November 16, 2006

BOOKS: Tale of three cities

You may or may not have heard of Herbert Ypma, the grandfather of the "Hip Hotels" book series, which has included editions ranging from "Hip Hotels: USA" to "Hip Hotels:...

Miami here they come

By MARC BERMANMIAMI- The fingers of the players, coaching staff and Miami Heat staffers have been redecorated with big, bold and black championship rings. About 420 of them were bought...

CLEAR CHANNEL MULLS TAKEOVER TENDERS

The board of Clear Channel Communications was weighing new bids last night after receiving two nearly equal takeover offers Tuesday that valued the nation's largest radio station operator at around...

HOW YOU MAY HAVE KINDA SAVED $392.10

YOU will be happy to know that your household costs actually went down in October because of that light truck you didn't buy. I don't mean to mess with your...

YOUTUBE COMPLAINS ABOUT COPYRIGHT. NO, REALLY.

About the last thing blogger Michael Arrington expected to get from YouTube, a video-sharing site that has been accused of copyright infringement, was a letter accusing him of copyright infringement....

TAKEOVER BIG SHOTS SUED BY INVESTORS

Several small-fry investors are suing nearly all of the nation's wealthiest buyout firms alleging the firms deliberately shortchanged them by stifling competition for takeovers. The class-action suit, filed in Manhattan...

HARVEY LANDS A NEW KIND OF BLOCKBUSTER

The Weinstein Co. and Blockbuster announced yesterday a wide-ranging partnership that gives the video retailer exclusive U.S. rental rights to movies produced by the independent studio over the next four...

PIGSKIN SUIT - NFL SUES COMCAST AS TV BATTLE RAGES

The National Football League has thrown another long bomb against its cable opposition. With a little more than a week before the NFL Network begins showing Thursday night games, the...

FUTURE OF SOX FUZZY - DEMS KNOCK HEADS

CEOs hoping that expected reforms of the Sarbanes-Oxley rules would lop as much as $3 billion from their company audit bills may face some disappointment thanks to Democrats squabbling over...

HACKER NABBED FOR WARNING OF LAYOFFS

Once a hacker, always a hacker. FBI agents yesterday arrested the former technology boss of New York financial publisher Source Media - parent of American Banker and The Bond Buyer...

WRIGHT HIM OFF - NBC UNIVERSAL CHAIRMAN'S EXIT IS IN WORKS

Say goodbye to Bob Wright. According to four sources with knowledge of the situation, NBC Universal is laying the groundwork for Wright to cede his role as chairman of the...

POST-9/11 NOVEL WINS NATIONAL BOOK AWARD

In a year when there where there were no pre-event favorites, last night's National Book Awards are expected to give a bestselling jolt to a small handful of authors. Richard...

SWEATERS COMING OUT OF THE CLOSET

After being tossed to the bottom of the apparel heap last year, sweaters are poised for a comeback this holiday season. These are not the argyle and crewneck sweaters of...

GIMME SHELTER

TAKING THE HOUSE Documentary filmmaker Alexandra Pelosi, daughter of Rep. Nancy Pelosi, who is expected to become the next Speaker of the House, has a new house of her own....

CENTRAL CASTING - STING & TRUDIE STYLER TRADE UP BUT STILL LOVE THIS DUPLEX

Should they stay or should they go? New York City glamour couple Sting and Trudie Styler might have bought a $30 million dream pad in the sky at 15 Central...

FOR DANCERS' 60TH WE GET SWEET LIMON-ADE

ONE of America's greatest modern dance troupes, the Jose Limon Dance Company, is having a significant birthday: its 60th. Starting a two-week season at the Joyce Theater on Tuesday night,...

'3 LBS.' BRAIN DEAD: DOCS

A leading New York neurosurgeon is furious at how the new CBS drama "3 lbs." depicts the ethical behavior of brain surgeons. Dr. Roger Hartl, a neurosurgeon at New York-Presbyterian...

'OFFICE' SPACE - TWO INTO ONE WON'T GO

GREG Daniels has something in common with Michael Scott. As executive producer of "The Office" on NBC, Daniels faces the challenge of integrating five new characters into an already crowded...

MAX-ED OUT - DR. GOMEZ, JANE HANSON AXED AT 4

CH. 4 axed three on-air veterans yesterday as part of owner NBC's massive internal cost-cutting. Dr. Max Gomez, Jane Hanson and reporter Joe Avellar were given their walking papers in...

PICKLER SAYS MOM ABUSED HER

FORMER "American Idol" contestant turned chart-topping country singer, Kellie Pickler, says that as a child her mother abused her both physically and mentally. At one point, her mom handed her...

MAX-ED OUT IN CH. 4 PURGE

CH. 4 axed three on-air veterans yesterday as part of campaign across NBCto cut costs. Dr. Max Gomez, Jane Hanson and reporter Joe Avellar were given their walking papers in...

EMMITT WINS! - GRIDDER SCORES AS 'DANCING' CHAMP

EMMITT Smith waltzed off the winner of "Dancing With the Stars" last night in the show's jampacked live finale. The NFL Hall of Famer, whose teddy-bear persona won him legions...

PLATINUM BOND - CRAIG SMOLDERS IN THRILLING REBOOT OF 007 FRANCHISE

CASINO ROYALE (three stars) Safe bet. Running time: 144 minutes. Rated PG13 (violence, sexuality, torture, brief nudity). At the Ziegfeld, the Empire, the Union Square, others. MEMO from: M To:...

WII GOT GAME IN CONSOLE FACEOFF

WHAT a week for gamers: The Sony PlayStation 3 hits stores at midnight tonight and, a scant two days later, Nintendo launches the Wii upon the world. Next generation console...

SHE'S GOT A SECRET - HOW MODEL LIMA EARNS HER WINGS

VICTORIA'S Secret will put its breast foot forward tonight - for the first time in Hollywood. The lingerie maker moved its annual supermodel runway show from New York to Los...

STARR REPORT

Reege 'toons up Is the world ready for a cartoon version of Regis Philbin- in stop-motion animation, no less? Reege will unveil his cartoon likeness (below) on today's "Live with...

N.Y. PREZ POLL GIVES CLINTON A LANDSLIDE OVER GIULIANI

ALBANY - Newly reelected U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton would trounce former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, 53 percent to 39 percent, in the race for president among New York voters, a...

SUBWAY MURDER - BYSTANDER SHOT AT BROOKLYN STATION

An innocent bystander trying to catch a train home was shot and killed yesterday after a cursing match at a Brooklyn subway station ended in gunfire, police said. "It's not...

I WANT A GIRL - MADONNA PLANS 2ND MALAWIAN ADOPTION

The Material Mom is desperately seeking a Malawian girl. After landing in a p.r. nightmare while adopting a little boy from the central African nation of Malawi, Madonna wants to...

NYPD DAILY BLOTTER

MANHATTAN * This man (above) made off with more than $1,200 after sticking up a Murray Hill bank, police said yesterday. He strolled into the Sovereign Bank branch on Lexington...

LONGER FAT 'TRANS'ITION

Trans fats might sizzle a little longer. City Health Commissioner Thomas Frieden strongly hinted yesterday that he will give the city's 24,000 eateries more time to comply with a proposed...

DEAD SERIOU$ - MEDICAID PAYOUTS FOR DECEASED

ALBANY - A new audit found that New York state has paid out $3.6 million in Medicaid claims over the past three years - for dead people. Using a specially...

THE $25 MOVIE - 'DREAMGIRLS' WILL SET RECORD

First, the $6 cup of coffee - now brace yourself for the $25 movie ticket. That's the record sum that will be charged to see "Dreamgirls" for the first 10...

JIHAD TV NOW POLLUTES THE AIRWAVES IN U.S.

Al-Jazeera, the Arab TV network accused of being rabidly anti-American, launched its English-language news channel yesterday - without a major U.S. distributor. However, those who managed to watch al-Jazeera English,...

SHE'LL STRIKE AGAIN, SAYS FURIOUS VICTIM

LOSE the scowl, Naomi. Things are going your way. Today, the maid whom supermodel Naomi Campbell is accused of smashing on the head with her cellphone is sure of one...

B'KLYN 'THUG' CAUGHT DEAD IN HIS TRACKS

A trip to pay his respects has landed a Brooklyn man in the clink. Rupert Delaire, 39, who was wanted for the September beating of a man in a nightclub,...

COUNCIL SAYS 'I LIKE HIKE' & GETS 22G

By a 41-5 vote, City Council members yesterday approved a 25 percent pay hike for themselves - boosting their $90,000 base salary to $112,000. It's their first raise since 1999....

TOP IRAQ GEN. ON HILL GRILL - 'HOPE IS NO STRATEGY,' SHE LECTURES AMID FIERCE JABS AT SENATE HEARING

WASHINGTON - Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton positioned herself as a leading war-policy critic heading into the 2008 White House race yesterday by raking the top U.S. commander in Iraq over...

DNA BREAKS '98 KID-RAPE CASE

A Manhattan man has been busted on charges of raping a 12-year-old boy in Van Cortlandt Park in The Bronx eight years ago - thanks to a recent DNA computer...

GOP CASTS ITS LOTT WITH TRENT

WASHINGTON - Republicans stunned by their loss of the Senate majority are turning back to Mississippi Sen. Trent Lott, a street-fighting politico skilled at throwing political bombs, to sic on...

CIG COPS STUB OUT BUTTLEGGERS

A cigarette tax-evasion operation that cost the state tens of millions of dollars in revenue went up in smoke yesterday when authorities busted the owner of a Long Island Indian...

'FAST FOOD' FIGHT FOLLIES

THE American Heart Association's warn ing that a trans-fats ban in restaurants would backfire should be a wake-up call to Mayor Bloomberg and health czar Dr. Thomas Frieden. It should...

MIKE RIPS VOTE-MACHINE BUNGLE

It's going to be "virtually impossible" for the city to replace its ancient voting machines in time for next year's election, as federal law requires, because of bungling by the...

CABLEVISION LANDS BEACON

The legendary Beacon Theatre (above) has been acquired by Cablevision, it was announced yesterday. The long-rumored deal is a coup for the Dolan family's Cablevision empire, which also controls Radio...

'HOOKER BASH' COP VANISHES

A Bronx judge issued a bench warrant for a cop who failed to appear in court on charges he sexually attacked transvestites - the same day his girlfriend discovered he...

MUGGED BIZMAN GUILTY OF KILLING INNOCENT TEEN

A Queens pet-store owner was convicted yesterday of the stabbing death of a 17-year-old Jackson Heights teen he encountered just hours after he was attacked by neighborhood thugs. Darwin Roque,...

PLAYSTATION 'LINE' KINGS - GAMERS SCUFFLE AMID GREAT WAIT

Whoa! It's just a game. As lines continued to form around the city yesterday in anticipation of Sony's release Friday of its eagerly awaited PlayStation 3 video game system, not...

SCHOOLKIDS GET SCI-FRIED - 'IGNORANCE HANDICAP'

Biology and chemistry are second-class subjects in New York City, where fourth- and eighth-grade students struggled with a new federal test to assess their science skills, officials revealed yesterday. Until...

KILLER GETS MAX AS MA BARES SOUL

A Brooklyn man who eluded authorities in two states for years was handed the maximum of 25 years to life yesterday for the senseless killing of a Brooklyn teen on...

TOW NO! CITY HIT FOR 700G

A judge has ordered the city to pay nearly $700,000 in attorney's fees to the American Automobile Association for requiring that tow trucks be licensed just to drive through the...

CITY WORKER IN PERV BUST

A Sanitation Department employee was arrested yesterday and charged with having child porn on his computer at work. John Borruso, 58, of Brooklyn, resigned from his job as an information-technology...

HEAT WAVE WAS CITY'S SILENT KILLER

Big Apple deaths due to natural causes spiked 8 percent during last summer's severe heat wave - on top of the 40 deaths directly attributed to heat stroke, city health...

B'KLYN SHOT BLOCK - DOLANS WILL SCHEME TO STOP ARENA: POL

As Bruce Ratner's plan to build a Brooklyn basketball arena for the Nets took a leap toward final approval yesterday, a top state official warned of a major roadblock to...

FIEND GUILTY OF KILLING MOM-IN-LAW

A 57-year-old school bus driver who killed his mother-in-law with a single gunshot to the face was convicted of murder yesterday. Sydney Sampson of Hollis, Queens, is facing 25 years...

SNOOTY NAOMI: DEAL ME OUT OF SWEEP CHARITY - NIXES CLEANUP DUTY

Don't expect to see Naomi Campbell sweeping empty beer bottles and half-eaten lunches out from under a park bench anytime soon. The accused maid-bashin' fashion model will not agree to...

CHOP OF HORROR - MET LEGEND'S SON TELLS HOW HE AIDED KILLER

The troubled young son of famed Met shortstop Bud Harrelson gave erratic but damning testimony yesterday in the murder trial of a Long Island teen charged with killing his stepfather...

O.J. SPILLS HIS GUTS IN TV TEARFEST - 'CONSIDER THIS HIS CONFESSION'

A pathetic O.J. Simpson delivered a blubbering double-murder "confession" during his shocking TV interview that hypothetically details his role in the grisly slayings. "I can't do this, I can't have...

EX-CITY COP MUST PAY FOR BAR SHOOTING

A disgraced Harlem cop was sentenced in Manhattan yesterday for pulling his service revolver during an argument at a Financial District bar last year - and accidentally shooting another patron...

'SUBWAY' BYSTANDER SHOT DEAD

A cursing and screaming match at a Brooklyn subway station erupted in gunfire yesterday - resulting in the death of an innocent man who was there to catch a train,...

CHICK TAC TOE - BEAK PERFORMERS AT FOXWOODS

The egg-laying egghead challenges all comers this week. This chicken may look like a birdbrain, but it can (and will) kick your butt - at tic tac toe. It kicked...

'ANOREXIA' KILLS MODEL

A beautiful but weight-obsessed Brazilian model, who worked for some of New York's top agencies, has starved herself to death. Ana Carolina Reston was only 21. At the time of...

'CAR CRUSH' SCAM BUSTED

The NYPD yesterday capped "Operation Steal for Steel," arresting a dozen car thieves who swiped more than 100 vehicles that were crushed and sold for scrap metal in Asia, authorities...

LAWYER BUGGY OVER SPUD SNAFU

A Manhattan lawyer wants some justice from a Wendy's restaurant after nearly biting into a cockroach that somehow made it into his baked potato, court papers say. David Colgan says...

$3.3 BIL CASINO ROYALE - 'NET BET KING OF QNS. IN 'BIGGEST EVER' BOOKIE BUST

A high-stakes poker player's bets were nothing compared to the gamble he took by running a staggering $3.3 billion Internet bookmaking operation - that was busted when cops cloned his...

BEACON SHINES FOR CABLEVISION

The legendary Beacon Theatre (left) has been acquired by Cablevision, it was announced yesterday. The deal is a coup for Cablevision, which also controls Radio City Music Hall and Madison...

TEEN'S KILLER GETS THE MAX

Raheem Edwards, 26, was handed the maximum of 25 years to life yesterday for the senseless killing of Daniel Springer on July 4, 2004. Justice Joel Goldberg handed down the...

SCHEDULE FOR GRIM WTC HUNT

The city set a timetable yesterday for expanding its search for remains at the World Trade Center. Starting this week, workers will begin searching the rooftop of the Millenium Hotel....

4 WOUNDED IN SHOOTOUT

Four people were wounded last night when rival groups from Staten Island and Manhattan shot it out in a Harlem housing project last night, police said. The melee began at...

DAD SHATTERED OVER BOY KILLED BY MOM

The father of the little boy killed by his "demon"-possessed mother staggered with emotion yesterday when he tried to speak about his lost son. "He was just the sweetest kid...

EX-MET'S SON TAKES THE STAND

The son of ex-Met great Bud Harrelson gave erratic but damning testimony yesterday in the murder trial of a Long Island teen charged with killing his stepfather with a samurai...

SANIT TECH IN KID-PORN BUST

A Sanitation Department employee was arrested yesterday for allegedly having child porn on his computer at work. John Borruso, 58, of Brooklyn, resigned from his job as an information-technology troubleshooter...

KIN SUE OVER COP SHOOTING

Relatives of a Brooklyn man who was shot by cops after allegedly ramming his car into an officer said yesterday they plan to file a wrongfuldeath suit against the city....

TIME LIMIT FOR WTC REMAINS

The city set a timetable yesterday for expanding its search for remains at the World Trade Center. Starting this week, workers will begin searching the rooftop of the Millenium Hotel,...

DEMOM VICTIM 'SWEETEST KID ON EARTH'

The father of the little boy killed by his "demon"-possessed mother staggered with emotion yesterday when he tried to speak about his lost son. "He was just the sweetest kid...

KITCHEN'S SUNK - STORM LOSE RECRUIT, FACE TERPS

The excitement and expectation were off the charts the last time St. John's faced Maryland. The Red Storm, led by Ron Artest, advanced to the finals of the 1999 NCAA...

RJ SEES MONDAY RETURN

NET NOTES The daily Richard Jefferson update: "I think there's a very good chance I'll be back on the road trip," Jefferson said last night. Jefferson, who sprained his left...

KIDD BUCKS MILWAUKEE

Nets 100 - Bucks 87 With Richard Jefferson limping and out and with Vince Carter queasy and questionable, Jason Kidd had one thought in mind. "My mindset was not to...

SIMPLY SYDSATIONAL IN OPENER

FIRST RACE: Eight went into starting gate, but it was one-horse race. Sydsational, 13-1 stepping up from $10G to $16G for Ed Barker after losing her last six starts by...

HALE BUMPS FAHEY OFF DEVIL ROSTER

The salary cap has struck the Devils again, this time prompting them to waive defenseman Jim Fahey with David Hale coming off his Long-Term Injury exemption. Fahey was acquired from...

BEARS IN MIND - JETS PONDER NEXT UPSET, NOT LAST

With the euphoria of the Jets' stirring upset of the Patriots having still not worn off, the word playoffs was bound to be brought up in conversation with reporters yesterday....

JACKED UP JACKED UP - COUGHLIN MORE SUBDUED THAN HIS DAYS WITH JAGS

The Giants saw a different side of Tom Coughlin, a humbled Tom Coughlin, in the aftermath of the 38-20 loss to the Bears, which included one mind- boggling decision by...

BIG BLUE GETS MORE BAD NEWS

GIANT NOTES News from the injury front continues to be grim for the Giants. Defensive end Justin Tuck, who missed the past three games with what the team would only...

CAL SMELLS ROSES

THE hopes for a BCS title are gone. The adoration of many media types nationwide went with them. But No. 17 Cal, picking up the pieces after a stunning 24-20...

METS GET NEW ENDY - MINAYA COMPARES JOHNSON TO CHAVEZ

The Mets yesterday traded for someone GM Omar Minaya said "can be an everyday player." For the second straight winter, the Mets made a deal with the Padres, acquiring promising...

RANDOLPH 2ND IN MANAGER'S VOTING

Willie Randolph came in second in the NL Manager of the Year voting, falling to Joe Girardi. The Mets manager lost to the Marlins skipper for the honor yesterday, coming...

PHILLIES COVET SORIANO 'BADLY'

NAPLES, Fla. - The Phillies and Cubs were portrayed as the front-runners for free agent Alfonso Soriano by several executives at the GM Meetings. The Dodgers and Angels are believed...

FRUGALBALL - CASHMAN, MINAYA WILLING TO PAY - BUT ALSO WALK AWAY

NAPLES, Fla. - Brian Cashman and Omar Minaya are doing more than assembling their teams at the GM meetings. They are projecting a similar message to the industry - that...

DEFENDERS EARN SPLIT DECISION

JET NOTES On Monday, Eric Mangini named defensive end Shaun Ellis the team's "defensive player of the week." Yesterday, the NFL announced Jets' nose tackle Dewayne Robertson the AFC Defensive...

A-ROD'S EYES ON PRIZE - NOT EXIT

Who knows what next November brings - but as of last night, Alex Rodriguez wants to be a Yankee beyond the 2007 season. According to contract language, A-Rod has the...

TIKI GIVES THUMBS-UP

Immediately after the Giants were beaten by the Bears Sunday night, Tiki Barber unwrapped his right thumb and was alarmed at what he saw. It had swollen to twice the...

OMAR: WILLIE DESERVED NL HONOR

Omar Minaya said he believes the NL Manager of the Year award didn't go to the proper person. The Mets GM said yesterday he believed his manager, Willie Randolph, merited...

NHL PLAYERS TOP RUSSIA IN COURT

A federal judge refused to bench three NHL hockey players - including Penguins star rookie Evgeni Malkin - who are being sued by a pair of Russian hockey teams for...

KIDD FUELS NETS IN WIN OVER BUCKS

Nets 100 - Bucks 87 With Richard Jefferson limping and out and with Vince Carter queasy and questionable, Lawrence Frank sought only the positives. "We're not going to make excuses...

RANGERS' SOLID EFFORT UNREWARDED

Hurricanes 2 - Rangers 1 RALEIGH - And so there were things to like about the way the Rangers went about their business here last night. The Blueshirts competed, supported...

ANTOINE KEEPS LID ON REDD

Antoine Wright didn't see the game on Nov. 11 when Michael Redd torched the Jazz for 57 points, but he heard about it. "I talked to guys over there after...

JAMES COULD PRACTICE 'NEXT WEEK' KNICK NOTES

Knicks bad-luck center Jerome James finally returned to practice on Tuesday and is talking about being ready to play "within a week." Of course, James has been overly optimistic when...

ISIAH RUNNIN' FROM TRUTH - MISLED THOMAS: YOU'VE GOTTA BELIEVE

Isiah Thomas, in a desperate attempt to paint the Knicks' start with a rosy coat, said yesterday their 2-6 start is better than it looks and they're not far off...

IT'S TIME FOR STEPH TO GO

LET'S see if we get this straight: Stephon Marbury says he is now passing the ball because this is what he wants to do, as opposed to last year, when...

STEPH STILL HAS TO GO

LET'S see if we get this straight: Stephon Marbury says he is now passing the ball because this is what he wants to do, as opposed to last year, when...

GOOD-'D'-NUFF WITHOUT DARIUS - BLUESHIRTS FIRM UP BACKLINE

RALEIGH - This can't be good news for Darius Kasparaitis. "I think our defense as a group has really settled down," Tom Renney was saying before last night's match here...

LEAGUE'S TOP GUN IS REDD-HOT

Vince Carter, Allen Iverson, LeBron James. Those are the names most expect to see at the top of the NBA scoring list. But so far this season, Milwaukee's Michael Redd...

ARENAS: THERE'S STILL TALENT AT MSG

Long before Gilbert Arenas became an NBA allstar, he was an NBA fan. The Wizard star looks at the Knicks from afar, and up close in last night's tilt at...

BENCH COMES UP BIG IN WIN

Isiah Thomas has said he has no plans of changing his starting five, inserting Nate Robinson or any other reserve. But after watching the Knicks' 102-82 win over Washington last...

NETS KEEP THEIR FAITH IN MARCUS

He throws a pass that causes jaws to drop. He'll cross-over a veteran and get to the basket with ease. Now his future is brighter than the noontime sun, but...

WEIRD BUT TRUE

A handcuffed suspect being questioned about a jewelry heist escaped from a police interrogation room in Oak Ridge, Tenn. Nine days later, when cops tracked him down, he was still...

Stretch run

The fantasy playoffs are just around the corner. If you haven’t scouted for your postseason player matchups, you need to start.With many trade deadlines having passed, the only real escape...

Arenas tells Jared to go

By MARC BERMAN AND BRIAN LEWISIt’s never a good sign when the star player of your team tells you it’s time to move on.Wizards star guard Gilbert Arenas admitted he...