FIRST OFF . . .

Morton Downey Jr. contends he was attacked Monday night in a bathroom at San Francisco International Airport by three skinheads who cut off some of his hair and painted swastikas across his face and clothing. Airport authorities, however, say it was a publicity stunt. “Our preliminary investigation shows that this was self-inflicted,” airport spokesman Ron Wilson said Tuesday. Downey told television station KOFY in San Francisco the youths accosted him, used profanity and told him: “Now you’re one of us. They sieg-heiled me when they left.” Retorts the airport’s Wilson: “We have nothing to indicate that any statements he made were confirmed. We didn’t see any skinheads in the area, nor did witnesses around the area at the time. . . . I guess if you get media attention, you want more and more all the time.” Wilson said that after the alleged attack, Downey did not wash off the offensive insignias, but, instead got in his limousine, rode back to his hotel and called the local press, who snapped pictures of him with swastikas scrawled across his face, shirt and pants. At the time of the alleged attack, a bomb threat forced KOFY-TV Channel 20 off the air for a half hour during the time slot designated for Downey’s syndicated series. Downey’s show was returning for the first time since KRON-TV took it off the air last September following protests by local gay-rights organizations. Downey, known for anti-gay tirades, said last week that his gay-bashing stems from advances made on him by a gay doctor when he was 12.