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Stocks Plunge as Fears About Economy Grow; David Cassidy Claims Huge Rip-Off; Feeding Somalia's Starving; Tiger Woods Returns To Golf; The Help Desk; Talk Back Question
Aired August 04, 2011 - 12:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: All right. Top of the hour. I'm Fredricka Whitfield.
Let's get you up to speed.
Stocks plunge as fears about the economy grow. A weak report on jobs is adding to those concerns. The number of Americans filing for first-time unemployment claims barely budged last week. Stocks are down more than two percent across the board right now. The number, down 319 points, at 11,576.
We'll check in with our Alison Kosik, who is at the New York Stock Exchange, Poppy Harlow in New York as well.
Let's begin with you, Alison. Tell us more about this plunge.
ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Yes, we are seeing the pace of selling for the Dow pick up steam. The Dow down, as you saw, 326 points.
You know, we're getting really, really close to seeing a market correction where that would be a 10 percent drop in the Dow. If you look at the level -- we can put that on the screen -- right now we're at 11,571. When we get to 11,529, that is considered the level of an actual 10 percent market correction.
If you want to look at it in point terms, in the past two weeks the Dow has lost more than 1,000 points. Poof, gone. And the reason is because we've got just a combination of factors at work here, including the concerns about the possibility that the European debt crisis could be getting worse, could spread here to banks and businesses here at home.
And then, of course, a litany of economic reports that are downbeat, that are really weighing on the markets here and weighing on investors. And that's why you see all the selling today.
Just an indication of the market fear, we look at this thing called the VIX Index. It's spiking 21 percent. That shows there's a lot of fear in the marketplace -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right.
Let's check with Poppy Harlow. Also, that fear, I guess, is kind of cascading as it pertains to jobs, the loss of jobs, and this jobs report coming out tomorrow, which is not expected to be very uplifting.
POPPY HARLOW, CNNMONEY.COM: That's such a good point, Fredricka. Let's take a look at the timing of this sell-off.
We were down 369 points, rebounding a little bit right now. This comes just ahead of that all-important jobs report tomorrow morning before the market opens. This is not a good sign that investors don't feel confident going into that. Remember how much worse the jobs report was last month when we went through that.
I want to tell you why this is happening. I just got done talking with Bob Dole (ph), who is an inequity analyst, who does this day in and day out. And he said this comes down to one thing and one thing alone, that is uncertainty. Markets hate uncertainty.
The debt deal may be done for the debt ceiling; however, we don't know where more than a trillion dollars is going to be cut. And I'm looking at stocks trading right now. From big banks to Apple to Google, every single one is lower. There's not confidence in any sector.
Also, we have this interesting mix. We have corporate earnings doing very well, yet we have this jobs crisis. There's only so long, Fredricka, that companies can make money by selling their good overseas. That is waning, that is coming more to an end.
You have to have confidence in jobs in this country for people to spend money and for them to prop up these companies, and that's not happening right now. So this is exactly what Alison said, this is fear and this timing is very, very bad coming ahead of the jobs report tomorrow morning.
I want to push you to CNNMoney.com. We've got full coverage.
The headline, as you can see, "The Gloom is Back on Wall Street." We're tracking it minute by minute. But this is a market that you need to pay attention to when you have a steep decline like we are seeing right now.
WHITFIELD: All right. Poppy, thanks so much.
And Alison, as well.
We'll check back with you. Appreciate that.
Meantime, also, all eyes are on Virginia Tech right now, where three kids at a summer camp there tell authorities they saw a man possibly carrying a gun on campus. So police are taking the report very seriously. No one yet matches the description that the campers gave. Instead, the university is asking everyone to stay put.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) CHIEF WENDELL FLINCHUM, VIRGINIA TECH CAMPUS POLICE: It was a white male that was wearing a blue and white striped shirt -- the stripes were vertical -- gray shorts, brown sandals, and the subject was described as not having facial hair or glasses.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: All right. The instructions there, also lock the doors and call 911 if anyone on campus sees anything or hears anything. Virginia Tech was the site of a shooting massacre back in 2007, you'll recall. That left 33 people dead.
A message to U.S. Congress: come back and fix the FAA funding dispute putting thousands of people out of work. Lawmakers left on summer vacation without resolving the stalemate over small airport subsidies and labor union rules. FAA workers going without their paychecks are frustrated.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAEL WEATHERBY, FURLOUGHED FAA WORKER: It's hard for my family. I'm going through my savings rather quickly. We've been told to go on unemployment. That takes weeks to actually get going. It's tough.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Now check your freezers. Check the packages of ground turkey, in particular. Meat processor Cargill is recalling 36 million pounds of that ground turkey. The products have been linked to salmonella food poisoning illnesses in 26 states and may be related to one death in California.
The leader of a polygamist sect on trial for sexual assault rested his case just a short time ago. Warren Jeffs is representing himself in court. The prosecution wrapped up its case yesterday after presenting a key piece of evidence, a tape of Jeffs allegedly assaulting a then 12-year-old girl.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: What happened in this audiotape, we heard Warren Jeffs say, "That feels good. How do you feel?" And this little girl voice said, "Very good."
It's so sad, because we've seen pictures of her in court. She's small for her age. She has red hair. She was described by a witness as having red hair and freckles, and she looks like Pippi Longstocking.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(WEATHER REPORT)
WHITFIELD: All right. This week's beautiful heat already has killed two high school football players and the coach. At the half hour, we will hear from a high school coach who is keeping a close watch on his team as they practice.
And here is a look ahead at the rundown.
First, '70s pop icon David Cassidy was all over "Partridge Family" lunch boxes and a mountain of merchandise from the show. Well, now, decades later, he claims he was cheated out of merchandising profits, and he wants to get paid. It's a CNN exclusive.
And in California, a day at the beach almost turned deadly for a teen building a tunnel in the sand. See right there, they got him out.
Also, famine spreads in Somalia. The fight to keep tens of thousands of people from starving.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Those people that you see queuing here, this is the only guaranteed meal that they have.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: And with 15 states under heat advisories in this country, warnings. We'll take a look at how heat affects the body.
And finally, the return of Tiger Woods. He is set to tee off next hour in Akron, Ohio.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Here's your chance to "Talk Back" on one of the big stories of the day. Today's question: Is Mike Huckabee's 9/11 cartoon needed for the historical record?
Carol Costello joins us now from New York with more on this -- Carol.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Fredricka.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the September 11th attacks, one of the most devastating days in American history. So how is it being remembered? If you ask former presidential contender and Fox News host Mike Huckabee, not accurately.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MIKE HUCKABEE (R), FMR. PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Schools across the country have turned their backs on our children by distorting facts, imposing political biases, and changing the message behind the important lessons of our history.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: So, Huckabee's company, Learn our History, has produced an education cartoon about 9/11. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No!
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Who would do something like this?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Al Qaeda is led by Osama bin Laden.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The time for jihad is upon us! Death to the Americans!
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The U.S. and its allies broke apart al Qaeda and cut off Bin Laden from his followers and his money.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I can hear you. And the people who knocked these buildings down will hear all of us soon.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Although in this preview the cartoon does say Osama bin Laden is deceased, it neglects to mention who gave the order to kill him. You do see former President Bush speaking to firemen at Ground Zero, however.
Oh, did I mention that Learn our History is charging $9.95 for this history lesson? That has some 9/11 victims' advocates up in arms.
On MSNBC, retired New York City fire chief Jim Richards said rolling out the video right before 9/11 is time to maximize profit. He called it blood money.
So, now it's over to you. We're posting the whole Learn our History cartoon on our Facebook page, and the "Talk Back" question today: Is Huckabee's 9/11 cartoon needed for the historical record?
Facebook.com/CarolCNN. I'll be eager to read your comments later this hour.
WHITFIELD: All right. Look forward to that. Thanks so much, Carol. Appreciate that.
Three months after Jerry Lewis said this year's muscular dystrophy telethon would be his last, the MDA abruptly announced that Lewis is out as its national chairman and won't be seen on this year's telecast. He had planned on making his final appearance by singing his signature song, "You'll Never Walk Alone."
An MDA spokesman gave no explanation for Lewis' sudden departure. The 85-year-old entertainer has hosted the Labor Day telethon since 1966.
And he may have been your teen idol. "Partridge Family" start David Cassidy was famous around the world playing Keith Partridge in the hit '70s show. But now, almost 40 years after "The Partridge Family" went off the air, Cassidy is mounting a battle to get paid for all that merchandise with his image on it.
CNN Money's Poppy Harlow has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HARLOW (voice-over): It's 1970, and a 20-year-old named David Cassidy is starring in "The Partridge Family."
(MUSIC)
HARLOW: Not only did the show and sold out concert goes on to make him a star, but the teen idol's success spawns an avalanche of merchandise.
DAVID CASSIDY, ACTOR: This is a dress-up set. Remember these? Oh, gosh. Nice outfit, David.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Could you please put your hands together for the one and only David Cassidy?
HARLOW: Thirty-seven years after "The Partridge Family" went off the air, Cassidy is still performing and producing. And now he's on a personal mission -- to get paid for that merchandise from Sony which owns the show.
(on camera): You say you've been robbed for the last few decades.
CASSIDY: How would you call it? If somebody does not pay you, and you are entitled to a percentage of the profits, and you know they are making profits, is that stealing?
HARLOW (voice-over): Cassidy says according to his contract, while the program was on the air he was entitled to 15 percent of net merchandising profits when his image was used. Half that if he appeared with other cast members.
(on camera): Were you paid for that?
CASSIDY: I was told by my manager I received a check for $5,000. And I never heard another word.
HARLOW (voice-over): Cassidy's lawyer sent this letter to Sony requesting " -- a prompt and full accounting and payments of proceeds for any merchandise" sold using his name, likeness, voice, or other exercise of such merchandising rights.
Sony responded that it could not locate any merchandising statements, but found letters "showing that Mr. Cassidy's representatives audited such statements. Therefore, they must have been rendered to him."
The company went on to say it was not aware of " -- any new merchandising licenses" with his name, voice and likeness after "The Partridge Family" went off the air, and said the "statutes of limitations" had run out on any claims. Sony had no other comment to CNN.
CASSIDY: I don't want to sue you. Just be fair. Be real. Be genuine. Don't be greedy.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARLOW: And, you know, Fredricka, I think a lot of folks out there are probably thinking about, hey, what about the other cast members "The Partridge Family"? Well, Brian Foster, who played Chris Partridge, says he did get about $1,100 for merchandising all the way back in the '70s, but the other actors, part of the cast we spoke with, say they either didn't have a merchandising deal in their contract or don't get remember being paid for any items.
Now, of course this battle that David Cassidy has launched against Sony follows the ongoing fight between cast members of "Happy Days" and CBS over merchandising money as well. So it's going to be interesting to see how this all plays out -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: Yes. So, Poppy, so now what, since both sides seem so far apart?
HARLOW: Absolutely. They are not on the same page at all when you look at what David Cassidy is saying and what Sony said in their letter to him after he demanded payment.
David Cassidy said, "Look, I'm not backing down." You're going to see more of this on Sunday in our full piece. He said, "I'm not backing down at this point. I will fight. I will sue if I have to sue."
It hasn't gone that far. CBS did not give us any comment.
So it looks like this could be a drawn out battle. We will see. And I think the outstanding question is, will he take it to the court of law, or is there going to be a settlement? And we've got the full story coming up Sunday night at 8:00 p.m. -- Fred.
WHITFIELD: All right. We will look for that. Thanks so much, Poppy Harlow. Appreciate that.
(NEWSBREAK)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: The U.N. calls it the most severe humanitarian crisis in the world today, and it's spreading. We're talking about the famine in Somalia.
It is caused by a severe drought across the Horn of Africa. The crisis has been worsened by al Qaeda-affiliated militants who have blocked the aid.
The U.N. is now declaring famine in three more Somali regions, including the capital, Mogadishu. Our Nima Elbagir reports on extreme measures under way at a feeding center there.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NIMA ELBAGIR, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The humanitarian crisis in Somali is deepening. And aid agencies are trying to use every means necessary in their fight against hunger and starvation. The World Food Program, through its local partners, is supporting so-called wet feeding programs where food is precooked before distribution.
(on camera): Wet feeding only happens in the direst of humanitarian situations. The last time aid agencies rolled out a wet feeding campaign was in Haiti. For those people that you see queuing here, this is the only guaranteed meal that they have.
(voice-over): And wet feeding is especially necessary in Somali. Increasingly here, the hungry and vulnerable are being targeted for the little aid they are receiving.
CAPT. JACKIE AMONO, AU CIVILIAN LIAISON: It was their suggestion to move my (INAUDIBLE) that their food should be cooked. And everybody benefits. It's better that way other than they leave us taking away their food.
ELBAGIR: But it's not just corruption that worries them. One woman who was too scared to speak on camera said her son was killed by members of the al Qaeda affiliated al-Shabaab group for accepting western aid.
For these desperate communities, it's a seemingly never ending struggle. They must fight to protect even what little they have.
Nima Elbagir, CNN, Mogadishu.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: And to Syria now. After almost 50 years of Ba'ath Party rule, its president is authorizing a multiparty political system.
Bashar al-Assad's decree comes one day after the U.N. Security Council condemned his government's violent attacks against opposition protesters. But it hasn't not stopped the military's crackdown.
Human rights groups are reporting new death today in the siege on the city of Hama.
Our Arwa Damon is covering the crisis from neighboring Lebanon.
So, Arwa, you're monitoring the developments from Beirut because Syria's government is not allowing Western journalists in. So how tough is it to find out information?
ARWA DAMON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, it's incredibly difficult, especially when it comes to a situation like what we are seeing taking place in Hama, because when the government tanks rolled into the city early yesterday morning, they effectively also shut off all communications. So those we have been able to get in touch with that are actually in Hama itself are individuals who have somehow gotten a hold of satellite phones.
They then, at great risk to their own lives, need to stand outside, get a signal. And then there are these brief windows when we were able to get in touch with them.
We were just able to do that a short while ago. We spoke with one resident who was telling us of how there were snipers positioned on rooftops. He said he was able to briefly sneak out of his home by hiding up against the wall so that the snipers didn't spot him. He also told us that the ongoing lack of power, a water shortage, a severe food shortage, and, of course, a very, very serious shortage in medical supplies.
What he also said was that the power cuts were making it even more difficult for whatever medical staff existed to actually treat the wounded. People he said were dying because of the power shortage.
Now, he did not have an accurate idea of exactly what the death toll was. He said he believed that dozens had been killed.
And this is something else that has been quite disturbing and just goes to illustrate how difficult it is to figure out exactly what the Syrian military is doing in Hama, is that none of the agencies, the organizations of activists that we normally receive death tolls from have been able until now to determine what the extent of the damage is, and also what the casualties are.
WHITFIELD: Arwa Damon, thanks so much for that update.
So here in the U.S., the heat wave that is blistering much of the country is taking a toll on a lot of people who have to be outside. So what about football players? We'll hear from a high school coach who is keeping a close watch on his players as they practice in this heat.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: All right. A stomach-churning day on Wall Street. The Dow is down more than 300 points because of growing concerns about the U.S. economy and the global economy.
Christine Romans of our Money team joins us now live in New York.
So, Christine, what are the factors that may be driving this plunge?
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: It's a big global story at this point, to be quite honest with you. It started this morning with more nerves about just the pace of the recovery around the world and what that's going to mean for strained countries and their finances, and what central banks have been doing around the world to try to shore up their currencies and their finances.
Japan -- as we've been reporting to you, Japan stepped in to weaken the level of its yen. That's because as its yen was rising, people were putting into the yen out of the dollar as a safe haven, putting money into the yen, and that actually was making it harder for them to recover from the tsunami and the earthquake. So that country was moving.
You also had the Swiss Central Bank that had been moving yesterday. And then these comments from the European Central Bank chief, Jean-Claude Trichet. He basically, the ECB president, and he said the global economy is still a concern. He said that it's true that we're in a period of high level of uncertainty, not only in the Euro area but in the global economy. And he outlined or suggested, maybe, that maybe the ECB had decided to re-enter the European bond market.
What does all this mean? What this means is that around the world, central bankers and countries are working very, very hard to get out of what it is and what continues to be a very weak recovery. So, watching the latest on that.
Now, you have all the Dow, the NASDAQ and S&P, are now Fredricka, all in correction territory. That means they've all been down 10 percent from their cyclical peak, their July highs. They're down 10 percent. So, just in just a couple weeks down eight to 10 percent, which is a pretty ferocious sell-off and something you will definitely see in your 401(k) statement when you get it in the mail.
The Dow today down 279 points right now at 11,617. Just really some serious nervousness in the markets at this point. Just about how weak the economy is in the U.S., but also around the world. Really, a global story that we are seeing here play out.
WHITFIELD: Right. Very unsettling. All right, thanks so much, Christine Romans in New York. We appreciate that.
In the meantime, no relief today from the heat wave that is scorching much of the South. Fiftenn states are under advisories or warnings. The thermometer is expected to climb well past 100 degrees in a lot of places including Dallas, Texas. And that seems like the new normal there these days. Dallas has already sweated through already 33 straight days of triple-digit temperatures. Little Rock, Arkansas, also blistering hot. The high temperature there, a record 114 degrees. Incredible.
So for high school football teams, the new season is just about to start. Some already underway. And they need all the practice time that they can get. But in this kind of heat wave, they are risking an awful lot. In Florida, a 16-year-old player Donteria Sirse (ph), died Tuesday after he passed out. He had just taken part in a morning practice at a football camp.
Another 16-year-old player in the Atlanta area, Forrest Jones, died the same day. He also passed out during a football practice. And then Monday, in Texas, an assistant football coach collapsed during a morning practice. Heat was ruled as a factor in Wade McClain's death. He was 55.
So, with us now, Ron Gartrell. He is head football coach at Stevenson High School in Stone Mountain, Georgia, just outside of Atlanta. So, during this heat wave, what do you need to impress upon the team and the coaches that are working with these young players?
RON GARTRELL, HEAD FOOTBALL COACH, STEVENSON HIGH SCHOOL: Well, there's a big concern in getting your kids into shape for the season. So, you know, coaches are pushing guys this time of year. But the main thing is to fall into the protocol of the heat awareness and identifying the heat index and doing the things you need to do to take care of the kids while they are out there in the heat.
WHITFIELD: And in your district, in your school district right now, today, they have discouraged any sort of outdoor practice for any students district wide. We're talking about DeKalb County, but it doesn't mean they will not be practicing at all. What are the limitations now imposed?
GARTRELL: Well, let me tell you for us. Yesterday, we were not allowed to practice at all outside. Today, before 8:00 in the morning and then after 6:00 in the afternoon. So, we'll move our practice to 6:00 outside.
WHITFIELD: OK, so when your athletes are out there whether it be after 6:00 or 8:00 in the morning, what do you tell them so that they can convey that they're body is under stress?
GARTRELL: Well, the big thing is, everyday I tell them not don't try to be a hero. We know you want to play, we know you want to be the best that you can be. But as soon as you start to feel something not normal --
WHITFIELD: And what would those things be?
GARTRELL: Being dizzy, blurred vision, cramps, those type things. Nauseated and those types of things.
So, we've asked them to make sure that if there is anything that feels not normal to them, to make sure they let a coach know it.
WHITFIELD: Many schools, in fact, will have handout that says 30-minute workouts, maybe a 10-minute water break. That's the tough thing, trying to convey to a lot of athletes who feel like they are in tiptop shape that they have to take more water breaks than usual. What do you try to impose?
GARTRELL: Well, we have a rule at our place, everybody goes to the water fountain. And also you're allowed to bring your water. If you bring your water, can you drink it anytime. So, you do have kids who don't want to be water, they want to be the guys who want to show you how tough they are. WHITFIELD: Now, what about for the equipment? No one can forget what happened to Cory Stringer, and he is an NFL player. And the heat got to him. And there were a lot of discussions about the equipment, the amount of equipment when the heat index reaches a certain point. So, what do you do with these student athletes and what kind of equipment are they or not wearing?
GARTRELL: The Georgia High School Association, August 1st, this past Monday was the first day of official practice. You are not allowed to go back-to-back days in full pads. So, that's one thing implemented that I think is really helping.
And then the guidelines set forth by our school system, the DeKalb County School system, the protocol of identifying the heat index and making sure that you realize that if the heat index gets up to 103, we don't practice. And also in the city of Atlanta, you have the different color codes for the heat, the heat index or heat quality. When it's orange, you have to really pay attention to you kids. If it's red we don't even go out.
WHITFIELD: Aren't you surprised, however, that there would be a string of deaths this week alone with these kinds of temperatures when it seems as though every athletic program has learned from previous cases about what the heat does to the body, and it is -- it's seemingly very stunning that can you have deaths like this under supervised programs. What is happening?
GARTRELL: Yes. Well, sometimes the kids feel like they have trained all summer and they can handle anything, and they try a little bit too hard. And they want to be the guy that makes things happen for their teams.
But we have to encourage these kids that they have to -- it's not that important that you push yourself to the limit, that you can't handle those types of things. So, it's something that happens every year around this time, and I think, you know, we are getting better at it. And just unfortunate that these kids have to suffer.
WHITFIELD: It is. It's terribly sad. All right. Coach, Ron Gartrell, thank you so much for your time and all the best this season, and --
GARTRELL: Thank you.
WHITFIELD: -- keep everybody safe, right?
GARTRELL: Right.
WHITFIELD: All right. Thanks so much. We appreciate that.
All right. Even if you are not a football player, you should be very careful if you are out in the heat for any length of time. We will check in with our senior medical correspondent, Elizabeth Cohen, for tips on how everybody can stay safe.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) WHITFIELD: This deadly heat wave in the U.S. is now affecting more than 20 percent of the country, and that puts tens of millions of people at risk. Our senior medical correspondent, Elizabeth Cohen, is with us now. So, what happens to the body when it's just too hot outside?
ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Right. What happens is your body needs to maintain a temperature of 98.5 approximately. And when it gets hot outside your body reacts by sweating. And so, that sends a lot of blood to your skin and it deprives your internal organs of blood when it's done to the extreme. So, that's obviously bad.
And then when it's so hot and you are so dehydrated that can you no longer sweat, you cannot keep your temperature down. Your temperature plummets and pressure on your brain; it's just a recipe for disaster.
WHITFIELD: And that brings us to so many of these football players and even an assistant coach who have been in trouble this week because of the heat. Does it seem as though this is happening more frequently?
COHEN: You know, when you look at the numbers, the numbers have climbed a bit. There are more deaths now than there were, let's say, years ago. But the numbers are so small it's hard to know whether it's a coincidence or not.
But there are a couple of things going on that make people think that maybe it's not a coincidence. These football players are larger, Fred, than they were before. And when you are larger, it can sometimes be hard to maintain that body temperature. About 80 percent of linebackers, and that's who we are seeing dying is linebackers - 80 percent of them are obese, technically when you look at the BMI chart. So, that's an issue.
Another issue which is interesting is that we have more air- conditioning now than we used to, so you know --
WHITFIELD: They are spoiled?
COHEN: Well, you're just not as used to it. It's important to get used to the heat, and if you are spending time all your time in air conditioning and this is kind of a shock to you system, that can be a problem.
WHITFIELD: Well, that probably explains why the coach was saying off-camera that a lot of his players start their training outside even before this school program to get their bodies acclimated.
COHEN: Right, little by little.
WHITFIELD: So, what else can players and coaches do to continue doing what it is they want to do?
COHEN: I loved hearing the coach just say that players should not be heroes. And I know this is hard to tell to a teenage boy who thinks he can withstand anything, but if you start feeling fatigued, if you start feeling disoriented, if you start feeling just not great, sit down, get inside, get some water.
WHITFIELD: Yes, don't be a hero.
COHEN: Right. No reason to be a hero.
WHITFIELD: Listen to your body. All right, Elizabeth Cohen, thank you so much. We appreciate that.
All right, still on the sports theme here. Tiger Woods getting back on the green after three months away from professional golf. Our Ted Rowlands is live at the tournament where Woods is set to tee off next hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: All right, Tiger Woods is back on the PGA tour today after a three-month hiatus. Well, when Woods tees off, about an hour from now, he'll be doing it without his long time caddie Steve Williams. Ted Rowlands is in Akron, Ohio, with the story.
So Tiger says that he's feeling better than he has in years. Why?
TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, he says that after his last injury in May, where he had to walk off the course at the TPC, he says he basically said no to his natural instincts of coming back and listened to his doctors. He sat out until this weekend. He said he wanted to get back but he listened to his doctors and now he says he's very happy because he claims physically he is feeling better than he has in years, like you said.
WHITFIELD: Wow. What are the other golfers saying about his return?
ROWLANDS: Well, obviously, it's great for the PGA tour. So all the other golfers know that Tiger playing in a tournament means more ratings, more everything. And some of these guys, case in point Darren Clarke, who he's playing with today, won the British Open, he says, you know, Tiger is really misunderstood. Take a listen to what he said after a reporter asked, why should a fan cheer for Tiger Woods. Here's what --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DARREN CLARKE, BRITISH OPEN CHAMPION: You know, sometimes his media image has been portrayed in a very poor (ph) way. Some of that against (ph) some of the stuff that he's been through. And -- but underneath it all, he has been a tremendous friend to me. And there's a real good side to Tiger Woods.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROWLANDS: And as you said, Tiger Woods tees off at 1:40 Eastern Time. He just arrived at the course about 10 minutes ago. And the fans that were waiting for him gave him a huge ovation as he walked to the practice green. We'll see how he does on the course today and throughout the weekend.
Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: And to, Ted, the turnout there?
ROWLANDS: Well, they're expecting huge crowds. Of course the announcement that Tiger Woods was going to be playing and Rory McIlroy is also here is only going to bolster that. So there will be a huge crowd here and then there's expected to be a massive television audience as well over the weekend, especially if Tiger does well the first two rounds.
WHITFIELD: And that's what make the PGA and the networks very happy, particularly.
ROWLANDS: Very happy, yes.
WHITFIELD: All right, Ted Rowlands, thanks so much in Akron, Ohio. Appreciate that.
All right, so let's talk about our "Talk Back" question of today. Is Mike Huckabee's 9/11 cartoon need for the historical record? Adrian says this, "I believe it is parents and teachers jobs to inform our youth about 9/11." We'll have more of your responses straight ahead.
But first, here's some free money advice from the CNN "Help Desk."
POPPY HARLOW, CNNMONEY.COM: Time now for "The Help Desk," where we get answers to your financial questions. Joining me this hour is Jack Otter, the executive editor at cbsmoneywatch.com. And Ryan Mack, the president of Optimum Capital Management. Thanks for coming in, guys. Appreciate it.
First question comes from JT in Florida. JT writes, "we are not yet in foreclosure and hope to go right into a short sale. Are our 403(b) retirement accounts safe from the IRS and creditors in a short sale? If not, can we protect them by rolling over to one or more IRAs?"
JACK OTTER, EXEC. EDITOR, CBSMONEYWATCH.COM: Actually, a 403(b) and a 401(k) are some of the most protected assets you can have. So I would actually leave them right there until this process is all done with. After that, you know, I would roll them over into an IRA. You have a lot more investment options. You have control over your fees and expenses. Some 401(k)s, the company is actually charging you to manage that money. There's no need for that. So take it to say a Vanguard IRA, invest in index funds. You know I'm an index fund fan. But right now keep it in that 403(b) out of the hands of anybody. It's one of the few places where even if you're sued, they can't touch it.
HARLOW: really?
OTTER: Yes. HARLOW: Very interesting. All right.
And your question, Ryan, comes from Kate in Ware, Massachusetts. Kate writes, "I'm 54 and unemployed. My husband is 63 and may work for a few more years. Should we withdrawal money from our retirement account to pay off our mortgage?"
RYAN MACK, PRES., OPTIMUM CAPITAL MANAGEMENT: Working for a few more years. I mean what's the big rush on taking money out, paying taxes on that retirement just to pay down in advance through your mortgage. I mean, look, take the time to get those tax deductions and they get that tax deferred savings to grow as many years as possible. The retirement fun, whether it's an 401(k), 403(b) or an IRA is one of the most beneficial ways of accumulating savings. And take that out and put into a mortgage account, into paying off your mortgage, is probably a little bit irresponsible at this point in time. So, no. Absolutely no right now.
HARLOW: Don't rush into it just because you want to get it paid off.
MACK: Exactly.
HARLOW: Absolutely. Bottom line.
Guys, thanks for the advice. Appreciate it, as always.
And if you have a question you want answered, just send us an e- mail any time to cnnhelpdesk@cnn.com.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Saying good-bye to a star of the gridiron and the big green. Former NFL defensive great Bubba Smith has died. The L.A. corners office has not determined a cause of death, but it's not believed to be suspicious. Smith won a Super Bowl with the Baltimore Colts. But a whole new generation of fans knew him as Moses Hightower from the "Police Academy" movies. Bubba Smith was just 66 years old.
And you have been sounding off on the "Talk Back" question. Carol Costello has your responses.
Carol.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi. I certainly do. The question today, Fredricka, is Mike Huckabee's 9/11 cartoon needed for the historical record?
This from Ken. He says, "as with all history, distortion on many levels and from anywhere is going to happen over time, but this cartoon concept of the Huck's is insulting and ridiculous, not to mention completely biased. But take the blood money from it, invest it in a campaign to save the jobs of so many GOP congressmen who hopefully will be looking for work soon once voted from office."
This from Rolando. "Absolutely not, this is just another attempt to indoctrinate future generations and make children believe that all Muslims are terrorists. Notice how he specifically mentions 'Muslim terrorists' instead of 'Middle Eastern terrorist,' or more appropriately, just terrorist."
This from Nate. "There's so much misinformation out there about what actually happened. History books change the truth all the time. So even though his company may profit some from the cartoon, I really don't have a problem with them doing this."
This from Holli. "My eight and 10 year old nephews just asked me what 9/11 was. There is no way I would use this cartoon as a way to educate them about it. Propaganda isn't education and if it is being used for such, it is only teaching ignorance."
Please, keep the conversation going, facebook.com/carolcnn. And thanks, as always, for your comments.
WHITFIELD: Oh, yes, we love those comments. You know, some folks just tell it like it is. At least what's on their mind. But we asked.
COSTELLO: (INAUDIBLE).
WHITFIELD: So, Carol, you know a lot of folks are feeling like their tax dollars are going down the toilet. Well, in Oregon, they really kind of are. Take a look. The state marine board has approved a grant to place a floating restaurant on Tennessee (ph) Lake --
COSTELLO: Wow.
WHITFIELD: Yes, in the Mt. Hood National Forest area. It's expected to cost $131,000. Of that --
COSTELLO: So it's for boaters or swimmers?
WHITFIELD: Yes.
COSTELLO: You go out and if you have to --
WHITFIELD: Both. That's right.
COSTELLO: You don't have to go to the restroom --
WHITFIELD: You feel like you got to -- (INAUDIBLE) into the water. You can go into that floating restroom. So, $97,500 of that will be funded by the federal government through the Clean Vessel Act. Listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Why is it so much money?
JEROEN KOK, CLACKAMAS CO. PARKS & FOREST: It's a fairly unique structure. It has to be, obviously, self contained, water tight and floating.
(END VIDEO CLIP) WHITFIELD: And so it has to be very stable. That is quite interesting. That adds to the adventure, though, right, when on the lake?
COSTELLO: Well, in times of great profit, I guess it's a great idea. That would be great. But at this particular time, I'm not sure it's the best idea.
WHITFIELD: A little frivolous you're saying?
COSTELLO: Just a little.
WHITFIELD: Yes. All right, Carol. Well, we thought we'd share that. It's interesting, inventive, and who knows where it's going.
COSTELLO: In the lake.
WHITFIELD: All right. Thanks so much, Carol.
So, a day at the beach almost turned deadly in California. A teen building a tunnel in the sand gets trapped. We'll show you what it took to actually get him out alive.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: All right, time to check stories cross country.
First stop, Newport Beach, California. A teen boy is lucky to be alive after a giant sand tunnel he had been digging collapsed on top of him. It took firefighters about 30 minutes to actually get him out. Before that, folks used everything from shovels to boogie boards to try to free him. Guess what? He is expected to be OK.
In Alabama, lightning is blamed for starting a fire that destroyed a church overnight in Athens, just north of Huntsville. All that's left standing are the brick walls. The congregation still plans to meet on Sunday.
And in Norwalk, Connecticut, a deer either slipped or jumped into the Maritime Aquarium seal tank. Is that not remarkable. The young doe did a few laps looking for a way out before an aquarium worker actually helped it out of the tank.
All right, we don't want to look, but we can't afford not to. Stock markets are racking up brutal losses around the world. Here's what brutal looks like on Wall Street.
Our Randi Kaye is going to pick it up from there.
RANDI KAYE, CNN ANCHOR: And, thank you, Fred. I will pick it up right there.
