August 19, 2006

SAKS CHIEF SELLS STOCK

Saks Inc. Chairman Brad Martin slashed his stake in the luxury retailer by 85 percent, according to a regulatory filing yesterday, as the company continues to flounder. Martin sold 2.22...

'TALENT' FINALE DRAWS A CROWD

JUST call it a talent-show split. In what turned out to be a summertime showdown, "America's Got Talent" scored bigger ratings on NBC, but "So You Think You Can Dance"...

'SNAKES' RATTLES FUNNYBONE

SNAKES ON A PLANE (three stars) Badassssss.Running time: 105 minutes. Rated R (profanity, violence, sex, nudity, drug use). At the Empire, the Kips Bay, the Magic Johnson, others. 'SNAKES on...

IMMATERIAL STORY LANDS ON ITS DUFF

MATERIAL GIRLSZero stars Makes "Just My Luck" look good.Running time: 99 minutes. Rated PG (rampant stupidity). At the E-Walk, the 34th St., Loews Village, others. AMONG the 20 credited producers...

HISTORY BUFFED; 'TITANIC' DIRECTOR FLOATS EXODUS AS TRUE STORY

"The Exodus Decoded" Tomorrow night at 8 on The History Channel (three stars) DID the events of the Exodus really happen, or were they made up and neatly packaged for...

SEW FABULOUS - FABRIC ARTS LOOK TO BE THE NEW KNITTING

SEW U think you're creative? Pick up "Sew U: A Guide to Making Your Own Wardrobe" by Wendy Mullin, the designer of the downtown cult favorite label Built by Wendy...

ALL THAT JAZZ

jazz (jaz) n. [etym. uncert] 1 a kind of music, originally improvised but now also arranged, characterized by syncopation, rubato, usually heavily accented rhythms, dissonances, individualized melodic variations, and unusual...

GNARLS BARK-GLEE

GNARLS BARKLEY IN a proper schoolboy uniform that made Gnarls Barkley frontman Cee-Lo Green look like a classmate of AC/DC's Angus Young, the pudgy rapper rang his bell to announced...

MORRIS LEAPS INTO MOZART, AND THRIVES

MOSTLY MOZART New York State Theatre at Lincoln Center, 65th Street and Broadway; (212) 721-6500. Final performance tonight. Awhole big bang of anniversaries collided at the New York State Theatre...

IT SOUNDS LIKE DA'S BEEN HAD

BOULDER, Colo. - Never before have I ever heard a prosecutor exhort so passionately the need to consider a nasty insect to be presumed innocent. "It tells me the case...

SILVER DERAILS PENN PLAN

ALBANY - Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver yesterday blocked a $900 million plan to transform the old West Side post office into a new Penn Station, saying the proposal was incomplete....

MIKE'S STILL BOOSTING RAY

Mayor Bloomberg hasn't given up on the idea of placing Police Commissioner Ray Kelly on the board of the Port Authority. A day after Gov. Pataki vetoed a bill that...

W. RIPS 'BAD' CALL ON WIRETAPS; SAYS COURT BAN WILL FAIL

WASHINGTON - In the wake of a federal judge's ruling that his warrantless wiretap program is unconstitutional, President Bush said yesterday that critics "simply do not understand the nature of...

SEN. JOE TAPS MIKE'S GURU

Sen. Joe Lieberman yesterday added two new nationally known political operatives - including a former consultant to Mayor Bloomberg - to his independent campaign. Joining Team Lieberman are New York-based...

SIDEWALK CROWD FIX

The NYPD is scaling back its controversial new rules that would restrict public gatherings, a top police official announced yesterday. The NYPD had proposed barring gatherings of two or more...

GRASSO GOV BID OFF THE WALL STREET

Disgraced former New York Stock Exchange boss Richard Grasso is talking about running for governor - possibly against his archrival, state Attorney General Eliot Spitzer. Grasso, who is battling Spitzer...

'CORPSE CARVER' HORROR ON L.I.; KEPT NEIGHBOR'S HEAD IN CAR: COPS

A resident of an exclusive Long Island community savagely chopped up a 57-year-old neighbor and drove off with her severed head in the trunk of his car, cops said yesterday....

38G SLAP VS. HOSP

Stony Brook State University Hospital was slapped with a $38,000 fine yesterday for botched care that contributed to the death of three kids in its pediatric cardiology program since May,...

'RACE' FUROR ON GOV'S COURT PICK

ALBANY - Gov. Pataki yesterday nominated a 59-year-old Democrat-turned-Republican from Buffalo as a new member of the state's top court, replacing its only black member. Pataki, making his final selection...

NYPD DAILY BLOTTER

THE BRONX *** Police are looking for a man who has robbed four banks in a week - two of them were on the same day - in Fordham, police...

L.I. TEEN DIES IN CRASH ; KIN ANGUISH OVER 'HELL HILL' TRAGEDY

A Long Island teen preparing to celebrate his 19th birthday was killed when the sports car in which he was riding swerved off the road, caromed off trees and smashed...

ROAD-RAGE COP-SLAY SUSPECT LATE TO COURT

The New Jersey firefighter charged in Monday's DWI road-rage death of an off-duty cop learned he was indicted yesterday - but almost forfeited his $250,000 bail by showing up late...

RAIL DEAL ON WRONG TRACK: ELIOT

Gubernatorial candidate Eliot Spitzer yesterday called on MTA Chairman Peter Kalikow to put the brakes on the agency's plans to sell the West Side rail yards to the city for...

GREEN 'PESTERS' CUOMO

Mark Green ratcheted up his attacks on state attorney-general front-runner Andrew Cuomo over pesticide regulations yesterday, charging his rival "stumbled" over the issue in their debate and that he flouted...

HEAT TOLL AT 33

The scorching summer heat has claimed the lives of 33 New Yorkers this month, the city Medical Examiner's Office said yesterday. The latest victims added to the death toll were...

GOTTI JAIL TAPE$; ORDERED MOB PAY

Jurors in the John "Junior" Gotti case yesterday heard prison tapes of the mob scion griping about turncoats - and instructing a lawyer to pay cash incentives for loyalty -...

GAL TEEN TERRORS IN CRIME SPREE

Two 15-year-old girls went on a revenge-fueled crime spree at Co-op City in The Bronx - torching one car and vandalizing two others - after they were fired from their...

BEAR FACTS OF JONBENET SLAY ; SANTA TEDDY AND LETTERS TO PROF MAY CRACK CASE

A mysterious Santa Claus teddy bear found in JonBenet Ramsey's room after she was killed - which has stumped in vestigators for a decade - has emerged as a tantalizing...

OH, PROCTOR! MANNY BAMBOOZLED IN KEY SPOT

YANKEE NOTES BOSTON - Lost in the Yankees' 12-4 win over the Red Sox in the first game of yesterday's Fenway Park twinbill was Scott Proctor's latest bullpen gem. When...

EX-YANK HURLER SHOWS OFF AN ARM; BROWN PULLS GUN ON NABE

Retired Yankee hurler Kevin Brown, known for his fastball and flashes of temper, showed a Georgia neighbor that he's also quick on the draw. The former All-Star - famous for...

FIREFIGHTER CHARGED IN COP ATTACK

She told relatives they were only friends, but a Queens woman and a cop swapped salacious Internet messages for weeks leading up to the cop's brutal beating at the hands...

'NIXZMARY' LAW

ALBANY - In the wake of the brutal beating death of 7-year-old Nixzmary Brown, Gov. Pataki announced yesterday he had signed into law a package of measures designed to strengthen...

BROOKLYN MARINE DIES IN IRAQ

A Brooklyn-born Marine captain has died in combat in Iraq on his second tour of duty and his third overseas assignment in recent years, his family said yesterday. John McKenna...

GALS GONE WILD; STAB ROMEO: COPS

Dwayne Buckle picked the wrong woman to hit on. When he stopped Patreese Johnson, 19, on a West Village street corner early yesterday to tell her she was "pretty," she...

'TOY' CLUE VS. JONBENET PERV ; TEDDY BEAR AND LETTERS TO PROF MAY CRACK SLAY

A mysterious white Santa Claus teddy bear found in JonBenet Ramsey's room after she was killed - which has stumped investigators for a decade - has emerged as a tantalizing...

CRASH HORROR - BELOVED L.I. TEENAGER DIES IN SHOCKING 'HELL HILL' TRAGEDY

A Long Island teen preparing to celebrate his 19th birthday was killed in a devastating accident when the sports car in which he was riding swerved off the road, caromed...

THE 5TH ANNUAL LIBERTY MEDAL AWARDS - CITY HEROES ONE & ALL

City heroes one & all There are men, women and young people all over our town who lead lives of quiet humility - all the while improving the lives of...

BROOKLYN MARINE KILLED IN IRAQ FIGHT

A Brooklyn-born Marine has died in combat in Iraq on his second tour of duty and his third overseas assignment in recent years, his family said yesterday. John McKenna IV,...

LIEBERMAN TAPS MIKE'S DEM GURU

Sen. Joe Lieberman yesterday added two new nationally known political operatives - including a former consultant to Mayor Bloomberg - to his independent campaign. Joining Team Lieberman are New Yorkbased...

'TOY' CLUE VS. JONBENET PERV - TEDDY BEAR AND LETTERS TO PROF MAY CRACK SLAY

A mysterious Santa Claus teddy bear found in JonBenet Ramsey's room after she was killed - which has stumped investigators for a decade - has emerged as a tantalizing clue...

GIRL GANG STABS WOULD-BE ROMEO: COPS

Dwayne Buckle picked the wrong woman to hit on. When he stopped Patreese Johnson, 19, on a West Village corner early yesterday to tell her she was "pretty," she allegedly...

WILLIAMS TO START TONIGHT

MET NOTES With Pedro Martinez on the disabled list with a strained calf, Dave Williams gets the start tonight for the Mets against the Rockies. Williams was 2-2 with a...

NIGHTCAP LEAVES YANKS' BULLPEN FEELING PAIN

YANKEE NOTES BOSTON - Hours after Mike Myers and Scott Proctor came out of the Yankees bullpen to help beat the Red Sox in the first game, Ron Villone and...

MAKING SOME ELBOW BROOM ; YANKS SWEEP SOX AS LEAD BALLOONS TO 3½

GAME 1Yankees 12Red Sox 4 GAME 2Yankees 14Red Sox 10 BOSTON - Here is what we know about the Red Sox and Yankees after two revolting games and a Yankees...

NO RELIEF FOR BOSOX IN TWINBILL

On the road to the playoffs, the back end of the Red Sox rotation has been dragging like a rusty bumper. The entire caravan broke down yesterday. Boston's starter in...

'ISLAND' PINING FOR A WIN

SARATOGA SPRINGS - After finishing fast, but not fast enough, to finish second in two straight Grade 1 stakes at Belmont Park, it's time for Pine Island to close the...

WAIT A WHILE IN HURRY

SARATOGA SPRINGS - Crowd had hard time separating Lady of Venice and Wait a While at post time of Grade 2, $150,000 Lake Placid at mile-and-eighth over inner turf, sending...

WANG DISTANCE; YANKS CAN'T REST WORKHORSE RIGHTY

BOSTON - Brian Cashman recently praised as a "good question" an inquiry into whether he was concerned about the potential negative ramifications of Chien-Ming Wang zooming beyond his previous career-high...

FAMILIAR FACE SOX IT TO 'EM

BOSTON - The baseball soared high into the bright Boston afternoon, high over Fenway Park, sailing out toward the 420-foot sign in center field, the place the locals call "the...

STATEN IS. PRESIDENT RIPS YANKS

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. - Staten Island Little League president Bob Johnson did something George Steinbrenner's players, managers, and general managers rarely do - he took on The Boss. After Steinbrenner gave...

COLUMBUS DAY ; S.I. HAS GEORGIA ON ITS MIND

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. - The Staten Island Little Leaguers marched proudly today in the opening ceremonies of the Little League World Series at festive Howard J. Lamade Stadium, lining up across...

'06 METS REMINISCENT OF '86

The Mets will honor the 1986 championship team tonight in a pregame ceremony that will feature the majority of that memorable squad. It has been 20 years since the Mets...

STEVE STAYS ON RIGHT TRACH; METS HURLER NOTCHES 12TH WIN OF SEASON

Mets 6Rockies 3 The Mets will send minor-league call-up Dave Williams to the mound tonight, and tomorrow Orlando Hernandez will be on the hill, leaving last night's starter, Steve Trachsel,...

A-ROD A HIT IN BOSTON

BOSTON - The microscope on Alex Rodriguez gains intensity every time he enters Fenway Park. To some degree, every Yankee's worth is measured by what they do against the Red...

NO RELIEF FOR BOSOX

On the road to the playoffs, the back end of the Red Sox's rotation is dragging like a rusty bumper. Eventually, the entire caravan broke down yesterday. Boston's starter in...

YANKS SWEEP SOX AS LEAD BALLOONS TO 31/2

Yankees 12 Red Sox 4 BOSTON - Here is what we know about the Red Sox and Yankees after two revolting games and a Yankees sweep of a doubleheader at...

FOR A-ROD, SOMETHING TO BUILD ON

BOSTON - The ever-intense microscope on Alex Rodriguez become even stronger every time he enters Fenway Park. To some degree, every Yankee's worth is measured to some degree by what...

BIG DEBUT FOR HINSKE

Yesterday's twinbill opener was so ugly for Boston, even the Red Sox's bright spot, Eric Hinske, was blinded by a much brighter spot. Hinske, acquired from Toronto on Thursday, doubled...

JOHNNY'S BAT, GLOVE GUIDE BOMBERS IN OPENER

GAME 1 Yankees 12 Red Sox 4 BOSTON - Late yesterday morning, Joe Torre instructed his club to forget about Thursday's debacle against Baltimore. The Red Sox were in the...

MELK MAN DELIVERS - CABRERA TURNING INTO 'LIFESAVER'

BOSTON - It may turn out that the English translation of "Hideki Matsui" is "Wally Pipp." Whoever saw this coming? Who saw Melky Cabrera not only as a quality replacement...

WILLIAMS LIKELY TO GET START

MET NOTES With Pedro Martinez on the disabled list with a strained calf, Willie Randolph said Dave Williams likely would get the start for the Mets tonight against the Rockies...

TODAY'S METS COMPARE TO RETURNING '86 CHAMPS

The Mets will honor the 1986 championship team tonight in a pregame ceremony that will feature the majority of that memorable squad. It has been 20 years since the Mets...

CLOSE RANGE - TIGER, PHIL FINISH STRONG TO STAY IN HUNT

MEDINAH, Ill. - With light rain falling and the skies growing dark, Tiger Woods, Geoff Ogilvy and Phil Mickelson served notice they must be dealt with as the 88th PGA...

CUP QUEST A DISTRACTION FOR LOVE

PGA NOTES MEDINAH, Ill. - Davis Love III understands that sometimes when you want something badly, trying too hard to attain it can work against you. That has been the...

PAT PENDING - RAMSEY, OVERSHADOWED FOR MOST OF JET CAMP, GETS HIS SHOT TONIGHT

To date, Patrick Ramsey has been somewhat of a non-factor in this ballyhooed quarterback competition Eric Mangini has conducted with the Jets this summer. Ramsey has been so far outperformed...

OFF CENTER: O'HARA TO MISS AT LEAST A WEEK

GIANT NOTES As well as the Giants played in Thursday night's routine 17-0 preseason thumping of the Chiefs, there were lingering injury issues that promised to be worrisome. That is...

WEIRD BUT TRUE

They say dolphins have human-like intelligence. Perhaps - but not the young male bottlenose dolphin splashing around Sarasota Bay in Florida, in a black Speedo bikini swimsuit. "Somehow he got...