January 12, 2008
NEW TANKLEFF PROBE
The Martin Tankleff case is not closed. Less than two weeks after the Suffolk County district attorney announced all murder charges against Tankleff would be dropped, Gov. Spitzer appointed a...
Here's a Comparison
There's been a lot of screaming for Tom Renney's head lately. Ranger fans are desperate for consistent success and the only consistent product put up in the past five games...
A Day of Denial
By MARC BERMANThe Knicks did their best to convey everything is status quo in denying two reports regarding Isiah Thomas' job status.Isiah Thomas called my story that stated he's considering...
NICOLE RICHIE AND CHRISTINA AGUILERA GIVE BIRTH
There'll be plenty of "dirrty" diapers ahead for Christina Aguilera. The five-time Grammy winner and her hubby, Jordan Bratman, welcomed a baby boy Friday night - just hours after rival...
UPDATE: In Sardinia, watch your step
The garbage crisis in Naples -- the second in a year -- is now affecting the island of Sardinia.Home to the tony and exclusive Costa Smeralda, which, on any given...
My Golden Globe Predictions (Besides the Worst-Ever Ratings)
The Golden Globes are a joke that have turned into an utter farce this year, but for what it's worth here's a link to my predictions, and those of a...
Early Box Office: Meathead's Comeback
"The Bucket List'' looks like Rob Reiner's biggest wide opening ever -- and his first success since "An American President'' 13 long years ago -- despite mostly poor reviews (Roger...
IF IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY
You are incredibly ambitious and no way will being a big fish in a small pond satisfy your craving for success. Aim to be the best at whatever it is...
MIKE RATE $HOCKER
Mayor Bloomberg seemed to endorse a rate hike for Con Ed yesterday, saying the utility "does not make all that much money" and needs extra funds to upgrade its infrastructure....
CITY KOS BROOKLYN SCHOOL OF HARD KNOCKS
A city councilman's bizarre plan to open a public middle school on the grounds of a Brooklyn jail has been placed on death row. Councilman David Yassky (D-Brooklyn) said he...
$12 BIL SURGE WILL BE THE DEBT OF US
ALBANY - State government's debt load has soared by a whopping 31 percent since 2003, an alarming new report from Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli shows. State-funded debt for the 2006-07 fiscal...
COURT POPS DADDY DMX FOR $1.5M
A Maryland judge yesterday ordered rap star DMX to fork over $1.5 million for defaming the mother of his love child by claiming she raped him, her lawyer said. Prince...
'I ROBBED BANKS AND DIDN'T GET THAT MUCH COVERAGE'
His cash-checking caper involving a dead friend has become an international story. Newspapers and TV stations in far off places like India wrote about it. Even TV funnyman David Letterman...
TRAIN'S HELLRIDER CATCHES FIRE
A man riding atop a Metro-North train was almost burned to a crisp last night after getting clipped by power lines. Ricardo Chavez, 37, appeared almost unfazed that his coat...
RATNER CLEARS LAWSUIT HURDLE
A state judge yesterday dismissed one of two key lawsuits holding up construction of Bruce Ratner's $4 billion Atlantic Yards project in Brooklyn, ruling the state conducted a proper environmental...
MCG'S WIFE TARGETS HIS BEAU'S $$
Jim McGreevey's estranged wife wants a piece of his boyfriend's assets - and she's also threatening to drag real-estate mogul Charles Kushner and New Jersey Sen. Raymond Lesniak into her...
STEREO UNPLUGGED
A trendy West Side club was closed down by cops last night after two people were arrested for selling drugs, police said. Stereo, located at 512 W. 29th St., had...
'DRUNK' HITS SI POL'S FAMILY
A retired city firefighter plowed into a car carrying a state senator's family in a booze-fueled crash in Staten Island, authorities said yesterday. James Aylward, 43, allegedly drove his Ford...
HERO'S 'SAMARITAN' SLAY
A muscle-bound jujitsu black belt who stabbed two men as he fended off a group of muggers yesterday may have killed an innocent man in the battle, police sources said...
PERV GUILTY IN HAMPTONS
A former real-estate broker who sold and rented Hamptons mansions pleaded guilty yesterday to a single charge of receiving kiddie porn. Matthias Von Wrede, 35, of Sag Harbor, LI, made...
MORGY'S GUN-LAW BATTLE
The US Supreme Court is poised this spring to decide a landmark gun-rights case that - in a worst-case scenario for law enforcement - could gut gun laws nationwide. Concerned...
SOCIALITE DIES AFTER 'MINOR' OP
The New York phil anthropic set was in shock yesterday with news that socialite Diane Wolf - a large donor to cultural institutions around the country - died following a...
BANK-BOMB BOZO BURNED
A New York native hiding out in Europe to avoid federal fraud charges was hit with a new indictment yesterday for going on a bomb-scare spree last summer - calling...
PAYS TRIBUTE AT HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL
A teary President Bush yesterday toured Israel's Holocaust memorial yesterday, calling it "a sobering reminder that evil exists" and saying the Allies should have bombed the train tracks leading to...
KOZY'S COOCHY 'BABY MOMMA'
French president Nicolas Sarkozy has knocked up gal pal Carla Bruni, less than two months into their torrid love affair, according to a published report. London's Daily Mail, citing unidentified...
JONES' FINISH 'TIME'
She's going from the Stars and Stripes to bars and prison stripes. Disgraced Olympic track star Marion Jones ran out of luck yesterday as a federal judge ignored her weepy...
PHONE RANT LANDS LOOSE JUICE IN THE HOOSEGOW
OJ Simpson cussed his way back to a Las Vegas jail when he tried to contact a wit ness in his case with an expletive-fueled message, a judge ruled yesterday....
'STOP THIS TEASE, MIKE'
It's time for Mayor Bloomberg - who's been flirting with the idea of running for president - to "stop the striptease and either do the full Mike or get back...
$110 BILLION HILL 'GIFT'
COMMERCE, Calif. - Hillary Rodham Clinton proposed up to $110 billion in tax breaks and government aid to provide an "immediate jump-start" to the economy - but wants to put...
RUDY RUNNING ON FUME$
Rudy Giuliani's top campaign staffers are working without pay and his national finance co-chairman has stepped down - signs of his presidential campaign's turmoil and financial difficulties. Giuliani's troubles come...
BUBBA IN 'TALE' SPIN
Trying to diffuse a growing backlash from black leaders, Bill clinton called in to the Rev. Al Sharpton's radio show yesterday to explain a controversial comment he made that Sen....
'CANNIBAL' DIET
If PETA gets its way, an accused cannibal will have tasted his last bit of flesh - human oranimal. The animal-rights group faxed a letter to the Smith County Jail...
DEAD DRUNK BUTT-HEAD A 'WINNER'
A man who died giving himself a sherry enema has been named the winner of the 2007 Darwin Awards - the annual prize given to idiots who through their own...
K-FED WANTS TRUTH
Britney Spears' ex-hubby wants to learn more about her mental meltdown - and what Los Angeles cops saw when they rescued their kids, according to court documents. A Family Court...
MARINE SLAY 'SOLVED'
The remains of a pregnant Marine missing for almost a month were found burned in a shallow grave in the back yard of a comrade she accused of rape, authorities...
NYPD DAILY BLOTTER
QUEENS Cops are searching for two men suspected of robbing and assaulting a man in a Jamaica subway station. The suspects, Jelani Blackwood and Hakeem Sultan , allegedly held up...
LOTTERY
NEW YORK Midday Nos. Fri.: 921; Lucky Sum: 12 / Midday Win-4 Fri.: 6181; Lucky Sum: 16 / Evening Nos. Fri.: 197; Lucky Sum: 17; Evening Win-4 Fri.: 3225; Lucky...
THE FIRST BROKEN PROMISE
How about that Hillary Clinton: She's already breaking her campaign promises - and she doesn't even have her party's presidential nomination yet. Clinton yesterday reneged on her vow to explain...
W'S PEACE PROBLEM
It took less than 24 hours for Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice to lower the unwise expectations raised by President Bush when he declared his belief that Israel and the...
POPULIST HOGWASH
JOHN Edwards has imbibed the political equivalent of strontium-90, or one of those other slow-acting poisons mostly used by the KGB in old spy thrillers; it kills you before you...
MAN TO BEAT
John McCain is starting to look like the candi date to beat for the GOP nomination. Not long ago, he was dismissed, unable to compete with Rudy Giuliani's star power....
THE PANDER IMPLOSION
IT looks like this year's primaries have put "pander bears" on the endan gered-species list. Bay State Sen. Paul Tsongas coined the phrase in 1992 to describe his Democratic primary...
SCARING OFF OPRAH
THE absence of Oprah Winfrey from the frantic four last days of the New Hampshire primary campaign after her heavy schedule in Iowa backing Sen. Barack Obama may be traced...
CLEMENS' WILD PITCH
Roger Clemens might be as innocent as the three Duke lacrosse players, and I'm tempted to believe him - except that his adamant and vehement denials suspiciously sound like the...
THE GOSPEL TRUTH ABOUT MCCAIN
It is great news that John McCain won in New Hampshire ("McCain Reigns in GOP Primary," Jan. 9). All those who said, as far back as last summer, that McCain's...
BAD NEWS BEARS
As new worries grip the moneyed crowd - primarily American Express cardholders and Tiffany's customers - stock investors around the world bailed yesterday, leaving Saudi Prince Al Waleed bin Talal...
MOZILO EYEING $76M EXIT FROM BOFA
Countrywide Financial's already-wealthy boss Angelo Mozilo could walk away with a golden parachute worth more than $75.6 million and a litany of perks when the takeover by Bank of America...
EDGAR'S 'DOG DRAWS HOWLS
Warner Music Group's most critical analyst yesterday blasted the record label for not disclosing its June 2007 purchase of high-end event promoter Bulldog Entertainment Group, which last summer ran a...
'BECK FOR MORE
GREEN BAY, Wis. - Four years ago, after winning the overtime coin toss before a wild-card game here, Seattle quarterback Matt Hasselbeck said into the coach's microphone: "We want the...
GLENN'S RETURN COULD MAKE A BIG IMPACT
IRVING, Texas - Terrell Owens isn't the only big-play receiver expected back in the Cowboys' lineup tomorrow. Terry Glenn practiced again yesterday with no problems and should play alongside Owens...
PERFECT PRESSURE
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - As the Patriots embark tonight on the second and most crucial phase of their historic season, their 16-0 record and about five dollars will buy them a...
DRAWING BLOOD
Never one to shy away from voicing his opinion, Dodger second baseman Jeff Kent said baseball players should be subjected to blood tests. "I'd like to see every player take...
ABSCESS OF TRUTH
A dispute over Roger Clemens' medical history may play a key role in determining who is more credible - Clemens or his former trainer, Brian McNamee. McNamee alleges that Clemens...
SJU HAS TO START STORMIN'
We begin the new year with a memo to the St. John's basketball team: Today's home game against DePaul (MSG TV; WBBR-1130 AM, noon) must be the time you get...
TITANS GEARED FOR LACROSSE OPENER
Eighty-eight days ago it looked bleak that the expansion New York Titans were going to play their second season in the National Lacrosse League. On Oct. 16, the NLL canceled...
DEVS ARE 'KILLING' THEIR FOES
The Devils could have made it their New Year's resolution and wouldn't have broken it yet. They haven't given up a power-play goal in 2008. They've killed all 14 disadvantages...
T.O.-DO LIST: K.O. OWENS
THE Giants will try to hit Public Enemy No. 81 and hit him again tomorrow, harass him, hound him, knock him and his high ankle sprain out of the game...
TERRELL-ABLE NEWS: 'BOYS STAR TO START
IRVING, Texas - Order up the popcorn. The Cowboys finally stopped their weeklong charade yesterday and confirmed Terrell Owens not only will play in Sunday's NFC divisional playoff against the...
OUT OF THE BLUE
The stars must come out and shine if the Giants are to upset the big, bad Cowboys in tomorrow's NFC divisional playoff game, but it may be one of the...
JACOBS SIDESTEPS CRAYTON'S BARBS
Cowboys receiver Patrick Crayton is hearing things. This week he accused the Giants of trash-talking and insinuated it's because the Giants lack confidence. "Either they're scared or they're trying to...
ZACH EXCHANGE
Isiah Thomas and Zach Randolph engaged in a verbal altercation on the bench that led to Randolph being benched for the entire second half last night as the Knicks' season...
ISIAH READY TO BOLT BENCH?
Despite Monday's defiant remarks that he has no plans to leave the Knick bench, Isiah Thomas actually vented in a conversation to a friend a day later that he is...
FLAT FOURTH BURIES NETS
If the Nets wanted to show the world they can hang with the Celtics, mission accomplished. But they wanted more. They wanted a win. Playing a league-leading team close might...
JERSEY GETS 'A' FOR EFFORT
While the Nets insist they weren't taking last night's matchup with Boston as a measuring stick, the NBA-leading Celtics actually said they felt like they were chasing New Jersey, testing...
GOMEZ 'STAR' STRUCK
The Rangers have dropped a season-high five straight and sunk to the bottom of the Atlantic Division, so it should come as no surprise that Scott Gomez, who signed with...
WEIRD BUT TRUE
The first rule in cultivating crops is not to overwater them. But one Connecticut man clearly hadn't gotten the memo when he was busted for running a massive marijuana-growing operation...
ART SMART
FUNNY thing, creativity: You can't teach it. You can encourage it, inspire it - and spend thousands on a fancy fine-art degree trying to perfect it. But nothing takes the...
WHAT'S UP
TODAY LET'S DANCE: If you've been tempted by those "family dance" events but if disco's not your thing, fast forward a decade at Goody Two Shoes, an '80s-era party for...
OTHER COUNTRY MUSIC
At Globalfest, it's a small world after all - but there's nothing Disney about it. The fi fth annual music extravaganza, set for tomorrow night at Webster Hall, brings together...
EASY PICKINS
YOU think you know guitar music? You don't know the half of it. But if you go to a show or two at the New York Guitar Festival, you just...
HEAVY METTLE
NIKKI Blonsky practically reprises her "Hairspray" role as the fat girl for an original Lifetime movie, "Queen Sized." As in "Hairspray," Blonsky plays an outsized girl named Maggie in a...
HYPED 'GREY'S' 'FINALE' CAN'T STOP 'CSI'
FOR all the hype sur rounding Thursday night's "Grey's Anatomy," early "season finale," it couldn't beat "CSI." ABC's prime-time medical soap was watched by 17.6 million viewers, but it was...