October 22, 2004

TWO TOY BLDGS. GO ON BLOCK

The two Flatiron district buildings that are the nation's toy industry mecca are on the block, a sale that could mean the demise or the relocation of the city's toy...

34TH ST. RENTS TAKE BIG JUMP

The Empire State building is sitting on a gold mine, according to just-released retail rent figures. A report by the Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY) shows the average...

TRUMP PUMPED UP; BANKRUPTCY II SAVES CASINOS & RETAINS NAME

The Donald will remain at the helm of his troubled casino company under a new plan to salvage it for a second time. Trump Hotels and Casino Resorts said yesterday...

FOX SCORES MEGA RATINGS, PROMO TIME FROM ALCS

The big winner in the Red Sox-Yankee rivalry was Fox television. Fox scored one of its best baseball audiences ever, crushing the other three networks. "This is probably one of...

DRASNER SELLS THE FARM; EX-SNOOZE EXEC 'DUCKS' OUT OF DUTCHESS CO. ESTATE

FRED "The Duck Slayer" Drasner, who recently was eased out as co-publisher of the Daily News and U.S. News & World Report, is selling the farm that helped spawn his...

YOU CAN'T MAKE ME RESIGN: BRUCE

The power struggle over the future of venerable investment bank Lazard LLC heated up again yesterday as the firm's two top executives traded sharp words. Michel David-Weill, the Paris-based chairman...

NEWSDAY TAPS SUN EXEC FOR CIRC POST

Newsday named Paul Barbetta, director of circulation for The Baltimore Sun, to head its circulation department after a scandal over inflated figures. Barbetta will succeed Robert Brennan, who was fired...

ICM TALKING TO POSSIBLE BUYERS

One of Hollywood's top talent agencies, which reps the likes of Richard Gere and Jodie Foster, may be close to striking a deal of its own. International Creative Management, a...

DETROIT SOUL IN THE CITY

NATHANIEL Mayer is an old Motor City soul man who had his first R&B hit at age 18 - in 1962 - with the heart-touching "Village of Love." He followed...

STARR REPORT

President Bush will sit for an interview on Monday's "Hannity & Colmes" (9 p.m./ Fox News Channel) with Sean Hannity in St. Petersburg, Fla. - just eight days before the...

DANCE PICK

FELD PHOENIX: When Eliot Feld's Ballet Tech was last year forced to disband for financial reasons - Feld's populist Bal let Tech School providing classic ballet training for New York...

FILM PICK

"THE EYE" HAS IT:The Film Society of Lincoln Center's Hong Kong blowout continues tonight at 9:15 with the mind- bending horror film "The Eye" (2002). Lee Sin-je stars as a...

KIDS' PICK

"A FROG AND MAX":The New Victory Theater presents "Kikker," a play based on a children's book from the Netherlands. Staged on a giant pop-up book set, puppets Frog ("Kikker" in...

BROTHERS CRY UNCLE IN SOUTHERN GOTHIC TALE

UNDERTOW (three stars) Moody drama. Running time: 107 minutes. Rated R (violence). At the Union Square and the Lincoln Square. A vicariously excruciat ing scene, soon after the opening credits,...

EYES WIDE OPEN

THE MACHINIST ½ (three and one half stars) Man on the verge.Running time: 102 minutes. Rated R (violence and disturbing images, sexuality and language.) At the Angelika, Houston and Mercer...

IT DOESN'T TAKE A 'GENIUS' TO MISS LEGEND LIKE RAY

"Genius: A Night For Ray Charles" Tonight at 9 on CBS/Ch. 2 (two stars) IF you can't help but think "Tom Cruise," every time you hear a Ray Charles tune,...

'POSTMEN' RINGS NICE

POSTMEN IN THE MOUNTAINS 1/2 (two and one half stars) THE contemplative Chi nese film "Postmen in the Mountains" is as straightforward as its title suggests. When arthritis forces an...

'GRUDGE' MISMATCH

THE GRUDGE (two stars) Tokyo ghost story. Running time: 97 minutes. Rated PG-13 (terror, violence). At the E Walk, the Kips Bay, the Loews Village, others. WELCOME to Japan, which,...

IN LATEST CAMPAIGN FILM, MORE IS LESS

CELSIUS 41.11 (two stars) Preaching to the converted.Running time: 71 minutes. At the Empire, the Loews 34th St., the Chelsea, others. 'CELSIUS 41.11," a hastily made rejoinder to "Fahrenheit 9/...

BLUES'LL CHEER YOU UP ; /WIREIMAGE.COM

LIGHTNING IN A BOTTLE (three stars) Blues fans rejoice.Running time: 103 minutes. Rated PG-13 (brief strong language.) At the Angelika, corner of Houston and Mercer streets. ONLY a couple thousand...

FAMILY SPLATTERS

THE MANSON FAMILY (three stars) IT'S taken all of 15 years for under ground auteur Jim Van Bebber to com plete his eagerly awaited "The Manson Family." Was the wait...

COUNTRY MUSIC PICK

KEITH'S "GOLDEN ROAD": Who would have thought Keith Urban, a New Zealand-born country singer, could deliver a record that not only contained four No. 1 hits but remained on the...

RATHER REBOUNDS

DAN Rather's "CBS Evening News" ratings have improved since the dust settled in the Bush National Guard documents scandal. Rather's newscast still trails the "NBC Nightly News" and ABC's "World...

'SHIELD'S' CLOSE CALL; 'FATAL ATTRACTION' VIXEN SWOOPS IN AS GRITTY BOSS

TOUGH-guy cop Vic Mackey of "The Shield" is headed for a dangerous liaison with a new precinct captain played by none other than Glenn Close. In a casting coup for...

WHERE'S 'HOME EDITION' MOM?

A mystery surrounds the whereabouts of a Queens woman whose house was renovated for an upcoming epsiode of "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition." Lucy Ali, 62, has not been seen in...

JUMP OFFTHE BRIDGE

BROOKLYN THE MUSICAL ½ (one and a half stars) The Plymouth Theatre, 236 W. 45th St. (212) 239-6200. WHEN you walk out of a musical humming the costumes, you know...

ABT OPENING GALA A TWINKLING AFFAIR

AMERICAN BALLET THEATREAt City Center, 55th Street between Sixth and Seventh avenues; (212) 581-1212. Season runs through Nov. 7. AMERICAN Ballet Theatre opened its three- week fall season at City...

INDIE MUSIC PICK

DIG IN: You've seen the film, now hear the band. The ca reers and characters of the Brian Jonestown Massacre and the Dandy Warhols are intensely scrutinized in the rock-...

'TOWN' FROWN; PRODUCER SLIMES THE EARLY TIMES

THE producers of "Wonderful Town" are certainly pleased with the glowing notice their new leading lady, Brooke Shields, received this week from New York Times drama critic Ben Brantley. What...

FINE VINTAGE

SIDEWAYS (four stars) Intoxicating. Running time: 123 minutes. Rated R (language, some strong sexual content and nudity.) At UA Union Square; Lincoln Plaza. ALEXANDER Payne, the clear-sighted director of "Election"...

BLOOMY STARS IN 'THE APPRENTICE'

Donald Trump's hit reality show, "The Apprentice," had a new star last night - Mayor Bloomberg. A Gracie Mansion sit-down was the prize on last night's show. "I was once...

'MANTLE' STRIKES OUT - APPLE EATERY 'SOX' YANK FANS HARDER

Another blow for Yankees fans - Mickey Mantle is being benched in favor of former Boston Red Sox great Ted Williams. In a bizarre announcement yesterday, the owner of Mickey...

FBI WRAPPING UP QUEENS BIG DIG FOR MOB CORPSES

Federal authorities do not believe they will find more bodies at a reputed mob graveyard in Queens where the FBI recently discovered the remains of two Bonanno crime-family bosses who...

FALL OF FIDEL - SNAPS AN ARM & LEG IN TUMBLE

It looks like Fidel Castro is falling down on the job. The 78-year-old Communist dictator stumbled, tumbled to the ground and fractured his left knee and right arm as he...

KOFI: SCANDAL S-OIL-ING U.N.

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said yesterday massive scrutiny over the Iraq oil-for-food scandal has hurt his organization's credibility. "There is no doubt that the constant campaign has and the discussions...

C-SECTION TOTS' FOOD RISK

Babies born by Caesarean section have a greater risk of suffering from food allergies and diarrhea during their first 12 months, new research suggests. A study of 865 babies found...

STADIUM $CORES BIG

The proposed $1.4 billion West Side stadium would provide the city with a major economic boost, a study released yesterday concluded. The study, which selected three cities in the nation...

TUNNEL TUBES TIED FOR REHAB

Late-night drivers who try to use the Holland Tunnel to get to Manhattan this weekend will have to take another route. The Holland Tunnel will be closed Sunday between 1...

HOW TO SHAKE THOSE BOMBER BLUES

Depressed Yankee fans can beat the Bomber blues by exercising rigorously and repeating the mantra, "It's only a game, it's only a game," a top shrink says. "New Yorkers have...

STREET-SAVVY PLAN GETS A GREEN LIGHT

A program that restricts vehicles from making turns on Midtown streets has reduced travel time by 25 percent on those crosstown thoroughfares and will become a permanent feature of the...

U.S. MUSLIMS SUPPORT DEM

WASHINGTON - A coalition of major Muslim-American groups yesterday backed John Kerry's White House bid, claiming President Bush has treated them like second-class citizens. The American Muslim Task Force chided...

NYPD DAILY BLOTTER

QUEENS (lcf) * A 27-year-old man driving a stolen car dragged a city cop about 30 feet down a Forest Hills street yesterday in a futile attempt to elude capture,...

ARIEL'S LIFE ON LINE

JERUSALEM - Prime Minister Ariel Sharon will win another crucial battle next week while facing serious threats to his government - and his life. The passions unleashed by Sharon's plan...

SON BURNED IN COURT - PELOSI RAGES AS DAD TESTIFIES

Danny Pelosi's father took the witness stand to testify against him yesterday in an explosive and dramatic courtroom exchange that ended with Robert Pelosi Sr. telling his son, "I love...

9/11 VULTURES - CYBER-SQUATTERS GRAB WIDOW'S TRIBUTE WEB SITE

The widow of a hero NYPD Emergency Service detective killed on 9/11 created a Web site as a loving tribute to her husband - only to have it snapped up...

SLAY-SUSPECT BOXER SOUGHT PSYCH MEDS

LOS ANGELES - Troubled New York boxer James Butler was seeking mental-health treatment and psychotropic drugs when cops picked him up in connection to the murder of a sports journalist,...

CEREMONY TOPS OFF NEW 7 WTC

A piece of New York's terror-scarred skyline was restored yesterday as a new skyscraper: 7 World Trade Center was topped off with a 20-foot-long beam of steel signed by Gov....

BLAST MASTER KILLED

JERUSALEM - A master bombmaker who was at the top of Israel's most-wanted list of Palestinian terrorists was blown up by a helicopter missile in Gaza City yesterday, witnesses said....

CHRIS' WIDOW GIVES JOHN SUPERBOOST

WASHINGTON - "Superman" Christopher Reeve's widow went to bat for John Kerry yesterday, while President Bush courted Catholics in the battleground state of Pennsylvania. Speaking in Ohio, Dana Reeve tugged...

PERFECT POLITICAL STORM

LET'S drop the partisan fighting and the ideological battling for a moment to step back, take a look around, and then ask: Has there ever, ever, ever been an election...

READERS HAIL 'FREE SPEECH' HACK

Readers were outraged yesterday after reading The Post's report of how a cabby was fined and suspended by the Taxi and Limousine Commission following an argument with a passenger that...

GUARD GETS 25 YRS. FOR XMAS CARNAGE

A former corrections officer will serve 25 years in prison after admitting yesterday to setting off a Christmas-morning bloodbath in 2001 that left his girlfriend dead and her brother seriously...

'JUNIOR' HOPING FOR HOLIDAY BAIL CHEER

John A. "Junior" Gotti, facing trial in Manhattan federal court for allegedly plotting to rub out radio host Curtis Sliwa, is trying to get home for the holidays. Gotti completed...

VIOLENCE SURGES IN THE SUBWAYS

Assaults in the subway have soared this year - a figure that was compounded by a 130 percent spike last month, The Post has learned. There were 202 assaults in...

PARKING NEAR PERELMAN $HOCKS POL

City Councilman Hiram Monserrate couldn't have picked a worse day to park illegally on East 63rd Street. Just hours before he was to have voted on the City Council's Land...

'TABLE WAITING' TWIST - RON LOBBYING STALLS CAFE BID

Personal pleas by billionaire Ron Perelman led a City Council committee yesterday to postpone a vote on whether to allow a small French restaurant on Perelman's Upper East Side block...

DEATH SOBS ECHO - HAUNT PLANE SURVIVOR

One of the two survivors of a Missouri plane crash that killed 13 people - including a top New York doctor - says he can't forget "the cries and the...

SOMEBODY TELL THIS BILLIONAIRE BULLY TO GO BUY HIMSELF A LIFE

SOME shack. A few years ago, I was summoned to chez Ronald Perelman. Not invited. I was instructed to come, by an intermediary, no less, to the combination residence/office/palace of...

FIFTH-GRADE SAT. CLASSES TO START

Saturday classes for 15,000 fifth-grade students in jeopardy of failing will begin at the end of the month, the city Department of Education said yesterday. Three-hour sessions will be held...

RIP-ROARIN' DRUNK - VIDEO SHOWS 'DWI' TORN CURSING COPS

In his most embarrassing small-screen performance, a bumbling Rip Torn stumbles and grumbles at cops in his police video from a January DWI arrest in Greenwich Village. "You're an egregious...

DIRTY DENTIST GROPED US: WOMEN

A Brooklyn dentist repeatedly fondled the breasts of a patient and his receptionist - and even refused to treat the receptionist for a toothache unless she let him grope her...

'T' MAN FLAGS 'CABBY' - STERN PAL'S TAX WOE

Wacky deejay "Crazy Cabby's" bizarre on-air boasts about cheating Uncle Sam spurred a federal probe of his finances - and he's about to be hit with tax-related charges, The Post...

WILD GOOSE CHASE - KERRY HAS A BLAST IN PHOTO OP

John Kerry yesterday got his gun - and his hands - bloody in an Ohio goose hunt that was elaborately staged for 35 photographers in a bid to hunt rural...

GREENBERG: WE 'NEVER' TALK SHOP

AIG Corp. CEO Hank Greenberg and his two sons run three of the world's largest insurance companies, but in the midst of a wide-ranging scandal enveloping the industry, he insists...

MICROWAVE MARTHA A 'NUKE' ACTIVIST

Imprisoned Martha Stewart is still the domestic diva - she's the new master of microwave cooking, and is banging away on a primitive typewriter in the pen. "I am doing...

B'KLYN TEACHER STABBED - TRIED TOHALT KID BRAWL

A science teacher at a Brooklyn middle school was stabbed in the hand yesterday as he tried to break up a fight between two girls, authorities said. David Jack, 41,...

GUILT-TRIP TRIAL - BIZMAN BACKED OFF 'HIT' HIRE: COP

An aging businessman tried to hire an undercover detective in a bizarre murder-for-hire scheme - but was stopped by pangs of guilt before he could do the deed, a trial...

THAT'S A WHEELIE JEEP TRICK

Pull over, King Kong, Spider-Man and George Willig - a Jeep just might be about to run you down on its way to the top of a skyscraper. Gothamites gaped...

LAURA'S FINE WITH JOB JAB

First Lady Laura Bush yesterday brushed off the gaffe by wannabe first lady Teresa Heinz Kerry, who'd claimed that Mrs. Bush had never held "a real job," even though she's...

911-TRACE CHASE - COPS IN SHOOTOUT AFTER OPERATOR TRACKS ROB SITE

A quick-thinking 911 operator sent police after a gang of armed robbers who tried to rip off a Bronx auto-repair shop but fled in a hail of bullets before being...

FBI WEB STING BAGS B'KLYN 'PERV' WITH LEWD 'LIST'

A Brooklyn man was busted yesterday for using the popular Craig's List Web site to entice underage girls to have sex with him, authorities said. Gregory Swailes, 27, was arrested...

LIE OF THE LAND; HS KIDS 'FIB AND CHEAT'

Nearly all U.S. high school students talk the talk that honesty is the best policy - while at the same time, many of them are lying, cheating and stealing, according...

WACKY DURST PLEADS NOT GUILTY ON 2001 PA. GUN RAP

Cross-dressing millionaire Robert Durst pleaded not guilty in Philadelphia yesterday to federal gun charges stemming from his seven weeks on the lam in a bizarre Texas murder case. Durst, who...

KILLER EFFORT TO GET OUT THE VOTE

WASHINGTON - Is a murderer being paid to get out the vote for John Kerry in Ohio? That's the charge being leveled against the Democrat-leaning America Coming Together - a...

SHOCKING SLAY STATS FOR WOMEN IMMIGRANTS

Foreign-born women living in New York City are 87 percent more likely to be murdered by someone they know than by a stranger, according to a new study. "Immigration is...

NEW STATE 'KIN' FLAP

ALBANY - The head of the state agency that secretly rented a posh office complex for Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno's brother secretly hired his own daughter, The Post learned...

BOSOX KEPT THE FAITH

For the Red Sox, it was all about the slogan: "Keep the faith." For the Yankees it was all about: "Keep acting sure of yourself." BOSTON - The signs were...

TYCOON DODGES PLACARD TIX BLITZ

An NYPD ticketing blitz on cars abusing city placards kicked into high gear yesterday - forcing billionaire businessman Ron Perelman to abandon his illegal parking post. A special patrol assigned...

A WILD GOOSE CHASE - KERRY'S GUN PHOTO OP

John Kerry yesterday got his gun - and his hands - bloody in an Ohio goose hunt that was elaborately staged for 35 photographers in a bid to hunt rural...

STADIUM $CORES IN STUDY ; WEST SIDE 'BOOM'

The proposed $1.4 billion West Side stadium would provide the city with a major economic boost, a study released yesterday concluded. The study, which selected three cities in the nation...

FAMILY-ABUSE DATABASE DUE

The NYPD is teaming up with the city's district attorneys and other law-enforcement agencies to compile a database of incidents in order to combat domestic violence. The Domestic Incident Response...

COED HIT IN EYE BY COP'S 'BULLET'

A pretty college coed who dreamed of becoming a TV reporter died of a severe head wound inflicted when Boston cops clashed with rowdy Red Sox revelers outside Fenway Park...

BUSH SR.'S JOKE FEST

President Bush's dad had them rolling in the aisles last night at the Al Smith charity dinner, telling how his wife, Barbara, is ready to clobber John Kerry for all...

DEADLY SOX RIOT - PEPPER-SPRAY 'SHOT' KILLS COED

A pretty college coed who dreamed of becoming a TV reporter died of a severe head wound inflicted when Boston cops clashed with rowdy Red Sox revelers outside Fenway Park...

MARTHA A 'NUKE' ACTIVIST - MASTERS JAIL MICROWAVE

Imprisoned Martha Stewart is still the domestic diva - she's the new master of microwave cooking, and is banging away on a primitive typewriter in the pen. "I am doing...

'CABBIE' FLAGGED - HOWARD STERN'S SIDEKICK DUE FOR TAX-RAP PLEA DEAL

Wacky deejay "Crazy Cabby's" bizarre on-air boasts about cheating Uncle Sam spurred a federal probe of his finances - and he's about to be hit with tax-related charges, The Post...

MIKE MAKES A CAMEO ON 'APPRENTICE'

Donald Trump's hit reality TV show "The Apprentice" had a new star last night - Mayor Bloomberg. A Gracie Mansion sit-down was the prize on the series where contestants compete...

SOX FAN SHOT DEAD - COED HIT IN HEAD BY 'RUBBER BULLET'

A pretty college coed who had dreams of becoming a TV reporter died of a severe head wound inflicted when Boston cops clashed with Red Sox revelers while trying to...

WOMACK PROVIDES SPARK

NLCS NOTES ST. LOUIS - Cardinals second baseman Tony Womack started Game 7 last night after being doubtful because of back spasms that forced him to leave Game 6 in...

LENNY GIVES KNICKS EARLY WAKE-UP CALL

PRESEASONMavs 112Knicks 74 DALLAS - Two straight preseason blowout losses by a combined 62 points prompted Knick coach Lenny Wilkens to stage a 20-minute postgame meeting last night to shake...

ANDY HOPES ROGER RETURNS

ST. LOUIS - Andy Pettitte, who missed the NLCS because of elbow surgery, is hoping Roger Clemens returns for another season. "We haven't talked about it much," Pettitte said. "I'm...

ROG FLOPS; CARDS SOAR

GAME 7 Cards 5 Astros 2 ST. LOUIS - The storybook ending would have had Roger Clemens pitching in the World Series for the town he grew up in against...

SURF PROVING THE RIGHT TURF FOR WINDFALL

THE winds out of the north are making it more difficult to get offshore, but the surf jockeys are certainly not complaining. Striper fishing picked up when the winds turned...

THE FAN'S CORNER

Yesterday, Angelo Sarola was still reeling from the Yankees' loss. "The Yankees destroyed me," Sarola, 74, said. "They disgraced New York. I can't believe it." Right now, many Yankee fans...

WILLIE'S MEETING WITH METS POSTPONED

The Mets will wait a little longer to talk to Willie Randolph. Mets GM Omar Minaya spoke to Randolph, the Yankees' bench coach yesterday morning, and based on the length...

BOND STOCK SLIPS

Gallagher's Steak House (228 W. 52nd St.) will preview Breeders' Cup with "Lone Star Power Lunch" handicapping seminar Tuesday, featuring our own John DaSilva. Admission of $50 includes three-course meal....

MAVS' NELSON: MULLIN HELPED US NAB ERICK

DALLAS - Mavericks coach Don Nelson said he believed his past relationship with Warriors GM Chris Mullin may have played a role in Dallas stealing free agent Erick Dampier last...

THORN: WE BLEW IT WITH KENYON

If Rod Thorn and the Nets could do it all over again, they would have locked up Kenyon Martin long-term two summers ago. Back then, the Nets gambled Martin would...

FALL IN NEW ENGLAND; JETS BIG THREAT TO PATRIOTS' WINNING STREAK

JETS fans must hope Herman Edwards and Paul Hackett aren't thinking logically going into the Battle of the Undefeateds in Foxboro. Because they're going to look at last December's loss...

SIGNALING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN

THE Yankees lived by older pitchers, the home run and talented but soulless mercenaries. And Wednesday night they died in disgrace by the dark side of those factors. For $185...

SPIKE'S ON OTHER FOOT

JOE Torre wore a weary face to work yesterday afternoon, and spoke in a somnolent timbre, the residue of a hard night and a difficult week. For all the winning...

PIRATES SET SIGHTS ON A QUICK LAUNCH

Seton Hall has improved in each of coach Louis Orr's three seasons, culminating with last year's NCAA Tourney bid. But with All-American guard Andre Barrett in a Knick uniform now,...

INJURY WOES LINGER INTO THE OFFSEASON

YANKEE NOTES Health issues, which dogged the Yankees all year, are continuing into the offseason. General manager Brian Cashman said yesterday that he wants Gary Sheffield's barking left shoulder to...

DRUMMOND PUTS ROAR INTO LIONS

GIANT NOTES As of yet, the Giants have not been adversely affected by Steve Christie's short kickoffs, but that could change this weekend when Detroit's Eddie Drummond gets into the...

OLERUD UNSURE ABOUT RETURNING

One of the shrewdest moves GM Brian Cashman made this season was signing John Olerud after the Mariners released the slick-fielding first baseman. Now the Yankees will have to find...

DON WANTS TO RETURN

Don Mattingly got to see the game he loves from another perspective this season. And, after his first season as the Yankees' hitting coach, Donnie Baseball came away with a...

SEASON A SUCCESS FOR LIEBER

This was a season of redemption for Jon Lieber. It could lead to an off-season of riches. Lieber becomes a free agent if the Yankees don't pick up their $8...

NL TEAMS NOT TOO SHABBY

ST. LOUIS - It's a good thing the Red Sox have two full days to celebrate their historic victory over the Yankees in the ALCS because they'll need all their...

TIKI KEEPS FOCUS

On his way to a 182-yard rushing outburst in a 14-7 victory in Green Bay, Tiki Barber allowed himself to be shoved out of bounds by safety Darren Sharper with...

VAZ TAKES HIS SHARE OF BLAME

Not much went right for Javier Vazquez after the All-Star break this season. He had nine wins at that point and finished with just five more as his ERA rose...

BOSTON VICTORY HURTS STURTZE

Tanyon Sturtze, a native of Worcester, Mass., grew up an avid Red Sox fan. And while his love for the Red Sox has dissipated (that was most clearly evident during...

UNHERALDED CAIRO GREW TO LOVE N.Y.

The Yankees may have just suffered the most embarrassing loss in franchise - if not sports - history, but former utilityman Miguel Cairo is eager to give it another shot...

EL DUQUE: I'D LIKE TO BE BACK

When Kevin Brown was imploding on the mound during the Yankees' Game 7 loss to the Red Sox in the ALCS on Wednesday night, Orlando Hernandez was asked whether he...

BOSS USES CASH ; GM'S JOB SECURE IN WAKE OF WRECKAGE

Brian Cashman won't pay with his job for the Yankees' Colossal Collapse. Shortly after the Red Sox beat the Yankees, 10-3, in Game 7 of the ALCS Wednesday night at...

MCCARVER, BUCK WHIFF IN CLUTCH

IN THE words of John McEnroe, "You can't be serious!" Even Tim McCarver - who has walked the Yankees' and Mets' TV planks for putting his and our integrity ahead...

BRADY DUEL STIRS CHAD

The routes they took to their current starting quarterback positions were rather divergent despite the fact that they both came from the same draft class of 2000. Tom Brady, a...

'CARMELLOW' HITS 'J'

EVIDENTLY, striving for stability in the Nyets' front office is more important to Cut 'Em Loose Bruce Ratner than first striving for stability in their frontcourt. New Jersey's 5-year, $20...

MCCAREINS TIRED OF CATCHING GRIEF

JET NOTES There is a slight clamor brewing among Jets fans about when receiver Justin McCareins, one of the team's big offseason acquisitions, is going to "break out." McCareins has...

ZO GOES THROUGH CONTACT WORKOUT

NET NOTES Pre-season games are out of the question and who knows how many regular season games he'll get to play? But Alonzo Mourning was on the court yesterday practicing...

DAMPIER SAYS MULLIN MISSED KNICK DEAL

PRESEASONMavs 112Knicks 74 DALLAS - Mavericks center Erick Dampier admitted yesterday the Knicks' sign-and-trade offers to Golden State were the strongest packages available to GM Chris Mullin and is surprised...

A PERFECT STORM - TWO 5-0 TEAMS ... TWO HOTSHOT QBS ... ONE MEGA-MATCHUP

Sunday Jets at Patriots 4:05 p.m., CBS Yes, Sunday is a battle of undefeated teams. But beyond that, it is the "next Joe Montana" against the next "next Joe Montana."...

MARCHAND'S MATCHUP OF THE WEEK

Al Leiter vs. Tim McCarver (Who was better on the LCS?) This year, Al Leiter was an improved baseball analyst. Last year, while critically acclaimed, Leiter delivered his words at...

SUZYN'S A MAYBE AT YES - HER 2005 CONTRACT STATUS UP IN AIR

The YES Network's Suzyn Waldman doesn't know if she will be back next year. "I have no idea," said Waldman, whose contract has a network option for next season. "I...

5 QUESTIONS FOR CHARLES BARKLEY

This week, NYP TV Sports' Andrew Marchand chats with TNT's Charles Barkley. The 41-year-old Barkley enters his fifth season as an analyst. Q: What do you think the biggest misconception...