1.   After chairman and chief executive Gil Amelio was ousted by the board in early July, the deal fell apart.

2.   But the deal fell threw when Republican Whip Tom DeLay of Texas objected.

3.   But the deal fell through when a defense inspector discovered Michaels was operating out of post office boxes, a report said.

4.   The deal fell apart after Cardinal Law raised objections, according to those involved.

5.   The two sides were close to reaching agreement, but the deal fell apart largely because selected portfolio managers refused to work for BankBoston, banking sources say.

6.   But the deal fell apart, so they manufactured their own version, called the negative-heel shoe.