July 25, 2002

DON'T BANK ON PROBLEMS GOING AWAY ANYTIME SOON

THE markets sighed with relief yesterday after J.P. Morgan Chase tried to sell investors and employees on the idea that its involvement with Enron wouldn't cause major problems. I'm not...

MAX CAPITAL RACING TO DOUBLE PORTFOLIO

Adam Hochfelder, owner of Manhattan real estate empire Max Capital, wasn't just spinning his wheels when he told The Post he planned to take the company nationwide. Hochfelder said yesterday...

HOLLYWOOD HUSTLE - GIACCHETTO'S STAR VICTIMS SUED OVER PONZI PLAY

Cameron Diaz and "Spider-Man" star Tobey Maguire are among a handful of celebrities being hauled into court to cough up the cash they managed to rescue from an investment scam....

LIFE'S A BEACH FOR J. LO

NOW that Sean P.D. Combs' aversion to the Hamptons is clear, his ex, Jennifer Lopez, is showing up on the shores of the haughty hamlets. And J. Lo seems to...

AFTER PRICE DROP, INVESTORS SNAP UP WALL ST. BARGAINS

It's almost as if someone hung out a big old sign right smack in the middle of Wall Street, screaming "Stocks on Sale." Buyers turned up in droves yesterday, snatching...

REAL ESTATE RUMBLE: CB RICHARD ELLIS RAIDS CUSHMAN

Rival-raiding CB Richard Ellis honcho Mary Ann Tighe struck big-time yesterday, luring two of the town's top property-sale brokers from Cushman & Wakefield for rumored 7-figure signing bonuses. Darcy Stacom...

TALK TITANESS GETS $1M KISS-OFF CHECK

The marriage from hell between Harvey Weinstein and Tina Brown is finally over. The magazine folded in January and after increasingly acrimonious negotiations, Brown is said to be walking away...

SI SCORES, RETAINS RICK REILLY COLUMN

Terry "Big Sky" McDonell is living large at Sports Illustrated after convincing his two star columnists - Rick Reilly and Gary Smith - to re-up for the Time Inc.-owned weekly....

MALCOLM'S MOM BIG IN THE MIDDLE

MALCOLM won't be in the middle anymore - if Fox follows through on plans to work "Malcolm in the Middle" mom Jane Kaczmarek's pregnancy into the sitcom's storyline. "I've been...

HOWLING GOOD TIME

LOS LOBOS ------ THERE'S a lot to like about Los Lobos in concert, yet at this East L.A. band's Irving Plaza gig, what distinguished the show was a sense of...

HEY, THE POPE'S WEARING ROLLER SKATES

ELLEAt the Zipper, 336 W. 37th St. Through July 31. Call Telecharge, (212) 239-6200. ---------- JEAN Genet was a master of outrage. A onetime thief and prostitute, he enjoyed taking...

SNAP! 'BIG BRO' PUTS HER LOVE LIFE IN CODE

A DRUNK-driving charge may be just the tip of the iceberg on "Big Brother 3" contestant Chiara Berti's riveting personal life. Now, it appears Berti is telling her housemates that...

ALL THE OTHER WOMEN ON 'SEX AND THE CITY' HAVE ALREADY FLASHED A BREAST OR TWO, SO... - WHAT'S CARRIE GOT TO HIDE?

HAVE you ever noticed that the only one on "Sex and the City" who never seems to (pick one) have any, get any, shag, boff or shtup, is the only...

IT'S KNOT NICE

DAPHNE and Niles will finally tie the knot on the opening episode of "Frasier" this fall. The Emmy-caliber couple - a sweet-natured British live-in physical therapist and the uptight-but-lovable shrink...

STARR REPORT

No 'Disguise' for Carvey's emotions Dana Carvey, who's returning to the limelight with his new movie, "The Master of Disguise," tells tonight's "PrimeTime Thursday" (10 p.m./Ch. 7) that he's appalled...

IT'S A 'NASTY' END TO AJ'S 'AMERICAN IDOL' DREAM

SNARKY "American Idol" judge Simon "Mr. Nasty" Cowell got his wish last night when his personal whipping boy, AJ Gill, was booted off the show on live TV. Gill, who...

RANDY ALEXANDER: HOLLYWOOD BATTLE CRY: IS ANYONE MAN ENOUGH TO PLAY GREAT WARRIOR?

ALEXANDER the Great, who's been dead for 2,400 years, is poised to conquer the world's box offices- with no fewer than three competing megabucks movies in the works on the...

WEIRD BUT TRUE

The Mirage Pure Gold strip club in Minnesota has opened its doors to school kids - and there's nothing the law can do about it. When the Mirage debuted last...

'CHIN' IS A PLAYER IN GEEZER MOB CASE

An imprisoned gangster, who was desperate to whack a Bronx car dealer, tried to sweet-talk a prison pal into hiring a killer by telling him the hit would be a...

DYSPEPSIA AT THE JAVITS

IF you crash-landed into the Javits Center last Saturday, you might think you'd been transported into a '70s-era women's consciousness-raising group. Just substitute the word "men" for "buildings." Dubbed "Listening...

BLOOMY: IT'S A GREAT TIME TO BUY STOCKS

Mayor Bloomberg had some tips yesterday for those wondering what to do about the stock market. The billionaire mayor called this "one of the unique buying opportunities" in history. Appearing...

ANDY RIPS PATAKI, MCCALL FOR TAKING BIZ BIGS' CASH

BUFFALO - Andrew Cuomo yesterday took his campaign for "corporate responsibility" upstate, charging Gov. Pataki and Comptroller Carl McCall are engaging in "ethically unacceptable" behavior. Standing outside a plant in...

TOP COPS: LOCALS MUST GET TERROR INFO

Top law-enforcement officials converged on the city for a summit meeting yesterday and said the key to nabbing terrorists is getting the cop on the beat involved and sharing intelligence...

HER JURIS IMPRUDENCE IS WAY OUT OF ORDER

TO WATCH undercover cops work, albeit from a long distance, is like being in Bosnia, watching some little guy, a sergeant, defuse a mine with a 12-inch stick. You watch,...

GOTBAUM RIPS MAYOR ON CHARTER

Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum yesterday fired yet another salvo at Mayor Bloomberg, criticizing his Charter Revision Commission for trying to move at warp speed. The commission, which meets for the...

MEDICAID MAULS BLOOMY'S BUDGET

For the first time, the number of New York City residents enrolled in Medicaid has topped 2 million - driving up costs to a point where other services will have...

BUSH RARING TO SIGN DEAL BY CONGRESS ON CORPORATE PUNISHMENT

WASHINGTON - Lawmakers yesterday struck a quick deal on historic corporate-accountability legislation, and President Bush said he's eager to sign it into law. Racing to finish the plan before the...

STATE POLS EYE COMMUTER TAX

ALBANY - The leaders of the state Legislature opened the door yesterday to restoring New York City's $400-million-a-year commuter tax, which was repealed three years ago. "I think it is...

BLEED LEAD BUSTS 'THIEF'

A bungling thief who cut himself carrying out a smash-and-grab burglary at an Upper East Side jewelry store two years ago was finally busted yesterday after cops stumbled upon a...

LAWYERS FIGHT FOR MOUSSAOUI

WASHINGTON - The lawyers fired by Zacarias Moussaoui made a last-ditch attempt yesterday to save the accused terrorist from pleading guilty to involvement in the Sept. 11 attacks. They asked...

ISRAEL TRIES TO APPEASE PALESTINIANS

JERUSALEM - Israel made a series of goodwill gestures to the Palestinians yesterday after an air attack - apparently based on faulty intelligence - killed 15 civilians along with Hamas'...

TOP SCHOOLS CHANCELLOR CANDIDATE A 'DROPOUT'

With six weeks until public schools reopen, another contender for chancellor has bitten the dust. Barbara Byrd-Bennett, chief executive of the Cleveland schools and a former superintendent in New York...

VERSACE GUARD IN LOOT OF TROUBLE

Any security director hates going to work after a heist on his watch, but William Robinson hasn't been seen in two weeks - after $3 million in baubles and beads...

RIPA'S GOT LOWE-DOWN ON $TARS: WE'RE NOT WORTH IT

Kelly Ripa says TV and movie stars are "overpaid" - and includes herself and co-host Regis Philbin in that group. "I believe in the industry in general, everybody involved is...

PA HONCHO 'DEVELOPS' SILVERSTEIN ALTERNATIVE

A top Port Authority board member yesterday became the latest agency official to say the PA could seek other developers if negotiations with Twin Towers lease holder Larry Silverstein fall...

COUNCIL APPROVES BILL TO ADJUST TERM LIMITS

City Council Speaker Gifford Miller and seven of his colleagues will get to run for another two years in office after a bill to "fix" the term-limits law yesterday easily...

AL STINGS HBO WITH $1B SUIT

The Rev. Al Sharpton filed a $1 billion lawsuit against HBO yesterday, charging the cable network defamed him by airing a portion of a 1983 drug-sting videotape. "I will not...

VISITORS LOOK DOWN ON 3-D MODELS OF INITIAL SIX DESIGNS

They didn't like most of what they saw, but hundreds of people opted for an up-front look yesterday at the six Ground Zero land-use options that went on display at...

HARVEY PITTS SEC CHIEF WANTS A RAISE

WASHINGTON - President Bush has no interest in backing embattled Securities and Exchange Commission chief Harvey Pitt's eyebrow-raising pitch for a promotion and a raise, the White House said yesterday....

FED WORKERS GET ELECTION-YEAR GIFT

WASHINGTON - Eager to look generous in an election year, House lawmakers yesterday approved a plan to give America's 1.7 million federal government workers a 4.1 percent pay hike. The...

KELLY: JUST SAY NO: COMMISH ORDERS UNDERCOVER COPS TO IGNORE JUDGE

Lashing out at a hypocritical Manhattan jurist, angry Police Commissioner Ray Kelly ordered undercover cops yesterday to defy judges' demands to reveal their identities. Leaders of the detectives union and...

PROBER SPILLED BEANS IN TAX SCAM

The city's probe into corrupt tax assessors was undermined by one of its own investigators - who pleaded guilty yesterday to passing on confidential information, officials said. In a shocking...

MARTHA'S $$ FALLING LIKE BAD SOUFFLÉ

Martha Stewart's company is starting to show signs of wear - on its bottom line. The media company's earnings are souring because it's spending so much money on p.r. flacks...

COPS HUNT YEMENI THUGS HERE

The NYPD has alerted precincts throughout the city to be on the lookout for Yemeni nationals carrying large amounts of cash - and Thermos bottles filled with explosives. The Terrorism...

NYSE EYES W'CHESTER OUTPOST

New York Stock Exchange boss Richard Grasso - spurned by Mayor Bloomberg over half a billion dollars in promised assistance - is considering moving half the Big Board's trading operations...

OUTPOURING OF AFFLECK-TION AT J.LO'S BASH PHOTO EXCLUSIVE

Jennifer Lopez and new flame Ben Affleck kissed, cuddled and made goo-goo eyes at each other for hours yesterday as the Latina lovely was feted at a surprise birthday party....

N.Y.'S FURRIEST DIES AT 10

Zeus, the most highly decorated police dog in NYPD history, has died, the department announced yesterday. The end came suddenly on Tuesday morning for the 10-year-old German shepherd, who spent...

RETIRED TEACHER PROVIDES SICK KIDS WORDS TO LIVE BY

Once upon a time, Rona Roth delighted kindergarten classes with the magic of storytelling but now the retired teacher is using a lesson learned from Katy the Kangaroo to give...

'TOO SICK' LEONA HAS DINE OLD TIME

Queen of Mean Leona Helmsley may wind up getting her just "desserts" after she was filmed having a fancy dinner on a day she claimed to be too sick to...

PHILADELPHIA FREEDOM: PLAYTIME FOR PLUCKY GIRL AFTER KIDNAPPING ORDEAL

The bravest little girl in Philadelphia dressed in pink and played with pals yesterday - just 24 harrowing hours after she chewed through duct tape to escape her kidnappers. Erica...

BULLS HORN IN WITH 489-POINT SURGE

After weeks of devastating losses, the stock market posted its second-biggest one-day point gain yesterday, cheering the hearts and wallets of investors. The value of portfolios was boosted by $500...

FEDS CORRAL '3 LITTLE PIGS': HELPED SELVES TO BILLIONS AT THE COMPANY TROUGH, PROSECUTORS SAY

Setting a new low in corporate skulduggery, John Rigas and his sons treated one of America's biggest cable companies like their "personal piggy bank" - secretly siphoning billions of dollars...

BURGLARY SPREE

A pair of late-night burglars who bypass door locks by simply removing them are ripping off cash from stores on the Upper West and Upper East sides. The duo last...

TRASH TALK LEADS TO SANIT ASSAULT: COPS

A Long Island garbage man used a baseball bat to crack the skull of a co-worker for peppering him with insults about his strength and ability to lift heavy trash...

'TOO SICK' LEONA HAS A DINE OLD TIME

Queen of Mean Leona Helmsley may wind up getting her just "desserts" after she was filmed having a fancy dinner on a day she claimed to be too sick to...

A SHOW OF AFFLECK-TION AT J.LO'S B'DAY BASH

Jennifer Lopez and new flame Ben Affleck kissed, cuddled and made goo-goo eyes at each other for hours yesterday as the Latina lovely was feted at a surprise birthday party....

MEDICAID PUTS NEW $QUEEZE ON BUDGET

For the first time, the number of New York City residents enrolled in Medicaid has topped 2 million - driving up costs to a point where other services will have...

VISITORS LOOK DOWN ON 3-D MODELS

They didn't like most of what they saw, but hundreds of people opted for an up-front look yesterday at the six Ground Zero land-use options that went on display at...

IS TIME RUNNING OUT ON YOUR MARRIAGE? 1 OUT OF 3 ENDS IN DIVORCE BEFORE 10 YEARS

Country-music queen Tammy Wynette once sang D-I-V-O-R-C-E, and now a shocking number of American women are warbling the same sad song, a new survey reveals. A stunning government study shows...

SCORING GIAMB-OREE - JASON LEADS RUN PARADE AS YANKEES GO 4 ½ UP

CLEVELAND - Considering how fragile the Yankees' pitching staff has been lately, it wasn't assuring to hear David Wells explain his surgically repaired back has regressed since the All-Star break....

DL LIKELY FOR MARIANO

CLEVELAND - The news isn't good on Mariano Rivera's balky right shoulder and it's likely the All-Star closer is headed for the DL. Rivera tested his shoulder with a brief...

SWEEP DISORDER - METS SQUANDER CHANCE TO CLEAN UP VS. EXPOS

The Mets had a chance to sweep the Expos last night, but it went by the boards as quickly as a 1-2-3 ninth. It was an opportunity squandered the way...

ESTES SEES SOME HOPE

After five straight bad starts, Shawn Estes realized he needed an attitude adjustment. The Met lefthander had gotten mentally lazy in his approach and tentative in his pitching. He knew...

PHILLIPS NOT WAVING WHITE FLAG

MET NOTES Steve Phillips said he wasn't going to make an official proclamation that the Mets are pushing for the playoffs instead of setting up a fire sale. But before...

JETS NOT AFRAID TO PUT IT ON LINE

The Jets' players arrive tomorrow, set to begin Herman Edwards' second year as head coach. They'll be on the field for the first time together at 8:30 on Saturday morning...

HURRICANES RAISE THE BAR - SET SIGHTS ON REPEATING

A few weeks after leading Miami to the national championship, Larry Coker, figuring he still was the same Larry Coker who had been a successful, albeit obscure assistant coach for...

BARBER, STRAHAN FLASHBACK:

ALBANY - When the Giants put the pads on and hit the field this morning for the first practice of training camp, the first play could be a handoff to...

POSSE WILL CATCH SANFORD

SARATOGA SPRINGS - On paper, today's Grade 2, $150,000 Sanford Stakes is as tough a race to handicap as you'll ever see at the Old Spa. The field of nine...

'FREEDOM' RINGS AT SPA'S OPENER

SARATOGA SPRINGS - Coming off a bang-up spring-summer meet at Belmont Park, where he topped the standings with 30 winners, trainer Todd Pletcher warily approached the Old Spa, where he's...

INKSTER TAKING AIM AT BIG APPLE CLASSIC

You wouldn't blame Juli Inkster if she spent most of the week taking bows for her thrilling victory at the U.S. Women's Open three weeks ago in Hutchinson, Kan. When...

COLLINS GETS NEW DEAL

GIANT NOTES ALBANY - Several weeks ago, Kerry Collins was disheartened. He thought he wasn't going to get the contract extension he desired from the Giants. Yesterday, the quarterback was...

KNICKS EYE 6-11 DOLEAC

Unrestricted free-agent center Michael Doleac told The Post that Knick GM Scott Layden invited him for a recruiting visit and he is expected take them up on the offer. "Yeah,...

CARTER IS IN; SHOCKEY NOT

ALBANY - Jeremy Shockey remains in Miami and the first-round pick will not be on the field this morning for the first practice of Giants training camp. The tight end...

JOE EXPECTS POSADA BACK ON SATURDAY

YANKEE NOTES CLEVELAND - Jorge Posada said he could have played last night but the earliest Joe Torre expects to have the All-Star catcher starting behind the plate is Saturday...

DUKE'S DOWN ON BASEBALL

Duke Snider did not become a rich man during his Hall of Fame career, but he wouldn't trade it to play today. "When I played, we played to win," Snider...

LEITER MET FOR LIFE - ACE INKS TWO-YEAR EXTENSION

It has been an up-and-down year for Al Leiter in the win-loss column and at the negotiating table. Leiter's contract situation had a happy ending yesterday, however, and now he...

GUTHRIE STILL FIRING BLANKS

Mark Guthrie stood in the Mets clubhouse before last night's 2-1 loss to the Expos chatting with a reporter about his recent hot streak when John Franco walked by, clasped...

NOW METS CAN FOCUS ON WINS

"WE'RE in it to win it." That's the message the Met hierarchy says it was sending yesterday when it ended speculation surrounding Al Leiter's future by signing the left-hander to...

NOW AL, AMAZIN'S CAN FOCUS ON WINNING

"WE'RE in it to win it." That's the message the Mets hierarchy says it was sending yesterday when it ended speculation about Al Leiter's future by signing the left-hander to...

PHILLIPS BEGINS CRANKIN' IT UP, NOT PACKIN' IT IN

MET NOTES Steve Phillips said he wouldn't issue an official proclamation as to whether the Mets would be making a playoff push instead of setting up a fire sale around...

MARKING DOWN ZEROES - METS' GUTHRIE FIRING ONLY BLANKS SINCE MAY

Mark Guthrie stood in the Mets clubhouse before last night's game with Montreal chatting with a reporter about his recent hot streak when John Franco walked by, clasped him on...

SCORING GIAMB-OREE : JASON LEADS RUN PARADE AS YANKEES GO 4½ UP

Yankees 14 Indians 7 CLEVELAND - Bet the over when Boomer pitches. In David Wells' last four starts, the Yankees have scored tons of runs and he has given up...

BOMBERS IN BANDAGES

CLEVELAND - Win or lose last night, the Yankees were happy to split Jacobs Field. One of baseball's sweetest ballparks has turned into The House Of Pain for the Bombers...

STINT ON DL MOST LIKELY FOR RIVERA

YANKEE NOTES CLEVELAND - The news isn't good on Mariano Rivera's balky right shoulder and it's likely the All-Star closer is headed for the disabled list. Rivera tested the wing...

DUKE: BIG BUCKS RUINING BASEBALL

Duke Snider did not become a rich man during his Hall of Fame career, but he wouldn't trade it to play today. "When I played, we played to win," Snider...

SWEEP DISORDER: METS SQUANDER CHANCE TO CLEAN UP VS. EXPOS

Expos 2 Mets 1 The Mets had a chance to sweep Montreal last night, but that's all it was. One of many missed chances. On a night of offensive misery,...