July 16, 1999

PENT-UP INFLATION READY TO CUT LOOSE

THIS past Spring I was paying 91 cents for a gallon of regular gasoline in New Jersey. When I filled up yesterday, the price was up to $1.09. And there...

FIDELITY'S TOP 10 CUTS AOL, TIME AS MAGELLAN HITS $100B

Robert Stansky, manager of Fidelity Investment's flagship Magellan fund, dropped America Online and Time Warner shares from his top 10 holdings last quarter. Stansky added two telecommunications stocks - Lucent...

DEPARTURE MIGHT'VE BEEN OVERDUE AS RESTRUCTURING LOOMS

GERRY Levin will certainly have his hands full trying to replace Bob Daly and Terry Semel, Warner Brother's legendary studio execs for the last two decades. But the departure of...

BLACK DAY TODAY FOR NY OBSERVER

After trying for years to get a New York newspaper, Canadian media tycoon Conrad Black is expected to announce today that's he buying the snippy weekly The New York Observer....

WOMEN'S SOCCER BOOKS GET BOUNCED

America may love the women who took our breath away with the World Cup soccer victory last week, but the embrace from the publishing world remains only lukewarm. Scholastic was...

SUMMER FUN AT 'LAKE PLACID'

AN off-beat, lighthearted creature feature that would be the perfect thing for a night at the drive-in - if there still were any - "Lake Placid" combines humor and thrills...

TRYING TOO HARD TO BE TRAGICALLY HIP

IT'S supposed to be art. After all, it's about miserable Hollywood folk confronted by disease and death, and the characters have a pronounced - if improbable -tendency to quote Emily...

TENOR'S TRIUMPH - DISABILITY DOESN'T STOP HIM FROM HITTING NEW HIGHS

RONAN Tynan's story is one of triumph over adversity. He is a man who, at 38, still has a kid's single-minded goal: to achieve as much as he can. This...

WHITNEY MINUS DIVA = DIVINE

OVER the last nine years, Whitney Houston has spent more time in front of movie cameras than microphones, but the break has paid off. Wednesday at the Theater at Madison...

'VIOLENT COP' HAS BAD BEAT

UNLIKE some of the later work of Takeshi Kitano (nicknamed "Beat" Takeshi), "Violent Cop, " - the first film directed by the cult Japanese actor-director - is quite amazingly slow...

INDIE STINKER CRASHES AT HIGH 'VELOCITY'

'THE Velocity of Gary (Not His Real Name)" is a ludicrous title for an even more ludicrous movie. The velocity of "Gary" is positively glacial compared with the speed at...

USA RETRO ROCKET: 'GVSE': HIP VIOLENCE WITH A SENSE OF HUMOR

"GvsE"Sunday at 8 p.m. USA NetworkRUN "Touched by an Angel" through a "Pulp Fiction" wringer and you get "GvsE." Man meets untimely end. Man gets chance to redeem himself by...

SAPPY BUT WORTH THE HIKE

'THE Wood" (the title refers to the Southern California town of Inglewood) is a sentimental, occasionally very funny, coming-of-age comedy about a trio of middle class African-American guys. Given that...

APPLE'S MELTING POT EMPTY

NETWORK TV shows set in New York depict a city that's more than 80 percent white, only 15 percent African-American, and 3 percent Latino. It's a picture that's grossly out...

'HEDWIG' MIGHT BE RIGHT UP HER ALLY

HERE'S some gender-bender casting worthy of "Victor/Victoria."Ex-Brat Pack star Ally Sheedy is in negotiations to take over the role of the transsexual glam rocker in the off-Broadway musical "Hedwig and...

DATED DRAMA SHOWS KUBRICK OUT OF TOUCH

"Eyes Wide Shut" is Stanley Kubrick's Hindenberg. It's not thrilling. It's not sexy. It combines all the flaws that marred his earlier work - including a glacial pace, emotional coldness...

EYES GLAZE OVER: SOFTCORE FINALE GETS JUST ** 1/2

EYES WIDE SHUT Starring Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman. Directed by Stanley Kubrick. 2 hrs 40 min. Rated R. Area theaters. two and a half stars "Eyes Wide Shut," is the...

WRENCHED ALLEN DROPS LAWSUIT

TOOLMAN Tim Allen is dropping an $8 million libel lawsuit after learning that the 73-year-old defendant has brain cancer. Allen filed the lawsuit last year in county court against Henry...

'BIZ BUZZ' BONANZA: CNNFN SHOW TO HAVE SOME ON-AIR TRYOUTS

BORROWING a page from "The View," CNNfn will announce today that it is auditioning co-hosts - on the air - for its popular business show, "Biz Buzz." As "Biz Buzz"...

SLOBBO TIGHTENS GRIP WITH A RUSTING IRON FIST

Serbian strongman Slobodan Milosevic launched a heavy-handed counterattack on anti-government forces yesterday as widespread reports of beatings and arrests of protesters swept Yugoslavia. In what Balkans analysts believe are the...

BUSH TURNS DOWN MATCHING FUNDS

Republican 2000 front-runner George W. Bush yesterday said he won't take any federal taxpayer funds for his primary campaign - which has raised $37 million - so he'll have "strategic...

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A CARPETBAGGER

HILLARY CLINTON'S to-do list for Thursday, July 15, 1999: *10 a.m. Oh, no! Another tedious game of Empire State Jeopardy with Ickes. ... Must win this time. Learn from past...

EX-JUDGE GETS 350G IN BUILDING DEAL; EXCLUSIVE

A former state Supreme Court appellate judge has been awarded $350,000 for less than a year's work helping sell a Manhattan building. Francis Murphy, once the highest-ranking state judge in...

A FAREWELL TO HAVEN ON EARTH - LAST OF 4,000 KOSOVAR REFUGEES LEAVE FT. DIX

FORT DIX, N.J. - Feeling blessed but anxious, the last Kosovar refugee family at Fort Dix climbed into a white van yesterday and set out for a new life in...

RETIRING DETECTIVE LOVED EVERY MINUTE

When Brooklyn Detective Jerry Rupprecht first became a cop he hoped he would be assigned to a busy precinct. He got his wish - and then some. Rupprecht, 62, retired...

IRATE CONN. NEIGHBORS SUE ON-THE-LAM 'SCAMMER'

As if being investigated by the police, the FBI, the SEC and insurance regulators from five states isn't bad enough, fugitive financier Martin Frankel is now being sued by his...

U.S. TALKS TOUGH TO CHINA ON TAIWAN

The United States issued a strong warning to China yesterday that Washington regards recent threats to Taiwan with "grave concern," and is prepared to intervene if military force is used...

ACTRESS AT A LO$$ IN DIVORCE

A Manhattan judge stripped actress Lori Singer of $750-a-month alimony yesterday as punishment for taking a mid-divorce swipe at her famed lawyer-hubby in a recent lawsuit. The judge found that...

B'KLYN EDITOR MISSING ON LONE MOUNTAIN HIKE

Searchers are scouring Washington state's majestic Mount Rainier for a Brooklyn book editor who vanished on a hiking trip. A helicopter was brought in to aid in the search last...

HEVESI HEAD$ MAYORAL FIELD

City Comptroller Alan Hevesi is leading a pack of seven possible mayoral candidates in fund-raising, with almost $2.2 million in his campaign coffers - for an election that is more...

QUEEN HAILS U.S. POL AMID IRISH 'TRAGEDY'

Former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell was honored in London by Queen Elizabeth yesterday for brokering last year's Northern Ireland's Good Friday peace accord - even as his hard-won agreement collapsed...

IMMIGRANT 'SLAVE' LIVED A NIGHTMARE

"Life was hell" for nearly a decade for Beatrice Okezie, the young Nigerian woman who accuses an immigrant couple of keeping her as a slave and beating her at their...

CON ED VOWS IT CAN TAKE THE HEAT THIS TIME

The Big Apple's going to bake this weekend - but Con Ed says New York won't black out again just when it needs the power the most. Hellish and deadly...

CRIME'S STILL GOING DOWN THE TUBE IN CITY SUBWAYS

Subway crime dropped to its lowest level in a generation during the first half of the year - despite a rise in murders. Overall, crime plummeted 12 percent from January...

BOOK BY MOM OF COLUMBINE 'MARTYR' TO BE TV MOVIE

"Once they read and understood the synopsis, they said it was not exploitative at all." AGENT JONATHAN LAZEAR The TV networks are in a bidding war for the rights to...

TALL-TALE KID'S GRANNY TO GET GOODWILL VISIT IN HONDURAS

A delegation from New York and Miami will meet in Honduras with the grandmother of 13-year-old Edwin Sabillon, whose solo odyssey to the United States has captured the Big Apple's...

CHARTER-SCHOOL PIONEERS RUSH TO JUMP IN ON GROUND FLOOR

"We're very much in the charter-school business." DEPUTY STATE EDUCATION COMMISSIONER JAMES KADAMUS About 100 groups and individuals - nearly half from the city - have flooded the State University...

YAHOO! BOOTS 37 HATE CLUBS

A popular Internet portal booted close to 40 racist clubs from its site yesterday - alarming free-speech guardians who are worried the Web is squeezing out the First Amendment. Yahoo!...

BARAK SPEAKS HIS PEACE - SPELLS OUT PLAN FOR BILL IN D.C.

WASHINGTON - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak spelled out his peace terms to President Clinton yesterday, saying every side in the Mideast peace process needs to make concessions before the...

'SLAVE' COUPLE EYED IN 'COVER-UP'

Child-welfare officials are probing whether a foster-care supervisor charged with keeping a Nigerian girl as a household slave for nine years played any role in investigating charges of child abuse...

SOMETIMES A CRIME IS A MATTER OF CULTURE

ZHOA-YANG CHENG and his wife, Guiling, are cultural criminals. The Connecticut couple broke a law four years ago because they didn't know leaving their 5-year-old son home alone was against...

BIKINI BLONDE BAGS A TIGER

This scantily clad mystery woman knows how to make a Tiger purr. Tiger Woods had his putter out on the 18th green in the first round of the British Open...

HOUSE OKS PAY HIKE FOR PREZ

Congress is set to give future U.S. presidents their first pay raise - double the current salary - in more than 30 years. Whoever succeeds President Clinton would earn $400,000...

BEST THING OUT OF N.J. SINCE THE LINCOLN TUNNEL

AT THIS point in his career, Bruce Springsteen isn't a man who has to prove it all night anymore, but last night, he did anyway. The long night of music...

4 WOUNDED AS GUNMAN SHOOTS UP BRONX STREET

Four men were shot by a lone gunman in the East Tremont section of The Bronx last night - three of them in the groin, police said. The suspect, described...

PODS, ANGELS TOE THE LINE AT CROSSROADS

QUIZ: Three National League players finished in the top 10 in homers in 1997 and 1998 and also were in the top 10 at this year's All-Star break. Name them...

PETTITTE'S LAST CHANCE: NEXT 3 STARTS MIGHT DETERMINE ANDY'S FATE

ANDY PETTITTE is safe. For now. Yankee officials ended meetings this week convinced the baffled Pettitte could be fixed. Besides, they believe his trade value is at a low due...

A GOOD TIME TO FLOUNDER

INSHORE fishing continues to be a plus for saltwater anglers in the metropolitan area, and with another heat wave coming on, fishing may be a good way to stay cool....

GULLIKSON GAMBLES WITH PETE: NO SINGLES FOR SAMPRAS IN CUP

BROOKLINE, Mass. - USA Davis Cup captain Tom Gullikson has put his neck on the line. In one of the bizarre lineup decisions in Davis Cup history, Gullikson yesterday adhered...

AFTER 13 SEASONS, BEUK BOWS OUT

In the premature end, premature even after 13 NHL seasons, the warrior was indeed carried off on his shield. Jeff Beukeboom made it official yesterday, announcing his retirement after being...

ARROGANT MLB IS REAL VILLAIN

IF IT weren't for the arrogance of Major League Baseball, it would be a lot easier to kill the umpires. It would be a lot more fun to lambaste them...

CARAMBA! TOO MANY BOGEYS RUIN GARCIA'S OPENING ROUND

CARNOUSTIE - The response really needed no translation as Sergio "El Nino" Garcia stormed out of the scorer's trailer following his nightmarish 18-over-par 89 in yesterday's first round of the...

O'MEARA: IT'S NO FUN BEING AN 80S MAN

NOTEBOOK CARNOUSTIE - Mark O'Meara was so incensed after imploding with an embarrassing 12-over-par 83, he blew past waiting reporters without saying a word when asked for a moment of...

GIVE RODNEY SOME RESPECT: PAMPLING LEADS PACK AT BLOODY CARNOUSTIE

CARNOUSTIE - One by one, the world's best golfers trudged off the course and they either looked to be near tears at the experience of it all or they were...

N.Y. 'CAP, LEXINGTON ON BELMONT'S MENU

These are the dog days of summer. The premier events at the Belmont spring-summer meet are in the books, and with Saratoga just 12 days away most racing fans already...

SPLINTER IN THE CRASS: TEDDY BALLGAME LATEST LEGEND TO SELL OUT

Sandy Koufax, excused as an extremely private person, did not accept an invite to appear on field at the All-Star Game. Yet, he's not so private as to refuse appearances...

ROOKIES SAVOR DREAM TRIP

SAN JUAN - The U.S. team bus was making its way back from practice Wednesday when Gary Payton spotted a convenience store and asked the driver to pull over. Then...

FELIPE: I'LL FIGHT FOR JOB

SAN JUAN - Felipe Lopez' career has never been the express train everyone predicted when he was a Sports Illustrated cover boy even before he'd played his first college game....

SLEEPY KIM GUTS IT OUT

The LPGA's leading rookie didn't stick around to see her Korean countrywoman pass her for the first-round JAL Big Apple lead. While Se Ri Pak was moving in front by...

RANGERS JUST KEEP BUYING

They have raced through the aisles in an upscale supermarket sweepstakes, using their sticky fingers to grab onto whatever and whomever they wanted. In 15 days of splurging to unprecedented...

BOBBY V HOPES UMPS STAY: 'IT WOULDN'T BE FAIR'

ST. PETERSBURG - Everybody supposedly hates the umps, but some people don't want to see them go. While most Mets declined to comment on the umpires' decision to submit mass...

ROCKET HOLDS KEY ; CLEMENS MUST STEP UP IF YANKS ARE TO REPEAT

THE Yankees are the glass both half full and half empty. They are good enough to be in first place and smart enough to know they are so much better...

WE WILL SURVIVE - CONE: PLAYERS WON'T QUIT IF UMPIRES CARRY OUT THREAT

"If they walk out, we will do the best with what we have."DAVID CONE If major league umpires carry through on their threat to retire on Sept. 2, they shouldn't...

MADDUX BACK IN THE GROOVE

Apparently all the rumors of Greg Maddux' athletic demise have been greatly exaggerated, and the predictions of his fall from the ranks of baseball's elite were more than a bit...

NETS INTERESTED IN OAK

The money would be better in Toronto. The chances for a title would be better in Los Angeles. But there is a strong case for a marriage between the Nets...

LEITER CATCHES A BREAK WITH YANKS

MET NOTESST. PETERSBURG - In the greatest display of Met-Yankee cooperation since Frank Tanana was traded for Kenny Greer, Al Leiter tuned up for last night's start by playing catch...

UMPS AT STADIUM STAND THEIR GROUND

The four umpires who formed the crew for last night's game at Yankee Stadium arrived at their dressing room exactly one hour before the scheduled first pitch with their heads...

NINTH RACE SPARKS CONTROVERSY

There was controversy in yesterday's ninth race as there was no posted stewards' inquiry into an incident between Harbor's End and Poke N Shake. Jockey Aaron Gryder, who suffered a...

PINSTRIPES ARE A FINE FIT FOR WATSON

YANK NOTES Allen Watson can't find a reason why the Mets gave up on him. Nor is he staying awake nights trying to figure it out now that he is...

WE WANT WELLS!' BOOBIRDS RIP ROGER AS BRAVES TOP YANKS

Braves 6 Yankees 2 They started quietly in the fifth inning, when Roger Clemens walked the first two Braves of the frame. By the time Clemens gave up a run-producing...

ROOKIES IN DREAM WORLD

SAN JUAN - The U.S. team bus was making its way back from practice Wednesday when Gary Payton spotted a convenience store and asked the driver to pull over. Then...

BOBBY V HOPES UMPS WILL STAY

ST. PETERSBURG - Everybody supposedly hates the umps, but some people don't want to see them go. While most Mets declined to comment on the umpires' decision to submit mass...

CONE: WE WILL SURVIVE UMPS

If major-league umpires carry through on their threat to resign Sept. 2, they shouldn't expect any sympathy from the Players' Association. "It's not going to happen," union official David Cone...

LEITER WARMS UP WITH YANK

ST. PETERSBURG - In the greatest display of Met-Yankee cooperation since Frank Tanana was traded for Kenny Greer, Al Leiter tuned up for last night's start by playing catch on...

BENITEZ ENDS UP SMILING

10 INNINGS Mets 8 Devil Rays 7 ST. PETERSBURG - Armando Benitez pumped both hands and pirouetted in a little dance of celebration. Often times for a closer who has...

ROCKET WAY OFF COURSE ; STRUGGLIN' CLEMENS CAN'T REGAIN TOUCH

IN A bit of poor timing, crew chief Jim Evans blew one and probably two calls at first base. Each came in an inning in which Roger Clemens allowed a...

PAYTON, KIDD MOW 'EM DOWN

U.S. 118 Uruguay 72 SAN JUAN - When Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid had worn out their unwelcome in the States, they fled to South America, where for a...

STEFFI BAILS OUT IN MATCH VS. CAPRIATI

Steffi Graf is quitting more often than Roberto Duran. Last month at Wimbledon, Graf abandoned mixed doubles partner John McEnroe hours before their semifinal match. Instead of informing McEnroe of...

CEDENO WILL GET TALKING-TO

ST. PETERSBURG - Roger Cedeno was the hero in last night's 8-7 victory over the Devil Rays, using his speed to get on base four times, twice by forcing an...

BOOS FOR CLEMENS BX. FANS RIP ROGER AS BRAVES TOP YANKS

Forget the errors made by Scott Brosius and Derek Jeter. Ignore the two blown calls at first by umpire Jim Evans. Look the other way on the Yankees not doing...