President Michael Lomax wants Congress to guarantee education for all

The United Negro College Fund wants America to guarantee that students of color – poor and otherwise – get an opportunity to  students get an opportunity to go to college and graduate.  On Tuesday, one of the nation’s oldest minority education advocacy groups issued “The ABC Agenda for Higher Education,” which calls for increased access and affordability. “If ever there was a time to push for what our students and colleges need, this is it,” said UNCF President Michael L. Lomax.  Find out more about the plan at BET.com/News.

Spike Lee says actor would “kill” as James Brown

If he can resolve his legal issues in an appeal of this spring’s verdict convicting him of tax violations, Wesley Snipes has a big role waiting for him. Director Spike Lee wants to produce a film based on the life of music legend James Brown, and says Snipes is the man to lead it. “He’s a phenomenal actor, and I truly feel that he’ll regain that power he once had,” Lee tells King magazine. “If my James Brown picture ever gets made, he’ll be playing James, and he’d kill in that, without a doubt. He still has chops.”

Michael Jackson’s underwear up for sale

Now you can know Michael Jackson like few fans have ever known him before: On-line shoppers who visit e-Bay may come across his Calvin Klein underwear. Though reportedly unwashed, the briefs come in a freshly sealed bag: They were taken as evidence by the Santa Barbara district attorney in 2003 when the singer faced child molestation charges. New Jersey businessman Henry Vacarro bought the unmentionables in a bankruptcy-related sale. No word on whether Vacarro called Mike to be sure he owns another pair.

“Lady T” honored along with Chaka Khan, Bill Withers.

Singer Teena Marie (above), long-time collaborator with the late Rick James, has been recognized by Philadelphia’s Rhythm & Blues Foundation for her 30-year career as an artist. Marie was one of nine artists who received a Pioneer Award Tuesday, along with singers Chaka Khan and Bill Withers, plus others. Grammy-winner Marie, whose first album cover featured no photo to keep secret the fact that she is White, still credits James with much of her success. Duets between the pair include the R&B classics “Fire and Desire” and “Love Them and Leave Them.”

Don’t be like Mike, says anti-smoking organization.

Basketball great Michael Jordan is taking heat from the American Cancer Society after photos of the retired superstar smoking a cigar were published. Jordan participated in a Labor Day softball event this week, where he swung the bat, ran bases and played the field – all while toking away. “When high-profile athletes publicly display unhealthful habits, they can mislead young people to emulate their behavior,” says American Cancer Society spokesman Cary Peasant. More than 12 million premature deaths since 1964 have been smoking-related, Peasant says.

Golf star announces coming of second child. Tiger Woods has announced that, while he’s not playing golf during his recovery from knee surgery, he’s celebrating at home. Woods reports via his Web site that his wife Elin is pregnant with the couple’s second child. “Elin is feeling great and we are both thrilled,” he says.

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.

The income of an imprisoned NFL star is made public.
In the wake of a bankruptcy judge’s recent decision to examine ex-NFL quarterback Michael Vick’s deteriorating estate, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that Vick earns about $277.69 per month. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who made millions in salary and endorsement deals, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last month while imprisoned for dog-fighting. Vick confessed that he financed illegal canine competitions in his native Virginia and is suspended indefinitely from the NFL. The Journal Constitution’s report doesn’t include Vick’s hardly mentionable prison paycheck – he earns 12 cents per hour.

Shaq cancels plans for divorce

Weeks after a Memorial Day weekend photo showed Phoenix Suns center Shaquille O’Neal and his wife Shaunie lounging together on vacation, the couple confirms that they’ll remain together. Shaq filed for divorce last September, calling the marriage “irretrievably broken.” And this spring, he famously rapped about his ex-Laker teammate, saying, “Kobe ratted me out, that’s why I’m gettin’ divorced.” But rumors of Shaq’s infidelity or of Shaunie’s abuse of his paychecks are no longer a factor, Mrs. O’Neal says. “Neither one of us could probably answer why we were getting (divorced) in the first place,” she observes. “Things have been going so great that someone actually had to remind us that ‘Hey, you do remember those papers are still there.’ Literally, it was days ago. So, we’ve agreed that before we leave Florida in a few days we’ll make sure that that’s gone away.”

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Michael Vick’s estate suffers as he serves time

A bankruptcy judge may appoint a trustee to oversee ex-NFL star Michael Vick’s estate while the suspended player serves prison time for financing an illegal dog-fighting ring. A Sept. 5 hearing could determine how the former Falcon’s property will be handled. “It has become clear, since the filing of this case, that Mr. Vick has very limited knowledge of the state of his finances,” wrote bankruptcy Judge Frank Santoro. “…It appears that Mr. Vick has routinely relied upon others to make financial decisions for him, giving them discretionary control over large sums of money.” Vick filed for bankruptcy protection July 7. A former advisor to Vick was recently accused of hustling a church out of $500,000.

U.S. Olympians have a tough weekend in Beijing. The U.S. men’s track and field team had a less than stellar weekend on the track, capped off by Tyson Gay failing to qualify for the 100-meters final. Did the U.S. women fare any better? See more of our coverage at BET.com’s Olympics ‘08.

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BET News Quiz: A football league eyes jailed quarterback Michael Vick; rappers mix it up backstage; minorities are rapidly becoming the majority. Take the quiz here!

United Football League plans to recruit Michael Vick

Convicted dog-fighter and suspended NFL star Michael Vick could have a new home in a competing football organization. The former Atlanta Falcon, who’s serving a sentence for sponsoring illegal canine fights in Virginia, has apparently been courted behind bars. United Football League commissioner Michael Huyghue says his organization is “98 percent” sure Vick will play on one of its six teams during their debut season. Vick’s release from federal custody is expected in 2009.

Mike Jones is left bloody in scrap with Trae the Truth.

A reported fight backstage at the Ozone Awards left rapper Mike Jones with a bloody face after he apparently took a punch from Trae the Truth. The Houston rhymers apparently argued before at least one blow was exchanged. Jones is shown on Web video with a facial injury from the scrap. Trae released a video of his own, saying Jones had been “running his mouth too much.” He adds, “It’s a good thing it happened before the awards and I didn’t f**k up the awards.” Maybe Trae’s a candidate for “From G’s to Gents” after all.

Michael Misick and LisaRaye separate

Michael Misick, the premier of Turks and Caicos, who has been accused by his actress wife LisaRaye of cheating on her, released a statement late Tuesday acknowledging that the high-profile couple has split up. “I am announcing that I am separated from LisaRaye McCoy-Misick,” he told BET in a statement. “I am committed to dissolving the marriage amicably. I believe that this is a private matter and will have no further comments. I hope that our privacy will be respected.”

Tyra wants performers to move over for up-and-comers. Talk show host and “America’s Top Model” star Tyra Banks says Hollywood actresses and performers are taking contracts from the new breed of supermodels. Without calling names, Tyra observes that singers and actresses are recruited for product endorsements. “I think all supermodels now are losing out to celebrities,” says ex-model Banks. “It’s celebrities who are getting the cosmetics contracts.” Beyoncé and Queen Latifah are among the faces associated with cosmetics lines. Beyoncé recently drew some criticism for her appearance in a L’Oreal ad that some suggest depicts her with digitally lightened skin.

Michael Vick Claims Up To $50 Million In Debt

Imprisoned ex-NFL star Michael Vick has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, claiming he owes between $10 million and $50 million to creditors. The former Atlanta Falcons quarterback, who admitted to funding an illegal dog-fighting ring and is serving federal time in Kansas, “will seek to rebuild his life and career,” court papers state. Vick was suspended from the NFL in light of his confession last year and lost numerous product endorsement deals. He still faces charges in Virginia as he serves a 23-month sentence at the Leavenworth pen. Vick has been named in multiple lawsuits, including alleged loan default.