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CNN Sunday Morning
Congress Set to Vote on Schiavo Bill; Pope Misses Palm Sunday Mass; Programs Use Web to Teach English
Aired March 20, 2005 - 07:00 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.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Six hours from now, Congress is set to take action in the case of Terri Schiavo, the latest round in an emotional battle that has split a family and opinion across the country.
From the CNN Center in Atlanta, this is CNN SUNDAY MORNING. It is March 20th. Good morning, everyone. I'm Tony Harris.
RANDI KAYE: And I'm Randi Kaye in for Betty Nguyen -- 7:00 a.m. here in the East, 4:00 a.m. out West. Thanks for being with us. Let's start with some headlines.
At least one person has been killed and 250 injured by a huge earthquake centered off western Japan. The small Japanese island of Genkai appears to have been hardest hit by the magnitude 7.0 quake. At least 65 homes were destroyed there.
At least 21 people were injured by an explosion at a secluded mountain lodge in Gunnison National Forest in Colorado. The nearest road is 17 miles away. So helicopters were called in to take the injured to hospitals. The county sheriff says the explosion may have been caused by propane gas. "The Denver Post" reports that three children may be missing.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is in China, asking that country to push for new six power talks on North Korea's nuclear weapons. Before leaving South Korea for Beijing, Rice criticized European countries for plans to sell weapons to China. She suggested those weapons may someday be used against Americans.
Both houses of Congress convene later today. And House Republican leaders say they have a compromise that could send the Terri Schiavo case to a federal court for review. Schiavo is the severely brain-damaged Florida woman whose feeding tube was removed Friday afternoon.
HARRIS: And our top story this morning: A court hearing in two hours for John Evander Couey, the suspect in the death of Jessica Lunsford. He's back in Citrus County, Florida. Couey was arrested in Augusta, Georgia, where police say he confessed to the kidnapping and killing.
CNN's Sara Dorsey is live in Homosassa Springs, Florida, with a new development.
Sara, good morning.
SARA DORSEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Tony. We're just learning from sheriff's officials that John Couey, the man who confessed to killing Jessica Marie Lunsford three weeks ago, will appear today in front of a judge. This is his first appearance after being brought back to Florida.
Of course, we know he was caught, questioned and ultimately confessed to this crime in Georgia. He arrived back in Florida overnight and into this morning about 2:00, we are told.
After hearing of the news yesterday, though, Jessica's dad, Mark Lunsford, who has really been a rock through this entire ordeal, led a rolling memorial through this town for his daughter. More than 300 other people joined him on motorcycles to remember this little girl whose life was cut so tragically short.
We are expecting a church service a little later today in honor of Jessica.
Now we should also say three other people are also being charged in connection with this case. They are being charged with obstruction of justice. And the sheriff says all three of those people were told by John Couey himself that he was wanted by investigators. And none of them bothered to tell their story -- Tony?
HARRIS: Sara Dorsey in Homosassa Springs, Florida for us.
Sara, thank you.
KAYE: And now back to the Schiavo case. President Bush is cutting short his weekend stay in Texas so that he can return to Washington to sign the Schiavo bill, if Congress passes it.
More now from CNN's Bob Franken in Pinellas Park, Florida, outside the hospice where Schiavo is being treated.
Bob, good morning.
BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Randi. What is so intriguing is that this has caused a genuine controversy, both political and emotional, across the country. But here at the hospice, the activity outside is remarkably subdued.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FRANKEN (voice-over): Terri Schiavo's parents and sister walked past the small group of right-to-life activists into the hospice for a visit, even while many of the politicians in Washington struggled to find a way to reinsert the feeding tube. It had been removed Friday.
MARY SCHINDLER, TERRI SCHIAVO'S MOTHER: She is my life. I am begging Governor Bush, and the politicians in Tallahassee, President Bush, politicians in Washington, please, please, please save my little girl.
FRANKEN: In Washington, it's actually congressional leaders, mainly Republican, who have put the final touches on the bill they expect to result in the feeding tube being reconnected to Terri Schiavo within the next two weeks or so. Otherwise, she would starve to death.
Her husband, who has fought so many years to have the tube removed, charges the newest delaying tactics are blatant politics.
MICHAEL SCHIAVO, TERRI SCHIAVO'S HUSBAND: They're stepping into my personal life. And they're getting in the middle of something they know nothing about.
FRANKEN: The bill's congressional reporters insist they had no choice.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: None of us likes the fact that we are here.
FRANKEN: And here at the hospice, the organized protest leaders were keeping a tight clamp on any civil disobedience, to avoid any disruption to the delicate negotiations in Washington.
They quickly disavowed the action of Bo Brice (ph), the once- prominent former Special Forces operative, who was arrested for trespassing when he tried to get inside to feed Terri Schiavo water.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FRANKEN: The battle is being fought on the political and public relations turf. But meanwhile, in her peaceful surroundings, inside the hospice, Terri Schiavo is not saying anything, of course. She is silent. (UNINTELLIGIBLE) being silently carried around the country. And the debate is over whether killing her would be murder or mercy -- Randi?
KAYE: And, Bob, if you could, tell us how this is going to work? What will it take exactly for this bill to pass?
FRANKEN: Well, it's going to take some semblance of a vote. Now that could happen even without most of the members there, if all would agree to have what is called unanimous consent. Nobody would object.
But we're being told that some representatives are going to raise an objection, which will mean in the House of Representatives that there will have to be session with a quorum present. That could possibly happen sometime after midnight.
Then the Senate is going to have to act in the -- if they can get through all of that, which people expect that they will, then it would go to the president's desk.
But that does not mean that this would be over for the moment. Then it would have to go into federal court. Procedures would suggest that the judge, while he was giving consideration to the case, would order that the feeding tube would be reconnected.
But there's an awful lot between here and there. It's just going to be a question of how quickly they can go through this.
KAYE: All right, Bob Franken for us live this morning.
Thank you, Bob.
Later on CNN SUNDAY MORNING, they want what's best for Terri Schiavo, but they are bitterly divided over just what that means. We'll talk live with Terri Schiavo's brother and her husband. That's live in the 9:00 a.m. Eastern hour of CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
And here is our e-mail question today: Does Congress belong in the Terri Schiavo debate?
We are at wam@cnn.com, reading your replies, of course, throughout the program.
HARRIS: It is not only the first day of spring, it is also Palm Sunday. Today marks the beginning of the holy week leading up to Easter Sunday.
At the Vatican, Pope John Paul II couldn't lead Palm Sunday mass for the first time in 26 years.
Alessio Vinci joins us now from Rome with more.
Alessio, good morning.
ALESSIO VINCI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Tony.
Yes, unable for the first time in his long papacy, Pope John Paul II unable to even be in St. Peter's Square for this very important mass on Palm Sunday, celebrating -- commemorating Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem, as people lay down some palm leaves on his path.
Pope John Paul II making, nevertheless, an appearance from the window of his apostolic palace, the third floor, on the right hand side of St. Peter's Square. And tens of thousands of pilgrims broke into lengthy applause at the end of a two-hour mass that was presided over by a senior Vatican official, Cardinal Camillo Ruini, who is the vicar of the pope for Rome during that mass.
He read a special prayer for the pope, calling him "our beloved father," asking him to continue his service after the gift of life, basically meaning until the very end as the pope has so many times indicated, despite the fact that he is frail and recovering now from a tracheostomy.
That is why the pope is still unable to speak much. We did see him from the hospital window, but he did not speak. Big difference, of course. Compare this Palm Sunday to a year ago, when the pope not only presided over the mass, but also took a great tour of the St. Peter's Square on his popemobile.
Nevertheless, pilgrims by the tens of thousands gathered in St. Peter's Square to even get a glimpse of the pope at the beginning of this very important holy week in the Roman Catholic calendar -- Tony?
HARRIS: Palm Sunday in Rome. Alessio Vinci for us.
Alessio, thank you.
Well, you've heard of mobile homes. This home you're about to see wasn't meant to be mobile, but it disappeared anyway. We'll tell you exactly what happened.
KAYE: And later, two inspiring stories for both kids and adults. We'll meet some amazing teens who say you can accomplish anything if you just start small, but you dream big.
HARRIS: And good morning, Boston. Your full weekend forecast is coming up just ahead with Rob Marciano on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: She spent years comforting condemned men. And her bestselling book about a killer she befriended was turned into the hit movie, "Dead Man Walking."
Now Sister Helen Frajohn brings a twist to the death penalty debate. Sister Helen Frajohn, author of "The Death of Innocence," live next hour on "FACES OF FAITH," 8:00 a.m. Eastern.
(FLU REPORT)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: Now this morning's stories across America, beginning with college basketball's March madness. Coach Bob Knight is headed to the sweet 16, after his sixth seated Texas Tech upset number three seated Gonzaga. It's Knight's first return to the regional semi-final since 1994, when he was the coach at the University of Indiana.
Southwest Airlines says it will support its pilots challenge of mandatory retirement. Federal law requires retirement at age 60, regardless of health. The low cost carrier is expected to file a friend of the court brief with the U.S. Supreme Court, but it's not clear exactly when.
In Tyler, Texas, thieves have walked away with the kitchen sink and the house that surrounded it. Neighbors and even patrolling police had seen a group of men tear apart the vacant home brick by brick, but assumed the demolition was tied to nearby construction. The rightful owner, a real estate company, reported it stolen.
New rules, new champions. And that leaves one American star out in the cold. Skating stars and stats later this hour.
KAYE: And we turn now to look at super teens and the accomplishments that transcend their youth. "Teen People" magazine named 20 such teens who are out to change the world and could actually do it.
We're looking at the dedication and achievements that make their goals more than just youthful optimism this month on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
Let's introduce today's guests. Anders Jones is the founder of Teens for Technology, which has established computer labs in 500 schools in Jamaica, and will soon extend his program to other poor nations. He joins us from Boston this morning.
And in Los Angeles, we have Ellie Wen, who founded a website that offers English lessons to kids around the world.
First of all, congratulations to both of you on making a difference already at such a young age. Anders, let's start with you. What inspired you to get these computers into schools in Jamaica?
ANDERS JONES, FOUNDER, TEENS FOR TECHNOLOGY: Well, it started four years ago. I was in Jamaica on spring break with my father. And I had a conversation with a cab driver. And he told me about his two children that went to a school with 850 kids and one computer.
And I at that point was going to a school with 850 kids and maybe 100 or 150 computers. And that difference just really struck me.
KAYE: And have you seen this -- these computers being used firsthand? And what is the reaction of these kids?
JONES: Oh, the kids just absolutely love the computers. Our group goes down three or four times a year. And we go to as many labs as we can in the time that we're down there. And the kids, the teachers, the parents, everyone's using them, and everyone's loving them.
KAYE: And what, in your opinion, why is it so important to teach kids in these poorer countries about technology?
JONES: Well, I've said several times, and I'll say it again, that there will not be a job in the next five to 10 years that doesn't require the use of a computer. And kids who don't have access to technology skills at an early age are really going to be left behind.
KAYE: All right. Now let's turn to Ellie Wen. Ellie, you started a website called Repeat After Us. Can you tell us exactly what that offers?
ELLIE WEN, LITERACY EDUCATION ACTIVIST: Well, Repeat After Us is a website that helps people all over the world practice speaking English. It pairs the written word with the spoken word.
So all my friends and classmates and even strangers have helped record audio clips for the website.
KAYE: I could tell even just watching you this morning, you're pretty excited about it. You smile when you talk about it.
WEN: Yes, it's -- I'm having so much fun with this project.
KAYE: What exactly -- how does it work? I mean, I know you were a tutor. You used to teach English to Hispanic children, is that correct?
WEN: Yes, I go to Las Familias Del Pueblo every Friday. And it's a community center in downtown Los Angeles that caters to Hispanic immigrant families.
KAYE: And so you could understand the value of tutoring?
WEN: Yes. I see the firsthand effects of not being able to speak perfect English. So that's actually what inspired me to start the website.
KAYE: And so, they go to the website. And does this cost them anything?
WEN: Nope, it's all free.
KAYE: Really?
WEN: And they're all copyright free text as well.
KAYE: And so they just click on whatever they might want to click on, and then it repeats back for them or?
WEN: Exactly. So if a visitor clicks on a text, they can read the text. And they can listen to it at the same time and hopefully repeat after us.
KAYE: So both of you, I have to ask, what is your advice for other teens who might want to make a difference in the world, but who think, oh I'm too young. I'm just a teenager. I can't do this.
Ellie, what do you advise them?
WEN: Well, I would tell them to just go for it, try it. Because I've learned the world is really kind. And even if you stumble, they'll help you get back up. Everyone -- yes. I can't help thanking everyone in the world.
KAYE: And Anders, your advice?
JONES: I would say that it's very doable. In our case, we started small and we just had a goal of bringing your computer lab to one school. And it telescoped fro there. And I think there are a lot of people out there who are willing to help. And it's very doable.
KAYE: And both of you, I bet your friends all think you're pretty cool, huh? Yes? They all watching CNN this morning.
WEN: Well, I think they're cool.
KAYE: All right. Well, again, Anders Jones and Ellie Wen, thanks so much. And keep up all that hard work and good work, would you?
WEN: Thank you.
KAYE: All right.
JONES: Thank you very much.
KAYE: All right. Thanks for being with us this morning -- Tony?
HARRIS: Standing up for what they believe in by lying down. We'll tell you why these protestors took to the streets, snarling New York City traffic. Sounds redundant. That's coming up next on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
And later, March Madness isn't just about the big game. It's also about the big bucks. We'll look at the money madness. The money madness, when we go beyond the game.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(WEATHER REPORT)
HARRIS: College basketball tournament time. And corporate America wants a slam dunk.
KAYE: Won't throw any cliches in there.
HARRIS: No, won't do it ever again. The players are taking to the court. So are Nike, Adidas. Our sports analyst Rick Horrow looks at the money behind the madness.
KAYE: Also, taking it to the streets. Anti-war protestors out in force to mark a war anniversary. That's straight ahead on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: Supporters marched through a military town to defend peace, not war on the anniversary of Shock and Awe.
Welcome back. I'm Randi Kaye in for Betty Nguyen.
HARRIS: And good morning, everyone. I'm Tony Harris. That story in a minute.
First, a look at morning headlines. The right to die case of Terri Schiavo could prompt a rare Sunday session of Congress. Later today, the House and Senate are expected to pass emergency legislation that would shift the case to federal court and restore the feeding tube that was disconnected Friday. President Bush is returning to Washington in hopes of signing it.
The man charged in the kidnapping and killing of a missing Florida girl is scheduled to appear in court at 9:00 a.m. this morning. Police escorted John Evander Couey from Georgia to Florida overnight. The body of nine-year old Jessica Lunsford was found early yesterday morning, more than three weeks after she disappeared.
About an hour ago, Pope John Paul II appeared at his window overlooking St. Peter's Square. Tens of thousands of pilgrims are gathered there for Palm Sunday mass. The pontiff's frail health prevented him from leading the service the first time in his papacy.
Spring is now within reach in the northern hemisphere. Just minutes from now, as you take a look at Boston this morning, Vernal, his first name, went to school with him.
KAYE: Mr. Equinox?
HARRIS: Yes, yes. The Vernal Equinox will usher in the warmer season. It is a welcome change for a lot of us who are pretty winter weary at this point.
KAYE: The second anniversary of the start of the war in Iraq was marked with protests across the U.S. and the world. In San Francisco, hundreds marched to City Hall. Protestors called for American troops to leave Iraq.
In New York City, a small group of about two dozen protestors laid down in the middle of Times Square to protest the war. 27 people were arrested. Hundreds more gathered at the United Nations for anti- war speeches.
And in North Carolina, an anti-war rally organized in part by veterans and military families drew people to a park near Fort Bragg, home to more than 40,000 soldiers. Large scale protests were also mounted in London, Tokyo, and Istanbul, Turkey. More protests are on tap for today in Boston and Philadelphia.
Time now to go global to check out some of the stories making news around the world this morning.
HARRIS: And to do that, let's hand it over to CNN's Anand Naidoo at the international desk.
Anand, good morning.
ANAND NAIDOO, CNN ANCHOR, INTERNATIONAL DESK: Good morning to you. And first up, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake in Japan kills one in just 250, but causes little damage. The quake was centered off the west coast of the island of Kyushu. Local reports say about two dozen homes were destroyed. An elderly woman died after a wall collapsed on her. Workers have restored power and water services to most of the affected areas.
Moving now onto Pakistan. Another bomb blast there, this time 28 are killed, dozens injured. The explosion went out at a religious shrine in the southwest. It's the fifth bombing during a 12 hour period in that part of the country.
Police are looking at the possibility that rivalry between workers at the mosque might have been behind the attack. Pakistan's Balluchistan province, which is where this bomb explosion did take place, has a history of rivalry, of sectarian violence between Sunni Muslims and Shi'ite Muslims.
Onto Iraq now and an explosion there kills -- in Mosul, kills two people, including the chief of the city's anti corruption unit. Officials said the brigadier was in his office when the explosion happened. Two people were also wounded in that blast.
It's not clear whether this was a bomb carried by a suicide bomber, or whether it was a bomb that was already planted in the office over there.
That's it for me for now. Later on, we'll be looking at Japan again. That's later. But for now, let me send it back to Tony and Randi.
KAYE: Thank you.
HARRIS: Don't forget our e-mail question this morning. It concerns Congress. Voting to send the Terri Schiavo case to federal court, what do you think? Does Congress belong in this debate? Here's the address. Wam@cnn.com. And of course, we'll be reading some of your replies a little later this hour and throughout the program this morning.
KAYE: First, as the second anniversary of the Iraq War is observed, we remember the heroes, the troops, who gave the ultimate sacrifice on the front lines.
Today, Stacy Sammis remembers her husband, Captain Benjamin Sammis. He was killed during a combat mission southeast of Baghdad in April 2003.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
STACY SAMMIS: I remember I sat on the couch. And I stared up at this big lieutenant colonel with these big blue eyes. And he had just tears come out of his eyes. And they were grieving -- an old military technical term. And I just stopped the captain for a second. And I said, "Did the bad guys get him?" And they said, "Yes." And that was all I needed to know.
He had a heart that was so big. He just loved everyone. He's very intelligent. And he had big dreams for his life, big dreams. He wanted to be a dad. He wanted to be the best officer he could be. He was funny as anything. He could do voices from "Shrek" and the Clumps, "The Nutty Professor."
So he was always there with a laugh and a smile. Every time I cried like that, like now, he would just -- he'd just smile. He'd just smile. And always there to pick me up, too.
I miss everything about him. I miss making dinner together. I miss waking up next to him. I miss the e-mails. I miss the future that we will never have. The children we'll never have.
He used to say -- at the time we'd go for a walks and say, you're going to be 80 years old in our matching little sweat suits, sitting out here feeding the pigeons. And that sounded great to me. So I miss that.
I was definitely the center of his world. And he was the center of my world. And like we were a great team. He used to call us Team Sammis. He was my best friend. I just come right up to him and put my head right in the crick of his neck. And he would just give me a big bear hug and just hold me so tight.
So maybe that's what I miss the most. Just being able to be held and protected, because I just felt so safe in his spot. He just held me so tight. I just knew nothing bad would happen if he were with me.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: Yes, cue up the James Taylor this morning. Sunday morning, clear skies in Boston. The first day of spring in the northern hemisphere.
Look, if you got spring fever, we understand. Randi, we understand.
KAYE: Yes, we do.
HARRIS: Veronica, we understand. Rob Marciano coming up in just minutes with your forecast, Boston.
KAYE: Time to check in with our dotcom desk. We're doing a bit of Q and A to help us mind our Ps and Qs overseas.
More from CNN.com Veronica De La Cruz.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
VERONICA DE LA CRUZ, CNN.COM: If you're traveling through Asia, patting someone on the head is considered an insult. And in other countries, be careful when crossing your legs or pointing with your index finger. Both gestures can be looked at as just plain rude.
Consult your guide book, which may have a chapter on the do's and don'ts of etiquette. Travel experts say becoming familiar with a country's customs and etiquette will help give visitors a better experience when traveling abroad.
So before you pack your bags, take our online quiz. In which country is it considered faux pas to use soap or shampoo in a traditional bath tub? And how about this one? In this country, cutting the point off the cheese is considered bad form. For the answer, log on and find out.
And last but not least, a few words to the wise. Hello, good bye, please and thank you. Check out this list of words that should be learned in the language of your destination.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CRUZ: And of course, you can find all of that at cnn.com/travel. And during the story, Randi was actually saying that she has bad etiquette.
HARRIS: What?
KAYE: I do. I'm working on it.
CRUZ: You are? But let me go and ask you.
KAYE: OK.
CRUZ: Which country is it considered faux pas to use soap or shampoo in a traditional bath tub?
KAYE: Tony?
CRUZ: Tony looks stumped.
HARRIS: Totally stumped.
KAYE: See, OK, so I'm not the only one.
HARRIS: Need a couple of other tiles here...
KAYE: Japan.
CRUZ: Wow. You don't have bad etiquette. You're lying. She got it right. OK, one more.
KAYE: OK.
CRUZ: OK, let's go back to the cheese question. And that question was in this country, cutting the point off the cheese is considered bad form.
HARRIS: Cutting the what?
KAYE: The point. Where it comes to a...
CRUZ: Cutting the point off.
KAYE: Point. France?
CRUZ: You're lying. Randi has perfect etiquette. You're lying.
KAYE: Thank you. Thank you. My mother brought me up well.
HARRIS: Someone's feeding you these answers?
KAYE: I don't know what you're talking about.
HARRIS: Oh, got you.
CRUZ: She cheated during the commercial.
HARRIS: Oh, God.
KAYE: Thanks, Veronica.
HARRIS: Mo money, mo money, mo money. Thank you, Damon Wayans. That's the name of the game these days when it comes to pro sports.
Straight ahead, we'll find out how much green Tiger Woods is making when he is off the green. A lot. And he's not the only pro getting paid top dollar for product endorsements. We'll look at the top athletic breadwinners.
Our sports analyst, where is he, ah, holding the rock. He doesn't know what to do with it, though. Rick Horrow joins us live to follow the money trail.
KAYE: First, a CNN extra. Each year, more than one million teenagers in the U.S. intentionally inhale vapors from household products. And the number is rising. It's called huffing. And the Department of Health and Human Services announced this week that children as young as eight are doing it with gasoline, spray paints, hair sprays, and cleaning fluids. More than two million people said they huffed in 2003. Half of them between 12 and 17 years old.
The health effect of huffing include brain and neural damage, convulsions, deafness, and death.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: Congress holds a special session today and could vote on a compromise bill that shifts Terry Schiavo's case to federal court. It could lead to doctors reinserting Schiavo's feeding tube.
In Florida, sex offender John Couey is scheduled to appear in court at 9:00 a.m. this morning. He was booked in a Citrus County jail overnight, after being transferred from Georgia. Couey is the man who authorities say confessed to kidnapping and killing nine-year old Jessica Lunsford. Her body was found yesterday not far from her home.
A powerful earthquake with a 7.0 magnitude hits off the southern coast of Japan. One person was killed. At least 250 others injured. And dozens of homes have been damaged.
We are asking you this morning, does Congress belong in the Schiavo debate? Our e-mail address is wam@cnn.com. We'll read your replies throughout the program.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS (voice-over): There's a sports poll out that has Tiger Woods rated the best athlete in the world to sell your product. His mystique remains a powerful tool in the advertising world.
At the bottom of that same poll sits superstar Kobe Bryant. He's ranked even lower than Mike Tyson and O.J. Simpson. It goes to show an athlete's image off the playing field is critical in the endorsement arena.
At stake? $37 billion annually in the sales of sports apparel. The topic this morning, as we take you beyond the game.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: It is perfect weekend to talk about sports advertising dollars. College basketball's March Madness is in full stride. And the money is flowing freely. Who better to break it down for us than the author of "When the Game is on the Line," CNN sports analyst Rick Horrow.
His three point shot may be more like mortar fire, but his numbers on advertising dollars are on the money. Morning, Rick.
RICK HORROW, CNN SPORTS ANALYST: Don't know what to do with it? Hey, pal, listen...
HARRIS: Do you have skill?
HORROW: Wait, just be quiet for a second.
HARRIS: Oh, my.
HORROW: We're going to do our annual pre Masters golf tournament in a couple of weeks. Then we'll go one on one. And I'll play with an anvil attached to my ankle. How do you like that? You want to do that? Is that all right?
HARRIS: Bring it on, big fellow. Bring it on.
HORROW: You got it.
HARRIS: A couple of weeks, right?
HORROW: Yes, you got it, a couple of weeks.
HARRIS: All right. It's on the record.
HORROW: All right, it's on the record. We'll do it just like your...
HARRIS: OK. OK. College sports and corporate endorsements. Boy, fast break some of these numbers for us. We're talking about big bucks here, aren't we?
HORROW: Big bucks. And this is the perfect time to do it. You know, March Madness, you got 24 teams left out of 65. And the real score board are the sneaker wars. 44 teams outfitted by Nike. 14 by Adidas. Four by Reebok. And that translates to big dollars. You know, Adidas signed a $20 million deal with the University of Tennessee, fresh off the heels of a Pittsburgh deal with them. And then of course Nike matches with Notre Dame and Michigan.
And of course, purists decry the over commercialization of the sport. It's too much money. It's not fair. But realists say that's the only way you're going to cover some of these college athletic deficits. And the bottom line is money. Over $3 billion of college licensing dollars every single year. That's a lot of sneakers, Tony.
HARRIS: It really is. All right, let's turn to athletes. And which of these professional athletes -- and I guess it's professional athletes, are really getting the big bucks when it comes to endorsement deals?
HORROW: We talked about that poll. It's Tiger, Tiger and more Tiger. And he is clearly number one, fresh off of the Accenture deal. And of course, his Buck renewal.
He brought in, by the way, for his own account, $84 million bucks two years ago, his own dollars.
HARRIS: Wow.
HORROW: Then he got the icon. The got Michael Jordan. And even though he's retired from the Bulls a few years ago, he's way up there still. You've got Shaquille O'Neal with his six new corporate sponsorships with the Heat. You've even got Brett Favre cracking the top five. You've got Dale Earnhardt with the NASCAR glory. You've got LeBron James and his $90 million Nike deal.
Then you've got the Williams sisters bringing up tennis and their endorsement potential.
HARRIS: Hey, you want to talk about the worst athletes in terms of selling products or do you want to move on to the future of the business in terms of endorsements?
HORROW: Well, the worst ones are real easy.
HARRIS: Yes.
HORROW: You've got Kobe and the O.J. and Mike Tyson. That ain't no problem.
But the future is clear, because corporations are looking for athletes that are loyal, trustworthy, and move product. After LeBron and Carmello Anthony were signed by Nike, 56 percent spike in shoe sales. And Nike led them to Reebok, a 77 percent increase in the fourth quarter. Ralph Lauren Collection, Greg Norman's collection and line.
And for example, they did a $50 million ad campaign entitled "I am what I am." Allen Iverson, Yao Ming, and Andy Rodick.
So Tony, the endorsement dollars are out there. $1.6 billion from Nike. The bottom line is corporations are looking for those athletes more carefully targeted, easier to terminate deals, shorter, and maybe smaller in the future.
HARRIS: Got you.
All right, let's move to fair and foul ball. What's your fair ball for the week?
HORROW: Well, fair ball's kind of funny. It's a Retief (ph) Goosen deal. He was sponsored by Great Goose Vodka. He announced the press conference at the Riviera Tournament last month in L.A. He wanted to jazz it up a little it up.
So he said, by the way, I don't drink vodka. So maybe I need a couple drinks today. And maybe I have to have a ride home. And you know what happened? He got disqualified from the tournament.
HARRIS: That's right.
HORROW: Because he overslept the next day. Everybody talked about how it was a coincidence. And by the way, Greg Goose got more publicity out of that deal than they would have, had it just been a normal sponsor.
HARRIS: That's right. And your foul ball?
HORROW: That one's easy. That's Kobe again. He did a bobble head doll deal with a California hamburger chain. But look at all the endorsements he may lose. It's Spaulding and Upper Deck and it's Nike. And he's got a Sprite deal that's terminable this summer. And he's at risk, unless he morphs his image and takes the Lakers to the promised land.
And by the way, Tony, that ain't happening.
HARRIS: OK. So for the record, it's golf first, and then basketball?
HORROW: Golf, basketball. Right after the Final Four, I'll buzz through Atlanta on the way to the Masters. And we're reporting those scores, pal. You know we are.
HARRIS: Man just won't stop. Man won't stop.
HORROW: No, you won't stop.
HARRIS: Rick Horrow, good to see you. See you next week, my friend.
HORROW: See you next week, pal.
HARRIS: Now to athletes on the ice. The new judging system in figure skating, proving to be very beneficial for some, but a big challenge for others. In Moscow, the night belonged to the Russian ice queen Irina Slutskya, seen here in the middle.
Despite being seriously ill, she claimed her second world title, landing seven clean triple jumps in a near perfect program. With unmatched artistry and elegance, America's Sasha Cohen earned silver for the second consecutive year. As for nine time national champion, my favorite, Michelle Kwan, well her lackluster performance could not earn her enough points to make it into the top three. This is the first time in nine years Kwan is leaving the World Championships empty-handed.
KAYE: Too bad.
It is officially the first day of spring. Can't you feel it out there?
(WEATHER REPORT)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(WEATHER REPORT)
HARRIS: We want to get to our e-mail question this morning, because it is hot, hot, hot. And you're really responding in numbers with some very passionate thoughts on this. Does Congress belong in the Terri Schiavo debate? There's the address, wam@cnn.com.
A couple of these e-mails, we have time for. This is from Darlene from North Carolina. "I am outraged and disgusted that our government would try to over-ride the wishes of someone's right to die with dignity. I wonder how many of those politicians in Washington would change places with Terri? I hope there is a mass uprising in this country against the politicians that are using this as a political agenda."
Again, that's from Darlene.
KAYE: And we have another one from Johnelle. This one reads, "The congress has just done one of the most worthy things they have ever done...the good shepherd left the ninety and nine and went out to seek the one, lost sheep. Congratulations to them for truly having heart in this matter. Now, if we could all just do something really great and effective for all OUR abused children in this country of ours."
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 March 20, 2005 - 07:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Six hours from now, Congress is set to take action in the case of Terri Schiavo, the latest round in an emotional battle that has split a family and opinion across the country.
From the CNN Center in Atlanta, this is CNN SUNDAY MORNING. It is March 20th. Good morning, everyone. I'm Tony Harris.
RANDI KAYE: And I'm Randi Kaye in for Betty Nguyen -- 7:00 a.m. here in the East, 4:00 a.m. out West. Thanks for being with us. Let's start with some headlines.
At least one person has been killed and 250 injured by a huge earthquake centered off western Japan. The small Japanese island of Genkai appears to have been hardest hit by the magnitude 7.0 quake. At least 65 homes were destroyed there.
At least 21 people were injured by an explosion at a secluded mountain lodge in Gunnison National Forest in Colorado. The nearest road is 17 miles away. So helicopters were called in to take the injured to hospitals. The county sheriff says the explosion may have been caused by propane gas. "The Denver Post" reports that three children may be missing.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is in China, asking that country to push for new six power talks on North Korea's nuclear weapons. Before leaving South Korea for Beijing, Rice criticized European countries for plans to sell weapons to China. She suggested those weapons may someday be used against Americans.
Both houses of Congress convene later today. And House Republican leaders say they have a compromise that could send the Terri Schiavo case to a federal court for review. Schiavo is the severely brain-damaged Florida woman whose feeding tube was removed Friday afternoon.
HARRIS: And our top story this morning: A court hearing in two hours for John Evander Couey, the suspect in the death of Jessica Lunsford. He's back in Citrus County, Florida. Couey was arrested in Augusta, Georgia, where police say he confessed to the kidnapping and killing.
CNN's Sara Dorsey is live in Homosassa Springs, Florida, with a new development.
Sara, good morning.
SARA DORSEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Tony. We're just learning from sheriff's officials that John Couey, the man who confessed to killing Jessica Marie Lunsford three weeks ago, will appear today in front of a judge. This is his first appearance after being brought back to Florida.
Of course, we know he was caught, questioned and ultimately confessed to this crime in Georgia. He arrived back in Florida overnight and into this morning about 2:00, we are told.
After hearing of the news yesterday, though, Jessica's dad, Mark Lunsford, who has really been a rock through this entire ordeal, led a rolling memorial through this town for his daughter. More than 300 other people joined him on motorcycles to remember this little girl whose life was cut so tragically short.
We are expecting a church service a little later today in honor of Jessica.
Now we should also say three other people are also being charged in connection with this case. They are being charged with obstruction of justice. And the sheriff says all three of those people were told by John Couey himself that he was wanted by investigators. And none of them bothered to tell their story -- Tony?
HARRIS: Sara Dorsey in Homosassa Springs, Florida for us.
Sara, thank you.
KAYE: And now back to the Schiavo case. President Bush is cutting short his weekend stay in Texas so that he can return to Washington to sign the Schiavo bill, if Congress passes it.
More now from CNN's Bob Franken in Pinellas Park, Florida, outside the hospice where Schiavo is being treated.
Bob, good morning.
BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Randi. What is so intriguing is that this has caused a genuine controversy, both political and emotional, across the country. But here at the hospice, the activity outside is remarkably subdued.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FRANKEN (voice-over): Terri Schiavo's parents and sister walked past the small group of right-to-life activists into the hospice for a visit, even while many of the politicians in Washington struggled to find a way to reinsert the feeding tube. It had been removed Friday.
MARY SCHINDLER, TERRI SCHIAVO'S MOTHER: She is my life. I am begging Governor Bush, and the politicians in Tallahassee, President Bush, politicians in Washington, please, please, please save my little girl.
FRANKEN: In Washington, it's actually congressional leaders, mainly Republican, who have put the final touches on the bill they expect to result in the feeding tube being reconnected to Terri Schiavo within the next two weeks or so. Otherwise, she would starve to death.
Her husband, who has fought so many years to have the tube removed, charges the newest delaying tactics are blatant politics.
MICHAEL SCHIAVO, TERRI SCHIAVO'S HUSBAND: They're stepping into my personal life. And they're getting in the middle of something they know nothing about.
FRANKEN: The bill's congressional reporters insist they had no choice.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: None of us likes the fact that we are here.
FRANKEN: And here at the hospice, the organized protest leaders were keeping a tight clamp on any civil disobedience, to avoid any disruption to the delicate negotiations in Washington.
They quickly disavowed the action of Bo Brice (ph), the once- prominent former Special Forces operative, who was arrested for trespassing when he tried to get inside to feed Terri Schiavo water.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FRANKEN: The battle is being fought on the political and public relations turf. But meanwhile, in her peaceful surroundings, inside the hospice, Terri Schiavo is not saying anything, of course. She is silent. (UNINTELLIGIBLE) being silently carried around the country. And the debate is over whether killing her would be murder or mercy -- Randi?
KAYE: And, Bob, if you could, tell us how this is going to work? What will it take exactly for this bill to pass?
FRANKEN: Well, it's going to take some semblance of a vote. Now that could happen even without most of the members there, if all would agree to have what is called unanimous consent. Nobody would object.
But we're being told that some representatives are going to raise an objection, which will mean in the House of Representatives that there will have to be session with a quorum present. That could possibly happen sometime after midnight.
Then the Senate is going to have to act in the -- if they can get through all of that, which people expect that they will, then it would go to the president's desk.
But that does not mean that this would be over for the moment. Then it would have to go into federal court. Procedures would suggest that the judge, while he was giving consideration to the case, would order that the feeding tube would be reconnected.
But there's an awful lot between here and there. It's just going to be a question of how quickly they can go through this.
KAYE: All right, Bob Franken for us live this morning.
Thank you, Bob.
Later on CNN SUNDAY MORNING, they want what's best for Terri Schiavo, but they are bitterly divided over just what that means. We'll talk live with Terri Schiavo's brother and her husband. That's live in the 9:00 a.m. Eastern hour of CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
And here is our e-mail question today: Does Congress belong in the Terri Schiavo debate?
We are at wam@cnn.com, reading your replies, of course, throughout the program.
HARRIS: It is not only the first day of spring, it is also Palm Sunday. Today marks the beginning of the holy week leading up to Easter Sunday.
At the Vatican, Pope John Paul II couldn't lead Palm Sunday mass for the first time in 26 years.
Alessio Vinci joins us now from Rome with more.
Alessio, good morning.
ALESSIO VINCI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Tony.
Yes, unable for the first time in his long papacy, Pope John Paul II unable to even be in St. Peter's Square for this very important mass on Palm Sunday, celebrating -- commemorating Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem, as people lay down some palm leaves on his path.
Pope John Paul II making, nevertheless, an appearance from the window of his apostolic palace, the third floor, on the right hand side of St. Peter's Square. And tens of thousands of pilgrims broke into lengthy applause at the end of a two-hour mass that was presided over by a senior Vatican official, Cardinal Camillo Ruini, who is the vicar of the pope for Rome during that mass.
He read a special prayer for the pope, calling him "our beloved father," asking him to continue his service after the gift of life, basically meaning until the very end as the pope has so many times indicated, despite the fact that he is frail and recovering now from a tracheostomy.
That is why the pope is still unable to speak much. We did see him from the hospital window, but he did not speak. Big difference, of course. Compare this Palm Sunday to a year ago, when the pope not only presided over the mass, but also took a great tour of the St. Peter's Square on his popemobile.
Nevertheless, pilgrims by the tens of thousands gathered in St. Peter's Square to even get a glimpse of the pope at the beginning of this very important holy week in the Roman Catholic calendar -- Tony?
HARRIS: Palm Sunday in Rome. Alessio Vinci for us.
Alessio, thank you.
Well, you've heard of mobile homes. This home you're about to see wasn't meant to be mobile, but it disappeared anyway. We'll tell you exactly what happened.
KAYE: And later, two inspiring stories for both kids and adults. We'll meet some amazing teens who say you can accomplish anything if you just start small, but you dream big.
HARRIS: And good morning, Boston. Your full weekend forecast is coming up just ahead with Rob Marciano on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
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KAYE: She spent years comforting condemned men. And her bestselling book about a killer she befriended was turned into the hit movie, "Dead Man Walking."
Now Sister Helen Frajohn brings a twist to the death penalty debate. Sister Helen Frajohn, author of "The Death of Innocence," live next hour on "FACES OF FAITH," 8:00 a.m. Eastern.
(FLU REPORT)
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HARRIS: Now this morning's stories across America, beginning with college basketball's March madness. Coach Bob Knight is headed to the sweet 16, after his sixth seated Texas Tech upset number three seated Gonzaga. It's Knight's first return to the regional semi-final since 1994, when he was the coach at the University of Indiana.
Southwest Airlines says it will support its pilots challenge of mandatory retirement. Federal law requires retirement at age 60, regardless of health. The low cost carrier is expected to file a friend of the court brief with the U.S. Supreme Court, but it's not clear exactly when.
In Tyler, Texas, thieves have walked away with the kitchen sink and the house that surrounded it. Neighbors and even patrolling police had seen a group of men tear apart the vacant home brick by brick, but assumed the demolition was tied to nearby construction. The rightful owner, a real estate company, reported it stolen.
New rules, new champions. And that leaves one American star out in the cold. Skating stars and stats later this hour.
KAYE: And we turn now to look at super teens and the accomplishments that transcend their youth. "Teen People" magazine named 20 such teens who are out to change the world and could actually do it.
We're looking at the dedication and achievements that make their goals more than just youthful optimism this month on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
Let's introduce today's guests. Anders Jones is the founder of Teens for Technology, which has established computer labs in 500 schools in Jamaica, and will soon extend his program to other poor nations. He joins us from Boston this morning.
And in Los Angeles, we have Ellie Wen, who founded a website that offers English lessons to kids around the world.
First of all, congratulations to both of you on making a difference already at such a young age. Anders, let's start with you. What inspired you to get these computers into schools in Jamaica?
ANDERS JONES, FOUNDER, TEENS FOR TECHNOLOGY: Well, it started four years ago. I was in Jamaica on spring break with my father. And I had a conversation with a cab driver. And he told me about his two children that went to a school with 850 kids and one computer.
And I at that point was going to a school with 850 kids and maybe 100 or 150 computers. And that difference just really struck me.
KAYE: And have you seen this -- these computers being used firsthand? And what is the reaction of these kids?
JONES: Oh, the kids just absolutely love the computers. Our group goes down three or four times a year. And we go to as many labs as we can in the time that we're down there. And the kids, the teachers, the parents, everyone's using them, and everyone's loving them.
KAYE: And what, in your opinion, why is it so important to teach kids in these poorer countries about technology?
JONES: Well, I've said several times, and I'll say it again, that there will not be a job in the next five to 10 years that doesn't require the use of a computer. And kids who don't have access to technology skills at an early age are really going to be left behind.
KAYE: All right. Now let's turn to Ellie Wen. Ellie, you started a website called Repeat After Us. Can you tell us exactly what that offers?
ELLIE WEN, LITERACY EDUCATION ACTIVIST: Well, Repeat After Us is a website that helps people all over the world practice speaking English. It pairs the written word with the spoken word.
So all my friends and classmates and even strangers have helped record audio clips for the website.
KAYE: I could tell even just watching you this morning, you're pretty excited about it. You smile when you talk about it.
WEN: Yes, it's -- I'm having so much fun with this project.
KAYE: What exactly -- how does it work? I mean, I know you were a tutor. You used to teach English to Hispanic children, is that correct?
WEN: Yes, I go to Las Familias Del Pueblo every Friday. And it's a community center in downtown Los Angeles that caters to Hispanic immigrant families.
KAYE: And so you could understand the value of tutoring?
WEN: Yes. I see the firsthand effects of not being able to speak perfect English. So that's actually what inspired me to start the website.
KAYE: And so, they go to the website. And does this cost them anything?
WEN: Nope, it's all free.
KAYE: Really?
WEN: And they're all copyright free text as well.
KAYE: And so they just click on whatever they might want to click on, and then it repeats back for them or?
WEN: Exactly. So if a visitor clicks on a text, they can read the text. And they can listen to it at the same time and hopefully repeat after us.
KAYE: So both of you, I have to ask, what is your advice for other teens who might want to make a difference in the world, but who think, oh I'm too young. I'm just a teenager. I can't do this.
Ellie, what do you advise them?
WEN: Well, I would tell them to just go for it, try it. Because I've learned the world is really kind. And even if you stumble, they'll help you get back up. Everyone -- yes. I can't help thanking everyone in the world.
KAYE: And Anders, your advice?
JONES: I would say that it's very doable. In our case, we started small and we just had a goal of bringing your computer lab to one school. And it telescoped fro there. And I think there are a lot of people out there who are willing to help. And it's very doable.
KAYE: And both of you, I bet your friends all think you're pretty cool, huh? Yes? They all watching CNN this morning.
WEN: Well, I think they're cool.
KAYE: All right. Well, again, Anders Jones and Ellie Wen, thanks so much. And keep up all that hard work and good work, would you?
WEN: Thank you.
KAYE: All right.
JONES: Thank you very much.
KAYE: All right. Thanks for being with us this morning -- Tony?
HARRIS: Standing up for what they believe in by lying down. We'll tell you why these protestors took to the streets, snarling New York City traffic. Sounds redundant. That's coming up next on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
And later, March Madness isn't just about the big game. It's also about the big bucks. We'll look at the money madness. The money madness, when we go beyond the game.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(WEATHER REPORT)
HARRIS: College basketball tournament time. And corporate America wants a slam dunk.
KAYE: Won't throw any cliches in there.
HARRIS: No, won't do it ever again. The players are taking to the court. So are Nike, Adidas. Our sports analyst Rick Horrow looks at the money behind the madness.
KAYE: Also, taking it to the streets. Anti-war protestors out in force to mark a war anniversary. That's straight ahead on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: Supporters marched through a military town to defend peace, not war on the anniversary of Shock and Awe.
Welcome back. I'm Randi Kaye in for Betty Nguyen.
HARRIS: And good morning, everyone. I'm Tony Harris. That story in a minute.
First, a look at morning headlines. The right to die case of Terri Schiavo could prompt a rare Sunday session of Congress. Later today, the House and Senate are expected to pass emergency legislation that would shift the case to federal court and restore the feeding tube that was disconnected Friday. President Bush is returning to Washington in hopes of signing it.
The man charged in the kidnapping and killing of a missing Florida girl is scheduled to appear in court at 9:00 a.m. this morning. Police escorted John Evander Couey from Georgia to Florida overnight. The body of nine-year old Jessica Lunsford was found early yesterday morning, more than three weeks after she disappeared.
About an hour ago, Pope John Paul II appeared at his window overlooking St. Peter's Square. Tens of thousands of pilgrims are gathered there for Palm Sunday mass. The pontiff's frail health prevented him from leading the service the first time in his papacy.
Spring is now within reach in the northern hemisphere. Just minutes from now, as you take a look at Boston this morning, Vernal, his first name, went to school with him.
KAYE: Mr. Equinox?
HARRIS: Yes, yes. The Vernal Equinox will usher in the warmer season. It is a welcome change for a lot of us who are pretty winter weary at this point.
KAYE: The second anniversary of the start of the war in Iraq was marked with protests across the U.S. and the world. In San Francisco, hundreds marched to City Hall. Protestors called for American troops to leave Iraq.
In New York City, a small group of about two dozen protestors laid down in the middle of Times Square to protest the war. 27 people were arrested. Hundreds more gathered at the United Nations for anti- war speeches.
And in North Carolina, an anti-war rally organized in part by veterans and military families drew people to a park near Fort Bragg, home to more than 40,000 soldiers. Large scale protests were also mounted in London, Tokyo, and Istanbul, Turkey. More protests are on tap for today in Boston and Philadelphia.
Time now to go global to check out some of the stories making news around the world this morning.
HARRIS: And to do that, let's hand it over to CNN's Anand Naidoo at the international desk.
Anand, good morning.
ANAND NAIDOO, CNN ANCHOR, INTERNATIONAL DESK: Good morning to you. And first up, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake in Japan kills one in just 250, but causes little damage. The quake was centered off the west coast of the island of Kyushu. Local reports say about two dozen homes were destroyed. An elderly woman died after a wall collapsed on her. Workers have restored power and water services to most of the affected areas.
Moving now onto Pakistan. Another bomb blast there, this time 28 are killed, dozens injured. The explosion went out at a religious shrine in the southwest. It's the fifth bombing during a 12 hour period in that part of the country.
Police are looking at the possibility that rivalry between workers at the mosque might have been behind the attack. Pakistan's Balluchistan province, which is where this bomb explosion did take place, has a history of rivalry, of sectarian violence between Sunni Muslims and Shi'ite Muslims.
Onto Iraq now and an explosion there kills -- in Mosul, kills two people, including the chief of the city's anti corruption unit. Officials said the brigadier was in his office when the explosion happened. Two people were also wounded in that blast.
It's not clear whether this was a bomb carried by a suicide bomber, or whether it was a bomb that was already planted in the office over there.
That's it for me for now. Later on, we'll be looking at Japan again. That's later. But for now, let me send it back to Tony and Randi.
KAYE: Thank you.
HARRIS: Don't forget our e-mail question this morning. It concerns Congress. Voting to send the Terri Schiavo case to federal court, what do you think? Does Congress belong in this debate? Here's the address. Wam@cnn.com. And of course, we'll be reading some of your replies a little later this hour and throughout the program this morning.
KAYE: First, as the second anniversary of the Iraq War is observed, we remember the heroes, the troops, who gave the ultimate sacrifice on the front lines.
Today, Stacy Sammis remembers her husband, Captain Benjamin Sammis. He was killed during a combat mission southeast of Baghdad in April 2003.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
STACY SAMMIS: I remember I sat on the couch. And I stared up at this big lieutenant colonel with these big blue eyes. And he had just tears come out of his eyes. And they were grieving -- an old military technical term. And I just stopped the captain for a second. And I said, "Did the bad guys get him?" And they said, "Yes." And that was all I needed to know.
He had a heart that was so big. He just loved everyone. He's very intelligent. And he had big dreams for his life, big dreams. He wanted to be a dad. He wanted to be the best officer he could be. He was funny as anything. He could do voices from "Shrek" and the Clumps, "The Nutty Professor."
So he was always there with a laugh and a smile. Every time I cried like that, like now, he would just -- he'd just smile. He'd just smile. And always there to pick me up, too.
I miss everything about him. I miss making dinner together. I miss waking up next to him. I miss the e-mails. I miss the future that we will never have. The children we'll never have.
He used to say -- at the time we'd go for a walks and say, you're going to be 80 years old in our matching little sweat suits, sitting out here feeding the pigeons. And that sounded great to me. So I miss that.
I was definitely the center of his world. And he was the center of my world. And like we were a great team. He used to call us Team Sammis. He was my best friend. I just come right up to him and put my head right in the crick of his neck. And he would just give me a big bear hug and just hold me so tight.
So maybe that's what I miss the most. Just being able to be held and protected, because I just felt so safe in his spot. He just held me so tight. I just knew nothing bad would happen if he were with me.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: Yes, cue up the James Taylor this morning. Sunday morning, clear skies in Boston. The first day of spring in the northern hemisphere.
Look, if you got spring fever, we understand. Randi, we understand.
KAYE: Yes, we do.
HARRIS: Veronica, we understand. Rob Marciano coming up in just minutes with your forecast, Boston.
KAYE: Time to check in with our dotcom desk. We're doing a bit of Q and A to help us mind our Ps and Qs overseas.
More from CNN.com Veronica De La Cruz.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
VERONICA DE LA CRUZ, CNN.COM: If you're traveling through Asia, patting someone on the head is considered an insult. And in other countries, be careful when crossing your legs or pointing with your index finger. Both gestures can be looked at as just plain rude.
Consult your guide book, which may have a chapter on the do's and don'ts of etiquette. Travel experts say becoming familiar with a country's customs and etiquette will help give visitors a better experience when traveling abroad.
So before you pack your bags, take our online quiz. In which country is it considered faux pas to use soap or shampoo in a traditional bath tub? And how about this one? In this country, cutting the point off the cheese is considered bad form. For the answer, log on and find out.
And last but not least, a few words to the wise. Hello, good bye, please and thank you. Check out this list of words that should be learned in the language of your destination.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CRUZ: And of course, you can find all of that at cnn.com/travel. And during the story, Randi was actually saying that she has bad etiquette.
HARRIS: What?
KAYE: I do. I'm working on it.
CRUZ: You are? But let me go and ask you.
KAYE: OK.
CRUZ: Which country is it considered faux pas to use soap or shampoo in a traditional bath tub?
KAYE: Tony?
CRUZ: Tony looks stumped.
HARRIS: Totally stumped.
KAYE: See, OK, so I'm not the only one.
HARRIS: Need a couple of other tiles here...
KAYE: Japan.
CRUZ: Wow. You don't have bad etiquette. You're lying. She got it right. OK, one more.
KAYE: OK.
CRUZ: OK, let's go back to the cheese question. And that question was in this country, cutting the point off the cheese is considered bad form.
HARRIS: Cutting the what?
KAYE: The point. Where it comes to a...
CRUZ: Cutting the point off.
KAYE: Point. France?
CRUZ: You're lying. Randi has perfect etiquette. You're lying.
KAYE: Thank you. Thank you. My mother brought me up well.
HARRIS: Someone's feeding you these answers?
KAYE: I don't know what you're talking about.
HARRIS: Oh, got you.
CRUZ: She cheated during the commercial.
HARRIS: Oh, God.
KAYE: Thanks, Veronica.
HARRIS: Mo money, mo money, mo money. Thank you, Damon Wayans. That's the name of the game these days when it comes to pro sports.
Straight ahead, we'll find out how much green Tiger Woods is making when he is off the green. A lot. And he's not the only pro getting paid top dollar for product endorsements. We'll look at the top athletic breadwinners.
Our sports analyst, where is he, ah, holding the rock. He doesn't know what to do with it, though. Rick Horrow joins us live to follow the money trail.
KAYE: First, a CNN extra. Each year, more than one million teenagers in the U.S. intentionally inhale vapors from household products. And the number is rising. It's called huffing. And the Department of Health and Human Services announced this week that children as young as eight are doing it with gasoline, spray paints, hair sprays, and cleaning fluids. More than two million people said they huffed in 2003. Half of them between 12 and 17 years old.
The health effect of huffing include brain and neural damage, convulsions, deafness, and death.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: Congress holds a special session today and could vote on a compromise bill that shifts Terry Schiavo's case to federal court. It could lead to doctors reinserting Schiavo's feeding tube.
In Florida, sex offender John Couey is scheduled to appear in court at 9:00 a.m. this morning. He was booked in a Citrus County jail overnight, after being transferred from Georgia. Couey is the man who authorities say confessed to kidnapping and killing nine-year old Jessica Lunsford. Her body was found yesterday not far from her home.
A powerful earthquake with a 7.0 magnitude hits off the southern coast of Japan. One person was killed. At least 250 others injured. And dozens of homes have been damaged.
We are asking you this morning, does Congress belong in the Schiavo debate? Our e-mail address is wam@cnn.com. We'll read your replies throughout the program.
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HARRIS (voice-over): There's a sports poll out that has Tiger Woods rated the best athlete in the world to sell your product. His mystique remains a powerful tool in the advertising world.
At the bottom of that same poll sits superstar Kobe Bryant. He's ranked even lower than Mike Tyson and O.J. Simpson. It goes to show an athlete's image off the playing field is critical in the endorsement arena.
At stake? $37 billion annually in the sales of sports apparel. The topic this morning, as we take you beyond the game.
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HARRIS: It is perfect weekend to talk about sports advertising dollars. College basketball's March Madness is in full stride. And the money is flowing freely. Who better to break it down for us than the author of "When the Game is on the Line," CNN sports analyst Rick Horrow.
His three point shot may be more like mortar fire, but his numbers on advertising dollars are on the money. Morning, Rick.
RICK HORROW, CNN SPORTS ANALYST: Don't know what to do with it? Hey, pal, listen...
HARRIS: Do you have skill?
HORROW: Wait, just be quiet for a second.
HARRIS: Oh, my.
HORROW: We're going to do our annual pre Masters golf tournament in a couple of weeks. Then we'll go one on one. And I'll play with an anvil attached to my ankle. How do you like that? You want to do that? Is that all right?
HARRIS: Bring it on, big fellow. Bring it on.
HORROW: You got it.
HARRIS: A couple of weeks, right?
HORROW: Yes, you got it, a couple of weeks.
HARRIS: All right. It's on the record.
HORROW: All right, it's on the record. We'll do it just like your...
HARRIS: OK. OK. College sports and corporate endorsements. Boy, fast break some of these numbers for us. We're talking about big bucks here, aren't we?
HORROW: Big bucks. And this is the perfect time to do it. You know, March Madness, you got 24 teams left out of 65. And the real score board are the sneaker wars. 44 teams outfitted by Nike. 14 by Adidas. Four by Reebok. And that translates to big dollars. You know, Adidas signed a $20 million deal with the University of Tennessee, fresh off the heels of a Pittsburgh deal with them. And then of course Nike matches with Notre Dame and Michigan.
And of course, purists decry the over commercialization of the sport. It's too much money. It's not fair. But realists say that's the only way you're going to cover some of these college athletic deficits. And the bottom line is money. Over $3 billion of college licensing dollars every single year. That's a lot of sneakers, Tony.
HARRIS: It really is. All right, let's turn to athletes. And which of these professional athletes -- and I guess it's professional athletes, are really getting the big bucks when it comes to endorsement deals?
HORROW: We talked about that poll. It's Tiger, Tiger and more Tiger. And he is clearly number one, fresh off of the Accenture deal. And of course, his Buck renewal.
He brought in, by the way, for his own account, $84 million bucks two years ago, his own dollars.
HARRIS: Wow.
HORROW: Then he got the icon. The got Michael Jordan. And even though he's retired from the Bulls a few years ago, he's way up there still. You've got Shaquille O'Neal with his six new corporate sponsorships with the Heat. You've even got Brett Favre cracking the top five. You've got Dale Earnhardt with the NASCAR glory. You've got LeBron James and his $90 million Nike deal.
Then you've got the Williams sisters bringing up tennis and their endorsement potential.
HARRIS: Hey, you want to talk about the worst athletes in terms of selling products or do you want to move on to the future of the business in terms of endorsements?
HORROW: Well, the worst ones are real easy.
HARRIS: Yes.
HORROW: You've got Kobe and the O.J. and Mike Tyson. That ain't no problem.
But the future is clear, because corporations are looking for athletes that are loyal, trustworthy, and move product. After LeBron and Carmello Anthony were signed by Nike, 56 percent spike in shoe sales. And Nike led them to Reebok, a 77 percent increase in the fourth quarter. Ralph Lauren Collection, Greg Norman's collection and line.
And for example, they did a $50 million ad campaign entitled "I am what I am." Allen Iverson, Yao Ming, and Andy Rodick.
So Tony, the endorsement dollars are out there. $1.6 billion from Nike. The bottom line is corporations are looking for those athletes more carefully targeted, easier to terminate deals, shorter, and maybe smaller in the future.
HARRIS: Got you.
All right, let's move to fair and foul ball. What's your fair ball for the week?
HORROW: Well, fair ball's kind of funny. It's a Retief (ph) Goosen deal. He was sponsored by Great Goose Vodka. He announced the press conference at the Riviera Tournament last month in L.A. He wanted to jazz it up a little it up.
So he said, by the way, I don't drink vodka. So maybe I need a couple drinks today. And maybe I have to have a ride home. And you know what happened? He got disqualified from the tournament.
HARRIS: That's right.
HORROW: Because he overslept the next day. Everybody talked about how it was a coincidence. And by the way, Greg Goose got more publicity out of that deal than they would have, had it just been a normal sponsor.
HARRIS: That's right. And your foul ball?
HORROW: That one's easy. That's Kobe again. He did a bobble head doll deal with a California hamburger chain. But look at all the endorsements he may lose. It's Spaulding and Upper Deck and it's Nike. And he's got a Sprite deal that's terminable this summer. And he's at risk, unless he morphs his image and takes the Lakers to the promised land.
And by the way, Tony, that ain't happening.
HARRIS: OK. So for the record, it's golf first, and then basketball?
HORROW: Golf, basketball. Right after the Final Four, I'll buzz through Atlanta on the way to the Masters. And we're reporting those scores, pal. You know we are.
HARRIS: Man just won't stop. Man won't stop.
HORROW: No, you won't stop.
HARRIS: Rick Horrow, good to see you. See you next week, my friend.
HORROW: See you next week, pal.
HARRIS: Now to athletes on the ice. The new judging system in figure skating, proving to be very beneficial for some, but a big challenge for others. In Moscow, the night belonged to the Russian ice queen Irina Slutskya, seen here in the middle.
Despite being seriously ill, she claimed her second world title, landing seven clean triple jumps in a near perfect program. With unmatched artistry and elegance, America's Sasha Cohen earned silver for the second consecutive year. As for nine time national champion, my favorite, Michelle Kwan, well her lackluster performance could not earn her enough points to make it into the top three. This is the first time in nine years Kwan is leaving the World Championships empty-handed.
KAYE: Too bad.
It is officially the first day of spring. Can't you feel it out there?
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HARRIS: We want to get to our e-mail question this morning, because it is hot, hot, hot. And you're really responding in numbers with some very passionate thoughts on this. Does Congress belong in the Terri Schiavo debate? There's the address, wam@cnn.com.
A couple of these e-mails, we have time for. This is from Darlene from North Carolina. "I am outraged and disgusted that our government would try to over-ride the wishes of someone's right to die with dignity. I wonder how many of those politicians in Washington would change places with Terri? I hope there is a mass uprising in this country against the politicians that are using this as a political agenda."
Again, that's from Darlene.
KAYE: And we have another one from Johnelle. This one reads, "The congress has just done one of the most worthy things they have ever done...the good shepherd left the ninety and nine and went out to seek the one, lost sheep. Congratulations to them for truly having heart in this matter. Now, if we could all just do something really great and effective for all OUR abused children in this country of ours."
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