CNN news 2011-07-27 加文本

cnn news 2011-07-27

Two breaking sports stories this morning. It's decision day for the 2011 NFL season. After a four-month labor lockout between players and owners, well, a key vote could break the stalemate. 

And we're also learning this. Tiger Woods fires his longtime caddie Steve Williams and guess what? He speaks out about the abrupt move. We'll hear from the caddie in just five minutes. 

Millions of pro-football fans are hoping today, well, that it will be the day the NFL's labor lockout will end. Players and owners expected to vote on a deal that will hopefully say the 2011 season. 

cnn's David Mattingly is live here in Atlanta where the negotiations are actually going on. 

So what's the word, David? 

Well, Kyra, everyone watching and waiting so far. The players ended yesterday without having a final vote. If they vote today, it will take at least half of the players voting yes for the collective bargaining agreement. Then all eyes will be here on Atlanta where the owners will be meeting about an hour from now. It will take 75 percent of those owners. That'll be 24 out of the 32 to ratify this. If that happens and the season goes on. But everyone is very mindful right now that the clock is running out. 

The Chicago Bears are supposed to start training camp tomorrow. They are going to play the Rams August 7th. That's the first Sunday in August for the first pre-season game for the year. That's the Hall of Fame game in Ohio. So everyone wondering if they can get it done today. 

They might be able to keep this schedule intact. But if it goes a few days, maybe even a week longer, then they are going to have to start having some real concerns and maybe even losing some money as they have to start adjusting this schedule down the road. 

But right now all fans are watching and saying we're ready for some football. The players and owners saying the same thing. They just have to be able to vote and reach that final agreement -- Kyra. 

All right. Well, we are waiting. Let us know as soon as you know something, David. Thanks. 

Now the bombshell that's reverberating around the golf world. Tiger Woods fires his longtime caddie Steve Williams. This comes after 12 years of service, dozens of wins and sex scandals that Tiger has yet to fully recover from. 

Now this morning, Williams says he's disappointed and shocked by the move. 

I think, you know, when you're great friends with somebody and a situation like this occurs, I mean, you know, you obviously lose some kind of respect and that's respect is regained back through time. I mean, that's just sort of how it works, I guess. 

cnn International's Candy Reid has more now on Tiger Woods and caddie Steve Williams parting ways. 

Thanks very much. For 12 years, Tiger Woods and Steve Williams formed the most successful partnership in golf but that relationship came to an end on Wednesday, as Tiger announced on his Web site that it was time for a change. 

Tiger who appeared in Stevie's wedding and vice-versa announced their split on his Web site, saying, "I want to express my deepest gratitude to Stevie for all his help, but I think it's time for a change. Stevie is an outstanding caddie and a friend and has been instrumental in many of my accomplishments. I wish him great success in the future." 

Though Tiger seemed to implicate it was an amicable split, the quote Williams posted on his Web site seemed to suggest it was less so. This is what he said. "After 13 years of loyal service, needless to say this came as a shock. Given the circumstances of the past 18 months, working through Tiger's scandal and new coach and with it a major swing change and Tiger battling through injuries, I am very disappointed to end our very successful partnership at this time. I have had the opportunity to work of late for Australian Adam Scott and will now caddie for him on a permanent basis."