ad info

 
CNN.comTranscripts
 
Editions | myCNN | Video | Audio | Headline News Brief | Feedback  

 

  Search
 
 

 

TOP STORIES

Bush signs order opening 'faith-based' charity office for business

Rescues continue 4 days after devastating India earthquake

DaimlerChrysler employees join rapidly swelling ranks of laid-off U.S. workers

Disney's GO.com is a goner

(MORE)

MARKETS
4:30pm ET, 4/16
144.70
8257.60
3.71
1394.72
10.90
879.91
 


WORLD

U.S.

POLITICS

LAW

TECHNOLOGY

ENTERTAINMENT

 
TRAVEL

ARTS & STYLE



(MORE HEADLINES)
 
CNN Websites
Networks image


Saturday Morning News

Journalists Evicted as Football Takes Over Florida

Aired November 18, 2000 - 9:56 a.m. ET

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

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, the political showdown in Florida is not the only game in town this weekend. The other major battle is on the football field.

MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, yes, indeed, and pretty much will capture people's attention there. And it is sending the likes of Bill Hemmer and company packing, because those hotel rooms are spoken for.

We get more on this story from CNN's Brian Cabell.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRIAN CABELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): French journalist Fabrice Rousselleau (ph) is a man in search of a room.

FABRICE ROUSSELLEAU, FRENCH JOURNALIST: There's two options. You got to find a hotel, you know, close to Tallahassee, which I might go there, or I rent a car and sleep in the car.

CABELL: Rousselleau is not alone. Most of the 5,000 rooms in Tallahassee were reserved months ago for the all-important Florida State-Florida game on Saturday, and that means journalists trying to cover the unprecedented struggle for the presidency have to vacate their rooms.

SYLVIA WHITE, SHONEY'S INN MANAGER: We hate to make anybody leave. We want to make everybody happy. But when you're full, you're full.

SALVO LaROCCA, ITALIAN JOURNALIST: We rented a motel room, and also a two bedrooms apartment, astronomical prices, but, I mean, I guess it's better than staying out on the street.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Got anywhere to stay tonight? (inaudible)?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm all set, thank you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sir...

(voice-over): College students with apartments to rent are trying to make a few bucks off the room shortage. Others have offered rooms for free until the football fans clear out again on Sunday.

But here in Tallahassee, clearly politics is not the only game this weekend.

UNIDENTIFIED MALES AND FEMALES: FSU, FSU, FSU...

CABELL: Eighty thousand fans are coming to town for a college game which could help decide who's number one in the nation.

BRET BAIER, FOX NEWS: I think people here in Tallahassee are pretty sick of politics, and football takes precedence.

CABELL: The novelty of the hordes of media and the satellite trucks that have sprung up like mushrooms downtown has worn off after a week and a half. And now, at least for a day or two, this town is getting ready for a little fun, some escapism, where the drama happens on a football field, not in the courts.

(on camera): One thing Tallahassee residents know for certain, there will be an undisputed winner in the football game this weekend. The presidential race -- well, that's another matter.

Brian Cabell, CNN, Tallahassee.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

O'BRIEN: All right.

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

 Search   


Back to the top  © 2001 Cable News Network. All Rights Reserved.
Terms under which this service is provided to you.
Read our privacy guidelines.