Former President Bill Clinton, who was blasted by Black leaders for his campaign tactics during his wife’s run against Barack Obama, is back to the kind of talk that made him a star in the Black community. On Saturday, during Major League Baseball’s Beacon Awards Luncheon in Cincinnati, Clinton said that racial equality in America is still a long way off – despite the election of Obama as president. Read more.

Troubled Bengal is close to return

Despite a four-game suspension and five arrests in three years, the Cincinnati Bengals are close to signing a deal that would reunite them with wide receiver Chris Henry. Why the sudden interest in Henry? For answers, go to Playa Hater.

USA enters hoops quarter-finals Wednesday. The USA men’s basketball squad begins its final chase for gold medals tomorrow at the Beijing Olympics. Having beaten Germany this week, the American “Redeem Team” takes on Australia. Quarter-finals begin the determination of which remaining teams will receive bronze, silver or gold medals in the elimination match-ups. Team member LeBron James, who scored 18 points in the win over Germany, has guaranteed a gold for the USA.

Shawn Kemp to ball overseas. Former NBA scoring threat Shawn Kemp has announced that he’ll play in Italy beginning in November. “I am happy that a player that has made basketball history would come to Montegranaro,” says coach Alessandro Finelli, of team Pemiata Montegranaro. Kemp, 38, played most of his NBA career with Seattle , averaging 14.6 points and 8.4 rebounds over 14 total seasons. He last played in the NBA in 2003

Home run king’s agent is ready to throw in the towel for ’08.
Days after saying no baseball club was interested in contracting Barry Bonds for even the minimum salary, his agent, Jeff Borris, essentially has given up. Borris says he’s offered the man who passed Hank Aaron’s long-standing career home run record last year to “numerous” teams with no success. “I offered Barry at the minimum salary ($390,000), and when I ran into a brick wall, that’s when I came to the conclusion that he will not be in a Major League uniform in 2008.” Bonds finished last season with 762 homers, but suffered an all-time low in fan popularity due to increased speculation about his alleged steroid use. He’s been indicted in connection with perjury for testimony he gave about past doping. “I’m not a negative person. I’m one of those ‘never say never’ guys,” Borris says. “But it seems pretty clear to me that it’s just not happening. We could go up and down the rosters of every single team, and I could show you an awful lot of spots where he ought to be plugged in right now, but it’s just not happening.”

Ex-Cincinnati wide receiver’s remaining assault charge has been dropped
Prosecutors have dropped a second assault charge against suspended NFL player Chris Henry, who was accused of punching a University of Cincinnati student and breaking his car window. The former Bengals wide receiver’s first trial ended this month when a jury couldn’t reach a verdict, while a misdemeanor was dismissed. Henry was cut by the Bengals in April after his fifth arrest since joining the team three years ago. He recently tested positive for marijuana and is due to serve a year suspension.

Serena Williams is top seed at West Classic
Having pulled out of three previously planned appearances, Serena Williams is competing in this week’s Bank of the West Classic in California. Williams, who recently lost the Wimbledon championship to her sister Venus, is ranked fifth in the world. She’s one of two top 10 players to compete in the Stanford tournament scheduled through Friday. Serena’s expected to play tomorrow or Thursday after a first-round bye.