August 14, 2002

VOICESTREAM CALLS; DT TRYING TO OFFLOAD WIRELESS UNIT BY OCT. 1

VoiceStream Wireless is sending out the strongest signal yet that it's looking for a buyer. Just weeks after parent company Deutsche Telekom ousted Chief Executive Ron Sommer, the German phone...

BIG FED LETDOWN: STOCKS FALL ON DECISION TO STAND PAT ON RATES

It's official: the U.S. economic recovery is failing. Even Alan Greenspan and his cohorts at the Federal Reserve think so, though they aren't quite prepared to do anything about it....

BUFFETT WANTS $16.3M IN DEDUCTIONS

Berkshire Hathaway's legendary leader Warren Buffett - never one to back down from a fight - is taking on the IRS. The Oracle of Omaha's investment firm is in a...

MEAT MARKET, MEET BUDDHA BAR

THE Meat Market area continues its summer sizzle, as Buddha Bar's Parisian night prince, Raymond Visan, grabbed a second venue at the Chelsea Market, to be dubbed "Zuckaear." French designer...

SLICING INTO IPO DESERT

Domino's Pizza Inc. could file an initial public offering as soon as this summer - and the stagnant IPO market could sure use the boost. A Domino's spokeswoman said the...

CITY SUBPOENA ON GRUBMAN

Lawmakers slapped a subpoena on Citigroup, demanding more documents detailing if now-defunct WorldCom execs got coveted IPO shares from deals underwritten by Salomon Smith Barney. Salomon's chief telecom analyst Jack...

CALVIN LICENSES SMELLING SHAKY

Another piece of the Calvin Klein empire may be up for grabs. Unilever Cosmetics International, a division of consumer products giant Unilever NV and the manufacturer of Calvin Klein's fragrance...

TURBULENCE AHEAD AS AMERICAN CUTS 7,000

American Airlines announced it will slash another 6 percent of its work force - among other cost-cutting initiatives - denting enthusiasm over the president's first economic forum yesterday. The world's...

STARR REPORT

It's Pat! Boone goes to 'Heaven' Danny Woodburn, who played diminutive Mickey in "Seinfeld," will co-star in an upcoming episode of "Charmed" along with Sean Patrick Flannery - and Pat...

INDIA.ARIE IN THE PARK

MARDI Gras may have come and gone, but its spirit lives on tonight in Bryant Park. The 2002 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival - albeit in New York -...

AN ACTOR COPES WITH TRAGEDY

I'M GOING HOME In French, with English subtitles. Running time: 90 minutes. Not rated (adult situations). At Film Forum, Houston Street, west of Sixth Avenue. MANOEL de Oliveira is in...

BRITNEY JEERS

NYLA HALF A STAR 52 E. 41ST ST. (BET. MADISON AND PARK AVENUES) (212) 682-2860 'WILL somebody tell them that gumbo doesn't mean gum?" my friend giggled at Nyla one...

'BEAT' IS OFF TEMPO

BEAT At 45 Bleecker St. Through Saturday. Call (212) 420-8877. 'I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness, starving hysterical naked," begins Allen Ginsberg's "Howl," the most...

NOTES FROM SIBERIA ; ROBERT MILLER

THEY landed at JFK nearly four years ago with a business card, some pocket change and a dream.Now it's coming true.After stopping traffic in Times Square and wowing 'em at...

KING-SIZE APPETITE

IF you want to impersonate Elvis this week to mark the 25th anniversary of his crossing into rock heaven, better loosen your belt. The King had a king-size appetite. Elvis'...

REFRESHING BELLINI JUST PEACHY IN SUMMER

COMPARING a drink to fish eggs might seem an odd comparison, but the Bellini is the shad roe of cocktails. Like the pregnant shad, which swims up a handful of...

'WE'LL KILL POST-MARTHA RIVALS'

REGIS Philbin has a message for King World's new morning show: Bring it on! "Joy, every year there's another show that comes up, 'We're gonna knock off 'Live' - OK,...

ON THE SIDE ; DUCASSE STILL IN THE MIX

NOW that famed French chef Alain Ducasse has gotten his ducks in a row at his Essex House restaurant, he's venturing a block away to open another eatery. Sources say...

NEW ZAGAT GUIDES SHOPPERS TO APPLE'S BEST

SHOPPERS, toss that old Zagat.The 2003 New York City Marketplace Survey is out today, rating 1,238 places for everything from bagels to wine. The slim blue volume ($12.95) notes trends...

OO-WEEE! PACINO TO PLAY HITLER IN BRECHT SATIRE

SIEG Al!Al Pacino will head up an all-goose-stepping cast in a revival of "Arturo Ui," Bertolt Brecht's coruscating satire about Hitler's rise to power. The revival is being produced by...

SMARTY-PANTS BEN RUNS OUT OF MONEY

AFTER next season, no one will ever "Win Ben Stein's Money" again. Comedy Central suits have pulled the plug on the long-running quiz-show featuring know-it-all Ben Stein, a comic actor...

THERE GO ANNA'S BIG FAT FIGURES

MORE than a million and a quarter viewers took a pass on Week 2 of "The Anna Nicole Show" as ratings fell 25 percent from the show's premiere a week...

THE NERVE! WHAT MAKES THESE TWO THINK THEY CAN DESIGN CLOTHES?

PRINCE Charles is coming out with a line of country clothes - and actor John Malkovich is designing men's suits. Welcome to the future of fashion, when the least likely...

THEIR WILD RIDE ISN'T OVER YET

BRISTOL, Conn. THREE buses left Harlem at 4 o'clock, bound for glory and Williamsport. "We've been praying for the children," said Inez Hicks, grandmother of catcher Spencer White. She arrived...

MAN GRILLED IN SLAY OF IMMIGRANT

Police last night questioned a man in the beating death of a Bangladeshi immigrant who was killed in a Brooklyn street fight over an attempted bike theft, sources said. The...

BLOODS RUN COLD ; BX. TRIAL BARES GANG WARFARE

The inner workings of the ruthless street gang The Bloods are being exposed in a guarded Manhattan courtroom as prosecutors charge they used violence to control an army of drug...

WEIRD BUT TRUE

She didn't want the lobsters to go to pot. And so a guest at a swank Cape Cod clambake grabbed five about-to-be-boiled crustaceans, tossed them in her car, drove them...

LET'S HOLD ON JUST A MINUTE

NOW our city officials want to ban us from talking in public - or, at least, from conversing on cell phones "in places of public performance." That's rich! Getting this...

COUNSELOR OK'D TEENS' TRYST: COPS

A counselor at a Long Island home for troubled youths was arrested yesterday for allegedly setting up a tryst between a teen in his care and a girl who lives...

FATAH 'MURDER CHIEFTAIN' FACING SLAY CHARGE

JERUSALEM - A fiery leader of the Palestinian uprising will be formally charged with murder today in a step that may further snarl Mideast peace efforts. Marwan Barghouti, second only...

HEAR, HEAR! FOR A FINE IDEA

BRAVO, City Council members for at least attempting to stop an epidemic by proposing to fine those whose cell phones toll during performances. But fines don't go far enough. Hauling...

TEXAS TOT SNATCHED, CALIF. GIRL OK

A mystery woman snatched a month-old infant from an Abilene, Texas parking lot yesterday and drove away -as the child's horrified mother desperately clung to the getaway car, authorities said....

DISABLED BALLERINA PARALYZED IN BODY, BUT NOT SPIRIT

A slip on the ice that sent her tumbling down stairs broke Kitty Lunn's back and left her a paraplegic - but the slip couldn't break the ballerina's determination to...

THERE AUTO BE A LAW ; CITY HALL SCOFFLAWS AS BAD AS DIPLOMATS

Motorists with official parking placards are dumping their vehicles at hydrants, bus stops and even on sidewalks behind City Hall - making a mockery of Mayor Bloomberg's crackdown on privileged...

REV. AL'S POLL VAULT: HE LEADS DASCHLE IN SURVEY SHOCKER

WASHINGTON - A shocking new poll shows Al Sharpton looms as a player in Democratic presidential politics who could become the new Jesse Jackson, although Al Gore remains the favorite...

DA: BOOKKEEPER EMBEZZLED 330G

The Brooklyn district attorney yesterday busted a bookkeeper for allegedly stealing $330,000 from St. Agatha's School in Sunset Park. Winifred Duffy, 51, of Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, is accused of stealing...

PREDATOR IN SEX ATTACK ON SISTERS

Cops are hunting for a sexual predator who forcibly raped a 14-year-old girl on the rooftop of her East Harlem apartment building before entering her residence, where he molested and...

CURTAINS FOR PHONES: POL EYES CELL BAN AT PLAYS, CONCERTS

A Manhattan legislator, miffed at the constant shrilling of cell phones during his visits to Broadway theaters, intends do something about it. His solution? Making bad manners illegal. Councilman Phil...

SMOKERS NOT "STUPID"

Mayor Bloomberg isn't going to get smokers to quit by calling them "stupid," experts said yesterday. Nicotine is addictive - as addictive as narcotics - and such comments aren't going...

BUSH'S BRO: MY SON WAS A VICTIM OF SCHOOL RX

ANGRY New York parents who say school officials pressured them into medicating their children have a very powerful ally in their corner - President Bush's brother. Neil Bush is condemning...

$12.5M PAYDAY AS CITY SETTLES '91 OT LAWSUIT

More than 700 current and former city employees were celebrating Christmas in August yesterday when the Bloomberg administration agreed to pay $12.5 million to settle an overtime lawsuit dating back...

'THE OSB"URNES': 'ADOPT' KID WHOSE MOM DIED OF CANCER

--- EXCLUSIVE--- Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne are opening their hearts and wallets to their daughters' best friend - who lost his mom to the same cancer Sharon is battling. Robert...

THE HEAT GOES ON: 100 DEGREES OF PERSPIRATION AS CITY SIZZLES

Thought it was hot yesterday? Well, it's gonna be worse today. Get set for 100 scorching degrees - and that's not a misprint. And now for the really bad news....

NYPD BIDDING FOR INTERNET AUCTION SITE

Move over, eBay, and make way for NYPD-Bay - the Police Department is getting into the Internet auction business. The NYPD is looking for an online auction company to sell...

THUG BEATS ARTIST NEAR BRONX HOME

An "incredibly talented" up-and-coming artist was savagely beaten on a Bronx sidewalk by a puny, bat-wielding punk whose fiendish pals cheered him on, cops said yesterday. Albert Loewy, 29, was...

DEMS RIP BUSH'S TAX-CUT POLICIES

WASHINGTON - Democrats went gunning for President Bush's tax cuts and hinted at tax hikes yesterday while an "incredibly optimistic" Bush talked up the U.S. economy in early skirmishing for...

TEEN GANG SLASHES BX. GIRL

A 15-year-old Bronx girl was slashed with boxcutters by a group of teens who apparently mistook her for another kid, cops said yesterday. Visette Gonzalez received more than 100 stitches...

HE'S BILLION-DOLLAR ARAFAT ; GOT RICH ON AID FOR PALESTINIANS, ISRAEL GENERAL SAYS

JERUSALEM - Yasser Arafat has secretly amassed at least $1.3 billion in "personal assets," Israel's chief of military intelligence said yesterday. Maj. Gen. Aharon Zeevi's comments were based on financial...

SNOOP'S KIN DIES IN SIEGE

The brother-in-law of rapper Snoop Dogg died yesterday after a tense 11-hour standoff in Las Vegas in which a cop was shot and a hostage managed a daring escape, police...

QNS. COP BUSTED ON WELFARE-FRAUD RAP

A Queens cop who has served two years on the force was arrested yesterday on charges of supplementing her $32,000 salary with $115,802 in welfare fraud. Esther Cornielli, 38, of...

DEMS PLAN SEPT. 10 'UPSTAGE' TELECAST

An all-star cast of New York Democratic politicians plans to upstage official Sept. 11 commemorations with a paid TV commercial the day before, officials said last night. The New York...

GIULIANI GETS $190,000 FOR A-LIST OF POLITICAL DONORS

Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani's political committee was paid $190,000 this year for the use of the high-powered mailing list he created during his aborted Senate run against Hillary Rodham Clinton,...

WIFE-BEAT RAP FOR 'STONE COLD' WRESTLER

Pro wrestler "Stone Cold" Steve Austin surrendered to cops in Texas yesterday on charges he beat his wife during an argument in June. Austin was released after posting $5,000 bond,...

NEW IDEAS SOUGHT ON WTC REDEVELOP

EXCLUSIVE Redevelopment officials are opening up the Ground Zero planning process to a new set of design consultants in an effort to bring in "fresh ideas" after earlier plans for...

IF SMOKING GOES, SO DO WE, TOURISTS VOW

If Mayor Bloomberg's proposed smoking ban passes, European - and even American - tourists say they will bid adieu to the Big Apple. "As a European and a foreigner, I...

MEET OFFICER X - NOW JUST LET HIM DO HIS JOB

I DON'T know his name, and if I did, you would have to pull my nails out to give him up. All I know is that he is an undercover...

SADDAM HEADS UNDERGROUND

WASHINGTON - Saddam Hussein has moved large portions of his government- and military-command structures into vast underground bunkers to ensure he and his regime survive U.S. military strikes. Saddam's preparations...

ASBESTOS FALLOUT AT STUYVESANT HS

Stuyvesant HS's new-student orientation has become a course in disorientation. The elite public high school near Ground Zero has relocated its Aug. 28 freshman orientation program to Humanities HS on...

ROCKETTE BOSSES WALK OUT ON TALKS

Contract talks between the Rockettes and their bosses at Radio City Music Hall broke down last night when management left the bargaining table during a break and didn't return, sources...

TRACHSEL OFF TRACK

To characterize Steve Trachsel's performance and to paraphrase Yogi Berra, "It got ugly early out there." In first inning, Trachsel threw 35 pitches and faced all nine batters in a...

COMEBACK KIDS ; LITTLE LEAGUE THRILLER PUTS HARLEM TEAM IN THE WORLD SERIES

Harlem's All-Stars won a coveted birth in the Little League World Series with a 5-4 extra-inning win last night over a tenacious team from Bethlehem, Pa. Second baseman Julian McWilliams...

MOURNERS HONOR HOMELESS TEEN

The homeless teen who took his life because he couldn't face spending time in another emergency shelter was mourned by his family, friends and even strangers at a funeral in...

COMEBACK KIDS: LITTLE LEAGUE THRILLER PUTS HARLEM TEAM IN THE WORLD SERIES

Harlem's All-Stars won a coveted birth in the Little League World Series with a 5-4 extra-inning win last night over a tenacious team from Bethlehem, Pa. Center fielder Julian McWilliams...

ASBESTOS FALLOUT AT STUY HIGH

Stuyvesant HS's new-student orientation has become a course in disorientation. The elite public high school near Ground Zero has relocated its Aug. 28 freshman orientation program to Humanities HS on...

ANDY HOMES IN ON MCCALL LIE

ALBANY - Andrew Cuomo yesterday called Carl McCall's false claim to have lived in a public housing project a "very serious" matter and a question of McCall's "credibility." Cuomo, responding...

TOURISTS: IF CIGS GO, WE'RE GONE

If Mayor Bloomberg's proposed smoking ban passes, European - and even American - tourists say they will bid adieu to the Big Apple. "As a European and a foreigner, I...

SCHOOL BOSS' NEW HIRE AN OLD CHUM

Incoming Schools Chancellor Joel Klein has hired at least one colleague from Bertelsmann Inc. to join his management team at the Board of Education, sources said yesterday. David Yarkin, 28,...

POL ARRESTED IN MEETING MELEE

A political leader was arrested last night at the first public hearing of the mayor's Charter Revision Commission when rival factions fought for space in the crammed audience. Larry Moskowitz,...

SADDAM'S UNDERGROUND MOVEMENT DIGS IN DEEP

WASHINGTON - Saddam Hussein has moved large portions of his government- and military-command structures into vast underground bunkers to ensure he and his regime survive U.S. military strikes. U.S. military...

WILSON ENCOURAGED BY LABOR TALKS

MET NOTES As disappointing as the Mets have been, one could hardly blame them if they'd favored a strike. But after the players union backed off setting a strike date...

TRACHSEL COMES FLYING OFF TRACK

To characterize Steve Trachsel's performance and to paraphrase Yogi Berra, "It got ugly early out there." In first inning, Trachsel threw 35 pitches and faced all nine batters in a...

YANKS STICK IT TO KC: BATTERS RESCUE ROCKY ROCKET

Yankees 10 Royals 5 KANSAS CITY - Joe Torre winces when the subject surfaces. Pitching, not hitting, is what the Yankees are all about - or should be. Yet, with...

THE NICK OF TIME ; JOHNSON MAY LINGER ON THE DL

KANSAS CITY - Nick Johnson landed in Tampa Monday night and yesterday continued to receive treatment on a bruised left wrist. When he returns to the Yankees isn't known, and...

ZAVATA LOOKS TO BE SOMETHING SPECIAL

SARATOGA SPRINGS - Not since More Than Ready galloped home in the Sanford Stakes three summers ago has a 2-year-old colt generated as much excitement at the Old Spa as...

GETTING READY FOR 2ND HALF

SARATOGA SPRINGS - Some handicapping observations and predictions as we head into the second half of the meet: Trainer Shug McGaughey is having a banner meet. Almost every horse McGaughey...

BOBER TAKES CENTER STAGE

ALBANY - The grand plan, which caused much trepidation for those looking in on the Giants, included Chris Bober starting at right tackle, even though he had never come close...

WEAVER PROVIDING MUCH-NEEDED RELIEF

YANKEE NOTES KANSAS CITY - When GM Brian Cashman had the chance to get Jeff Weaver in a three-way deal for Ted Lilly and two young prospects, Cashman jumped at...

PRACTICE HEATS UP FOR ALLEN, SHOCKEY

GIANT NOTES ALBANY - Cornerback Will Allen and tight end Jeremy Shockey, last year's first-round draft pick and this year's top pick, respectively, engaged in some friendly but intense competition...

ELS LOOKING TO TRIP TIGER

CHASKA, Minn. - If Ernie Els can win the 84th PGA Championship this weekend at Hazeltine National Golf Club, he'll have won as many major championships this year as Tiger...

WOODS SLAMS THE DOOR ON BRITISH OPEN LAMENT

PGA NOTES CHASKA, Minn. - Tiger Woods insists he has no regrets about not winning the 2002 British Open and keeping alive his quest for a calendar grand slam. An...

CAN THIS BE A FLUKE? SHARKS SWIM ASHORE

THE summer's heat wave has coaxed some unusual fish close to shore - in some cases, they're species seen mostly offshore. Fluke fishermen aboard some of the Sheepshead Bay party...

EXCHANGE WITH CENTER PROVING FAR FROM SNAP

JET NOTES Herman Edwards is becoming increasingly annoyed with his team's propensity to botch the snaps from center to quarterback, something that happened yet again in yesterday's morning practice. "We're...

RED ALERT FOR BECHT ; JETS TE NEEDS TO SCORE TDS

The play occurred late in the Jets' morning practice yesterday and it was one they'd love to see at least a dozen or so times when the regular season begins....

NETS GREET MR. ROGERS

Rodney Rogers became the final piece of the Nets' puzzle yesterday when, according to sources, GM Rod Thorn completed a brilliant offseason by agreeing to terms with the former Sixth...

METS SAVE HALL SPOT FOR AGEE

Anyone who was there that day still remembers what happened. "He ran from right-center to make the catch in left-center and he ran from left-center to make the catch in...

PODS PRAY FOR LABOR DEAL

Phil Nevin hedged when he was asked to place a percentage on the chance of a baseball labor deal getting done by Friday. "No idea," said San Diego's assistant player...

MUTOMBO: I'LL MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Dikembe Mutombo watched the Nets crash in a Finals sweep by the Lakers. He won't say he would have been the difference had he, rather than Todd MacCulloch, been in...

METS ENCOURAGED BY LABOR TALKS

MET NOTES As disappointing as the Mets have been this season, one could hardly blame them if they favored a strike. But after the players union backed off setting a...

'WAR' LIKELY TO BYPASS TRAVERS

SARATOGA SPRINGS - Trainer Bob Baffert told The Post yesterday from Del Mar he is "80 percent sure" Kentucky Derby winner War Emblem will stay in California for the Aug....

EX-MET MYERS, 39, WORKS OUT IN TAMPA

KANSAS CITY - Former Met reliever Randy Myers is working out at the Yankees' minor-league complex in Tampa with an eye on a possible return to the big leagues. Myers,...

METS LOOKING BANKRUPT ; FAIL TO CASH IN VS. LOWLY PADRES

Padres 7Mets 2 If a $400 million club plays like a broken-down lemon, is it still worth $400 million? Mets co-owner Nelson Doubleday, who settled his buy-out dispute with Fred...

FONZIE'S RETURN TO LINEUP ON SLOW TRACK

MET NOTES The Mets had hoped that second baseman Edgardo Alfonzo would be ready to play by the time he's eligible to come off the 15-day disabled list on Sunday....

LABOR TALK BUOYS METS

Disappointing as the Mets have been, you'd hardly blame them if they favored a strike. But after the players' union on Monday backed off setting a strike date, players and...