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CNN LIVE TODAY
Sosa Angered by Sportswriter's Suggestion of Drug Testing
Aired July 3, 2002 - 10:01 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: As we get started this hour on CNN, the debate over steroid abuse in Major League Baseball is our first topic. Chicago Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa is coming out swinging after a popular sportswriter suggested that he silence the whispers and be tested.
Rick Reilly is a columnist for our corporate cousin magazine "Sports Illustrated," he says that Sosa became irate when asked if he would submit to testing to show that baseball's leading home run hitter is clean of performance enhancing drugs.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RICK REILLY, SPORTS ILLUSTRATED: He lost it. He said, "you're not my father. You don't have to tell me what to do." He said something very odd. He said, "what are you trying to do, get me in trouble?"
SAMMY SOSA, CHICAGO CUBS: I would have to say it was unprofessional, the interviewer, maybe he is up there (ph).
REILLY: I said, "Sammy, I'm just suggesting this. How could I get you in trouble if you're not doing anything wrong?"
SOSA: I personally think (UNINTELLIGIBLE) everybody knows that I'm hard working.
REILLY: Hey, do a great PR move, clear your name, clear the cloud over your head and, in fact, clear some of the cloud over baseball's head, but he didn't want to go anywhere near it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAGAN: Reilly says that the irony is that he actually believes that Sosa is, in fact, steroid free. The issue of steroid abuse exploded when former NVP Ken Caminiti told "Sports Illustrated" that he believes nearly half of all major leaguers are using the substance, which is subject to testing in other professional sports.
And this has brought up a huge discussion, not just in the baseball world, but also with people and parents who have kids who are watching what these major leaguers are doing. We've invited Ray D'Alessio from CNN Sports to stop by and talk about this. First of all, Sammy Sosa in a way, in a way, brings it on himself. One, he's leading the majors... RAY D'ALESSIO, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Right.
KAGAN: ... in the home runs and he did say, "I will be the first to stand in line to be tested if the Player's Association goes ahead and agrees to testing."
D'ALESSIO: Yes absolutely, Daryn. Unfortunately, this is a subject that is not going to end anytime soon until Major League Baseball does indeed decide to start testing its players, but it's something that they are talking about right now.
They're trying to come to terms on some kind of agreement, but as Daryn said, Sammy Sosa leads the majors, hit a home run last night and now has 28. All Rick Reilly is saying that Sammy brought this on himself. Sammy said, like Daryn said, "when indeed baseball starts testing, I will be the first in line."
And basically, look at the situation now, Daryn. Of course, I mean baseball it's in a frenzy. There's talk of the strike.
KAGAN: Right.
D'ALESSIO: There is the alleged steroid use. Sammy Sosa, he is pretty much an ambassador for baseball, so what better way to you know maybe put some sunshine on baseball than to have, you know, one of the fans most popular players be tested. If he comes up clean, he'll look at all the home runs that he's hit over the years, I think the last four years he had 60 plus home runs, I think he had like 55 in there somewhere, but you know, if this guy does indeed goes and gets tested, comes up clean, then that whole topic of steroid use dies down a little bit.
If he tests clean, it could have the ripple effect too. Other players say hey, you know what, Sammy tested clean. I'm going to go. I'm going to clear my name as well.
KAGAN: Yes, and he's kind of in a tough spot here.
D'ALESSIO: Yes.
KAGAN: I mean it's kind of like guilty until proven innocent now. If you don't go, it's kind of like well Sammy what are you trying to hide?
D'ALESSIO: Right. And again, you know, it might have been in the way that Reilly asked the question, you know.
KAGAN: He didn't ask. He kind of demanded.
D'ALESSIO: Sure, he kind of demanded.
KAGAN: He said here's the lab in Illinois, 20 minutes from here, where you can just go and let's take care of this right now. He made it so easy so it really was, like I said; put Sammy Sosa in a tough spot to say no. D'ALESSIO: And I can understand, but the thing about you know Rick Reilly is well; he does that have advantage, Daryn, being of the national media. He can ask those type of tough questions, like the Chicago media you know, and coming from local media, you have to be very careful the way that you approach these guys.
It's not to be saying that you're afraid of them, but you've got to be careful. You can't really afford to anger them. You've got to work with them on a daily basis. Rick Reilly, basically he just went out there. He asked the question that I think every baseball fan wants to know, and if you go on the CNN "Sports Illustrated" Web site today, a lot of fans, a lot of positive reaction to Rick Reilly approaching...
KAGAN: To Reilly?
D'ALESSIO: Yes, to Reilly approaching Sosa and asking these questions. The fans basically have the same thing. Hey, if there's nothing to hide, Sammy, what's the big deal?
KAGAN: Yes. Some could say that Rick Reilly, and I should say I'm a big fan of Rick Reilly and his writing in the back of "Sports Illustrated." But some could say he's taking advantage of the situation. Last year it was Barry Bonds of the Giants that he picked on.
D'ALESSIO: Right.
KAGAN: This year Sammy Sosa.
D'ALESSIO: And it comes at such a, you know, key time last night. We talked about it earlier, 62 home runs last night, a new Major League record, breaking the old record of 57 back in 2000. Sammy Sosa again, he had a home run. Barry Bonds did not have a home run last night though.
KAGAN: Did not, well we'll be watching the home run race and the debate over steroids.
D'ALESSIO: All right.
KAGAN: Ray D'Alessio thanks for stopping by.
D'ALESSIO: OK.
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