A member of the famed Alvin Ailey dance troupe, he has a Muslim name.

Abdur-Rahim Jackson, a performer with the famed Alvin Ailey dance troupe, says that security officers at the Israeli airport forced him to dance to prove who he was before allowing him into the country. Israel’s security forces, which are notoriously strict, reacted to his Muslim name, Jackson told The Associated Press. He described the situation as degrading and embarrassing. The officers even suggested he change his name, he said. “To be greeted like this because of my name, it took me back a little bit,” said Jackson, who is Black. The Harlem-based Alvin Ailey Dance Theater, which Congress designated a “vital American cultural ambassador to the world” earlier this year, made Israel its first stop on a six-nation tour. The tour is part of the troupe’s 50^th anniversary celebration. Jackson said that when his plane arrived at Israel’s international airport he was singled out and taken to a room where he was questioned about the origins of his name. When he told them he was a performer, they told him to dance. “I stood up. I asked what type of dance?” he told AP. “He said, “Just do anything.’ I just moved around.” Shortly afterward, a woman officer made him do a jig all over again. “The only time I’m really expected to dance is when I’m performing,” he said. Jackson got his name from his father, a convert to Islam, he told AP. He is not religious and, in fact, is engaged to a Jewish woman, who is in the troupe and has relatives in Israel. He said that Israeli officials and U.S. dignitaries have apologized profusely since the unfortunate episode, and he has gotten over it. “We’re only here to bring positive light to our lives and the people here,” he said, calling the group’s multicultural appeal “an amazing bind you can’t touch, you can only experience.”

Michael Strahan could re-join Giants, according to report

Retired NFL defensive end Michael Strahan could become a member of the Super Bowl champ Giants again, reports the New York Daily News. The paper cites a source said to be close to the Pro Bowler in its article that came after defensive end Osi Umenyiora suffered a season-ending knee injury this past weekend. Strahan currently has a position as a Fox studio analyst. While on vacation in Europe, the popular retiree would only say that he hasn’t been contacted about the possibility of re-joining his old squad: “I haven’t heard from anybody else, so to say if I would or wouldn’t is premature. So I’m enjoying my retired life right now.” Team co-owner Steve Tisch tells the New York Post that he’d “absolutely” like for Strahan to wear a uniform again in ’08.

Maurice Greene, Warren Sapp will dance “With Stars”

Former Olympic sprinter Maurice Greene and rotund, retired NFL tackle Warren Sapp will shake it up – but, hopefully, not together – on the new season of “Dancing With the Stars.” Sapp, a Super Bowl winner with Tampa Bay, and Greene, a gold medalist in the 100-meter dash at the 2000 Games in Athens have signed on, along with singer Toni Braxton and others to compete in choreographed routines before a live audience. The new season’s lineup was announced Monday and will begin airing on ABC at 8 p.m. Sept. 22.