USA men’s and women’s basketball teams come out on top
Both USA basketball teams are gold medal winners following the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Lisa Leslie became the first basketball player to earn four golds as the women beat Australia this past weekend. Meanwhile, LeBron James backed up his promise of a gold for the men – and likely shed his embarrassing nickname from past Olympics competition, “LeBronze.” The men defeated defending champion Spain. The 2012 Olympics are set to take place in London.

A Jamaican sprinter makes Olympic history in Beijing

Winning by a full four body-lengths over American defending champ Shawn Crawford, Jamaica’s Usain Bolt made Olympic history Wednesday. Bolt became the first-ever sprinter to break world records and win gold medals in both the 100- and 200-meter races during one Olympics. “I blew my mind and I blew the world’s mind,” Bolt says. His 19.30 seconds in the 200 made him the first man since Carl Lewis to sweep gold medals from both sprints. Lewis did so in 1984. Bolt also beat Michael Johnson’s 12-year-old record of 19.32 seconds. Not even Olympics legend Jesse Owens completed a 100, 200 sweep. Get the latest on how the Americans did and more at BET.com/Olympics ‘08.

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

Hoops pic causes an international uproar. The Spanish basketball team has come under attack after taking a team photo with their players making a slit-eyed gesture, possibly mocking the host country, China. Is the photo offensive to you? Read more at BET.com Olympics ‘08.

Men’s soccer squad advances to quarter-finals. Nigeria’s 2-1 victory against the USA Wednesday pushes the African men’s soccer team into the Olympics quarter-finals. The Ivory Coast and Cameroon also qualified to continue the chase for gold medals at the Beijing Games. America’s loss to Nigeria drops the men out of contention for any prize. The team needed at least a draw, in order to advance, but will return home empty-handed.

Yankees shortstop too sore to play in Minnesota.

Derek Jeter isn’t expected to take the field for New York again until tomorrow after he sat out a game versus Minnesota with a sore foot. Jeter hit a foul tip off his foot Tuesday night and didn’t take his starting spot on Wednesday. But he’s expected to re-join the rotation against the Kansas City Royals. X-rays of Jeter’s foot returned negative. “He’ll never tell you that he can’t play, but by saying that it’s kind of sore and it’s throbbing all night, you kind of get the feeling that it’s pretty rough,” says manager Joe Girardi.

Here’s this week’s photos of Black and Brown faces in the news worldwide.
World Lens: The Olympic opening ceremony is spectacular; U.S. basketball players soar in China; and fighting leads to destruction in Georgia. See these pictures and more here.

Southern African Countries Form Free Trade Zone. Fourteen Southern African countries will formally launch a free trade zone at a summit on Saturday, South Africa said on Tuesday. The hope is that they can boost the region’s trade and economic growth. The Free Trade Area (FTA) will exempt 85 percent of trade from tariffs, with full implementation expected by the year 2012. South African Trade and Industry Minister Mandisi Mpahlwa said while that was a realistic target, greater efforts were needed to develop and integrate the region. “The launch of the FTA is not an end in itself but a beginning of a process we need to embark on to build both productive and trade capacity, improve competitiveness of our industries…,” Mpahlwa said in a statement.The 14-nation Southern African Development Community (SADC) needed to focus more on strengthening its agricultural industries and improving infrastructure.

Russian troops have started leaving Georgia. Almost a week after their troops advanced deeper into Georgia’s South Ossetia region, Russia has started pulling back its forces from the city of Gori, according to Georgia’s Interior Ministry. This move allows for Georgian police to return to the city and attempt to regain control, reports CNN. Georgian police, and most of the citizens, left the city a few days after being heavily attacked by Russian troops. Russia says they entered into the area to guard abandoned military hardware. The fighting began last week when Georgian forces moved into the South Ossetia region (a region where many people support becoming a part of Russia) to attack rebels. Russia responded quickly, sending in tanks to the region. Russia’s latest move comes after negotiations with Georgia on Wednesday. When the police presence is fully established, all of the Russian troops with leave the city.

Fighter’s dream of medal cut short by dehydration. A bantamweight Olympics boxer won’t compete after he collapsed from apparent dehydration while still training. Gary Russell Jr. is said to have struggled to make the 119-pound weight limit to compete for a gold medal, but was found unconscious this past weekend in China after taking a long run. The two-time national champ was found in his room at the Olympics athlete’s village, but he was revived without hospitalization. “We became alarmed a couple of days ago when we saw he wasn’t sweating like he should,” says boxing coach Dan Campbell. “When these kids try to make weight, sometimes they cut corners. What we believe is he did not increase his fluid intake after we told him to.” Russell was a favorite to win the U.S. boxing team a top Olympics prize

NBA stars drop China 101-70 in Olympics. All-star NBA players Dwyane Wade, Kobe Bryant and Yao Ming met on Asian turf with Ming representing his homeland of China in an Olympics game that saw the U.S. win 101-70. Still, Ming enjoyed a hero’s welcome Sunday among the natives, an estimated 300 million of whom play basketball. Wade scored 19 points, LeBron James hit 18 and Bryant matched Ming’s total with 13. The game in Beijing was the first time that any of the NBA stars played against Yao since March when he underwent season-ending foot surgery. Read more at Playa Hater.

Tyson Gay “pretty confident” about Olympics. Sprinter Tyson Gay says he’s “injury-free” after working out in Beijing Sunday, having previously hurt his hamstring. The 100-meter and 200-meter world champ had injured the muscle during last month’s American Olympics trials. Gay had already qualified to compete in the 100 at Beijing, but suffered the hamstring mishap during the 200 trials. The runner says he’s “pretty confident” about his performance expectations for the 100-meter race for a gold medal.