3/14/01

LC010314

VAL>> ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT --

JESS>> SOME PEOPLE LIVING IN MARINA DEL REY SAY THEY'RE LITERALLY BEING SOLD DOWN THE RIVER.

LEAH SANDERS>> FROM A DISTANCE, MARINA DEL REY APPEARS TO HAVE IT ALL, A PICTURESQUE HARBOR FILLED WITH BEAUTIFUL BOATS, OCEAN-VIEW APARTMENTS AND PLENTY OF BEACHES, BUT SOME FEAR IT'S ABOUT TO BECOME A WATERFRONT BEVERLY HILLS.

KATHERINE CAMPBELL>> AND THEY'RE JUST GETTING RID OF ANYTHING THAT THEY DON'T PARTICULARLY CARE FOR AESTHETICALLY BECAUSE THERE IS SO MUCH DEVELOPMENT GOING ON HERE IN THE MARINA.

VAL>> AND A BASKETBALL LEGEND TALKS FRANKLY ABOUT HOW HE LIVED IN DENIAL ABOUT A DEBILITATING CONDITION. THAT'S IN TONIGHT'S THINKERS, SHAKERS & NEWSMAKERS.

JESS>> ALSO, PATT MORRISON HAS A PET PROJECT WHEN IT COMES TO HANDING OUT AWARDS.

PATT>> ON A PAW, A FIN, A WING AND A PRAYER. AN AWARDS CEREMONY BETTER THAN THE OSCARS, ON TONIGHT'S INFINITELY MORRISON. HERE'S A CLUE: WOOF.

VAL>> AND THE UNKNOWN ACTOR WHO HAS APPEARED IN MORE THAN 20 FILMS. SPANISH ACTOR, JAVIER BARDEM, GOT RAVE REVIEWS AND A BEST ACTOR NOMINATION FOR HIS FIRST ENGLISH-LANGUAGE PERFORMANCE. WE TALK WITH HIM ABOUT THE FILM "BEFORE NIGHT FALLS" AND HIS OVERNIGHT SUCCESS.

JESS>> THESE STORIES COMING UP NEXT ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT.

LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FOLLOWING FOUNDATIONS:

THE JAMES IRVINE FOUNDATION
WHICH IS DEDICATED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN INFORMED CALIFORNIA CITIZENRY.

THE L.K. WHITTIER FOUNDATION
DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE BY SUPPORTING INNOVATIVE ENDEAVORS IN THE FIELDS OF MEDICINE, HEALTH, SCIENCE AND EDUCATION.

AND THE CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
UNDERWRITING THE SPANISH LANGUAGE TRANSLATION OF LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT.

VAL>> GOOD EVENING, I'M VAL ZAVALA.

JESS>> AND I'M JESS MARLOW. OUR TOP STORY TONIGHT, A NEW VISION FOR THE WATERFRONT. MARINA DEL REY ROSE ON THE SITE OF A DRAINED MARSH IN THE 60'S, BUT AFTER 40 YEARS OF WIND AND WAVES, IT'S TIME FOR A FACELIFT.

VAL>> MARINA DEL REY WAS ORIGINALLY INTENDED TO GIVE THE PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE OCEAN, BUT THE NEW PLAN INCLUDES LUXURY APARTMENTS, A HIGH-RISE HOTEL AND A WATERFRONT PROMENADE. AND AS LEAH SANDERS REPORTS, SOME LONG-TERM RESIDENTS ARE CONVINCED IT DOESN'T INCLUDE THEM.

LEAH>> FROM A DISTANCE, MARINA DEL REY APPEARS TO HAVE IT ALL, A PICTURESQUE HARBOR FILLED WITH BEAUTIFUL BOATS, OCEAN-VIEW APARTMENTS AND PLENTY OF BEACHES. BUILT FOUR DECADES AGO, THE WATERFRONT COMMUNITY IS ABOUT TO UNDERGO A MAKEOVER, INCLUDING DOCKS FIT FOR BIGGER BOATS, LUXURY APARTMENTS AND A WATERFRONT PROMENADE FILLED WITH FANCY SHOPS AND RESTAURANTS.

BUT THE PEOPLE LIVING ON THESE BOATS, THE SO-CALLED "LIVE-ABOARDS", COMPLAIN THEY'RE BEING PUSHED OUT TO MAKE WAY FOR THE RICH. KATHERINE CAMPBELL HAS LIVED ON THIS HOUSEBOAT WITH HER SON, MICHAEL, SINCE 1993. SHE CLAIMS THAT LIVE-ABOARDS AREN'T UPSCALE ENOUGH TO FIT IN WITH WHAT SHE BELIEVES WILL BECOME A WATERFRONT BEVERLY HILLS.

KATHERINE CAMPBELL>> AND THEY'RE JUST GETTING RID OF ANYTHING THAT THEY DON'T PARTICULARLY CARE FOR AESTHETICALLY BECAUSE THERE IS SO MUCH DEVELOPMENT GOING ON HERE IN THE MARINA AND THEY KNOW THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE MORE MONEY COMING IN HERE AND THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE BUYING BIGGER BOATS.

LEAH>> CAMPBELL SAYS SHE'S AFRAID SHE WON'T HAVE A PLACE TO MOVE HER HOUSEBOAT. EFFORTS TO EVICT HER ARE ALREADY UNDERWAY FOR THE THIRD TIME IN RECENT YEARS.

KATHERINE CAMPBELL>> AND IF I LOSE, NO, I CANNOT PUT MY BOAT ANYWHERE. THERE'S NO HARBOR THAT WILL TAKE MY BOAT. THEY ARE REFUSING ANY HOUSEBOATS NOW. THEY'RE ACTUALLY REFUSING ALL LIVE-ABOARDS. PEOPLE NOW HAVE TO SNEAK ON BOARD ON THEIR BOAT.

LEAH>> THE GROUP, SAVE THE MARINA, AGREES THE AREA NEEDS REPAIRS AND UPGRADES, BUT CHARGE THE COUNTY AND COMPANIES THAT RUN THE DOCKS ARE ALLOWING THE DOCKS TO DETERIORATE TO THE POINT WHERE THEY'LL HAVE TO BE REPLACED IMMEDIATELY, FORCING SOME LIVE-ABOARD AND BOAT OWNERS OUT. JOHN DAVIS HAS BEEN FIELDING COMPLAINTS FROM RESIDENTS.

JOHN DAVIS>> ALMOST ALL OF THE ELECTRICAL WIRES ARE HANGING IN THE WATER, THE DOCKS ARE ROTTEN, THEY'RE TERMITE-RIDDEN. THE FLOTATION THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE IN PLACE TO KEEP THE DOCKS LEVEL IS DETERIORATED AND THERE ARE SEVERAL ILLEGAL REPAIRS, SO THE DOCKS LIST SO THAT WHEN YOU WALK ON THEM YOU COULD EASILY SLIP AND FALL IN THE WATER.

LEAH>> A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO DOCK THEIR BOATS OUT HERE SAY THE HAZARDS HAVE GOTTEN OUT OF HAND. FOR EXAMPLE, THESE RED PLYWOOD BOARDS THAT WERE NAILED IN PLACE OVER AREAS OF THE DOCK THAT NEED REPAIR. YOU CAN SEE THESE EDGES STICKING UP RIGHT HERE. AS A RESULT, SOME BOAT OWNERS SAY THEY'VE SEEN PEOPLE TRIP AND FALL.

RICK POWELL>> THE DOCK IS SO HEAVILY LADEN WITH WATER AND STUFF THAT THE WOOD IS ACTUALLY TOUCHING THE WATER.

LEAH>> RICK POWELL HAS LIVED IN THE MARINA FOR 11 YEARS. HE SAYS THE DOCKS ARE SO UNSTABLE HE'S AFRAID TO WALK ON THEM AND THAT REPEATED COMPLAINTS ABOUT DOING REPAIRS ARE IGNORED.

RICK POWELL>> ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO, THEY CAME OUT AND PAINTED THE GANGWAY. THAT'S ABOUT THE LAST TIME -- THAT'S ABOUT THE ONLY THING I'VE SEEN THEM DO IN ABOUT THE LAST FIVE OR SIX MONTHS. OTHER THAN THAT, THEY HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING. THEY HAVEN'T EVEN COME OUT AND PUMPED OUT THE DOCKS AND GOT THEM UP OFF THE WATER ALL WINTER YET. I'M JUST WONDERING ONE OF THESE DAYS I'M GOING TO COME DOWN TO THE BOAT, AM I GOING -- IS MY BOAT EVEN GOING TO BE FLOATING? IS IT GOING TO BE SUNK TO THE BOTTOM WITH THE DOCK?

LEAH>> ROGER MULYEAR IS WITH COUNTY BEACHES AND HARBORS. HE SAYS THE DOCKS ARE NOT BEING ALLOWED TO DETERIORATE TO THE POINT WHERE THE PUBLIC SAFETY IS AT RISK. HE SAYS THE PROBLEM IS THE LIFE SPAN OF A DOCK IS ABOUT 30. THESE ARE NEARLY 40.

ROGER MULYEAR>> WE ENCOURAGE THEM TO BE REBUILT, BUT WE DON'T ENCOURAGE THEM BEING REBUILT BY ALLOWING THEM TO FALL SO FAR INTO DISREPAIR THAT THEY FALL APART. THAT MAKES NO ECONOMIC SENSE BECAUSE WE AND THE LEASEHOLDER COLLECT RENT FOR THESE THINGS AND TO ALLOW THEM TO BE SO BAD THAT PEOPLE WON'T USE THEM DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE AT ALL.

LEAH>> JIM MORRIS IS A PROFESSIONAL DIVER AND SHARK RESEARCHER AND SAYS EFFORTS ARE ALSO UNDERWAY TO EVICT HIM. HE SAYS HIS TWO SMALL BOATS DON'T FIT THE NEW IMAGE THE COUNTY AND COMPANIES THAT RUN THE DOCKS WANT FOR THE MARINA.

JIM MORRIS>> BY TEARING OUT THESE SMALLER BOAT SLIPS LIKE WHERE MY BOAT IS CURRENTLY SLIPPED AND PUTTING IN LARGER SLIPS THAT THEY WANT TO DO, IT NOT ONLY APPEALS TO THAT LUCRATIVE MARKET, BUT ALSO GOES AGAINST THE LOCAL COASTAL PROGRAM.

LEAH>> THE MARINA WAS ORIGINALLY CONCEIVED AS A PLACE FOR REGULAR PEOPLE TO INEXPENSIVELY LAUNCH A BOAT OUT TO SEA AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF BEACHES AND HARBORS SAYS WON'T CHANGE. BUT ROGER MULYEAR SAYS WHAT WILL CHANGE ARE THE DIMENSIONS OF THE DOCKS BECAUSE OF GOVERNMENT REQUIREMENTS.

ROGER MULYEAR>> EVEN IF YOU TRIED TO REBUILD WHAT YOU EXACTLY HAVE NOW, YOU COULDN'T DO IT BECAUSE THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT AND OTHER THINGS FORCE A DIFFERENT KIND OF CONFIGURATION TO BE MADE AND YOU WOULD LOSE SOME SLIP NUMBERS JUST BY COMPLYING WITH THE CURRENT REGULATORY ACTS.

LEAH>> AS FOR SO-CALLED LIVE-ABOARDS LIKE KATHERINE CAMPBELL WHO CLAIM THEY'RE NOT WANTED IN THE HARBOR, MULYEAR SAYS THAT'S NOT TRUE.

ROGER MULYEAR>> I THINK THAT YOU WOULD FIND THAT IF YOU TALK TO EVERYBODY THAT RUNS THE MARINA, THEY ACTUALLY LIKE LIVE-ABOARDS. THEY LIKE TO HAVE SOME LIVE-ABOARDS BECAUSE IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE FOR THEM. IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT, THERE IS AT LEAST SOMEONE LIVING THERE AND THAT PREVENTS AN AWFUL LOT OF THINGS LIKE THEFT AND VANDALISM AROUND MARINAS.

LEAH>> MARINE HARBOR ANCHORAGE IS A COMPANY THAT RUNS THE PROPERTY IN ONE OF THE BASINS NEEDING RENOVATIONS. LIFE AND TIMES CONTACTED DAVID LEVINE, WHO'S A COMPANY SPOKESMAN. HE SAYS, "WE ARE ALREADY MAKING ANY AND ALL VACANT SLIPS IN OUR CONCRETE DOCKS AVAILABLE FIRST ONLY TO OUR CURRENT QUALIFIED RESIDENTS ON THE WOOD DOCKS. MANY HAVE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THIS OFFER. WE ARE CLOSING TWO OF THE WOOD DOCKS BECAUSE OF THEIR AGE AND CONDITION AND, SO FAR, WE HAVE OFFERED TO ACCOMMODATE EVERY AFFECTED SLIP RESIDENT ELSEWHERE IN OUR ANCHORAGE." WHILE ROGER MULYEAR CAN'T COMMENT ON PEOPLE FACING EVICTION, HE SAYS YOU MUST UNDERSTAND THERE ARE CERTAIN COUNTY-WIDE AND STATE-WIDE STANDARDS OF SEAWORTHINESS THAT MUST BE FOLLOWED.

ROGER MULYEAR>> WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF INSTANCES IN YEARS PAST WHERE WE'VE ACTUALLY HAD BOATS SINK RIGHT IN SIGHT, SINK RIGHT IN THE MARINA. NOT FROM MOVING OR ANYTHING ELSE, JUST FROM PURE DETERIORATION AND FALLING APART. WE WOULD LIKE PEOPLE TO TAKE SERIOUSLY THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES AS "HOMEOWNERS", IF YOU WILL, JUST AS YOU AND I WHERE WE LIVE WANT TO KEEP UP OUR HOMES TO A SAFETY AND AESTHETIC STANDARD. WE'D LIKE THAT TO HAPPEN AS WELL OUT HERE, SO I HOPE PEOPLE DON'T THINK WE'RE PICKING ON THEM TO PICK ON THEM.

JESS>> WITH SOME 5,000 BOATS IN THE HARBOR AND THE NUMBER OF AREAS THEY CAN PUT THOSE BOATS BEING REDUCED, SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO WIND UP HOMELESS, AREN'T THEY?

LEAH>> ACTUALLY, NO. THE COUNTY SAYS THAT THEY WON'T. THEY SAID -- THIS IS A PROJECT THAT'S GOING TO TAKE PLACE OVER THE NEXT TEN TO FIFTEEN YEARS. THEY SAY JUST NATURALLY WITH THE WAY PEOPLE LEAVE HARBORS AND GO TO OTHER HARBORS THAT THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THE ACTUAL NUMBER OF BOATS THAT THEY HAVE RIGHT NOW. FOR EXAMPLE, RIGHT NOW THERE'S ABOUT 400 VACANCIES OUT THERE, MOST OF WHICH ARE FOR SMALL BOATS. SO THEIR FEELING IS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO KEEP ALL OF THESE PEOPLE THERE.

VAL>> LEAH, SO SORRY WE HAVE TO CUT YOU OFF. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT REPORT.

IN OUR TOP STORY TOMORROW, THE SIX MAJOR CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR L.A. MAYOR DEBATE THE ISSUES. HEAR FIRSTHAND WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY IN A SPECIAL ONE-HOUR EDITION THURSDAY HERE ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT. IT ALL STARTS AT 7:00.

JESS>> IN TONIGHT'S THINKERS, SHAKERS & NEWSMAKERS, BASKETBALL GREAT, BILL RUSSELL. HE WAS THE CORNERSTONE OF THE GREAT BOSTON CELTICS DYNASTY IN THE 60'S. RUSSELL CONTRIBUTED SO MUCH TO HIS TEAM AND HIS SPORT THAT UCLA COACHING LEGEND, JOHN WOODEN, CALLED HIM "THE MOST IMPORTANT PLAYER EVER TO PLAY THE GAME".

VAL>> RUSSELL PLAYED ON 11 NBA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS AND WON A GOLD MEDAL WITH THE 1956 OLYMPIC MEN'S BASKETBALL SQUAD. YET FOR THE PAST 40 YEARS, RUSSELL HAS LIVED WITH OSTEOARTHRITIS, AN ISSUE THAT HE'S NOW FINALLY SPEAKING OUT ABOUT. JOINING US NOW IS BILL RUSSELL. WELCOME TO LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT.

BILL RUSSELL>> THANK YOU.

JESS>> YOU'VE BEEN THE MOST PRIVATE OF PUBLIC FIGURES OVER THE YEARS, RELUCTANT TO DO INTERVIEWS, RELUCTANT TO SIGN AUTOGRAPHS, IN A MOST GRACIOUS WAY, BUT IS THIS WHAT BRINGS YOU OUT NOW TO TALK ABOUT YOUR PROBLEM?

BILL RUSSELL>> WELL, I STAY HOME MOSTLY AND, SOMETIMES WHEN I THINK I HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY THAT CAN BE HELPFUL TO SOCIETY, I TRY TO DO THAT.

JESS>> AND YOU HAVE SOMETHING?

BILL RUSSELL>> YES. WHEN I WAS PLAYING, I HAD ARTHRITIS AND --

JESS>> -- EVEN DURING YOUR PLAYING YEARS?

BILL RUSSELL>> YES. WE TREATED IT WITH GETTING HEAT TO IT BEFORE THE GAMES. SOME OF MY ROUTINE WAS, I WOULD GET HEAT TREATMENTS INTO THE JOINTS AND THEN TAPE MY ANKLES AND THEN GO PLAY. I WENT TO THE TEAM DOCTOR WHO SAID "YOU HAVE ARTHRITIS. GOOD LUCK." BECAUSE IN THOSE DAYS, NOBODY HAD ANY IDEA OF HOW TO TREAT ARTHRITIS. I LIVE A PRETTY ACTIVE LIFE. ONE OF THE THINGS I TRY TO DO IS WALK EVERY DAY. MOST TIME I TAKE MY GOLF CLUBS WITH ME (LAUGHTER). BUT I TRY TO LIVE AN ACTIVE LIFE.

JESS>> THAT KIND OF GOLF GAME, HUH? (LAUGHTER)

BILL RUSSELL>> (LAUGHTER) YEAH, BUT I TRY TO NOT USE THE CART. THE LAST FEW YEARS, I'VE HAD TO -- WHEN YOU SAY GET READY TO GO PLAY, YOU HAVE TO GET YOURSELF READY AND ONE OF THE THINGS IS GETTING HEAT TO MY KNEES ESPECIALLY. SO I DID SOMETHING THAT MOST PEOPLE DON'T DO. I WENT TO THE DOCTOR (LAUGHTER). THE REASON I SAY THAT IS, ONE OUT OF SIX AMERICANS HAVE ARTHRITIC PAIN OF ONE KIND OR ANOTHER.

JESS>> AND THEY'VE BEEN TOLD TO LIVE WITH IT.

BILL RUSSELL>> RIGHT, AND A THIRD OF THEM NEVER SEE A DOCTOR. THEY'VE JUST ACCEPTED IT THAT THIS IS PART OF THE LIFE PROCESS. WELL, I WENT TO THE DOCTOR AND HE WANTED ME TO TRY THIS CELEBREX. THIS WORKED FOR ME. I CAN'T SAY IT WOULD WORK FOR YOU, BUT I JUST SAY THIS WORKED FOR ME. SO NOW I CAN PLAY AS MANY TIMES A WEEK AS I WANT TO. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT REALLY CAUGHT MY ATTENTION WAS, THE DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS, WE DROVE FROM SEATTLE TO PALM SPRINGS. WHEN I GOT TO PALM SPRINGS, I WENT STRAIGHT TO THE GOLF COURSE AND MET MY FRIENDS. WHILE SHE WENT AND CHECKED INTO THE HOTEL, I STARTED PLAYING GOLF. WELL, BEFORE, I COULD NEVER HAVE DONE ANYTHING LIKE THAT. SO I'M TAKING PART IN THIS B.E.A.T. PROGRAM. IT'S ALMOST LIKE, THE PEOPLE THAT I HAVE BEEN PART OF THEIR LIVES, I WANT TO TELL THEM THAT I WENT THROUGH YEARS AND YEARS OF ARTHRITIS AND NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT, AND WE DON'T HAVE TO LIVE WITH THE PAIN. IT CAN BE TREATED, SO THAT'S WHY I'M --

JESS>> -- WELL, BASKETBALL PLAYERS -- ATHLETES WERE TOLD, YOU PLAY WITH PAIN --

BILL RUSSELL>> RIGHT.

JESS>> -- IT'S THE WAY IT WORKS.

BILL RUSSELL>> YEAH, MACHO GUYS.

JESS>> BUT THAT'S CHANGED NOW AND BASKETBALL TOO HAS CHANGED BY A GREAT DEAL, HASN'T IT?

BILL RUSSELL>> YES, IT HAS. YES, IT HAS.

JESS>> FOR THE BETTER?

BILL RUSSELL>> JUST DIFFERENT (LAUGHTER), AND THE PRICES HAVE GONE UP (LAUGHTER).

VAL>> YES.

BILL RUSSELL>> WELL, YOU KNOW, IT'S -- BASKETBALL, WHICH I'M A BIG FAN OF, IS THE ONLY MAJOR SPORT THAT IS CONTINUING TO EVOLVE. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT BASKETBALL WILL LOOK LIKE 20 YEARS FROM NOW BECAUSE IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WHERE A PLAYER THAT COULD FIND HIS PARTICULAR TALENT AND HOW TO USE IT COULD COMPLETELY CHANGE THE GAME.

VAL>> IN FACT, YOU DID.

BILL RUSSELL>> WELL, --

VAL>> -- THAT'S WHAT THEY SAY (LAUGHTER). SPEAKING OF EVOLUTION, YOU WERE ONE OF ITS MAJOR FORCES.

BILL RUSSELL>> WELL, YOU KNOW, AND THE GAME CHANGES ACCORDING TO EACH GENERATION WHAT POSITION THEIR STARS PLAY. FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN MAGIC WAS PLAYING, HE WAS THE FIRST REAL BIG GUARD. I WAS THE FIRST PLAYER THAT STARTED WITH DEFENSE AND MY DEFENSE STARTED THE OFFENSE. UP UNTIL THAT TIME, YOU WERE MEASURED BY HOW MANY POINTS YOU COULD SCORE, SO --

JESS>> -- MADE IT TOUGH TO BE A DEFENSIVE PLAYER THEN?

BILL RUSSELL>> WELL, UNLESS YOU WERE JUST SUPREMELY CONFIDENT (LAUGHTER).

JESS>> BILL RUSSELL WAS AND IS.

VAL>> YOU HAVE A BOOK COMING OUT. YOU AND YOUR DAUGHTER HAVE WRITTEN A BOOK ABOUT MOTIVATION. WHAT WOULD YOU TELL YOUNG PEOPLE, MANY OF THEM FROM THE INNER CITIES, WHO ASPIRE TO BECOME BASKETBALL STARS?

BILL RUSSELL>> WELL, I DON'T THINK THAT IT WOULD BE RIGHT TO TELL THEM ANYTHING ABOUT HOW TO BECOME A BASKETBALL STAR BECAUSE I CONSIDER MYSELF UNIQUE, ONE OF A KIND. SO I WOULD BE DISINGENUOUS IF I WOULD TELL A KID IF YOU WORK HARD AND DO THIS AND THIS YOU CAN BE LIKE ME BECAUSE THAT'S NOT RIGHT. BUT WHAT I WOULD SAY IS, IF YOU FIND A GAME THAT YOU LIKE, PLAY IT HARD AND HAVE FUN WITH IT AND FIND OUT HOW GOOD YOU CAN BE AT IT.

JESS>> YOU'VE BEEN QUOTED AS SAYING "COACHES TODAY ARE KIND OF DUMBING DOWN".

BILL RUSSELL>> YES, THEY ARE. WELL, WHAT HAPPENED IS, YOU HAVE A GAME THAT MARVELOUS ATHLETES PLAY AND GUYS WITH TREMENDOUS IMAGINATION, BUT THE COACH'S JOB IS TO WIN. SO MOST OF THEM COACH NOT TO LOSE. THEY DEVELOP A SYSTEM WHERE THEY CAN GET THE MOST OUT OF THEIR PLAYERS THAT ARE NOT THAT TALENTED. SO WHAT THEY TRY TO DO IS BRING EVERYBODY IN. YOU KNOW, THEY USED TO HAVE A MUSIC SYSTEM WHERE THERE'S A LIMITER. YOU LOST THE TREBLES AND YOU LOST THE BASSES.

VAL>> I KNOW THAT ONE.

BILL RUSSELL>> WELL, THAT'S THE WAY BASKETBALL IS NOW. SO YOU HAVE THIS SORT OF SOFT MUSIC (LAUGHTER).

JESS>> WELL, WE'VE ENJOYED YOUR LOUD MUSIC OVER THE YEARS. THANKS VERY MUCH.

BILL RUSSELL>> THANK YOU.

VAL>> YOU'VE BEEN ONE OF THE WAY UP THERE HIGHLIGHTS. THANK YOU, BILL RUSSELL. I'M SO SORRY WE'RE OUT OF TIME. WE WANT TO MENTION THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE SUFFERING FROM ARTHRITIS AS YOU DID CAN GET INFORMATION ON THE B.E.A.T. ARTHRITIS CAMPAIGN BY CALLING THE NUMBER ON YOUR SCREEN, 1-877-480-BEAT. IT'S A GREAT CAMPAIGN.

SO WHAT DO YOU THINK? WE'D LOVE TO HEAR WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT BILL RUSSELL OR ANY OF THE REPORTS HERE ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT. HERE'S HOW YOU CAN REACH US:

LIFEANDTIMES@KCET.ORG
WWW.KCET.ORG.
LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT
4401 SUNSET BLVD.
LOS ANGELES, CA 90027
(323) 953-5555

JESS>> AND NOW PATT MORRISON WANTS TO CALL OUR ATTENTION TO AN AWARD SHOW WITH A MESSAGE, IN TONIGHT'S INFINITELY MORRISON.

PATT>> IN THE MIDST OF FEARS ON TWO CONTINENTS ABOUT HOOF AND MOUTH DISEASE, THERE WAS ONE SAFE PLACE TO DINE THIS WEEK, THE GENESIS AWARDS. THE ARK TRUST ANIMAL ORGANIZATION NAMES ITS AWARDS AFTER THE OLD TESTAMENT BOOK IN WHICH NOAH SAVES THE CREATURES OF THE WORLD. AT ITS 15TH ANNUAL AWARDS DINNER, THE ARK TRUST LAID OUT A VEGAN ANIMAL-FREE SPREAD FOR AN ARK'S LOAD OF HOLLYWOOD PEOPLE AND JOURNALISTS BEING HONORED FOR EXPOSING THE PLIGHT OF ANIMALS FROM PETS TO PACHYDERMS. BUT IT TAKES A STRONG STOMACH TO SEE THESE WINNERS.

TV AND RADIO WORK, THE NEWSPAPER AND MAGAZINE STORIES ABOUT THE NICE LITTLE MIDWESTERN TOWN THAT IS LIKE A FARMERS MARKET WHERE THOSE WHO BUY OR CLAIM OR STEAL THOUSANDS OF STRAY DOGS A YEAR GATHER TO SELL THEM FOR LAB EXPERIMENTS. ABOUT EXACTLY WHAT IS DONE TO LAMBS TO TURN THEM INTO FUR COATS. ABOUT GIVING SICK CHILDREN THEIR LAST WISH TO KILL A WILD ANIMAL. ABOUT THE RACING GREYHOUNDS WHO RUN THEIR HEARTS OUT AND ARE KILLED WHEN THEY CAN NO LONGER RUN. ABOUT THE FEEDLOT COWS AND CHICKENS, GRASS AND GRAIN-EATING ANIMALS BEING FED THE GROUND-UP MEAT OF SLAUGHTERED COWS AND CHICKENS. AND ABOUT ANIMALS THE WORLD OVER TORTURED AND KILLED FOR SOME HUMAN'S SHEER PLEASURE IN TORTURING AND KILLING.

BUT THOSE WHO SHOW A WAY OUT FOR THIS ABATTOIR ARE ALSO HONORED. EXPOSE REPORTS FROM BRITAIN AND FRANCE AND GERMANY AND AS CLOSE AS BACKYARD PUPPY MILLS. LAST YEAR, ONE WINNER WAS A YOUNG IRVINE BOY WHO SAVED A BULL FROM DEATH IN A BULLRING AND PLEDGED TO END THAT CRUEL PRACTICE IN HIS LIFETIME.

YOU CAN SEE THESE AWARDS SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, MAY 12 AND 13, ON THE ANIMAL PLANET CHANNEL. THE SHOW ONLY LASTS FOR AN HOUR OR SO, BUT THOSE OF US WHO CARE ABOUT SUCH THINGS HOPE THAT ITS MESSAGE STAYS WITH YOU FOR A LIFETIME.

VAL>> IN TONIGHT'S PEOPLE, PLACES & THINGS, ACADEMY AWARD'S BEST ACTOR NOMINEE, JAVIER BARDEM. BARDEM MAY BE NEW TO AMERICAN AUDIENCES, BUT HE HAS MADE NEARLY 20 FILMS IN SPAIN.

JESS>> BARDEM IS THE FIRST SPANISH ACTOR TO BE NOMINATED FOR A BEST ACTOR OSCAR. "BEFORE NIGHT FALLS" IS HIS FIRST ENGLISH-LANGUAGE ROLE. BARDEM PORTRAYS EXILED CUBAN WRITER, REINALDO ARENAS, WHO JOINED CASTRO'S REVOLUTION ONLY TO FIND HIMSELF LATER PERSECUTED AND EXILED BY CASTRO'S GOVERNMENT FOR BEING GAY.

VAL>> AND JOINING US NOW IS ACTOR, JAVIER BARDEM. WELCOME AND CONGRATULATIONS ON THE OSCAR NOMINATION.

JAVIER BARDEM>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

VAL>> YOU ARE IN VERY, VERY GOOD COMPANY.

JAVIER BARDEM>> THANK YOU, YES.

JESS>> THIS IS YOUR FIRST ENGLISH-LANGUAGE FILM. HOW MUCH TIME DID YOU HAVE TO BECOME FACILE WITH ENGLISH?

JAVIER BARDEM>> WELL, IT TOOK ME A COUPLE OF MONTHS TO WORK ON THE ENGLISH VERY HARD. I MEAN, I WAS WORKING, LIKE, LET'S SAY, TEN HOURS A DAY JUST TO LEARN HOW TO SAY "HELLO", WHICH IS DIFFICULT EVEN TODAY.

JESS>> IT'S A GREAT STORY, AN INSPIRATIONAL STORY.

JAVIER BARDEM>> YES, YES. IT'S A STORY ABOUT HUMAN BEINGS AND ABOUT HOW WE TRY TO ELIMINATE WHICH IS DIFFERENT FROM US INSTEAD OF TRY TO UNDERSTAND IT. THAT'S WHAT THE MOVIE IS ALL ABOUT. OUR TOLERANCE. IT'S SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED IN CUBA, BUT IT'S NOT ONLY IN CUBA. IT'S ALL AROUND THE WORLD. THAT'S WHY THE MOVIE HAS THIS HUGE ISSUE TO TALK ABOUT AND NOT ABOUT A COUNTRY.

VAL>> PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT, WHEN FIDEL CASTRO FIRST CAME INTO POWER, THERE WAS GREAT JUBILATION AMONG THE GAY COMMUNITY THINKING THAT HE WAS GOING TO BE TOLERANT AND THERE WAS THIS SORT OF SEXUAL REVOLUTION THAT OCCURRED, YES?

JAVIER BARDEM>> WELL, I'M NOT VERY -- I'M NOT A PERSON WHO IS ESPECIALLY SIDED IN CUBA. WHAT I COULD SAY, THAT THE BEGINNING OF THE REVOLUTION, IN MY OPINION, IN MY OPINION, IN MY HUMBLE OPINION, WAS A HUGE THING. I THINK THEY WERE RIGHT IN MANY THINGS. BUT THIS DARK MOMENT IN THE REGIME HAPPENED AND WE HAVE TO CONDEMN IT. I DON'T CARE IF IT'S RIGHT OR LEFT. I MEAN, WE HAVE TO CONDEMN IT. LIKE IN FRANCO, IN SPAIN. FRANCO KILLED [INAUDIBLE] BECAUSE HE WAS AN ARTIST AND HE WAS A HOMOSEXUAL. WE HAVE TO CONDEMN ALL THOSE THINGS.

VAL>> WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT A CLIP FROM THE FILM. THIS IS WHERE THE WRITER, REINALDO ARENAS, HAS TO COMPETE AND HE IS PRESENTING A BIT OF HIS WRITING TO A PANEL OF JUDGES. HERE IT IS.

[FILM CLIP]

JESS>> IT'S INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT ARENAS WAS PERSECUTED IN CUBA NOT JUST BECAUSE HE WAS GAY, BUT EVEN BECAUSE OF HIS WRITINGS, HIS ART.

JAVIER BARDEM>> HE WAS AN ARTIST AND THAT'S WHY THIS MOVIE IS IMPORTANT TO BE WATCHED BY HUGE AUDIENCE BECAUSE IT'S A WAY OF SHOWING US HOW A PERSON CAN LOVE SO MUCH HIS PIECE OF WORK AND HOW HE GAVE HIS LIFE BECAUSE HE TRUST THAT SOMEDAY SOMEBODY WOULD READ HIS WORK. NOW THAT WE DID THE MOVIE, IT'S AN HONOR FOR US TO BE SOMETHING OF THE SPEAKER OF HIS VOICE. SO NOW PEOPLE CAN NOW READ HIS BOOKS AND KNOW WHO REINALDO ARENAS WAS.

VAL>> ARE THEY PUBLISHED IN ENGLISH? ARE THEY AVAILABLE?

JAVIER BARDEM>> SURE. THERE ARE MANY. THIS MOVIE IS BASED ON HIS STORY. IT'S LIKE HISTORICAL, "BEFORE NIGHT FALLS", WHICH IS A GREAT BOOK TO READ.

JESS>> BUT IT GOES FOR JUST NOT ONLY IN CUBA, BUT HE DIED IN THIS COUNTRY, THE UNITED STATES. PART OF THE BOAT LIFT WHERE CASTRO GOT RID OF THE UNDESIRABLES, INCLUDING GAYS.

JAVIER BARDEM>> YES, CERTAINLY. THEN ONCE HE SPENT HIS TIME IN THE STATES, I MUST SAY LIKE HE DIDN'T HAVE A GOOD TIME ALSO HERE BECAUSE HE WAS USED ALSO AS A POLITICAL FIGURE INSTEAD OF BEING A WRITER, AN ARTIST. SO LET'S SAY THAT REINALDO ARENAS DIDN'T FIND HIS OWN [INAUDIBLE] AND THAT'S WHY AT THE END, HE FINISHED LIKE HE FINISHED. I DON'T WANT TO SAY THE END OF THE MOVIE.

VAL>> NO, NO, WE DON'T WANT TO SAY (LAUGHTER).

JESS>> HE DIES OF AIDS, WE KNOW THAT.

VAL>> YES, BUT WE WON'T GIVE IT AWAY. REALLY, IT'S A STUNNING ENDING AND REALLY AN AMAZING MOVIE. TELL US NOW, ON A MORE PERSONAL NOTE, HOW ARE YOU DOING WITH ALL THIS ATTENTION THAT COMES FROM AN OSCAR NOMINATION?

JAVIER BARDEM>> WELL, BOY, IT'S HUGE. I'M NOT USED TO ALL OF THIS. IN SPAIN, WE DO MOVIES AND WE TALK ABOUT THOSE AT LEAST FOR THREE DAYS AND THEN IT'S OVER (LAUGHTER). I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS MOVIE THREE MONTHS, WHICH IS GREAT BECAUSE I'M REALLY PROUD OF THIS MOVIE.

JESS>> WELL, YOU'VE DONE MORE THAN 20 MOVIES, BUT ONE WOULD GUESS THAT THIS IS NOT THE LAST MOVIE YOU WILL DO IN ENGLISH.

JAVIER BARDEM>> NO. ACTUALLY, I FINISHED A MOVIE WITH JOHN MALKOVICH, THE ACTOR, HIS VERY FIRST MOVIE AS DIRECTOR CALLED "THE DANCER UPSTAIRS". I THINK IT'S GOING OUT IN MAY. IT'S IN ENGLISH ALSO.

JESS>> YOU'LL BE WITH US FOR A WHILE THEN?

JAVIER BARDEM>> I HOPE SO.

VAL>> AND YOUR ENGLISH IS GREAT. AFTER ALL THESE INTERVIEWS, YOU GOT IT DOWN.

JESS>> SHOWS YOU WHAT A COUPLE OF MONTHS WILL DO, HUH?

JAVIER BARDEM>> (LAUGHTER) THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

VAL>> JAVIER BARDEM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US. IT WAS A REAL PLEASURE.

JESS>> IF YOU'D LIKE TO SEE JAVIER BARDEM'S OSCAR-NOMINATED PERFORMANCE, THE FILM "BEFORE NIGHT FALLS" IS NOW PLAYING IN THEATERS ALL OVER SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

VAL>> THAT'S IT FOR OUR PROGRAM THIS EVENING. THANK YOU FOR WATCHING AND WE'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW EVENING. BYE-BYE.

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