11.   Bruce Steinberg, a chief economist at Merrill Lynch in New York, said Mexico was better prepared than other countries to weather any looming storm.

12.   Faqeeh said Saudi Arabia was better prepared than its Middle East neighbors to liberalize its economy, with infrastructure already in place.

13.   In Toronto, forward Charles Oakley said the Knicks were better prepared than Toronto in the opening game of their best-of-five series.