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Two Delta Flights Grounded Based on Terrorism Suspicions; Chicago Nun Picks Super Bowl Winners
Aired February 04, 2005 - 14:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: And the pope is getting better all the time after suffering a respiratory infection that hospitalized him. The Vatican says his condition continues to improve. The 84-year-old pontiff is expected to deliver his regular Sunday address this weekend from a hospital window, but a planned meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice next week has been canceled.
And Atlanta Thrashers' hockey star Danny Heatley gets three years probation and, get this, he must make 150 speeches about the dangers of speeding. That's after he pleaded guilty in the death of teammate Dan Snyder in a car accident. It was part of a plea deal between Heatley and the prosecution.
HARRIS: Now to that commuter train crash in California last week and a heartfelt message written in blood. The mystery of who wrote that desperate goodbye is solved. Ted Rowlands unravels it for you.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): While looking for signs of life in the twisted wreckage of a commuter train crash, Los Angeles firefighters came across John Phipps trapped in the twisted rubble.
CAPT. BOB ROSARIO, L.A. FIRE DEPARTMENT: To see a live person trapped inside all this rubble and debris was pretty amazing.
ROWLANDS: After pulling him out, firefighters noticed something, a message written in blood on the back on what was left of a passenger seat. "I love my kids," it said, using the heart sign. Below that also in blood, it read, "I love Leslie."
Eleven people died in the train wreck but John Phipps survived. And in an emotional meeting with his wife Leslie and children, Shara, Jeremy and Josh, John thanked the firefighters that pulled him out. John, who still has 24 staples in his head, says blood was all over his hand when he wrote the note.
JOHN PHIPPS, TRAIN CRASH SURVIVOR: "I heart Leslie." Then there was a little bar above that. And I thought well, there's plenty of blood. So I wrote, "I heart my kids."
LESLIE PHIPPS, WIFE: It's moving and it's thoughtful, and it's chilling all at the same time to think that you would think I'm going to die here, I could die here. And to think of somebody else is amazing. It really is. And he thought of all of us. And that's just terrific.
PHIPPS: I got to tell my wife and my kids what I thought were going to be my last words. And God blessed me and made sure that they weren't my last words.
ROWLANDS: Words written by a man who, when faced with death, truly appreciated the importance of life.
Ted Rowlands, CNN, Los Angeles.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: The man suspected of causing the train crash is still awaiting arraignment on 11 murder charges. Juan Alvarez's court appearance last week was postponed indefinitely for medical reasons.
And let's get you back now to Jeanne Meserve, who is covering the story of two Delta airlines planes on the ground now and in a secure area of JFK airport in New York. Jeanne, what's the latest?
JEANNE MESERVE, CNN HOMELAND SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Tony, I can tell you that officials are now saying that there was a person of interest on board one of those flights. They have identified that person and authorities are now in the process of talking to him. We have no further details on who he might be.
The story unfolded like this. There was a phoned-in threat warning of possible hijackers on board Delta flight 119. This flight originated in Bombay, it went to Paris and from Paris was heading to JFK in New York. And then a second flight became involved. This was Delta flight 81, flying from Amsterdam to JFK.
One official tells us it appears 81 became of concern when they realized they had this person of interest on board the flight. Now both of these flights, as you can see from the video, have, indeed, landed at JFK. One of them was taken to a remote area of the airport so it could be checked out. The cockpits on both flights were always secure. The flights were eventually brought in closer to the terminal and as you can see, they're being dealt with there.
But the headline now, a person of interest on board one of those flights, on board delta 81. Authorities are in the process of talking to that individual as we speak here -- Tony.
HARRIS: And Jeanne, it brings to mind the question of these lists and providing these lists to all of the airports, not only domestically, but internationally and the question, then, is how did this person of interest get on the aircraft at the point of origination?
MESERVE: It is a very imperfect system at this point in time. The United States would very much would like to have these lists before the planes take off but in most instances, foreign governments are reluctant to do that. Generally, the United States does not get the manifest until the flights are in the air. The U.S. then combs through them and occasionally it does get a hit. We've seen several incidents in the last several months where planes have -- in one instance, one was turned around and taken back to London. In another instance, a plane landed in Bangor, Maine, and they took off the man who used to be known as Cat Stevens, the singer, because he had appeared on a watch list. The plane went on to its destination, but he turned around and sent back to Britain. So a system the U.S. would like to see improved, but it's imperfect at this point in time.
HARRIS: And I'm just wondering. I'm sure you know the answer to this. This is a situation where, when planes are diverted, are the other passengers on board ever aware that this is happening? Are they ever notified as to what exactly is going on?
MESERVE: You know, I'm not certain exactly what the answer is to that. My guess would be that it would vary from flight-to-flight.
HARRIS: Yes, sure.
MESERVE: I should point out in this instance, both these planes came down exactly where they were scheduled to land. Both were flights into JFK. That is where these planes eventually landed.
HARRIS: And remind us again that -- these planes are in a secure area and the person of interest, we would imagine, is now in custody?
MESERVE: Well, the Port Authority of New York tells me that actually the planes have now been brought into the gate.
HARRIS: I see.
MESERVE: The person of interest is now being talked to. Whether he's in custody or not, I don't know. But certainly he's being interrogated at this point in time.
HARRIS: Wonderful. OK. Jeanne Meserve. We appreciate, as always. Thank you, Jeanne.
MESERVE: You bet.
NGUYEN: And we want to continue with this story, go to CNN's Mike Brooks, who is on the phone. Do you know any more about this person of interest, Mike?
MIKE BROOKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: No, Betty. That's -- we're hearing that there is a person of interest, which I always call suspect light, if you will. But an airline security source told me a short time ago that Delta flight 119, that was en route to JFK, the call had been received from an anonymous caller saying that there was something going on board the aircraft.
They contacted the aircraft en route and everything was fine. So they were originally going to take the plane, pull it up to an area of JFK, have it searched, but they decided against it because they said everything was fine on board on flight 119. NGUYEN: So what happens now? Especially with that anonymous call. Are they tracing back to the source of where that call came from? Is that going to be part of the investigation?
BROOKS: Depending on where the call came into. We're hearing different things of where the call came into but, yes, they will trace that back to the source and if it was a call saying that there was a hijacking, if there was something else on board the aircraft, that could be -- it could be -- that person, he or she, could be in trouble and liable for a federal offense.
NGUYEN: And Tony and Jeanne really talked about an important point here is how that person of interest got on the plane to begin with, especially if that person's name was on a watch list.
BROOKS: Well, that's -- that has been a bone of contention for quite some time. Many times, especially on international flights, the airlines don't hear about until the plane is in the air. Now, the person of interest, depending on if there -- there's a number of different lists. There's a no-fly list and then there's another list and actually there's another other list. But it all comes from the FBI and the TSA. The airlines used to know a lot more about the list and the source and the information that puts someone on a list, but they're not giving out information the way they used to be.
NGUYEN: All right, CNN's Mike Brooks, we appreciate your information today. And CNN is committed to providing the most reliable coverage of news that affects your security. Stay tuned to CNN for the latest information day and night. And we also want you to stay tuned to more on LIVE FROM, right after this short break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: All right. Thousands of people are flocking to Jacksonville, Florida, for Sunday's Super Bowl. The fans and the players are ready for the main event. So are law enforcement officials.
CNN national correspondent Susan Candiotti reports on the super security.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In order to make Super Bowl fans safe all weekend long, a high-tech gameplan is in place. The man calling security shots, Jacksonville Sheriff John Rutherford, says his team is ready.
SHERIFF JOHN RUTHERFORD, JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA: We've been planning for 18 months; let's get on the field and do it.
CANDIOTTI: Among his tools, cameras trained on key locations around the stadium. Computers can pull in, analyze and catalog shots. The system can zero in on a single seat or an employee in the nosebleed section.
Outside the stadium...
RUTHERFORD: Say a bus had been hijacked and it stops on the bridge, because they want the safety of not having anyone around them. We can still zoom in and get very close and find out exactly what's going on in there.
CANDIOTTI (on camera): Over my shoulder, Alltel Stadium, right on the waterfront. Along the river a 14-mile safety zone patrolled by an alphabet-soup collection of federal, state and local agencies.
(voice-over): Including the Coast Guard, monitoring pleasure boats and commercial traffic in the zone.
LT. CMDR. DAN DEPTULA, U.S. COAST GUARD: If they are going too fast or not adhering to the rules that we put out in place here, then we're going to ask them some questions.
CANDIOTTI: Before sailing into port, the seven cruise ships that were to be used as floating hotels were inspected, with divers examining each hull, looking for anything out of the ordinary. Once dockside, no water traffic is allowed inside a 400-yard security zone around the cruise ships.
If suspect bombs or explosives are discovered anywhere, ATF response teams are ready with dogs that can sniff out thousands of explosives, using robots, if needed. And, as a last resort, agents wearing protective suits to get a closer look. More than 50 law enforcement agencies trying to make sure this year's Super Bowl has a smooth sail.
Susan Candiotti, CNN, Jacksonville, Florida.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: To the game, to the game, to the game. Who is going to win it on Sunday, the Pats or the Eagles?
NGUYEN: Well, we have heard from the experts, but now let's hear from someone with something you might say divine inspiration.
HARRIS: Yes. Sister Jean Kenny has been making Super Bowl predictions for two decades and she has a habit -- ha, ha, that's funny, of picking winners. She joins us from Chicago with a look at Sunday's game.
Sister Jean, how are you?
SISTER JEAN KENNY: Good afternoon. I'm fine, thanks. How are you?
HARRIS: Well. Betty has a question for you.
KENNY: OK.
NGUYEN: Well, I just -- let's get right to it. Where are you getting the inspiration or the information for these predictions? HARRIS: She has a direct line! Her calls get answered!
NGUYEN: Let her answer the question, Sister.
KENNY: Actually, it's Pro Football Weekly.
NGUYEN: Oh, see, Tony! it's not God?
KENNY: I read Pro Football Weekly every week.
NGUYEN: OK. I thought it was a divine thing, that you were getting it from above.
KENNY: Yes. Lots of people think that.
HARRIS: So wait a minute. You read Pro Football Weekly which means you're a football fan?
KENNY: Big football fan.
HARRIS: Well, there you go! all right. So all right, so this choice is reflective of your acumen, your knowledge of football, right?
KENNY: I tell the kids it pays to do your homework.
HARRIS: So you've done your homework, right?
KENNY: Yes, I have.
HARRIS: So you've crunched the numbers, you've crunched the records, you've done all of that work, correct?
KENNY: Correct.
NGUYEN: So your pick is?
HARRIS: No, no, not yet!
NGUYEN: Oh come on, we've got to get to the pick!
HARRIS: It should be one of the last things. OK. Now long have -- we need to test the credibility on this, how long, Sister Jean, have you been doing this?
KENNY: Nineteen years.
HARRIS: OK, 19 years, I can't do the math.
KENNY: I started in 1986 when the Chicago Bears won.
NGUYEN: All right. And your record is?
KENNY: Sixteen correct, three wrong.
NGUYEN: Wow! HARRIS: Really? Do you wager to...
NGUYEN: Oh, don't ask her that!
HARRIS: A little money for the diocese.
KENNY: No. I leave that up to the experts in Las Vegas.
HARRIS: Oh you do?
NGUYEN: OK. All right. So can I get to it now, Tony?
HARRIS: OK.
NGUYEN: So what is your prediction this year?
KENNY: I predict that the Super Bowl -- the winner of Super Bowl XXXIX will be the New England Patriots by a score of 33-23.
HARRIS: And what do you base that -- what was it, 33-23?
NGUYEN: On the information that she has gathered. And you also have a poem, don't you?
KENNY: Yes, I do. Every year, I wrote a Super Bowl poem.
NGUYEN: Can you read that to us today?
KENNY: OK. The title for this year's Super Bowl poem is "Hurrah for the Red, White and Blue, too." Welcome football fans to the Sunshine State. See the focused Patriots dominate. This Kraft-y owned team has a dynasty fate. Winning the Lombardi Trophy again proves they are great.
Belichick's solar express is right on track. Dillon and Faulk lead the running attack. Brady and all his receivers won't look back. Bruschi's crushing defense will get the big sack.
Andy Reid's Eagles are stranded and won't feel good. McNabb's Chunky in the soup outing is misunderstood. Philly's notorious fans wonder if only these birds could. The Pats win 39, and it's mmm, mmm good!
NGUYEN: Go Patriots!
(LAUGHTER)
HARRIS: No, you didn't bring the can! All right. But wait a minute! I need to understand a little better what it is you have against the Eagles.
KENNY: Nothing against them. I think the Patriots are the better team.
HARRIS: Based on what?
KENNY: Based on the whole year and based on the playoffs.
HARRIS: Based on the playoffs.
NGUYEN: Well, they've been there before, they have got a little experience.
KENNY: They have been there before. They have Bill Belichick as their master and commander, Tom Brady.
HARRIS: But I have to ask you this, Sister Jean. Don't you love a good story?
KENNY: Yes, I do.
HARRIS: Don't you think the underdog story, right? Right? The underdog story...
NGUYEN: It's a good story but she says it's the Pats.
HARRIS: She loves a great story.
KENNY: It could happen. I'm just saying I'm going with the New England Patriots. There is no such thing as...
HARRIS: Don't get mad.
NGUYEN: Sister, let me ask you this. I want to put you to the test because you say it's all about the knowledge that you gather from reading and studying football. So can you predict other things besides just who is going to win? Can you predict, say, who is going to be MVP?
KENNY: I can, after the game is over. I can give an educated guess but not ahead of time.
NGUYEN: OK. Not ahead of time. All right.
HARRIS: Wait a minute. She's already given us a spread, so we've got the spread...
KENNY: Based on performance.
HARRIS: Based on performance.
KENNY: So I have to watch the three-hour game.
NGUYEN: Do you think it's going to go into overtime?
KENNY: We might.
HARRIS: No, it's 33-23. It's not going to go into overtime.
NGUYEN: She just said they might.
HARRIS: It's not going to go into overtime.
KENNY: It's not likely but it could happen.
NGUYEN: All right. Here is a big question for you. What about a wardrobe malfunction during halftime, do you predict it?
KENNY: Not with Paul McCartney. In fact, I have some songs that I think he's going to sing.
NGUYEN: Oh, OK. You're going to predict that, tell me.
KENNY: Well, I think he might start out with "The Long and Winding Road" because it was 21 weeks in the football season to get to the Super Bowl. And for the Philadelphia Eagles, I think he might be singing "Hard Day's Night." and "Yesterday." And finally for my New England Patriots, I think he's going to sing "Good Day Sunshine." and "Twist and Shout."
HARRIS: "Twist and Shout." That is very good.
NGUYEN: You are too much. Sister Jean Kenny.
KENNY: Go Beatles!
NGUYEN: And Patriots.
KENNY: Yes.
NGUYEN: Thanks for your time today, we appreciate it.
KENNY: You're welcome, it was a pleasure.
NGUYEN: You're going to be watching, right?
KENNY: Definitely.
NGUYEN: But you already know the outcome. Why should you watch?
KENNY: I want to watch.
HARRIS: Sister Jean, thank you.
KENNY: You're welcome, thank you.
HARRIS: Enjoy the game.
KENNY: OK. You, too.
HARRIS: Watch, she's going to be tailgating, are you kidding me? All right. One programming note we want to pass along. NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue will be our guest on CNN Super Bowl Sunday, that's at 9:00 a.m. Eastern.
NGUYEN: Well, "Sex and the City" made the cosmopolitan very hip, now a hit movie is creating a similar buzz for wine sellers.
HARRIS: Details when we check Wall Street, that after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: News around the world now. Missing airliner, Afghan and NATO forces have temporarily stopped a search for an Afghan jet with 104 people on board because of darkness. Officials say the airliner disappeared from radar screens on Thursday during a snowstorm. Three American women are believed to be on that flight.
Japanese officials confirm the country's first mad cow death. The man is believed to be the first person in Japan to die from the human variant of mad cow disease and he is thought to have contracted it on a visit to Britain back in 1989.
And boxing legend Max Schmeling is dead at the age of 99. He is best-known in America for two memorable fights against Joe Louis in the 1930s. He defeated Louis in a 1936 non-title bout that is considered one of the biggest upsets in boxing history. Then he went on to lose the rematch.
(STOCK MARKET REPORT)
HARRIS: An amazing story you heard first on CNN. Tsunami survivors rescued from a remote island after 38 days. CNN's Suhasini Haider is there.
NGUYEN: And have you seen this couple? Police are searching for them because they're accused of torturing several children. More on the case when LIVE FROM continues.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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Aired February 4, 2005 - 14:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: And the pope is getting better all the time after suffering a respiratory infection that hospitalized him. The Vatican says his condition continues to improve. The 84-year-old pontiff is expected to deliver his regular Sunday address this weekend from a hospital window, but a planned meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice next week has been canceled.
And Atlanta Thrashers' hockey star Danny Heatley gets three years probation and, get this, he must make 150 speeches about the dangers of speeding. That's after he pleaded guilty in the death of teammate Dan Snyder in a car accident. It was part of a plea deal between Heatley and the prosecution.
HARRIS: Now to that commuter train crash in California last week and a heartfelt message written in blood. The mystery of who wrote that desperate goodbye is solved. Ted Rowlands unravels it for you.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): While looking for signs of life in the twisted wreckage of a commuter train crash, Los Angeles firefighters came across John Phipps trapped in the twisted rubble.
CAPT. BOB ROSARIO, L.A. FIRE DEPARTMENT: To see a live person trapped inside all this rubble and debris was pretty amazing.
ROWLANDS: After pulling him out, firefighters noticed something, a message written in blood on the back on what was left of a passenger seat. "I love my kids," it said, using the heart sign. Below that also in blood, it read, "I love Leslie."
Eleven people died in the train wreck but John Phipps survived. And in an emotional meeting with his wife Leslie and children, Shara, Jeremy and Josh, John thanked the firefighters that pulled him out. John, who still has 24 staples in his head, says blood was all over his hand when he wrote the note.
JOHN PHIPPS, TRAIN CRASH SURVIVOR: "I heart Leslie." Then there was a little bar above that. And I thought well, there's plenty of blood. So I wrote, "I heart my kids."
LESLIE PHIPPS, WIFE: It's moving and it's thoughtful, and it's chilling all at the same time to think that you would think I'm going to die here, I could die here. And to think of somebody else is amazing. It really is. And he thought of all of us. And that's just terrific.
PHIPPS: I got to tell my wife and my kids what I thought were going to be my last words. And God blessed me and made sure that they weren't my last words.
ROWLANDS: Words written by a man who, when faced with death, truly appreciated the importance of life.
Ted Rowlands, CNN, Los Angeles.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: The man suspected of causing the train crash is still awaiting arraignment on 11 murder charges. Juan Alvarez's court appearance last week was postponed indefinitely for medical reasons.
And let's get you back now to Jeanne Meserve, who is covering the story of two Delta airlines planes on the ground now and in a secure area of JFK airport in New York. Jeanne, what's the latest?
JEANNE MESERVE, CNN HOMELAND SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Tony, I can tell you that officials are now saying that there was a person of interest on board one of those flights. They have identified that person and authorities are now in the process of talking to him. We have no further details on who he might be.
The story unfolded like this. There was a phoned-in threat warning of possible hijackers on board Delta flight 119. This flight originated in Bombay, it went to Paris and from Paris was heading to JFK in New York. And then a second flight became involved. This was Delta flight 81, flying from Amsterdam to JFK.
One official tells us it appears 81 became of concern when they realized they had this person of interest on board the flight. Now both of these flights, as you can see from the video, have, indeed, landed at JFK. One of them was taken to a remote area of the airport so it could be checked out. The cockpits on both flights were always secure. The flights were eventually brought in closer to the terminal and as you can see, they're being dealt with there.
But the headline now, a person of interest on board one of those flights, on board delta 81. Authorities are in the process of talking to that individual as we speak here -- Tony.
HARRIS: And Jeanne, it brings to mind the question of these lists and providing these lists to all of the airports, not only domestically, but internationally and the question, then, is how did this person of interest get on the aircraft at the point of origination?
MESERVE: It is a very imperfect system at this point in time. The United States would very much would like to have these lists before the planes take off but in most instances, foreign governments are reluctant to do that. Generally, the United States does not get the manifest until the flights are in the air. The U.S. then combs through them and occasionally it does get a hit. We've seen several incidents in the last several months where planes have -- in one instance, one was turned around and taken back to London. In another instance, a plane landed in Bangor, Maine, and they took off the man who used to be known as Cat Stevens, the singer, because he had appeared on a watch list. The plane went on to its destination, but he turned around and sent back to Britain. So a system the U.S. would like to see improved, but it's imperfect at this point in time.
HARRIS: And I'm just wondering. I'm sure you know the answer to this. This is a situation where, when planes are diverted, are the other passengers on board ever aware that this is happening? Are they ever notified as to what exactly is going on?
MESERVE: You know, I'm not certain exactly what the answer is to that. My guess would be that it would vary from flight-to-flight.
HARRIS: Yes, sure.
MESERVE: I should point out in this instance, both these planes came down exactly where they were scheduled to land. Both were flights into JFK. That is where these planes eventually landed.
HARRIS: And remind us again that -- these planes are in a secure area and the person of interest, we would imagine, is now in custody?
MESERVE: Well, the Port Authority of New York tells me that actually the planes have now been brought into the gate.
HARRIS: I see.
MESERVE: The person of interest is now being talked to. Whether he's in custody or not, I don't know. But certainly he's being interrogated at this point in time.
HARRIS: Wonderful. OK. Jeanne Meserve. We appreciate, as always. Thank you, Jeanne.
MESERVE: You bet.
NGUYEN: And we want to continue with this story, go to CNN's Mike Brooks, who is on the phone. Do you know any more about this person of interest, Mike?
MIKE BROOKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: No, Betty. That's -- we're hearing that there is a person of interest, which I always call suspect light, if you will. But an airline security source told me a short time ago that Delta flight 119, that was en route to JFK, the call had been received from an anonymous caller saying that there was something going on board the aircraft.
They contacted the aircraft en route and everything was fine. So they were originally going to take the plane, pull it up to an area of JFK, have it searched, but they decided against it because they said everything was fine on board on flight 119. NGUYEN: So what happens now? Especially with that anonymous call. Are they tracing back to the source of where that call came from? Is that going to be part of the investigation?
BROOKS: Depending on where the call came into. We're hearing different things of where the call came into but, yes, they will trace that back to the source and if it was a call saying that there was a hijacking, if there was something else on board the aircraft, that could be -- it could be -- that person, he or she, could be in trouble and liable for a federal offense.
NGUYEN: And Tony and Jeanne really talked about an important point here is how that person of interest got on the plane to begin with, especially if that person's name was on a watch list.
BROOKS: Well, that's -- that has been a bone of contention for quite some time. Many times, especially on international flights, the airlines don't hear about until the plane is in the air. Now, the person of interest, depending on if there -- there's a number of different lists. There's a no-fly list and then there's another list and actually there's another other list. But it all comes from the FBI and the TSA. The airlines used to know a lot more about the list and the source and the information that puts someone on a list, but they're not giving out information the way they used to be.
NGUYEN: All right, CNN's Mike Brooks, we appreciate your information today. And CNN is committed to providing the most reliable coverage of news that affects your security. Stay tuned to CNN for the latest information day and night. And we also want you to stay tuned to more on LIVE FROM, right after this short break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: All right. Thousands of people are flocking to Jacksonville, Florida, for Sunday's Super Bowl. The fans and the players are ready for the main event. So are law enforcement officials.
CNN national correspondent Susan Candiotti reports on the super security.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In order to make Super Bowl fans safe all weekend long, a high-tech gameplan is in place. The man calling security shots, Jacksonville Sheriff John Rutherford, says his team is ready.
SHERIFF JOHN RUTHERFORD, JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA: We've been planning for 18 months; let's get on the field and do it.
CANDIOTTI: Among his tools, cameras trained on key locations around the stadium. Computers can pull in, analyze and catalog shots. The system can zero in on a single seat or an employee in the nosebleed section.
Outside the stadium...
RUTHERFORD: Say a bus had been hijacked and it stops on the bridge, because they want the safety of not having anyone around them. We can still zoom in and get very close and find out exactly what's going on in there.
CANDIOTTI (on camera): Over my shoulder, Alltel Stadium, right on the waterfront. Along the river a 14-mile safety zone patrolled by an alphabet-soup collection of federal, state and local agencies.
(voice-over): Including the Coast Guard, monitoring pleasure boats and commercial traffic in the zone.
LT. CMDR. DAN DEPTULA, U.S. COAST GUARD: If they are going too fast or not adhering to the rules that we put out in place here, then we're going to ask them some questions.
CANDIOTTI: Before sailing into port, the seven cruise ships that were to be used as floating hotels were inspected, with divers examining each hull, looking for anything out of the ordinary. Once dockside, no water traffic is allowed inside a 400-yard security zone around the cruise ships.
If suspect bombs or explosives are discovered anywhere, ATF response teams are ready with dogs that can sniff out thousands of explosives, using robots, if needed. And, as a last resort, agents wearing protective suits to get a closer look. More than 50 law enforcement agencies trying to make sure this year's Super Bowl has a smooth sail.
Susan Candiotti, CNN, Jacksonville, Florida.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: To the game, to the game, to the game. Who is going to win it on Sunday, the Pats or the Eagles?
NGUYEN: Well, we have heard from the experts, but now let's hear from someone with something you might say divine inspiration.
HARRIS: Yes. Sister Jean Kenny has been making Super Bowl predictions for two decades and she has a habit -- ha, ha, that's funny, of picking winners. She joins us from Chicago with a look at Sunday's game.
Sister Jean, how are you?
SISTER JEAN KENNY: Good afternoon. I'm fine, thanks. How are you?
HARRIS: Well. Betty has a question for you.
KENNY: OK.
NGUYEN: Well, I just -- let's get right to it. Where are you getting the inspiration or the information for these predictions? HARRIS: She has a direct line! Her calls get answered!
NGUYEN: Let her answer the question, Sister.
KENNY: Actually, it's Pro Football Weekly.
NGUYEN: Oh, see, Tony! it's not God?
KENNY: I read Pro Football Weekly every week.
NGUYEN: OK. I thought it was a divine thing, that you were getting it from above.
KENNY: Yes. Lots of people think that.
HARRIS: So wait a minute. You read Pro Football Weekly which means you're a football fan?
KENNY: Big football fan.
HARRIS: Well, there you go! all right. So all right, so this choice is reflective of your acumen, your knowledge of football, right?
KENNY: I tell the kids it pays to do your homework.
HARRIS: So you've done your homework, right?
KENNY: Yes, I have.
HARRIS: So you've crunched the numbers, you've crunched the records, you've done all of that work, correct?
KENNY: Correct.
NGUYEN: So your pick is?
HARRIS: No, no, not yet!
NGUYEN: Oh come on, we've got to get to the pick!
HARRIS: It should be one of the last things. OK. Now long have -- we need to test the credibility on this, how long, Sister Jean, have you been doing this?
KENNY: Nineteen years.
HARRIS: OK, 19 years, I can't do the math.
KENNY: I started in 1986 when the Chicago Bears won.
NGUYEN: All right. And your record is?
KENNY: Sixteen correct, three wrong.
NGUYEN: Wow! HARRIS: Really? Do you wager to...
NGUYEN: Oh, don't ask her that!
HARRIS: A little money for the diocese.
KENNY: No. I leave that up to the experts in Las Vegas.
HARRIS: Oh you do?
NGUYEN: OK. All right. So can I get to it now, Tony?
HARRIS: OK.
NGUYEN: So what is your prediction this year?
KENNY: I predict that the Super Bowl -- the winner of Super Bowl XXXIX will be the New England Patriots by a score of 33-23.
HARRIS: And what do you base that -- what was it, 33-23?
NGUYEN: On the information that she has gathered. And you also have a poem, don't you?
KENNY: Yes, I do. Every year, I wrote a Super Bowl poem.
NGUYEN: Can you read that to us today?
KENNY: OK. The title for this year's Super Bowl poem is "Hurrah for the Red, White and Blue, too." Welcome football fans to the Sunshine State. See the focused Patriots dominate. This Kraft-y owned team has a dynasty fate. Winning the Lombardi Trophy again proves they are great.
Belichick's solar express is right on track. Dillon and Faulk lead the running attack. Brady and all his receivers won't look back. Bruschi's crushing defense will get the big sack.
Andy Reid's Eagles are stranded and won't feel good. McNabb's Chunky in the soup outing is misunderstood. Philly's notorious fans wonder if only these birds could. The Pats win 39, and it's mmm, mmm good!
NGUYEN: Go Patriots!
(LAUGHTER)
HARRIS: No, you didn't bring the can! All right. But wait a minute! I need to understand a little better what it is you have against the Eagles.
KENNY: Nothing against them. I think the Patriots are the better team.
HARRIS: Based on what?
KENNY: Based on the whole year and based on the playoffs.
HARRIS: Based on the playoffs.
NGUYEN: Well, they've been there before, they have got a little experience.
KENNY: They have been there before. They have Bill Belichick as their master and commander, Tom Brady.
HARRIS: But I have to ask you this, Sister Jean. Don't you love a good story?
KENNY: Yes, I do.
HARRIS: Don't you think the underdog story, right? Right? The underdog story...
NGUYEN: It's a good story but she says it's the Pats.
HARRIS: She loves a great story.
KENNY: It could happen. I'm just saying I'm going with the New England Patriots. There is no such thing as...
HARRIS: Don't get mad.
NGUYEN: Sister, let me ask you this. I want to put you to the test because you say it's all about the knowledge that you gather from reading and studying football. So can you predict other things besides just who is going to win? Can you predict, say, who is going to be MVP?
KENNY: I can, after the game is over. I can give an educated guess but not ahead of time.
NGUYEN: OK. Not ahead of time. All right.
HARRIS: Wait a minute. She's already given us a spread, so we've got the spread...
KENNY: Based on performance.
HARRIS: Based on performance.
KENNY: So I have to watch the three-hour game.
NGUYEN: Do you think it's going to go into overtime?
KENNY: We might.
HARRIS: No, it's 33-23. It's not going to go into overtime.
NGUYEN: She just said they might.
HARRIS: It's not going to go into overtime.
KENNY: It's not likely but it could happen.
NGUYEN: All right. Here is a big question for you. What about a wardrobe malfunction during halftime, do you predict it?
KENNY: Not with Paul McCartney. In fact, I have some songs that I think he's going to sing.
NGUYEN: Oh, OK. You're going to predict that, tell me.
KENNY: Well, I think he might start out with "The Long and Winding Road" because it was 21 weeks in the football season to get to the Super Bowl. And for the Philadelphia Eagles, I think he might be singing "Hard Day's Night." and "Yesterday." And finally for my New England Patriots, I think he's going to sing "Good Day Sunshine." and "Twist and Shout."
HARRIS: "Twist and Shout." That is very good.
NGUYEN: You are too much. Sister Jean Kenny.
KENNY: Go Beatles!
NGUYEN: And Patriots.
KENNY: Yes.
NGUYEN: Thanks for your time today, we appreciate it.
KENNY: You're welcome, it was a pleasure.
NGUYEN: You're going to be watching, right?
KENNY: Definitely.
NGUYEN: But you already know the outcome. Why should you watch?
KENNY: I want to watch.
HARRIS: Sister Jean, thank you.
KENNY: You're welcome, thank you.
HARRIS: Enjoy the game.
KENNY: OK. You, too.
HARRIS: Watch, she's going to be tailgating, are you kidding me? All right. One programming note we want to pass along. NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue will be our guest on CNN Super Bowl Sunday, that's at 9:00 a.m. Eastern.
NGUYEN: Well, "Sex and the City" made the cosmopolitan very hip, now a hit movie is creating a similar buzz for wine sellers.
HARRIS: Details when we check Wall Street, that after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: News around the world now. Missing airliner, Afghan and NATO forces have temporarily stopped a search for an Afghan jet with 104 people on board because of darkness. Officials say the airliner disappeared from radar screens on Thursday during a snowstorm. Three American women are believed to be on that flight.
Japanese officials confirm the country's first mad cow death. The man is believed to be the first person in Japan to die from the human variant of mad cow disease and he is thought to have contracted it on a visit to Britain back in 1989.
And boxing legend Max Schmeling is dead at the age of 99. He is best-known in America for two memorable fights against Joe Louis in the 1930s. He defeated Louis in a 1936 non-title bout that is considered one of the biggest upsets in boxing history. Then he went on to lose the rematch.
(STOCK MARKET REPORT)
HARRIS: An amazing story you heard first on CNN. Tsunami survivors rescued from a remote island after 38 days. CNN's Suhasini Haider is there.
NGUYEN: And have you seen this couple? Police are searching for them because they're accused of torturing several children. More on the case when LIVE FROM continues.
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