People

By Josh Tyrangiel

HOW DO YOU SPELL SMARTY-PANTS?

When it comes to the Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee, never bet against the home-schooled kids. This year's champ, GEORGE ABRAHAM THAMPY, 12, and the top two runners-up take their lessons at home, where subjects like Latin, long dormant in public schools, fill the time most kids squander socializing. But George is a standout even in the rarefied air of the bee circuit. In two previous attempts, he tied for fourth and third places in the spelling contest, and two weeks ago, he came in second in the National Geography Bee. With the spelling title--which George clinched with the word demarche--comes a check for $10,000, a trophy and a set of encyclopedias for which George clearly has no use. So why did he return for a third shot at the title? "It's not really the cash prizes and the trophies," George said. "It was really the words." Odds for the math Olympics are in his favor.

IT MUST RUN IN THE FAMILY

JANET JACKSON was always supposed to be the normal one, but then everything is relative. After years of denying she and companion RENE ELIZONDO were, in fact, married, Jackson, 33, was served with divorce papers in Los Angeles last week. Turns out the couple got hitched in a 1991 ceremony at their San Diego vacation home, but according to Elizondo, 37, they kept it secret from almost everyone because "some of the public figures that announce their marriage seem to dissolve quickly." Jackson and Elizondo announced an amicable parting in February 1999, but the divorce papers could signal a less than amicable future. Though a pre-nuptial agreement reportedly exists, Elizondo, who co-wrote 37 songs with Jackson, is angling to renegotiate. That's the way love goes.

THE BEAUTIES AND THE BIRD

The feel of destiny prickled along her spine. PAMELA ANDERSON had come to Monaco for the animals. Yes, she loved them and despised the way the Monte Carlo Circus Festival treated them. So she protested strongly, vocally, with her PETA allies. Love was the farthest thing from her mind. Tommy Lee was back in jail for parole violation. Their stormy relationship had run its course. But then fate thrust MARCUS SCHENKENBERG, sculpted male supermodel, into the Hotel de Paris room of Dan Mathews, PETA director. Their eyes met...But wait! A terrible chirping! Marcus exploded like a shot to the privy, where a drowning baby blackbird thrashed in the icy waters. With strength, with grace, he lifted the bird in his delicate hand and set it free from the balcony. And love took flight.

EVERY MOVE YOU MAKE

Not since his scenery chewing in Dune has STING invited such an ass kicking. The singer and infamous Tantrician announced last week that he'll take on world chess champion GARRY KASPAROV in a one-hour exhibition match June 29, to be broadcast live over the Web. The contest will mark the end of Kasparov's World School Chess Championships, which have paired kids from all over the world in Internet chess matches. "We met through a mutual friend a few years ago," says Kasparov. "He's a very, very keen player." Does keen mean good? "No, not really. I will beat him, of course, but he enjoys it immensely. I'm happy that my art brings enjoyment to a great guy."