charley caused a lot of anxiety, as well.

NGUYEN: The fear of loss can make a reunion extra special, even amid tremendous destruction. A CNN crew was shooting video when a mother and daughter found each other.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Watch out. Watch the nails.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Be very careful.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You are a sight, girl. My God. You're alive. Oh. Thank you for coming.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: I can't begin to imagine that sigh of relief that they felt just then.

GRIFFIN: Nice way to end our show.

NGUYEN: Absolutely.

GRIFFIN: Thank you for joining us.

NGUYEN: "INSIDE POLITICS SUNDAY" is next, but first, here's a look at what's happening in the news.

Now in the news: an Independence Day celebration in India turns deadly. A bomb blasts kills more than a dozen people during a parade in a remote area of northeastern India. Many of the victims were children.

That attack was blamed on a militant separatist group. The bomb went off after India's prime minister vowed to fight terrorism.

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Aired August 15, 2004 - 09:30   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DREW GRIFFIN, CNN ANCHOR: The damage is done. Now it's time for recovery to begin. Easier said than done. It's not just homes and businesses that must be rebuilt in the aftermath of Hurricane Charley. Emotional mending, part of the healing process. We will have an update on the next step towards recovery in Florida, plus where the storm is now.
CNN SUNDAY MORNING will be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: We welcome you back to CNN SUNDAY MORNING. The Olympics under way in Athens, not without controversy, though.

BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: We'll get a live update. That's just ahead. But first here is what's in the news.

From the air and the ground, President Bush is taking a look at hurricane damage in Florida this morning. He'll fly over hard hit communities in a helicopter. Mr. Bush will also visit Punta Gorda, where Hurricane Charley did the most damage.

The president has already issued a disaster declaration for parts of that state.

Turning now to events overseas. New violence this morning in two Iraqi cities. There's word U.S. and Iraqi forces have resumed their fighting against Shiite militiamen in Najaf, where peace talks have collapsed.

And in Baghdad, a mortar attack killed two people and injured several others. That attack happened near the site of a national political conference.

Indian officials are blaming separatist rebels for a string of bombings and grenade attacks this morning. Those attacks targeted ceremonies marking India's independence day. More than 20 people are reported dead and many of them school kids.

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

In the 8 a.m. Eastern hour of CNN SUNDAY MORNING, we talked with the national director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. He updated the ongoing efforts to help people devastated by Hurricane Charley. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAEL BROWN, FEMA DIRECTOR: What we're going to do is we're going to provide them with mortgage and rental assistance. We're going to provide them with some immediate places to live, either near their home or someplace in the near vicinity.

But we're going to make sure they have their housing needs taken care of. Then we'll start doing some long-term recovery efforts. It's not only the individuals, but the municipal governments, the state and local governments have suffered here. So we're going to help them rebuild that infrastructure also.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GRIFFIN: No specific estimates yet, but an insurance industry spokeswoman says the hurricane in Florida will cost at least several billion dollars.

Hurricane Charley killed 13 people in Florida. The remains of Charley, a squall now, are over New England.

President Bush arrives in Florida, is actually there, flying over the damage. He's getting a firsthand look at the destruction with his brother, the governor.

After the damage is assessed, the rebuilding begins. And with us from Tallahassee is Thaddeus Cohen, the Florida secretary of community affairs.

Mr. Cohen, thank you for joining us.

Understandably, the statistics coming out of Florida have been relatively slow. I'm wondering if you have any updated numbers as to the damage. Are we still talking about 13 people dead? And any injury count?

THADDEUS COHEN, FLORIDA'S SECRETARY OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS: The confirmation of the numbers is still where you've got them placed. We'll be getting an update as the day goes on. Our official spokesman on that at is the FDLE, who's working with the local medical examiners on that process.

So as we get more information, we're looking to them to provide us with the official numbers.

GRIFFIN: We have been focusing on Punta Gorda and Port Charlotte, but yesterday as we were actually covering this event over the past two days. We were seeing destruction all the way up towards Orlando and Daytona Beach.

Give us a sense of how wide an area Florida is dealing with statewide in terms of rebuilding and helping people.

COHEN: As you've indicated, it's very significant. The entry point was at Port Charlotte, but it goes up, as you said, all the way up through central Florida, the Orlando area, even out to Daytona.

So our focus today is on mass care, being able to get the distribution center set up, being able to get the food and supplies down to the local levels, to the county level.

Our assessment teams are currently going out to the small rural areas to assess their impacts: Osceola County, Polk County, Lee County. So those are the areas that we're starting to move to now, working on door to door, being able to find out the needs of the individual families and being able to provide them with opportunities to be able to get assistance.

GRIFFIN: We talked about the death toll, now at 13, and we have heard door-to-door searches are going on basically just about anywhere this thing hit. When do you think we will put an end to that search for more victims of this storm?

COHEN: Well, as you can appreciate there was a lot of damage being done at the impact area. It's a very slow, meticulous process for us to go through each of the areas to -- with the search and rescue organizations to be sure that we're thorough, that we've had an opportunity to be sure no one has been left behind.

We're leaving it up to the law enforcement and to the search and rescue organizations to have them go through their process before we can say that there's an end to it. But clearly, it's something that we have at the utmost priority, and as we work our way through the process, get more information, then we turn that over to the public.

GRIFFIN: Mr. Cohen, we wish you luck. We wish you and the state luck as you overcome this disaster. The Florida secretary of community affairs, Thaddeus Cohen.

COHEN: Thank you.

NGUYEN: We want to update you now on the weather situation. Things seem to be a lot better out there today, Rob.

(WEATHER REPORT)

NGUYEN: Thanks.

GRIFFIN: Thanks, Rob.

Well, one down, plenty to go for U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps. An update on the pool shark and the other games in Athens.

And it's been quite a year for this young singer from Georgia. A whirlwind tour for one of America's idols. We will talk with Anna DeGarmo (sic) a bit later on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: Golf's best will battle it out, right down to the last hole, apparently. A preview of the final round of the PGA Championship in Wisconsin, coming up. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: You've been waiting for it. "INSIDE POLITICS SUNDAY," that's up next, right here on CNN, so we want to get a preview of what's ahead from Kelly Wallace.

Good morning, Kelly.

KELLY WALLACE, HOST, "INSIDE POLITICS SUNDAY": Good morning, Betty.

Well, coming up next on "INSIDE POLITICS SUNDAY," President Bush is in Florida this morning, surveying the damage of Hurricane Charley. We'll bring you the first pictures from his trip just after the top of the hour.

Plus, a Garden State scandal. The New Jersey governor resigns amid rumors about a sexual harassment lawsuit. We have new information about when and why James McGreevey is actually leaving office.

That is all straight ahead on "I.P. SUNDAY." Back to you, Betty.

NGUYEN: All right. Thank you, Kelly -- Drew.

GRIFFIN: Thanks. Top stories now.

Some major U.S. troop movements are imminent. Sources say President Bush plans to reduce and reposition a large chunk of American forces. The cuts, in Europe and Asia. The move will not affect troops in Iraq, where there's new violence in the city of Najaf.

U.S. and Iraqi forces apparently resumed fighting the militants there that are loyal to the Shiite cleric after an attempt at peace talks fell apart on Saturday. And there was this this morning; several explosions have been heard.

Meantime, in Baghdad, at least two people dead and several hurt after a series of mortar explosions. The blasts come near the site of a national political conference in Iraq today, discussing the future democracy.

NGUYEN: At the Olympic games in Athens, swimmer Michael Phelps was the first to strike gold for team USA, and he broke his own world record in the process. That was yesterday.

Mark McKay of CNN sports joins us today from Athens with Phelps. He is on fire in the water. Good morning.

MARK MCKAY, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: You got that right, Betty. That is right. Good morning and welcome to a blustery Athens.

We learned over the past couple of hours that Michael Phelps could, in fact, have two of the possible eight gold medals he's seeking at these games by nightfall. Already qualified for the 200-meter semifinal, which will run tonight in Athens, Phelps has also been chosen for the United States spot for the 4-by-100 meter relay. That will run tonight.

Now Saturday, Phelps struck gold for the first time in the 400- meter individual medley, a performance that even had the silver medal winner impressed.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ERIK VENDT, WON SILVER IN SWIMMING: It's a great honor to be -- to get in a race against him, because I think after this meet he will be recognized as the greatest swimmer in the history of our sport. I already think it, and so does pretty much the rest of the guys' team.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MCKAY: The Olympic tennis competition got under way on day two here in Athens with some well-known names already on their way to possible gold.

Andy Roddick, the second seat on the men's side, behind world No. 1 Roger Federer, won his match in straight sets. So did Venus Williams, the reigning Olympic champion. She needed only 47 minutes to get out of the searing Athens sun.

Well, U.S. 100 meter sprinter Torri Edwards will have a hearing Monday before the Court of Arbitration for Sport, in hopes of remaining eligible to compete here in Athens. Edwards is currently suspended as a result of a positive drugs test.

We got our first look Sunday at Greek track and field hero Kostas Kenteris, who's been hospitalized since late last week. Kenteris and fellow Greek sprinter Katerini Thanou are on the mend following a motorcycle accident.

The pair have been withdrawn from the games by their nation's Olympic committee after the two missed a mandatory doping test. Now, Betty, the International Olympic Committee says that, no matter what the Greek Olympic Committee did, it will have no bearing on that hearing, which is being held Monday here in Athens.

NGUYEN: Very interesting. Mark McKay, thank you very much. Looking forward to today's events.

GRIFFIN: Let's stay with sports and go to golf.

Long considered the least glamorous of the four major championships in professional golf, today's final round of the PGA looks like more an all-star event. Plenty of golf's big names battling it out on this final day.

Masters champ Phil Mickelson once again in contention for the win. He's already finished in the top three of this year's other majors. Ernie Els, runner-up at both this year's masters and British Open, is tied with Mickelson, four shots behind the leader, is Vijay Singh right there. He'll be paired with American Justin Leonard in the final twosome of the final day, Leonard just one stroke off the lead.

It could be quite a finish at Whistling Straights up in Haven, Wisconsin. The big news about Tiger Woods, he's getting angry at all the photographers taking pictures of him.

Where were you on this very date 35 years ago? Were you one of them, 400,000 people packed onto that farm in Woodstock, New York?

NGUYEN: One of them, hum? Well, one person who definitely was not there was this rising young star. No, it's not Drew, this rising young star, Diana DeGarmo, one of America's idols, will join us next here in Atlanta on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: Thirty-five years ago this weekend a muddy dairy farm in upstate New York, the place to be. Four hundred thousand people, more than expected by far, rocked and partied at Woodstock, the music fest that helped define the hippie generation.

Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix and The Who, among the more than 30 acts that played over the course of the three-day concert. Many of those hippies, now eligible for AARP, but won't admit it I'm sure -- Betty.

NGUYEN: Well, our next guest didn't make Woodstock. It happened almost 20 years before she was born.

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DIANA DEGARMO, "AMERICAN IDOL" RUNNER-UP (singing): Keep it inside...

NGUYEN: Listen to that voice. Diana DeGarmo is the 17-year-old survivor of last year's "American Idol," who endured the judges' hits and the audience's fits to land in the final two.

And for DeGarmo, the future is hardly final. Instead, it's just beginning to form. Armed and ready for her next challenge, Diana DeGarmo joins me with more on the present and the future.

Good morning to you.

DEGARMO: Good morning.

NGUYEN: Looking like a rock star.

DEGARMO: Thank you. You know, I have my little bling.

NGUYEN: Yes, exactly. When you become a rock star you have to have the bling.

DEGARMO: Exactly. Exactly.

NGUYEN: So tell us; what are you working on now? I know you're in town for the concert, the "American Idol" concert here in Atlanta.

DEGARMO: Yes, we're having the tour, which is going great, and the cities have been amazing. And I'm also working on my album, which will be end out the end of October. So everybody needs to go out and get it.

NGUYEN: So on this album, you've got a single out. It's really doing well in the charts. But radio really isn't playing too much of that. Is that a concern for you?

DEGARMO: Well, with these singles, these singles are kind of like souvenirs from the end of the show. Actually, if anybody had a choice, at the end of the day, Fantasia, neither one of us would have really picked that as, like, a single to come off our album, because it is -- it's like a souvenir from the show.

So fortunately, it's going to be separate from our albums. They're great songs. We've enjoyed performing them, but they're mainly just for the people that have watched the show to have a memento -- so...

NGUYEN: But do you feel that the audience, the public, radio, all these other types are giving you as much play as the past contestants?

DEGARMO: Well, if you look back on, you know, Ruben and Clay's first song that when they came out after the end of the finale, their songs really weren't that well known. I know them personally from being an idol, but a lot of people, every day people would not recognize their song off, first hand.

But their first songs from their albums: "I'm Sorry for 2004" and "Invisible," people know those songs because those were more meant to go onto the radio. And -- with Kelly Clarkson's "Moment Like This," it was an amazing song the first season, and people just...

NGUYEN: It grows on the charts. Now you've got one, this album coming out. What can we expect from you?

DEGARMO: You know, it's a lot of fun. It's a really upbeat album. I've had a great time recording it so far. I'm about halfway done. So it's going to be amazing.

I'm working with a wonderful producer and I'm so excited that David Foster is going to be working on it. He's an amazing producer. He's -- One of the first songs that he has written in a long time. And I'm proud to say that it's mine.

NGUYEN: We're at looking at some video now of fans. You have fans from all across the country, across the world. I mean, how exciting is that for you? You're just 17 years old.

DEGARMO: You know, it's very exciting to get letters from people in, like, Singapore and Australia and you know, countries that I have never been to. And they say, "We loved you on the show. We weren't able to vote but we watched you, and we'll buy your album." It totally blows my mind that "American Idol" has been able to reach that many people. And I'm -- I'm very blessed for what it has done for me.

NGUYEN: And quickly, you're in town in Atlanta tonight for the "American Idol" concert. Give us a little behind the scenes. Is that competition still going on between all of you?

DEGARMO: You know what? It really isn't, which is surprising, actually.

NGUYEN: Really?

DEGARMO: Because most people are, like, "We want the dirt." But, you know, we've really kind of put it behind us. And we go out there. And once we hit the stage it's so much fun. We're just, like, a bunch of goof balls, get out there and have a great time.

NGUYEN: You a goof ball? No way.

DEGARMO: The audiences have been amazing, and they've helped us, because they are so much fun. They make us have a lot of fun. And we make sure that everybody has a great time before they leave.

NGUYEN: Well, you seem to be enjoying it.

DEGARMO: Thank you very much.

NGUYEN: Thank you very much for joining us today. Best of luck to you.

DEGARMO: Thank you.

NGUYEN: Not that you need it -- Drew.

GRIFFIN: Next on CNN, chasing the biggest storm in years.

We will have this firsthand account of Charley's fury through the lens of some intrepid storm chasers. Stay with us for that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's roughly 4:37.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GRIFFIN: Plenty more ahead on CNN today. Next, it's "INSIDE POLITICS SUNDAY" with Kelly Wallace, focusing on a natural disaster and its impact on the race for president.

Followed by "CNN LIVE SUNDAY" at 11 Eastern, more on the aftermath of Charley. And at 11:30 Eastern, it's "RELIABLE SOURCES" with Howard Kurtz.

NGUYEN: Not everyone was trying to get out of the way of hard- charging Hurricane Charley. Some people literally threw caution to the wind to document the sound and the fury.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh (expletive deleted). Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Oh, my God.

OK. Right now, the time here is roughly 4:37. We are watching a neighborhood disintegrate. This is Hurricane Charley. For the past five minutes or so we have been experiencing winds in excess of 100 miles an hour. It is tearing off roofs.

Category Four hurricane. I hope I'm recording. This is it right here. This is Hurricane Charley, August 13, 2004. If you ever wanted to know what it looks like inside a Category Four hurricane, this is it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: It's one thing to talk about 100 mile per hour winds, and it's another thing completely to see it. The person who shot that video said it was his tenth hurricane, and he's never experienced anything like it.

GRIFFIN: Amazing, just amazing.

For families with loved ones in the Ft. Myers area, Hurricane Charley caused a lot of anxiety, as well.

NGUYEN: The fear of loss can make a reunion extra special, even amid tremendous destruction. A CNN crew was shooting video when a mother and daughter found each other.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Watch out. Watch the nails.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Be very careful.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You are a sight, girl. My God. You're alive. Oh. Thank you for coming.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: I can't begin to imagine that sigh of relief that they felt just then.

GRIFFIN: Nice way to end our show.

NGUYEN: Absolutely.

GRIFFIN: Thank you for joining us.

NGUYEN: "INSIDE POLITICS SUNDAY" is next, but first, here's a look at what's happening in the news.

Now in the news: an Independence Day celebration in India turns deadly. A bomb blasts kills more than a dozen people during a parade in a remote area of northeastern India. Many of the victims were children.

That attack was blamed on a militant separatist group. The bomb went off after India's prime minister vowed to fight terrorism.

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