[HEATED DISCUSSION] >> Announcer: "DONNYBROOK" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE SUPPORT OF THE BETSY AND THOMAS PATTERSON FOUNDATION AND THE MEMBERS OF NINE PBS >> Charlie: THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR ANOTHER EDITION OF "DONNYBROOK."

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT, WE'VE ALMOST COMPLETED OUR 35th YEAR.

NEXT UP, THE SECOND HALF OF THE SHOW, BOB COSTAS JOINS RAY AND BILL ON NEXT UP.

YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS THAT.

THE PANELLITIES STARTING WITH, 50% OF THE JENNIFER AND WENDY SHOW ON KTRS, WENDY WEISE AND ALONG WITH MR. BILL McCLELLAN FROM THE "POST-DISPATCH."

AND FROM KTRS, RAW STORY.COM AND RIVERFRONT TYPES WHICH HE FOUNDED, MR. RAY HARTMANN AND EDIT IER AND SPORTS COLUMNIST, WITH THE ST. LOUIS MERGE, THE AWARD WINNING ALVIN REID.

AND YOU'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THESE MATTERS FOR A LONG TIME, BIG NEWS THIS WEEK, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 20 YEARS, ST. LOUIS WILL HAVE A NON-STOP TO EUROPE.

IT WAS ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK, THAT LUFTHANSA AIRLINES WILL BE FLYING DIRECT TO GERMANY, FRANKFURT, AS A MATTER OF FACT.

TO WE CAN GO TO LAMBERT AND GET OPEN A PLANE AND TAKE A NAP AND WAKE UP IN THE MIDDLE OF EUROPE.

A BIG DEAL.

>> I'M NOT COMPARING IT TO THE CHINA HUB.

I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE TAKING IT.

YOU KNOW, HOW -- THIS -- WILL IT ALL BE BUSINESS PEOPLE.

14 PEOPLE ON THE FLIGHT.

WHERE DOES IT CONNECT FROM, LISTEN, 20 YEARS, LONG TIME.

OK, I'M NOT REALLY JUST ESCHEWING THE WHOLE THING BUT A YEAR FROM NOW, WE READ THAT OK, WE'RE GOING TO BRING IT TO A END, BECAUSE IT WASN'T AS POPULAR AS WE THOUGHT.

THAT IS ONE OF THINGS I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED.

LIKE LONDON, PARIS, ZURICH AND MUNICH, AND LEAVE OUT OF FRANKFURT, I'M CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC.

>> ALVIN, EVERY NOW AND THEN, WE HAVE TO PUT OUR CYNICISM ASIDE.

[LAUGHTER] THIS IS A GOOD THING, ANYTHING THAT BUILDS LAMBERT UP IS GOOD.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE DIRECT FLIGHTS TO TUCSON AND PHOENIX AND, OBVIOUSLY, U AUSTIN WHERE I TEND TO GO, BUT TO BE ABLE TO GO TO EUROPE, EVEN THOUGH I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT, I SUPPOSE.

BUT IT'S A GOOD THING.

>> Wendy: I TOTALLY AGREE WITH BILL AND I APPLAUD RAN TODAY AND AFTER ALL OF THESE YEARS, I'M TERRIFIED WHEN I HAVE TO PRONOUNCE HER NAME.

I THINK WE ALL ARE, BUT NO, I THINK SHE'S DOING A WONDERFUL JOB, SHE AND HER STAFF HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR 10 YEARS AND APPARENTLY WHAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE BEFORE WAS WITH THE ENTHUSIASTIC SUPPORT OF THE CORPORATE COMMUNITY.

THEY HAVE THAT THIS TIME AND I THINK AS JOURNALISTS WE GET EXCITED WHEN WE GET TO GO TO THE EAT RIGHT DINER, BUSINESS PEOPLE AND CORPORATIONS DO TRAVEL AND THAT'S WHY IT'S OUT OF OUR WHEELHOUSE TO THINK ABOUT THE BUSINESS TRAVEL AND I THINK OF THIS -- I THINK IT'S A VERY GOOD THING.

>> ALVIN, YOU MIGHT VERSUS COMPANY HERE, I'M GOING TO AGREE WITH BILL.

NO, THIS IS A BIG DEAL, BUT AS YOU SAY, WIDELY VIEWED AS A ROCK STAR IN THAT WORLD AS I UNDERSTAND AND SAME WITH THE COUNTY STEPPED UP AND THE PORT AUTHORITY AND I THINK SOME OF THE OTHER MAJOR PLAYERS IN THIS -- THIS IS, ST. LOUIS HAS GOT, AS YOU SAY, IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE IN THE METROPOLITAN AREA, YOU'VE GOT TO BE SERIOUS WHETHER YOU'RE A LIBERAL CONSERVATIVE, WHATEVER, IT'S GOT TO BUILD AROUND A AIRPORT.

>> Wendy: AND THE INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS, THEY SAY WE'VE LOST OUT ON MANY BUSINESS AND CORPORATE OPPORTUNITIES.

>> Ray: ALVIN IS RIGHT, THEY GAVE THEM MONTHS OF FREE LANDING FEES AND IT'S A REASONABLE TEST AND I HOPE IT WORKS.

IT COULD BE THE START OF SOMETHING.

>> Alvin: HELP ME RANDA.

RHONDA.

>> Charlie: HE'S REFERENCED TUCSON, POP MUSIC, WHAT IS POP MUSIC FROM THE 1980s.

>> Alvin: I THINK IT WAS M. >> Charlie: M?

GOOD FOR YOU,AL ALVIN REID.

WENDY WEISE, I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE CEO OF THE 24th LARGEST COMPANY, ON THE FORTUNE 500 AND THE LARGEST CORPORATION IN ST. LOUIS.

LAST YEAR, HE THREATENED TO LEAVE ST. LOUIS AND THAT CAUSED TREMORS AND HE CITED CRIME AND COMPLAINED THAT MISSOURI HASN'T EXPANDED MEDICAID AND AS ONE OF THE LARGEST PROVIDERS OF MEDICAID SERVICES IN THE COUNTRY, THAT UPSET E. MICHAEL NEIDORFF OUT OF ST. LOUIS, GOOD OR BAD?

>> Wendy: WHAT IS THE GROUP TAKING OVER PAL O POLITAN.

>> THE ACTIVIST INVESTOR.

>> Wendy: EVEN THOUGH HE'S GOING TO STAY ON IN SOME CAPACITY AS PEOPLE THAT POWERFUL USUALLY DO, THEY WANT NEW AND FRESH PERSPECTIVES ON THE BOARD AND I THINK MICHAEL NEIDORFF, AS INDEBTED WE ARE TO HIM AS A COMMUNITY FOR THE JOBS HE'S KEPT HERE, I THINK IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE NICE BECAUSE I HAD THE FEELING THAT HIS PROBLEM WITH ST. LOUIS ALSO BECOME PERSONAL.

IT WASN'T JUST FROM A CORPORATE STANDPOINT, IT WAS PERSONAL AND SOMETIMES IT FELT PERSON AND MAYBE THIS NEW GROUP WILL THINK WE'VE GOT A LITTLE MORE GOING ON ON.

>> RENTS ARE CHEAP AND THE NEW ACTIVIST INVESTORS, OUR BOTTOM LINE PEOPLE MIGHT SAY IF IT'S CHEAPER THAN CHARLOTTE, WE'LL STAY HERE.

>> Wendy: RIGHT.

>> Bill: BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, IT SEEMS THAT NEIDORFF HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN ST. LOUIS, IF THESE ARE COMPLETE OUTSIDERS, I DON'T KNOW.

>> Alvin: THAT THING ABOUT PUTTING ASIDE OUR CYNICISM, DIDN'T LAST LONG.

[LAUGHTER] ONE TOPIC.

>> Bill: FIRST OFF, WAS MICHAEL NEIDORFF, YOU'VE GOT TO SAY HE'S DONE REMARKABLE THINGS AS A PERSON.

I'VE BEEN ONE OF HIS -- PROBABLY HIS BIGGEST CRITIC AND REMAINED SO IN THAT I THINK HE HAS DONE DAMAGE TO ST. LOUIS BY BEING AS INFLUENTIAL AND HE'S A GREAT SUCCESS STORY.

HE STARTED -- HE'S A REMARKABLE SUCCESS STORY BUT THAT COMBINED WITH WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A REALLY UNNECESSARY -- REALLY EXAGGERATED.

WE KNOW, IT'S NOT THAT WE'VE THE ONLY ONES WHO HAVE A CRIME PROBLEM.

BUT I THINK DOWNTOWN CLAYTON IS REASONABLY SAFE.

BUT LET ME SAY THIS, I DO THINK, I DON'T THINK HE WAS VERY COMMITTED TO ST. LOUIS, PARTICULARLY, BASED ON -- BUT I THINK THIS MAKES HIM LEAVING OR DIMINISHING THE PRESENCE MORE LIKELY.

>> Alvin: I THINK THIS GROUP IS VERY BOTTOM LINE ORIENTED BUT AS I'VE LEARNED OVER THE YEARS, THAT'S FOR BUSINESS.

THAT ISN'T ABOUT WHERE I LIVE OR WHERE I'M GOING TO WANT TO GO FOR BOARD MEETINGS OR WHERE WE'RE GOING TO DO FUN STUFF.

HEY, ST. LOUIS IS GREAT, BUT IF THEY DECIDE THE WEATHER IS BETTER AND WE HAVE MORE FLIGHTS AND FLAT OFF, SLOT I CHARLOTTE IS MORE HAPPENING.

>> Charlie: WELL, CHARLOTTE DOES HAVE NON-STOP TO EUROPE.

I DON'T THINK IT'S NITPICKING WHEN A CEO, AN IMPORTANT ONE, POINTS OUT THE CRIME PROBLEM OR COMPLAINS ABOUT THE STATE NOT EXPAND REQUESTING MEDICAID.

[SPEAKING SIMULTANEOUSLY] >> Wendy: IN NORTH CAROLINA, THEY DIDN'T HAVE EXPANDED MEDICARE EITHER,.

>> Charlie: IN THE CASE OF CRIME, HE'S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, IT'S A HUGE DETERRENT TO THE OUR GROWTH AND DISSUADES PEOPLES FROM LIVING AND WORKING AND VISITING HERE AND SOMEONE HAD TO SAY, I APPLAUD HIM FOR DOING THAT, SPEAKING THE TRUTH.

>> Wendy: I FELT IT WAS ALWAYS THE THREAT, THE HAMMER WAS GOING TO COME DOWN AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S -- THAT -- WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE I THINK THAT IT UPSET A LOT OF PEOPLE.

>> Charlie: AS THE SCHOLAR MR. MCCLELLAN POINTS OUT, WE'VE GONE FROM BEING HEADQUARTERS DOWN TO A BRANCH OFFICE AND IN FAIRNESS, MICHAEL NEIDORFF, HAS NEVER -- NO, HE BASICALLY -- WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY ABOUT LOSING, SOMEONE LIKE MICHAEL NEIDORFF WHO WE IDENTIFY WITH ST. LOUIS, WHO BY THE WAY, NEVER EMBRACED IN THE SOCIAL WORLD, THE COUNTRY CLUB WORLD AS MANY OTHERS HAVE.

>> HE'S DONE FINE.

>> Ray: YOU CAN'T -- WE'RE ALWAYS GOING TO BE VULNERABLE WHEN SOMEONE FROM THE OUTSIDE -- >> Wendy: NEITHER HAS -- >> Alvin: DOES NOT IMPACT ME, I CAN WATCH IT OPEN THE NEWS.

I LIVE HERE AND HE LIVED HERE, SO IF HE'S COMMENTING ON OUR CRIME PROBLEM, WHICH IS A PROBLEM FOR HIS BUSINESS, WE BETTER LISTEN.

YOU BETTER LISTEN TO ANY CEO WHO HAS THAT MESSAGE.

>> Charlie: HEAR, HEAR, AND IN COMA CHICAGO, A MAJOR SPEECH TALKING ABOUT CRIME THERE.

RAY, SPEAKING OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN OUTSPOKEN, LUKAS KUNCE, RUNNING FOR THE SENATE TO TAKE THE SEAT THAT ROY BLUNT SENIOR HAS, REALLY ATTACKED AMAZON AFTER THE TRAGIC TORNADOES LAST WEEK, TAKING SIX LIVES AT THE AMAZON FACILITY IN EDWARDSVILLE, KUNCE SAYS THAT BEZOS, ONE OF THE OWNERS OF AMAZON, HAS BLOOD ON HIS HANDS AND THE EMPLOYEES WERE HOSTAGES, UNABLE TO LEAVE THE FACILITY AT THAT DIFFICULT TIME.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS A IRRESPONSIBLE COMMENTARY WITHIN MOMENTS OF THE TORNADO.

DO YOU THINKS THIS GUY IS FIT FOR OFFICE.

>> HE'S RUNNING AS FOCUSED A CAMPAIGN AS -- AND OUT-RAISING EVERYBODY BECAUSEI THINK.

HE'S GOT BASIC ONE MESSAGE.

THAT HE'S RUNNING ON.

YOU CAN ASK HIM ABOUT ANYTHING.

I'VE INTERVIEWED HIM AND HE COMES BACK TO THE FACT THAT -- THAT LARGE CORPORATE INTERESTS AND MONOPOLY AND ALL OF THE BIG INTERESTS ARE ESSENTIALLY DESTROYING THIS IS COUNTRY AND RUNNING A PURE POPULIST CAMPAIGN, ALMOST NON-PARTISAN.

>> Alvin: NON-TRUTHFUL TOO.

>> Ray: NO, I THINK -- [SPEAKING SIMULTANEOUSLY] >> Alvin: WITHIN 48 HOURS OF A TERRIBLE TRAGIC.

>> Ray: I'M TELLING YOU WE'LL SEE IF IT WORKS.

>> Alvin: THAT'S NOT THE POINT WHETHER IT WORKS.

[SPEAKING SIMULTANEOUSLY] >> Alvin: I'M SORRY, I DOUBT SERIOUSLY HE REACHED OUT TO THEM BEFORE HE WENT ON A TIRADE ABOUT AMAZON.

THAT'S INSENSITIVE AND I DON'T CARE, THERE'S TOO MUCH POLITICAL CRAZY TALK RIGHT NOW.

AND I DON'T CARE WHERE IT'S COMING FROM.

AND LIKE I SAID, YOUR HEAD IS OVER YOUR SKIS HERE, YOU SOUND HORRIBLE, AND BECAUSE HE'S DEMOCRATIC AND I WOULD LIKE HIM TO WIN THIS ELECTION, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO GO EXCUSE THIS, THAT'S OUT OF CONTROL AND PEOPLE NEED TO TAMP DOWN.

I DON'T THINK IT HELPS.

>> HE'S DOING WHAT ERIC SCHMITT WAS DOING.

WE WERE CRITICAL OF HIM FOR TALKING MASK MANDATES AND EVERYTHING, FOR POLITICAL REASONS BUT IF YOU'RE GOING TO WIN IN MISSOURI AS A DEMOCRAT, YOU MIGHT AS WELL BE OUTLANDISH, BECAUSE IT'S A RED STATE.

>> Wendy: DID YOU SAY AT LEAST WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HIM AND THAT'S WHAT HE NEEDS?

THE POINT THAT ALVIN WAS MAKING, I DON'T THINK THE BODIES HAD EVEN BEEN RETRIEVED YET.

THERE WERE STILL PEOPLE THERE.

THE FAMILIES WERE JUST BEING NOTIFIED.

IT'S JUST -- IT'S NOT -- IT'S NOT THE WAY TO GET SOME NAME RECOGNITION.

>> JUST LIKE DONALD TRUMP.

>> Bill: AND THE IDEA OF A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER BEING CHARGED CRITICISMCALLY BECAUSE PEOPLE DIED IN HIS BUSINESS.

I'VE NEVER HEARD OF THAT.

>> Charlie: I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE TAX RECEIPTS, IN ST. LOUIS COUNTY, WHEN YOU ARE YOU YOURENEWYOUR PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES, YOU HAVE TO SHOW THAT YOU -- RENEW YOUR LICENSE PLATES, YOU HAVE SO SHOW YOU PAID YOUR PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES.

BUT THE COUNTY ANNOUNCED IT'S NO LONGER GOING TO MAIL OUT THE RECEIPTS.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT?

>> IT USED TO BE IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE YOUR TAX RECEIPT, THE LICENSE BUREAU WOULDN'T GIVE YOU YOUR NEW TAGS.

EVEN THOUGH I'D SAY, WHY AREN'T YOU GUYS ON THE SAME COMPUTER SYSTEM AND MAYBE THEY ARE NOW, I THINK SOMEONE SAID THEY ARE, BUT STILL, YOU KNOW, IT'S -- YOU KEEP THOSE RECEIPTS FOR TAX PURPOSES WHEN YOU'RE DOING YOUR TAXES AND I JUST THINK AS LONG AS I'M GOING TO HAPPILY SEND MY MONEY OFF TO THE COUNTY, THEY SHOULD HAVE THE DECENCY TO SEND ME A READ NEXT APPARENTLY, THE DMV, BUT THERE ARE GOING TO BE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE UPSET THEY DON'T KNOW ABOUT THIS, BUT APPARENTLY, YOU'RE RIGHT, IF THE DMV, YOU GO IN AND DON'T HAVE YOUR RECEIPT, THEY CAN STILL NOW LOOK YOU UP ONLINE, THAT'S MY UNDERSTAND TOO.

>> Bill: HOW MUCH MONEY ARE WE SAVING IN THE COUNTY?

SEEMS LIKE A SMALL THING, IN -- A GENUINE IRRITATION, ANNOUNCE TO A LOT OF PEOPLE AND OF ALL OF THE THINGS THAT ST. LOUIS COUNTY CAN BE DOING TO SAVE MONEY, THIS DOESN'T SOUND LIKE A VERY GOOD ONE.

>> Alvin: I'VE BEEN IN THIS CLASS OF TAX PAYING INDIVIDUALS, SOMETIMES YOU SAY, WHEN AM I GOING TO NEED THIS?

WHEN I HAVE TO GET NEW PLATES OR STICKERS OR BUY A NEW CAR, SOMETIMES THAT'S LIKE THREE YEARS, TWO YEARS GO BY AND A YEAR IN THERE, YOU DON'T HAVE A RECEIPT BECAUSE YOU HAVEN'T PAID YOUR TAXES YET.

REMEMBER, LIKE FROM SEINFELD, NO SOUP FOR YOU, THAT'S THE DMV FOR ME.

I HAVE MY PAPERS AND EVERYTHING, AND A SMILE ON MY FACE, YES, I WOULD LIKE THEM TO MAIL A RECEIPT, BUT I'M USUALLY LIKE HEY!

I'VE GOT TO GET THIS DONE, THE STICKERS, GOT TO GET THE PLATES ON THE CAR, I GO DOWN OR LEARN HOW TO DO IT ONLINE.

NOW IT'S LIKE EVERYBODY KNOWS WE'RE NOT GOING TO SEND THIS ANY LONGER, YOU SO YOU CAN EITHER MAKE EVERYONE MAD AT THE DMV OR PRINT IT OUT.

I'M NOT MAD AT THE COUNTY.

>> PLUS WE'VE GOT TO SUPPORT THE POST OFFICE.

>> Alvin: GOOD POINT.

>> Charlie: AN EXCELLENT SERVICE AT UNITED STATES POST OFFICE, 63105, CLAYTON, QUICK SHOUT-OUT.

ALVIN, I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE MAYOR JONES, THAT YOU CAN CARRY A SMALL AMOUNT OF MARIJUANA AND YOU WON'T BE PROSECUTED AND YOU WON'T BE ARRESTED IN THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS.

BUT IN THE UNITED STATES, IT'S STILL ILLEGAL TO POSSESS OR DISTRIBUTE OR CONSUME MARIJUANA TO USE IT AND JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW THE STATE OF MISSOURI IN ITS WISDOM IS REFUSING TO ENFORCE FEDERAL GUN LAW, HOW IS THIS DIFFERENT?

FEDERAL GUN LAW, IGNORING THOSE AND THE CITY SAYS FEDERAL DRUG LAWS, WE'RE IGNORING THAT.

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE SUPREMACY CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION.

>> Alvin: I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT.

BUT MISSOURI IS ABOUT 57 IN A LINE OF 50 STATES AND WE'RE MAKING BOLD MOVES AFTER A LOT OF PLACES.

OK, ALL RIGHT, SO REALLY WHAT IT MEANS, YOU KNOW, LIKE CALIFORNIA, ENACTED THIS 25 YEARS AGO OR SOMETHING.

>> Wendy: YEAH.

>> Alvin: SO IT'S NO BIG DEAL.

>> Wendy: AND WITH THE AFOREMENTIONED CRIME PROBLEM, I DO AGREE WITH MAYOR JONES THAT THIS BRINGS UP THE -- FREES UP THE POLICE TO WORK IN OTHER AREAS, WHY?

YOU DON'T THINK THAT'S VALID?

>> NOT THAT CONCERNED ABOUT THE POLICE RESPONDING.

>> Alvin: CRIME IS DOWN IN THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS AND SINCE SHE'S TO BLAME FOR EXAMPLE, SHOULD GET CREDIT.

VIOLENT CRIME IS DOWN.

>> Charlie: THIS YEAR IN THE CITY, THE MURDERS EXCEEDED ABOUT 139 FROM LAST YEAR.

LAST YEAR, WE DIDN'T MAKE THE PLAYOFFS AND THIS YEAR, WON THE SUPER BOWL.

>> Charlie: THAT'S TRUE.

THE LAST -- >> Ray: AS FAR AS YOUR COMPARISON, JOINTS DON'T KILL PEOPLE, GUNS DO.

FROM A PURE STANDPOINT, YOU THINK ABOUT SMOKING, WHAT LUKAS KUNCE CALLS WEED, NO MATTER WHAT YOU THINK OF THAT, 50 YEARS AGO, HE USES WEED TO SAY -- BUT THE -- THE FACT IS THAT YOU CAN'T OVERSTATE THE IMPORTANCE OF FOCUSING POLICE RESOURCES ON VIOLENT CRIMES AND SERIOUS CRIMES AND HAVING POSSESSION OF POT, BEING EVEN A THING FOR THEM -- >> Wendy: I'LL TELL YOU -- >> Ray: I DON'T THINK THAT THE POLICE HAVE BEEN OR THE PROSECUTORS HAVING FOREYEARS FOCUSING ON -- I REMEMBER JENNIFER JOYCE TALKING ABOUT IT, BUT THIS ISN'T A NEW THING, BUT I THINK MAKING IT OFFICIAL, IT'S GREAT.

>> Wendy: WHAT WAS IT, SMELL CAN THE SMOKE IS NOT PROBABLE CAUSE.

WASN'T THAT WHAT -- >> Charlie: IT'S EVERYWHERE NOW.

EVERYWHERE YOU WALK, THROUGHOUT -- >> Wendy: IF YOU PAY ATTENTION, ANECDOTICALLY, WHAT SPLICES ME THE MOST, I HEAR PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT THEIR 88-YEAR-OLD MOTHER LOOKING INTO THE GUMMIES OR FOR THIS PROBLEM OR THAT PROBLEM.

HONESTLY.

>> Charlie: WELL, RAY, I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT ANOTHER TOPIC.

NOT RELATED TO MARIJUANA, BUT AMTRAK.

GOING BETWEEN CHICAGO AND ST. LOUIS, 90 MILES PER HOUR ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK, HOPEFULLY UP TO 110 MILES PER HOUR.

HMM.

I GUESS THE AMTRAK WILL BE GOING THE SAME SPEED AS MOST CARS ON 64-40 THESE DAYS, YOUNG IT'S A GOOD DEAL.

>> Ray: I THINK WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO SUPPORT, ONE OF THE THINGS THEY'RE GOING TO DO WITH THE INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN IS REVIVE AMTRAK AND IT'S A GREAT WAY TO TRAVEL, FIRST OF ALL THE, BUT GOOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND GOOD ALL AROUND, ECONOMICALLY, I'M ONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT WANTED TO SEE THE BULLET TRAIN AND SOME OF THE OTHER STUFF.

BUT ABSOLUTELY, IT'S A GOOD -- IT'S.

>> Charlie: TO BRING UP ALVIN'S POINT, IN SOUTH KOREA, YOU CAN GO 300 MILES PER HOUR.

90 MILES PER HOUR IS NOT A BIG DEAL.

15 MINUTES GOING FROM ST. LOUIS -- >> Ray: AND WITHIN A YEAR, TALKING ABOUT GOING ANOTHER 45.

IT'S A -- >> Alvin: YOU GOT TO GO 100 BEFORE YOU GO -- IT'S SIMPLE MATH.

>> Wendy: WALK BEFORE YOU -- >> THESE ARE TOUGH GOOD PIECES OF TRANSPORTATION NEWS, THIS ONE, IT'S WAY OFF, BUT YEAH, IT'S MUCH BETTER.

>> Bill: I'M SICK OF GETTING TO WRIGLEY FIELD FOR THE THIRD INNING, THIS GETS ME THERE FOR THE FIRST PITCH.

>> Alvin: THE STATE'S NOT GOING TO FUND, THE BATTLE WILL BE BACK AND KEEPING TWO TRAINS A DAY BETWEEN HERE AND KANSAS.

YEAH, I -- KANSAS CITY, I WANT BOTH TO GO 90 MILES PER HOUR BUT WE'VE GOT A DIFFERENT BATTLE, SALUTE ILLINOIS.

>> Charlie: SATURDAY, THE FIRST DAY THAT PEOPLE IN THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS CAN APPLY FOR THE 500 STIPEND BEING HAND OUT THANKS TO MONEY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, SO THE MAYOR WILL PICK THROUGH THE UNITED WAY, 9300 THROUGHOUTIANS WHO WILL EACH GET $500.

>> Bill: HAPPY ABOUT IT, EVERY MORE THAN IN THE PAPER, I READ THE 100 NEEDIEST CASES AND I THINK ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE SHOULD AUTOMATICALLY GET THE $500, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ENOUGH $500 BILLS TO HANDLE ALL OF PEOPLE WHO CAN USE IT.

>> Charlie: THE REQUIREMENTS YOU HAVE TO MAKE LESS THAN 80% OF THE MEDIAN AREA INCOME.

FOR A SINGLE PERSON, $47,000.

FAMILY OF FOUR, ABOUT $60,000.

>> Bill: THAT'S TOO HIGH, FIRST, THEY SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE REALLY, REALLY DESPERATE AND UNEMPLOYED OR BARELY MAKING IT.

IF YOU'RE MAKING $45,000 AND A SINGLE PERSON, YOU'RE DOING OK. >> Alvin: ALL OF YOU SITTING BACK, WITH THE STIMULUS CHECKS YOU DIDN'T DO YOUR HOMEWORK.

>> Bill: WELL.

[LAUGHTER] I'M NOT MAKING FOLLOW-UP, BUT HEY, I'M NOT GOING TO HOLD IT AGAINST THE $47,000 PEOPLE.

>> Bill: ME EITHER WOMEN.

A MINUTE TO GO, DOES IT MAKE SENSES TO GIVE PEOPLE CASH, WHICH THEY CAN USE FOR FIREARMS OR TATTOOS OR ALCOHOL OR CIGARETTES OR SHOULD YOU PAY SOMEONE'S RELATE OR MEDICAL BILLS AND PHONE BILL AND UTILITY BILL.

>> Alvin: IF YOU CAN DO IT WITHOUT IT GETTING OUT OF CONTROL.

THAT ADDED STEP, IF A PERFECT WORLD WOULD BE THE WAY TO DO.

>> Wendy: IT WOULD BE TOUGH TO DO.

>> Bill: AND I THINK YOU NEED RESPECT FOR THE PEOPLE'S ABILITY, WHETHER THEY'RE POOR OR NOT, I KNOW YOU DON'T MEAN IT DISRESPECTFULLY, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO RESPECT PEOPLE'S ABILITY TO MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS HOW THEY SPEND THEIR MONEY.

PEOPLE ARE CAPABLE OF MAKING THEIR OWN EXPENDITURES WHETHER THEY'RE POOR OR NOT.

>> Alvin: IF I HIT POWERBALL, A BIG ONE, THAT'S WHAT I WOULD DO FOR PEOPLE, SEND ME YOUR UTILITY BILL, I'LL PAY IT.

>> Charlie: LET'S FIND OUT WHAT EVERYBODY HAD TO SAY ABOUT LAST WEEK'S PROGRAM.

SAD THAT SABOTAGING PUBLIC HEALTH IS SEEN AS A WINNING PUBLIC STRATEGY FOR THE REPUBLICANS.

THANKS, WARD.

AND A TWEET FROM EMORY, PRETTY SURE THAT PIT BULLS AREN'T INHERENTLY DANGEROUS, THE PROBLEM IS HOW THEY'RE RAISED AND THIS TWEET FROM -- I CAN'T ACCEPT THAT STATEMENT WITHOUT SUPPORTING DATA REGARDING THE ATTACKS, NO INHERENT DIFFERENCES IN DOG BREEDS.

YOU CAN WRITE US OR TWEET US.

AND YOU CAN EMAIL US AT "DONNYBROOK" @NINEPBS.ORGAND LISTEN ON YOUR FAVORITE SOURCE, SPOTIFY, GOOGLE PLAY, TUNE IN OR APPLE, OF COURSE.

WELL, HE HAS 29 EMMYS, THE ONLY PERSON IN HISTORY TO HAVE EMMYS IN ENTERTAINMENT, SPORTS AND NEWS, BOB COSTAS, WHO REALLY NEEDS NO INTRODUCTION TO A ST. LOUIS OR NATIONAL AUDIENCE, WILL BE JOINING CHILE CHILE AND RAY HARTMANN NEXT UP.

THE REST OF US WILL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

>> Announcer: "DONNYBROOK" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE SUPPORT OF THE BETSY AND THOMAS PATTERSON FOUNDATION AND THE MEMBERS OF NINE PBS.

>> WE'RE BACK WITH OUR SPECIAL GROUP ON "NEXT UP" MANY OF YOU KNOW HIM AS THE VOICE OF THE SPIRIT OF ST. LOUIS BASEBALL BASEBALL TEAM AND ALSO A MEMBER OF THE SPORTS BROADCASTER HALL OF FAME.

>> THAT'S HOW I WANT TO BE REMEMBERED, VOICE OF THE SPIRIT OF ST. LOUIS.

NO BETTER.

>> Bill: I THOUGHT YOU WOULD APPRECIATE THAT AND YOU'VE BEEN, OF COURSE, BEEN A GREAT -- AS FAR AS WE'RE CONCERNED A GREAT AMBASSADOR FOR ST. LOUIS AND ALWAYS WILL BE.

ON THE SUBJECT OF ST. LOUIS, STARTING OUT LOCAL, GIVE US YOUR POST-GAME ANALYSIS OF ST. LOUIS' $790 MILLION SETTLEMENT WITH THE NFL FOR RETURNING THE RAMS TO THEIR HOME.

>> Bob: I'LL START BY SAYING THAT PEOPLE LIKE YOURSELVES WHO ARE RIGHT THERE AND FRANK CUSUMANO AND BERNIE NICHOLAS AND LOCAL WRITER, THEY'RE THERE IS MOMENT TO MOMENT IN A GRAINULAR SENSE AND MY SENSE IS THAT EVEN THOUGH THE NFL HAD TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE PRELIMINARY JUDGMENTS ALL OF WHICH WENT IN ST. LOUIS' FAVOR, THERE'S NO GUARANTEE AS IT MOVED UP THE LINE THAT ST. LOUIS WOULD HAVE PREVAILED AT EACH STOP.

AT SOME POINT IN THIS GAME OF CHICKEN, YOU REACH THE POINT WHERE EACH CAR VEERS OFF THE ROAD OF THE NFL WAS NOT WILLING TO COUGH UP MORE THAN A BILLION DOLLARS BUT ST. LOUIS KNOWING THAT GETTING AN EXPANSION FRANCHISE WAS OUT OF THE QUESTION, WE HAD BEEN LEAD TO BELIEVE THAT WAS A POSSIBILITY BUT THEN IT WAS CLEAR THAT THAT WAS NEVER SOMETHING THAT THE LEAGUE WAS GOING TO SERIOUSLY CONSIDER, SO DO YOU TAKE $790 MILLION THINKING YOU'RE ENTITLED TO $1.3 BILLION BUT RUN THE RISK THAT YOU GET SOMETHING CONSIDERABLY LESS THAN $790 MILLION.

SEEMS TO ME AT SOME POINT IT WAS NOT A MATTER OF PRINCIPLE, AND NOT A MATTER OF SETTLING EVERY POCK SCORE OR MAKING ST. LOUIS EMOTIONALLY WHOLE, BECAUSE THE ONLY WAY THAT HAPPENS IF YOU WANT TO ROLL THE DICE FOR THE THIRD TIME ON A NFL TEAM, WHEN IT JUST BECOMES A STRAIGHTFORWARD BUSINESS DEAL, THE $709 MILLION MADE SENSE TO THEM WHEN WE WEIGHED THE POSSIBILITIES.

>> Bill: IF YOU WERE A INVESTOR AND INVESTING WITH A 50-YEAR TERM, THINKING OF YOUR GRANDKIDS, WHAT MAJOR LEAGUE SPORT WOULD YOU WANT TO BE INVEST IN A FRANCHISE AND WHICH WOULD YOU WANT TO STAY AWAY FROM?

>> Bob: WELL, AS WE LOOK AT IT TODAY, FOOTBALL IS KING, NOT JUST IN SPORTS, BUT IN ALL OF ENTERTAINMENT.

AND A FRACTIONALIZED ENTERTAINMENT UNIVERSAL I UNIVERSE, A ZILLION CHANNELS AND STREAMING AND PROBABLY INVENT SOMETHING NEW WHILE WE'RE TALKING, AND YOU SAY TO YOURSELF, FOOTBALL IS THE ONLY THING THAT IS PRESENT THE ONE THING THAT CONSISTENTLY AGGREGATES GIANTIC AUDIENCES IS THE NFL.

NOT JUST THE SUPER BOWL, BUT THERE ARE REGULAR SEASON GAMES I REGRET TO SAY THAT GET HIGHER RATINGS THAN THE WORLD SERIES, BUT WHO KNOWS WHAT HAPPENS 50 YEARS OUT AS GENERATIONS OF PARENTS BEGIN TO CONSIDER WHAT THE SCIENCE TELLS US, WHICH IS THAT IF YOU PLAYOFF FOOTBALL FOR A CONSIDERABLE PERIOD OF TIME.

AND ALMOST BY DEFINITION, SOMEONE WHO PLAYS IN THE NFL PLAYED IN HIGH SCHOOL AND PEE-WEE BEFORE THAT, AND INTO THE NFL, YOU RUN A DISPROPORTIONATE RISK OF NEUROLOGICAL DAMAGE SETTING IN MUCH EARLIER NOT AS A MATTER OF OLD AGE BUT HEAD TRAUMA THAN COULD CHANGE THE WHOLE EQUATION, LOOKING TO INVEST, AND WHAT IT'S WORTH 50 YEARS FROM NOW, MAYBE IT'S SENTIMENTAL ON MY PART, BUT I BELIEVE THAT BASEBALL IT COMES TO ITS SENSES AND REALIZES ITS PRODUCT IS NOT PRESENTED IN THE MOST APPEALING WAY, IT'S SUPPOSED TO HAVE A PLEASING LEISURELY PACE, OF LATE, IT'S A LETHARGIC PACE.

IF THEY CAN ADJUST THAT, I THINK THERE'S SOMETHING ETERNALLY APPEALING ABOUT BASEBALL AND I HAVE AFEELING IT'S SURVIVED ALL OF ITS MISS STEPS, I THINK IT WILL BE WITH US 50 YEARS FROM NOW IN AN RECOGNIZABLE FORM.

>> Bill: I'LL PUT MY MONEYS IN BASEBALL FOR THE GRANDKIDS.

>> Bob: BY THE WAY, NEITHER ONE OF US WILL BE AROUND WITH WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

>> Bill: AMEN TO THAT.

IF YOU ARE AS YOU SHOULD HAVE OR SHOULD BE, THE COMMISSIONER OF BASEBALL, DO YOU STILL FEEL -- I KNOW YOU WERE FAIRLY OUTSPOKEN AGAINST THE WILDCARD SYSTEM AND I'M INTERESTED IN YOUR TAKE ON SOME OF -- I KNOW YOU PROBABLY EXPRESSED IT ELSEWHERE, BUT ON SOME OF THE -- THE EFFORTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE IN RECENT YEARS WHETHER IT'S THE SEVEN GAME DOUBLE HEADERS, ETC., THE STRANGE EXTRA INNING RULES, WHAT WOULD YOU DO DIFFERENTLY, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN?

I'M INTERESTED IN WHAT YOU FEEL ABOUT THE PLAYOFFS.

>> Bob: WELL, THE SEVEN INNING DOUBLE HEADERS WAS A COVID THING.

SO THAT SHOULD GO AWAY OR AT THE VERY LEAST, THEY COULD DO SOMETHING THEY NEVER DID.

WE'RE PLAYING SEVEN DOUBLE HEADERS, THEY'RE SINGLE ADMISSION DOUBLE HEADERS, INSTEAD, THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE YOU PAY TWICE FOR LESS BASEBALL.

THAT DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT, I THINK THAT GOES AWAY, I'M NOT A BIG FAN OF THE RUNNER ON SECOND BASE AND EXTRA INNINGS AND I COULD SEE ESPECIALLY WITH THE CONCERN ABOUT PITCHERS AND HOW MUCH USAGE, I COULD SEE STARTING IN THE 12th INNING ON, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

BURR IN HAD THE 10th AND 11th.

WHY NOT PLAY UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES.

WHY HAVE A 1-1 GAME, OR WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE THROUGH NINE INNINGS AND THEN SOMETHING GIMMICKY IN THE 10th.

I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF THAT.

I'M IN FAVOR OF A PITCH CLOCK WITH NOBODY ON BASE AND IN FAVOR OF OUTLYING SHIFTS IN OTHER SPORTS AND BASEBALL HAS SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES THAT IS RIGHT PART OF ITS HISTORY AND APPEAL BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, YOU CAN'T BE STUCK FOREVER IN THE PAST.

OTHER SPORTS MAKE ADJUSTMENTS, BASEBALL ADDED A THREE POINT SHOT.

NBA DIDN'T USE TO ALLOW ZONE DEFENSES AND COLLEGE BASEBALL USED TO NOT HAVE A SHOT CLOCK, AND FOOTBALL, CERTAIN FORMATIONS NOT ALLOWED OR LOOSENED THING UP AND THE GAME WAS TOO DEFENSE ORIENTED, WE'RE NOT ASKING BASEBALL TO GO TO THOSE LENGTHS, BUT IN THE NBA, YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO BE IN THE LANE FOR MORE THAN THREE SECONDS AND THERE ARE CERTAIN FORMATIONS NOT ALLOWED IN FOOTBALL, PASSING RS ACROSS MULTIPLE LINES IN THE NHL, IT WOULD BE PERFECTLY SENSIBILITY FOR BASEBALL TO SAY YOU HAVE TO HAVE TOUGH FIELDERS ON EITHER SIDE OF THE SECOND BASE, THAT COULD MEAN THAT THE SHORT STOPS LEFT INSTEP ISEN 0 THE THIRD BASE SIDE OF THE SECOND BASE AND THE SECOND BASEMAN'S RIGHT INSTEP ON THE FIRST BASE SIDE.

AND THAT WOULD INCREASE BALLS IN PLAY.

PEOPLE THINK OF WHAT THE SHIP HAS TAKEN AWAY, THE LEFT HANDED POWER HITTER HITS A BALL IN THE SHALLOW RIGHT FIELD AND SLOW RUNNER IS THROWN OUT AND THAT'S WHERE THE HITS GO.

BUT BASEBALL CAN'T BECOME JUST A GAME OF HOME RUNS AND STRIKEOUTS, IT'S BORING AND TAKES TOO LONG.

YOU WANT THE BALL IN PLAY, YOU WANT BASEBALL PLAYS AND YOU WANT OZZIE SMITH DIVING TO MAKE AN IMPOSSIBLE PLAY UP THE MIDDLE.

NOT ALREADY POSITIONED THERE.

SO IT'S ROUTINE, YOU WANT GUYS GOING FROM FIRST TO THIRD.

BASEBALL NEED THAT'S INFUSION OF ACTION.

IN THIS CASE, NEEDS TO GO BACK TO THE FUTURE.

TO BE THE KIND OF APPEALING SPORT WE WANT IT TO BE.

>> Bill: IN A RECENT INTERVIEW ON CNN, YOU WERE CRITICAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE AND THEIR LEANING TOWARD AUTHORITARIANISM AND RIGHT NOW, THERE'S A SITUATION IN CHINA WHERE THE CHINESE TENNIS PLAYERS IS MORE OR LESS MISSING.

>> Bill: YEAH.

>> Bill: IF YOU WERE RUNNING THE U.S. OLYMPIC COMMITTEE, WHAT WOULD YOU DO IN REGARD TO THE OLYMPICS IN CHINA DOLLARS BOB >> EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT AS STRONG A MEASURE AS MANY PEOPLE THINK, I THINK WHAT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION ADMINISTRATION HAS DECIDED UPON AND THE USOC IS GOING TO GO ALONG, THERE'S A DIPLOMATIC BOYCOTT AND WE'RE NOT STOP CAN THE ATHLETES AND IT'S DIFFERENT THAN OTHER SPORTS, THEY DON'T HAVE A ANNUAL SEASON.

IT'S AT BEST, ONCE EVERY FOUR YEARS, WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENED JIMMY CARTER AFTER THE SOW YETS INVADED AFGHANISTAN, IMPOSED A FULL BOYCOTT.

IT DIDN'T DO ANYTHING TO CHANGE SOVIET POLICY, BUT THE EASTERN BLOC RETALIATED AND NEXT THING THAT HAPPEN, THE SUMMER OLYMPICS FOUR YEARS LATER, IN LOS ANGELES, THE SOVIET UNION ALONG WITH MANY ALLIES DIDN'T THOUGH R SHOW UP FOR THAT.

I THINK THE BEST POSSIBLE OUTCOME HERE, WE KNOW THAT THE CHINESE ARE OUTRAGED BY ANY CRITICISM AT ALL.

LET'S HOPE THAT THE U.S.

TEAM WINS A BUNCH OF GOLD MEDALS AND THE CHINESE HAVE TO LISTEN TO THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER REPEATEDLY.

AND IT'S EASY TO SAY WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE ATHLETES SPEAK OUT WHEN THEY'RE IN CHINA AND ON THE ONE HAND, WE'D LIKE TO SEE THAT, ON THE OTHER HAND, WE'RE NOT THE ONES THERE.

AND WHO IS TO SAY WHAT THE CHINESE MIGHT DO IN TERMS OF MAKING THINGS UNCOMFORTABLE FOR NBC AND THE COMPETING ATHLETES AND WHEN YOU TAKE A STEP BACK AND LOOK AT, "BIG PICTURE, THE FAULT FALLS ON THE IOC, THEY HAVE A DISTURBING AFFINITY FOR AUTHORITARIAN NATIONS AND I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT, BILL, I'VE BEEN SAYING THIS FOREVER AND BEGAN QUESTIONING CHINA'S SPORTS MACHINE AND HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD IN 1996 IN ATLANTA WHEN THEY WERE JOINING THE -- REJOINING THE OLYMPIC MOVEMENT AND I DID IT IN BEIJING WHEN THE OLYMPICS WERE THERE AND I WAS THE HOST AND EVERY TIME I HAD THE CHANCE TO INTERVIEW THE HEADS OF THE IOC, ONE OF THE QUESTION WAS -- ARE YOU COMFORTABLE WITH THE OLYMPIC FLAME BURNING OVER VLADIMIR PUTIN'S RUSSIA.

BUT IT WASN'T AS NEARLY AS AUTHORITARIAN AS IT HAD BECOME.

BUT IT'S ONE THING TO SAY, WE'LL GO TO BEIJING IN 2008 AND TAKE A CHANCE AND SEE HOW THINGS TURN OUT.

THE BIG ANSWER HERE IS THAT THEY NEVER SHOULD GONE BACK THERE.

LUCKILY GOING FORWARD, EVERY OLYMPICS GRANTED NOW UNTIL 2032, EXCEPT THE 2028 WINTER GAMES AND NONE ARE IN AUTHORITARIAN NATIONS AND HOPEFULLY THAT WILL BE IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR.

>> Bill: IN THE INTERVIEW ON CNN, I THINK YOU WERE ASKED ABOUT THE FLAG CEREMONIES IN THE BEGINNING WHEN THE ATHLETES MARCH IN WITH THE FLAGS OF THEIR COUNTRIES AND APPARENTLY THAT JUST STARTED IN 19 BEFORE IN THE -- 1936 I N THE BERLIN OLYMPICS.

I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT.

DO YOU THINK THAT TRADITION SHOULD BE STOPPED DOLLAR STOPPED?

>> I DON'T SEE WHAT GOOD ITS WOULD DO, THE ONLY GOOD, THEY ALL MARCH UNDER THE OLYMPIC FLAG AND THE OLYMPIC IDEALS AND WHAT HELL IS THE OLYMPIC MOVEMENT?

EXCEPT BRINGING REALLY TALENTED ATHLETES TOGETHER TO DO REMARKABLE THINGS AND FEEL THE EMOTION THAT'S OFTEN VERY GENUINE.

I'M NOT ANTAGONISTIC TO MUCH OF WHAT THE OLYMPICS REPRESENT.

I WAS INVOLVED IN A DOZEN OF THEM AND SAW MIRACULOUS HUMAN ACHIEVEMENT AND HONEST EMOTION AND NATIONAL PRIDE AND CULTURAL PAN RAMMA BRINGING TOGETHER IN THE CASE BEFORE THE SUMMER GAMES, SOME 200 NATIONS AND I THINK THAT'S WONDERFUL, WHAT IS MORE THAN REASONABLE PERSON CAN TAKE IS THE IOC OFFICIALS SAYING THAT THERE'S AN OLYMPIC MOVEMENT AND THAT WE'RE ADHERING TO OLYMPIC IDEALS AND THROW THOSE IDEALS RIGHT OUT OF THE GONE WHEN THEY ASSOCIATE THEMSELVES WITH THE CHINESE AND RUSSIANS AND THE -- TURN CAN A BLIND EYE TO IT THE OBJECTIONABLE PRACTICES OF NATIONS LIKE SAUDI ARABIA AND IRAN, NOT SANCTIONING THEM EVEN WHEN DURING THE OLYMPICS THEY DID THINGS THAT WERE CONTRARY TO THE OLYMPIC CHARTER.

THAT PART I ALWAYS TRIED TO MENTION AND FORGIVE ME FOR GOING ON LIKE THIS, BUT I LOVE BASEBALL BUT I TALKED ABOUT STEROIDS IN BASEBALL LONG BEFORE ANYONE ELSE IN NETWORK TELEVISION AND TALKED ABOUT CTE AND CONCUSSION CRISIS AND FOOTBALL LONG BEFORE -- AND I DID AN INTERVIEW WITH THE FINALS WITH DAVID STERN, THE COMMISSIONER AND APPROACHED THAT INTERVIEW AS IF HE WAS A GUEST ON MEET THE PRESS AND I DID THE SAME THING WITH OVER NFL COMMISSIONER, ROGER GOODELL, YOU CAN SEE WHY HE WOULDN'T WANT A STRAIGHTFORWARD INTERVIEW SO I EMBRACED A LOT OF WHAT THE OLYMPICS WERE ABOUT BUT AT THE SAME TIME, FELT IT WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY AS THE HOST, WHICH IS A DIFFERENT POSITION THAN BEING ACCOUNT VENUE ANNOUNCER AFTER THE FIGURE SKATER OR POLE VAULTING.

IT'S A DIFFERENT POSITION IF YOU'RE HOSTING SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL AS OPPOSED TO BEING OUT CALLING THE GAMES AND FELT IT WAS MY RESPONSIBILITIES TO AT LEAST INJECT 5% OR O'% OF ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS OF THE PEOPLE IN POWER AND TRIED TO DO THAT THE BEST I COULD.

>> Ray: ONE OF THE THINGS YOU'LL BE KNOWN FOR IS YOUR FEARLESSNESS.

YOU CALLED OUT LEBRON JAMES AND COLIN KAEPERNICK.

THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU HEAR EVERY DAY AND OVER THE ISSUE OF CHINA.

AND NOT -- WHAT KINDS OF -- I'VE ALWAYS BEEN CURIOUS, NOT MANY HOSTS DO THAT.

YOU'VE HOSTED SO MANY OLYMPIC GAMES, WHEN YOU DO THOSE THINGS AND SPEAK YOUR MIND WITH THAT INTEGRITY YOU HAVE.

DOES YOUR EMAIL BOX FILL UP?

WHAT KIND OF -- SETTING ASIDE TWITTER WHICH WE WON'T TALK ABOUT.

BUT WHAT KIND OF -- WHAT DOES THAT DO IN YOUR WORLD AS A CONSEQUENCE?

>> Bob: WELL, I THINK IT CREATED SOME DISCOMFORT NOW AND THEN WITH MY BOSSES AT NBC, BUT IN THE PIG PICTURE OUR RELATIONSHIP WAS MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL.

I'M APPRECIATIVE AND RESPECTFUL AND GRATEFUL FOR EVERYTHING THAT MY NEARLY 40 YEARS AT NBC MEANT TO ME.

AND I THINK I DID A GOOD JOB FOR THEM.

AND I HOPE THEY UNDERSTOOD THAT I HAD A DIFFERENT VIEW OF THE ROLE THAN SOME PEOPLE DO.

THERE ARE A LOT CONFIDENT VERY, VERY TALENTED PEOPLE WORKING IN NETWORK TELEVISION ON THE AIR AND IN SPORTS FEW OF THEM SEEM INCLINED TO TALK ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT TO ME ARE JUST HE WILL FRONTS IN THELEPHANTS IN THE ROOM.

BACK IN THE DAY, HOWARD COSELL RUBBED A LOT OF PEOPLE THE WRONG WAY.

PART OF THAT WAS IN ADDITION TO BEING BRILLIANT AT BEST, HE WAS OBNOXIOUS, BUT AT LEAST HE TALKED ABOUT THE THINGS THAT NO OTHER NETWORK BROADCASTER WILL TALK ABOUT.

I'M NOT BY PERSONALITY LIE HOWARD COSELL BUT I THINK I WAS THE ONLY PROMINENT NETWORK SPORTS CASTER SINCE HIM WHO WAS WILLING TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES AND IT WAS TROUBLING TO ME WHEN SOME SAID, OH, WELL, HE WANTS TO HAVE IT BOTH WAY, HE'S THE HOST OF THE OLYMPICS AND EMBRACING SOME OF IT, BUT ALSO CRITICAL.

WOULD YOU PREFER I'M ON NPR AND NOT ADDRESSING IT FROM THE VERY SITE OF THE EVENT.

ON THE ONE HAND, YOU SAY YOU'RE DISDAINFUL OF NETWORK TELEVISION BEING ONLY A HYPE MACHINE BUT IF YOU DON'T BUY INTO IT, WHY DON'T YOU REFUSE TO CASH THE PAYCHECK AND GO BE ON NPR OR PBS, LIKE RAY AND BILL.

[LAUGHTER] >> Bill: SPEAKING OF ALL OF IS AND THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO KNOW, I REMEMBER THINKING WHEN YOU GAVE THE EULOGY FOR MICKEY MANTLE, THAT IT WAS THE MOST MOVING SPEECH, RIGHT UP THERE WITH RONALD REAGAN'S CONCESSION SPEECH WHEN GERRY FORD GOT THE NOMINATION AND MICKEY MANTLE HAD SO MANY HUMAN FAULTS YET WHEN WE WERE GROWING UP, WE NEVER HEARD ABOUT THE PERSONAL LIVES OF THESE PEOPLE.

WERE WE BETTER OFF BEFORE WE HAD THE WARTS AND ALL ATTITUDE ABOUT OUR SPORTS HEROES?

>> Bob: BILL, I'M NOT MUCH FOR GOSSIP ABOUT PEOPLE'S PERSONAL LIVES, I THINK IT'S MORE IMPORTANT WE KNOW THE WARTS AND ALL STORIES OF ISSUES THAT ARE INVOLVED IN SPORTS OF THE MONETARY ISSUES AND CHEATING SCANDALS AND THE THINGS YOU'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT WITH THE IOC.

I'M NOT THAT BIG ON EXPOSING PEOPLE'S PERSONAL FLAWS UNLESS THIS SOME WAY THEY IMPACT WHAT WE SHOULD BE INTERESTED IN AS FANS.

YOU KNOW, I GUESS WITH SOCIAL MEDIA AND WHATNOT, AND IN TRUTH, ATHLETES HAVING GROWN UP WITH SOCIAL MEDIA AND THEY THEMSELVES PUT THEMSELVES OUT THERE TO THE EXTENT THAT ACTUALLY EXPOSES THEM TO SOME SORT OF DANGER, I GUESS IT'S MORE ACCEPTED NOW.

BACK THEN, MICKEY MANTLE, AND MANY OF HIS CONTEMPORARIES AND HE WAS WILLING TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT, AND BECAUSE HE WAS SO FAMOUS AND BELOVED, PEOPLE SAID, OH, WELL, THIS GUY IS THE GUY -- LOT CONSIST OF GUYS DRANK AND LOTS OF GUYS STILL DO STUFFS THAT OBJECTIONABLE TODAY.

MICKEY WAS JUST VULNERABLE ENOUGH TO COME CLEAN ABOUT IT.

AND I DON'T THINK THAT ANYTHING THAT HE DID PERSONALLY HAD AN IMPACT SADLY ON HIS OWN LIFE AND RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS FAMILY WHICH HE TRIED TO REPAIR TOWARD THE END.

BUT I DON'T THINKING THAT NEGATIVELY IMPACTED THE PEOPLE WHO ROOTED FOR THE YANKEES.

>> Bill: AND YOU NEVER HEARD ANYTHING BAD ABOUT ERNIE BANKS, DID YOU?

I GREW UP THINKING HE COULDN'T DO ANYTHING WRONG.

>> Bob: YOU GREW UP IN CHICAGO.

>> Bill: EXACTLY, I DID.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

YOU ALSO DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING GOOD ABOUT THE CUBS.

>> Bob: THEY ARE THEY WERE LOVEABLE LOSERS,.

>> Bill: OK, GOOD.

>> Bill: WRIGLEY FIELD AND THE CUBBIES, LOVEABLE.

>> Bill: I MENTIONED YOU'RE ALWAYS CONSIDERED A ST. LOUISAN.

WHAT IS IT ABOUT ST. LOUIS AS A SPORTS TOWN, THE CARDINAL FANS LIKE TO CALL THEMSELVES THE BEST FANS IN BASEBALL ABOUT.

>> YEAH.

>> Bill: I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT'S A -- >> Ray: I DON'T KNOW THAT'S A STATISTIC ONE KEEPS BUT ST. LOUIS DOES FEEL LIKE A BIT OF A -- A PARTICULARLY PASSIONATE TOWN.

YOU SEE IT FROM 40,000 FEET FROM WHERE YOU ARE, TALK ABOUT ST. LOUIS AS A SPORTS TOWN IN COMPARISON TO OTHER CITIES.

>> Bob: WELL, I'M A BASEBALL GUY.

IT'S ALWAYS BEEN MY FAVORITE SPORT AND WHILE IT'S IMPOSSIBLE BECAUSE IT'S SUBJECTIVE TO SAY ANY ONE CITY IS THE BEST BASEBALL CITY I'VE BEEN TO EVERY CITY OVER DECADES AND DECADES AND CALLED GAMES FROM EVERY BALLPARK.

THERE'S NO BASEBALL TOWNS THAT A BETTER BASEBALL TOWN THAN ST. LOUIS.

THEY MAY BE DIFFERENT IN THEIR CHARACTER.

RED SOX FANS OR YANKEE FANS OR PHILLY FANS SEEM TO BE MORE HARD EDGED WHEN THEIR TEAM IS NOT DOING WELL THAN CARDINAL FANS.

CARDINALS HISTORICALLY ARE VERY GOOD FRANCHISE.

EVER SINCE WHITEY HERZOG, YEARS OF THE '80s, MORE OR LESS THE CARDINALS HAVE BEEN A CONTENDING TEAM.

AND WHEN THINGS DON'T GO RIGHT.

I'M NOT MONITORING TOP RADIO 24/7 IN ST. LOUIS, BUT THE GENERAL TONE IS NOT AS VENOMOUS, I THINK THE COMBINATION OF PASSION AND KNOWLEDGE AND GENERAL CIVILITY IS WHAT DISTINGUISHING ST. LOUIS AS A BASEBALL TOWN.

>> THE NEWS OUT OF CHICAGO AND WRIGLEY FIELD IS THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE A BETTING PARLOR IN WRIGLEY FIELD THAT FANS CAN GO BET DURING THE GAME ON VARIOUS THINGS.

AND WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE ISSUE OF ALL OF THE SPORTS BETTING AND SPORTS BETTING AT THE GAMES AND ON WHO IS GOING TO GET A HIT -- >> Bob: YEAH.

>> Bill: THIS CAN'T BE GOOD, CAN IT?

>> Bob: IT WILL BE GOOD FOR BASEBALL'S BOTTOM LINE AND EVERY OTHER SPORT.

IT'S AN ENORMOUS SOURCE OF REVENUE AND THEY JUST COULDN'T TURN THEIR BACKS ON IT.

I TALKED ABOUT THIS AT LENGTH ON MY LAST HBO SHOW LAST MONTH, YOU'RE AT WRIGLEY FIELD AND BUY ME SOME PEA NUTS AND CRACKERJACKS AND GIVE ME THE LINE ON THE DIAMOND BACKS.

THE WHOLE DAMN SONG.

SPORTS HAS ALWAYS BEEN A BUSINESS, BUT THE PROPORTIONS USED TO BE DIFFERENT.

EVERYONE O EVERYTHING NOW SEEMS TRANSACTIONAL.

YOU'RE NOT JUST PULLING FOR YOUR TEAM, AND NOT JUST ROOTING ON THE OUTCOME, LOU LIKE YO LIKE YOU SAY, YOU COULD ROOT FOR OR BET ON WHAT'S HAPPENING IN -- WILL THE NEXT PITCH BE A BALL OR STRIKE, WHATEVER IT MAY BE.

SO YOUR RELATIONSHIP TO SPORTS, LOOK, GAMBLING HAS ALWAYS EXISTED.

PEOPLE MAY KNOW THAT MY DAD GAMBLED WITH GUYS WITH MOB CONNECTIONS SO IT'S ALWAYS EXISTED BUT NEVER BEEN TO MAINSTREAM AND BECAUSE IT'S SO EASY TO DO, YOU'RE PICKING UP YOUR PHONE AND DOING IT, IT'S GOING TO CHANGE THE EMOTIONAL RELATIONSHIP THAT PEOPLE HAVE TO SPORTS AND TO THEIR TEAMS AND TO THAT EXTENT, IT'S A NEGATIVE THING, BUT WHEN THEY START TO COUNT THE CASH, THE POWERS THAT BE IN SPORTS AREN'T GOING TO WORRY ABOUT IT.

>> WE'VE RUN OUT OF TIME, MR. COSTAS ABOUT.

>> SOME PEOPLE WOULD LIKE ME TO RUN OUT OF TIME.

>> Bill: WE WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING TIME.

AND THANKS AGAIN AND YOU'LL ALWAYS BE PART OF ST. LOUIS, THANKS SO MUCH, BOB.

>> Bob: THANKS, GUYS, HAPPY NEW YEAR'S AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS, SEE YOU BILL, SEE YOU RAY.

>> SEE YOU, BOB.