Notebook

WINNERS & LOSERS

[WINNERS]

THE PONTIFF This guy has connections. Rocks St. Louis, gets death sentence commuted and meets McGwire

BETTY CURRIE Doesn't have to show up for that boring trial. That gives her more time to shop for V-day presents

LATRELL SPREWELL Gets mad cash, great game and more applause than Ewing. Ah, New York culture

[& LOSERS]

WEBB HUBBELL Like the fat kid at school, he's always getting picked on. Get ready for more Ken Starr

J. PETERMAN Seinfeld ends, his firm goes under. Who's stuck hearing those exotic tales? Poor Mrs. Peterman

SCARY SPICE Dentists say tongue piercing is bad. Wait til the A.M.A. releases its singing-off-key study

THEN & NOW

Think it's too early to tell what history will make of the spectacle in the Senate? Think again. The 1868 impeachment trial of Andrew Johnson gives us all the yardsticks we need:

JOURNALIST DU JOUR Then: Mark Twain (1), who later abandoned the trial out of boredom Now: Dominick Dunne (2), trial-hardened by O.J. Simpson

FAMILY CONNECTIONS ON THE JURY Then: Senator David Patterson, Johnson's son-in-law Now: Senator Barbara Boxer, mother of Hillary's sister-in-law

COMMENTATOR'S VERDICT Then: "It was like going to a bad ballgame." --Senate historian Richard Baker Now: "One sat watching awestruck--or rather, dumbstruck. And then finally just sleep-struck." --the Washington Post

FASHION STATEMENTS Then: A new color, "impeachment blue" Now: Monica's oft-pictured Kate Spade tote (3)

DUBIOUS LEGAL TACTICS Then: House managers hired spies to go through the garbage at the defense team's hotel Now: House managers had pre-deposition confab with Monica at the Renaissance Hotel

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ADMITTED AT ONE TIME Then: 600 (4) Now: 50 (5)

MOST MAVERICK SENATOR Then: Edmund Ross (6) of Kansas, whose vote to acquit was the trial breaker Now: Russ Feingold (7) of Wisconsin, only Democrat to break ranks in early votes

COLORFUL MEDICAL ALLUSION Then: "The Lord had sent plagues, he had sent more than lice, he had afflicted the country with Andrew Johnson." --Representative Thaddeus Stevens Now: Clinton's actions "will cause a cancer in our society." --Representative Jim Sensenbrenner

LENGTH OF THE TRIAL Then: 10 weeks, with 10 days of witnesses Now: Four weeks and counting

DEPARTMENT OF SILVER LININGS

NOT SO FAST: Hard to believe, but there are people who may not want the impeachment trial to end. Sidney Blumenthal, for one, doesn't seem all that unhappy about being a witness. Others who are getting a rare stint in the spotlight:

PLAYER R. Scott Bates (1) Legislative Clerk

JOB DESCRIPTION Reads aloud lists and resolutions

CLAIM TO FAME Delivers roll call with gusto

FUN FACT Attended college in Arkansas

[PLAYER] Reporter of Debate (2) (Seven in all)

[JOB DESCRIPTION] Transcribes proceedings

[CLAIM TO FAME] Strapped to a 20-lb. stenograph all day

[FUN FACT] Their machines have only 18 keys

[PLAYER] Lloyd John Ogilvie (3) Senate Chaplain

[JOB DESCRIPTION] Delivers morning prayer

[CLAIM TO FAME] Good voice, nice looking, great skin