February 26, 2003

Reggie Jackson was once the most dynamic Yankee, a player whose Hall of Fame career was filled with incredible moments that solidified his spot in baseball history. Now Jackson is simply a special adviser to George Steinbrenner who spends part of the baseball season evaluating and motivating major league and minor league players. To Jackson, something is wrong with this arrangement.

Madison Square Garden was sold out last night, buzzing despite the Knicks' four-game losing streak out West, bustling despite their dwindling playoff chances. Yao Ming was in the building, so the home team's plight was overlooked. Celebrities like L L Cool J and Angela Bassett joined Spike Lee in the front row. Asian-American fans came with signs, one reading ''Cheer for Yao Ming'' in Mandarin. Commissioner David Stern showed up, his eyes affixed on the N.B.A.'s latest on-the-court/off-the-court sensation.

Architects proposing designs for World Trade Center site in many ways have been acting like media-age politicians; two finalists from original pack of seven design teams -- Daniel Libeskind from Berlin and Rafael Vinoly and Frederic Schwartz, two front men on Think team -- grasped political nature of selection process from the start, playing straight to the public as if citizens of New York City were clients for job; photo (M)

General Motors Corp will invest $60 million in technology center in Bangalore, India; will hire 260 engineers who will collaborate with company's American and European research center through high-speed communication links (S)

Lobbying by Bush administration for six swing votes in UN Security Council, needed to pass new resolution authorizing use of military force against Iraq, discussed; efforts to woo delegates from nonaligned African nations, notably, Angola, Guinea and Cameroon, noted; photos (M)