July 28, 2003
GRASSO GRUMBLE - NYSE SPECIALISTS VENT OVER FEE HIKE, PAY DEAL
July 28, 2003 | 4:00amBig Board chief Dick Grasso is under siege again - this time from inside the New York Stock Exchange. While Grasso is engaged in an increasingly intense battle over whether...
GE TO GET $2.2B FOR BOND INSURANCE UNIT
July 28, 2003 | 4:00amGeneral Electric Co. has clinched a deal to sell its bond insurance unit to a team of buyers led by mortgage insurer PMI Group Inc. for roughly $2.2 billion, sources...
DOGGING IT! - PLAY PICKS FAKE FELINE
July 28, 2003 | 4:00amFINALLY, the truth about cats and dogs: Dogs are superior - at least if you're casting a play. So concluded the producers of "He Died With a Falafel in His...
CHANGE ARTISTS - OUR SHOPPERS RATE THE CITY'S DRESSING ROOMS
July 28, 2003 | 4:00amNOT a fan of public nudity? Then don't try on clothes at Loehmann's any time soon. Like many other Manhattan discount department stores - Century 21 and Daffy's, among them...
BABY GRAND: MOMS-T0-BE DON'T HAVE TO BE FASHION FLOPS
July 28, 2003 | 4:00amWhen she got pregnant with her first child, Liza Elliott thought her modeling career was over. "I'd been modeling for over 20 years, and I was working a lot," she...
PLASTIC ON FIRM FOOTING: SEE-THROUGH SHOES ARE CLEARLY WINNERS
July 28, 2003 | 4:00amTHE latest trend in footwear is clear - plastic shoes. Just ask Lil' Kim, Britney Spears and all three Charlie's Angels. Stella McCartney's spindly, transparent stilettos ($285) have emerged as...
BY 'DESIGN'
July 28, 2003 | 4:00am"The Designing Women Reunion" Tonight at 8 on Lifetime * * * (3 stars) DELTA cries. And everybody else laughs. OK, that's not quite fair. They're not really laughing at...
THE STARR REPORT
July 28, 2003 | 4:00amThey're putting YOU in the pilot seat If you're always saying, "I have an idea for the perfect (fill- in-the-genre) show," well, here's your chance to put up or shut...
TWIN TOWERS VICTIM'S FAMILY BRINGS DAD HOME AT LAST
July 28, 2003 | 4:00amFOR weeks after 9/11, Sal Gjonbalaj spent his days marching from hospital to morgue, scanning lists of the dead, wounded and missing. He hunted the rubble that was the World...
ASSEMBLY 'RAPE' INDICTMENT LOOMS
July 28, 2003 | 4:00amA SSEMBLY Speaker Sheldon Silver's longtime chief counsel may be indicted on a rape charge later this week, The Post has learned. The Albany County grand jury will take up...
BX. SABER-RATTLER MENDED INT'L FENCES
July 28, 2003 | 4:00amDaniel Bukantz - Ambassador Medal nominee --- Lifelong New Yorker Daniel Bukantz has done his fair share of saber-rattling - but not for war, only for peace. In fact, the...
WE'RE A NATION OF MEDITATION
July 28, 2003 | 4:00amThat person on the subway who appears to be nodding off may not be dozing at all - he or she may be meditating, something one in eight adult Americans...
BOTOX HOUSE CALLS - DOC GOES EXTRA MILE FOR PATIENTS ON THE GO
July 28, 2003 | 4:00amIt's just another day at the "office" for Dr. Andrew Klapper as the plastic surgeon leans over a yoga instructor's face and injects Botox into her brow. But his office...
HAMPTONS DIARY
July 28, 2003 | 4:00amNOW that Renée Zellweger has splashed out a cool $2 million for a four-bedroom, three-bath farmhouse in East Hampton, the actress may want to call in the ghostbusters. A former...
CITY CRIES FOUL OVER SOFTWARE HARDBALL
July 28, 2003 | 4:00amA group of property-tax lawyers - worried that they'll lose considerable income - have pressured a computer consultant not to sell the city a valuable piece of property-assessment software, city...
WEIRD BUT TRUE
July 28, 2003 | 4:00amThomas Starrett may be 37 years old, but he still deserves a good scolding from his mom. The Bristol Borough, Pa., motorist led cops on wild 80-mph chase the wrong...
BODY ID'D AS MISSING HOOPS STAR
July 28, 2003 | 4:00amA body found in Texas Friday was positively identified last night as that of missing Baylor University basketball player Patrick Dennehy. Last night's announcement in Waco by Sheriff Larry Lynch...
U.S. IS CLOSING IN ON SADDAM - TIKRIT RAID ALMOST BAGS BUTCHER'S HEAD OF SECURITY
July 28, 2003 | 4:00amAmerican soldiers are just one step behind Saddam Hussein and missed grabbing his new security chief - and perhaps the Iraqi dictator himself - by just 24 hours in a...
ISRAEL FREES 215 MILITANTS - SHARON'S MOVE PRECEDES SUMMIT
July 28, 2003 | 4:00amLONDON - The Israeli Cabinet, in a stunning reversal of policy, yesterday agreed to free more than 200 Islamic militants as Prime Minister Ariel Sharon heads into tough talks this...
9/11 KIN TELL FEDS: GRILL HIJACKER-LINKED SAUDI
July 28, 2003 | 4:00amSen. Charles Schumer and Sept. 11 families yesterday called on President Bush to demand that Saudi Arabia's rulers turn over a shadowy man who allegedly had advance knowledge of the...
SHALOM, SUPERMAN: REEVE ON HIS WAY
July 28, 2003 | 4:00amParalyzed "Superman" actor Christopher Reeve is set to fly to Israel today to check out its cutting-edge stem-cell research - and bring some cheer to terror-attack victims with similar spinal-cord...
SEX-RAP KARATE TEACHER BUSTED
July 28, 2003 | 4:00amAn accused sexual predator who jumped bail earlier this year was taken into custody this weekend - at his job teaching martial arts to kids in Washington Heights, authorities said...
MAN DROWNS AT SEAPORT
July 28, 2003 | 4:00amA Brooklyn man drowned near the South Street Seaport after he jumped into the East River to retrieve a camera, cops said. The body of Paul Oakes, 26, was recovered...
IT'S ONE 'L' OF A GOOD RIDE: SUBWAY SURVEY
July 28, 2003 | 4:00amThe L train pulls into the station first when it comes to the city's best subway line. Not only do its riders have the best chance of getting a seat...
WOMAN IN 'HATE ATTACK' ON GIRL
July 28, 2003 | 4:00amA Queens woman was arraigned on assault charges yesterday after cursing a 12-year-old girl and later assaulting her in a racially motivated attack, police said. Donna Harding, 41, first had...
CENTRAL PARK-ING TIX BLITZ
July 28, 2003 | 4:00amThe number of motorists hit with parking tickets around Central Park has nearly tripled from a year ago, The Post has learned. Through July 20, a total of 2,202 summonses...
KID CREDIT CARDS ARE ALL THE RAGE
July 28, 2003 | 4:00am"Charrrrge it!" The battle cry of grown-ups everywhere will soon be uttered by kids if marketing and credit-card companies get their way. Teen queen Hilary Duff, the 15-year-old star of...
COPS SEEK BEHEADED BODY'S ID
July 28, 2003 | 4:00amSuffolk cops are asking the public for help in identifying the headless and handless body of a woman with a black and red tattoo of an eagle on the right...
NYPD DAILY BLOTTER
July 28, 2003 | 4:00amMANHATTAN * A blind man who was being harassed by another man on the subway yesterday hit his tormenter in the head with a cane, witnesses said. A woman who...
UNDER-FIRE PRINCIPALS RESHUFFLED TO OLD JOBS
July 28, 2003 | 4:00amFormer principals-turned-educrats are heading back to school under Chancellor Joel Klein's reorganization plan - but critics are wondering whether they should be school bosses again, The Post has learned. There...
SUICIDAL DYSLEXIA KID SUES SCHOOL
July 28, 2003 | 4:00amA dyslexic Brooklyn boy and his mother plan to sue the city Department of Education because they claim the teen attempted suicide after school officials told him he was so...
WHOOPI TAKES HEAT OVER ROLE AS CELIA
July 28, 2003 | 4:00amWhoopi Goldberg as the late Queen of Salsa?No, gracias, say some longtime fans of Cuban legend Celia Cruz. Academy Award-winner Whoopi, an admirer of the singing sensation and owner of...
SCHOOL'S 'OUT' - CITY IS LAUNCHING FIRST HS FOR GAY TEENS
July 28, 2003 | 4:00amThe city is opening a full-fledged high school for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students - the first of its kind in the nation, The Post has learned. Operating for...
U.S. A MEDITATION NATION
July 28, 2003 | 4:00amThat person on the subway who appears to be nodding off may not be dozing at all - he may be meditating, something one in eight adult Americans practice regularly...
CRUZ-ING FOR A BRUISING: CELIA FANS PROTEST WHOOPI'S LATEST ROLE
July 28, 2003 | 4:00amWhoopi Goldberg as the late Queen of Salsa? No gracias, say some long-time fans of Cuban singer Celia Cruz. Academy award winner Whoopi Goldberg, an admirer of the singing sensation...
MEET BABY JORDAN: REEBOK INKS 4-YEAR-OLD TO BASKETBALL SHOE DEAL
July 28, 2003 | 4:00amMeet Reebok's hot new spokesman. Actually, make that "spokes-tot." In a deal that makes LeBron James - Nike's new $90 million man - look like a geezer at 18, Reebok...
NFL EDICT CREATES ONE FINE MESS
July 28, 2003 | 4:00amIN A world gone nuts, Lions president Matt Millen Friday was fined $200,000 by the NFL for failing to interview a racial minority for the team's head coaching position. Yep,...
TRASH KEEPS PILING UP - MITCHELL'S JIVE TOUGH ON FOES
July 28, 2003 | 4:00amALBANY - He is The Mouth That Roars. Brian Mitchell is the reason why the Giants' special teams, no longer anyone's Achilles heel, have a chance to be every bit...
OLD FRIENDS RIDE TO RESCUE
July 28, 2003 | 4:00amSARATOGA SPRINGS - When news came back from Europe six years ago that the great racehorse Exceller, after being shipped from Kentucky to Sweden to stand at stud, had been...
DON'T DEAL MIKE!
July 28, 2003 | 4:00amLORD knows we've tried to help the Mets through the years and management has refused to heed our advice, but we're pretty stubborn so we're going to try one more...
LUKE WELL-PAID, NOT WELL-KNOWN
July 28, 2003 | 4:00amGIANT NOTES ALBANY - Left tackle Luke Petitgout glanced at the Giants' new media guide and emblazoned on the glossy cover were pictures of the most prominent players. Kerry Collins...
SOWELL SEEKS FULL-TIME JOB
July 28, 2003 | 4:00amJerald Sowell spent six years backing up Richie Anderson, but even when it was apparent that Anderson would be leaving the Jets and Sowell bumped up to starting fullback, Sowell...
BIG YANKEE BATS JUST DEAD WOOD AFTER SIZZLING JUNE,GIAMBI FLOPS IN JULY
July 28, 2003 | 4:00amBOSTON - When his eyes finally cleared in early June, Jason Giambi immediately started punishing baseballs. He ended May batting .227 thanks to an eye infection that removed the spin...
PIAZZA LAUGHS AT REPORT HE WANTS OUT
July 28, 2003 | 4:00amMET NOTES The Mets reacted with anger and incredulity yesterday to a Bergen Record report alleging Mike Piazza was upset about moving to first base and wanted to be traded....
GOPHERS CHEW UP METS - CINCY'S 3 BOMBS RIP TRACH, WEATHERS
July 28, 2003 | 4:00amReds 8 - Mets 5 Don't look too hard for an explanation for yesterday's Met loss to Cincinnati. It's simple and it goes like this: "Just couldn't keep [the Reds]...
FEAGLES ONE POPULAR JINT
July 28, 2003 | 4:00amALBANY - Rarely does a Pro Bowl defensive end strike up a relationship with a punter, but Michael Strahan this off-season befriended Jeff Feagles, the veteran signed to solve the...
SIGHTSEEK ROLLS IN 'WAND'
July 28, 2003 | 4:00amSARATOGA SPRINGS - With her runaway victory as the 1-9 favorite in yesterday's Grade 1, $250,000 Go For Wand Handicap, the sensational 4-year-old filly Sightseek kept the mighty juggernaut rolling....
KNICKS' LAMPE SHINES
July 28, 2003 | 4:00amWhile the Knicks traded their most popular player last week in Latrell Sprewell, arguably their second-most popular player, Maciej Lampe, tore it up at the summer league in Salt Lake...
MURPH CALLS IT QUITS
July 28, 2003 | 4:00amAfter 42 years of "Happy Recaps," Hall of Fame broadcaster Bob Murphy, a Met original, is retiring. With emotion filling his eyes, Murphy, 78, officially announced yesterday that this would...
UECKER GETS AWARD, KEEPS 'EM LAUGHING
July 28, 2003 | 4:00am"Gene Mauch would say, 'Grab a bat and stop this rally.' " - BOB UECKER --- COOPERSTOWN - Bob Uecker really made it to the front rooowww yesterday, on stage...
SOJO TUTORS SLUMPING SORIANO
July 28, 2003 | 4:00amBOSTON - On Satur day morning, Luis Sojo was waiting in the clubhouse for Alfonso Soriano to arrive on a team bus. He wanted to tell the young second baseman...
BARCELONA CUTS DOWN JUVENTUS
July 28, 2003 | 4:00amFOXBORO - With the early returns just in, the Champions World Series has proven two things. One, if you provide U.S. fans with world-class soccer teams they will turn out...
SPEEDY CYCLONES OFF TO A WHIRLWIND START
July 28, 2003 | 4:00amThey seem to run the fastest, throw the hardest, and close out victories at a Rivera-esque rate. They beat up opposing pitchers (averaging almost four runs per game in a...
CYCLONE EXPRESS GOES DOWN SWINGING
July 28, 2003 | 4:00amThe last three Cyclone batters in last night's doubleheader had the chance to tie the game. The last three hitters could have prevented maybe the roughest night of the Cyclones'...
MONDESI MAY REMAIN RIGHT WHERE HE IS
July 28, 2003 | 4:00amYANKEE NOTES BOSTON - The Yankees would like to see more from Raul Mondesi but aren't at the point where they are looking to trade him just for the sake...
HALL OF A DAY FOR KID CARTER, MURRAY FIND FAME
July 28, 2003 | 4:00amCOOPERSTOWN - The Kid found himself in his self-described ultimate "candy store" yesterday, standing in awe before 44 Hall of Famers, moved to tears at becoming one of them. "I...
SORIANO'S BEEN NO HELP
July 28, 2003 | 4:00amBOSTON - At Fenway Park in 1999, Alfonso Soriano won the Futures Game MVP award. At Fenway this past May, Soriano arrived as the AL MVP front-runner and played that...
HALL OF A DAY FOR KID
July 28, 2003 | 4:00am"The greatest thrill of my career was the 1986 World Series, nothing will ever top that. All you Met fans, God bless you." - Gary Carter "I can talk to...
NOW, MONDESI MAY STAY RIGHT WHERE HE IS
July 28, 2003 | 4:00amYANKEE NOTES BOSTON - The Yankees would like to see more from Raul Mondesi, but they aren't at the point where they are looking to move him just for the...
CYCLONES THROW DOUBLEHEADER AWAY
July 28, 2003 | 4:00amThe sound baseball that pushed the Brooklyn Cyclones to 28 wins in their first 38 games went AWOL last night, giving way to a two-game, five-hour mish-mash of miscues. Visiting...
HARRIS MAY BE BACK
July 28, 2003 | 4:00amThe chance of Lucious Harris returning to the Nets may have been given a few boosts over the weekend when two possible free-agent shooters, Anthony Peeler and Eric Piatkowski, aligned...
YANKEE BULLPEN IS FENWAY FLOP - BOSTON'S BIG SEVENTH CUTS EAST LEAD TO 1 1/2
July 28, 2003 | 4:00amRed Sox 6 - Yankees 4 BOSTON - Joe Torre didn't know what to think during an elevator encounter in the Yankees' hotel yesterday. "A husband and wife got on...
BOSOX: WE'RE NOT GOING AWAY
July 28, 2003 | 4:00amBOSTON - They understand that they stand alone in baseball's dueling courts of public opinion and conventional wisdom, regardless of the good feeling and loud music emanating from their clubhouse...
MONDESI MAY NOT BE MOVED
July 28, 2003 | 4:00amYANKEE NOTES BOSTON - The Yankees would like to see more from Raul Mondesi, but they aren't at the point where they are looking to move him just for the...
WEAVER HAS JOE SMILING
July 28, 2003 | 4:00amBOSTON - Joe Torre had to smile. Jeff Weaver is his pet project, after all, his Eliza Doolittle. Through so many disappointing outings, in the year since Weaver arrived from...
RELIEF CORPS MORE HARM THEN ARM
July 28, 2003 | 4:00amBOSTON - Asked to handicap the AL East race with an unforgettable Yankee-Red Sox series just completed, Joe Torre replied, "It is going to be a dogfight to the end."...
BEANTOWN BIG-MOUTHS - FENWAY FANATICS RIP INTO JETER
July 28, 2003 | 4:00amBOSTON - The buzz begins quickly, the moment Derek Jeter's helmeted head emerges from the Yankees' dugout. This is when the stirring swells into something else. This is when the...
SHOWING THEIR AGE : YANKEE ROTATION NOT UP TO OLD STANDARDS
July 28, 2003 | 4:00amBOSTON - Joe Torre has to manage Armando Benitez these days, which is akin to having to handle toxic waste barehanded. He has an offense that occasionally takes siestas, going...