St. Louis Post-Dispatch from St. Louis, Missouri • Page 2

A2 ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH NEWS TUESDAY, JULY 6, 1999 www.postnet.com ST LOUS rWEBftTCH 900 North Tucker Blvd. St. Louis, 63101-1099 Today's Index Business C6 Nation A4 Classified B6 obituaries B5 B15 Revjewf B2 J.C. Penney pulls "trash talk" T-shirt line after complaints Feminists say that the apparel is offensive to women The Associated Press touonai bh Sports C1 Television 06 Everyday 01 Metro B1 Movie 07 World.

A6 Yeltsin is ready to step down next year (314) 340-8000 or (800) 365-0820 Switchboard houre: M-F 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. News Phone Fax Metro Desk 340-8222 340-3050 Business 340-8200 340-3060 Editorials 340-8380 340-3139 Everyday 340-8269 340-3080 Get Out 862-2102 721-1305 Sports 340-8170 340-3070 Illinois news 340-3058 St. Charles 946-3903 946-8071 U.Syworld news340-8298 340-3050 News tips 231-7678 Advertising Classified 621-6666 340-8664 Retail 340-8500 340-3140 Get Out 340-8587 340-3141 Death notices 340-8600 hhA- kiJk ifM 1 The Associated Press MOSCOW President Boris Yeltsin says he is ready to step down when his term expires next year and turn over power "with an easy mind," according to an interview to be published today in the daily newspaper Izvestia. Yeltsin played down concerns that he would ban the Communist Party and said a new administration should come to power after "an honest and open election struggle." "New leaders, young and energetic, and with new governing ideas, must emerge," he said.

"We need fresh forces to tackle the new challenges of a new century." The interview, carried by Russian news agencies, marks the third anniversary of Yeltsin's re-election to a second term. The term expires next summer, and he is barred constitutionally from running again, although some have speculated that he may try to hold on to power. Yeltsin said he was upset by his low approval ratings but that he did not plan to THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Russian President Boris Yeltsin (left) and Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma fish Monday during an unofficial visit at Yeltsin's country residence outside Moscow. PLANO, Texas ThereH be no more trash-talkin' about women at J.C. Penney.

After a feminist group complained, the department store chain announced it is pulling a line of basketball-themed T-shirts aimed at young men with lines that include: "Your game is as ugly as your girl," and "You like that move? So does your girl." The "trash talk" line of apparel, manufactured by AND1 Basketball, is offensive to women, said the leader of the group that complained. "If a put-down of girls in the process of putting down a sports opponent," said Martha Burk, president of the Center for Advancement of Public Policy in Washington. "The strong implication is that girls are the property of boys to be traded like baseball cards," she said. "It's an insulting, dehumanizing thing, and we have enough incivility in society without this gender-based stuff." Burk said several people contacted her group to complain about the shirts, and that she later denounced the apparel in the center's newsletter, "The Washington Feminist Faxnet," which is faxed to several thousand people around the country. J.C.

Penney Co. Inc. spokeswoman Stephanie Brown said the Piano-based retailer got enough complaints that it will no longer carry shirts that specifically target women. Other AND1 apparel will still be available. "We put the T-shirts out thinking we wouldn't have a problem," Brown said.

"But we are having some concerns coming our way, and they are valid concerns." Burk said she welcomed Penney's decision and will target other retailers, including Foot Locker and Just for Feet, that still carry the shirts. Officials with AND1, based in Pennsylvania, were not available for comment Monday. The company produces dozens of shirts with phrases such as "Turn on the disposal, your game's garbage." Most of them have nothing to do with gender. In a recent interview with Sports Illustrated, company president Seth Berger said, "Trash talk is a crucial element of basketball, part of what makes it great and gives it flavor." It is not the first time that J.C. Penney has pulled T-shirts from the racks.

In April, customer concerns led to the removal of shirts featuring South Park, the Comedy Central show about foul-mouthed grade school children. decree but in court." Speaking on the country's economic troubles, Yeltsin said they were "rooted in our own inconsistency and indecision. We were simultaneously bad liberals and bad social democrats." He did not elaborate or give any proposals for pulling the country out of its do anything to raise "I'm not heading to elections." Yeltsin told Izvestia that he had an idea about who he wants his successor to be but refused to disclose names. Responding to rumors that he is looking for ways to outlaw the Communist Party his biggest rival Yeltsin said: "I think the Communists have banned themselves on their own. They have failed politically.

They are losing chances of winning elections and, of course, are in need of scandals and would like to provoke the president into a fight. If they continue to fan hysteria, they will be brought to account, not by Compiled By Ron Norton Of the Post-Dispatch staff i- f. Job Circulation. For home delivery, missing papers, delivery questions, am-6 pm, Sat 7 pm; Sun. 7 ant-noon; Christmas and New Day, 7 a.m.-l p.m.

Mail subscription rate is $214 for Missouri, Illinois and Arkansas and $293 for other states or APO or FP0 addresses. The Post-Dispatch is owned by Pulitzer Inc. and is published daily. (USPS: 476-580) Postmaster send address changes to above address. Second-class postage paid at St.

Louis. Weekend, Sunday-only subscriptions receive the holiday edition of Monday July 5, 1999. postnet.com "mmmmi is Pulitzer's infor-gggU mation service on the Internet, with up-to-the-minute news, lb subscribe, call 552-1555. www.postnet.com IL Sf POSTIine is a world of free infor- Jj! pS ij matron available instantly by Phone, including: News, fiSSJ sports, entertainment and stock quotes. Directory listing on Page 2 of the Metro section.

314-923-2323 POSTfax POSTfax gives you more t. mation by fax on the subjects 'iir that interest you, including Coffee Break, a daily newsletter of humor, games, work tips and trivia. Just request document number after you dial: 314-865-8585. (substitute today's tm-iigt date fer the question marksj Lotteries MISSOURI Daily Pick-3 game Monday's winning number 224 Monday's Pick-4 game Winning numbers 6805 Monday's Show Me game Winning numbers 03-20-21-27-29 ILLINOIS Monday's Pick-3 game Midday drawing 000 Evening drawing 951 Monday's Pick-4 game Midday drawing 0862 Evening drawing 8742 Monday's Little Lotto game Winning numbers 02-10-15-18-30 The Missouri Lotto jackpot is estimated at $1.7 million. The Illinois Lotto jackpot is estimated at $2.5 million.

The Powerbal! jackpot is estimated at $12 million. Tuesday's Big Game jackpot is estimated at $29 million. V-. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Auditors seize pieces of $ant Christopher Columbus statue The Associated Press QUEEN SOFIA of Spain and PRINCE CHARLES: Royalty turns out at memorial service Monday for King Hussein Not running Comedian Chris Rock says he has no interest in politics, despite urgings from the Rev. Jesse Jackson that he become more involved.

"I'm in show business," Rock told TV Guide. "I want to hang out with Janet Jackson, not Jesse Jackson." Final salute Prince Charles praised King Hussein as a "king among kings" at a memorial service Monday for the late Jordanian monarch. More than 2,000 people attended the service at St. Paul's Cathedral in London, including Hussein's son, King Abdullah, and his wife, Queen Rania; Hussein's widow, Queen Noor; Prince Philip, husband of Queen Elizabeth II; and Prime Minister Tony Blair. On this day: On July 6, 1944, 169 people died in a fire in the main tent of the Ringling Bros, and Barnum Bailey Circus in Hartford, Conn.

Today's birthdays: Actress Tia Mowry 21 Actress Tamera Mowry 21 Country's Nanci Griffith 46 Actress Shelley Hack 47 Actor Sylvester Stallone 53 Actor Fred Dryer 53 Actor Ned Beatty 62 Singer Delia Reese 68 Actress Janet Leigh 72 TV's Merv Griffin 74 Nancy Reagan 78 Apple pie Singer Pat Boone said he loves appearing at Fourth of July parades because it gives him a chance to sing "Happy Birthday" to the United States. "I feel like a human roman candle or firecracker," the 65-year-old performer said Sunday. Boone was the grand marshal at the 95th annual Huntington Beach parade, one of the oldest Independence Day celebrations in Southern California. The entertainer said his new video album "American Glory" will feature only patriotic songs because he believes American melodies promote respect for the country. Rappin' rapper Rapper Luther Campbell was charged with aggravated battery Monday after he allegedly struck a man in the face with a whiskey bottle at a Miami Beach nightclub.

Police said the former front man of 2 Live Crew became angry when a man and his friends blocked the rapper's view of a show at Club Zen early Monday. Campbell began arguing with Mathieu Fabrice, then smashed a bottle of Jack Daniels whiskey against his face, said lice. Fabrice suffered cuts and a possible broken nose. i STALLONE: TumS3 si SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico Government auditors have seized a trailer containing parts of a 300-foot statue of Christopher Columbus to be erected in the seaside suburb of Catano, the town's mayor said Monday. Mayor Edwin Rivera Sierra said investigators from the Puerto Rico comptroller's office confiscated a shipping container of bronze casts last week in a routine investigation of his administration's finances.

1 "I wanted to punch them," a tearful Rivera said in a radio interview. The confiscation "was a shameful act" The comptroller's office declined to say why the container was seized, saying it did not want to jeopardize the investigation. The 660-ton statue was donated to Puerto Rico by Russian sculptor Zurab Tsereteli. When completed next year, it should be slightly shorter than New York's Statue of Liberty and pedestal but twice as high as Lady Liberty herself. Planners estimate it will cost $30 million to assemble the statue's 2,750 pieces, which are now in storage in a park in Catano.

MINIREVIEW "The King and opens at The Muny A lush production of "The King and opened Monday night at The Muny, capturing the too-big-for-Broadway feeling for which the theater is famous. Muny favorite Leslie Denniston heads the polished cast A full review will appear in Wednesday's paper. REESE: The actress is 68 Jerry Berger is on vacation ROCK: Jesse Jackson, no; Janet Jackson, yes Tkat baby grand will move UKe never oerore. Just put it in the Post Classifieds. Re-designed.

Re-organized. And ready to make everything fly. Post Classifieds What you're looking for. A. -t.