December 23, 1999
SURVIVING PORNGATE: KBW TURNS ON DAMAGE CONTROL
December 23, 1999 | 5:00amThe two men who inherited the executive suite at Keefe, Bruyette Woods after ex-CEO James McDermott stepped down in disgrace are now working frantically to keep the company's good name...
BOB PRESSMAN GETS DOSE OF REALTY; GETS RETAIL BROKERAGE
December 23, 1999 | 5:00amRobert Pressman's comeback took a big step forward with the purchase of a major force in the retail brokerage game. Pressman, who presided over the rise and fall of Barneys,...
NAUGHTON FREE IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS
December 23, 1999 | 5:00amLOS ANGELES -- A federal judge reversed himself yesterday and set free a former top Disney official jailed for possession of child pornography. "Glad to be out for Christmas," said...
HOUSE OF FERRE UP FOR SALE
December 23, 1999 | 5:00amItalian fashion house Gianfranco Ferre is up for sale, with a price tag of $183 million. The Milanese designer could be bought by either Marzotto SpA or Ittiere SpA, the...
TOYS 'R' US GIFTS WON'T BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS
December 23, 1999 | 5:00amToys "R" Us has 'fessed up to another embarrassing website glitch. The biggest U.S. toy chain said yesterday that some Internet customers might not get their purchases in time for...
LONG-DISTANCE RACE FAR FROM OVER: A KNACK FOR PUTTING IT TOGETHER
December 23, 1999 | 5:00amIf any egg was left on his chin from this year's slip-ups, Ivan Seidenberg wiped it clean with his breakthrough yesterday. Seidenberg has had a rough ride from the start...
MONTEL'S SPECIAL CHRISTMAS LIST
December 23, 1999 | 5:00amTOMORROW'S "Montel Williams Show" (2 p.m. on Ch.9) devotes its entire hour to making holiday wishes come true. While Santa Claus himself drops by (see photo at left), Williams provides...
ABC Y2K SPONSORS: 'KING' FOR A NIGHT
December 23, 1999 | 5:00amADVERTISERS participating in ABC's day-long millennium coverage next week are getting more than just widespread exposure. ABC is rolling out the red carpet for the families of high-ranking corporate sponsors,...
THE STARR REPORT
December 23, 1999 | 5:00amShe's an Outlaw David Letterman's mom, Dorothy, has been named "Hoosier Honey 2000" by Outlaw Biker magazine. In 1994, Outlaw Biker named Dorothy its first "Miss Hoosier Honey," and she's...
TECH BALLET OFFERS NOT-SO-NUTTY ALTERNATIVE
December 23, 1999 | 5:00amDANCE REVIEW ELIOT Feld and his Ballet Tech have never struck me as masters of marketing, yet he -- or someone near him -- has come up with a perfect...
MAGICAL HISTORY TOUR ; BILL ON 'LARRY KING LIVE,' HILL ON 'ROSIE'
December 23, 1999 | 5:00amHILLARY Clinton wants you to think she's the kind of good-hearted neighbor who will show up at your door with a batch of freshly baked cookies. Her husband, Bill, wants...
NY1 HITS THE BIG TIME
December 23, 1999 | 5:00amUsed to be TV reporters had to start in Hartford and Tulsa before getting their big break in New York. Now, there is a factory that is turning out local...
MET'S COSTUME SHOW ROCKS
December 23, 1999 | 5:00amJADED New Yorkers might expect Rock Style, the costume exhibit now at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, to be just another stop on the Hard Rock Cafe train. But music...
THE BEST - & WORST - FILMS OF 1999
December 23, 1999 | 5:00amMUCH more than just a record-buster at the box office, 1999 was one of the most promising and exciting years for film in two decades. It began with a barrage...
BLOCKBUSTER MARK BEING LEFT IN DUST
December 23, 1999 | 5:00amYOU can call 1999 the year of the mega-blockbuster. The unofficial benchmark for what constitutes a blockbuster was once $100 million, but so many of this year(-esq-)s films coasted past...
STAY-HOME HUBBIES
December 23, 1999 | 5:00amIF State Department spokesman James Rubin quits his job to become a house-husband - his London-based CNN and "60 Minutes II" reporter wife, Christiane Amanapour, is expecting in May and...
REBELS: WE GOT JUMP ON RUSSIANS
December 23, 1999 | 5:00amChechnya's rebels claimed yesterday they had surrounded hundreds of Russian paratroopers who had parachuted into a trap set by the guerrillas. But Russian defense officials denied their forces were encircled...
LET'S MAKE HIM HEAD OF THE ASS IN A LEAGUE OF HIS OWN ; MAKE ROCKER HEAD OF THE ASS
December 23, 1999 | 5:00amJOHN "Punk" Rocker doesn't like coming to New York. That's fine. New York doesn't particularly care for playing host to the Braves' paranoid, bigoted reliever. So let's just find a...
CHOPPER CRASHES ADD TO VENEZUELA'S WOES
December 23, 1999 | 5:00amDisaster-wracked Venezuela suffered another setback yesterday when two helicopters on mudslide relief missions crashed in separate incidents, killing four people and prompting officials to ban flights in the area. The...
VATICAN IN HARD DRIVE TO SPREAD HIS WORD
December 23, 1999 | 5:00amTurning on your home computer is going to be a whole new religious experience. That's because the Vatican has inked a deal to sell a religious-software program in which the...
11TH-HOUR PICKS FOR LAST-MINUTE SANTAS
December 23, 1999 | 5:00amThe Savvy Shopper reveals tips and trends for gift-buying in what has shaped up as the biggest holiday season of the '90s.CHRISTMAS is less than two days away, and there...
A MURDER CASE THAT SHOULDN'T BE ; THE BRONX DA RAISED FALSE HOPES BY ISSUING BAD INDICTMENTS
December 23, 1999 | 5:00amNEVER mind if the Amadou Diallo cops can be tried for murder more fairly in bucolic Albany than in The Bronx. The real question is this: Why is there going...
BABY EMILY'S SURGERY A SUCCESS
December 23, 1999 | 5:00amLittle Emily Mendoza received the best holiday gift of all yesterday -- a chance at life. The 3-month-old, rushed to the United States from Ecuador last week, underwent two hours...
THEY'LL 'RING' IN NEW YEAR
December 23, 1999 | 5:00amA young bride-to-be is beaming today after police on Long Island found her $15,000 engagement ring, which she dropped into a pond while feeding ducks. "This is all I wanted...
ISRAEL, EGYPT MAKE DEAL ON 'PEACE PIPE'
December 23, 1999 | 5:00amEgypt has agreed to sell Israel natural gas through what Prime Minister Ehud Barak's office dubbed a "pipeline of peace," Israeli officials said yesterday. But Israeli-Palestinian talks to end disputes...
BOEING 747 CRASHES NEAR LONDON, ; KILLING CREW OF 4
December 23, 1999 | 5:00amLONDON -- A Korean Air jumbo cargo jet crashed on takeoff north of London yesterday, apparently killing all four people aboard but narrowly missing a busy roadway. The Milan-bound jet...
TWIN TOWERS ARE THE CITY'S 'TOP' ATTRACTION
December 23, 1999 | 5:00amNew York boasts the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, Brooklyn Bridge and the Empire State Building, but the World Trade Center may be the crowning engineering achievement of the city. The end results...
NEW HOPE FOR ASTHMA SUFFERERS
December 23, 1999 | 5:00amA new miracle drug could replace dangerous steroids for the treatment of asthma. The news is a breath of fresh air for many asthma sufferers who can be treated only...
COURTROOM TUSSLE ON CITY SCHOOL FUNDING
December 23, 1999 | 5:00amThe amount of money the city gets in state school aid every year has nothing to do with need, wealth, enrollment or attendance -- but everything to do with politics,...
TWO JURORS SAY E-MAILS WOULD HAVE HAD IMPACT
December 23, 1999 | 5:00amTwo cybersex-case jurors who sent Oliver Jovanovic to prison say their verdict "absolutely" would have been different if they had seen the kinky e-mails he got from his alleged victim....
'ROLLING MORGUES' READY FOR ANY DISASTER
December 23, 1999 | 5:00amThe six refrigerated trucks could be used if city mortuaries lose power or in the event of a mass fatality.The city medical examiner's office has come up with a ghoulish...
THIS CRACKER GIVES US SOUTHERN BOYS A BAD NAME ; HE GIVES SOUTHERNERS A BAD NAME
December 23, 1999 | 5:00amJOHN ROCKER, that big-mouthed son of Boss Hogg, is giving us Dixie-born New Yorkers a bad name. Dealing with anti-Southern prejudice here is tough enough without a ranting half-wit like...
HE'S BECOME A SYMBOL FOR EXILES, BUT HE'S STILL JUST A KID
December 23, 1999 | 5:00amIN 1967, Ramon Sanchez's parents put him and his 10-year-old brother on a plane that would carry them from Cuba to Florida. The boys went alone, their parents making the...
KID-BASH SUSPECT IN EVIL BOAST: COPS
December 23, 1999 | 5:00amA teen charged with trying to beat an 11-year-old boy to death with a metal pipe bragged that his victim "never saw him coming" and "was probably dead," authorities said...
'I WON'T TAKE PLEA DEAL' ; CYBERSEX OLIVER WANTS TO PROVE HIS INNOCENCE
December 23, 1999 | 5:00amAccused cybersex fiend Oliver Jovanovic was already fantasizing about freedom yesterday. "This has been so surreal. I felt like I was dead," Jovanovic told The Post in an exclusive interview...
ED BOARD RAISES AX FOR CREW CUT
December 23, 1999 | 5:00amThe Board of Education appears ready to hand Chancellor Rudy Crew his walking papers today. Three board members allied with Mayor Giuliani called an emergency meeting today to vote on...
STOCK-PORN KIN WON'T BARE HER HIDING PLACE
December 23, 1999 | 5:00amThe brother of porn star Marylin Star -- wanted by the feds for insider trading -- says his sister has been in touch with her family in Canada but won't...
FELIZ NAVIDAD FOR ELIAN IN MIAMI
December 23, 1999 | 5:00amChristmas prayers were answered yesterday for the Miami relatives of Cuban refugee Elian Gonzalez when federal officials postponed a hearing on his immigration status -- a decision that was sure...
FEDS' LOUIMA WITNESS SCOFFS AT THEM
December 23, 1999 | 5:00amFederal authorities said yesterday the testimony of an ex-cop will prove that former Officer Charles Schwarz was part of a police conspiracy in the Abner Louima case -- but the...
RUDY, HILLARY SHED GLOVES AS RACE HEATS UP ; GLOVES COME OFF IN RUDY-HILL WAR
December 23, 1999 | 5:00amMayor Giuliani took aim at Hillary Rodham Clinton's ethics yesterday -- and ripped Democrats for ganging up on him to help her Senate bid -- as Clinton questioned whether he...
U.S. PULLS WORLDWIDE KNOT TIGHT ; SUSPECT INDICTED
December 23, 1999 | 5:00amAmerica tightened security along its borders and at airports, federal buildings and embassies around the globe yesterday as President Clinton acknowledged a "higher level of alert" against terrorist attacks. "We're...
RAPE VICTIM LED FIEND INTO ATM TO GET HIM ON VIDEO
December 23, 1999 | 5:00amA quick-thinking TV producer who was raped in Midtown intentionally led her brazen attacker to an ATM machine so he'd get caught on video -- but her clever plan was...
FRENCHMAN SLAIN IN MIDTOWN APT.
December 23, 1999 | 5:00amA 36-year-old French national was found stabbed to death in his Midtown apartment, police said last night. Police discovered the body of Thierry Matheron, 36, Tuesday in his 42nd floor...
ATLANTA MOUND MORON IS IN A 'SORRY' STATE BRAVES BUM BACKS OFF VILE REMARKS
December 23, 1999 | 5:00amFoul-mouthed fireballer John Rocker ate his words yesterday -- after baseball fans from the mayor on down slammed him for hurling slurs at New York City, immigrants, gays and moms....
SAFIR BLASTS BANK FOR NOT CHANGING TAPE AT RAPE ATM
December 23, 1999 | 5:00amA quick-thinking TV producer who was raped in Midtown intentionally led her brazen attacker to an ATM machine so he'd get caught on videotape - but her clever plan was...
DIALLO TRIAL JUDGE MAY BE PICKED TODAY
December 23, 1999 | 5:00amALBANY - The upstate judge who will preside over the explosive Amadou Diallo murder case may be picked as soon as today, state officials said yesterday. Office of Court Administration...
EX-COP WILL TESTIFY AGAINST SCHWARZ
December 23, 1999 | 5:00amAn ex-cop will take the witness stand to help prove Officer Charles Schwarz tried to cover up his role in the sex-torture attack on Abner Louima, federal prosecutors say. Anthony...
HOLY DIFFERENT SOFTWARE WINS POPE'S BLESSING
December 23, 1999 | 5:00amTurning on your home computer is going to be a whole new religious experience. That's because the Vatican has inked a deal to sell a religious-software program in which the...
THEY'LL KEEP THE FAITH AT HOUSES OF WORSHIP
December 23, 1999 | 5:00amNew Year's Eve worshippers in the city will take precautions - but they won't panic because of Y2K terrorism fears, clergymen said yesterday. "We all have to be concerned about...
FERGUSON RETURNS AFTER STEROID BAN
December 23, 1999 | 5:00amJason Ferguson's nightmare is over but hardly forgotten. His good name has been sullied. His season is now down to two games, including Monday night's showdown against the Dolphins in...
VICTOR GREEN WITH ENVY ; SEES RED AFTER HE'S LEFT OFF PRO BOWL TEAM
December 23, 1999 | 5:00amLast season it was Jets center Kevin Mawae who was left to wonder how he hadn't been voted to play in the Pro Bowl game. This year safety Victor Green,...
UCLA'S BLACK UNIFORMS COURT WRONG AUDIENCE
December 23, 1999 | 5:00amTHE UCLA basketball team, wearers of the legendary blue and gold, will -- for a second straight year -- continue its tradition-killing tradition of wearing a third, mostly black uniform...
PRO TEAMS GETTING JUMP ON Y2K TRAVEL
December 23, 1999 | 5:00amFears of Y2K chaos are changing the travel and scheduling plans of some of New York's professional teams. The Giants, who figure to be battling for a playoff berth Jan....
ISLES LIKELY TO START RANGER-KILLER WEEKES IN NET
December 23, 1999 | 5:00amIn two games this season, goaltender Kevin Weekes has proven to be invincible against the Rangers. But that was with the Canucks. Now it really counts. Acquired Sunday in a...
SAYONARA, IRABU YANKEES TRADE HIDEKI TO EXPOS FOR PROSPECTS[[IT
December 23, 1999 | 5:00amBye-bye, Boo-Boo. Hideki Irabu's up and down Yankee career ended yesterday when the world champions dealt the enigmatic right-hander to the Expos for minor league right-hander Jake Westbrook and two...
WEDDING BELLS FOR JAYSON
December 23, 1999 | 5:00amEvery pro athlete is in the business to get a ring. Jayson Williams is no different. And he'll be getting one Monday. Only it won't be a championship ring but...
NETS VOW TO REGROUP ; NETS VOW REDEMPTION
December 23, 1999 | 5:00amThe day after a hideous road defeat but the day before the Nets' opportunity to extend a home winning streak to six, there was anger in Kerry Kittles' eyes, disgust...
LET ROCKER SEE TRUE FACE OF AIDS
December 23, 1999 | 5:00amHOPEFULLY, John Rocker will be visited by three ghosts soon. Just a few days before Christmas, Rocker has shown himself to be one of the most insensitive athletes ever to...
BOMBERS GIVE THOMPSON A TRY
December 23, 1999 | 5:00amRyan Thompson has a chance to play with David Cone eight years after being traded from the Blue Jays to the Mets for the All Star pitcher. Thompson, a 32-year-old...
MAKE IT BEAST RUTHERFORD FASSEL TO FANS: ROCK THE HOUSE
December 23, 1999 | 5:00amWith the countdown at five days before what could be a one-game season plays out at Giants Stadium, Jim Fassel yesterday was eager to isolate the most important edge his...
ALL SYSTEMS GO FOR HAMILTON
December 23, 1999 | 5:00amIt appears as if CB Conrad Hamilton, two weeks removed from fearing he would miss the entire season because of a lingering knee injury, will make his first start this...
STRAHAN, ARMSTEAD HEADING TO HAWAII
December 23, 1999 | 5:00amHe said he was "surprised" and "amazed," which certainly makes sense. It was both surprising and amazing that Michael Strahan, coming down the stretch of an extremely disappointing season, was...
BARKLEY MAKES IT BACK -- JUST IN TIME
December 23, 1999 | 5:00amErick Barkley returned to action last night -- twice. The sophomore point guard, who underwent arthroscopic left knee surgery on Dec. 9, was the difference in the end as St....
DEVILS FLY INTO FRYING PAN ; TOP PHILLY; TAKE AIM AT SECOND-NIGHT JINX
December 23, 1999 | 5:00amDevils 3 Flyers 2 One big bugaboo beaten in Eric Lindros, the Devils turn their attention to their most monstrous nemesis this season -- the second-night jinx. Tonight in Toronto,...
JEFF FACES 'BIG' DECISION IF CHILDS RETURNS IN INDY
December 23, 1999 | 5:00amKNICK NOTES Chris Childs, still struggling with back spasms, said his goal is to return to the lineup on Christmas in Indiana. If that is the case, then Jeff Van...
EWING FIXES BROKEN PLAY ; PATRICK SHOT AT 21.3 CARRIES KNICKS TO WIN
December 23, 1999 | 5:00amIt was a busted play, busted by Latrell Sprewell, who had carried the Knicks to their big fourth-quarter lead but suddenly had a brain cramp at the wrong time. Only...
THE BIG FELLA COMES ACROSS
December 23, 1999 | 5:00amHIS legs looked deader than his chances for a media good-guy award. Patrick Ewing had taken fewer shots than he had signed autographs on game day. He had hit a...
A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE: MET MELVIN MORA BECAME A PLAYOFF HERO WHEN HIS ROCKET ARM AND TIMELY BAT NEARLY LED AMAZIN'S PAST BRAVES. BUT TO A YOUNG ORPHAN BOY IN FLOOD-RAVAGED VENEZUELA, HE'S ABOUT TO BECOME A REAL-LIFE HERO
December 23, 1999 | 5:00amOn the day John Rocker carried us inside the cold, evil underbelly of hate, his polar opposite sprinkled love on an orphan. Melvin Mora, a Venezuelan, or as Rocker would...
CHARLES STILL IN CHARGE :OAKLEY DEAL HELPED BOTH TEAMS
December 23, 1999 | 5:00amBYGONES will be bygones, Charles Oakley said, dressing for a game last night that was only big because the Raptors needed to win it. Of course, Oak always was the...
JEFF STILL THINKIN' BIG :STAYS WITH SPREE-HOUSTON GUARD TANDEM
December 23, 1999 | 5:00amThe streak has hit two games - two games in which point guard Charlie Ward has had to come off the bench. Last night, coach Jeff Van Gundy sarcastically referred...
NEILSON GRINS & BEARS IT : FLYER COACH UPBEAT IN BATTLE WITH CANCER
December 23, 1999 | 5:00amThe upper lip remains stiff, except to smile and joke about his life-threatening cancer. On his belt, however, Captain Video wears a new gadget, and it's not a replay screen....