Return to Transcripts main page

Breaking News

Owners and Players Come to Agreement

Aired August 30, 2002 - 12:53   ET

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

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: We have been talking to reporters at all different baseball fields. Now we'll head out to Coors Field, where you saw that live shot out of Denver, Colorado.
Sean Callebs brings us this report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SEAN CALLEBS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): The good news coming out of New York, marathon labor negotiations finally hammering out at least a tentative agreement between baseball's management and labor. For baseball, it is simply good news. The integrity of the game virtually at stake, let alone the millions of dollars for the stadiums, the owners, and not the least of which the business located in the shadows of stadiums like Coors field here in den Denver.

Joining us now is Fred Flessinger (ph). He actually owns Sports Fan, located just across the street. And you were very concerned, because if this could have been a devastating strike, it could have wiped out one-sixth of the season here. What would that have done to you?

FRED FLESSINGER (ph): Obviously, it would have hurt us tremendously. Now the big thing is that baseball gets on we hope for an exciting last month of the season, and to renew the fan's fate in the game.

CALLEBS: How hard, Fred, is that going to be to do. We have talked with you over the last few days, and a lot of fans going into your business very upset, very disappointed. Are they going to be able to forgive and forget?

FLESSINGER (ph) I think it's going to take some time here. But I think in the markets where they have playoff possibilities, I think it will bounce back quickly. Here, everybody is getting on to football, which is all right here, too, but the key here is the integrity of the game is kept, the season is continuing, and now everybody can be excited about some pennant races and that, so.

CALLEBS: And indeed, if they can get that parity they wanted, it's going to be better in the long term.

Frank, thanks very much for joining us, and best of luck with you as well.

And also, it was really getting down to crunch time for many of the teams across the United States. Here in Denver, for example, the Colorado Rockies have been inside of their clubhouse throughout the morning, waiting to find out if they are going to make a trip out west to San Diego. That trip scheduled last night. It had been postponed. They needed to hear word from their labor negotiator that a strike had been averted. They are now going to be leaving shortly, and baseball apparently will go on.

In Denver, I'm Sean Callebs, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com