8:57 PM CDT – We checked Channel One’s web site just now and were surprised
to see MONDAY’s script posted already. This is a good example of how stale
Channel One’s news is. The producers actually have anchor Meka Nichols say
the line, "Let’s start with today’s headlines."
That was probably said by Ms. Nichols on Sunday afternoon or earlier this
evening. Evidently the Channel One News anchors and their rent-a-production
staff from TeamPeople decided to wrap their taping up way early. Why wait until
midnight to get the latest news from around the world to students? One has
to imagine the Channel One folks understand that few students are actually
watching the show so why knock themselves out?
Channel One is bragging in their press releases that they have a 24/7 news
service now. That is laughable. The anchors would be posting video news reports
around the clock if that was the case. Channel One’s web site merely republishes
wire news stories. They think that is quite enough for students. The Channel
One web site probably has less hard news on it than it ever has. Take
a look.
Morning newspapers don’t have deadlines this early.
August 21, 2006
JEFF GORDON
IN TODAY’S SHOW:
STEROID SCANDALS
JEFF GORDON
IRAN MISSILE TEST
PERFECT TEST SCORES
ISRAEL/LEBANON CEASEFIRE
COLD OPEN
MEKA: TODAY ON CHANNEL ONE. ONE TEENAGER ACES TWO OF THE BIGGEST TESTS IN HIGH
SCHOOL. WE TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT BANNED SUBSTANCES IN SPORTS AFTER U.S. SPRINTER
MARION JONES BECOMES THE THIRD BIG ATHLETE IN A MONTH TO FAIL A DRUG TEST.
AND WE GO AROUND THE TRACK WITH NASCAR DRIVER JEFF GORDON.JEFF GORDON: I’M
JEFF GORDON. CHANNEL ONE STARTS RIGHT NOW.
HELLOS
MEKA: HELLO EVERYBODY. I’M MEKA NICHOLS. HOPE YOU ALL HAD A GOOD WEEKEND. IT
WAS A BUSY ONE IN NEWS, LETS START WITH TODAY’S HEADLINES.
INTRO CEASEFIRE
MEKA: A CEASFIRE WENT INTO EFFECT BETWEEN LEBANON AND ISRAEL A WEEK AGO TODAY.
BUT IT COULD BE IN JEOPARDY AFTER EVENTS THIS WEEKEND. CALI CARLIN HAS THE
STORY.
CEASEFIRE
CALI: ISRAEL’S WEEKEND RAID ON A HEZBOLLAH STRONGHOLD DEEP IN LEBANON HAS PUT
THE FRAGILE MIDDLE EAST TRUCE TO ITS BIGGEST TEST SO FAR, LEAVING MANY TO QUESTION
IF THE CEASEFIRE WILL BE THE ANSWER.GAD SOUAID: I’M NOT SAYING THAT IT WON’T
WORK, BUT I MEAN, A WAR THAT STARTS AND THAT ENDS THIS WAY, THERE’S SOMETHING
FISHY. AND NOW, I THINK THAT IT’S NOT THE END OF IT, THERE’S NO SOLUTION.CALI:
ISRAELI OFFICIALS SAY THE AIM OF THE OPERATION WAS TO DISRUPT TERRORIST ACTIVITIES
AGAINST ISRAEL AND PREVENT ARMS FROM BEING TRANSPORTED TO HEZBOLLAH FROM IRAN
AND SYRIAMARK REGEV: WE CAN’T HAVE A SITUATION WHERE ENDLESS AMOUNTS OF WEAPONRY
ARRIVES FOR HEZBOLLAH, SO WE WERE FORCED TO ACT IN RESPONSE TO THIS VIOLATION.CALI:
UNDER THE CEASEFIRE AGREEMENT, 15,000 LEBANESE TROOPS ARE SCHEDULED TO JOIN
UNITED NATIONS PEACEKEEPERS TO HELP KEEP THE PEACE. THE CEASEFIRE CAME AFTER
FIVE WEEKS OF INTENSE FIGHTING THAT LED TO THE DEATH OF 900 LEBANESE AND OVER
150 ISRAELIS. THE U.N. IS CALLING THE ISRAELI RAID A VIOLATION OF THE CEASEFIRE,
AND LEBANESE OFFICIALS HAVE SINCE THREATENED TO PULL ITS ARMY OUT OF SOUTHERN
LEBANON. CALI CARLIN, CHANNEL ONE.
IRAN MISSILES
MEKA: ALSO IN THE MIDDLE EAST, IRAN HAS TEST FIRED TEN SURFACE-TO-SURFACE MISSILES,
AS PART OF A NATION-WIDE WAR GAMES EXERCISE. THE MISSILE TESTS WERE CONDUCTED
IN A DESERT, ABOUT 155 MILES SOUTHEAST OF TEHRAN, IRAN’S CAPITAL. IRANIAN OFFICIALS
SAY THE MILITARY EXERCISES ARE PART OF A NEW DEFENSIVE STRATEGY AND COULD LAST
AS LONG AS FIVE WEEKS. THE MISSILES, WITH A RANGE OF 50 TO 150 MILES WERE NAMED
LIGHTNING. THEY ARE NOT BELIEVED TO BE CAPABLE OF CARRYING NUCLEAR WARHEADS.
THE FIRINGS COME AS IRAN PREPARES TO RESPOND TO A UNITED NATIONS RESOLUTION,
THAT CALLS FOR THE COUNTRY TO ABANDON ITS NUCLEAR PROGRAM.
SHUTTLE BOLTS
MEKA: BACK HERE IN THE U.S. NASA IS DOING SOME MAJOR FIXES, BOTH ON THE GROUND
AND IN SPACE. NASA TECHNICIANS YESTERDAY CHANGED TWO BOLTS ON THE SPACE SHUTTLE
ATLANTIS. THEY FEARED THE BOLTS WERE TOO SHORT. THE SWAP TOOK PLACE ON THE
LAUNCH PAD A WEEK BEFORE ATLANTIS’ SCHEDULED LIFT OFF FOR THE INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION. ATLANTIS WILL DEPLOY A THIRTY-FIVE THOUSAND POUND ADDITION TO
THE HALF-BUILT SPACE STATION. THE PIECE WILL BE ONE OF THE HEAVIEST THINGS
EVER FLOWN TO SPACE.
AP LOST AND PERFECT
MEKA: AND SPEAKING OF OUT OF THIS WORLD, JAKUB VOBORIL, A 17 YEAR-OLD SENIOR
AT BISHOP CARROLL HIGH SCHOOL IN WICHITA, KANSAS SCORED A PERFECT 36 ON HIS
ACT’s. AND IF THAT WEREN’T ENOUGH, HE FOLLOWED IT UP DAYS LATER WITH A PERFECT
2400 ON HIS SAT’s.JAKUB VOBORIL: IT’S AN INTERESTING FEELING BECAUSE IT’S
NOT THAT I’M SHOCKED THAT I GOT THESE SCORES, I ALWAYS BELIEVED THAT
I COULD GET THEM.MEKA: HOWEVER, FOR MANY OTHER TEST-TAKERS, THINGS ARE FAR
FROM PERFECT. ADVANCED PLACEMENT EXAM OFFICIALS ADMITTED LOSING SOME OF THE
SECTIONS FROM HUNDREDS OF TESTS TAKEN BY STUDENTS IN MAY. LAST YEAR, 1.2 MILLION
STUDENTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD TOOK THE AP EXAMS.
POP QUIZ
MEKA: HOWEVER, WHAT’S NOT LOST IS OUR POP QUIZ. WE WANT TO TEST WHETHER YOU
COULD COME CLOSE TO A PERFECT ACT SCORE. HERE’S A SAMPLE QUESTION. WHICH OF
THE FOLLOWING IS DIVISIBLE BY 3 (WITH NO REMAINDER)?
A) 2,725
B) 4,210
C) 4,482
D) 6,203
E) 8,105
TAKE TEN.
THE CORRECT ANSWER IS C. A RULE FOR DIVISIBILITY BY 3 IS: IF THE SUM OF THE
DIGITS OF A NUMBER IS DIVISIBLE BY 3, THEN SO IS THE NUMBER; 4 PLUS 4 PLUS
8 PLUS 2 EQUALS 18, WHICH IS DIVISIBLE BY 3.
BE BACK
MEKA: NEXT, ANOTHER ATHLETE HAS TESTED POSITIVE FOR BANNED SUBSTANCES. IS THIS
PROBLEM BECOMING AN EPIDEMIC? BUT FIRST, ONE OF THE NBA’S LEADING SCORERS TAKES
TIME OUT TO WELCOME US TO OUR NEW HOMETOWN.
GILBERT ARENAS: HI, I’M GILBERT ARENAS. WELCOME TO WASHINGTON CHANNEL ONE.
INTRO STEROIDS
MEKA: WELCOME BACK. IT SEEMS EVERY SPORT THESE DAYS HAS BEEN TOUCHED BY A DOPING
SCANDAL. OLYMPIC TRACK STAR MARION JONES IS THE LATEST HIGH PROFILE ATHLETE
TO COME UNDER SUSPICION. EILEEN WU REPORTS.
STEROIDS
ANNOUNCER: MARION JONES AGAIN SHOWING SHE’S ON TOP OF THE WORLD AT 100 METERS.
EILEEN: NEW TEST RESULTS COULD MEAN A FALL FROM GRACE FOR ONE OF THE TRACK
WORLD’S MOST FAMOUS WOMEN. JONES HAS ALLEGEDLY TESTED POSITIVE FOR A BANNED
DRUG AFTER WINNING THE ONE HUNDRED METER TITLE AT THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
IN JUNE. THE DRUG, EPO, IS NOT A STEROID BUT IT DOES BOOST ENDURANCE. JONES
DENIES USING ANY PERFORMANCE ENHANCING DRUGS BUT SHE’LL HAVE TO WAIT FOR BACKUP
RESULTS TO SUPPORT HER CLAIM. IT’S A DECLARATION SPORTS FANS IN OTHER ARENAS
HAVE HEARD BEFORE. FROM RAFAEL PALMEIRO RAFAEL PALMEIRO: I HAVE NEVER USED
STEROIDS, PERIOD.EILEEN: TO FELLOW SPRINTER JUSTIN GATLIN AND CYCLIST FLOYD
LANDIS, WHOSE VICTORY IN THE TOUR DE FRANCE IS ALSO TAINTED BY TEST RESULTS.
FLOYD LANDIS: I DECLARE CONVINCINGLY AND CATEGORICALLY THAT MY WINNING THE
TOUR DE FRANCE HAS BEEN EXCLUSIVELY DUE TO MANY YEARS OF TRAINING AND MY COMPLETE
DEVOTION TO CYCLING.EILEEN: WHEN IT COMES TO FESSING UP, MANY ATHLETES PREFER
TO DENY OR CONTINUE TO COMPETE UNDER A CLOUD OF SUSPICION.BARRY BONDS: I’M
JUST GOING OUT THERE AND PLAY BASEBALL AND HOPEFULLY THIS WILL ALL BLOW OVER.EILEEN:
NOW THIS LATEST SPORTS SCANDAL, COMING ON THE HEELS OF SO MUCH STEROID SUSPICION,
HAS OTHER PRO ATHLETES SPEAKING OUT ON THE ISSUE. TOM BRADY: IF YOU WANT TO
DO STEROIDS, I’M SURE YOU CAN GO OUT AND FIND THEM BUT YOU KNOW YOU HAVE A
CODE OF ETHICS THAT YOU PLAY BY. YOU KNOW I HAVE A FAMILY THAT I REPRESENT
I HAVE A TEAM THAT I REPRESENT AND I TRY TO DO THAT THE BEST THAT I CAN. EILEEN:
I SPOKE WITH YANKEES SHORT STOP, DEREK JETER ABOUT THE PRESSUE TO GET AN EDGE.
EILEEN: STEROIDS TODAY ARE VERY PREVALENT IN SPORTS AND SOME TEENS, THEY MAY
BE TEMPTED, THEY MAY WANT TO IMPROVE THEIR GAME. WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THEM?DEREK
JETER: I THINK YOU’RE MAKING A DEAL WITH THE DEVIL WHEN YOU DO SOMETHING LIKE
THAT. YOU KNOW IT’S NOT GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH. YOU MAY SEE SOME RESULTS
IMMEDIATELY YOU MAY REAP THE BENEFITS, BUT IN THE LONG RUN IT’S NOT GOOD
FOR YOUR HEALTH. ITS ILLEGAL THAT’S FIRST AND FOREMOST ITS SOMETHING
BUT I THINK IT’S SOMETHING YOU SHOULD STAY AWAY FROM. YOU CAN ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING
IF YOU WORK HARD AT IT, YOU DON’T HAVE TO CHEAT.EILEEN: IF JONES IS FOUND
GUILTY OF USING PERFORMANCE ENHANCING DRUGS, SHE COULD FACE A MINIMUM TWO YEAR
BAN FROM HER SPORT. EILEEN WU, CHANNEL ONE.
BE BACK
MEKA: NEXT, NASCAR DRIVER JEFF GORDON TALKS ABOUT LIFE IN THE FAST LANE.
JEFF GORDON: STAY TUNED. I’M JEFF GORDON AND I’M COMING UP NEXT ON CHANNEL
ONE.
INTRO GORDON
MEKA: WELCOME BACK. WITH AN ESTIMATED 75 MILLION FANS, NASCAR IS AMERICA’S
FASTEST GROWING SPORT AND JEFF GORDON IS ONE OF ITS BIGGEST STARS. ALEXANDER
MARQUARDT RECENTLY CAUGHT UP WITH HIM.
GORDON
ALEXANDER: HEY GUYS WE’RE HERE WITH JEFF GORDON FOR A CHANNEL ONE SPORTS DAY.
JEFF, HOW ARE YOU DOING?JEFF: I’M DOING REAL GOOD.ALEXANDER: THANKS FOR TAKING
THE TIME TO TALK WITH US. JEFF: MY PLEASUREALEXANDER: NOW JEFF, YOU’VE BEEN
ON THE CIRCUIT FOR A LONG TIME NOW. HOW HAVE THINGS CHANGED SINCE YOU FIRST
GOT STARTED?
JEFF: WELL OBVIOUSLY THEY’VE CHANGED A LOT, YOU KNOW YOU COME TO THE SERIES
AND YOU’RE A ROOKIE YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT AND YOU JUST TRYING TO GET
YOURSELF IN THERE AND BE COMPETITIVE AND YOU HOPE THAT ONE DAY YOU ARE. SO
OVER THE YEARS I’VE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE AND HAD A LOT OF SUCCESS, AND ALONG
WITH THAT SUCCESS COMES RESPONSIBILITIES, AND YOU KNOW TO YOUR SPONSORS, TO
YOUR TEAM AND YOUR FANS.ALEXANDER: HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THE RIVALRY BETWEEN THE
FANS AND THEN YOU ALSO HAVE YOUR OWN RIVALRIES ON THE TRACK, BUT DO YOU LEAVE
THOSE RIVALRIES ON THE TRACK?JEFF: YOU HAVE TO TRY TO PUT THOSE THINGS BEHIND
YOU BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO RACE THOSE GUYS WEEK IN AND WEEK OUT AND THE FANS YOU
KNOW GO THROUGH A LOT OF THAT SAME THING OUT THERE IN THE GRANDSTANDS, THEY
HAVE THEIR DRIVER THEY PULL FOR, THEY DON’T WANT TO SEE ANYONE ELSE BEAT THEM,
OR WIN, OR KNOCK THEM OUT, AND WE’VE GOT SOME OF THE GREATEST FANS IN ANY SPORTS
AS FAR AS I’M CONCERNED. ALEXANDER: AND YOU’RE ALSO VERY INVOLVED WITH CHARITY,
AND YOU HAVE YOUR OWN FOUNDATION, THE JEFF GORDON FOUNDATION THAT’S REALLY
ORIENTED TOWARDS KIDS. WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO GET THAT STARTED, AND WHAT ARE
YOUR GOALS FOR IT? JEFF: WELL WHEN YOU SEE KIDS, YOU KNOW, GOING THROUGH A
SERIOUS ILLNESS BUT THEY’RE FANS OF YOURS, AND THEY WANT TO MEET YOU, IT JUST
MAKES YOU WANT TO DO MORE, AND YOU WANT TO HELP THE DOCTORS, THE NURSES, AND
THE HOSPITALS AND THESE CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND SO, I STARTED THE
JEFF GORDON FOUNDATION IN 1999. WE HAVE FUNDRAISERS AND WE DO ALL WE CAN TO
RAISE MONEY FOR THESE GREAT CAUSES LIKE THE MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION.ALEXANDER:
I KIND OF GET THE IMPRESSION THAT YOU’RE KIND OF LIKE THE YANKEES OF NASCAR.
YOU’VE BEEN EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL, AND YOU’RE A REALLY GOOD DRIVER. DO YOU FEEL
LIKE YOU’VE GOT EITHER DIE-HARD FANS, OR PEOPLE WHO JUST DON’T LIKE YOU? JEFF:
THERE’S PEOPLE THAT THAT LOVE YOU AND PEOPLE THAT HATE YOU, THAT’S JUST THE
BOTTOM LINE…BUT YOU KNOW WE’VE BEEN ABLE TO GO THROUGH YEARS THAT WE’VE STRUGGLED
AS WELL AND I THINK A LOT THAT IS EARNED RESPECT AMONG COMPETITORS AND WITH
THE FANS AS WELL, AND WHEN WE START WINNING RACES, I DEFINITELY NOTICE THE
BOOS GET LOUDER, BUT THE CHEERS GET LOUDER AS WELL.ALEXANDER: FOR CHANNEL ONE
I’M ALEXANDER MARQUARDT.
GORDON WEB TAG
MEKA: JEFF LEFT A SIGNED PRIZE PACK THAT YOU CAN WIN. CLICK ON NASCAR ONLINE
AT CHANNEL ONE DOT COM FOR THE ENTRY FORM AS WELL AS TONS MORE NASCAR INFO
AND A LINK TO THE JEFF GORDON FOUNDATION.
BALLOON FESTIVAL
MEKA: AND NOW FOR SOME VIDEO THAT TAKES US FAR ABOVE THE RACE TRACK. THIS WEEKEND
THE ANNUAL GREAT FALLS BALLOON FESTIVAL TOOK PLACE IN LEWISTON, MAINE. MORE
THAN A DOZEN HOT-AIR BALLOONS TOOK TO THE SKIES. THIS IS THE FOURTEENTH YEAR
THAT THE COLORFUL EVENT HAS TAKEN PLACE.
GOODBYE
MEKA: ALRIGHT THAT’S IT FOR US TODAY. WE’LL SEE YOU TOMORROW.
