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CNN Sunday Morning

Ransom Paid to Pirates Earns U.K. Couple's Freedom; 'Mini Big Bang' Created By Large Hadron Collider

Aired November 14, 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, everybody.

And good morning in particular Washington, D.C. That is where some 90 newly elected members of Congress have arrived. They're there to the important work of this country. But before they can do that important work, they need to figure out where the bathrooms are, how to set up an office. They even need to find a place to live.

Yes, it's that time, folks: Freshman orientation is getting under way. We'll tell you what they're learning.

Also, would you pay $1,700 for another man's boxers? Maybe six grand for another man's slippers, as you see there? Well, some people did exactly that. But this stuff belonged to Bernie Madoff. We'll tell you how the auction of his stuff went yesterday. And yes, in fact, all that money went to certainly a worthy cause: the people he screwed out of a lot of money.

Well, from the CNN Center, this is your CNN SUNDAY MORNING. Six a.m. here in Atlanta, Georgia, where I am. It's 2 p.m. in Baghdad. Wherever you may be, glad you're right here. Thank you for joining us.

And also want to say thank you and welcome to our troops who are watching us right now on the Armed Forces Network in Iraq, Afghanistan, around the world. Thank you for being here, and thank you for what you do.

Also coming up for you over the next 90 minutes is the trip of a lifetime for a veteran of World War II. We will take you along for the ride as he gets to visit the memorial to those who served in that great conflict.

Also this morning, if you didn't know, let me tell you right now: Cigarettes are bad for you. Just want to get that out there. Well, still, we should all know that, but the FDA thinks they need to go even further to get the message out. New proposals for some graphic, graphic images to put on cigarette packs.

Also, Sears is doing something they have never done in the history of that company - the 120-plus-year history of that company. They're going to be open on Thanksgiving Day. We'll tell you the strategy behind that.

We're going to begin though with a story that has really been developing for the past year. A couple - a British couple that was kidnapped by Somali pirates a year ago is now free. Early, Paul and Rachel Chandler - they appeared in a video pleading for their lives. You're seeing it here and you can see those Somali pirates standing with weapons pointed at the couple.

Now, Paul Chandler said he was afraid their captors would kill them if those captors were not paid what they were asking for, which was some $7 million. CNN, we have confirmed here now, that a ransom in fact was paid, but it was much lower than that $7 million starting asking price. It was closer to $750,000.

We don't know, however, who paid it.

The Chandlers are now headed to Nairobi, Kenya. That's the first stop on their way home. They're described as being tired but very happy.

Our David McKenzie has their story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): For more than a year in captivity, Paul and Rachel Chandler feared the worst, knowing that their next day could very well be their last.

Their captors had guns and often threatened to use them if ransom wasn't paid.

PAUL CHANDLER, BRITISH HOSTAGE: And I have no doubt that they will not hesitate to kill us, perhaps within a week or so of now, if there is no response.

MCKENZIE: The retired English couple was sailing around the world. It was their lifelong dream. It turned into an awful nightmare.

Somali pirates took them captive near the Seychelles in a nighttime attack. They were transferred into a larger boat as the Royal Navy looked on.

The navy said it was too dangerous to intervene, a decision heavily criticized by some.

The Chandlers were held in remote areas of lawless Somalia. In interviews conducted by satellite phone, they said they were treated well. But as the days dragged into months, they said they were beaten, separated and dealt with like animals.

CHANDLER: Please, somebody get in touch. Otherwise, we just sleepwalk to a tragic ending.

MCKENZIE: The Chandlers and their family wanted help from London, but successive British governments have refused to pay a ransom, saying it would only encourage more kidnappings.

And the weak Somali government called the kidnapping a shame on their country. But its attention is focused on battling Islamic insurgents. It has no sway over the powerful and rich Somali pirates, whose only real motivation is money.

Now finally free, the Chandlers, who have gone through so much, felt abandoned for so long, will be turning their thoughts towards home and a reunion with their family.

David McKenzie, CNN, Nairobi, Kenya.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: Now, we have a weather situation. It was - what? - about 70 degrees? What was it here in Atlanta yesterday?

REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: I think it was about 70 - about 72 degrees.

HOLMES: About 72 degrees. Now, this is in stark contrast to what we had here. But this is in eastern Minnesota. We were keeping an eye on this yesterday. We know this storm was coming, and it did. You saw folks actually building a snowman out there.

Certainly, as always, causes some issues with travel. A lot of accidents to report. We have a couple of deaths to report as well.

But the snow came down, caused issues on the road, Reynolds, as we often expect. Minnesota, Minneapolis in particular....

WOLF: Oh yes.

HOLMES: ...a major hub with the airport there, caused a lot of delays there as well.

How are they doing today?

WOLF: I think we're going to be seeing delays there as well.

The snow should begin to taper off. The winter-storm warnings that we have in effect in that part of the world are going to expire around 4:00 today. So by tomorrow morning, it should be pretty good.

(WEATHER REPORT)

HOLMES: Well, the president's high-profile trip to Asia - it's wrapped up now. He visited India, Indonesia, South Korea, Japan as well. And he boarded Air Force One in Yokohama, Japan, today, headed home. The 10-day mission was focused on building U.S. exports overseas in order to add jobs here at home.

He loves though with some mixed results. The leaders signed a pledge to work toward free and open trade in Asia. America wants access to the fast-growing markets there, but a weak global economy and financial uncertainty are going to make that difficult.

But President Obama promoted the trans-Pacific partnership to help promote free trade. Next year, the U.S. is going to host the APEC summit, which stands for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit. The president will host it in Hawaii. You remember Rahm Emanuel, the president's chief of staff, that left the White House not too long ago? Everybody pretty much understood why he was leaving. Now he's making it official. With his family standing close by, the president's former chief of staff officially entered the race for mayor of his hometown of Chicago.

Rahm Emanuel said he wants to fight for a better future for all the people of Chicago. And even though he only made it official yesterday, he has been campaigning across the city for more than a month now.

Well, we're getting close to that season - the holiday season. We're not yet to Thanksgiving yet, but a lot of stores starting to look ahead, announcing some special for the Christmas shopping season. And the world's largest retailer is jumping into this and going to be saving you some money and giving you an incentive to shop with them.

I'll tell you exactly what that is.

But at nine minutes past the hour, first, in an honor of our Veterans Day we just recognized a couple days ago, this morning's quiz: What is the oldest component of the U.S. armed forces? Is it, A, the U.S. Army; B, the National Guard; or is it, C, the National Colony Militia?

I'll have that answer for you after the break. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Well, at 12 minutes past the hour now - before the break we asked: What is the oldest component of the U.S. armed forces? Is it the U.S. Army, the National Guard or the National Colony Militia?

Well, the answer is the National Guard. Formed in the 17th century as the Militia of the Colonists of North America, the Guard soldiers have fought in every major war since 1637.

And we want to welcome back everybody watching here. And as always, we'd like to welcome our men and women who are watching us during this hour on the Armed Forced Network.

And we like to give you guys an update of how the military academies did on Saturday. Football.

Well, listen to this: for the Navy - Reynolds, they only completed two passes...

WOLF: I love it.

HOLMES: ...in their game yesterday.

(CROSSTALK)

HOLMES: Two passes.

WOLF: Love it. HOLMES: But still won. They racked up, like you said, run the ball, over 400 yards on the ground - beat Central Michigan. Had to hold on at the end, 38-37.

Army beat Kent State and Air Force wore down New Mexico as well.

Now, for you folks wondering about the BCS top teams, we'll star with Reynolds' Auburn Tigers, beat Georgia. They had to get rid of a lot of distractions, as we know...

WOLF: Oh yes.

HOLMES: ...with their quarterback. But TCU was able to hold on as well; got close in the end. One loss - Ohio State beat Penn State; Oklahoma over Texas; and Nebraska over Kansas; and Alabama jumped all over Mississippi State as well.

Now, a couple of other games we need to look at now. And at the top of the list here, Oregon, the No. 1 team in the country, barely got by yesterday...

WOLF: This was close.

HOLMES: ...in Berkley, all right. This could have changed everything in college football had they gone down. But the No. 1 Oregon Ducks, they held on to win at Berkley, 15-13.

Now, Reynolds, you had some complaints about they finished out the game. They had a chance to score at the end if they wanted to, but they just kind of ran that clock out. And at this point of the year, you're No. 1, you got a chance to go to the national championship, you just run that clock out and get out of there with the win.

WOLF: It - it's amazing.

You know, Jeff Tedferstein, (ph) the - the Cowbears (ph) - you know, they had some great teams years ago; they haven't been so great in the past couple. But I'll tell you, they - don't they win in terms of the ugliest uniforms you've ever seen in your life?

HOLMES: They - they - the did a little montage during the game last night of all the uniforms they use and they are some ugly uniforms.

WOLF: I don't know what it is about the PAC 10.

HOLMES: But - but there they go.

A different story in Wisconsin. This looks like a basketball score - 83 points put up...

WOLF: You're kidding.

HOLMES: ...by Wisconsin. Eighty-three points. That's the highest-scoring total by a Big 10 team since Ohio State beat Iowa back in 1950. That's the most since 1915 that Wisconsin has put up. Watch kind of the - some of the highlights at the end of this game. It didn't look like they were still trying to really beat up on Indiana. But no matter what they did, they just kept scoring. Eighty- three points.

WOLF: Wow. Wow. That's when you play everyone; that's when you play the fourth string you have. You - you give the water boy a helmet. You - you - you pull some people in from the stands. You give everyone an opportunity. Three-year-old kid eating popcorn - come on in; you're the starting quarterback.

HOLMES Yes, and that's kind of what they did. And they kept scoring.

WOLF: Wow.

HOLMES: One more here, and this is why I am a little red-eyed this morning. Stayed up to watch that guy, the Pac-Man, Manny Pacquiao - had a fight last night. This was held at the - the new Texas Stadium, the Dallas Cowboys stadium down there.

WOLF: My gosh.

HOLMES: This was one of the most exciting events they've held at the Cowboys stadium since the Cowboys aren't doing so well this year.

But you can see what he did to his opponent. That's Antonio Margarito of Mexico - pummeled the guy for 12 straight rounds. There was about a 20-pound weight difference between these two guys, and there was about a five-inch height difference. Manny just looked tiny in that ring compared to this guy, and he whipped him for 12 straight rounds.

WOLF: Wow.

Kind of like a microcosm of, ironically, the Cowboys season, when you think about it. Unbelievable. Look at that.

HOLMES: But he was - in the last round, he backed off, and he was looking at the ref, saying, 'Ref, are you going to stop this fight?' He didn't even want to continue to pummel the guy. Probably should have stepped in and stopped maybe 10th, 11th round at least. He was looking at the ref like, are you going to - are you serious?

WOLF: Unbelievable.

HOLMES: And he - he was kind of merciful at the end.

So that's a wrap on some of the big things we saw last night.

Reynolds is going to be back with us. We got some Sunday football. A lot of that played inside as well. A lot of people still curious about the weather today and a lot of travel going on. So Reynolds will be keeping us up to date on that.

WOLF: See you in a little bit. You bet. HOLMES: All right. Appreciate you, buddy.

And also, the Big Bang - scientists say it's where the universe came from. Now, people have managed to create their own Big Bang. A breakthrough underground and what it means about everything.

Josh Levs will explain.

It's 17 minutes past the hour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(MUSIC, LOUIS ARMSTRONG, "WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD")

HOLMES: Oh, and what a wonderful shot of the Capitol this morning - Washington, D.C. That is where a lot of the freshmen are arriving to start their freshmen orientation. Some 90-plus new members of Congress will be joining up and starting the - the work of the people.

But before that work can start, they got a lot of work to do just to figure out where their offices are, where the bathrooms are, where to live. Some of them are going to have to room together. All kinds of things like that. But we'll be talking more about that throughout the morning.

But at 20 minutes past the hour, let me bring in Josh Levs.

Boy, I thought we had - we figured out the Big Bang. We need another theory? There's another?

JOSH LEVS, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Well, what we don't know is when it happened, what it was actually made out of.

And this is what they're trying to figure out. They're trying to figure out, at the very beginning of everything...

HOLMES: OK.

LEVS: ...when this massive explosion happened - basically, what the stuff was, the little particles of matter...

HOLMES: The stuff?

LEVS: ...that turned into everything. The little TV...

HOLMES: The stuff was.

LEVS: I got a - I got a better way to summarize this.

HOLMES: OK.

LEVS: Since I'm not saying it that well....

HOLMES: OK.

LEVS: ...this song puts it really well.

HOLMES: OK.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(SINGING)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEVS: Love it. That is the theme song from the - the best theme song, actually, on TV right now.

And this is what everyone's trying to figure out - this is what these scientists are trying to figure out. Billions of dollars, scientists all over the world, have been trying to understand what happened at the Big Bang. And now, they've actually managed to create a 'mini Big Bang.'

Let's go straight to some of this video, and you'll see what I'm talking about. The question that so many people have been studying forever: What has been going on from the very beginning?

So what they've been doing is using this huge thing called the Large Hadron Collider that spans the border between Switzerland and France. It's underground there. And it's designed to discover and study the teeniest building blocks of matter. And scientists say what they learn there is going to revolutionize our understanding of the entire universe.

So what they've been trying to do to understand that Big Bang is, they've been working to smash together these particles at a faster rate than ever to create these teeny, tiny little microscopic particles that you can only see for, like, a fraction of a second. And short version: In the past week, they've managed to do it.

So after all these years, all these efforts, they actually had what they can now a Big Bang. They smashed these things together at temperatures 100,000 times hotter than the center of the sun. That's how hot it gets with this massive machine. That was their mini Big Bang.

And the scientific lingo, if you want to know it, is that they smashed together ions for the first time. And before now, it had just been these things called protons.

The big idea here - one professor explained to us, they're reproducing the conditions that existed - listen to this - a few millionths of a second after the Big Bang. And the thinking is that an understanding of these teeny little particles can give us a whole new understanding of what everything is made of, including us.

So a massive breakthrough there, at the Large Hadron Collider.

I've posted all this information for you up at Facebook and Twitter. Check it out. It's been huge over the past week. It's all over the Web right now. People can see these little pictures of what they've managed to show for a little millionth of a second there - a tiny fraction of a second, which could be a huge step toward to understanding what we and everything around is are made out of, T.J.

So there you go. For the first time in human history, people have created what can legitimately be called, an actual Big Bang.

HOLMES: OK. And we're getting the answers. We're getting - we're waiting for - they're still collecting data and we'll get more from them later?

LEVS: Yes. I mean - well, what they did was, they - they managed to, like, get these little images of these things and they're going to be studying them like crazy. But they also say, now that they've achieved this, they need to repeat it a thousand, maybe even millions of times. Just keep doing it and doing it.

So this massive machine....

HOLMES: How long is this going to take? How long is this going to take?

LEVS: Oh, it could take years to study them.

HOLMES: (INAUDIBLE)

LEVS: But the idea is that people have actually managed to find that they're actually - got a - got a shot at getting there. So one of the biggest machines in existence, all to get to the tiniest thing in existence, which will be the tiniest particle that we've ever seen, which could help us understand what all of us are made of.

(LAUGHTER)

HOLMES: I was wondering that when I got up this morning, what I was made of.

LEVS: Yes, I'm sure that's the first thing you thought about (INAUDIBLE).

HOLMES: Josh, we appreciate you...

(CROSSTALK)

HOLMES: Thanks so much.

LEVS: Yes.

HOLMES: Well, also coming up here - did you know - this bulletin just came in: Smoking is bad for you. Seriously.

But the FDA doesn't think the message has gotten out good enough, and they've come up with a new method now to try to combat smoking and educate you about the dangers of it. Graphic - and I do mean graphic - new labels they're proposing to put on packages of cigarettes. We'll show them to you, coming up.

It's 24 minutes past the hour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Well, at 25 minutes past the hour now on this CNN SUNDAY MORNING.

This Thanksgiving, you can put the turkey on and then go shopping, because for the first time in 124 years - the first time in their history - Sears will be open on Thanksgiving Day. They're going to be open from 7 a.m. to noon. They're trying to cash in on early- bird shoppers, and they say the customers asked for this.

Meanwhile, Walmart, they're also trying to up the ante on these holiday-shopping wars, trying to compete for those customers. And the world's largest retailer has announced free online shipping on some 60,000 holiday items with no minimum purchase. The offer is available through December the 20th on walmart.com.

Walmart says shipping surcharges may still apply in Alaska, Hawaii as well as Puerto Rico.

Also, a recall I need to tell you about this morning, you Nissan folks. They are recalling more than 600,000 vehicles in North America, about 515 of those right here in the U.S., trying to fix problems with steering columns and battery cables. Vehicles included are the Frontier, Xterra - those are SUVs - and also the Sentra sedans. Nissan said it will begin notifying owners early next month, once replacement parts are available.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NICK JONAS, CHANGE FOR THE CHILDREN FOUNDATION: Hi, I'm Nick Jonas. And we can make an impact on diabetes awareness.

The way that I got involved with diabetes awareness and diabetes research was from a firsthand experience. I'm a diabetic myself.

I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.

It's important to let people know the effect that is has on the individual and the family. Our foundation, Jonas Brothers Change for the Children Foundation, has been able to do a lot - a lot of work with diabetes and - and raising awareness that this is a manageable disease, and - and that it is something that you can live with every day.

Join the movement. Impact your world. CNN.com/impact.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Well, bottom of the hour here now. Welcome back to the CNN SUNDAY MORNING. I'm T.J. Holmes.

I want to warn you. This next story I'm going to share with you here might be a little much if you're trying to have breakfast this morning. So, just a heads up there.

But this is about the tobacco warning label on cigarette packs. We've all kind of gotten used to that warning label. That is what some say is part of the problem. We've gotten used to it - too used to it. So, now some graphic images are coming out. Also, I'm warning you, these can be disturbing here.

CNN national correspondent Susan Candiotti reporting now, the FDA wants to try a little shock therapy, with pictures like these, right there on the pack, to maybe try to get smokers to quit.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): They are graphic. They're meant to be blunt, and the FDA wants them to make smokers think twice about lighting up.

DR. JOHN SEFFRIN, AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY: This is a truly historic event.

CANDIOTTI: Historic because cigarette warning labels haven't changed in 25 years. The proposed labels will be hard to miss.

SEFFRIN: These are pretty difficult not to pay attention to because it has to cover 50 percent of the front and the back of the package of cigarettes.

CANDIOTTI: The warnings are required by law to show up on cartons by 2012. Yet another tool, including public service announcements, meant to get smokers to kick the habit.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now there is a permanent hole in my throat.

CANDIOTTI: More than 30 countries already use far more explicit images. This one from Australia. Another from Thailand.

SEFFRIN: They're not meant to offend anybody or to scare anybody off. It's - it's meant to inform.

CANDIOTTI: We showed the proposed labels to young people who belong to an Asian-American group promoting good health.

CANDIOTTI (on camera): How powerful a message do you think this is, showing someone with a tracheotomy?

DANA RIBAUDO, STUDENT: I think it's powerful, but we're constantly being bombarded with images all day, that, over time, we just become numb to them.

WILL LIAO, STUDENT: I don't think it's really effective either because, looking at the picture, you're going to see how he did perform this kind of surgery, and yet he's still smoking.

CANDIOTTI: Do you think a woman who is addicted to smoking, looking at this, will think, hmm, maybe I shouldn't do that.

SAMMI LIU, STUDENT: No. They would continue doing it.

CANDIOTTI: Why?

LIU: Smoking is addictive. They can't stop.

CANDIOTTI (voice-over): The FDA is taking public comments until January. Tobacco company Philip Morris says it plans to weigh in, but R.J. Reynolds is already suing over being forced to show labels like these.

Susan Candiotti, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: And as you heard Susan report there, the FDA wants to hear from you. They are taking public comments, and you can go online at www.regulations.gov, type in "cigarette warning" in the search box, then follow the prompt, and you will be able to leave comment.

Or you can fax your comments to this number, 301-827-6870. Or you could also mail your comments in to the Division of Dockets Management at the Food and Drug Administration, at 5630 (sic) Fishers Lane, Room 1061, Rockville, Maryland.

Now, I know there might be a lot. If you can't get that down quickly enough, we will collect that and put it online for you so you can get to it, while also make sure we get that up on my Twitter and Facebook sites, make sure you can find that as well. And they will take your comments through Tuesday, January the 11th, about those warning labels.

Turn to some politics back here in the U.S. now. Partnership may be as high as ever - or partisanship, I should say. Partnership in D.C.? Excuse me for that Freudian slip.

But partisanship might be as high as ever, but the president and Republicans seem to agree on one thing. There needs to be some earmark reform in Congress. Earmarks are spending additions tacked on to bills by a member of Congress. You've heard so much about them. Often they're called pork barrel spending.

Republican House leaders are calling for a vote to ban earmarks when Congress returns for a lame duck session this week. The president also voiced support for limiting earmarks in his weekly address yesterday.

But tomorrow marks the first day of freshman orientation for the more than 90 newly elected lawmakers. They're getting a crash course on how to navigate their new workplace, literally. They've got seminars planned on everything from setting up an office, hiring a staff, learning how to cast an electronic vote in the House.

CNN's deputy political director Paul Steinhauser has more in our look ahead at this week in politics.

PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Hey, good morning, T.J.

Congress tops our look at the political week ahead. Lawmakers are coming back tomorrow for the lame duck session. We'll see the Senate and the House back this week.

And, of course, the top issue among many that they have to deal with, but the top issue will be whether to extend those Bush-era tax cuts for all Americans, including the wealthiest Americans. That has been a real big divisive point between Republicans and Democrats, so see the battles continue as lawmakers come back to town.

But, also in this political week ahead, some people who may - may want to run for the White House in 2012.

Let's start with Newt Gingrich. He's got a new book out. The former House Speaker sure does. It's called "Valley Forge", and he's on a book tour right now, and guess where that book tour takes him this week? Yes, Iowa.

First, all eyes on Iowa. Its caucuses kick off the presidential primary process.

Also this week, another flash point, maybe, early flash point in the race for the White House, and that is the Republican Governors' Association. They've got their annual winter meetings. It's going to be in San Diego.

And you've got a bunch of people out there who may want to run for the White House as well, including the RGA chairman and Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, and also Mitch Daniels, the governor of Indiana. So we'll have our eyes on San Diego as well.

It's a long time away from the Republican presidential primaries, but never too early to start talking about the next race for the White House.

T.J., back to you.

HOLMES: All right. Thanks, as always, to our Paul Steinhauser.

Coming up, honoring our greatest generation.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES (voice-over): Well, we're going to be taking you on board and let you hear the sounds after a trip and a tribute more than 60 years in the making.

But first, another U.S. military quiz for you. Deborah Sampson became the first woman to enter combat for the military. She joined the army as a man, using the name Robert Shurtleff. What war was it, though? The Revolutionary War, the Civil War, or the War of 1812?

That answer for you after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: We're now at 38 minutes past the hour.

We asked you before the break, you know, Deborah Sampson, she was the first woman to serve in combat in the U.S. military, and we asked in what war did she serve. Was it the Revolutionary War, Civil War, or the War of 1812? It was A, the Revolutionary War.

Sampson was a teacher during the war, but in May of 1782 she disguised herself as a man and joined the Massachusetts light infantry company as Robert Shurtleff. She was wounded in battle but treated her own wound so she would not be discovered. She served a year and a half before her secret was discovered, and she was honorably discharged as Robert Shurtleff.

That was in 1783. Today, there are about 200,000 women on active duty in the U.S.

Well, $2 million. That's a pretty good chunk of change, but it might seem kind of like chump change compared to the 50-plus billion that Bernie Madoff swindled his victims out of.

Now, his - this scam artist now, some of the victims starting to get a little bit, just a little bit, of their money back, that $2 million I told you about, going to the victims after the second auction of Madoff's personal items was held yesterday in New York.

These are some of the big ticket items that caught a lot of people's attention. There was a 10.5 carat diamond engagement ring. There that thing is. That brought in about $500,000. There was also a Steinway Piano. That got about $42,000.

And also there was a pair of black velveteen slippers. Those sold - you see those there, had his initials on them. But those came with a few items, at just over $6,000. Also, some of his boxers, Reynolds, were sold in a lot with some socks. Somebody bought that.

REYNOLDS WOLF, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Were they pleated boxers, T.J.?

HOLMES: This was fascinating to me. I was telling you guys this during the break. They had pleats in them. I'd never seen that before.

WOLF: Nice. Nice. But - but slippers? You know, that - here - OK. I get it. I got to bust one more thing.

HOLMES: Do your thing.

WOLF: Seriously, what - what man in their right mind - would you - would Denzel Washington or Clint Eastwood wear slippers? I mean, come on.

HOLMES: Maybe.

WOLF: I don't - I don't see it. And $6,000 for slippers? HOLMES: Well, but -

WOLF: Come on.

HOLMES: But - but the - the thing you could say about it is that it did go towards the victims. So you can feel good -

WOLF: You know, that's great. That's good.

HOLMES: You can feel good, at least, about paying a high price because you know what it's going to. But now, look at the slippers. It has - they have his initials on them, Bernie Madoff.

I'm not sure of these - I think these might have been worn, actually. The - the boxers were not, of course. But - yes. $2 million they collected. So, that's something. But --

WOLF: I'm - I'm happy for the victims, but any person who would buy that in the first place, when - I mean, it's like going in - it's like going over four (ph) in slow pitch softball or getting a bad haircut. It's just not a good thing.

HOLMES: You're not a slipper guy?

WOLF: Not at all.

HOLMES: No? OK.

WOLF: Hey, let's slip into our forecast very quickly. We got short on time but long on the weather. Let's get right to it.

We've got a big storm system that is moving right across parts of the western Great Lakes. That's going to bring some heavy snowfall. Already has a history of producing over 10 inches of snowfall in parts of Wisconsin, back into Minnesota.

Power outages can be expected through the afternoon, possibly as long as Tuesday. And also, look for delays in the Twin Cities.

Forty-four, the high in Denver; 78 degrees in Los Angeles; 54 in Seattle; very nice on the eastern seaboard for now. Then, when this frontal boundary comes eastward, you're going to see more rain eventually in New York. But today, 60 degrees; 80 in Miami, a beautiful day for you.

And we've got so much more coming up, including a look at the tropics, where we're seeing to possibilities of some development right in the center of the Caribbean. More on that coming up.

Hey, you're watching CNN SUNDAY MORNING. See you in a few.

I'm not a slipper guy.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Good morning, everybody. Good morning, Washington, D.C. A look at the White House, the president making his way back to the White House right now after wrapping up that 10-day mission in Asia.

But the more than 60 million Americans who fought and helped win World War II, often called the Greatest Generation. Now, by the time the war's memorial finally opened in 2004, many of those now aging heroes never dreamed they'd make it to Washington, even see it.

But there's an effort to change that. It's called Honor Flight, and they have one mission - to fly as many vets to D.C. as possible, free of charge. We jumped on board.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES (voice-over): Eighty-three-year-old navy veteran Weyman Owens is embarking on one last military campaign of sorts. Thanks to a program called Honor Flight, Weyman is being flown to see the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., for free.

WEYMAN OWENS, WORLD WAR II VETERAN: And I said, well, that's a chance for me to go see those monuments. The next thing I knew, I was accepted.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Robert, come on with me.

OWENS: You'll have to excuse me (ph).

HOLMES: As you can see, this trip is not an easy one for Weyman to make.

OWENS: I get tore up even thinking about it.

HOLMES: Even though he didn't see combat during the war, his mission had its dangers.

OWENS: I went to the Kwajalein islands. That's where we did two atomic bomb tests.

HOLMES: After the test, he was sent to Japan, where he witnessed the destruction of the bombs firsthand.

OWENS: I seen enough at Hiroshima. It was hell. It was ships blown all to pieces, animals blown all to pieces. Everything was tore apart.

It's hell. You don't want to see any part of it. You might think you do, but you don't want to see anything like that.

HOLMES: What he saw still haunts him to this day.

OWENS: It tears me up to see the stuff I've seen on that day, that stuff. I'll see the monuments and stuff like that, and I think I'm going to leave it alone, leave the rest of it, try to block the rest of that stuff out of my mind.

HOLMES: The memorial is more than he expected.

OWENS: Beautiful, beautiful. Beautiful. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Fifteen down (ph).

HOLMES: He finds that people still show their appreciation for a man in uniform.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

OWENS: Thank you very much.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Absolutely. Thank you so much for your service.

HOLMES: He pauses to remember those who didn't make the trip, the more than 400,000 who died in the war and the other veterans for whom the memorial was built too late.

OWENS: I didn't go in service to be in a memorial. I went there for something else.

The memorial is beautiful. It's worthwhile. It's something to be proud of. I wish everybody could see it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is Weyman Owens. Weyman Owens.

HOLMES: Then, a chance encounter.

OWENS: I'll tell you what I've done.

HOLMES: A reunion of two comrades who haven't seen each other in more than six decades.

OWENS: I'll get my blankets and my pillow and climb up and crawl up on that eight-inch turret. And sleep in (ph).

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE) I sleep at night. And sometimes you get soaking wet.

OWENS: Yes.

HOLMES: The two men are from different parts of the country but happened to be here at the same time, on different Honor Flights.

OWENS: You just made my day.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You made mine too.

OWENS: I never did dream that I would run into this fellow again. I didn't know him, but I knew where he had been. I shook his hand. I was proud to see him. I was more than proud to see him.

HOLMES: Weyman couldn't ask for more, but there's still one more surprise for the veterans - a hero's homecoming in the airport terminal, total strangers giving them the thanks they deserve, after Honor Flight gives them the trip of a lifetime.

OWENS: If I went tonight, I have a lot to be thankful for. (END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: And we're coming up on 12 minutes to the top of the hour now.

A story we really want you to pay attention to, inmates at a notorious prison in Russia. They're about to catch a break, and a tan - seriously. We're going to explain that.

Also, tattoos worth their weight in gold, literally.

Those stories grab your attention? Those international stories with a little flare? Well, our lady with a whole lot of flair, Nadia Bilchik, coming up next to tell us all about it.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: And Nadia Bilchik, joining me now, as always. Good to see you.

We're talking about tanning beds in prison. Folks, this is happening or about to happen, you say, in Russia. Now, we're going to get to that story in just a second.

But kind of remind people of this - this scene from "Goldfinger." You remember this? James Bond flick. The lady - can you see it there? She's on the bed. She's covered in nothing but gold.

Well, in Dubai, they've kind of taken that idea, and they've turned it on its head, and they've turned it into a fashion trend in tattoos

NADIA BILCHIK, CNN EDITORIAL PRODUCER: Yes. You can now get a pure gold or platinum tattoo.

Now, I have to tell you, after yesterday's doctor's visit of yours, I was inundated, Facebook, Twitter, about that tattoo.

HOLMES: OK, I - yes, I was (INAUDIBLE).

BILCHIK: And I wanted to tell you, you can take that tattoo to a whole new level now.

HOLMES: I can?

BILCHIK: You can get it done in gold or platinum, 100 percent gold or platinum, depending - anything from $50 to $5,500. And what they will do is create the tattoo, and then it's a thin film of either gold or platinum, and then apply it to the skin. And it is temporary, but very beautiful.

HOLMES: Now, are they the only ones doing it right now? Just in (INAUDIBLE)?

BILCHIK: Right now, Precious Skin is doing it. It's actually a Japanese concept - HOLMES: OK.

BILCHIK: -- but they've opened up in Dubai, and they intend to take this global, because the idea is to have body art as jewelry. So it replaces henna tattoos, jewelry. And so you have your pure gold tattoo. And body adornment is an age old thing.

HOLMES: (INAUDIBLE), can I see that video one more time? Because when you heard - told me about it this morning, I said, what in the world? But, looking at it, those are exquisite.

BILCHIK: Absolutely exquisite.

And, gold - now, the price of gold has gone up.

HOLMES: Oh, yes.

BILCHIK: So think about it. If you can get - for just $50, you can get a small one, and then you can get a large one for $5,500.

HOLMES: But you can cover up - like, I could take my current tattoo and I can get that covered in gold, right?

BILCHIK: Well, I just think that - you know, that current tattoo really garnered a lot of attention. What does it actually say? Are we allowed to know?

HOLMES: Well, it's kind of a family nickname. T. Junior is what it says on my arm. I actually have two tattoos. I wouldn't tell you about the second one, just the first one. It's -

BILCHIK: Not yet, but, you know -

HOLMES: We've gone too far already.

BILCHIK: -- now that we have gone (INAUDIBLE)?

HOLMES: Yes.

BILCHIK: We know tattoo, and a matching gold, maybe a bit of platinum and a diamond or two.

HOLMES: Oh, a little too far with the diamonds, maybe.

BILCHIK: But we have to go to Dubai.

HOLMES: OK, baby steps here, Nadia. Baby steps.

But let's turn to Russia now, tanning beds for the inmates.

BILCHIK: And not just in any prison, in Butyrka Prison, which is the most -

HOLMES: Notorious. BILCHIK: -- infamous prison. Now, what happened was last year, the famous lawyer, Magnitsky, actually died in this prison. So what they're trying to do is this is a whole process of trying to improve the standards in the prisons. So one of the things they're going to do is sun beds, Skype, improved medical conditions -

HOLMES: Wait a minute, Nadia.

BILCHIK: Yes?

HOLMES: OK, you can improve conditions by serving better food. OK? Why a tanning bed?

BILCHIK: Because it - what it does is the ultraviolet lights are supposed to increase vitamin D and also help people feel better. I mean, I assure you that these inmates are not necessarily going for a tan. The idea is it's - it's part of an overall plan.

They say we're going to have a solarium and that there will be some sun beds. We're also going to improve general medical facilities and allow the inmates to Skype. And in -

You know, Magnitsky last year, as I say, who died, it caused a lot of negative attention for the Russian government. So they say we're improving standards in the prison.

HOLMES: What kind of reaction are they getting to this proposal for tanning beds?

BILCHIK: Well, some people are going, you know, sun beds? And is this really genuine change? And what does a sun bed really do except cause cancer and all kinds of eye problems? But, generally speaking, it's showing that they're trying to improve the prisons.

Do you know that one in four Russian men will have gone to prison at some time in their lifetime?

HOLMES: Oh, wow.

BILCHIK: So it's extraordinary.

HOLMES: All right. Nadia, good stuff, as always, this morning. Interesting stuff that a lot of people don't have on their radar, and now they know.

Nadia, we're going to see her again this morning. So, look forward to that. Thank you.

Also, the Chandlers' release. We've been telling you about this this morning. They've been held captive for a year by Somali pirates. Now, they're headed to Nairobi, Kenya.

We will be live there for you to tell you about what has been an extraordinary year for them.

We're getting close to the top of the hour. Stay with us. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Good morning, everybody.

There is a major snowstorm that maybe some people are enjoying as they get to build snowmen. But a lot of people are having a tough time out there on the roads and also in the air.

We'll tell you what's happening in Minneapolis in particular this morning. Reynolds Wolf will be along here shortly.

Also, this weekend, I admitted something that I was embarrassed to admit here on the air, and that is that I had neglected my health, like so many other men are doing right now. It's had been some 10- plus years since I had been to the doctor for a physical.

Well, that changed for me recently, hoping it will change for you as well. We'll be talking about men's health, also see the results of what I went through.

But hello to you all. Welcome to the CNN SUNDAY MORNING, from the CNN Center in Atlanta, Georgia. Seven a.m., where I stand; 6:00 a.m. in Minneapolis, wherever you may be -- glad you're right here. I'm T.J. Holmes.

Well, a British couple kidnapped and threatened for more than a year by Somali pirates finally free. There they are. The pirates grabbed Paul and Rachel Chandler off their yacht. Again, this was a year ago.

At one point early in their captivity, the couple went before a camera. And this is the video you're seeing of that. Guns pointed at them. They begged the British government and anybody listening to help.

We now know that a $750,000 ransom, in fact, was paid. The Chandlers now on their way to Nairobi in neighboring Kenya.

Our David Mackenzie joins us now live from there.

When are they expected, David?

DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: T.J., it's certainly going to be in the coming hours. Right now, I can say to the viewers that Paul and Rachel Chandler, this couple -- this retired couple that was on a holiday of a lifetime vacation, going across the world on their yacht, was picked up by Somali pirates just over a year ago off the coast of Africa. And now, they have been freed, or at least they're in safe hands. The pirates have freed them.

They went from a regional town, flew into Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia. And right now, they are talking with the government, meeting with them. The government of Somalia was involved in these negotiations, T.J.

And in the coming hours, they'll come right here to Wilson Airport in Nairobi, which will be a very relieving moment for them for sure -- T.J.

HOLMES: Can you tell us for sure what else we have been able to find out about how this money was paid, how it came to the amount that it came to, and possibly even where it came from?

MCKENZIE: Well, the money was paid in cash, you know? I don't think Somali pirates really want to take checks any time soon. So, T.J., the money was taken in last night, late last night, near the regional capital of central Somalia. The couple -- Paul and Rachel Chandler were then moved by land to (INAUDIBLE). They went to a local leader's house.

I spoke to him earlier on the phone. He said that they were well. They had their first shower in, you know, over a year, a proper shower, had their breakfast. They were very happy, quote, "to be alive."

Then they were flown into Mogadishu and coming here, as I said. The money itself, it's unclear yet exactly the breakdown of that $750,000. But certainly a large portion or a significant portion has been paid by Somalis living in a diaspora in England. So, certainly, there was a sense that this was an embarrassing situation for Somalia, that it has already suffering through so many problems. They helped to get this couple released.

As I say, they're going to be coming here to Kenya and then on to England to their families.

HOLMES: All right. David McKenzie for us in Nairobi, Kenya, where people are awaiting the arrival of the Chandlers -- we appreciate you this morning, David. Thanks so much.

Also enjoying new found freedom this morning is Myanmar's advocate for democracy, Aung San Suu Kyi. The nation's long time political dissident was released from years of house arrest today.

And today, the 65-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner spoke to her supporters at the National League for Democracy headquarters. She says she wants to advance national reconciliation and the rule of the law in Myanmar. She also addressed her years of confinement, talked about how she was treated by the military junta that rules that country.

Meanwhile, President Obama's high profile trip to Asia is wrapping up. He visited India, Indonesia, South Korea, and Japan. Well, he boarded Air Force One in Yokohama today. He is headed home.

His 10-day mission was focused on building U.S. exports overseas in order to add jobs here at home. He leaves, though, with some mixed results. Leaders signed a pledge to work toward free and open trade in Asia. America wants access to its fast-growing markets. But a weak global economy and financial uncertainty was going to make that difficult.

President Obama promoted the Trans-Pacific partnership to help promote free trade. Next year, the U.S. will host this summit, the APEC summit, the Asia-Pacific Economic Summit, that will happen in Hawaii.

Turn to some weather now. We saw this coming -- the first significant snow to hit the upper Midwest wasn't enough to cancel a big championship bike race in Minnesota. Look at these folks on bikes, white flakes, flat tires. Look at this.

They went on. The show must go on sometimes. But don't know about a winner, how long it took, or anything else.

But, sometimes, Reynolds, you just can't stop. Some folks are determined.

REYNOLDS WOLF, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Unbelievable.

HOLMES: That's a great -- that's a wacky video to see.

WOLF: They're insane folks. They're some of the coolest, greatest people you'd ever meet in the whole world, and they love, love, love their snow. I'm glad they do love it, and I'm glad it's there and not here in Atlanta this morning.

How much snow is too much snow for you? I mean, you're a Southerner. I mean --

HOLMES: Yes, the thing is it scares you because Southerners aren't used to it. So, any little -- any little bit that hits the ground, you've got traffic accidents, everything slows down, and you've got a mess. That's why I don't like it.

WOLF: Absolutely. You know, if someone happens to be tuning in this morning, say, from Phoenix, this kind of stuff is alien to you. But snow is coming down in earnest. We're going to get through this pretty quickly.

Some places up to a foot of snowfall. We're going to see it last at least through the early afternoon before fizzling out. I can tell you though that we might see power outages in some places. There are many roads that will remain untreated. So, it looks like it could be a mess well through the afternoon hours.

Meanwhile, something else that we're going to be seeing here will be a little bit of a -- I guess you could say kind of a cool-down in parts of the nation. As that area of low pressure and the frontal boundary moves out, we're going to be getting some drier, cooler air right behind it.

And also, this frontal boundary that we see is going to extend from parts of the Great Lakes down to the Gulf Coast. It will bring you some rain. The heavy snowfall total, some places we mention like Eden Prairie, Minnesota, up to a foot. But that's going to taper off into the afternoon.

For the East Coast, pretty nice in New York with 60 degrees, 80 in Miami. There's that frontal boundary, the big rain maker and snow maker that's all pushing off to the east. St. Louis action you're in the clear for the time being, 56 your high, 78 in Los Angeles, 54 in Seattle, with a chance of scattered showers.

All right. That is a quick snapshot of the forecast -- T.J., back to you.

HOLMES: Reynolds, kind sir. Appreciate you. Talk to you again plenty this morning.

And like I said, a short time ago, I admitted it, but I am embarrassed -- embarrassed -- to admit I had not been to a doctor in more than 10 years for a physical. And I had several people screaming at me that it was time to go.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: This is getting a little difficult.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. Whenever you feel like you're about 17 to 20 --

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: All right. You see me huffing and puffing, but this is something that a lot of men need to do and a lot of men avoid doing. We're trying to get you to do what I finally did.

Seven minutes past the hour. Stick around.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Ten minutes past the hour.

Like I admitted just a short time ago, it had been 10 years since I had gone to a doctor for a physical. Well, listen to this, according to the CDC, someone in this country dies every minute from heart disease. For some, according to doctors, the first sign of heart disease is sudden death.

But it doesn't have to get to that. You can find the early signs simply by going to the doctor. As you'll now see from my visit, it is not always a pleasant experience going to the doctor, but the alternative is much worse.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TOM JOYNER, HOST, TOM JOYNER MORNING SHOW: Shalamar second time around. Oh, come on, girl.

HOLMES (voice-over): Syndicated radio host Tom Joyner is 60 years old, but you'd never know it. Look at him.

It's not just a song. It's a mantra for Joyner, who credits his career longevity to regular doctor's visits. He wants his radio family to hear that message.

JOYNER: If we've got you laughing, we've got you listening. If we've got you listening, we can feed you some information. HOLMES: Joyner's "Take a Loved One to the Doctor" initiative is aimed at African-Americans who are genetically at risk, but like me, usually avoid the doctor.

JOYNER: We are disproportionately affected by heart disease and diabetes, and the list just goes on and on and on.

HOLMES: And that's where I come in. It's been more than 10 years since my last physical. So, Tom Joyner is taking me to the doctor.

We're at the Cooper Clinic in Dallas, where Joyner himself is a regular patient.

JOYNER: How you doing?

HOLMES (on camera): You know, man, to be quite honest with you, I haven't done this in so long.

JOYNER: I heard.

HOLMES: It's scary.

(voice-over): And with that, on to my first meeting with Dr. Tyler Cooper.

DR. TYLER COOPER, COOPER CLINIC: Do you sleep well?

HOLMES (on camera): I sleep well. I don't sleep a lot.

COOPER: Are you allergic to any medications?

HOLMES: Not that I know of.

COOPER: Had a tetanus shot in the last 10 years?

HOLMES: I don't know. What occasion would I have done that?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Everything back here is benign.

HOLMES (voice-over): A head to toe physical exam, lab work, hearing, vision, lung and stress tests. I'm seeing a dermatologist, a nutrition counselor, and even an exercise consultant.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Come on in. Right off the bat, my blood pressure concerned the doctor.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A little high, 138 over 85. But we'll get several others.

HOLMES: It's an alarming statistic. Close to 45 percent of African-Americans suffer from high blood pressure, and more than twice as many African-Americans will die from hypertension when compared to white patients.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just breathe normally now. HOLMES: My heart sounds healthy. So, it's off to the next exam room where a periscope checks my vocal cords.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: "American Idol" needs you, huh?

(LAUGHTER)

HOLMES: Next the eye exam.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you see the black dot?

HOLMES (on camera): The black dot -- yes, ma'am.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: All four corners?

HOLMES: Yes, ma'am.

(voice-over): And clearly, Joyner is the only person here enjoying my physical.

JOYNER: How many fingers? Deuces.

(LAUGHTER)

HOLMES (on camera): I'm glad you're enjoying this. When was the last time you did one of these?

JOYNER: Last year. I'm scheduled to come in this year.

HOLMES: Yes, I'm coming back.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm going to pinch the skin, pull it away from the muscle, and pinch again.

HOLMES (voice-over): But Joyner didn't have anything to make fun of during my body fat analysis.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: All done, 7.1.

HOLMES (on camera): You like that?

JOYNER: I hate that.

HOLMES: You like that?

JOYNER: I can't wait for you to get fat.

HOLMES: When does that start?

(voice-over): So far, so good. But I hadn't gotten to the part I'd been warned about, the infamous and all important stress test.

(on camera): Do people fail it?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Nobody fails.

HOLMES: Let's do this, man.

(voice-over): But I'm not just worried about failing for all to see. After avoiding the doctor for more than a decade, I'm nervous about what my results might say about my overall health.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: Coming up, you are going to see that all important stress test. You're going to hear my results. Also I'm going to tell you what I learned about that and how I have changed my life since that exam. The doctors say they're going to help me down the road.

Stick around. Part two coming up.

It's 14 minutes past the hour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Seventeen minutes past the hour now.

And the topic of men going to the doctor, a study in 2009 found that so-called macho men, defined as men who have high standards of masculinity, were 50 percent less likely to get routine medical care as other men.

We're going to move on to the next phase of my physical, the all- important stress test. It's important because it helps determine what kind of shape your heart is in, and it determines your risk of heart disease. You're about to see just how tough it is, but also, you're going to hear what I learned from it about my genetics and also my current behavior that puts me at risk.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Grab a sit there. Get on that stool. Get a couple blood pressures on you.

HOLMES (voice-over): Time for the dreaded stress test. The electrodes on my chest, hips, and legs monitor my heart rate looking for any warning signs. Radio host Tom Joyner is still at my side, and he's still got jokes.

JOYNER: It's a treadmill. You're not going to be running, you're going to be walking. The problem is you're going to be like Lionel Richie, walking on the ceiling. After a while, this thing is going to raise so high.

HOLMES: Joyner jokes, but he's very serious when it comes to making an impact on health.

JOYNER: Every year after we take a loved one to the doctor, we get testimonials from people who say that I went to one of your events and I went straight to the hospital and had bypass surgery. Yes, it's working.

HOLMES (on camera): Am I the exact problem you're trying to get at? Thirty-three-year-old young man hadn't been to the doctor in 10 years for any kind of physical?

JOYNER: Yes.

HOLMES: Why would we do that?

JOYNER: Well, number one, we're stupid, OK? Let's face that.

HOLMES: All right.

JOYNER: We think we know everything, but we're very stupid. And we're very -- OK. We're wimps. You hate getting your blood work.

HOLMES: It was not that bad.

JOYNER: Because you got a little boo-boo now. Why didn't you get the Dora the Explorer?

(LAUGHTER)

JOYNER: But you really didn't like it.

It's very tough, especially in the African-American community. I don't need to go to no doctor. You know, everything's fine. I feel just great. Boom. Say, man.

(LAUGHTER)

HOLMES: Are we literally killing ourselves?

JOYNER: Yes, yes. But we can do something about it with prevention.

HOLMES (voice-over): It's hard to argue with Joyner on that.

JOYNER: You'll be all right.

HOLMES: So, it's finally time. This EKG machine will monitor my heart during the exercise.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All right. Let's do this. So, this is a maximal test.

HOLMES (on camera): Maximal test.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I want you to push yourself as hard as you can. Get ready. Let's get you up to 3.3 miles an hour.

HOLMES: All right.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Here we go. We're off.

HOLMES: This treadmill goes faster than mine.

(voice-over): I'm told to keep walking as long as I can while the incline rises every minute.

(on camera): Piece of cake. So far, so good, but we're only three minutes in.

Whose idea was it? All up in the legs.

Should have done this first. It's getting a little difficult.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. Whenever you feel like you're about 17 to 20 on there or feel like you have a minute left in you, let me know, and I'll give Dr. Cooper a call.

HOLMES: Call him.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You ready?

HOLMES: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All right. One more blood pressure on you. We need to let you go as long as you can.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Come on, T.J., keep working up the hill there. Any chest pain or anything like that?

HOLMES: No.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I want to you go as long as you can.

HOLMES: That's it. If you guys don't stop, I'm going to stop.

(voice-over): Twenty-two minutes and eight seconds later, I'm tapped out. And I'm worried as Dr. Cooper sat me down for my results.

COOPER: Exercise-wise, you're doing OK. Your time on the treadmill had you in the good category as compared to men your age. Your blood pressures today were a little high. They were consistently in the 130s to 140s over 80s to 90s, which is too high. But other than that, your risk of heart disease at this point appears to be very low.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: That sounds like the good news.

I'm joined here by these gentlemen on the show. But that's the good news, appears to be low. But my problem is: a couple things, I don't get enough sleep. That causes stress, can lead to the high blood pressure, can cause some problems.

JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Part of the business.

HOLMES: Also, and I'll admit this, they say I drink too much, too much alcohol. One cigar a month on average that I have. Doctor says that's not a lot, but you need to cut that out.

LEVS: Is that responsible for the blood pressure?

HOLMES: Not responsible. They're not saying that.

LEVS: All right.

HOLMES: But they said these are all the risk factors that if I keep not going to the doctor for years and years, keep up my current behavior, then let's say I finally go to the doctor at 43 years old, it will be a much different result. When I go in at 33 now, they can tell me what I'm doing wrong and can keep from having a bigger problem when I get older.

LEVS: So, what he attribute the blood pressure to? Is it genetics? Is it food?

HOLMES: It can like be the job. It can be the alcohol, quite frankly. It can be the diet. It can be genetics, my dad, my mom, my granddad, uncle's got diabetes, high blood pressure -- all this in the family that I wasn't aware of until I went to the doctor.

The key is, you got to go to the doctor.

LEVS: All those people you just named have diabetes?

HOLMES: Just the uncle has diabetes, but all of them have high blood pressure.

LEVS: Wow.

HOLMES: And, Reynolds, as you were saying, you said you do regular checkups.

WOLF: Absolutely. But I never anything as in-depth as what they put you through. Now, what changes have you already made? Have you already taken some of those steps?

LEVS: He was eating carrots on the set yesterday. Right before we went on air at 8:00 in the morning, he takes a carrot out of his pocket.

HOLMES: That was a big part of it. You have to change -- I mean, the diet wasn't that bad. I mean, I just eat meat and vegetables for the most part. But I need to add a few more things, get some fiber in the diet because they say that certainly helps you down the road. But also, a big part of it, trying to get rest.

Now, in the interest of full disclosure, I was up late watching the Razorback game and Manny Pacquiao fight last night, got about an hour and 45 minutes of sleep.

LEVS: Your doctor is probably watching.

HOLMES: Sorry, doc, I made an exception. But that is a big deal. I do not get sleep. And you guys know this business.

LEVS: I know.

HOLMES: We don't get enough rest.

WOLF: And you watched the game and boxing match with no alcohol? HOLMES: None.

WOLF: Because we're friends, I'm going to go out on this. Let me help you. I'm actually going to stop by your place on the way home and take all your beer.

HOLMES: And clean up.

WOLF: Just because I care and just because I'm doing what I can for you.

(LAUGHTER)

WOLF: More than happy to take it out of your house.

LEVS: Reynolds always thinks of everyone.

HOLMES: It's hard to admit that stuff, but you have to do that first -- be honest with yourself, be honest with your doctor. They can't help you if you're not honest. You're the same? You don't get to the doctor regularly?

LEVS: Yes, but I don't sleep enough. But, yes, ever since I had my kids, I've been going every year. I want to be healthy for them, you know?

HOLMES: All right. Well, guys, there you have it. Hopefully, a change is going to do you some good as well.

Quick break for us. Be right back.

WOLF: Good stuff, man.

LEVS: Yes, it's great.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: All right. Getting to close to the bottom of the hour here.

I want to bring you up to date on three stories -- three sports stories now that you need to watch today.

And for that, let's bring in our good friend here on CNN SATURDAY and SUNDAY MORNING, Rick Horrow, business and sports analyst.

Rick, good morning to you once again. Let's start with Randy Moss, future Hall of Famer. But this year, he's playing for his third team in this one year, the Tennessee Titans today.

RICK HORROW, CNN SPORTS AND BUSINESS ANALYST: On the clock, my friend.

They're bringing the road show to Miami, facing the dolphins for the third time this year. It's almost unfair. He's probably not going to have that much impact. Off the field, Titans already 100 percent sold out. And the merchandise may not move because he may only play eight games there.

But here's one: remember that St. Paul restaurant he trashed on the way out of Minneapolis?

HOLMES: Yes.

HORROW: Well, they're asking free lunch if you donate Moss- related gear -- turn it back to the restaurant. They're donating it to the Boys and Girls Club of Nashville.

HOLMES: OK. That's nice they turned that into something because that was kind of nasty how he went after those folks' food up there, huh? Nice they're turning it into something.

Let's turn to one of his former teammates now, Tom Brady. Tom Brady has got a new contract. But this is like one we've never seen before.

HORROW: Yes, sir, my friend. The Patriots host the Steelers.

You're going to see Tom Brady in new shoes. He cut an endorsement deal with Under Armour, first quarterback and the highest visibility in that stable. But he gets an undisclosed amount of equity, like George Foreman did with that grill and like Greg Norman did with Cobra Golf. It provides more incentive and more visibility. But if the good athlete turns bad, it's hard to separate yourself from your partner.

HOLMES: You are doing really well with the time this morning. I am so proud of you.

Let's move to the next one, NASCAR right now. They are wrapping up the race for the chase, or the cup championship itself. But this is the closest one we've seen in history.

Is this going to bring more people into and get them watching the sport more since it's so close right now?

HORROW: Reached the promised land, T.J. Holmes is proud of me.

Well, the Cobalt Tools 500 in Phoenix is the second to last race. Hamlin, Harvick, Johnson, they're all there neck and neck and neck. But NASCAR's ratings, 20 percent down, 10 percent reduction in attendance.

Never fear -- 115 million unique viewers, and they're three times as likely to buy product as non-NASCAR fans. That's the fuel that fuels NASCAR.

HOLMES: Good job this morning, Rick. You know, I've got -- I'll give you an extra 10 seconds just to say anything you want to say right now.

HORROW: I hope the doctor also cured that anemic jump shot of yours.

HOLMES: See what I do? I try to throw him a bone and see how he tries to come after me. I learned my lesson long ago. Never again.

Pretty Ricky, good to see you as always. Enjoy your Sunday, buddy. Talk to you again soon.

All right. To our viewers, getting close to the bottom of the hour. Time now for "SANJAY GUPTA, M.D." I will, of course, be back at the top of the hour with more live news on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.