January 24, 1999

When the Los Angeles Olympics made money in 1984, it seemed to have found the answer to the problems that were threatening the future of the Games. But over the next 15 years that process became corrupted to the point that the Games are again at a critical juncture. Members of the International Olympic Committee met for 15 hours behind police barricades in their headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, yesterday to try to discuss the scandal that has engulfed the organization. As many as 11 members face a choice today of resigning or being suspended and eventually expelled.

Avant-garde puppetry is exploding onto New York theater scene, due in large measure to Julie Taymor's puppets in The Lion King, and traditional puppeteers hope to benefit from trickle-down; photos (M)

Article on upcoming Super Bowl XXXIII between Denver Broncos and Atlanta Falcons focuses on ongoing rift between Falcons' Coach Dan Reeves and Broncos' Coach Mike Shanahan; says problems between two men began in late 1980's when Reeves was coach of Broncos and his relationship with quarterback John Elway had become so strained that Reeves began to think that Elway and Shanahan were plotting against him, scripting plays behind his back; chart; photos (M)

Motion Picture Academy's decision to honor Elia Kazan, great film director who is now 89 and ailing, may mark end of tormented legacy of Hollywood blacklist; Kazan for decades has symbolized dark moments of McCarthyism and House Un-American Activities Committee; photo; director, in April 1952, informed on eight old theater friends who, like himself, had once belonged to Communist Party; Karl Malden defends award, although critics note Kazan made choice and never said he was wrong (M)

President Clinton's impeachment trial was thrown into turmoil today, after a Federal judge ordered Monica S. Lewinsky to submit to questioning from House Republican prosecutors or the independent counsel's office, and Senate Republicans said they would query the President in writing. As Ms. Lewinsky arrived here from Los Angeles, her lawyers were working out the details of when and where she would meet with the prosecutors. House aides said the meeting would likely happen on Sunday.