S4 Liquidations

An underground bomb, a stadium massacre by masked gunmen and a radioactive attack on a regional sporting venue.

These are just a few of the scenarios being considered by British security forces in the final countdown to the London Olympics.

But while the potential threats sound horrendous, almost certainly resulting in multiple injuries and fatalities, officials – including those from Australia – are calm and confident about Games protection.

Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) secretary general and chief operating officer Craig Phillips said a delegation from Down Under including the teams security officer Greg Nance, attended the latest security briefing and was satisfied with the feedback.

He (Mr Nance) was very impressed with the quality of information he is getting, Mr Phillips told AAP.

Well have Greg as part of our team and then we have a relationship with the (Australian) Federal Police who I understand are already here within the High Commission, but there will be an increased presence come Games time.

In December National Olympic Security coordinator Assistant Commissioner Chris Allison reconfirmed that the main areas of security concern for the Games was terrorism, followed by serious and organised crime (such as ticket touting), and protest action.

Wed be failing in our duty if we didnt consider terrorism coming from all the various areas and we look at all the various attack options, terrorist attack methodologies that have been used in the past and we build control measures on the basis of that, Mr Allison said.

Those terrorist considerations have included rehearsing a response to an attack on Games venues outside of heavily-guarded London.

Sailing off the coast of Dorset, Paralympic cycling at Kent and football at Old Trafford are some of the regional events that may be prone to attack according to military insiders.

The Olympic intelligence centre has been running for some time … identifying all the various threats to the Games so we can make sure were putting in place the necessary activity and thats helping us brief both foreign security liaison officers and all the sponsors and all the people were working with, Mr Allison said.

Already there is a round-the-clock security team based at Olympic Park, as organisers work to finalise the number of security personnel needed to guard the Games.

The British defence secretary has confirmed that up to 13,500 military personnel will be on duty in London and across the country.

In the past two months the Games security budget has ballooned by some STG275 million ($A410 million), near doubling initial estimates.

While Games organisers insist the focus for the 2012 event will be on sport with a security overlay, the UK is no stranger to terrorist attacks, as seen in July 2005 in London when bombs on a bus and underground trains killed 56 people.

Since the 1972 Olympics in Munich where 11 Israeli athletes and coaches were killed by terrorists, security has become an essential part of any modern Games.

Notre Dame and USC have one of the biggest rivalries in college football. They will play the latest chapter on October 22 when the Trojans visit South Bend. Since the two teams became annual rivals, there have been a number of memorable moments between the two teams. Here is a look at the five best games between USC and Notre Dame on the football field.

“Frito-Lay has infiltrated the lives of teens by developing covert advertising campaigns centered on things teens love,” including video games and music, according to a draft complaint from the Center for Digital Democracy, Consumer Watchdog and two other groups. Photo: Christopher Powers/Bloomberg

The BCS field is muddled. With so many teams sporting perfect records and no playoff to decide a champ, our bloggers take on the ultimate task: making a case for each team with a title shot.

The case for the No. 8 Stanford Cardinal is a tough one to make right now, but it will get easier as the season progresses — and if the Cardinal keep winning.

Remember, Stanford started out at No. 12 in the first BCS standings last season before eventually ascending to No. 4.

For Stanford, it begins and ends with a different No. 12 this season — No. 12 being Andrew Luck. The quarterback is the most polished prospect in a decade and hes better than he was last season, when the Cardinal cleaned up in the Orange Bowl.

But the Cardinal are not one-trick ponies. It starts with Luck, but usually ends with one of his three dominating tight ends. The trio are tall, fast and physical. There is no defense in the Pac-12 that can shut them down and youd be hard-pressed to find a unit in the country that can matchup against them. The Cardinal have a balanced running game behind Stepfan Taylor and Luck is one of the best in the country at selling play-action.

The rebuilt offensive line has progressed quicker than most would have imagined and the defense is physical and punishing. Stanford has held its last 12 opponents to under 20 points. That includes three bowl teams from last season and three (so far) that are in bowl reach this year.

The question is, how will Stanford respond when they are really challenged? I submit they have already been challenged. Maybe not for a full 60 minutes, but there have been times this season when they could have wilted.

They turned away one of the nations stronger rushing teams, UCLA, from their goal line four straight times. Had the Bruins scored on their opening drive, the outcome of that game could have been dramatically different.

We saw Luck bounce back after throwing a pick-six (not his fault) against Duke. Or even this past weekend when the offense looked out of sync in the first half on the road against Washington State. Luck and his tight ends exploded for three second-half touchdowns en route to a 44-14 victory.

The Cardinal have been challenged plenty, and all of that experience is going to pay off as the schedule ramps up in the second part of the season. They have two games against teams ranked in the BCS Top 25 (Washington, Oregon) and its quite possible that USC and/or Notre Dame could be ranked before those games kickoff.

They will also be aided by some head-to-head matchups that will create a couple of one-loss teams, Alabama-LSU and Oklahoma-Oklahoma State. Plus Wisconsin still has tough games against Penn State and Michigan State on its schedule. Boise State still has TCU (which has turned into a fantastic rivalry the last couple of years) and they have to go on the road against a resurgent San Diego State team.

All Stanford can do is more of the same — keep winning big. The last nine victories have been by 25 points or more. The Cardinal have to take advantage of some nationally-televised games. Rather than hope teams in front of them fall, give voters a reason to move them up. Dazzle them.

But above all, do not lose. Because if this tree falls, everyone will hear it.

1 of 2. Michael Gennaro (R) of the US raises his fist after he and team mate Robert Otto won the gold medal in the Mens Coxless Pairs rowing competition at the Pan American Games in Ciudad Guzman October 18, 2011.

Credit: Reuters/Andy Clark

Rex Ryan has never shied away from bold predictions.

In the preseason, he suggested the since-traded Derrick Mason might have 90 to 100 catches for the Jets. That obviously didnt work out. But the Jets coach went out on another limb yesterday, foreseeing that Plaxico Burress, despite his low production thus far, will one week turn in double-digit catches.

Im not down on Plax whatsoever, Ryan said on a conference call Tuesday. I think there are going to be times when he will have 10 catches. I truly believe that is coming.

That kind of game would nearly match Burress season tally through six games: 14 catches for 218 yards and two touchdowns. He was targeted four times in Mondays 24-6 win against the Miami Dolphins, catching just one pass for 16 yards.

When the Jets signed the 6-5 receiver this summer, they envisioned him as a dangerous red-zone target whose ability to out-reach defenders for the football would help grease Mark Sanchezs passing game.

But there was also the factor that Burress had been out of the NFL for nearly three years, while serving a prison term for illegal gun possession. And that with an offseason erased by the NFL lockout, the 34-year-old would play catch with Sanchez for the first time in August, not even three months ago.

Ryan said Burress assimilation to the Jets is about where we thought wed be. But he also acknowledged Burress connection with Sanchez is still a work in progress.

It just seems like were missing just a little bit, Ryan said. Its just a little off. But Im encouraged by the fact that, Hey, well keep working. And I really think as the season goes on, youre going to see better and better chemistry, and having the ball thrown to Plax more.

Burress hasnt caught a touchdown since Week 3 against the Raiders. Sanchez has targeted Burress 37 times this season for 14 completions, just a 38 percent success rate.

Ryan said the Jets had a chance to get Burress the ball on the first play of Mondays game, but Sanchez instead threw an incompletion to running back Shonn Greene.

On one of the incompletions to Burress, Miami safety Yeremiah Bell did a nice job preventing Burress from getting in good position in the end zone to make the catch, after which the receiver implored the referee for a flag. On another, Burress was not able to get on top of Miami cornerback Sean Smith on a shot downfield, leaving Smith in position to make an interception (though the defender dropped the ball).

ESPN analyst Jon Gruden highlighted the third incompletion to Burress on the Monday Night Football broadcast, pointing out that the receiver ran a poor route and did not get off the line of scrimmage and out of his break in time for the anticipation throw from Sanchez. The pass bounced off Burress hands, adding to the two drops he had in the New England loss two weeks ago.

SEATTLE, Oct. 19, 2011 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ –
PopCap Games, the worldwide leader in casual games, today announced the immediate global availability of Bejeweled® 3 for download on Xbox LIVE® Arcade for 1200 Microsoft Points (US$15.00). Expanding the franchise with additional new adaptations, Bejeweled 3 for Nintendo DS®, PlayStation®3 and Xbox 360® will hit retail shelves on November 15.

Featuring twice the game modes of its predecessor as well as eight mini-games and enhanced sound and graphics, Bejeweled 3 is a quantum leap forward in the match-3 category pioneered by the original Bejeweled. This adaptation offers visually stunning, high resolution graphics, plenty of action for all gamers with the full suite of Bejeweled 3 games and modes, including leaderboards for Classic, Lightning, Poker, Butterflies, Ice Storm and Diamond Mine, plus four special gems, five elite badges, and 15 achievements.

Originally launched in the spring of 2000, Bejeweled has become one of the top 10 video game franchises in history. More than half a billion people worldwide have played the game, and over 50 million units have been sold across 17 platforms from iPhone to Xbox and even airline seatbacks. An estimated 9 billion hours have been spent playing Bejeweled, and the game continues to sell at the rate of one copy every 4.3 seconds.

About PopCap

PopCap Games is the leading global developer, publisher and operator of casual video games: fun, easy-to-learn, captivating games that appeal to all ages across PC, mobile, social and other platforms. Based in Seattle, Washington, PopCap was founded in 2000, was acquired by Electronic Arts in 2011, and has a worldwide staff of more than 500 people in Seattle, San Francisco, Vancouver, B.C., Dublin, Seoul, Shanghai and Tokyo. PopCap’s games have been downloaded over 1.5 billion times by consumers worldwide, and its flagship franchise, Bejeweled®, has sold more than 50 million units.

The PopCap logo and all other trademarks used herein that are listed at
www.popcap.com/trademarks are owned by PopCap Games, Inc. or its licensors and may be registered in some countries. Other company and product names used herein may be trademarks of their respective owners and are used for the benefit of those owners.

SOURCE PopCap Games

Copyright (C) 2011 PR Newswire. All rights reserved

Penn State leading receiver Derek Moye is likely to be out until the Nov. 12 game against Nebraska, coach Joe Paterno said Tuesday.

Moye broke a bone in his left foot when he slipped on some stairs at his apartment last week. The original prognosis called for Moye to miss two games but be able to return for the Oct. 29 home game against Illinois. While Paterno said Moye was anxious to get back on the field, he said its more likely that the senior would sit out the Illinois game. The Nittany Lions have a bye week the following week before playing Nebraska at home, giving Moye an extra week to heal.

Penn State has had its struggles on offense, particularly in the passing game, and Moye is its best weapon. The Nittany Lions will have to find other ways to move the football against Illinois and this weeks opponent, Northwestern, both of whom have the potential to score a lot of points in a hurry. Justin Brown was the teams leading receiver last week against Purdue, catching four passes for 86 yards.

Chicago Bears (3-3) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-2)

The Chicago Bears are reeling. They were once the top of the AFC North until the Green Bay Packers decided to go undefeated through six games this year. The Bears need a victory against their old rivals the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs find themselves in a tough race against the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons for the NFC South title. The game is being played in Londons Wembley Stadium even though it is a technical home game for Tampa Bay. Both teams are coming off victories over division rivals.

Seattle Seahawks (2-3) at Cleveland Browns (2-3)

The Seattle Seahawks are playing catch up against the surprising 49ers in the NFC West. The Cleveland Browns need a victory to try to get closer to the top in the brutal AFC North. Both teams should consider this game in Cleveland a must-win to keep playoff hopes alive. Cleveland has three teams in its division with four wins after six weeks and the Browns need all the wins they can get.

William Browning is a fan of the Kansas City Chiefs after latching on to the team during the lean years of St. Louis football. Born in the gateway city, he is also a lifelong St. Louis Cardinals fan. He currently resides in Branson, Mo.

Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.

DETROIT — There are times when every fan must admit their team is getting flat-out beaten, no excuse. This is that time.

The Detroit Red Wings are down 2-0 in their second-round series with the San Jose Sharks.

The Sharks have been the better team in this series, by far. Games 1 and 2 should have been at least 5-0 or 5-1, San Jose, if not for Detroit goalie Jimmy Howard.

Howard has made 79 saves in two games. A lot of the saves have been pretty spectacular.

Sharks goalie Antti Niemi has been decent, but tested much less.

The Red Wings looked flat in game 1. Eight days off sure gave the Wings time to rest, but it appeared to give them time to get a bit sluggish. Game 2 provided a similarly sluggish Detroit team. However, credit San Jose for matching this team better than many seemed to expect.

The Sharks have been better in most areas of the game. They are out-muscling Detroit, getting to almost every loose puck in the offensive zone and taking advantage of power plays and turnovers. Consequently, the Red Wings are failing to get a lot of sustained pressure in the Sharks? zone.

As a fan, I am frustrated while watching this team. The Wings are doing almost everything wrong right now. They are playing undisciplined, untimely hockey. They are taking terrible penalties and they are not capitalizing on the few chances they get.

Mike Babcock was really out-coached in the first two games. Todd McLellan knows how to beat Detroit, and Babcock does not know how to counter him ? at least it appears that way. Babcock?s lines are not matching up well, and McLellan definitely took advantage of having the last call on the line changes at home.

The last 10 minutes of Sunday?s game showcased a desperate Detroit team doing too little, too late. Flashbacks to last year, indeed.

Detroit needs to change a lot in game 3 if they want to be around next week. The Wings need to be smarter with the puck and much more urgent in the offensive zone. They need to take some pressure off of Howard. Scoring more than one goal a game should help their cause.

I can sit here and chalk it up to goal posts, tough bounces — such as the overtime goal in game 1 — and, plainly put, bad luck.

But the fact is, its playoff hockey, that stuff happens. Detroit scored one goal in each of the first two games. Cant win like that.

Johan Franzen, Valtteri Filppula and Jiri Hudler need to start generating some kind of offense. If Franzen is hurt, Babcock needs to pull him out. It took him almost six periods to get one shot.

Bottom line: Detroit needs to start scoring. Everything will change if they can just get the Sharks on the defensive.

I am not saying it is over, but if the Detroit team that showed up in the first two games shows up for game 3, then the Wings might as well start setting up some tee times.

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