September 25, 1999

WEB FIGURES TO BE TURKEY DAY FLOAT, BY JEEVES!

The butler who's known for retrieving information on the web will soon be serving up something new: a towering 16-foot sculpture of himself at this year's Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade....

RITE AID AXES 830 IN EFFORT TO SAVE $45M

Embattled Rite Aid will fire 830 people and close a distribution center, in an effort to save $45 million a year. "Our staff overhead expenses have started to grow at...

DOW TUMBLED 4.9% FOR WEEK

By the closing bell on Wall Street yesterday afternoon, the Dow Jones industrial average posted its worst weekly loss all year. The market lacked direction from the opening bell when...

EBBERS DIALS SPRINT BUY COULD CHALLENGE AT&T

Bernard Ebbers is ready for another buying binge. The head of MCI WorldCom is in talks to buy Sprint Corp., according to published reports. A merger would balloon MCI WorldCom...

WELCOME 'FREAKS,' CULT RAVE SERIES OF THE SEASON

RETURN with us now to those not-so-wonderful years in high school, when you couldn't even figure out how to fit into your own skin, much less the cool crowd. This...

DAVID E. KELLEY STEPS ON A BANANA PEEL... 'SNOOPS' GOES OOPS

EMMY-winning producer David E. Kelley's charmed string snaps with a teasey, cheesey femme fatality titled "Snoops." Ooops! is more like it. Or "Poops," because "Snoops" is a stinkerooni that ought...

HARMONY MOVES HARLEM TROUPE

RANGE, versatility, adaptability, a taste for eclecticism, call it what you will: Arthur Mitchell's Dance Theater of Harlem has an astonishing ability to do a remarkable number of things remarkably....

DON'T LISTENTO WHAT'SIMON SEZ'

DENNIS Rodman isn't half bad as a blond, multiply pierced Interpol agent in "Simon Sez,"' his second attempt to bring his brand of histrionics to the big screen. But the...

'KEEP' TRYIN' TO DOA BANG-UP JOB

'K EEP Bangin,'" at the Players Theatre, is an anthology of virtuoso drum numbers that supposedly sets out to present highlights of the African-American experience by means of percussion, just...

WHEN LOVE MEANS 'JACK'

BOY nicknamed Jill (Ivan Sergei) meets girl nicknamed Jack (Amanda Peet) and decides not to move in with the girlfriend (Sarah Paulsen), with whom Jack will coincidentally become good friends....

UNFUNNY 'PARK' JUST DOGS IT

'DOG Park" is a romantic comedy based on the promising (and probably true) premise that dog ownership is good for your love life. Unfortunately, this film by Canadian funnyman Bruce...

THE BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN BACKSTREET SHOW'S RIGHT UP FANS' ALLEY

AFTER nearly an hour of dance-powered songs rendered with nearly flawless harmonies Thursday night at the Meadowlands, it was almost surreal to hear the Backstreet Boys aim their vocal guns...

CULTURE COMMISH MAKES AN ARTFUL DODGE

SCHUYLER Chapin, the city's cultural affairs commissioner, has been thrust into the hot seat by Mayor Giuliani's threat to cut funding to the Brooklyn Museum of Art. Giuliani made headlines...

PEACEKEEPERS HUNT BUTCHERS OF EAST TIMOR

"You can't run, you can't hide - justice is here." MAJ. CHIP HENRISS-ANDERSSEN Indonesia moved yesterday to head off a war-crimes investigation of the massacres in East Timor as the...

RUSSIA RAINS MORE BOMBS ON CHECHNYA

Russian jets pounded oil and communications targets in Chechnya again yesterday as the Kremlin continued the biggest assault on the separatists since the bloody 1994-96 war. Officials in Moscow insisted...

INDONESIA NIXES MARTIAL-LAW BILL AS RIOTS ROCK CAPITAL

The Indonesian government backed off a tough new security law yesterday after its passage touched off rioting in Jakarta that killed four people. The violent protests were the worst in...

SCHOOL-RAMPAGE KILLER DROPS HIS INSANITY PLEA

An Oregon teen abandoned his insanity defense yesterday and pleaded guilty to murdering his parents at home and then killing two classmates in a shooting rampage at his high school....

POL HIT WITH SEX-HARASS ACCUSATION

WASHINGTON - Veteran Democratic Sen. Max Baucus of Montana was formally accused of sex harassment yesterday by his ex-chief of staff, who claims he fired her for rebuffing his advances....

SECRET'S OUT: VANESSA WED HER SLY FOX

Stunning and sexy Vanessa Williams and L.A. Lakers basketball star Richard Fox are going public tomorrow with their little secret - they're married. The happy couple tied the knot in...

POLICE CAN'T FIND FAULT WITH CAR IN LETHAL EATERY CRASH

The woman whose Mercedes-Benz plowed into a Midtown restaurant, killing one man and injuring 22 people, told cops the gas pedal stuck, but police said yesterday initial tests showed no...

SUBWAY-SHOVE VICTIM BACK ON HIS FEET

Subway push victim Edgar Rivera left his wheelchair yesterday and took his first steps since the terrifying attack that robbed him of his legs. A relaxed-looking Rivera made his first...

COP KILLS SELF AFTER ARGUING WITH WIFE

He was facing departmental charges stemming from a prior argument with his estranged wife. A cop stripped of his gun and facing departmental charges stemming from an argument with his...

FUR FLIES AS FURBYS FEEL AIRLINE CABIN PRESSURE

Next time you're on an airplane, make sure to turn off your cell phone, laptop, CD player and, of course, your Furby. That's right - airlines have begun asking passengers...

FUGITIVE FINANCIER MIGHT NEED A PUBLIC DEFENDER

"He certainly doesn't have any funds to hire a private lawyer."FRANKEL'S EX-LAWYER,HUGH KEEFE Martin Frankel allegedly swindled at least $200 million, but the ex-fugitive financier's lawyers - one in the...

$10M EBAY MARIJUANA 'SALE' IS UP IN SMOKE

It's no toke! Or is it? A suspected scheme to auction off 500 pounds of marijuana via the Web went to pot after eBay officials pulled the plug on bidding...

CLAN SAYS 'BYE, GEORGE' WITH $10M DEAL

The Kennedy family is said to be close to a deal - worth up to $10 million - to sell its 50 percent interest in George, the political lifestyle magazine...

MTA MAY BE GETTING READY TO HIKE FARES

The MTA is leaving the door open for a hike in transit fares and bridge tolls if it can't get $2.3 billion in extra government aid to finance a Second...

SCAM GETS RIKERS PRINCIPAL AXED

"The Board of Ed is in full denial with its attendance-keeping."SPECIAL SCHOOLS INVESTIGATOR ED STANCIK Correction officials booted the principal of Rikers Island's school for jailed teens yesterday amid charges...

THE CRAM DE LA CRAM : BRONX KIDS ARE JAMMED INTO CLASSES

Thirty-two Bronx schoolkids were crammed shoulder to shoulder into PS 246's "library" - a room that could have barely fit a single bed - sitting six to a desk yesterday....

BRADLEY SCORES ONE MORE BIG ; N.Y. ENDORSEMENT

WASHINGTON - Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-Manhattan) yesterday backed Bill Bradley for president, saying he'll do better than Vice President Al Gore and help elect other Democrats - including Hillary Clinton....

RUDY: MUSEUM BOARD GOES OUT : IF THE SHOW GOES ON

Mayor Giuliani vowed yesterday to boot the Brooklyn Museum's board of trustees if they open a controversial art exhibit next weekend - but museum officials said the show would go...

MOSQUITOES INFECT FIRST MANHATTAN VICTIM

A 90-year-old woman living near Central Park has become the first confirmed Manhattan victim in a mosquito-borne encephalitis outbreak - prompting an unscheduled insecticide blitz on the park tonight. The...

FROM UNCLE JOHN WITH LOVE ; CAROLINE'S KIDS ARE TOPS IN JFK JR. WILL

John F. Kennedy Jr.'s will is a last testament of love to his family. The document, filed yesterday in Manhattan Surrogate's Court, gives all of his personal possessions to the...

GEORGE W. BEGS BUCHANAN NOT TO JUMP SHIP

Republican front-runner George W. Bush yesterday urged Pat Buchanan not to bolt the GOP to seek the Reform Party's nomination. "I need every vote I can get," Bush said. But...

JURY REINS IN HORSE PUNCHER

"We thought this was a big joke. You can tell the city has a whole lot of money to waste - they should have just fined him."JUROR Manhattan jurors took...

MIRACLE BOY OF TAIWAN : SAVED AFTER 87 HOURS UNDER QUAKE RUBBLE

A 6-year-old boy was pulled to safety from the rubble of an earthquake-struck apartment building in Taiwan yesterday - after being buried under concrete and debris for 87 agonizing hours....

QUESTIONS GROW ABOUT LITTLETON 'MARTYR'

Cassie Bernall, the Colorado school massacre victim who reportedly said "Yes" when asked by her killer if she believed in God - and then was gunned down for it -...

RUDY TARGETS ADDICTS WHO GET WELFARE : WOULD TIE BENEFITS TO TREATMENT

The Giuliani administration - concerned some welfare applicants may lie about past drug or alcohol abuse - wants to look at Medicaid records to identify addicts, and then link their...

SAMARITAN FACES JAIL FOR NABBING THUG

A man who stopped a wanted criminal from robbing a woman in The Bronx yesterday could wind up facing 25 years in prison for attempted murder, police said. When Badilio...

EL DUQUE LEAVES ZIMMER ALL SHOOK UP

Joe Torre appreciates Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez' passion for competing. However, when El Duque fired a water bottle in the Yankees' dugout that surprised bench coach Don Zimmer, Torre figured...

CLINTONS CLAM UP ON LATEST LOAN TWIST

The president and First Lady Hillary Clinton yesterday began erecting a big stonewall around their Westchester dream house - refusing to discuss a report they're trying to refinance the controversial...

QUEENS SCHOOL BOARD BOOTS BOSS

Rebel members of a Queens school board known for breaking the mold have voted to remove their district's long-time superintendent - a coup that immediately came under attack as illegal....

TRUMP: I WON'T RUN UNLESS I CAN WIN

Developer Donald Trump says he'll run for president under the Reform Party banner only if he thinks he can win. His top supporter, Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura, says he wouldn't...

FARRELL READY TO STORM THE MOUNT

MONSIGNOR Farrell, the CHSFL preseason favorite, saw a fourth-quarter comeback attempt snuffed by St. Anthony's last week. Farrell can't afford to mourn that loss, since it travels to The Bronx...

JINTS LOSE HAMILTON FOR AT LEAST 3 WEEKS

The Giants will be without the services of cornerback Conrad Hamilton for at least the next three weeks. Hamilton, who has already missed the first two games of the season,...

BATTERED GIANT 'D' SEEKS REDEMPTION

So, how was your week, John Fox? "It's been horrible," he said. As the Giants' defensive coordinator, Fox was at the scene of an accident last Sunday. What is thought...

KNIGHTS CAN'T AFFORD TO GO THREE-FALLING

When Rutgers released its schedule for this football season, today's tilt with Boston College jumped off the slate as a pivotal game. And, sure enough, when the winless Scarlet Knights...

OY VEY, KNICKS PASS ON SCHAYES

Danny Schayes, the lone Jewish player in the NBA, said last week he'd be perfect insurance for the center-strapped Knicks. GM Scott Layden and the Knick coaching staff have decided...

ARTAX EYES VOSBURGH

Few racehorses have had such newsworthy campaigns as Artax, who makes his 13th start of the year going seven furlongs in today's Grade 1, $250,000 Vosburgh at Belmont Park. The...

ISLES HOPING EAKINS CAN FIND A HOME

He is the gypsy of the NHL. With Allied Van Lines practically on his speed dial, Dallas Eakins, 32, has been on a whirlwind tour of teams since entering the...

KEENELAND YEARLING SALE IS A WINNER

A total of $233,075,800 changed hands during the just-concluded 11-day Keeneland September Sale, the most money in any yearling sale ever. The old mark had been $175,932,000, set at Keeneland's...

MICKENS GRABS BIG JET DEAL

On a day when Bill Parcells said he was rewarding cornerback Ray Mickens with a three-year deal, the Jets' coach spent the rest of his Friday press briefing degrading the...

LOVE SAVES FACE

BROOKLINE, Mass. - There was a single bright light coming from the American team in yesterday's first-round debacle of a performance against the Europeans in the 33rd Ryder Cup. He...

MICKELSON'S HORRIBLE PUTTING LEAVES U.S. IN A HOLE

BROOKLINE, Mass. - The first goat has emerged in the 33rd Ryder Cup and he is Phil Mickelson, whose putting performance in yesterday's dismal U.S. performance resembled a nervous weekend...

EASY RYDER FOR EUROS

BROOKLINE, Mass. - If the Americans aren't extraordinarily careful in this morning's foursome matches, they could turn the 33rd Ryder Cup into a garbage-time exhibition by lunch hour today, which...

SAD EXHIBITION BY TIGER, DUVAL

BROOKLINE, Mass. - Tiger Woods and David Duval did plenty of talking leading up to the 33rd Ryder Cup. They talked about how the players should be paid for competing...

DEVILS EXPOSE SERGI, SUTTON

The Devils made a surprising choice in exposing veterans Sergei Nemchinov and Ken Sutton to Monday's waiver draft, instead protecting LW Eric Bertrand, who has yet to make his NHL...

UNBEATEN WAGNER RUNS OVER KENNEDY

Wagner20 Kennedy8 After Kennedy crushed highly touted Tottenville last week, the Knights appeared ready to surprise the PSAL. But Knights head coach Jerry Horowitz was very cautious about such optimism,...

FRUSTRATED FRANCO SITS ... AND WONDERS WHY

PHILADELPHIA - If he had given up the game-winning hit, John Franco would have stood at his locker and patiently answered every question tossed at him from waves of reporters....

AMAZIN' COLLAPSE : LOOKS LIKE RERUN

PHILADELPHIA - If you thought the collapse of 1998 was bad, this 1999 version in-the-making could be devastating if it comes to pass. Like a tropical storm gathering momentum way...

IT'S STARTING TO GET TENSE IN CLUBHOUSE

PHILADELPHIA - The mood in the clubhouse finally went a little sour after the Mets had dropped their fourth game in a row, a bewitching 3-2 loss to the Phillies...

METS ARE IN - GUARANT-REED!

"What, you think I'm going to take it back? We're going to do it. I just never said it would be easy."RICK REED PHILADELPHIA - Despite losing last night's game...

THE KID'S GOT CLOUT! : SORIANO HR IN 11TH CLINCHES YANK PLAYOFF BERTH

Some day he is going to be a star. Last night Alfonso Soriano became a Yankee. You make your bones in the big leagues in different ways. Some gain respect...

RICKEY'S BLUNDER CENTER OF STORM

PHILADELPHIA --On the road covering the suddenly shaky Mets, I checked into a downtown hotel yesterday afternoon and felt my heart race when I looked at the room number scrawled...

JOE DOESN'T WANNA SEE STRAWBERRY FIELD

Since the only thing that can come of Joe Torre playing Darryl Strawberry in the outfield is Strawberry injuring himself, Torre has pulled the plug on his plan to see...

REED ON PLAYOFFS: IN THE BAG

PHILADELPHIA - Although some of the pessimists in Metland have bubbled to the surface, none has been allowed into the team's confident inner circle. Despite dropping three straight games to...

ANOTHER PIAZZA IS ON THE WAY

PHILADELPHIA -There is another young catcher named Piazza on the way, and this time he probably won't be overlooked until the 62nd round of the draft the way Mike was....

REED: IT'S IN THE BAG RIGHTY GUARANTEES AN AMAZIN' PLAYOFF

"When we make it - not if we make it, but when we make it, then I will be right. You've got to be confident."RICK REED PHILADELPHIA-Although some of the...

AMERICA'S TEAM DEAD ON ARRIVAL

BROOKLINE, Mass. -It's over. You might as well take down the corporate tents and park all the shuttle buses. You might as well spend the rest of the weekend watching...

RELIEVERS HOLD KEY TO YANK RUN

You look at the Yankees' starting staff and the first things you notice are the names. Roger Clemens is a Hall of Fame lock. David Cone always creeps into the...