♪.

TED: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," THE LATEST ON THE IRAN CONFLICT AS THE U.S.

REIMPOSES THE BLOCKADE OF IRANIAN PORTS.

>>> ALSO TONIGHT, INCREASING NUMBER OF ARIZONA HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE CONSIDERING NOT CONTINUING EDUCATION.

>>> AND CHILDREN'S BOOK EMPHASIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF KIDS BELIEVING IN THEMSELVES.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

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TED: GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

U.S.

FORCES TONIGHT STRUCK SEVERAL LOCATIONS IN COASTAL IRAN AND REIMPOSED A NAVAL BLOCKADE OF IRANIAN PORTS AS PRESIDENT TRUMP REVERSED A PLAN TO CHARGE FEES ON SHIPS PASSING THROUGH THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ.

FROM ALL ANGLES, THE CONFLICT IS ESCALATING.

JOINING US IS EVELYN FARKAS DIRECTOR OF McCAIN INSTITUTE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

SOUNDS LIKE PRESIDENT TRUMP IS SAYING THIS IS ALL GOING ON, BOMBING THREE STRAIGHT NIGHTS NOW, I BELIEVE, THE BLOCKADE, BECAUSE AS HE SAYS, THE IRANIANS FAILED THE TEST OF THE CEASE-FIRE.

TALK TO US ABOUT THIS.

>> WELL, THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE IRANIANS ARE NOT NEGOTIATING SERIOUSLY.

NOW, IT SOUNDS LIKE BEHIND THE SCENES WE'VE ALSO STOPPED NEGOTIATING WHICH ISN'T NECESSARILY A BAD THING.

THAT THE POINT IN TIME, PRESIDENT TRUMP DOES PROBABLY NEED TO LIFT THE, YOU KNOW, THE NAVIGATION, THE BLOCKADE.

HE MAY HAVE TO USE MORE MILITARY FORCE, AND EVENTUALLY BASICALLY WAIT OUT THE IRANIANS, WE NEED THE IRANIANS TO FEEL A SENSE OF URGENCY, AND WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP GOING BACK AND FORTH.

I THINK IT'S GIVING THE IRANIANS AN UPPER HAND.

IF PRESIDENT TRUMP CAN SAY NOTHING AND OPEN THE STRAIT USING MILITARY FORCE IF HE HAS TO, THE IRANIANS HAVE TO COME BACK TO THE NEGOTIATING TABLE, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE THE UPPER HAND BECAUSE THEY'LL BE COMING BACK, WE'LL NOT BE BEGGING FOR THEM TO COME.

TED: HOW LONG CAN THEY WAIT THIS OUT?

THEY SEEM TO BE ABLE TO WAIT OUT A LOT OF THINGS FOR A LONG TIME?

>> WELL, I THINK THEY SEEM TO BE ABLE TO WAIT THINGS OUT BECAUSE PRESIDENT TRUMP DOESN'T WAIT VERY LONG HIMSELF.

HE'S SWITCHED HIS POSITION SEVERAL TIMES NOW.

HE HASN'T WAITED TO SEE HOW MUCH PRESSURE COULD BE BUILT UP ON THEM.

AND THIS REGIME, YOU KNOW, FIRST OF ALL, THERE ARE CRACKS INSIDE, THERE ARE OBVIOUSLY, AS YOU WOULD HAVE IN ANY GOVERNMENT, DISSENT.

THE HARD-LINERS WANT TO KEEP THE HARD LINE, BUT THERE ARE STILL IRANIANS WHO PREFER TO NEGOTIATE BECAUSE THEY UNDERSTAND AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS IS THE KEY THING, TED, WHY WOULD THEY NEGOTIATE?

THEY NEED MONEY.

THEY NEED TO REBUILD THEIR COUNTRY AND GET THE ECONOMY STARTED.

IF THEY DON'T WANT THEIR PEOPLE OUT ON THE STREETS AND DON'T WANT THE SECURITY FORCES TO LAY DOWN THEIR WEAPONS OR TURN THEM AGAINST THEM, THEY NEED MONEY.

TED: THE IDEA OF SHIFTING POLICY GOES TO THE IDEA WHERE THE PRESIDENT SAID 20% FEE ON ALL SHIPPING THROUGH THE STRAIT.

THAT HAS NOW BEEN REVERSED.

WHAT'S THAT ALL ABOUT?

>> WELL, AGAIN, THIS IS ANOTHER CASE OF THE PRESIDENT MAKING A THREAT, AND THEN FRANKLY HIS VICE PRESIDENT, HIS SECRETARY OF STATE, ALL THE LEGAL EXPERTS AND WORLD LEADERS SAY, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, THAT'S NOT HOW THIS WORKS.

IF YOU BUILD A CANABLE, BIKE THE PANAMA CANAL, THE SUEZ CANAL, THE COSTS CAN BE OFFSET, IF YOU HAVE A GEOGRAPHIC ENTITY LIKE THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ OR THE STRAITS OF MALACCA, THERE ARE TONS OF SEA-FARING ROUTES, THEY UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAW, CANNOT BE BLOCKED BY ANY COUNTRY.

INTERNATIONAL LAW SAYS YOU CAN'T PLACE A TOLL ON THEM.

IF WE LET IRAN OR THE UNITED STATES PUTS TOLLS ON THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ, YOU CAN IMAGINE ALL THE OTHER STRAITS AROUND THE WORLD, ALL THE OTHER BODIES, THE NARROW AREAS WHERE YOU NEED TRANSIT TO GO THROUGH FOR TRADE, COULD BE BLOCKED, THAT WOULD CAUSE A PROBLEM FOR GLOBAL TRADE, AND AGAIN, YOU HEARD FROM HEADS OF STATE, FROM COMPANIES, SO PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS FORCED TO ESSENTIALLY TAKE BACK THAT THREAT, AND INSTEAD SAYING WE WANT COUNTRIES TO INVEST.

TED: YEAH, BUT AGAIN, IT SOUNDS NEBULOUS HERE.

HE'S GUARANTEEING SAFE PASSAGE BUT ONLY TO THOSE COUNTRIES THAT INVEST IN THE UNITED STATES.

WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN?

HOW DOES ANY ACCOUNTABILITY ON SOMETHING LIKE THIS, AND YOU MENTIONED ALL THOSE OTHER WATERWAYS AROUND THE WORLD.

WHAT'S TO KEEP OTHER COUNTRIES FROM SAYING, YOU GOT TO INVEST WITH US BEFORE WE LET YOU DO X, Y AND Z?

>> RIGHT, NO MECHANISM FOR THIS AND UNCLEAR WHICH COUNTRIES THIS WOULD APPLY TO.

THERE ARE SHIPPING COMPANIES THAT ARE NOT COUNTRIES, RIGHT, WHO USE THE STRAIT, AND BY THE WAY, WE DON'T -- IF THEY START ISSUING FEES, THEN ALREADY WE HAVE PROBLEMS WITH INSURANCE AND THE PRICE OF THIS TRADE, AND ALREADY PEOPLE FRANKLY ARE AVOIDING THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ.

SO THE IMPLICATIONS FOR THE GLOBAL ECONOMY ARE NOT GOOD, AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, MAYBE THE GULF STATES WILL PAY SOMETHING, BUT I DON'T THINK OTHER COUNTRIES WILL, AND PRESIDENT TRUMP SEEMED TO BE INDICATING THE GULF COUNTRIES, AND AGAIN, THEY SAID MAYBE THEY SAID TO PRESIDENT TRUMP THEY'LL INVEST IN THE U.S.

WE KNOW THEY'RE INVESTING IN TRUMP AND KUSHNER COMPANIES, BUT THERE'S NO WAY TO KEEP TRACK OF THIS.

SO WE NEED TO STAND WITH INTERNATIONAL LAW, AND SHOULDN'T CALL FOR INVESTMENT EITHER.

WE JUST NEED TO OPEN THE STRAIT.

>> I WANT TO GET TO UKRAINE IN A SECOND BEFORE WE LET YOU GO.

ONE LAST POINT ON IRAN.

WE'RE NEARLY HALFWAY THROUGH THE 60-DAY PERIOD TO NEGOTIATE A FINAL PEACE AGREEMENT, NOW THAT THE CEASE-FIRE HAS BLOWN UP.

WE HAVE THE 60-DAY WINDOW THERE.

IS ALL-OUT WAR AGAIN A REAL POSSIBILITY, OR IS THIS A SLOW BURN AND BOTH SIDES TRYING TO WAIT EACH OTHER OUT?

>> I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE AN ALL-OUT LIKE WE SAW IN THE EARLY DAYS OF THIS BOMBARDING OF TARGETS, THAT ARE NOT MILITARY, FOR EXAMPLE, BRIDGES.

I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE SOME LIMITED MILITARY FORCE USED AGAINST IRAN TO FRANKLY OPEN THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ.

IF THE IRANIANS DON'T DO IT BY THEMSELVES, ZEAL TO USE MILITARY FORCE.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN BOOTS ON THE GROUND.

THERE'S A LOT WE CAN DO AND ARE DOING FROM THE AIR.

SO BUT I WOULD SAY THAT 60 DAYS IS REALLY JUST FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP TO TRY TO KEEP CONGRESS OUT OF CONVERSATION BECAUSE HE'S TRYING NOT TO HAVE TO GET, ALTHOUGH HE SHOULD, GET PERMISSION FROM CONGRESS TO USE FORCE AND TO CONTINUE THIS WAR.

TED: INDEED.

SPEAKING OF CONGRESS.

DIFFERENT CONVERSATION, THIS REGARDING UKRAINE.

SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S A RUSSIAN SANCTIONS BILL AT WORK.

TRUE, THE HOUSE HAS GONE THIS ROUTE.

SENATE LOOKS LIKE IT'S READY TO GO.

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING?

>> I WOULD SAY I'M OPTIMISTIC HERE, TED.

UNFORTUNATELY, IT TOOK THE DEATH OF SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM, WHO WAS GOING TO PUSH THIS THROUGH THIS WEEK, AND MAYBE HE WOULD HAVE GOT TEN THROUGH ANYWAY.

IN ANY EVENT, HIS COLLEAGUES UNDERSTAND THAT THE BEST MEMORIAL THEY CAN GIVE HIM, THE BEST TESTAMENT AND WAY TO HONOR HIM IS TO PASS THE LEGISLATION.

AND THE SENATE HAD OVER 80 -- I DON'T KNOW THE NUMBER ANYMORE -- SENATORS IN FAVOR OF THIS SANCTIONS BILL.

IT'S A TOUGH SANCTIONS BILL ON RUSSIA.

THOUGH IT DOES GIVE THE WHITE HOUSE, THE PRESIDENT A LOT OF LEEWAY TO MAKE EXCEPTIONS.

NONETHELESS, IF THIS GOES THROUGH, IT WILL GO TO PRESIDENT TRUMP'S DESK AND HE WILL SIGN IT AND IT WILL BE A HUGE SIGNAL TO RUSSIA THAT THE WAR IS GOING TO END SOON, AND THEY'LL LOSE, AND A SIGNAL TO UKRAINE WE ARE BEHIND THEM.

TED: BRIEFLY, DOES THAT MEAN THE TIDE OF THE WAR MIGHT CHANGE?

>> LOOK, TED, IT'S ALREADY CHANGING, AND I THINK IT WILL MEAN THAT THE TIDE WILL CONTINUE TO CHANGE, ESPECIALLY IF PRESIDENT TRUMP REALLY ENFORCES THIS LAW TO THE LETTER BECAUSE IT'S QUITE STRINGENT.

TED: EVELYN FARKAS, ASU'S McCAIN INSTITUTE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

PLEASURE TO SEE YOU.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, TED.

.

TED: TEN YEARS AGO, THE STATE SET A GOAL OF BOOSTING POST-SECONDARY ENROLLMENT TO GET 70% OF GRADUATES CONTINUING THEIR EDUCATION AFTER HIGH SCHOOL BY THE YEAR 2030, BUT AFTER TEN YEARS, HERE IN 2026, THAT ENROLLMENT NUMBER IS ACTUALLY DROPPED.

TO LEARN MORE, WE WELCOME MOLLY BOHANNON WHO COVERED THIS ISSUE FOR THE CENTER FOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

TED: NOT THE BEST HERE, HUH?

>> YEAH, WE'VE BEEN STRUGGLING AS A STATE THE LAST COUPLE YEARS.

TED: TALK ABOUT 2016, WHAT THE PLAN WAS, WHAT THE GOAL WAS, WHAT THE EFFORT INVOLVED WAS TO GET TO THAT MAGIC NUMBER OF 70% BY 2030?

>> YES, IN 2016, A COALITION LAUNCHED THIS GOAL OF 70% POST-SECONDARY ENROLLMENT, THEY HAD A LOT OF DIFFERENT EFFORTS TO GET THERE, SO THAT 70% NUMBER DIDN'T REALLY COME WITH A LOT OF PLANS AT THE TIME, THERE WAS NO DESIGNATED FUNDING OR PLANNING AROUND IT.

IT WAS JUST A GOAL SET.

SINCE THEN, A LOT OF EFFORTS HAVE TAKEN PLACE, WE'VE DONE INVESTING IN DUAL ENROLLMENT AND STARTING SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS BUT NOTHING HAS REALLY -- THERE HASN'T BEEN A STRONG COORDINATED ATTEMPT TO HIT THE GOAL.

TED: WE'RE TALKING COLLEGES, TRADE SCHOOLS, THESE THINGS.

NOT JUST GOING TO A UNIVERSITY?

>> YEAH, UNIVERSITIES, COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND TRADE SCHOOLS COUNT FOR ALL OF THIS.

TED: AFTER TEN YEARS, THE NUMBER HAS NOT INCREASED, IT'S GONE DOWN, WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

>> YEAH, THE EXPERTS BOTH LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY SAID THAT THERE'S NO ONE SILVER BULLET OF HOW TO GET MORE KIDS TO CONTINUE EDUCATION.

BUT IT DOES TAKE A REALLY CONCERTED EFFORT, THERE NEEDS TO BE COORDINATION, SUSTAINED FUNDING, THAT WAS SOMETHING A LOT OF THE EXPERTS I SPOKE WITH DIDN'T SEE HAPPENING IN ARIZONA.

THERE ARE PARTS OF THE STATE DOING IT WELL.

SOME DISTRICTS AND SCHOOLS THAT HAD SUCCESS, BUT OVERALL A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE DOING A LOT OF SMALLER EFFORTS, NOT IN TANDEM TOGETHER.

TED: THE IMPROVED AREAS WHERE YOU'RE SEEING IMPROVED NUMBERS, URBAN AREAS?

RURAL AREAS?

WHAT ARE YOU SEEING?

.

>> THE DECLINE IS WIDESPREAD.

IT IMPACTED MOST COUNTIES, DEMOGRAPHIC GROUPS.

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY HAS BEEN A HIGH POINT FOR THE STATE.

THEY INCREASED THEIRS FROM ABOUT I BELIEVE IT WAS 49% IN 2016 TO ABOUT 60% IN 2024.

AS A COUNTY, SOME OF THE HIGH SCHOOLS ARE UP TO ALMOST 70%, SO ALMOST HITTING THAT GOAL.

TED: SOUNDS LIKE A BEST PRACTICE, ARE THERE PEOPLE WATCHING WHAT'S HAPPENING IN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY?

>> I THINK SO.

IT JUST HASN'T BEEN -- IT DOES TAKE FUNDING, IT TAKES A LOT OF WORK AND COORDINATION, AND WHEN I TALKED TO THE FOLKS IN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, THEY ARE SAYING THEY HAVE A LOWER STUDENT TO COUNSELOR RATIO WHICH HELPS A LOT, THEY HAVE PEER COUNSELORS WHO HELP PEERS GET THROUGH THE FAFSA PROCESS AND APPLYING TO COLLEGE PROCESS.

A LITTLE MORE TARGETED STARTING EARLIER, TALKING TO STUDENTS WHEN FRESHMEN AND SOPHOMORES ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A GRANT AND SCHOLARSHIP AND LOAN IS SOMETHING THEY FOUND A LOT OF SUCCESS WITH.

TED: INTERESTING.

THE NUMBERS SUGGEST YOU GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL, YOU GO TO MORE EDUCATION OR YOU DON'T.

WHAT ABOUT THOSE THAT DON'T BUT AFTER A DELAY GET TO POST-SECONDARY?

IS THAT COUNTED HERE?

>> NOT COUNTED HERE.

SO THIS DATA FOLLOWS SOON-TO-ENROLL IN THE 12 MONTHS AFTER.

LIKELIHOOD OF CONTINUING THAT EDUCATION AFTER 12 MONTHS GOES DOWN A BIT.

THAT IS WHERE THE PUSH COMES FROM TO GET THEM ENROLLED IN THE 12-MONTH PERIOD.

THERE'S NO SAYING STUDENTS DON'T TAKE A COUPLE YEARS OFF, TAKE GAP YEARS.

PRICE OF COST OF LIVING AND COST OF TUITION ARE WHY STUDENTS DO THAT NATIONALLY.

THIS FIGURE TRACKS IN THE 12 MONTHS.

TED: IN YOUR REPORTING, WHAT DID YOU SIGNED -- OBVIOUSLY THE COST OF MOVING ON WITH EDUCATION IS A FACTOR THERE.

WHEN YOU GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL, YOU THINK YOU HAVE NO TIME TO DO EVERYTHING, GOT TO HAPPEN RIGHT NOW.

AND, YOU KNOW, POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION CAN TAKE TIME, IS THAT A FACTOR?

>> I THINK IT IS A FACTOR.

I WENT TO A COUPLE GRADUATION CEREMONIES AND TALKED TO ABOUT 50 GRADUATES ABOUT POSTGRADUATE PLANS AND A LOT OF THEM WERE HESITANT ABOUT THE COST AND THE TIME, AND SAYING WHY WOULD I WANT TO TAKE OUT LOANS AND PAY MONEY TO DELAY MAKING MONEY?

I'VE BEEN IN SCHOOL FOR A LOT OF YEARS, AND I DON'T WANT TO DO FOUR MORE, AND A LOT OF STUDENTS ARE DISTRUSTING OF HIGHER EDUCATION NOW, AND I THINK WE'VE SEEN AN INCREASE IN THAT NATIONALLY AND HERE, BUT THEY'RE JUST NOT BEING SOLD ON THAT VALUE.

TED: BUT TO SELL THEM ON THAT VALUE, AND WE'VE DONE A LOT OF THIS ON THE SHOW.

WE'VE DONE THIS TOPIC A LOT ON WHAT EMPLOYERS IN THE STATE NEED AS FAR AS EDUCATION, AND WHAT THEY NEED, THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY GETTING.

THEY NEED MORE OF THESE KIDS.

HOW DO YOU CONVINCE THEM THAT THE JOBS ARE THERE, THE EDUCATION IS THERE, BUT YOU GOT TO GET IT?

>> THAT'S THE MILLION-DOLLAR QUESTION, RIGHT?

THAT'S WHAT ALL THESE COUNSELLORS I SPOKE TO AND ADMINISTRATORS ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT.

THEY'RE NOT SURE.

I THINK A LOT OF IT IS STUDENTS ARE GETTING INFORMATION FROM A LOT OF DIFFERENT PLACES THESE DAYS.

COUNSELORS SAY STUDENTS ARE MORE EDUCATED ABOUT THE FINANCES OF GOING FURTHER IN EDUCATION THAN STUDENTS IN THE PAST HAVE BEEN, WHICH IS GREAT.

WE WANT STUDENTS TO KNOW WHAT THEY'RE GETTING INTO.

THAT HAS DETERRED STUDENTS AND DON'T WANT TO TAKE LOANS THEY SAW COUSINS OR PARENTS TAKE OUT.

>> THE INDUSTRIES THAT NEED SKILLED WORKFORCE, THERE ARE A LOT OF INDUSTRIES AND THEY'RE CLAMORING FOR IT.

WE'VE HEARD PROGRAMS OF TAKING RESPONSIBILITY AND HELPING TRAIN SOME OF THESE KIDS ONCE THEY GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL.

IS THAT MAKING A DIFFERENCE?

IS IT MAKING A DENT AT ALL?

>> I REALLY DIDN'T LOOK INTO TOO MANY PROGRAMS LIKE THAT.

I COULD SEE TALKING TO THE COUNSELORS AND STUDENTS IT WOULD BE APPEALING TO THEM.

THERE ARE APPRENTICESHIPS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

A LOT OF IT IS TIED TO TRADE SCHOOLS AND THOSE CAN BE EXPENSIVE.

KIDS THOUGHT THEY WOULD GO TO A FOUR-YEAR, SAW IT WAS EXPENSIVE, GOT A WELDING CERTIFICATE AND THAT WAS TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR A SHORTER PERIOD, AND SOMETHING YOU MAKE GOOD MONEY, THEN THEY WANT TO HAVE THE SKILLS TO OPEN THEIR OWN BUSINESS ONE DAY, AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK STUDENTS JUST AREN'T SURE WHAT FOUR MORE YEARS GET THEM.

TED: LAST QUESTION, THE NUMBERS ARE SOBERING NUMBERS, YOU ARE NOT REACHING YOUR GOAL, IS IT GETTING THE ATTENTION THE EDUCATION COMMUNITY?

>> YOU KNOW, EDUCATION NONPROFITS IN THE STATE THAT TRACK THIS DATA HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET THE NUMBERS OUT THERE FOR A WHILE.

I THINK THAT THEY'RE SAYING THE STATE BUDGET CUT FUNDING FOR A LOT OF THE INITIATIVES AND PUT OUT CALLS SAYING ARIZONA GETS THE EDUCATION THEY INVESTED IN, I BELIEVE WAS FROM A COUPLE OF THE NONPROFITS.

PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO LISTEN, BUT IF WE WANT THE NUMBERS TO CHANGE, THE STATE HAS TO HAVE THE COORDINATION AND THE FUNDING WHAT WE HEARD FROM EXPERTS.

TED: THE SUSTAINED FUNDING ESPECIALLY.

MOLLY BOHANNON, THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

.

TED: AS WORLD CUP MANIA GRABS HEADLINES, A NEW BOOK ABOUT SOCCER APPLIES LESSONS ON AND OFF THE FIELD.

THE BOOK IS TITLED COACH SHIRLEY'S SOCCER TEAM, WINNING THE GAME OF LIFE, THAT TEACHES KIDS ABOUT TEAMWORK, CONFIDENCE AND HOW TO BELIEVE IN THEMSELVES.

THE AUTHOR JOINS US NOW ALONG WITH COACH SHIRLEY HERSELF.

I GOT TO TELL YOU, COACH SHIRLEY, I DIDN'T THINK YOU EXISTED.

>> I REALLY EXIST.

TED: YOU ARE REALLY HERE.

I'M GOING TO GET TO YOU IN A SECOND.

SHERRY, WING THE GAME OF LIFE IS A SUBTITLE HERE.

WHAT'S THAT ABOUT?

>> IT'S REALLY ABOUT CHARACTER, RIGHT?

ALL OF US HAVE GOD GIVEN TALENT AND POTENTIAL TO BE WHO HE HAS CREATED US TO BE, SO WINNING THE GAME OF LIFE IS HOW DO YOU CARRY YOURSELF, YOUR CONFIDENCE, YOUR ABILITY TO JUST BELIEVE IN YOURSELF AND DO ALL THE THINGS YOU HAVE BEEN CALLED TO DO IN A SENSE, RIGHT?

TED: AND AIMED AT KIDS.

>> AIMED AT KIDS.

THE MESSAGE IS RESONATING WITH ADULTS AS WELL, SO THAT HAS BEEN THE EXCITING PART ABOUT IT.

TED: AND THE BOOK IS BASED ON SHIRLEY'S LAWS.

THUS COACH SHIRLEY, WHO REALLY DOES EXIST, AND YOU REALLY DO HAVE A SET OF LAWS, DON'T YOU?

>> I REALLY DO.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST LAWS IS SELF-BELIEF AND I WILL LOVE MYSELF AND BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR MY ACTIONS, ALL DONE THROUGH HAVING FUN WITH SPORTS.

TED: DO YOU FIND THAT KIDS SOMETIMES -- IT'S INTERESTING, HARD TO BELIEVE SOME KIDS DON'T BELIEVE IN THEMSELVES DEEP DOWN.

DO YOU SEE THAT?

>> ABSOLUTELY, AND I THINK THAT'S WHY THE BOOK RESONATES AND WHY WE'RE SPEAKING TO A LOT OF CHILDREN AT ASU, BUT IT RESONATES WITH KIDS EARLY.

WHEN YOU TALK TO THE KIDS EARLY, IT RESONATES EARLY.

TED: YEAH, YOU CAN HEAR IT, CAN'T YOU?

>> YES.

TED: SHIRLEY'S LAW, GET BACK TO COACH SHIRLEY IN A SECOND.

WHY DID YOU DECIDE COACH SHIRLEY'S LAWS WERE SOMETHING YOU WANTED TO PUT IN A BOOK.

>> THEY WERE HER LAWS.

THE BOOK WAS INSPIRED BY HER AND MY DAUGHTER, AND SHE USED SOCCER AS A TOOL TO TEACH LIFE LESSONS, RIGHT.

THAT WAS BELIEVING HERSELF, LOVING HERSELF, BEING CONFIDENT, AND I WANT TO STAY TRUE TO THOSE EXACT LAWS.

I DIDN'T WANT TO CHANGE ANYTHING.

THEY WERE EVERYTHING SHE CREATED.

TED: YEAH, AND COACH, SHOWING UP, WORKING TOGETHER, STAYING ACCOUNTABLE, BELIEVING IN YOURSELF, I MEAN, YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO CHANT THEM, YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO REPEAT THEM OVER AND OVER.

>> WE ABSOLUTELY DO.

AFTER HOMEWORK, MY NIECE AND I GO OUTSIDE TO PLAY.

BEFORE EACH PRACTICE AND GAME, SHE HAS TO RECITE SHIRLEY'S LAWS.

TED: WOW DOES, SHE DO A GOOD JOB?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

TED: RECITING THE LAWS HAS TO MAKE HER FEEL BETTER.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

CAN I ASK HER WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SHIRLEY'S LAW, AND SHE WILL SAY "I WILL LOVE MYSELF."

>> WINNING ISN'T JUST ABOUT THE GAME, IT'S ABOUT YOURSELF, WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT?

>> SOMETIMES IN LIFE, THE EMPHASIS IS PUT ON WINNING, BUT YOU HAVE TO REALIZE WINNING IS IMPORTANT, RIGHT, WE HAVE SEEN IT IN THE WORLD CUP, BUT WANT TO EMPHASIZE IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT WINNING, IT'S ABOUT WHO YOU ARE BECOMING.

YOUR CHARACTER AS A PERSON.

OFTENTIMES CAN YOU TREAT SOMEBODY TERRIBLE.

PEOPLE REMEMBER HOW YOU TREAT THEM, THAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THE CHARACTER OF THE PERSON.

TED: BACK TO YOUR LAWS AND TRY TO GET KIDS TO UNDERSTAND THIS, FOLLOW THIS, TAKE IT IN THEIR HEART, HOW DO YOU DO THAT WITHOUT BEING PREACHY?

HOW DO YOU DO THAT?

IS IT A QUESTION OF FUN AND PLAY?

>> YES, A QUESTION OF FUN AND PLAY.

AND THE LAST LAW IS, AND I WILL HAVE FUN.

TED: IS THAT ONE OF THE LAWS?

>> IT IS.

[LAUGHTER] .

>> I LIKE THAT ONE.

I LIKE THAT ONE, TOO.

AGAIN, SHIFTING WHAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT, SHIFTING FROM WINNING, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE COMPETING, THIS IS COMPETITION, THIS IS BINARY TO A CERTAIN DEGREE.

HOW DIFFICULT IS THAT?

THE SHIFT FROM THE WINNING MIND-SET?

>> I THINK THAT IT IS ABOUT YOUR CHARACTER, RIGHT?

YOU CAN HAVE TEAMMATES, YOU CAN PLAY ON A TEAM.

THINK ABOUT THE MOVIE "GOAT", THE MAIN CHARACTER WAS NOT KIND TO HER TEAMMATES AND AT THE END, SHE REALIZED IT TAKES A TEAM TO BE ABLE TO WIN TOGETHER, AND SO THAT IS THE FOCUS.

YOU HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER AS A TEAM.

YOU HAVE TO BE KIND TO EACH OTHER, YOU HAVE TO RESPECT EACH OTHER AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE END GOALS WE ALL WIN TOGETHER.

IF I WIN, THERE IS NO I IN TEAM, WE ALL WIN TOGETHER.

TED: WHAT AGE GROUP ARE WE TALKING ABOUT HERE?

>> 9 TO 12.

TED: THAT'S A LITTLE OLDER THAN I THOUGHT.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> OKAY, SO 5 TO 8, SUCH AN INTERESTING AGE.

WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO WRITE THE BOOK, WAS THERE AN AH-HAH MOMENT?

>> THE AH-HAH MOMENT WAS WATCHING THEM PLAYING, BUT WATCHING THEM BEING A MOM.

I WANT MY DAUGHTER TO KNOW WHO SHE IS AND BE KIND AND CONFIDENT AND CARING AND BEING A TEAM PLAYER.

ONE EXAMPLE, WHEN THEY ARE PLAYING OUTSIDE, THE TEAM, MY DAUGHTER HAS TO CHEER ON HER OTHER TEAMMATES, RIGHT?

THIS IS JUST THEM USING THEIR IMAGINATION.

SHE HAS TO BE A TEAM PLAYER.

CAN'T JUST BE I'M GOING TO BE THE WINNER OR WHATEVER THE CASE, SO IT WAS MORE IMPORTANT OF JUST MAKING SURE THAT THAT WAS NOTED IN THE BOOK.

TED: YOU ARE A FORMER TECH WRITER, YOU DECIDED -- >> I AM STILL A TECH WRITER.

TECH WRITER BY DAY, AUTHOR BY NIGHT.

TED: IS COACH SHIRLEY GOING TO APPEAR AGAIN?

>> YES, WE HAVE COACH SHIRLEY'S SCHOOL BUS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF RULES OF LIFE AND HOPEFULLY ANIMATION.

TED: COACH SHIRLEY RULES ON A SCHOOL BUS FOR KIDS, WHAT ARE YOU GETTING INTO?

>> I HAVE A LOT OF FUN.

>> COACH SHIRLEY IS FUN, SHE HAS RULES BUT FUN.

THESE ARE THINGS I WAS TAUGHT.

OUR PARENTS TAUGHT US.

I'M LIVING OUT THE LEGACY MY MOM TAUGHT US IN MAKING SURE THE VALUES ARE INSTILLED IN MY NIECE.

TED: CONGRATULATIONS AND FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT.

CHERRY AND COACH SHIRLEY, GOOD TO HAVE YOU BOTH HERE.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

>> WE'RE THE GREATEST.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.