March 22, 2004

CSFB KEEPS HEAVY HITTER GOODMAN IN THE FOLD

Bennett Goodman, Credit Suisse First Boston's powerful high-yield finance head, is staying put after all. In recent days, Goodman - who had planned to leave the firm to pursue investment...

A PUMPED-UP 500 - AS GAS PRICES RISE, BIG OIL MOVES UP FORTUNE LIST

Oil's well for the members of the Fortune 500 club this year, but it may not end well for the rest of the economy. With oil prices at their highest...

A BAD 'DREAM' AT BAM

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAMAt the BAM Harvey Theater, 651 Fulton St., (718) 636-4100. Through Sunday. --- 'A Midsummer Night's Dream" now at BAM is performed by the all-male troupe Propeller....

'SEX' MOVIE IS ALL ABOUT MONEY

IF you're waiting for a "Sex and the City" movie, don't hold your breath, says Darren Star, the show's creator. "It's not happening today, let's just put it that way,"...

BIG TOPSY TURVY - CIRCUS IS NEW & OLD

RINGLING BROS. and BARNUM & BAILEY CIRCUSAt Madison Square Garden, through April 11. --- THE Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus turns itself upside down in its new show...

A LITTLE SPACE FOR LAUGHS

THE SCI FI channel's animated "Tripping the Rift" (Thursdays at 10:30 p.m.) has blasted open a whole galaxy of ratings for the cable network. Broadcasting the computer-animated "Rift," with its...

STARR REPORT

Big #s in 'Evidence' Court TV generated the most-watched night in its history last Thursday, with premiere episodes of "Body of Evidence" and "The System" helping CTV average 1.3 million...

A SLOW DRINK - HBO SERIES NEED TO PICK UP PACE

HURRY up and do something already! That's what I felt like yelling at my TV more than once while watching preview tapes of "Deadwood"last week. The experience reminded me of...

'DYNASTY' FLICK GETS ITS CLAWS

HERE'S your first look at "Dynasty: Behind the Scenes," a two-hour ABC movie about the kitschy, Reagan-era soap that dominated prime-time with stars Joan Collins and Linda Evans. The movie...

'CRASH' AND LEARN - 'N. T. S. B.' MAY CAUSE FEAR OF FLYING

"N. T. S. B. : The Crash of Flight 323" [* * * 1/2] (three and one-half stars) Tonight at 8 on ABC ---- RELUCTANT as I am to write...

Correction Date: 03/23/2004

Correction: Yesterday's editions of The New York Post incorrectly identified a Bronx housing project, University Avenue Consolidated, as having the highest crime rate of any public-housing development in the city....

ON-TIME BUDGET STILL AN IMPOSSIBLE DREAM

STATE Senate Minority Leader David Paterson has become the first legislative leader to publicly declare the obvious: There's not going to be an on-time budget this year. "I think May...

NEW BOOZE DIFFUSER PUTS SPIRIT IN DISGUISE

Now you can really inhale your cocktails and not get a hangover - or even gain weight. A new device from Great Britain that's hitting U.S. shores allows users to...

WEIRD BUT TRUE

When Eileen Eichelkraut dresses up for her job, some folks think she's playing a giant red pepper. But she quickly sets them straight. Eileen is actually portraying a new American...

MOM'S PAL KILLS DAUGHTER: COPS

A Long Island man stabbed his gal pal's 20-year-old daughter to death with a steak knife after she rushed to her mom's defense during a fight, Suffolk County cops said...

FOES OUT TO BRING DOWN 'VIAGRA' REP

Rep. Major Owens, who penned a rap play called "The Viagra Monologues," faced some stiff criticism from fellow elected officials and wannabes after The Post revealed his connubial compositions. Owens'...

ZOMBIES ZAP 'PASSION' - 'DEAD' RISES TO NO. 1 AT BOX OFFICE

A new tale of resurrection trumped an old one over the weekend as "Dawn of the Dead" knocked "The Passion of the Christ" out of the No. 1 spot at...

PUFF PATROLLERS BURN MIDNIGHT OIL AS CIG LAW HITS MILESTONE

A year after Mayor Bloomberg banned smoking in bars and restaurants, health officials are now working "late nights" trying to catch illegal puffers, The Post has learned. Shortly after the...

SUBWAY LEAPER IN CLOSE CALL

A Queens woman jumped from a subway platform in front of a train last night - but, in an apparent change of heart, safely lunged out of harm's way at...

L.I. SALOON FIRE PROBED FOR ARSON

A Baldwin, L.I., bar went up in a huge ball of flames early yesterday - and fire marshals are investigating to see if it was torched. Some 100 firefighters and...

CRIME RIGHT AT HOME - BX. HOUSING PROJECT IS CITY'S MOST DANGEROUS

The city's most dangerous housing project is a little-known collection of buildings in the University Heights section of The Bronx - where residents stood a 1-in-14 chance of being shot,...

CHOPPER CHANGES THE WAY WE WHIR

MANASSAS, Va. - It cruises at 180 mph while barely causing a bump. It has teleconferencing capabilities on three TV screens, creamy-soft couches, extra leg room, extra head room, secret...

IMMIGRANT TEEN IS KILLED IN WESTCHESTER SMASH-UP

A 19-year-old Ecuadorian immigrant was killed early yesterday in a horrific multi-car accident that also involved two of his brothers, Westchester police said. The tragic accident occurred around 4:12 a.m....

TED: OPEN DOOR FOR PREZINATOR

WASHINGTON - Ted Kennedy, the Senate's liberal lion, said yesterday he'll support a constitutional amendment that would allow his nephew-in-law, Arnold Schwarzenegger, to run for president. Kennedy said he hopes...

PRESIDENT AND KERRY PHONE IT IN

WASHINGTON - President Bush joked yesterday about saving souls at a Democratic breakfast in Boston, while Sen. John Kerry told the same group to make sure fat-cat GOP contractor Halliburton...

NYPD DAILY BLOTTER

BROOKLYN * A man in his 20s was shot three times in the arm early yesterday while standing in front of a Crown Heights building, police said. Police said an...

MIRACLE RABBI - ORDAINED 10 YRS. AFTER B'KLYN BRIDGE SHOOTING

A young man who survived a bullet to the brain in the 1994 Brooklyn Bridge shooting that killed his yeshiva pal completed the miracle yesterday - becoming a rabbi. Nachum...

QAEDA HAS NUKES, SAYS NO. 2 MAN

Al Qaeda's second-in-command claims the terror band has purchased nuclear weapons on the black market in central Asia, according to his biographer. In an interview with Australian television, Pakistani journalist...

QNS. 'HIT-RUN' KID IMPROVING

A 6-year-old boy thought to be at death's door after he was mowed down by an alleged hit-run driver in Queens is now expected to survive, his mother said yesterday....

JAYSON HAS HIS GOD UP - TRIAL DEEPENS FAITH

Jayson Williams is hitting the book - the Good Book, that is - as the ex-NBA star draws on his deep religious faith to help face a manslaughter trial that...

QNS. WOMAN IN APT.-BLAZE LEAP

A terrified woman trying to escape a fire in her family's Queens apartment leaped from a fourth-floor window yesterday - and miraculously survived with only a broken leg. Mercedes Lugo,...

4 DIE IN CAR HORROR - L.I. CRASH AMONG WORST WE'VE SEEN, COPS SAY

Four people were killed when their car split in half after striking a tree on the Northern State Parkway in Long Island, cops said yesterday. The victims - three males...

QNS. WOMAN SURVIVES 4-STORY LEAP FROM FIRE

A terrified woman fleeing a fire in her family's Queens apartment leaped from a fourth-floor window yesterday - and miraculously survived with only a broken leg. Mercedes Lugo, 53, landed...

QAEDA HAS NUKES, SAYS NO. 2 THUG

Al Qaeda's second-in-command claims the terror band has purchased nuclear weapons in central Asia, according to his biographer. In an interview with Australian television, Pakistani journalist Hamid Mir said that...

4 DIE IN CAR HORROR - 2 BROTHERS AMONG VICTIMS AS VEHICLE IS CUT IN HALF

Four friends from Long Island were killed when their speeding car split in half after striking a tree along the Northern State Parkway, cops said yesterday. The car had been...

HAMAS CHIEF SLAIN - BLOWN AWAY BY ISRAELI MISSILES IN GAZA RAID; ISRAELI MISSILES KILL LEADER OF HAMAS

GAZA CITY - The founder and spiritual leader of the Hamas terror group, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, was killed by Israeli forces this morning, sources in Jerusalem said. Helicopters fired missiles...

QAEDA HAS NUKES, SAYS BIN LADEN'S NO. 2 MAN

Al Qaeda's second-in-command claims the terror band has purchased nuclear weapons in central Asia, according to his biographer. In an interview with Australian television, Pakistani journalist Hamid Mir said that...

SUICIDE $UIT - WIDOW BLAMES COPS AND CITY

A Queens woman has sued the city and the NYPD for $20 million - because cops failed to take away a gun her suicidal husband eventually used to kill himself....

THE TRACKS OF OUR FEARS - NYPD IN SUBWAY 'BOMB' SWEEPS

In the wake of the commuter train bombings in Madrid that claimed 202 lives, the NYPD has mounted an unprecedented security effort in the city's subway system in the hopes...

900 PARENTS RUNNING FOR SCHOOL COUNCILS

About 900 parents have filed papers to run in elections to serve on the city's 34 new school district community councils, Schools Chancellor Joel Klein's office reports. But it's unclear...

ENVIRO BOSS SLAMS BX. HS OF SCIENCE FOR 'TUNNEL' VISION

City environmental chief Chris Ward flunked the Bronx HS of Science - accusing the borough's flagship school of making false claims in its letter-writing campaign to oppose construction of a...

ISRAEL FIRES ON FENCE PROTESTERS

JERUSALEM - About 30 demonstrators - including an Israeli peace activist - were wounded yesterday when Israeli troops fired rubber bullets and tear gas at stone-throwing Palestinians protesting the building...

CBS STILL HAS SOME FLAW BURNS

WHILE CBS' ambitious and energetic early-rounds NCAA coverage remains an enormous improvement on its one-game-at-a-time, keep-it-simply-stupid habits of a dozen years ago, it still doesn't make full sense. It's the...

BIRDSTONE HAS ZITO AT A LOSS

The look on trainer Nick Zito's face, shocked and bewildered, said it all after his beloved Birdstone straggled home a well-beaten fifth as the 3-5 favorite in Saturday's Grade 2,...

TINO GETS NEW START WITH RAYS

TAMPA - The media circus surrounded Don Zimmer and Joe Torre as they exchanged hugs and handshakes the way friends do when they haven't seen each other for a while....

PUNCHLESS DEVILS IN TROUBLE

Seven to prep for the seven that count. The defending Stanley Cup champion Devils look as if they don't have it this year as we begin the final fortnight of...

ST. RAY'S BOPS XAVERIAN AGAIN

STATE AA: St. Ray's 64 - Xaverian 54 Gavin Grant saw the sparse, quiet crowd and the same opponent he and his teammates had beaten in the city championship a...

NO FEAR OF LIGHTNING - ISLES WIN FOR THIRD TIME IN FOUR

Islanders 3 - Lightning 0 The Islanders do not seem likely to finish anywhere but eighth in the Eastern Conference, which is fine by them. Because in doing so, they...

THE END-GAME NEEDS WORK

Mavs 101 - Nets 98 For a second straight game, there was no Jason Kidd and there was no Kenyon Martin. The Nets, though, withstood that 1-2 gut punch for...

FREIJE DANDY FOR VANDY

PHOENIX REGION: Vanderbilt 75 - N.C. State 73 ORLANDO - Tears of joy. Tears of sorrow. This is what March Madness is about. It leaves one player, Vanderbilt's Matt Freije,...

JOHNNIES, CALL ON BOBBY G.

MAKE the call, St. John's. Bobby Gonzalez is home now. Call him! Sit him down, Father Harrington, and get an eyewitness account of how Manhattan College has become the talk...

X MARKS THE SPOT - CHALMERS' 31 PROPEL XAVIER

ATLANTA REGION: Xavier 89 - Miss. St. 74 ORLANDO - Hello, my name is Lionel Chalmers and I've waited my entire college career for this. I am the most valuable...

WAKE'S PAUL STANDS TALL

RALEIGH - There are times, sophomore guard Justin Gray says, when he can't help but play the role of spectator during practices at Wake Forest. He's out there competing, sure,...

JASON WILL DELAY CUT

As long as Jason Kidd can move, he vowed he will not miss the real season, the playoffs. While doctors are still trying to determine the best course of action...

YANKS COUNTER MO

YANKEE NOTES Yankees 7 - Devil Rays 2 TAMPA - Brian Cashman made an offer to Mariano Rivera's agent late Saturday night that could lead to the future Hall of...

K-MART'S TAKING IT DAY-TO-DAY

NET NOTES Kenyon Martin's knee is better, but he's still not ready to return. "It's calmed down a bit but it's still bothering me. Just gonna rest, take it easy,"...

SAINT JOE'S CAN PLAY 'DISS' CARD

BUFFALO - The old Bulletin Board Trick is the cheapest, cheesiest ploy in all of sports, yet it manages to survive through years, even decades, of use and abuse. College...

ORANGE HAS WINNING FORMULA

DENVER - One word best defines the reason Syracuse remains standing in this NCAA Tournament after nail-biter victories over BYU and Maryland in the first and second rounds at the...

TELFAIR PASSING ON CHI STAR GAME

Many of the top high school players in the nation will be at the EA Roundball Classic Wednesday in Chicago, but Sebastian Telfair will not. Although he was named to...

ARMS RACE STILL ON - BUT ROBERTS, ERICKSON HOLD EDGE FOR NO. 5

"Roberts went from a power pitcher to a guy who really knows how to pitch." -MAJOR LEAGUE SCOUT PORT ST. LUCIE - Two weeks from tomorrow, the Mets open their...

RANGERS, JAGR GET NO RESPECT

OVERTIME: Penguins 4 - Rangers 3 PITTSBURGH - The verbal abuse Jaromir Jagr received from the crowd every time he touched the puck here yesterday afternoon was nothing compared to...

AILIN' REYES GETS BACK TO BUSINESS ON THE FIELD

MET NOTES PORT ST. LUCIE - Finally, some good news on the Jose Reyes health front. The Met second baseman, who's suffering from a strained right hamstring, has resumed baseball...

BAYLOR ALL WAY BACK

Dodgers 4 - Mets 1 PORT ST. LUCIE - When Don Baylor made the cross-country drive here this week, he had a lot of time to think. But as he...

HOBBLING KNICKS STILL IN FOUL MOOD

Lenny Wilkens wasn't lying. According to TV replays, he was seen ordering Shandon Anderson to foul Jamal Crawford early in the final possession in Chicago Saturday night, as he claimed....

BC TURNS IT OVER TO TECH

ST. LOUIS REGION: Ga. Tech 57 - BC 54 MILWAUKEE - Fittingly, Boston College's second-round game against Georgia Tech came down to a trio of former Worcester (Mass.) Academy teammates....

ROAD WARRIORS - PITT DEFENSE TRUMPS BADGER HOME EDGE

E. RUTHERFORD REGION: Pittsburgh 59 - Wisconsin 55 MILWAUKEE - There were times the Bradley Center actually shook under the weight of the Wisconsin fans, trying to urge their team...

PENGUINS GET UNWANTED WIN

OVERTIME: Penguins 4 - Rangers 3 PITTSBURGH - Twenty years ago, the Penguins blatantly tanked the final two months of the season in order to finish behind the Devils and...

BADGER-BEATERS - PITT'S DEFENSE TRUMPS WISCONSIN HOME EDGE

E. RUTHERFORD REGION: Pittsburgh 59 - Wisconsin 55 MILWAUKEE - Parts of the Bradley Center actually shook yesterday under the weight of Wisconsin's fans, trying to urge their team to...

MATSUI'S PSYCHED FOR HOME COOKIN'

TAMPA - The poker face can't hide how proud Hideki Matsui is to be going to Tokyo wearing Pinstripes. And based on what he did yesterday the best Japanese baseball...