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CNN Sunday Morning
Police: Women Targeted in Wash. Party Overdoses; North Korean Leader, Son View Parade
Aired October 10, 2010 - 06:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning.
Several college students end up in the hospital after a party where somebody spiked their drinks. Police say they're victims of a scheme to render them unconscious and defenseless.
Also, this is what North Korea wants you to see, wants the world to see: that it's a strong, stable force to be reckoned with. We're there as they celebrate an anniversary and possibly mark the beginning of a new era of leadership. We'll be talking about what that could mean for U.S. relations.
Hello to you all. From the CNN Center, this is your CNN SUNDAY MORNING. Six a.m. here in Atlanta, Georgia; 1 p.m. in Baghdad. Wherever you may be, we're glad you're right here. I'm T.J. Holmes.
Want to welcome as well our troops who are watching on the Armed Forces Network right now around the world, including in Iraq and Afghanistan. Thank you for what you do and thank you for being here as well.
Also, going to be coming up for you over then next 90 minutes: They are prevented by military policy from being in combat. But 22 American women have been killed so far in Afghanistan. We're taking a look into the role of women at war.
Also, 23 days now until to the critical midterm elections. It's already been a bitter, at times nasty, at times wacky campaign season. Now comes this: a congressional candidate dressed up like Nazi soldier. You'll hear his response coming up.
Also, the NFL is investigating allegations that superstar and future Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre sent text messages and nude pictures to a woman allegedly. And that woman was not his wife.
All of that coming up over the next 90 minutes for you here on this CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
But first, that mass drugging in Washington state sends 12 young people to the hospital. They believe - the students at least, the young people who were at this particular party - they believe possibly they were the victim of this date-rape drug called ruffies, which was apparently mixed into their drinks without them even knowing it.
Shomari Stone of our affiliate KOMO reports on the incident that now has students on alert at Central Washington University.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CARRIE LANGHIE, STUDENT: Everybody's scared to go anywhere. I mean, like, even if it's close to campus.
SHOMARI STONE, KOMO CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Carrie Langhie sticks close to her friends as they walk together as a group at Central Washington University. The school had meetings reminding students to be careful and letting them know where they could go to get help during emergencies.
LANGHIE: It scares me. Honestly, it scares me to ever - go out anywhere. I mean, like, if they drug you, you don't know what's going to happen.
STONE: Twelve young women didn't know what happened Friday night. They drank some cups inside this house at a party 30 miles off campus, and overdosed on a drug that was mixed in their drinks.
At first, everything was OK.
KATELYNN ALLEN, STUDENT: People were having fun. And then all of a suddenly - sudden, all the girls were puking everywhere. Girls were outside, like, on their back. And people were so drunk they didn't know what to do.
STONE: Police say some of the women only had one or two cups.
CHIEF SCOTT ERGUSON, ROSLYN POLICE DEPARTMENT: Well, we suspect, that - again, that - that these drugs were - were introduced to these students, probably without their knowledge.
STONE (on camera): Now, some people at the party tell us that they believe the drinks were mixed with a powerful date-drug called ruffies.
CHRIS UNGER, STUDENT: They were ruffied. They were falling down. Their drinks were going everywhere, and we were just picking them up.
I carried about four people downstairs.
STONE (voice-over): Some women drove one of their friends to a nearby parking lot at a grocery store and called police, saying their friend was unconscious. When police showed up at the house, around 50 other college freshmen and teens were either passed out or highly intoxicated.
Medics drove 12 people to a hospital. Most of them have been treated and released.
Police are determined to find out who laced the drinks and what drug was used.
UNGER: We knew immediately it was ruffies, and we, like - we're trying to investigate who did it. But we couldn't figure it out. STONE: Some students told me they're keeping their guard up.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Now I definitely wouldn't go out without my group of people.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Now, right now, just one person still in the hospital. Police don't know yet who either spiked the drinks. The owner of the house was not at the home at the time of the party, but the party was hosted by his son.
Police have no evidence that he laced the drinks with anything.
Also now, we'll turn to North Korea, the thorn in the side of Washington for decades. And the family that has run the communist country for some 62 years now seems ready to pass control over to a new generation. A new generation that, like the previous generations of leaders there, is expected to defy U.S. foreign policy, defy the world really.
The current threat: nuclear weapons. Kim Jong Il, who is the current leader - he inherited that job from his father, who stayed in power for nearly half a century. He's expected now to pass along power to his youngest son, Kim Jong un. You see Kim Jong Il in the picture there.
This is a secretive, a reclusive country, as you know. Image counts for a lot here. So today, the father, Kim Jong Il, putting the son front and center in a very public way, at a major military parade.
Our Alina Cho is in the capital of Pyongyang along the parade route.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: What this is, really, in effect, is an elaborate coming-out party for the man who will be the next leader of North Korea, Kim Jong Il - Kim Jong un rather, the son of the ailing dictator, Kim Jong Il.
We know very little about this young man, the 20 - he was 27 or 28 years old. We believe he was schooled for a time, as a teen, in Switzerland, and has a fondness for basketball, know some English, German and French.
But of course, the big question is, will he continue the policies of his father, whose communist policy is military first. That certainly is an open question.
But by all accounts, he will be watched very closely by elders, and he will continue the policies of his father.
This is a very significant time in North Korean history. When this eventual handover does take place, it will be the first time in communist history that there has been a handover from grandfather to son - Kim Jong Il - and then from son, Kim Jong Il, to his son, the grandson (sic) of Kim Jong un.
When that happens, of course, is an open question. Kim Jong Il, by all accounts, suffered a debilitating stroke back in 2008. But recent pictures have shown him looking better, frankly, according to North Korean (INAUDIBLE).
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: And again, that's our Alina Cho there along the parade route. A lot of the events continue right now, as we speak.
We'll be talking more about what's happening there. We'll be talking to an expert on the region, Mike Chinoy, here in just a bit.
And also, you see our reporter there. It's - again, it's a secretive, a secretive regime there. We don't get a lot of reporting out of there. Sometimes, you - you - you can't get a lot of reporters in and out of there. But on events like this - they do this every year - the last big one was the 60th anniversary five years ago - but on this 65th anniversary, they have invited in the international press. They want people to see this; they want the rest of the world to see this.
But again, the pictures unreal. You have 50,000 people also going to be taking part in a celebration - a festival, it's also a part of all this. You had the big military parade that was a big show of force. You're seeing that here. Kim Jong Il, the dear leader, as he calls himself, being celebrated there.
You see his son, the youngest, two people to the left there. And you see him there. He's the one in a non-military uniform, if you will, there in the black. That is the son we believe is maybe 27 years old, somewhere around there, who is now not had a whole of accomplishments in his career. But over the past several weeks, he has been elevated to a four-star general. He has been given prime position within the Workers Party there, the working party - the ruling Workers Party.
So it seems he has been set up now to take the reins from his father, just like his father took the reins from his father.
I want to bring in, like I said, our Mike Chinoy, who's an expert on the region. He is on the line with me.
Mike, always good to talk to you. Different Kim. Any reason to believe, when the son takes over, we're going to have a different result or a different regime?
VOICE OF MIKE CHINOY, SENIOR FELLOW, USC U.S./CHINA INSTITUTE (by telephone): Well, it's very early days yet. There's a lot we don't know about the younger Kim.
The fact is though that one of the things we do know is that he was educated for a period of time in Switzerland. He's been much more exposed to the West than anyone else in - at that level in the North Korean elite. And so there - there is some - one of the really interesting questions is whether or not, if he really consolidates his power, will he attempt to change things?
I think the - the North Korea's neighbors, the Chinese, are pushing them very hard to adopt a Chinese-style market reforms while retaining their authoritarian political system. And there's some interesting indications that the North Koreans realize their economy is a total basket case. And they may tinker with that.
But I think it really depends whether the succession runs smoothly and - and how long it takes for the younger Kim to really consolidate his power before he can make his own mark.
HOLMES: Yes, you say it runs smoothly there. Is part of that - how much time is he going to get to be groomed? Is that totally dependent on what kind of health Kim Jong Il? Because Kim Jong Il - didn't he have - what? - a couple of - a couple of decades to be groomed under this father for leadership?
CHINOY: That's absolutely correct. Kim Jong Il did have more than 20 years. There's no way I can imagine that Kim Jong un is going to have that amount of time.
But I think if Kim Jong il lasts a few more years, rather than a few more months, it will make a difference. He's got a big challenge here. He's going to - he's young. He's going to have to win his spurs and generate some loyalty among the - the - the old guard in the North Korean military and the North Korean ruling party. He's going to have to develop his own network of connections.
And so - and that doesn't come overnight. So you're right, an awful lot is going to depend on how healthy his father stays and for how long.
HOLMES: And one more thing here to you, Mike. Remind our American viewers here just how important this event is.
We're talking about the 65th anniversary of this country, of this regime, of this ruling party. But at the same time, how closely is Washington, D.C. - how closely is our government watching what's happening here with the hopes that - you know what? We're keeping our close eye on this young man to see if he could lead to some kind of better relations and a different future for this country and these people?
CHINOY: Well, the North Korea, the history with the U.S. goes back to the Korean War. Today, the North Koreans have a half-dozen nuclear weapons. They're still locked in a very hostile with the U.S. ally South Korea, with whom the United States has a security relationship. There are nearly 30,000 American troops stationed in South Korea.
If things go bad with North Korea, the U.S. will be right in the thick of it.
That being said, there have been some intriguing indications, as this power transition gets under way in North Korea, that the North is looking to re-engage with the United States, including the promotion of two senior North Korean diplomats of - associated with negotiations with the U.S. to very prominent, higher positions in the last couple of weeks.
And so I think - the - the signals the North is sending out is, on the one hand, we are tough, we're strong, don't mess with us. We're not going to collapse. But on the other hand, they are sending out signals, they would like to re-engage with the United States to some degree. It'll be interesting to see whether the Obama administration is going to attempt to pick up on those signals after months of basically saying it's not prepared to talk to North Korea until the North Koreans show more willingness to be accommodating on Washington's demands about ending their nuclear program.
HOLMES: Mike, always, always good to talk to you and have you lend us your expertise. Thanks so much. We'll be checking in with you again. Thanks so much.
CHINOY: Thanks.
HOLMES: And of course, you get more news out of North Korea on our special website, CNN.com/NorthKorea - has all the latest developments in the power succession, including details about Kim Jong il, and his son Kim Jong un. Also have background on the divide between North and South Korea.
Again, all of that at CNN.com/NorthKorea.
All right. It's always a weird campaign season. Things always get a little crazy right about now, get a little heated right about now. But how about this: running for Congress, and one of your opponents puts up pictures of you in a Nazi uniform. We are not making this up, Reynolds.
REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Not good. Not - not good. Not - not what you want to be caught wearing.
I'll tell you what you will be caught wearing if you happen to be in parts of the Pacific Northwest: rain gear. It is going to be really heavy at times. At the same time, parts of the Southeast, you might wear a - fewer, less clothes - clothing articles. Yes. It's going to be hot.
We're going to talk about how warm it's going to be, coming up in a few moments.
You're watching CNN SUNDAY MORNING. I'm going to go get my mouth back on. We'll see you in a little bit.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(WEATHER REPORT)
HOLMES: Well, we are - oh, there's a pretty map I just spoke of. We're coming up on less than a month now away from the midterm elections. And there's some pictures surfacing of a Republican congressional candidate in a Nazi uniform. The candidate is defending himself. You'll see the picture and you'll hear from the candidate. That's coming up next.
It's 18 minutes past the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Well, we are 19 minutes past the hour here on this CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
And we are 23 days until an election that could change our political landscape. CNN, of course, your place for politics here.
And making news this hour - take a look. An Ohio congressional candidate responding to criticism that he dressed like a Nazi officer. "The Atlantic" magazine reports the Republican, Rich Iott, is a member of a group that re-enacts the campaigns of a World War II German panzer division.
The magazine posted a picture of him dressed in uniform. That is him, the second from the right.
He is not denying this, but he is responding to it and defending it. This is a statement from his website. I'm going to quote here: "Never in any of my re-enacting of military history have I meant any disrespect to anyone who servers in our military or anyone who has been affected by the tragedy of war." It goes on to say, "I have immense respect for veterans who served our country valiantly, particularly those who fought to rid the world of tyranny and aggression by relegating Nazism to the trash heap of history" - end quote.
However, some Democrats have jumped on this, calling him a Nazi sympathizer. (INAUDIBLE). It's campaign season.
Twenty-three days now until the midterm elections that will decide who will run Congress. And the Democratic Party is pulling out the big guns in Pennsylvania.
Our deputy political director, Paul Steinhauser, is there for us with a look at who's on the campaign trail.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Hey, good morning, T.J.
I'm here with the CNN Election Express. We are in Pennsylvania. And later today, somebody a lot bigger than me is coming to Pennsylvania. I'm talking about the president, Barack Obama. And he will be joined by Vice President Joe Biden. They're going to be in Philadelphia for a rally.
What they're trying to do here is excite Democratic voters to get out and go to the polls on Nov. 2. Remember, there are a lot of huge races here: the battle for governor; the battle for Senate; and a bunch of House races that are very tight as well. Republicans think they can make a clean sweep in this state, and they feel if they do that, if they may be able to win back control of Congress.
That's what's going back on here in Pennsylvania, T.J. Back to you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: And we'll continue to check in with Paul.
And coming up in the next hour, we'll get the latest perspective on the upcoming midterm elections with a Democratic strategist and a conservative commentator. That's 7:00 Eastern, 4:00 Pacific, right here, on CNN.
And of course, for all the latest political news, you know the spot: CNNPolitics.com.
Let's go to outer space right now. Another first in outer space. The Russian Soyuz docks at the International Space Station. But actually, it's how it made that docking that's making news.
Stay with us. It's 22 minutes past the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Take a look, folks.
Twenty-six minutes past the hour. Here - we're sharing you - with you live pictures. This happening right now in North Korea.
Now, you look at the pageantry here, the - the pomp, the circumstance, and you would never think that this is an oppressive, secretive, secluded country that is really ruled with an iron fist by a dynastic family.
And there he is, the dear leader as he calls himself - Kim Jong il.
But this is part of a huge military parade that we saw just a little earlier. And also, this huge festival, to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the Workers ruling party there. It's the anniversary of the country. They do this every year, but certainly this is a big anniversary, being the 65th.
But all those colors and the people, this is a well-choreographed and coordinated celebration and festival. We have been seeing these folks dance, and you saw the fireworks going off as well. But again, you see these pictures and pageantry here and the celebration and the festivities. And that really goes in stark contrast to really what is happening and has been happening in North Korea with this regime and the relationship this country has had with the rest of the world for quite some time.
But it's important and we are noting this moment in time and in history for North Korea because this is also seen as being part of a - kind of a coming-out party for the younger son of Kim Jong il, Kim Jong un, who is widely believed to be the one has been tapped to be the successor Kim Jong il, who has been in - in pretty rough health over the past several years. Believed to have had a stroke at least two years ago. And he's going to have to step aside at some point.
And many believe that the son, who is about 27 years, who, up until a few weeks ago, really didn't have any accomplishments, didn't really have a real role. But all of a sudden, overnight, he became a four-star general and was holding a - a prime spot in the - the ruling Workers Party there. So it's believed he is now being groomed to be the next leader.
What that could mean for North Korea in the future, North Korea's relation with the United States, North Korea's relationship with the rest of the world - a lot of people just don't know. We don't know how long the younger son will get to be groomed under his father, given his father's frail health.
But again, a huge show. This is what North Korea wants you to see, the rest of the world to see, wants the United States to see: that it is a stable, strong force to be reckoned with. That is debatable. But still, given that they are widely believed to have nuclear weapons and still want to continue to develop nuclear weapons, that makes them a serious force to be reckoned with in the eyes of many people.
We'll continue to keep an eye on what's happening in North Korea. But we wanted to share with you live pictures of a - celebrations. Believed to be at least 50 people - excuse me, 50,000 people.
And again, look at this. This is a coordinated festival here. Some 50,000 are believed to be participating in this festivity. We saw the military parade earlier. That was a different type of a show. That was a - a show of force with the military.
This something altogether different. I'm going to listen for a second as well.
(MUSIC AND SINGING)
HOLMES: You know, it really is amazing. This brings back certainly memories of what we saw at the opening games at the Olympics in China not too long ago.
But a huge - look at that. A huge celebration here. And again, you're not able, and we're not able, to do much reporting out of North Korea for the most part. Again, they're - they clamp down. They're secretive. Don't let a lot of - a lot of information get out. There's not a lot of freedom of press, if you will. No freedom of press, I should say, there in North Korea.
But this is a time they invited the world in. Our Alina Cho is there. They even invited journalists from around the world in to cover this event. We're getting a live picture of this event as well, because they have a - certainly have a mission in mind here with letting the world see this at least. Plenty of other things they won't let the world in to see. But they want the world to see this. It's very important for them. Their image is very important in the eyes of the rest of the world, because quite frankly that's all they have is image.
But a huge, impressive - no doubt impressive celebration that they are able to put on on this 65th anniversary. But a live picture, rare that we get these, but a lot of people say, do not let this picture fool you. Many people in North Korea, the people there will go back to really lives that are not what they should be right now after this celebration.
But, again, we keep an eye on what's happening here. Yes, the 65th anniversary that could mark the beginning of a new era of leadership in North Korea.
We're at the bottom of the hour. Quick break. We're right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Well, hello again everybody. Welcome back to the CNN SUNDAY MORNING. I'm T.J. Holmes.
Bottom of the hour here. Hope you're having a good day so far.
We're going to turn to Chile, a story we have been keeping a close eye on. And we watched yesterday those miners who have been trapped there for more than two months now, just a few days away from being back to the surface. The first of the 33 men could be hoisted up starting Wednesday.
Our Karl Penhaul reports from outside the mine in Northern Chile.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KARL PENHAUL, CNN VIDEO CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This is the news they'll have been waiting for.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (SPEAKING IN SPANISH).
PENHAUL: A breakthrough. A rescue shaft finally drilled half a mile deep to the 33 trapped miners.
This bell sounds the moment, 8:05 A.M.
On a barren hillside overlooking the San Jose Mine, families sobbed with joy. This is the final countdown to the time they'll be reunited with their loved ones.
CRISTINA NUNEZ, WIFE OF TRAPPED MINER: (SPEAKING IN SPANISH).
PENHAUL: "They must be happy. Just look at us up here. Imagine how they must feel," this miner's wife says.
Eight-year-old Bryan Arana hugs a flag dedicated to his miner granddad, Esteban Rojas. BRYAN ARANA, GRANDSON OF TRAPPED MINER: (SPEAKING IN SPANISH).
PENHAUL: "When the mine collapsed, I shouted God, why has this happened to me? I've been a good boy. I didn't deserve this. I didn't think there was any hope," he says. But the bell chime stirs new hope inside little Bryan. He has the words ready to welcome granddad home.
B. ARANA: (SPEAKING IN SPANISH).
PENHAUL: "I love you, Papito," he says.
PENHAUL (on camera): (SPEAKING IN SPANISH)?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (SPEAKING IN SPANISH).
PENHAUL (voice-over): Bryan's grandma is celebrating too.
When the mine caved in on August 5th, no one knew if the 33 were alive. But, 17 days later, a test probe located them. It came back to the surface with this letter from Mario Gomez to his wife.
LILA RAMIREZ, WIFE OF TRAPPED MINER: (SPEAKING IN SPANISH).
PENHAUL: "Dear Lila, I'm OK. Thanks to God. I hope to get out soon. Be patient and have faith. We will make it out.
We will be happy forever with our family. We will see one another again soon. Goodbye, my darling. A kiss."
Mario Gomez and his 32 comrades have fulfilled that promise against all the odds. They survived. And soon, they'll be coming home.
Karl Penhaul, CNN, at the San Jose Mine in Northern Chile.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Well, coming up, a house party in Washington State lands several students in the hospital. Police suspect the victims, most of them women, may have been targeted in a date rape scheme.
Also, from ancient blood sport to modern day weight loss, some successful results that we'll show you. We're going inside a gladiator camp in Germany that sheds pounds, not blood.
It's 37 minutes past the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Thirty-nine minutes past the hour here on the CNN SUNDAY MORNING. Take a look at some of the stories we are keeping an eye on, and the pictures, as well, we're keeping an eye on.
North Korea celebrating a 65th anniversary of the Ruling Workers Party, also marking what's believed to be a coming out party for Kim Jong-un. He is the apparent - the heir apparent of the leader, Kim Jong-il.
The usually secretive country has invited international journalists in to this event because they want the world to see that they are a stable and strong government there to be reckoned with.
Also, an eighth suspect has been arrested after a string of attacks in New York. New York Police say there is a ninth suspect they are hooking for, as well. They say these people beat three victims and sodomized two of them, a fourth victim beaten and robbed as well. They are calling these hate crimes, again, in New York.
Also, one woman still hospitalized after a house party in Washington State. The party was attended by a lot of students from Central Washington University. The university is looking at possibly disciplining the kids.
Police believed that some of the drinks may have been spiked.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: People were having fun, and then all of a sudden the - sudden, all the girls were puking everywhere. Girls were outside, like, on their back.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They were roofied. So they were roofied. They were falling down. Their drinks were going everywhere and we were just picking them up. I carried about four people downstairs.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Now, you hear - heard the young man say roofied. They are referring to the date rape drug. Police haven't confirmed that's what it was, but many of the students believed it was the date rape drug.
Go back to that video we were showing you there, showing you some of those pictures of gas stations and, you know, the signs out front that tells you how much that gas is costing you. It's costing you more, according to AAA. Gas prices up just a penny. Doesn't sound like a lot, but a penny here, a penny there adds up because the national average is now at $2.79 a gallon.
Those pennies I just mentioned, now we have seen a ninth straight increase in the average price of gas. So those pennies are adding up.
Forty-one minutes past the hour. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: You remember this movie, right? Did - did this win the - did it win for "Best Picture"? Yes? I can't remember. "Gladiator"?
This is a scene from "Gladiator". Great film. Russell Crowe. Great action film. But what if I told you that ancient warrior code has been integrated into a weight loss program now in Germany. They are fighting to lose weight.
Our editorial producer Nadia Bilchik is here with this story this morning. And we've been trying to get this story in for a while now. I know you brought this to our attention you were interested in. And it's working?
NADIA BILCHIK, CNN EDITORIAL PRODUCER: Well, what's very interesting is it wasn't about a weight loss program. In Regensburg, which is in Bavaria, the most southern state of Germany -
HOLMES: Right.
BILCHIK: -- the Historical Department of the university said let's re-enact Rome at the time of the Roman Empire, so the gladiators fight. And, in fact, the weight loss was a byproduct of the program -
HOLMES: Really?
BILCHIK: -- and it was sponsored by this multimillionaire in Germany, who - it cost something like $250,000. And what they did was they took these young men, about 20 of them, between 19 and 21 years old, and said we are going to get you into gladiatorial shape, which meant exercise and diet. And they lost an enormous amount of weight.
When they started off, the journalist following the program said they were couch potatoes and they were eating slobs. And what happened was by doing the gladiatorial exercises - in the beginning, their posture was bad. It took them 25 minutes to put on the armor. And what they did was certain exercises, and then the diet.
Now, the diet is the interesting part. Staple diet mainly lentils, because they could only eat what was available in Rome during the Roman Empire -
HOLMES: At the time. OK.
BILCHIK: -- 2,000 years ago. So think about what was available -- lentils, beans, berries. And gladiators typically were slaves that wanted to be freed or, let's say, rather poor people who wanted to earn some money. So the diet at that time -
So then they put these gentlemen in a camp for two months. They were only allowed to eat this diet, and what they reported was that they felt so good. And what was really interesting is after strenuous exercise, sometimes eight hours a day -
HOLMES: OK.
BILCHIK: -- they had no muscle pain after eating the lentils, the beans, the berries, the mushrooms.
HOLMES: OK. Take me back for a second. The idea initially for the program to put these guys through, what - what were they trying to get at?
BILCHIK: To re-enact the time of gladiators.
HOLMES: OK.
BILCHIK: Like you spoke earlier about somebody re-enacting World War II, so the idea was let's have - let's recreate for our history class. So it was part of the university's program. They actually got credit for doing this.
HOLMES: So all these men were students.
BILCHIK: They're students.
HOLMES: All students.
BILCHIK: They got credit. They started off with 20, about four did drop out mainly because of various academic things that they had to do.
HOLMES: And were the kids actually lazy and - or were they just kind of lazy kids or were they actually overweight -
BILCHIK: Both.
HOLMES: -- guys?
BILCHIK: Both.
HOLMES: Both.
BILCHIK: I mean, they were typical kids who watch a lot of TV and play a lot of Xbox. And they went through this program and it was so rigorous and they developed great muscle. And interesting enough, a month into the program, they did eat -
HOLMES: OK.
BILCHIK: -- some meat and felt very tired afterwards.
HOLMES: OK. So is this going to be the new diet craze now?
BILCHIK: I think like the way maybe you're feeling this morning, a bowl of lentil soup.
HOLMES: Well, that sounds (ph) delicious.
BILCHIK: Look what lentils have vitamin B. They have folic acid, high fiber, 26 grams of protein, only 230 calories for a cup of lentils.
HOLMES: When you say lentil, you said beans and you said what, berries.
BILCHIK: Berries. Lentil, beans, berries. But the lentils particularly are super food.
HOLMES: Give me two months.
BILCHIK: Never mind the hamburgers for lunch.
HOLMES: OK.
BILCHIK: It's going to be lentils.
HOLMES: Nadia Bilchik, great story. It might be the next diet craze here in this country. Let's see what happens.
BILCHIK: They call it the gladiator diet. There's actually a website.
HOLMES: Gladiator diet. There you go. Gladiator diet, folks. Lentils, beans.
BILCHIK: Lentil, yes.
HOLMES: All right. Nadia -
BILCHIK: Lentil soup, lentil bean cakes, lentil - what else do we have?
HOLMES: Bean cakes, delicious. Oh, this just keeps getting better.
BILCHIK: Never mind an apple a day, it's going to be a bowl of lentils a day.
HOLMES: Yes. It sounds good, too.
BILCHIK: Keep the doctor away.
HOLMES: Nadia, all right. Thank you, dear lady.
BILCHIK: And they also said they had great brain function.
HOLMES: All right. Well, everything sounds good except the lentil cake that you mentioned. All right. Nadia, thank you. We're going to talk to her again, of course.
Twenty-three days ago until the midterm election. The Democrats and Republicans, of course, both spending a whole lot of money and they're also sending out the big dogs -- Bill Clinton, Sarah Palin. They are rallying the troops.
Forty-seven past the hour. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Ten minutes to the top of the hour now. We are 23 days until Election Day, an election that could change our political landscape. CNN, of course, the place for politics, and our deputy political editor Paul Steinhauser is in the CNN Election Express in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania with a preview of what's ahead.
PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL EDITOR: Hey. Good morning, T.J.
As you can imagine, a very busy political week ahead. Let's start with former President Bill Clinton who has become a rock star on the Democratic side.
He's in three places tomorrow. Starts out in Kentucky, helping the Democrat send a nominee, then he goes to West Virginia, doing the same thing. Ends up in New York State, helping a Democrat who's running for reelection in Congress. Later in the week he's out in New Mexico and California. He has really become a big rock star for the Democrats in these Congressional elections.
Wednesday, Delaware, big debate, first one in the Senate side between Christine O'Donnell, the Republican nominee and the Democratic nominee there, Chris Coons. This is a race a lot of people are watching. The debate is going to be at the University of Delaware. It's going to be co-moderated by our own, Wolf Blitzer, the anchor of CNN "SITUATION ROOM".
What about the next night in Nevada? This is the first debate in this big battle between Senator Majority Leader Harry Reid and Sharron Angle, the Republican Senate nominee out there, who has been backed by a lot of people in the Tea Party Movement. It's an ugly race and Reid is fighting for his political life. All eyes on Nevada on Thursday.
And, at the end of the week, Sarah Palin, the former Alaska governor, and we know, of course, she was John McCain's running mate in 2008, she's teaming up with Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele in Anaheim, California on Saturday for a big fund- raising rally to help raise bucks for the Republicans as they try to win back control of Congress from the Democrats.
T.J., a busy week ahead. We're here with the CNN Election Express in Pennsylvania. A lot going on here as well. Back to you.
HOLMES: All right. Thanks to our Paul Steinhauser, our deputy political director.
Well, coming up in the next hour, we'll get the latest perspective on the upcoming midterm elections with the Democratic strategist and a Conservative commentator.
That's 7:00 Eastern, 4:00 Pacific right here on CNN. So not too long from now. And of course for all the latest political news, you can go to our website CNNPolitics.com.
The women warriors, they are banned from combat, but still do some fighting on the frontlines.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) LORY MANNING, WOMEN IN THE MILITARY PROJECT: In these wars, women are shooting and killing and they have not done that in U.S. wars as members of the Military at any time in the past.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: And soon there this could be big changes for women fighting the war on terrorism.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: You know, nine years after the start of Operation Enduring Freedom, a look at the role of women in war. Officially, women can't fight, not supposed to be on the front lines, but 22 American female service members have lost their lives in Afghanistan.
Here now our Pentagon correspondent Chris Lawrence.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): When the fighting started in 2001, this young soldier had no idea what she was in for.
LAWRENCE (on camera): Did you know today's army would be so different from the one you joined?
STAFF SGT. KELLY RODRIGUEZ, U.S. ARMY MEDIC: No. Initially, I thought the army is going to change. What I didn't realize is how many different ways it was going to change.
LAWRENCE (voice-over): Through two deployments in Afghanistan and one in Iraq, Staff Sgt. Kelly Rodriguez did jobs that didn't exist nine years ago. In 2006, she was one of the first female combat medics to deploy with Special Forces teams spending a year in remote parts of Afghanistan.
RODRIGUEZ: It worked out because in future deployments, that unit has taken several females down there to do that mission.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Standby for two seconds.
LAWRENCE: This year, her second Afghanistan deployment took her to the border with Pakistan during the most violent months of the war.
RODRIGUEZ: And did I change? Yes. I saw a lot and I saw a lot of injuries and I think that changes somebody.
LAWRENCE: She was single during the first deployment, then she married another soldier and now has three boys at Ft. Bragg.
RODRIGUEZ: So how you guys do?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Good. Good.
LAWRENCE (on camera): How did it go coming back from deployment and having to be mom again?
RODRIGUEZ: Perfect example is my - my youngest son was three and a half when I came home and I told him to do something and he said, mommy, you're not the boss, daddy's the boss. And I said, well, mommy's home now.
LAWRENCE (voice-over): Since 2001, about a quarter of a million American women have served in war zones. Female dog handlers man the weapons on helicopters. Dog handlers patrol IED alleys searching for hidden bombs.
In last spring in Afghanistan, I followed a female engagement team of Marines who go into the homes of Afghan women.
LANCE CPL. GIADA WITT, FEMALE ENGAGEMENT TEAM: They're definitely a key player in getting information.
LAWRENCE: Women still can't be assigned to ground combat team, but for years commanders have been getting around Pentagon policy by attaching them to units. The Marine Corps had to impose a time limit, so in Afghanistan, every six weeks, the female engagement teams go back to a big base for one night, then reattach with their combat unit for another 45 days.
MANNING: So just a nonsensical policy and we've been living with it for nine years, and it does confuse the on the ground commanders.
LAWRENCE: Lory Manning runs the Women in the Military Project and says she's seen more changes than the last decade than all the years since World War II.
MANNING: In these - these wars, women are shooting and killing and they have not done that in U.S. wars as members of the military at any time in the past.
LAWRENCE: And as jobs expanded, so did the military's ability to accommodate a woman's personal life.
LAWRENCE (on camera): What was expected of women in the military 10 years ago?
RODRIGUEZ: It seemed like they were - I don't want to say ridiculed, but there are like, oh, she has to leave early because she got a kid, and there was like almost a resentment.
LAWRENCE: And now?
RODRIGUEZ: I think it's easier for women because, you know, you're a mom. Nothing's going to change that. So it's nice to know, hey, I can go home and I'm not going to get talked about tomorrow for skipping out on a detail.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LAWRENCE: So what's next, well, the first group of female Navy officers is in submarine school right now and could be in the fleet by next year. Just last week, Defense Secretary Robert Gates says he sees the day when women are incorporated into Special Forces units.
But in the more immediate future, to better accommodate battlefield commanders' needs, a lot of folks say there needs to be a change in policy to catch up with the reality already on the ground.
Chris Lawrence, CNN, the Pentagon.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(MUSIC)
T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning.
This is what North Korea wants you to see today. It's what it wants the world to see -- a strong, stable government and country, a force to be reckoned with.
You're looking at a live picture of the 65th anniversary celebration in North Korea. They are putting on quite a show right now for the rest of the world. We'll be going back here in just a moment.
But from the CNN Center, this is your CNN SUNDAY MORNING. It's 7:00 Eastern Time here. I'm T.J. Holmes. Thank you for being right here with us.
We've got a lot to get to in this next half hour of CNN SUNDAY MORNING, including what you were seeing there. You're seeing the pomp, circumstance, the pageantry and really, the beauty of an impressive celebration that has been put on in North Korea today. This is the second part of the festivities, if you will. This is a huge festival that's taking place as part of the 65th anniversary celebration.
We saw also a huge military showing -- a military parade that took place, as well, earlier in the day. Here it is as a show -- again, a show of force that North Korea is to be reckoned with. Putting on a show, yes, for their own country, celebrating the 65th anniversary, but also for the world.
And that guy in the middle of that picture there you saw, that is Kim Jong-un, he is the youngest son of the current leader of North Korea, Kim Jong-il. Kim Jong-il, you see him there, he is the leader who is in ailing health, believed to have had a stroke two year ago, but it's believed he is bringing out his son now, putting him front and center and this is the start of a succession there in North Korea, that the younger son will, in fact, be taking over for Kim Jong-il. And this now, he's putting his son front and center, which just given him a position of a four-star general and a major position in the ruling party there.
We have our Alina Cho. She is there for us. We're going to be going back there live here in just a moment.
But, again, international journalists were invited in, that is not a common occurrence, because North Korea wants the world to see this display. We'll talk more about exactly what this celebration means with our Alina Cho coming up in just a moment.
Meanwhile, I want to back to New York now where eight men are under arrest and a ninth is being sought in a series of brutal, anti- gay hate crimes in New York. The police commissioner there says that three men were kidnapped and tortured by up to nine attackers, say they beat them in a vacant apartment and sodomized two of the men with wooden objects. A fourth victim is also beaten and robbed in connection with these attacks. Now, politicians are campaigning against the growing climate of hate right now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAYOR MICHAEL BLOOMBERG (I), NEW YORK: I was sickened by the brutal nature of these crimes and saddened by the anti-gay bias that contributed to them. No one in this city should ever, ever have to feel afraid because of race, religion or sexual orientation.
CHRISTINE QUINN, NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL: These crimes are not jokes. They are not games. They are thing that's the away at the fabric of our city.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: The string of attacks began when members of a street gang learn that one of their aspiring members is gay. There have been 45 hate crimes in New York this year.
We're going to turn back to politics here in a moment. I also want to tell you, we're not going to be too away from this story in North Korea. We'll be going there live to our Alina Cho here shortly.
Also the election, 23 days away from those all-important midterm elections and Republicans and Democrats pulling out all the stops and pulling out all the big stars. Who's hitting the trail, who's helping, who's hurting? We have two political strategists joining us for our Sunday conversation. That's coming up.
It's four minutes past the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: All right. It's seven minutes past the hour now.
As we told you at the top of the hour, North Korea will soon have a new leader, it's widely anticipated, continuing a family dynasty that has ruled the country for some six decades now. What happens there, of course, affects U.S. policy, affects the rest of the world really. North Korea has confounded American foreign policy from its beginning and now poses a nuclear threat to the world.
Kim Jong-il, the aging and ailing leader of North Korea is expected to hand over control to his youngest son, Kim Jong-un. We just don't know when that could possibly happen. But the public transition may have started today with Kim Jong-on's highly visible role at a major military parade that was celebrating 65 years of rule there by the Workers Party. Our Alina Cho is joining us now from the Korean capital. She is there at the celebrations.
Alina, hello to you.
ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: T.J., good evening. From Kim Il- sung Square here in the center of Pyongyang where tonight, the North Koreans are holding what they call a soiree, the third such event in less than 24 hours, officially marking the 65th anniversary of the founding of the Workers Party of North Korea.
But make no mistake, what this is, in effect, is an elaborate coming out party for the man who will be the next leader of North Korea, Kim Jong-un, the young son of ailing leader Kim Jong-il. And take it a look behind me, it is pure pageantry. The colors, the choreography, literally thousands of dancers both men and women dancing and singing to North Korean propaganda music.
Earlier, there were fireworks, as well. And earlier in the day, right here in the same place, in Kim Il-sung Square, there was that large military parade that you referred to just a moment ago. The largest in North Korean history, some 20,000 military personnel, a real show of the country's military might, if you will, the hardware, the missiles, the tanks, the shoulder-fired rockets.
The media, we should also mention, has been invited as guests here, about 100 of us from around the world.
But make no mistake, T.J., the real guests of honor are in the balcony to my right tonight. And that is Kim Jong-il and his son, the heir apparent Kim Jong-un, who are in attendance tonight.
T.J., back to you.
HOLMES: All right. Our Alina Cho, again reporting live there. Again, it's rare that we're able to get hive pictures like that, but thanks to our Alina Cho for that report. But she is there, has been there doing the reporting. Again, we talked about -- she talked about the pageantry.
We were told that as many as 50,000 people participating in some of these festivities that are taking place. But an elaborate show, an elaborate choreographed show for North Korea, yes, but also for the rest of the world, to see North Korea and to see who would be the next leader of North Korea. Again, like she said, a coming out party for the son of the North Korean Kim Jong-il who's believed to be one who is going to be the successor to his father.
You can get more news out of North Korea at our special Web site, CNN.com/North Korea. It has the latest developments in the power succession, includes details about Kim Jong-il and Kim Jong-un. And we have background on the divide between North and South Korea, as well. Again, you can get that at CNN.com/North Korea.
Well, as always, we're never too far from politics here at CNN. We got 23 days to go until the midterm elections. And up next, two political strategists who have their smiles on now. We'll see how long they last once I start asking questions of the two.
Good morning to you, guys.
Eleven past the hour. We'll talk to hem right after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARTINA NAVRATILOVA, TENNIS LEGEND: I'm Martina Navratilova, and we can make an impact on breast cancer. I heard on February 24, which is kind of my 9/11, you don't forget the date that your life is changed forever. Although I didn't hear the word cancer, I heard biopsy was positive.
The first thought was: this can't be happening, but yes, it's happening. I mean, I was in denial for about two seconds. Then I cried for about, I don't know, a minute. And then I said, OK, what do we do?
When I first was diagnosed, I thought, for sure, I would keep it private. And then I thought, I would use this as a platform to encourage women and remind them to take care of themselves and go for that yearly checkup. Your chances of surviving are much greater. Your chances of it not being so bad in the first place are much greater and, you know, a fuller life.
I'm just thankful that I caught it when I did, that I didn't wait another year, you know, oh, I'll just do that mammogram later. I'll be very meticulous now about going to the doctor, getting the six months checkups and one year checkups. I'm not going to let that lapse again.
Join the movement, Impact Your World, CNN.com/impact.
HOLMES: Sixteen minutes past the hour now.
We're 23 days until an election that could change the balance of power in Congress. And CNN, always your place for politics.
Let's break down some of the key raises, the issues, with our guests this morning, Democratic strategist, Maria Cardona. There she is.
Good morning to you.
And conservative commentator Matt Lewis joins us as well.
Thank you both for being here.
Let me just start with this question. I'll give it to you first, Maria. Who is going to have a bigger impact on midterm elections, Barack Obama or Sarah Palin?
MARIA CARDONA, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: I definitely think it will be President Obama for sure. Now, that's not to say that Sarah Palin hasn't already had an impact. What we have seen is that she has become the biggest king-maker, queen-maker in terms of primary election winners.
But the question is: how are her candidates going for do in the November elections when she actually has to face mainstream voters when all of their policies, the candidates that she has backed, are very much out of the mainstream in terms of wanting to get rid of Social Security, Medicare, Department of Education. That's out of the mainstream. I think President Obama will have more of an impact.
HOLMES: Well, Matt, what do you think?
MATT LEWIS, CONSERVATIVE COMMENTATOR: I agree President Obama will have more of an impact because of his policies which have given us this 9.6 unemployment rate. Absolutely. This race is going to be really a referendum on President Obama and his policies, not mention the Democrats who have held Congress now for four years. I think Sarah Palin has a role to play, but clearly, Barack Obama is much more important in terms of who people will be voting for in November.
HOLMES: Well, Matt, if you had to give free advice to your friends, the Democrats, what would you tell them to run on right now because it seems like there should be a record of accomplishment, huge Wall Street reform, huge health care reform, these seem like huge things you should be able to run on. Would you advise them to do so?
LEWIS: I would not. Those are very unpopular, especially health care. It's much even less popular now than it was when they barely pushed it through.
HOLMES: So, Matt, what do you see them running on right now? What do you see out there when you see somebody, a Democratic ad and the stump speeches, what are they running on?
LEWIS: I think that their only strategy left is simply to go after Republicans and try to portray them as being extreme or not experienced. I don't think that Democrats can win this election by trumpeting anything that they've accomplished. I think what they can do is try to basically scare the American public about what the Republicans may or may not do. That's what they're doing and I think it's probably smart politics.
HOLMES: And, Maria, are you going to take that free advice?
CARDONA: Absolutely not. Here's what Democrats are running on. A very clear record of standing with the middle class, against insurance companies, against big oil, against financial companies, against Wall Street, against all of the companies who have thus far tried to basically make the middle class voter's life more difficult.
And the only thing we see Republicans standing up for is $700 billion more to add to our deficit, for what? Tax cuts for the riches 1 percent of families in this country and big corporations who only ship jobs overseas. A very clear choice and Democrats are going to continue to underscore that. And I think if we do that, we will minimize our losses in November. HOLMES: Well, you said minimize losses, so you admit that a lot of people assume there are going to be huge --
CARDONA: Oh, no question. No question, T.J. We always knew going into this.
HOLMES: How are we going to get that issue of the tax cuts worked out? Because there will be a limited window now between the time they come back after the election and before they go on Thanksgiving break and then Christmas and New Year's break to get that done.
What's going to be -- I'll have both of your predictions here if you can just briefly. How is that going to get worked out?
(CROSSTALK)
HOLMES: Oh, sorry. Go ahead, Maria. Go ahead, Maria.
CARDONA: Democrats will continue to push and underscore the importance of making sure that tax cuts for the middle class are extended. That is the most important thing right now, T.J. Middle class voters, middle class and working class families are the ones that have felt the squeeze especially from the past eight years of failed Republican economic policies. The top 1 percent of the wealthy do not need another $100,000 tax cut especially when it will cost us $700 billion.
HOLMES: So your prediction is that we will extend or they will extend the tax cuts for --
CARDONA: Absolutely.
HOLMES: So, Matt, what do you think, is that what's going to happen, are Republicans going to have to let go on the idea of extending them for everybody?
LEWIS: Well, I mean, first of all, keep in mind, Democrats have a 40-seat majority in the House and they, you know, dominated the U.S. Senate. The fact that they couldn't pass any tax cuts before leaving to go, you know, campaign I think is an indictment against them.
Here's what I think will happen, though is nothing. And I'll tell you why. That there is a philosophical difference between the way that Democrats and Republicans view the tax cuts. You know, I think Republicans and, you know, I think conservatives' philosophy is genuinely believes that if you raise taxes on the people who create jobs, that's going to hurt the economy for everybody. It's not that conservatives or Republicans like rich people, it's that they like having the economy improve and that's part of that.
HOLMES: OK.
LEWIS: Raising taxes on job producers is not a good idea.
HOLMES: All right. I want to get two races quickly. I got about a minute and a half to do this. So, I want to get on both of you on them.
Delaware and also Florida. Let me start with Delaware -- Christine O'Donnell, is she just a fascinating character right now or a major player that needs to be dealt with, Matt?
LEWIS: I think that the Democrats should take Christine O'Donnell very seriously. She's down about 15 points in the polls right now, which is certainly, you know, not close. But also, I think it's within striking distance if this election becomes a tidal wave. I like the direction she's been going. She got off to a rocky start. I like the new TV ads.
So, let's see how it goes. But, you know, I'd keep an eye on her.
HOLMES: All right, Maria. An interesting character or a force to be reckoned with?
CARDONA: For sure, interesting character, T.J. And that's not to discount, though, the anger that is behind her getting elected because that is real. What is not real an what is completely out of the mainstream are the public policies that she would -- that she would put in place if she were elected -- completely out of the mainstream. She doesn't seem to be a very serious candidate, at least for this election cycle. Clearly, anything can happen in the future. But for right now, I think that seat is pretty safe in Democratic hands.
HOLMES: All right. Last thing here and I know, race, Matt, you're fascinated by what's happening in the Senate race down in Florida. First of all, three-way race, independent governor is in it, Charlie Crist. You also have Republican Marco Rubio. And also Kendrick Meek, the congressman -- a report out that he was possibly going to drop out of that race. He says he is not.
But you find that race fascinating not because of that but because of what Marco Rubio, if you can, sum up for me about 15 seconds, in what he could mean for the future of Republicans.
LEWIS: I'm very excited about this race. By the way, the U.S. Senate could dramatically change. Even if Republicans don't take hold, if they get Rand Paul and Pat Toomey and Marco Rubio in there, it could be dramatically different, dramatically more conservative.
But, look, I think Marco Rubio is possibly the future of the Republican Party. The man can articulate a conservative vision like you wouldn't believe. He's smart. He's experienced. I think he's going to win down in Florida and I think he could be the future of the party.
HOLMES: All right. Matt, that's going to have to be the last word.
Conservative commentator Matt Lewis and Democratic strategist Marie Cardona, always good to see you guys. Thank you for being here with us on this Sunday for our conversation. You all enjoy the rest of your day.
CARDONA: Thank you.
HOLMES: And, of course, for all the latest political news, you can go to our Web site, CNNPolitics.com.
Well, the Minnesota Vikings quarterback and future hall of famer Bret Favre, he is a bit of trouble right now and the NFL is investigating. What they're looking into? Allegations that he sent racy messages and even nude pictures to a woman that was not his wife, who was actually a female reporter.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: All right. Brett Favre, we all know him, the legendary quarterback, hall of famer, back with the Minnesota Vikings. Usually when he's in the press, and people he's getting some bad press, it's because people are annoyed with him going back and forth, you're going to retire, you're not going to retire.
REYNOLDS WOLF, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Can't make up his behind.
HOLMES: Can't make up his mind. He is back once again. He came back with the back and forth once again, but he's playing for the Vikings sure now.
Well, he's in the middle now of a bit of a mess because there are allegations against him that he, in fact, sent some racy text messages and also nude pictures of himself allegedly to a particular woman who was not his wife. That woman was a reporter, a sideline reporter.
I want you to listen now. There she is. Jen Sterger is her name. I want you to listen now to one of the alleged voice messages that he left for her. Take a listen here.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Jen, it's not a setup. Just got done with practice. Got meetings here for a couple more hours, then I'm going back to the hotel to just chill. So send me a text because I'll be in the building for a couple of hours. Love to have you come over tonight.
But I know I think (EXPLETIVE DELETED) came up and asked you if you -- for your number or he was going to give you my number, but I understand. But send me a text. Love to see you tonight. All right, talk to you later. Bye.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HOLMES: All right. Need to say clearly, this was put out by Dead Spin, a Web site, posted the pictures, posted the text message, posted that. Can't independently confirm whether or not that's him. They certainly claim that is. You can judge for yourself whether or not that sounds like him. Certainly nothing in that that would sound necessarily racy. WOLF: Right.
HOLMES: It's not something you'd want out there if you're a man who's been married --
WOLF: Not all. Absolutely.
HOLMES: -- for what has it been, 14 years of something like that.
WOLF: Sure.
HOLMES: But it's serious enough that the NFL is investigating.
WOLF: Wow. But that's not the only part of the messages. Is there something else that goes with it?
HOLMES: Yes, there are other actual text messages, but there are pictures, nude pictures, that are out there. And the NFL, as you know, as all sports fans -- football fans -- know, you don't have to break the law to violate their conduct policy.
WOLF: Wow.
HOLMES: This could, in fact, now, in some way, if it's proven that he's responsible for all this, could violate the conduct policy, Brett Favre could be, again, could be suspended. They can judge by the conduct.
Now, he has not officially commented on this. He just says he won't be talking about it. Not official denial. But Brett Favre in another bit of controversy.
WOLF: The texts alone, I mean, they could be talking about, you know, just part cheesy. They have no idea what they're talking about. It could be checkers.
But when you throw in the pictures, then that changes the landscape more than a little bit.
HOLMES: Well, we're having him, folks, Reynolds Wolf, perspective as always.
He an I will be back at the top of hour with more live news on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
First, "SANJAY GUPTA, M.D." starts now.
