Despite calls for an investigation into whether the Bush administration ordered illegal torture techniques in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks against the United States, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the president had insisted that the government act in accordance with international law. “He was also very clear that we would do nothing – nothing – that was against the law or against our obligations internationally,” Rice said Sunday. Read more.

Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, a loyal Bushite ‘til the end, told Tonight Show host Jay Leno that the former president had it right when he said that “President Obama deserves my silence.” Said Rice: :”My view is we got to do it our way; we did our best. We did some things well, some things not so well. Now, they get their chance. And I agree with the president. We owe them our loyalty and our silence while they do it. Because I know what it’s like to have people chirping at you when they perhaps don’t know what’s going on inside. These are quality people. I know them. They love the country. And they won’t make the same decisions, perhaps, that we did. But I believe they’ll do what they think is best for the country and I’ll give my advice privately and keep it to myself.”

Obama Has Knack for Predicting … So Far
If President Obama’s predictions for the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament are any indication, he might have a knack for making the kind of choices to get the United States through its current economic mess. Following the first round of the tournament, Obama was in the cellar among basketball fans predicting the outcome. He was in the bottom 5 percent of more than 5 million fans who entered ESPN.com’s pool, the Web site reported. But by the time Sunday broke, Obama had correctly picked 14 of the 16 teams to reach the regional semifinals. The only teams he missed were 12th-seeded Arizona and fourth-seeded Xavier. (The president had picked Wake Forest and Florida State.) Siena almost thwarted Obama’s prediction here, but Louisville came back to win that one. Shsss … Obama picked Louisville to lose in the championship game to North Carolina.

Rice Addresses Football Owners
Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who once dreamed of becoming the NFL commissioner after leaving the Bush administration, told league owners that she sees a day when nations such as Great Britain, Germany and Australia become key football havens. “What the NFL does abroad is a part of public diplomacy,” she said. “‘To try to use sports and sports diplomacy to present the values we stand for, to give people a little different outlook at what we stand for (as Americans). America’s game, I just know, will be one day an international game of some proportion.” Rice, who was invited by Roger Goodell to speak to the owners, said optimism is needed in these trying economic times. “I am prepared to answer any questions on Russia, the Middle East, advice for the draft, the zone blitz,” Rice said, drawing laughs from everyone, especially Goodell. “And why no one should ever run a prevent defense.” In recent years, Rice’s name surfaced as a potential candidate to replace Paul Tagliabue, the commissioner before Goodell.  “I’ve invited somebody who wants my job in front of the same people who hired me,” Goodell joked. Rice replied, “It’s true, when I was talking with the Russians and … the Iranians and Venezuelans, your job seemed like a pretty good one to me.”

Black Couple Longest Married
The way Herbert and Zelmyra Fisher see it, marriage was meant to be forever. So, why wouldn’t they still be married after 84 years? In fact, the Craven County, N.C., couple – at 103 and 102 years old, respectively – is the longest-living married couple in the world – and they have the certificate from Guinness World Records book to prove it. Their granddaughter, Iris Godette, submitted their name to the Guinness, which authenticated the claim. Zelmyra, who uses a walker to get around the house and yard, still remembers why she decided to marry Herbert on May 13, 1924: “He was not mean; he was not a fighter,” she told the Sun Journal. “He was quiet and kind. He was not much to look at, but he was sweet.”

Rice Signs Mega Book Deal
Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, the first African-American woman to hold the prestigious post, agreed to a three-book deal with Crown Publishers last week that could land her more than $2 million. The first chunk of the bio will be a memoir about her years in the administration of President George W. Bush. “Rice will combine candid narrative and acute analysis to tell the story of her time in the White House and as America’s top diplomat, and her role in protecting American security and shaping foreign policy during the extraordinary period from 2001-2009,” according to a statement issued Sunday by Crown, which also published Barack Obama’s “The Audacity of Hope.” Rice’s project, which is slated for 2011, reportedly is worth at least $2.5 million. The 54-year-old former secretary will also pen a second memoir, this one about her family, which is scheduled for 2012. Rice rose from segregated Alabama to become the first Black provost at Stanford University, and eventually to the role of the nation’s top diplomat. Crown says that her family memoir will highlight her “upbringing in the context of the extraordinary efforts made by her parents and other people in the community to raise children against a backdrop of fading Jim Crow laws and emergent civil rights initiatives.”

Condoleezza Rice performs for the Queen. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice gave a piano recital for the Queen on Tuesday during what could be her final visit to Buckingham Palace as the nation’s top diplomat. Rice performed music by Johannes Brahms accompanied on violin by Louise Shackleton, the wife of David Miliband, the foreign secretary. Three members of the London Symphony Orchestra backed the high-profile duo. Afterward, the Queen presented Rice with a recording of the performance as a gift. America’s most senior diplomat is a classically trained pianist who had expressed a wish to play at the palace. She was making her final trip to Britain before heading to India.

World Series resumes today after rain interruption. The World Series resumes tonight after heavy rain in Philadelphia led to a temporary suspension of play on Monday. Philadelphia is tied 2-2 versus Tampa in the fifth game of the seven-game contest. A muddy pitcher’s mound and puddles elsewhere led to the interruption in the sixth inning. Fox will broadcast what will be the Major League game of ‘08 if the Phillies win to capture the title. The Rays must win three straight to take the series.

Rumor links leader to NFL. Could a second Rice be poised to lead the San Francisco 49ers? Conflicting media reports suggest that it’s possible. Years after Jerry Rice, widely regarded as the greatest wide receiver to ever play pro football, grabbed three Super Bowl rings in San Francisco, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is being linked to the team. Having once expressed interest in running the NFL, the official was later quoted as saying, “I decided that it would be alright to run a team as well.” The NFL Network recently reported that a 49ers exec wants to hire Rice as team president. But a State Department spokesman says there’s been no contact between Rice and the team.

Patrick Ewing Jr. scrapped from squad. Patrick Ewing Jr. won’t have a chance to achieve NBA greatness on the same team his father once led – at least not this season. Ewing was cut on Monday as the Knicks instead chose to keep shooting guard Anthony Roberson. Ewing scored seven points in nine minutes last weekend versus New Jersey. The senior Ewing is a Hall of Fame center who still leads New York in all-time scoring, rebounding, blocked shots and steals.

Queen Bee accused of demanding different deal.

Brookland Media has filed a $2 million lawsuit against rapper Lil’ Kim after she allegedly refused to perform contractual obligations. Among the Queen Bee’s alleged demands was a reported insistence that performers Wyclef and Akon be included on her production team. Brookland alleges that it invested $250,000 in Kim and her CD. The company won an injunction to temporarily stop the rapper from talking with other record labels.
Wendy Williams claims platinum performer’s spouse cheated on cam. TV and broadcast gossip queen Wendy Williams says she’ll sell to the highest bidder a sex tape that depicts a rapper’s wife caught in the act of cheating. Tongues are wagging and Web discussion boards are filling with comments because Williams hasn’t revealed the rapper’s identity, nor his wife’s. “Boy, is it clear as day,” she says of the video that was allegedly recorded when the wife was at a resort with her alleged lover. Williams and her co-host speculated on her show this week about various gossip sites that may want to buy the tape. But perhaps her biggest hint? “50 (Cent) might want it.”

W. examines roles of Colin Powell, Condoleezza Rice. Actor Jeffrey Wright and actress Thandie Newton play a current and former U.S. secretary of state in a forthcoming film that’s getting little advance praise. Director Oliver Stone’s W., a biopic about President George W. Bush, “plays like a TV movie,” according to The Guardian newspaper in Britain. Wright portrays Colin Powell, with Newton as Condoleezza Rice in the movie that premiers Oct. 17. Despite criticism of the work, Josh Brolin is receiving high marks for his portrayal of Bush.