NEWS LITE : CONNERY MAKES QUEEN'S BIG LIST.

Sean Connery, supposedly denied knighthood because of his Scottish nationalistic fervor, will become Sir Sean next week, a British newspaper reported Tuesday.

The Daily Mail said the movie star plus attention-seeking bizman Richard Branson will be among those named on Queen Elizabeth's traditional New Year's honors list.

When denied a knighthood two years ago, supposedly after Prime Minister Tony Blair's Labor Party blocked it, the actor confessed to embarrassment, noting: ``I would be less than honest to say I was not disappointed when I learned what had happened.''

It's believed Connery's outspoken support for the Scottish National Party - which has campaigned for an independent Scotland and opposes Labor - has barred him from being knighted. But the Mail says Labor now supports his knighthood in order to win back political support it lost in Scotland by denying Connery. Blair's office declined comment on the report.

Capriati comeback wins endorsement

Tennis star Jennifer Capriati, who has bounced back after a drug arrest five years ago, has signed a multimillion-dollar endorsement deal with Fila U.S.A. Inc.

Capriati, 23, will compete wearing Fila tennis shoes and apparel, appear in Fila advertising and conduct tennis clinics for young players.

Capriati, a top-10 player as a teen-ager, went through drug rehabilitation after her arrest and has had a strong year. She is ranked 23rd on the Women's Tennis Association Tour.

``She's making a comeback, we're making a comeback,'' said Howe Burch, spokesman for Sparks, Md.-based Fila. ``We see Jennifer as a metaphor for what we're doing as a company.''

Fila's apparel sales fell 20 percent during the third quarter of 1999, and the company lost $132.9 million last year.

Museum paintings described as phony

A collection of watercolors attributed to Georgia O'Keeffe that had fetched millions of dollars is not the work of the world-famous painter, art experts say.

Experts from the National Gallery of Art in Washington deemed the collection inauthentic because the age of the paper on which the works were painted wasn't consistent with the dates attributed to the art.

The so-called Canyon Suite exhibit features 28 watercolors in all and is on display at the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art in Kansas City, Mo.

Four of the works were a gift to the museum from New York art dealer Gerald Peters. The other 24 had been sold by Peters to the museum's founder, R. Crosby Kemper Jr., for $5.5 million.

Doubts about the works' authenticity have swirled since early November, when it became known that they were among 210 works omitted from a new catalog of the artist's complete works.

Kemper Museum director Dan Keegan said Monday that the museum had accepted the experts' findings.

`Thrilla': the next generation: Ring rivals Frazier, Ali's daughters may face off

Jacqui Frazier Lyde knows a shot at Laila Ali is more than just another boxing match.

``It's about history, competition, family and legacy,'' said Lyde, the daughter of former heavyweight champion Joe Frazier. ``I love it. But don't get me wrong, I'm gonna love watching her go down.''

Lyde is training in Philadelphia to become a professional boxer - she sent her state application in on Tuesday - while still practicing law and taking care of her family. ``I want to be a positive influence on this sport and be good to my family name,'' she said.

The 38-year-old lawyer takes her training seriously - she leaves her law office above Joe Frazier's Gym on North Broad Street and heads downstairs for a two-hour training session.

Even her father is impressed with her ability. After Lyde hit the speed bag and notched a few hits, Frazier turned and said in disbelief, ``This is after two months, can you believe it?''

Frazier said that any man with Lyde's determination would be a world champion.

Her husband said she reminds him of her father, Joe.

``She has his desire for the sport,'' Pete Lyde said.

Lyde said she still needs to work on her defense, though Frazier notes that his trainer once told him, ``your offense is your defense.''

Her first fight is scheduled for February in Scranton, Penn., against an undetermined opponent, but she is looking forward to fighting Ali.

``It would be a great draw,'' Lyde told the New York Post. ``It would establish Laila financially, and then I would establish her horizontally.''

Ali, 3-0 with three knockouts, wouldn't comment on Lyde's challenge.

Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier fought three times in the 1970s, with Ali winning twice - including the famous ``Thrilla in Manila'' fight in October 1975.

News Lite is compiled by Karen Duffy from Daily News staff and wire reports.

CAPTION(S):

3 Photos

Photo: (1 -- 2) Lawyer Jacqui Frazier Lyde trains for a chance to follow her father, Joe Frazier, in the boxing ring and perhaps even fight Laila Ali, 3-0 in her professional career.

(3) CAPRIATI