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CNN Saturday Morning News

Tropical Storm Threatens Gulf Area; Dick Cheney in Hospital; G- 8 and G-20 Summits in Canada; Will Sarah Palin's Endorsements of Republicans Help or Hurt?

Aired June 26, 2010 - 08:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, everybody. Welcome to this CNN SATURDAY MORNING, top of the hour here now. Coming to you live from New Orleans this morning. I'm T.J. Holmes. Glad you could be here with us.

We are here because it is a big weekend in the Gulf. Of course, we're on day 68 of the Gulf oil disaster, but the weather is what we have an eye on today. The first named storm of the season has now started. Our Reynolds Wolf is keeping an eye on this first named storm and our Kate Bolduan is keeping an eye on some other big news today, including the health of the former vice president.

Reynolds, good morning to you.

REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning. We are talking about Alex, Alex gaining strength headed right for parts of the Yucatan peninsula possibly moving into the Gulf of Mexico. I'll bring you the forecast in just a few moments.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: And former Vice President Dick Cheney back in the hospital. We have much more on that coming up, but first take a quick look at your headlines.

Checking the top stories, on the one-year anniversary of his son's death, Joe Jackson, father of Michael Jackson, files a wrongful death lawsuit against Dr. Conrad Murray, the late singer's personal doctor. The suit contends Murray gave paramedics and doctors false information about drugs he provided to Jackson prior to his death.

And Kellogg's is voluntarily recalling four of its popular breakfast cereals due to an odd flavor and smell coming from the liner of the package. The recall applies to some 28 million boxes of Corn Pops, Honey Smacks, Apple Jacks and Fruit Loops, so take a look in your pantry this morning. The company says the potential for any serious health problems is low, which is good news.

And more trouble for the troubled car maker Toyota. It has a new product recall to tell you about this morning. This one for its high end Lexus car line. Specifically the 2010 HS 250H vehicles. The company says the cars spilled too much gasoline during government crash tests. Toyota says its own tests did not show the problem.

And former Vice President Dick Cheney, he has been hospitalized after complaining that he wasn't feeling well. His doctors admitted him to George Washington University hospital Friday night for further testing. That's where Sandra Endo is joining us this morning. Sandra, Cheney has had heart problems in the past. Do you know if these heart problems have anything to do with this trip to the hospital?

SANDRA ENDO, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well Kate, right now it's unclear. We do know that the 69-year old former vice president has a long history of heart problems suffering multiple heart attacks since he was 37 years old and the most recent was, was just this past February. He had a mild heart attack, was admitted to the hospital and underwent some testing.

But right now all we know is that he complained of mild discomfort and he wasn't feeling well. Doctors are keeping him here through the weekend to undergo some testing according to a spokesperson, but we don't yet know if this is anything to do with his heart. Kate?

BOLDUAN: All right, Sandra, we know that you'll have the updates when you get them. Always tough to get those updates out of the hospitals. But thank you so much. You're on it there in Washington. Now let's turn it over to the Gulf, where T.J. Holmes is doing some great reporting down there. Hey, T.J.

HOLMES: Well, we didn't know this was going to happen. We knew it was a possibility when we were coming down this weekend. But we got word just a couple of hours -- literally an hour before we got on the air down here this morning on CNN SATURDAY MORNING that in fact the National Hurricane Center had told us that we do have our first named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season. It's tropical storm Alex.

Our Reynolds Wolf keeping an eye on that. He'll tell us exactly where we think it's heading right now. But a lot of uncertainty about it and how that could affect the Gulf oil response, the disaster response, the clean-up and also the efforts to actually siphon up a lot of that oil. We'll get into all of that.

Meanwhile, the court battle continues. The Obama administration appealing a judge's decision that effectively blocks the president's six-month moratorium on deep water drilling here off the coast. Following the district judge's decision, the government attorneys are now asking the court to stay the judge's order.

So the back and forth in court continues. A lot of people say a lot of jobs are on the line if you shut down that deep water drilling out in the Gulf. Meanwhile like I said, the first named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season could pose a problem for the oil recovery effort. It's called Alex. It's off Mexico's Yucatan coast right now, but it could be heading for the Gulf, specifically heading for the spill area.

Last night CNN's "AC 360", Florida Senator Bill Nelson voiced what so many along the Gulf coast are fearing right now.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: As we head into full-blown hurricane season, how concerned are you that this may really be the first of many disruptions to the oil spill response and the clean-up?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well the greatest nightmare with this storm approaching is that it takes this oil on the surface of the Gulf and blows it over the barrier islands into the bays and the estuaries and that is where you really get the enormous destruction, because it's just very difficult to clean up those pristine bays.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: That's one concern there. Another concern is for, quite frankly, the safety of the people who are a part of the response right now. You have tens of thousands of people who are helping clean up, who are literally out there in the Gulf right now who are helping siphon up a lot of that oil.

If the storm comes this way, you would have to get all of those people and all of those ships out of harm's way. That would mean the oil would once again be flowing unabated into the Gulf at the rate of 35, 000 to 60,000 barrels. That is the concern but also the concern depending on like you heard the senator say there, depending on where the storm goes, it will have an effect and make a difference on exactly what happens to the oil.

Let's get the latest on where we think this storm is going to go. Reynolds Wolf keeping a very close eye this morning on this storm. And right now, Reynolds, you said the operative word is uncertainty.

WOLF: Absolutely because when you think about these storms, I mean, you have got a rotating storm on a spinning planet, on a spinning universe. You have to remember, these storms don't move in a linear fashion from point to point. They tend to wobble quite a bit.

With this particular storm, we're seeing some edeep convection just east of the Yucatan peninsula. It is in the western Caribbean, but the latest forecast we have at the National Hurricane Center indeed brings the storm a bit more to the west and then moves it more to the northwest, there we go, right across the Yucatan and should make landfall somewhere along the Yucatan peninsula around the coast as a tropical storm as we get into early on Sunday morning.

Then going right across the Yucatan, only taken about 24 hours to cross if it continues at this rate, at this path and then strengthens back to a tropical storm as we get into Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, possibly with winds of 70 miles an hour, gusts of 85.

Now where in the heck is this thing going to go? Well, I'll tell you right now, again as we mentioned, there is a big cone of uncertainty, a big question mark that we have in this particular storm. There's a chance the storm could move a bit more to the north affecting the Texas coastline.

It may stay a bit farther to the south and stay towards Mexico or it could die out all together over the Yucatan peninsula. The thing is, there's a lot really of unknowns with this particular storm. What I can tell you, it's definitely going to make its way across the Yucatan. But when it comes across, will it strengthen? Will it weaken? That remains up in the air.

But I will tell you this month, T.J., in terms of what this storm could mean for the Gulf of Mexico and with the oil, looking for a silver lining, that's what we're trying to do here. What we might see is some enhanced wave action if this moves out. Even if it doesn't pass over the oil, it could at least create, increase the wave action and could help break up some of that emulsified oil. That's the only big benefit I could see.

But again, one of the nightmare scenario is that Bill Nelson referred to is the idea that you might have a storm go through this, actually pick it up in terms of storm surge action and actually bring it on shore to some of those pristine wetlands. That is the nightmare scenario, no question. Let's send it back to you.

HOLMES: That nightmare scenario and I wanted to talk to you about this Reynolds, if it heads directly for the oil versus moving a little left of the oil, what would be the consequences? Let's say it goes right for the oil, what is it going to do? Kind of break it up and it also maybe push it along? But if it hits a little to the west of where the oil is, what will that do to it as well?

WOLF: Actually you bring up a really good point. The last thing you want to have this thing do is move to the west because you have to remember. if you're looking at this hurricane center, if it were to become a hurricane or become a stronger tropical storm, the strongest part of the storm if this moves its way towards the oil area. Let's do this very quickly.

The strongest part of it is going to be in the northeast and the southeast quadrants. That's where the wind is spinning counter clockwise around that center of circulation. That is the worst case scenario. It would actually be better if this were to move right over the oil as opposed to farther to the west because you've got all that wind that's building up on the east side of the storm.

That is the mechanism that could force, that could push much of this closer to the shoreline. The best case scenario would be this thing to move way, way farther to the west altogether or just die out. Dying out would be the greatest scenario whatsoever. But I will tell you, even with the heavier wave action, that's going to bring the recovery efforts to a screeching halt. That in itself is a scenario that we don't want to contemplate.

HOLMES: Well, a great explanation. It's amazing to think that we're better off, in some ways at least if it goes directly for the oil versus missing the oil. Reynolds, we appreciate that breakdown. Going to be talking to you plenty this morning. I know you're keeping a close eye on this storm. Reynolds, thanks so much.

Meanwhile, back here in the Gulf, in New Orleans. a charter boat captain suicide has raised some concerns in the fishing community, all along the Gulf really right now. Now we've got this storm on the way. It seems like we keep getting bad news on top of bad news.

But we're going to be talking to some of the fishermen here who are keeping an eye on Alex as well and also we have people who are keeping an eye on their mental health. This is taking a toll on people, not just in their wallets, but it's also taking a mental toll. We got live interviews coming up, live guests. All that coming up this morning in our 9:00 Eastern hour. Stay here right on CNN.

BOLDUAN: And turning our attention to Canada, world leaders are gathered in Canada for a weekend of summits. We'll break down both the G-8 and G-20 summits and tell you how both could impact your world. That's coming up in a live report. Plus, team USA could finally get its revenge maybe. They face off against the team that knocked them out of the World Cup last time. We'll examine the impact of today's big game.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BOLDUAN: Welcome back. Confrontations ahead of the G-20 summit that starts later today in Canada. A group of about 2,000 protesters marched in downtown Toronto Friday. Among the demonstrators, union members, anti G-20 activists, women's groups and environmental groups.

The G-20 summit brings world leaders from rich and developing nations together to talk about global finances. World leaders are in Canada as we mentioned this weekend for both the G-8 and G-20 summits. President Obama says the meetings are key to strengthening the global economy, but the U.S. and European nations have very different strategies on just how to do that.

Chief business correspondent Ali Velshi is live in Toronto. I guess, first off Ali, what can we expect from today?

ALI VELSHI, CNN CHIEF BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Well, let me take you back to before you were born, Kate when times were simpler and in countries, your country did as well as its citizens did and its businesses did. You grew vegetables, you sold them. If your citizens were doing well, things were good.

If they weren't doing well, you lowered interest rates, made money, easier to borrow. People borrowed money. You could control everything that was going on. Then we started trading with everybody which meant living here in Canada you could buy vegetables that were grown in Florida. You could buy pencils that were made in other parts of the world.

We all started trading with each other and the consequence was that our economies around the world were not just dependent on our own consumers. They were dependent on the economic help of consumer all around the world. That is the situation we're in now. So when we started to see an economic crisis a few years ago, what we realized was that everybody around the world had to coordinate efforts to try and shore up their own economies.

Now what's happening is people want to go in different directions. Major countries, some of them want to cut their budgets and raise taxes. Others like the United States want to keep taxes low and keep stimulating the economy. They're coming together at this meeting to sort of say, listen, are we going in different paths? Or are we going to take the same path and try and shore up our economies together?

That is the very important discussion that is taking place at the G-8 which is about 200 miles from here right now. That meeting will wrap up today and they will all come here to Toronto for the G-20. The G-8 is a meeting which often attracts a lot of protesters as you've said. That's why they have it usually in a more remote area. The G-20, bigger meeting, but there will be some big protests this afternoon. Kate?

BOLDUAN: All that is happening, very important. We'll be watching that very closely. But at the same time, this is your hometown of Toronto, my dear friend Ali. Have you been making any recommendations for some good eateries or hot spots to the world leaders?

VELSHI: Some basics you have to have. First of all Tim Hortons, ubiquitous doughnut chain in Canada. They're on almost every corner. You go there. We have got our version of Starbucks here. It's called The Second Cup. And last might after I finished my live reports, my parents came and picked me up and we went to a place called Swiss Chalet which is a rotisserie chicken chain all over the country. There is some basics.

Now Toronto is a very sophisticated, international, multi-ethnic city. So there's all sorts of great food and sports and things like that. While those guys are holed up over there downtown in those meetings solving the world's problems, I'll be solving some other problems a later on today, mostly to do with my stomach.

BOLDUAN: Most importantly, your hunger pains, exactly, fabulous. We'll be watching it and getting to more serious business. But this is serious business talking about food. Thank you Ali, our chief business correspondent Ali Velshi watching it all from Toronto. Thanks so much.

Sarah Palin, she shows up and she sets a record. We'll tell you about a fund-raiser she attended last night in California and what happened.

A year after his death, fans still get emotional about Michael Jackson. We'll take you to one of many tributes, one year since his death.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BOLDUAN: Let's take a look at some of your top stories going on right now. Former Vice President Dick Cheney is in the hospital this morning after complaining Friday that he didn't feel well. Doctors are keeping him at George Washington University hospital for further tests.

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer is under fire this morning for saying most illegal immigrants coming across the southern border are drug mules. A labor union for border patrol agents says the claim has little credibility because drug smugglers typically move much larger quantities of drugs. And overnight fire destroys sections of a fruit packing plant north of Sacramento, California. The company that we're talking about is known for gourmet fruit baskets and boxes and has been in business for a century.

So Sarah Palin. She was in California last night for a fundraiser at California State University. The former vice presidential candidate reportedly set a record for raising money for the school. Palin received a standing ovation as she entered the room, but a new poll shows that her popularity could be slipping.

Let's get into all of this with deputy political director Paul Steinhauser. He's here to break it all down. So Paul, Sarah Palin, very busy this weekend breaking records?

PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: This woman keeps an extremely busy schedule, Kate. Today she's in Texas. She's picking out (ph) a conservative function there in Tyler, Texas. Tomorrow she's in Virginia and then in Georgia later in the week. As you mentioned, last night in California, interesting story. She spoke at Cal State (INAUDIBLE) as you said. She broke a record there for fundraising according to the school.

But there was controversy surrounding this event last night. It was first announced earlier this year. There was a lot of uproar against it partially because of her reported $100,000 speaking fee for appearance but also some students out there found some paperwork in a dumpster which supposedly had all these demands from Palin. The attorney general of California investigating. Jerry Brown is the same guy who is now running for governor. But she got a standing ovation last night, Kate.

BOLDUAN: And at the very same time, you have some very interesting new poll numbers about the former vice presidential candidate.

STEINHAUSER: She's been really active this year out there endorsing a lot of fellow Republican candidates in the primaries. The question is, does it help or hurt? In the primaries it seems to be helping. Most famously, she endorsed Nikki Haley (ph) in South Carolina, a little known lawmaker who now is the nominee for the Republicans. She's also had some success with other nominations. But will it help in the general election?

Take a look at these poll numbers Kate. This is from NBC and the "Wall Street Journal" and this is overall, not just Republicans in the primaries, we have a more conservative voter. But overall, if Sarah Palin were to endorse a candidate you were thinking of voting for, about one in four said that would make them more enthusiastic to vote for that person.

But look at that, 52 percent of them said it would make them either more uncomfortable or they would have some reservations. That's a lot of voters, about one in five Kate said, no difference. Listen, we're going to see a lot more of Sarah Palin on the campaign trail this year helping out fellow Republicans. We'll be anxious to see if it helps or hurts Kate.

BOLDUAN: Absolutely. We'll be all eyes on that especially because you know she'll be out there, she'll be out there on the campaign trail. Thanks so much, deputy political director Paul Steinhauser, thanks for joining us. Let's send it over to T.J. in the Gulf. What's going on, T.J.?

HOLMES: Hello again. Of course we're here live in New Orleans covering on day 68 of this Gulf oil disaster. And on this morning we got word that in fact we have the first named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season has now formed. We're keeping an eye on that here in New Orleans, certainly a lot of concerns here and along the rest of the Gulf Coast about how that storm could affect the clean-up, recovery and also just the efforts to stop the oil leak.

Also this morning, of course here we are in the middle of summertime. A lot of people going out, hitting the beaches, hitting pools as well. We need to tell you about speed and sonar, two words that could actually save your life out there. We're going to introduce you to Emily, the robotic life guard. Stay with us on the CNN SATURDAY MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Welcome back to this CNN SATURDAY MORNING live from New Orleans. Of course covering the oil disaster and also a new tropical storm that has formed, the first of the Atlantic hurricane season. We'll be talking about that plenty throughout the morning.

Also this morning, summertime. A lot of people hitting the beaches this time of year. You always see those life guards out there. We got new era that's beginning right now for life guards. Some of them will be getting some backup from another life guard by the name of Emily. That's a robot. She's loaded with sonar devices, operates six times faster than a real life guard.

Our tech expert, Katie Linendoll joining us now from New York to help us understand this. "Baywatch" would have been a much different show if all we had was robots out there rescuing people. Please, do tell. How is this thing supposed to work?

KATIE LINENDOLL, TECH EXPERT: T.J. let me tell you, I was a life guard for many years. And if somebody has the choice between me saving them or a robot, go with the robot, hands down. It looks like a giant flotation device right in front of me is Emily. She is a robotic life guard. What's awesome about her is this is cutting edge technology, six times faster than the average lifeguard. She operates with speeds up to 28 miles per hour.

And you said it best. She has sonar devices built right inside that can actually track the movement of a distressed swimmer. So if you grew up in a beach town like I did, you know when those waves come in, those rip tides, seconds are critical in terms of operation and rescue. When you have a cutting edge device that is using Navy technologies, best of the best, of course you want something like Emily on your side this summer. HOLMES: Katie, how does this thing work? It can really seek out a distressed swimmer on its own? Or does it actually have to be remotely controlled somewhere by somebody?

LINENDOLL: Again, it has sensors built inside that can actually track the movement of a distressed swimmer. Right now Emily actually operates via remote control from the life guards. Inside her there's speakers. So when the life guards gets out to that individual that's out in the water, he or she can actually talk to that person and calm them down until they get out into the water.

Next spring we're actually going to see Emily being remote controlled and not have to be -- be actually auto itself which is really cool. So again, cutting edge technology, technology that uses high-tech Navy technology so really some amazing stuff here.

HOLMES: Well, Katie, is it going to be financially feasible to start moving these and putting them on beaches and quite frankly replacing a lot of real life guards?

LINENDOLL: I don't think we're going to see it replacing life guards any time soon, but I got to say at the price of $3,500 right now, it's kind a no brainer. I would want this assistance with me if I was guarding one of the beaches. What we're seeing is in California, these are going to start rolling out next weekend in Malibu and areas in the surrounding areas. But yes, we're hoping that these devices get rolled out even further across the country in due time.

HOLMES: Katie, that is very cool stuff. You brought some cool stuff to me yesterday, some of the spy gadgets yesterday, but this is another cool one that could actually have an effect and frankly save some lives. Katie Linendoll, good to see you. I think we're going to be talking to you a little more throughout the morning. So see you again here soon.

LINENDOLL: Thanks.

HOLMES: Kate, I will hand it back over to you for now.

BOLDUAN: Thank you, T.J.. So if there was any doubt about how much Michael Jackson was loved, just look at the number of memorials held around the world yesterday. Plus the season's first tropical storm. Reynolds?

WOLF: That's right, Kate. You were talking about Alex. We're going to give you an idea of where the storm may be headed, where it may be headed next today possibly for days to come, could be the Gulf of Mexico. Your complete forecast is coming up in a few moments. You are watching CNN SATURDAY MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BOLDUAN: Good morning. It is just past 8:30 Eastern. Welcome back to CNN SATURDAY MORNING, I am Kate Bolduan holding down the fort in Atlanta. Thanks for starting your day with us. HOLMES: All right and we appreciate you holding down the fort for us today our Kate. I'm T.J. Holmes, its 7:30 here locally in New Orleans. We are here this morning, of course, covering on day 68 of the Gulf oil disaster.

But the big issue today is not necessarily oil. It's a storm. The weather is the problem. We got word just before we got on the air here on this CNN SATURDAY MORNING that, in fact, the National Hurricane Center had given us our first named storm of the hurricane season, the Atlantic hurricane season. This is tropical storm Alex.

Now, a lot of people are wondering how exactly this is going to affect the oil recovery efforts, the response efforts and also the efforts out there to siphon up a lot of this oil. They've been collecting tens of thousands of barrels a day onto ships. Sizing it up because you know they have a cap on now they can collect oil.

Will that possibly have to be shut down for a while to get people out of harm's way if the storm heads towards them?

Our meteorologist Reynolds Wolf is keeping an eye on the storm. Reynolds, right now we just don't know. A little uncertainty about where this storm is going to go. But we should know more of it the next 24 or 48 hours.

WOLF: Oh no question about it. Let me bust you on something. And this is very important to our forecast. T.J., you were wearing something different earlier. You are now are wearing a green shirt, the reason why is because of the high humidity that you have in places like in New Orleans. And this is important.

The same kind of humid conditions ...

HOLMES: Yes.

WOLF: ... that you have along parts of the Gulf Coast there, we're experiencing those same conditions in the western Caribbean. This is a condition that is ripe for development. And that is exactly what we have this morning.

This is a look at Alex, it's a horrible situation for the time being in terms of the structures. There's not a whole a lot of -- there's a little bit of a rotation.

And that's what's giving us this time the characteristics giving us this tropical storm. Again, there's winds of about 40 miles per hour, not very strong and it should get a little bit weaker once it interacts with the Yucatan peninsula.

Why? Well, because it get its primary power source from that warm water from the Caribbean eventually into the Gulf of Mexico. However, the path brings the storm right across the Yucatan and weakening with winds of 35. It will then be classified as a depression.

But then, once it punches out into the Bay of Campeche (ph) and then into the Gulf of Mexico, it may strengthen once again. Because again, it's going to be over it's warm water environment. It's going to have minimal sheer in terms of the upper level winds. So it will have the opportunity of strengthening once again to a tropical storm.

And watch this very carefully. Notice this, right here, winds of 70 miles per hour, gusts of 85. It would be a strong tropical storm. Very close. As soon as winds exceed 34, or rather 73 to 74 miles an hour, it's then a category one hurricane. And that could indeed happen as we get into the mid or later half of next week.

We're going to have more on this -- the storm, where it's headed. Well, how it may affect the oil spill. It's all coming up in mere moments.

T.J., let's send it back to you.

HOLMES: All right, Reynolds, we appreciate it. And you're absolutely right. You busted me on the shirt there. But again, it's 7:30 in the morning. And it is hot and it is humid already here in New Orleans. You're just hearing a helicopter fly by me here on the river.

We'll continue to follow certainly that storm and also the recovery efforts. We're going to be talking to people here still being affected and expect to be affected for quite some time by this oil disaster.

Kate, let me hand it back over to you.

BOLDUAN: Thanks, T.J.

Another big story many Americans are waiting for. A whole lot of Americans will be sitting in front of their TVs at about 2:00 this afternoon. Why? Well, all of them claiming to be soccer fans. The U.S. has a score to settle with Ghana. We'll take you live to Johannesburg next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: All right. We are here in New Orleans, of course. Covering what's happening here. But lot of people in New Orleans as well, people all over the country, really, could use a break from sometimes day-to-day life. And they're doing that with the World Cup.

They've been watching this thing and keeping up with the U.S., which is making things exciting. More exciting and closer than they should be, but still, it makes for some good game sometimes. But we're moving on from the group stage now to the knockout stage. You win or go home.

Now, that starts today. Team USA has an opportunity to make some history here and get some pay back at the same time.

Alex Thomas joining us now live from Johannesburg with a preview of the game this afternoon and payback is always a big motivator. ALEX THOMAS, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely, T.J. it's time to throw away those calculators. It's simply winner takes all now. The last 16 countries from the 32 that started remain. The United States in a very easy draw now. We've seen so many upsets at this World Up. Big traditional football super powers like France and Italy have gone home early, opening the door for America to get through to the semifinals before they face a really big team.

It is payback as you say; they're facing Ghana later on in Rothenberg, about an hour and a half drive away from here in Johannesburg. And it was Ghana that helped put America around in the group stages in the last World Cup in Germany four years ago.

We were speaking to the U.S. Captain, Carlos Bocanegra earlier this week and he talked about that revenge factor.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CARLOS BOCANEGRA, TEAM CAPTAIN, U.S. SOCCER: It was pretty amazing. You know I think Tim started it with a throw out at the back. And they had just came at us on a counter attack. So they were a bit open. (INAUDIBLE) run at the ball and passed to Josi, crossed to Clint and rebounded and landing and kicked it in. And they just saw the tidal wave is emerging of our players on the field going to the corner flag and the bench coming. And it was like a perfect storm colliding over there.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

THOMAS: Now don't write, and that mistake was just for fun. I'm not talking about revenge over Ghana. Bocanegra is talking about the winning goal that Landon Donovan scored in their final group match. In the dying seconds of the match Landon Donovan with the goal that put United States through as group winners for first time since the very first World Cup T.J. back in 1930.

Personal redemption for Donovan who really was starting to doubt himself at the very highest level. He had a long spell with English premier league Kobe Bertinelli (ph) this season and he's come into this tournament looking as a real match winner for the United States.

HOLMES: Well, you know a lot of people say that match was a little harder than it should have been. It should have been that close with (INAUDIBLE) may be both some exciting soccer or football as they say.

But one other thing here, Africa had six teams. Six African countries were in the World Cup, only one last standing now. The host nation, South Africa, they're out as well. But Ghana is the only one left standing, even though this is being played in South Africa. Is there a sense no doubt that this is a home game for Ghana and the entire continent now getting behind this team?

THOMAS: Well, T.J. that's a really good question. It's possible that that's the case. It's a real shame for fans of African football that Ghana at the end of the league that they represent has become true (ph). There'll be a real post mortem as to why it is in the first ever football World Cup to be held on African soil. But more African sides didn't do better.

But I was watching in Rustenburg when the United States played England in their opening World Cup match of this tournament. And speaking to the crowd, some said we're supporting Bafana, Bafana, the nick name for South Africa.

Some saying we're supporting England. If you watched a lot of the premier league's competition. But others are saying we support America, you know, because we think that Barack Obama is cool.

So it takes all sorts, doesn't it? It doesn't matter what the reason is. Lots of African fans will transfer their loyalty over to Ghana, but there will lots of Americans, huge support here.

And the teams spoke to me after their last match T.J., saying when the crowds is wearing the stars and stripes, they're bashing on the side of their bus as they turn up for the match, it really gave them a lift.

And they'll have just as much support for this round of 16 match today.

HOLMES: Well, so many interesting little side bars and side story to this game today. But happening today about 2:30 Eastern Time the country will be watching.

Alex, good to see you as always, enjoy over there. We'll talk to you again soon.

So of course, the countdown is on now to today's big matchup. People all over the U.S. taking this and our business and sports analyst, Rick Horrow, is joining us this morning with the impact now of the World Cup.

Rick good morning to you.

A lot of people after this last goal still excited about that game think well, maybe this is it. The U.S. is now about to become a soccer country. We're not going that far yet, are we?

RICK HORROW, CNN SPORTS BUSINESS ANALYST: No, we're not. Why are you wearing green Ghana colors for? And this is it, I know were supposed to be fairly objective as journalists but hey, a few hours from now, that's the deal. And over 11 million people watch this Spanish and English version against Algeria in the U.S. more than they watch the game before soccer is certainly peaking here.

More U.S. ticket buyers in South Africa than any other country, 90 million of us are avid fans they say. But clearly it's going to be a lot more after this game, win or lose.

HOLMES: A lot more after. And we talk about long term. It's hard to tell exactly what kind of impact this will have on the U.S. but a lot of people are hoping. But short time -- in short term, what has this done for the country? What has this done for soccer?

HORROW: Well, certainly what it's done for soccer is put more money in the coffers of the U.S. Soccer Federation, which allows them to recruit more players and get better. FIFA decides who gets the 2018 or '22 World Cup in December. This psychologically may help. U.S. may be a favorite for the one in 2022.

And look at the World Cup internationally. We just had the report. I know there's only one African team, two from the Far East, six from Europe, five from South America, U.S and Mexico. That's all the top 16. So the world is becoming more diverse as far as soccer teams. The haves and the have notes seem to be getting closer together. The U.S. has benefitted by that, by the way, my friend.

HOLMES: All right. Well, I am standing here in a great sport city. New Orleans, home of the Super Bowl champs, the Saints. But you have a list here now of some of the best sports cities around the world, really; and New Orleans is not really on this list.

Well, New Orleans isn't. But there are a lot of world class cities that are. And the Sport Business International magazine came up with a big deal. They talked about 2,000 federations and other factors. And look at their top five. Five is Sydney, four is Berlin, three is London, two is Singapore and one is Melbourne. And this is infrastructure facilities, quality of life, government support, public interest T.J.

New York is number 10. Chicago is number 18. The big deal here is that when these cities bid for big events the world cups and the like, it's billions of dollars of economic activity. The stakes are incredibly high, my friend.

HOLMES: All right. Last thing here. We watched the NBA draft; just happened on Thursday night. Not a whole lot of intrigue, if you will because we kind of knew how everybody was going to go and what number they were going to be drafted. A lot of these young kids, I mean lot of 19, 20, 21-year-olds were being drafted in the top 10 and became millionaires on Thursday night.

But the draft was more so about Lebron James than anybody else.

HORROW: Everything in the world now is a setup for where Lebron James is going to go. John Wall (ph), University of Kentucky; Phenom, first pick for the Washington Wizards. Their mayor at the National Conference of Mayors a couple of weeks ago said the best economic stimulus that Washington could have, two wards, John Wall. If he plays well that's good for that city.

But where is Lebron going? Is it Chicago? Is it New York? Is it Miami? Stay in Cleveland? We'll know that after July 1. So that's the big issue we have to follow.

The other big issue is put some red, white, and blue on in addition to that green, pal.

HOLMES: Hey, you got to root for Ghana a little bit. There is the --

(CROSSTALK)

HOLMES: They had a lot of teams -- they had six teams in. Only one made it through. So hey, pulling for Ghana a little bit, but of course, pulling for the U.S. though. Whoever wins I will certainly be happy. You're always a win in my book.

All right. Thanks so much ...

HORROW: T.J. Holmes, champion of the underdogs. See you, next week. All right. Bye.

HOLMES: All right. See you buddy. Thanks so much.

And again, Kate, I'll hand it back to you. But still a great city here of New Orleans, a great sports city even if it didn't make some list.

BOLDUAN: You're such a diplomat, walking that thin line right between the U.S. and Ghana. And my gosh, your outfits have never gotten so much play.

(CROSSTALK)

BOLDUAN: But very seriously, though, there were memorials around the world yesterday on the anniversary of Michael Jackson's death.

Coming up here, an inside look at the office of the doctor accused in the pop legend's death. You might be surprised at the amount of business he is doing.

We're back right after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BOLDUAN: On the one-year anniversary of Michael Jackson's death, fans paid their respects with tears, tributes, songs and dance. In Los Angeles, thousands walked through the gates of the Forest Lawn Cemetery where Jackson rests now in a mausoleum. And in the star's hometown of Gary, Indiana, hundreds cheered as the entertainer's mother, Katherine Jackson unveiled a memorial to her son in the front yard of the modest home where he grew up. And in Moscow fans gathered around a memorial honoring the king of pop.

Last night his brother Jermaine talked to Larry King about Michael's doctor.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(CROSSTALK)

LARRY KING, CNN HOST: How do you feel about the doctor? I mean a judge has allowed him to keep the medical license.

JERMAINE JACKSON, MICHAEL JACKSON'S BROTHER: You know what, Larry? It's not even important whether he keeps his license or they take his license away. The bottom line is Michael is not here. What he administered in Michael should have been in a hospital setting. He did not act alone.

I feel, myself, Randy, LaToya; all of us feel that he's the fall guy. And knowing how this whole thing works and knowing it's higher up than just the doctor. And he's there and if you squeeze him hard enough, he will talk.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: Jackson's estate made $1 billion in the year since his death.

And Michael Jackson's father, he has filed a wrongful death suit against the man charged in the death of the pop icon. But Dr. Conrad Murray is still practicing medicine in two states despite his many legal problems. And his patients are defending him.

Our Ted Rowlands has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Conrad Murray is facing criminal charges in the death of Michael Jackson. His medical license is in jeopardy. Yet he continues to practice at his clinic here in Las Vegas and at a clinic in Houston. And, believe it or not, patients are still coming to see him.

(voice-over): Dr. Conrad Murray, not in a courtroom but in a cardiology clinic, seeing patients who are eager to stand up for the man accused of killing Michael Jackson.

Gerry Cause says Dr. Murray saved his life after a heart attack ten years ago. He now drives 160 miles, nearly six hours round trip to see him.

GERRY CAUSE, PATIENT OF DR. MURRAY: He's a most compassionate man. He has patience better than any doctor I've ever been to. He will take time with you. As much time as it takes.

ROWLANDS: Most of these patients showed up because they were told we were coming. Many say they're upset with the media and Jackson fans portraying Dr. Murray as a murderer.

HUGH CRANDELL, PATIENT OF DR. MURRAY: I know for a fact, just knowing the man, he did everything possible to keep Michael Jackson alive.

ROWLANDS: J.D. Nicholas is a member of the Commodores and knew Michael Jackson. He's been a patient of Dr. Murray's for ten years. He doesn't think that his doctor is responsible for Michael Jackson's death.

J.D. NICHOLAS, DR. MURRAY'S PATIENT: I just can't see him being depicted as the person he's being painted to be. I just can't see that. That's not the person that I know.

ROWLANDS: In the weeks before his death while rehearsing for his upcoming concerts in London, Michael Jackson with Dr. Murray's help was using the surgical anesthesia Propofol as a sleep aid. Murray is accused of killing the pop star with an overdose of the powerful drug.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't want you sedating people.

ROWLANDS: As a condition of bail Murray was ordered not to give anyone Propofol or any other anesthesia. The California Medical Board asked a judge to stop Murray from practicing medicine altogether. The board questions Murray's quote, "fundamental judgment and skill as a physician".

Murray's lawyer Charles Peckham, argues there's no grounds for taking Murray's license.

CHARLES PECKHAM, DR. MURRAY'S ATTORNEY: The question that the medical boards have is whether or not they have a doctor on their hands that is a threat to public safety. And he's just not. He's a good doctor. He's a benefit to his patients. He's a benefit to public health. So they need to keep him.

ROWLANDS: Murray also has a practice in the struggling Houston, Texas neighborhood of Acres Homes. Murray opened this clinic as a tribute to his father who spent his life practicing medicine here and is buried in the cemetery down the street. Patients here argue that taking Murray's license will hurt this underserved community.

RANSOM CRADDOCK, PATIENT OF DR. MURRAY: Dr. Murray is a good doctor -- very good doctor. And I recommend him around the world. And we stand together with him in this community.

ROWLANDS (on camera): Conrad Murray allowed us into the clinic to shoot video tape of himself at work and allowed us to interview the patients inside but he refused our repeated requests for an on-camera interview.

Ted Rowlands, CNN, Las Vegas.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BOLDUAN: Tonight CNN revealed details of the events leading up to the tragic death of Michal Jackson. We'll talk to Jermaine and Tito Jackson about how their brother died and who they think is responsible.

Plus, hear from some of Jackson's closest associates about his health and his state of mind. Watch "Michael Jackson: The Final Days" tonight and tomorrow night at 7:00 Eastern on CNN.

We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BOLDUAN: Let's get a quick check of your top stories, shall we? The Kellogg's cereal company is recalling 20 million boxes of several of its best known children's brands. Customers complained of an unusual flavor and smell coming from boxes of Corn Pops, Honey Smacks, Fruit Loops and Apple Jacks. They were sold nationwide. Kellogg's says there's little chance of any serious health problems, but symptoms do include nausea and diarrhea.

And it's not just cereal. Toyota issued a recall as well of 17,000 Lexus vehicles. The problem, they spill too much gasoline during crash tests. But Toyota says it's own tests show the spillage is within safety requirements. If you drive a 2010 Lexus HS250H, you can expect to hear from the company.

And a major overnight fire destroys parts of a fruit packing plant north of Sacramento, California. The company is known for fruit baskets and boxes. The managers say they'll do everything they can to get the workers back on the job, realizing that so many rely on those paychecks in today's tough economy. The company has been in business for a century. Stay with CNN SATURDAY MORNING.

HOLMES: And top of the hour here on this CNN SATURDAY MORNING, 9:00 a.m. Eastern time. 8:00 where I stand in New Orleans. Good morning to you all. We are focusing on this half hour like we do every Saturday on a different topic, drilling down a little deeper and this morning, it bears doing it this morning that we need to look a little deeper into what's happening here in the gulf and in New Orleans.

Today, we have a major issue that's not really related to oil. It's related to weather. The first named storm of the season. The Atlantic hurricane season is on its way to the area not sure where it's going to go. We'll talk more about tropical storm Alex in a moment.

Need to give you some updates on what's happening here. The Obama administration is appealing a judge's decision that effectively blocks the president's six-month moratorium on offshore oil drilling. So the back and forth continues. Now, following the district judge's ruling, the government attorneys now asking the court to stay the judge's order. So we still don't know at this point. The drilling is not going on. The deep water drilling not taking place. But it could start back up at some point when all the back and forth and legal wrangling is done.

Meanwhile, a lot of jobs right now are on hold because a lot of those rigs and a lot of those workers related to that deep water drilling is not going on. Also, tropical storm Alex as we just said is off Mexico's Yucatan Coast right now. It could be bound for the spill area. We don't exactly know where it's going to go over the next 24 to 48 hours, it is going to be critical. And we should see these forecasts and these models get a little more specific.

And then we'll know how this is going to affect the oil response, the cleanup, and quite frankly the efforts to keep siphoning up a lot of the oil. They have been collecting tens of thousands of barrels every single day for the past several days. Certainly, since that cap was put on but if the storm makes a beeline for the gulf, you might have to evacuate a lot of those workers and those ships. So oil would once again be going unabated onto the Gulf of Mexico.

Meanwhile, last night on CNN's "AC 360," Florida Senator Bill Nelson voiced what many along the gulf coast are fearing about a storm.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: As we head into full blown hurricane season, how concerned are you that this may really be the first of many disruptions to the oil spill response and the cleanup?

SEN. BILL NELSON (D), FLORIDA: Well, the greatest nightmare with this storm approaching is that it take this is oil on the surface of the gulf and blows it over the barrier islands into the bays and the estuaries. And that is where you really get the enormous destruction. Because it's just very difficult to clean up those pristine bays.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Yes, difficult to clean up. We'll be talking about that a little more. We got a fisherman standing by here with us this morning, telling us the story of just how precious those estuaries are. He'll explain in his own words. A very simple explanation that maybe you haven't heard about exactly why those estuaries are so critical.

Meanwhile, tropical storm Alex is kind of moved up on list of priorities right now. All the oil, the cleanup, trying to collect the oil right now , hasn't taken a backseat but all eyes are on this storm now, including the eyes of our meteorologist, Reynolds Wolf. Reynolds, we are tracking this thing, everybody, and certainly here on edge today.

Front page of the paper of a storm is what's on everybody's mind right now.

WOLF: Absolutely.

You know, I would say that the idea of the storm moving directly over that oil spill is highly unlikely right now. The way it looks now, it looks like it's very unlikely. Let's take you back in time very quickly. This storm just a few days ago was actually cruising just south of Haiti, south of Port-au-Prince. At one time had weakened so much that the probability of it actually strengthening was like around 20 percent or so.

But this morning, we have Alex. And Alex is just to the northeast of Belize. This time expected to cross over the Yucatan Peninsula very quickly. The latest forecast we have from the National Hurricane Center, we're going to show in the next minute or so is going to bring it right across the Yucatan as we get into Monday and get into Tuesday and possibly moving in to the Bay of Campeche and then into Wednesday and Thursday there it goes.

A couple of things I want you to notice, it's not only the track but also the wind speeds going up to possibly 70 miles per hour as we get into Thursday. That is just four miles per hour away in intensity from becoming a category one hurricane. Now, one thing I want to mention to you very quickly, the spill area, of course, is just where you have the "f" here, where (INAUDIBLE) the latest path we have, has it moving closer towards the Texas coastline.

However, that being said, you have to look at the shaded area. That is your cone of uncertainty. So there's a chance the storm could move further to the north, perhaps further to the south. It could die in all together. A lot of unknowns. However, all computer models at this time appear in agreement that the storm is expected to cross the Yucatan.

But you'll notice earlier, one particular model called the GFDL was earlier going back towards Panama City, now all the models have shifted much more to the west. The reason why we think is because perhaps the models are seeing this thing perhaps in an area of high pressure that would settle over parts of the southeast. Wind moving at a clockwise fashion around this might provide enough steering winds to push this further west would be great news for a lot of the people (INAUDIBLE).

Certainly we don't want the storm to strike any place at all. The best case scenario would be for it to die out or if it stays within the oil, great news but still (INAUDIBLE) could cause a few issues to say at the very least out in parts of the gulf where we have the cleanup efforts. T.J., let's send it back to you.

HOLMES: All right. Reynolds, buddy, appreciate you. We know you're keeping a close eye on that storm. We'll be checking in with you plenty throughout the morning. We've been talking a lot about the lives being affected here in the gulf and the livelihood as well.

But now a much different toll being taken. A mental toll in some regards and quite frankly has become a matter of life and death for some. Family and friends of an Alabama boat captain blamed his suicide on what's happening in the gulf.

CNN's David Mattingly with the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): People who knew him say Allen Kruse lived to fish. And those closest to him say that life unraveled when the oil spill hit the gulf waters where he worked.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He thought it was dead.

MATTINGLY (on camera): He said that to you?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

MATTINGLY: And that there was no hope that the fishing was ever going to come back.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Not in his lifetime. MATTINGLY (voice-over): Among charter boat captains in Orange Beach, Alabama, Kruse was a leader, drumming up business in good times.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And the fish is going to be good all summer.

MATTINGLY: And voicing the frustrations of a community in the bad times.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The day that the oil entered the gulf, my phone quit ringing.

MATTINGLY: Just a month after that interview, Cruise was found on his boat dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. For 14 days he had worked for BP, hauling boom and looking for oil. His brothers say he felt like his role in the cleanup as a BP vessel of opportunity was worthless.

(on camera): That's what he told you?

FRANK KRUSE, BROTHER: Yes.

MATTINGLY: He felt like he was being out there just for show?

KRUSE: Yes. That's what he told his wife. That's what she told me a while ago.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He told me it was madness.

MATTINGLY (voice-over): Kruse's friends tell me he felt overwhelmed by the enormity of the disaster and that they're all feeling the stress.

CAPT. BEN FAIREY, FRIEND: This has been a long term situation. This started in 2004 with a direct hit from Hurricane Ivan. Then, the next year was Katrina. Then skyrocketing fuel prices. Fishing regulations. And then an oil spill. This has been six years that this area has really suffered a lot of stress.

MATTINGLY: Stress that his friends believe finally became too much for Kruse. And now they're worried about others.

(on camera): Are you afraid that maybe one of your other friends out there might be thinking of something extreme?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sure. We worry about that every day.

MATTINGLY: What are you going to do about it?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's why we're trying to get the word out.

MATTINGLY (on camera): As a gesture to a community that's now grieving for him, Kruse's family thought it would be best for his boat to be brought back here to home port in Orange Beach. And here it is right now, the "Rookie." His friends say there's really no better way that they can think of to pay tribute to a man who loved what he did for a living and loved the waters where he worked.

(voice-over): It's the "Rookie's" final voyage, carrying a cargo of uncertainty and sorrow.

David Mattingly, CNN, Orange Beach, Alabama.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: And the death of the fishing boat captain is raising some new concerns here in the gulf. We're going to learn more about this. I have a guy standing by. I'm going to talk to right after the break who helps people with their mental health issues. He has some alarming numbers of things they have seen since this gulf oil spill.

The need is great for people here with their mental health right now and there's a stigma attached to it. And maybe the people who really need help, a lot of them still aren't coming to get it. Stay with us with some very important information about the toll this gulf oil disaster is taking on people.

We're live in New Orleans on this CNN SATURDAY MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Well, it's about 10 minutes after the hour on this CNN SATURDAY MORNING. And here in New Orleans, they're reaching out to people who are struggling in the aftermath of this disaster.

That's what my next guest's -- that's what their mission is all about. Zach Rosenburg is with the St. Bernard Project. The group started after Hurricane Katrina to rebuild homes and help people out, you started a wellness center about 15 months ago to help people cope, quite frankly, mentally with the aftermath still of the storm. But now you're seeing that center is needing to help people dealing with this disaster.

ZACH ROSENBURG, ST. BERNARD PROJECT: Yes, that's right. When we opened the center for wellness and mental health about 15 months ago, we did it because we saw our clients were alive but not living. We thought we could improve their lives with the sort of support in therapy that would position them for success.

HOLMES: Now, did you think when this disaster happened -- I guess, when did you start seeing people come in, not so much because of the aftermath of Katrina anymore but because of this oil disaster.

ROSENBURG: About a week or so later. Once it sunk in this wasn't going to be fixed overnight. And it's really the fact that there's no definition around it that's so dramatic for many of our clients.

HOLMES: Tell me and I was amazed when you told me this right before we came on the air but the waiting list now for people to get into that wellness center is what now?

ROSENBURG: It's huge. The waiting list before the oil spill was three or four weeks. And now it's more than seven weeks. The good thing is people are ready to be well. And I think we got to remember that, without a doubt there's a tremendous trauma to people. That the people in New Orleans and St. Bernard want to be well. They're focused on their family. So they're willing to access service to get where they need to be.

HOLMES: What are you hearing? What are they talking to you about? What are they trying to cope with when they come in? Is it a matter of depression? They're trying to make their bills, they're worried about down the road, what's going to happen to their livelihood, what are they talking to you about?

ROSENBURG: All of the above. And I'm not (INAUDIBLE) and I run the St. Bernard Project. I'm a lawyer. But what they're telling our clinicians is they're afraid of the future, the water and culture. The water isn't just a way just to earn an income, it's the way of life down here. It's the way families spend time and have done so for generations. And there's no definition around when things are going to get better.

HOLMES: You talk about a seven-week wait now. But even clearly so many more people are needing the help the wellness center gives. But are there so many more who need the help who quite frankly just aren't coming in because of the stigma attached sometime to seeking mental health?

ROSENBURG: I think so. You know, if you think about it, someone stabs me in my kidney. I'm going to go to the doctor and I'm going to be well but people, you know, this oil spill has been a stab to the psyche of a lot of people. Yet there's a stigma around going to get health. What we're doing to address that is we're starting a peer-to- peer company program where we work with the resilient shrimpers and some of their wives and partners.

We train them in mind, body, wellness, and decision making and communication strategies. They're going to go out there and work with a community member who may be a little reticent to come in.

HOLMES: Is there any way to gauge -- you started this wellness center 15 months ago, at least the wellness certain part of your project to help people still dealing with Hurricane Katrina. Now, here we are, 15 months later, is there a way to gauge what percentage of people are coming in -- is there any way to separate now or is it all stress? Some people coming in because of Hurricane Katrina aftermath, some coming in because of the oil disaster. So is this just all mixed in and this all feels like just one huge disaster.

ROSENBURG: I think it's tough to pinpoint the society. A lot of it is re-dramatization. They're the same thing, right? So in Katrina, the response was very, very slow. People had to reformulate their understanding of the covenant between citizen and government. And unfortunately it's happening again with this incredibly slow response to the oil spill.

But it's doable. I mean, this is what we're going to remember one that the people of the gulf are as resilient as ever.

HOLMES: Yes.

ROSENBURG: Two, they've made it through Katrina. So that should be a reservoir of strength as they're dealing with the oil spill. Problems are solvable. Got to get them the services they need.

HOLMES: Clearly, they know they can make it through just about anything here in this town. Zach Rosenburg, they're offering us a service that it's becoming clear is more and more necessary here in New Orleans than throughout the gulf. Thank you for being with us this morning. Thanks so much.

You knew, this was going to happen, folks. We're dealing with all kinds of issues related to this oil disaster. We talked about mental health here. But also something that affects you, if you're close to the area, the price of seafood is going up. Yes, you can blame what's happening in the gulf. We're going to get live reaction to those prices and also we're going to talk to a gulf fisherman about what he thinks the prospects are for his future.

Stay with us. You're on CNN SATURDAY MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Restaurant owners, managers, feeling the pain from the oil spill. Limited fishing grounds in the gulf means less products. So you have a limited supply. That means you're going to have higher prices. Some restaurants doing what they can to keep the price from passing hikes on to the customers though.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WALTER DOBBS, RESTAURANT OWNER: To me, it's more than the dollar, it's about making the consumer happy. I'm going to hold out as long as I can so that everybody can still enjoy the food that they like.

VIC ALLRED, RESTAURANT OWNER: I think most of it is speculative. You have a lot of buyers out there who have bought product. Now because the demand has risen, they are just charging more.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Now, this was supposed to be a comeback year. Thousands of shrimpers and fishermen in Louisiana thought this was going to be a good year still recovering from Hurricane Katrina. But then this thing happened, Pete Gerica is with me now. President, Lake Pontchartrain Fishermen's Association.

You have been doing this 40 years. And you told me things happen. Come and go, seasons, storms come. I have a good season, bad season. What is different about this than from any other hard time you've been through?

PETE GERICA, FISHERMAN/SHRIMPER: Well, this particular incident, it threatens our estuaries. And you don't know what the outcome is going to be because we don't know what the effect has been so far. We don't know how much more effect we're going to get.

HOLMES: Tell people, because we hear estuary all the time, people all over the country might not understand that but you had a very simple explanation, the shrimp, they go out, they lay their eggs, then what?

GERICA: Well, the white shrimp, they go out offshore (INAUDIBLE) lay the eggs. The eggs are totally dependent on the tide, pushing them in, same thing that pushes the oil in. Once they get into the estuaries, they develop into larva, which needs little planktons and little micro organism out of the marsh to grow. If the food isn't there, they don't grow. Simple.

HOLMES: If the oil is there, you got no food. The estuaries are gone. That's the problem here. What are the chances if the estuaries are gone, what are the chances for you, I mean, you've been doing this 40 years now. You're 57, I believe you told me. What are you thinking about long term now about continuing what you've been doing the past 40 years?

GERICA: Well, it's a wait and see thing. August is normally when the numbers start coming in, how much shrimp are growing. And what we're going to have for whie shrimps, fall season. If the fall season is not there, then we're going to look for something else. Go fish freshwater fish, do something. Because it's just not going to be there.

HOLMES: Have you moved beyond that initial, maybe, anger at BP or the government? Where is your focus now?

GERICA: Well, we just -- my focus is and we are hoping and praying that they get the thing plugged up. You got to stop the flow, you stop the flow, you mop it up, eventually you'll be back in business. You know, but we got to stop this flow because we don't want anymore damage than we already have.

HOLMES: You told me an example now of what has been going on when you go out to fish. When you go out, it's not a matter necessarily the fish are covered with oil or they're gone. It's just you are so limited now in where you can get them. And you're competing with more fishermen now.

GERICA: Well, that's what it is. I mean, you have fishermen cramped up to certain areas that's open. And you know, everybody is going to go where they can make a dollar. So once you get all these guys the area, the slice of the pie is only so big. So as the more people you get, the slice of the pie gets thinner. The thinner it gets, the less money you make. High cost of fuel and expenses, you got to make money.

HOLMES: So many of your fellow fishermen who have gone another route, different from and they go work for BP. They put in a lot of the local vessels to use out there. That's not something you are considering doing. Why not?

GERICA: Well, I'm just, you know, like I said. I'm up in age. I don't want to do it anymore. I'm a fisherman. That's what I do best. I got the supply and I got people that I supply that are dependent on me. Whole sale, retails and we do farmers markets. So I got to do what I can to get something, to get to these people that's depending on seafood.

HOLMES: How much longer can you hold on like this?

GERICA: Well, I mean, as far as the salt water species, probably not much longer. I got frozen stuff that's about gone as far as big shrimp. If I don't have big shrimp in this fall season, I don't have them, you know. The next thing for me to do is shift down to freshwater fish. You know, the oil probably never gets to the freshwater areas, hopefully. Unless we have a storm. Then all bets are off.

HOLMES: All bets are off. And we do have a storm out there we're keeping an eye on. Tropical storm Alex right now. Pete Gerica, sir, it is a pleasure talking to you. Sorry under these circumstances. But hank you so much. Good luck to you.

GERICA: No problem.

HOLMES: Appreciate you coming out.

GERICA: Thank you.

HOLMES: All right. We're going to take a quick break here on this CNN SATURDAY MORNING. Again, coming to you live from New Orleans we're going to check the top stories when we come back. Don't go anywhere.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: I just want to give you a look at some of the stories that are making headlines. The former vice president Dick Cheney spending the weekend in a hospital after complaining Friday he wasn't feeling well. Admitted to George Washington University Hospital for further chests. Cheney has, of course, a history of heart trouble.

Also, the first named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season is on its way. Tropical storm Alex is the name. It's formed off the Yucatan Peninsula. Too soon to predict if this storm will become a threat to the oil cleanup efforts in the Gulf of Mexico.

Our Reynolds Wolf keeping a very close eye on this. Also, a lot of people keeping an eye on Team USA today after that exciting victory over Team Algeria. Looking at Ghana today. Ghana is the last African team standing at the first ever World Cup held in Africa. So you can expect pretty loud, rowdy crowd.

Revenge may be a motivating factor for the Americans as well. And Ghana beat the U.S. in the last World Cup and got them out of there.

Well, of course, you just heard, we're here in the gulf today, in New Orleans. The storm is on it's way. A lot of people concerned about this storm. It's on its way. Tropical storm Alex. We're keeping a close eye on that.

You just heard from a fisherman here a moment ago about just how tough it is trying to essentially battle other fishermen for so few areas that they can fish now. And when he got off the air, I want to share with you something he said -- he said, people keep asking them why. Why do you keep doing this time after time, year after year, so many storms come, you have good seasons, you have bad seasons. You have this now.

But you keep doing it. He says when you're born into the fishing industry, it's a genetic defect. He said it's in your DNA. He called it a genetic defect and you can't help yourself. And you just keep going and you keep going and you keep going. That's what he is going to do and so many others continue to do.

We will continue our coverage here from New Orleans and especially of that storm that has so many people concerned about how exactly it's going to affect the efforts right now to clean up this whole disaster and also to cap that well. We'll come back to you here at the top of the hour for more live news.

Right now, I want to hand it over to "YOUR BOTTOM LINE."