Lil Wayne will return to New York tomorrow. Having missed an earlier court date on a weapons charge, due to a dental issue, Lil Wayne returns to court tomorrow on a continuance. The rapper took a red-eye flight from Hollywood to New York after his Video Music Awards performance and win for Best Hip-Hop Video, in order to appear Monday. Weezy was arrested last summer after cops stopped his tour bus and searched the vehicle, allegedly finding a .40-caliber pistol. He’s charged with criminal possession of a weapon.

Actor is confirmed to play ancient Egyptian ruler.
Will Smith will portray Last Pharaoh. Will Smith is set to take on one of his most challenging roles in the film The Last Pharaoh. After earlier reports surfaced of his interest in the role about the ancient Egyptian ruler Taharqa, Variety.com confirms that Braveheart writer Randall Wallace is taking on the screenplay at Smith’s behest. Taharqa ruled Egypt from 690 B.C. to 664 B.C. and became known for his fierce battles with Assyrian king Esarhaddon.

Shhhh! Not while he’s trying to sing!
Actor hushes fans at performance. Terrence Howard takes his newfound music career seriously, according to Web reports. The Oscar-nominated actor whose new CD, Shine It Through, was recently released reportedly shushed a couple of fans at his New York performance last week. The star appeared at “The Beat of Chic,” an event for special invited guests at Bloomingdale’s department store, and was reportedly annoyed by the constant chatter of two women in the front row. “Obviously you two are talking about something that’s more important than my music,” Howard is said to have announced. “Why don’t you share it?” After the man who rapped the words “whoop dat trick” in the film Hustle & Flow stuck the mic in their faces, the ladies apparently decided to shut it up. But it’s not only the two front-row spectators who’ve been underwhelmed with Howard’s musical debut: Fan feedback on the CD has been less than favorable.

ESPN analyst is in fantasy land, critics say. In an attempt to keep it “real” about Blacks and Fantasy football, ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith is taking a virtual beating in the fantasy sports blogopshere. According to the Fantasy Sports Trade Association, about 93 percent of all fantasy players are White. But “to hell with fantasy. I’m about what’s real!” Smith wrote in the latest edition of ESPN The Magazine.  ”I’m not surprised to learn that so few Blacks are among the 30 million people who participate in fantasy sports. I’ve always thought that a lot of these guys [and 96 percent of them are guys] are nerds, desperately in need of more sociable leisure-time activities. Leisure time for Black folks historically consists of direct interaction, the kind of experience you get at a family barbecue or hanging out with friends. Sitting in front of a computer screen pretending to be Bill Parcells? Sounds like work to me.” The reaction to Smith’s article from some Black sports bloggers has been anything but nice.  Uzo Ometu, an African-American fantasy player who also writes the Sportswatcher blog, says, “The average fantasy football player is around 30 years old, makes about $75,000 a year and has a connection to a fast Internet provider. I’m sorry, but that’s just not your typical brother living in the lower-income parts of Brooklyn, N.Y. Don’t get me wrong; there are plenty of well-educated and successful Black people, who are not only making gobs of money, but who are also football fans who love playing fantasy football. Unfortunately, successful Black people [economically speaking] make up just a small percentage of the Black population as a whole, which is why we are thoroughly underrepresented in the fantasy football populous.”

Bengals star legally changes his name

Back in the day, boxer Cassius Clay became Muhammad Ali for religious reasons. NBA star Lloyd Bernard Free became World B. Free to make a political statement. NFL receiver Chad Johnson? He’s Chad Javon Ocho Cinco now. “Have I ever had a reason for why I do what I do?” he asks. “I’m having fun.” The Bengals star has legally changed his name to the Spanish translation of his jersey number 85. The Bengals have no comment on Cinco’s re-invention – understandably.                                                                                       

Venus, Serena may be headed for another tennis face-off. Venus and Serena Williams didn’t get that Wimbledon rematch they seemed headed toward during the Beijing Olympics. Both sisters were eliminated from singles competition before they combined to win doubles gold. The U.S. Open, however, presents another possibility for the pair to go head-to-head after Venus took the title several weeks ago. Both sisters advanced this past weekend and will face each other in the Open’s quarter-finals this week if they each get one more win. “I think that, definitely, the Wimbledon win helped me…if I don’t have a perfect practice, I don’t get really upset about the whole tournament,” Venus says. The sisters are the only two former champions still competing in the tournament.

The actor-comedian is doing better

Bernie Mac could be out of the hospital soon — at least that’s the word from his publicist, Danica Smith. Smith said in a statement that the 50-year-old comedian is responding well to treatment, and he’s in stable condition. She said, “His family thanks everyone for the well wishes and concerns.” As BET.com reported, Mac was hospitalized for pneumonia on Aug. 1, but during last weekend, widespreads rumors hit the Net saying he had died.

NFL player apologizes for attack on his teammate.

Panthers’ Steve Smith broke Ken Lucas’ nose The Carolina Panthers wide receiver who attacked a teammate last week in a training camp dispute has apologized to teammates, coaches, fans and his family. Steve Smith broke cornerback Ken Lucas’ nose during practice and was suspended without pay for the first two regular-season games. “I’m completely wrong,” Smith says. “It was an asinine decision. And I’ll move forward better than I probably have ever had to. It’s the first time in my life that I really haven’t forgiven myself.” Lucas, who won’t play for two to three weeks, was on one knee and wearing no helmet when Smith punched him. He says the incident could be a “blessing in disguise” that brings the team closer together.

Dennis Rodman allegedly failed to pay debt for 18 months. Former NBA rebounding threat Dennis Rodman’s Mercedes S600 has been impounded after he allegedly failed to pay the vehicle’s registration for more than a year. Rodman, who’s had other recent troubles, including a domestic violence arrest and a $400,000 tax bill, says he thought his former business manager had paid the registration. Rodman’s whip was taken away by cops this past weekend after a woman driving the Benz was pulled over by officers.

Hancock star tops list of highest-paid actors.
Will Smith, whose current film Hancock is a box-office success, is reported to have been the highest-paid actor of 2007. Smith earned $80 million, in part from his performance as the star of last year’s I Am Legend. Eddie Murphy placed third among the highest-paid actors last year. Murphy pulled in $55 million.

Disney recreates first Black princess for musical set in New Orleans.
Having remade the main character – its first-ever Black princess – Disney is moving forward on plans for the musical The Princess and the Frog. The first storyline was scrapped after critics argued that it was stereotypical, featuring a girl named Maddy who worked for a White woman and was saved from a voodoo magician with help from her voodoo fairy godmother. The updated story is being kept close to the vests of film execs, but it’s reportedly set in New Orleans and takes place in the Jazz Era. The princess’ new name is Tiana, and Disney says that she and other characters will be presented “with the greatest of respect and sensitivity.”

2 Live Crew leader gets VH1 show
Luther “Luke” Campbell is set to join the rapper reality TV show ranks with his new show “Luke’s Parental Advisory.” The leader of the once-controversial 2 Live Crew, who battled for freedom of speech in his sexually explicit raps, will debut his program on VH1. Among other happenings explored on the show are Campbell ’s planned wedding to a successful lawyer and his confiscation of porn tapes from his 15-year-old son’s bedroom. “Luke’s Parental Advisory” hits the tube Aug. 4.

Will Smith’s eldest creates buzz around upcoming season
The son of Hancock star Will Smith from his first marriage is likely to add butts to bleachers when he takes to the football field as Oaks Christian School’s new recruit. Trey joins the freshman class of players including the sons of Joe Montana and Wayne Gretzky, and actor Smith already has been seen on the California campus. The high school’s coach, Bill Redell, says the celebs’ sons are good students and players: “They’re great role models and, if you have a daughter, you’d want her to date these kids.”

‘Rampage’ Jackson allegedly led cops on three-mile chase.
Ex-light heavyweight mixed martial arts champ Quinton “Rampage” Jackson has been hospitalized for a psychological check after he was arrested Tuesday following a chase that led to three car wrecks. Irvine, Calif., Police went to Jackson’s house a day after the incident when friends reported being “concerned about his behavior and some remarks he was making,” says Lt. Rick Handfield. Jackson had been taken into custody in Costa Mesa after allegedly leading cops on a three-mile pursuit that reportedly started when he ran red lights. Jackson was booked for felony evading, reckless driving, and hit-and-run before he was released on $25,000 bail. “Officers spoke to him to evaluate whether he was a danger to himself or others,” says Handfield. “He was detained and was taken to an area hospital for mental evaluation.” Jackson, 30, lost his Ultimate Fighting Championship title in a July 5 unanimous decision that went to Forrest Griffin.

Charlotte Bobcats’ Jason Richardson hosts conference
NBA player Jason Richardson hosts his third annual “Man-Up Forum” at 10 a.m. today at Saginaw Valley State University’s Curtis Hall Auditorium in Michigan. “Bridging the Gap Between Fathers and Sons” is the theme of the Charlotte Bobcats’ conference for ages 8 and older. “The expression ‘man-up’ means that men have to face what’s in front of them – responsibility, challenges, fears – anything that needs addressing,” says Richardson, who grew up in Saginaw. “That’s what we’re doing at the forum: addressing the common concerns we face as men of all ages and personal backgrounds.” Ex-college football standout Brian Pruitt, author of the book “Power of Dad,” will be the keynote speaker.

Will Smith: “I’ll tell my wife if I need to have sex with someone else.”
Will Smith has essentially confirmed what fans and gossip mongers have heard and repeated for years: the persistent rumor that he and his wife Jada Pinkett Smith are swingers. “I’ll tell my wife if I need to have sex with someone else,” the Hancock star tells a British mag. Smith claims the couple always agrees before making a move toward other partners, saying, “I’m not going to do it if you don’t approve of it.” He adds: “Our perspective is you don’t avoid what’s natural, and you’re going to be attracted to people.” Isn’t this about the third time that the Fresh Prince has brought up his sex life in interviews lately?

Lenny Kravitz denies affair with Cynthia Rodriguez
Lenny Kravitz says his ex-manager, who now manages Madonna, drug Kravitz’ name into a messy rumor. The rock star made headlines last week when he was romantically linked to baseball star Alex Rodriguez’ wife Cynthia days before she filed for divorce from A-Rod. Kravitz fired Guy Oseary two weeks ago and alleges that Oseary used the affair rumors to try and generate gossip around Madonna’s pending tour. A-Rod and Madonna have been rumored to be involved in the days that led to Cynthia Rodriquez’ court filing against the slugger this week. Recalling the day the gossip surfaced, Kravitz’ fitness coach Dodd Romero says: “Lenny looked like he was going to throw up. Lenny said, ‘I worked so hard to clean up my image and now I’m gonna get dragged into this.’”

Rapper reportedly broke deal to share burial costs
The Game is being investigated after allegedly punching his cousin in the face at a relative’s funeral. Robert “Kirky” Kirkwood claims that the rapper, whose name is Jayceon Taylor, showed up at the funeral for Kirkwood’s sister, but didn’t bring his half of the $14,000 service tab, as promised. Kirkwood caught a fist, he says, after confronting The Game – who had reportedly just spoken about the importance of family sticking together.

Rev. Jackson calls high court’s gun ruling “reckless” ‘The Rev. Jesse Jackson, calling the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on the District of Columbia’s handgun ban a “reckless interpretation of the Second Amendment,” said this weekend that he will not back down against gun peddlers who set up shop in and around the Black community. “We must fight for the legal restrictions on where these gun shops can be,” Jackson said. “We will fight the easy access to guns and gun flow. We can picket and boycott stores that can endanger us.” He also said that there is nothing in the high court’s decision that compels Chicago to comply and that he would join forces with other ministers, community activists and city leaders to enact laws to keep gun shops away from churches, schools and playgrounds. Michael Pfleger, the Chicago priest who was in the news recently after accusing Sen. Hillary Clinton of believing that she was entitled to be president because she is rich and White, also jumped into the fray over the Supreme Court ruling. “Obviously, the Supreme Court in their ivory tower is really disconnected,” Pfleger said. “They’re so disconnected that they cannot hear the cries of parents who are burying their children.” One of the famed Black WWII pilots dies Lt. Col. Charles “Chuck” Dryden, one of the famed World War II African-American fighter pilots known as the Tuskegee Airmen, died last week in Atlanta of natural causes. He was 87 years old. “He was not just a part of American history; he helped to make it,” Nick Snider, founder of the National Museum of Patriotism in Atlanta, told The Associated Press. Dryden was a member of the museum’s board of directors. During his 21 years in the military, Dryden conducted combat missions in Korea, Japan, Germany and U.S. bases, before retiring from the Air Force in 1962. Dryden was one of about 1,000 Negro pilots who trained at the Tuskegee, Ala.-based Army Flying School during the war. On April 1942, he was one of three Black pilots to be commissioned as a second lieutenant, AP reports, and only five Tuskegee pilots had earned their wings ahead of Dryden’s class of three. Dryden told AP that he had reservations about attending a Washington ceremony last year when President Bush and Congress awarded the Tuskegee Airmen the Congressional Gold Medal because it was so long overdue, the wire service reported. Upon reflection he said that the medal helped convince him that America actually appreciates their contributions, according to AP. “It’s really something,” he told AP. Markette Smith Sheppard was crowned Mrs. District of Columbia

Markette Smith-Sheppard, a journalist and child advocate, has been crowned Mrs. District of Columbia – America 2008, a title she promises to use to improve the lives of Black children in the nation’s capital and beyond. “I feel so privileged and humbled to have the opportunity to give back to my community as Mrs. District of Columbia America 2008,” Smith-Sheppard told BET.com Sunday. Smith-Sheppard, a producer for reporter for WTOP Radio in Washington, D.C., and a former writer and producer for BET.com, has been an outspoken supporter and aggressive fundraiser for the construction of play areas for children in “child-rich, playground-poor” communities nationwide. Six years ago, Smith-Sheppard, a graduate from California State University-Dominguez Hills, moved to Washington, D.C., where she earned a master’s degree from American University. Unlike another former Mrs. District of Columbia, Omarosa – of “The Apprentice” fame – Smith-Sheppard said she has no reality-TV aspirations. But she would like to co-host the Today Show some day. Says the beauty queen’s husband, Damon Sheppard, an architect and Howard University graduate: “I am so proud of her. I think she is the perfect person to represent D.C. …, and I’m not just saying that because she’s my wife.” Smith-Sheppard will compete for the national title of Mrs. America in Tucson, Ariz. on Sept. 2.