Ever since William Petersen announced he would be leaving CBS’ popular drama “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” by the middle of the upcoming season, talk of who would fill his shoes began immediately.

The trades reported yesterday that Laurence Fishburne is a definite front-runner. According to the Hollywood Reporter, the veteran actor is being “heavily courted” to play the role of a new character, described as a doctor/scientist outsider to the CSI unit who has the same genetic profile as a serial killer but hasn’t previously acted on any homicidal impulses.

Fishburne’s name has been mentioned as one of the “CSI” producers’ top choices for the role, along with John Malkovich and Kurt Russell.

It’s no secret that Tyra Banks like to play dress up – whether it’s on the fashion runways as a supermodel, or in disguise while going undercover as an obese woman or stripper for her daytime talk show.

Her latest endeavor, seen within the pages of September’s Harper’s Bazaar magazine, has the entertainer sporting hair, makeup and wardrobe designed to make her resemble would-be First Lady Michelle Obama.

In the photo, Banks wears a slinky black shift dress, pearls, and poses next to a Barack Obama look-a-like in the White House Oval Office with a little black girl playing under the desk.

“When Barack won the nomination, I just started bawling,” Banks, 34, says in the issue (out August 19). “I started calling all these people, and everybody was talking to me like I was crazy. They’re like, ‘Well, he hasn’t won yet,’ but I’m like, ‘Yes, he has, because he’s gotten this far.

“So what gives me tears is if Barack Obama wins, kids are going to say that a black man can be president, too,” she continues. “I think it will give so many people – black, Latin, Asian, even white people that feel forgotten – hope. I did not think I would see it in my lifetime, and I’m only 34.”

Calling Michelle Obama “one hot mama,” Banks says: “With Barack Obama, his becoming president is them becoming president because Michelle was there from the beginning. Without Michelle, he wouldn’t be there.”

Banks’ prescription for a modern first lady?

“Oh, I want her to not take herself too seriously,” she says. “She’d need to know how to take a fierce picture, but at the same time be able to eat fried chicken, have grease on her fingers, and be okay with getting photographed like that, too. I’d want her to feel like every child in America is hers – to have a true connection.”

Banks says if she were First Lady, her Secret Service acronym would be “KMFA: Kiss My Fat A**.”

A new book about Sammy Davis Jr. details the entertainer’s financial state at the time of his death, and makes claims regarding his motivation for marrying his second wife, Altovise.

In “Deconstructing Sammy,” due next month from Amistad/HarperCollins, author/journalist Matt Birkbeck says the Rat Pack member died broke, in debt to the IRS, and left his estate in such disarray that it still hasn’t been straightened out.

Birkbeck also claims that after Davis’ cancer diagnosis in August 1989, doctors recommended surgery on his throat that offered an 80 percent chance of survival. The singer instead chose radiation, which had a 30 percent survival rate. Davis made his decision based on his dismal finances. If he couldn’t sing, he reasoned, he couldn’t make money.

The book also says Davis was pressured into marrying a black woman, Altovise Gore, in 1970 following his 1968 divorce from May Britt, a white woman. Birkbeck says Davis pressured Altovise into participating in wild parties.

Other notable tidbits from the book, according to the New York Post, are listed below:

• Among the many men Altovise befriended was former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, whom Davis met in the 1970s when Rumsfeld worked for the Nixon administration. Rumsfeld remained friendly with Altovise after the legendary entertainer’s death, even to the point of calling her when she was living in poverty in Pennsylvania in 1993.

• When Sammy’s good friend and long-time conductor, George Rhodes, died in 1985, he asked another good friend, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, to give the eulogy. Jackson agreed but for a price: He demanded $5,000 in cash, four first-class plane tickets and two suites at the Four Seasons Hotel. Davis, who was broke, turned to bodyguard Brian Dellow, who took an advance off his credit card to pay Jackson’s fee.

• Despite more than $50 million in lifetime earnings, Davis died in 1990 some $15 million in debt, owing more than half to the IRS for investments in bogus tax shelters.

Prairie View, Texas — How things have changed for the Prairie View A&M University football program. Just a few years ago, any win would be cause for celebration. Now, the talk among the players centers on — ready for this? — playing for the SWAC championship.

Last year’s 7-3 season was the Panthers’ first winning season since 1976, and their most wins since 1964. This year’s motto is “unfinished business”.

“Because last year we didn’t’ get it done,” said sophomore running back Donald Babers. “We had a winning season, but we didn’t’ get what we wanted. We wanted to win the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). That’s our goal this year. Win the SWAC.”

That reflects the nature of the turnaround in the program since Henry Frazier, III took over as Panthers coach in 2004.

Based on talent and last year’s performance, contending fort the SWAC championship is not for-fetched for the Panthers’ veteran cast, which includes All-American linebacker Zach East and receiver-return specialist Anthony Weeden.

The Panthers, who beat the SWAC’s Eastern Division’s top two teams in 2007, have beaten West Division rival Texas Southern University three of the last four years and are gaining ground on the Southern University Jaguars and the Grambling State Tigers. Last year, the Panthers lost 12-2 to Southern University and 17-14 to Grambling State.

Frazier, who was rewards with a four-year contract extension after last season, thinks competing for the SWAC title in 2008, is realistic. “It’s a naturally progressive step to put your eyes on winning the SWAC championship,” said Frazier. “That’s what the guys talked about in the weight room, in the study hall and on the practice field”. “They believe it. Its one thing for me and the coaches to believe, but once the players, themselves, believe, then I think you begin to take off, “

Frazier also believes the Panthers have one of the best defenses in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (formerly 1-AA). And it starts with Zach East, who had 127 tackles last season as the SWAC Defensive Player-of-the- Year.

Last year, the Panthers led the conference in scoring defense and were third nationally in that category. This year’s group could be even better.

All four secondary starters return, led by safeties Vallice Ford and Anthony Beck.
Up front, defensive tackle Dalvin Nettles took every snap as a redshirt freshman in 2007. Defensive end Evan Johnson had a strong spring practice.

Quarterback Mark Spivey will direct the spread offense and has the weapons to make it work. Shaun Stephens is an explosive receiver. Anthony Weeden had 36 receptions for 333 yards last year, but his biggest impact is in the return game, where he ended up ranked second in the nation, last year.

Spivey has seen the ups and downs at Prairie View A&M, missing two years with injuries. The fifth-year senior took over as starting quarterback in the final six games of last season and engineered five wins. The lone loss was the 21-19 defeat against the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

Although the Prairie View A&M offensive line allowed a SWAC-low 12 quarterback sacks in 2007, two all-conference offensive linemen used up their eligibility. But the Panthers return their top four receivers and are loaded in the backfield.

Donald Babers, who rushed for a total of 482 yards, and Calvin Harris, who added 291 yards rushing, are a formidable 1-2 punch. Michael Jason, a 2007 redshirt, excelled in spring practice drills. Throw in Russell Ball, a transfer from Florida State and the backfield gets ultra-competitive.

Bringing in talent like Russell Ball and Donald Babers shows how far the Panthers have come. Babers was high touted at Westbury High School in Houston. Freshman receivers, Leighland Koonce (6’ 2”, 200 lbs) of San Diego , California and Duriel Harris, (6’ 5”, 205lbs) of Channelview High School, could play immediately.

The plan, however, is to redshirt all the incoming freshmen. In last year’s recruiting class, 24 of the 27 signees were redshirted. “The recruiting class we signed this year is excellent,” Frazier said. “If we’re able to redshirt those guys and they have the impact like the 2007 redshirts had this spring, this Panther program will be in great shape for years to come.”

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas–(July 13, 2008)–Prairie View A&M University Head Women’s basketball coach Cynthia Cooper-Dyke will be among the inductees in the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame’s 2009 class.

The Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame announced its 11th group of inductees, the Class of 2009, on ABC during the Washington Mystics/Connecticut Sun game at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C.

Cooper Dyke is a two-time Olympian, two-time National Champion at Southern California (1983, 1984) and a four-time WNBA champion with the Houston Comets (1997-2000). She was also the first WNBA player to reach 500, 1000, 2000 and 2500 points, and was recognized as the 1998 Women’s Professional Basketball ESPY award winner. To her credit, Cooper also won a gold medal with team USA in the 1988 Olympics and was a member of seven USA squads.

The other women to be inducted alongside Cooper include: Jennifer Azzi, Jennifer Gillom, Sonja Hogg, Billy Hutchison and Ora Washington.

The announcement marked the second time in the Hall of Fame’s 10-year history that the upcoming class of inductees has been announced on ABC. Prior to last year’s announcement during the 2007 WNBA All-Star game, it had been tradition for the new Inductees to be unveiled during the State Farm Tip-Off Classic in November. Even though the news has been shared earlier, however, the Class of 2009 will be introduced to the world at the 2008 State Farm Tip-Off Classic on November 16 at Louisiana State University.

The six individuals in the Class of 2009 will be formally inducted as members of the Hall of Fame during a weekend of induction festivities to be held Friday and Saturday, June 12-13, 2009, in Knoxville, Tennessee.

With the addition of the Class of 2009, the list of individuals who have been recognized as Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame inductees will increase to 109.

The Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame’s Board of Directors serves as the selection committee in determining which individuals will be inducted each year. Voting is based on various factors, which may include moral character, integrity, sportsmanship, record of performance, ability, national or international recognition, and contributions to the game of women’s basketball.

In order to be considered for selection for induction, an individual must meet the following prerequisites:

* Player: Must be retired from the highest level of play for at least five years
* Coach: Must have coached the women’s game at least 20 years
* Referee: Must have officiated the women’s game at least 10 years
* Contributor: Must have significantly impacted the game of women’s basketball

The mission of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, which opened in June 1999, is to “honor the past, celebrate the present, and promote the future” of women’s basketball.

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas–(June 5)–Prairie View A&M University held a ceremony for the naming of its College of Arts and Sciences in honor of Lt. Gen. (ret.) Marvin D. Brailsford and his wife June Samuel Brailsford. The ceremony for the Marvin D. and June Samuel Brailsford College of Arts and Sciences was hosted in the auditorium of the university’s Elmer E. O’Banion Science Building, which houses several of the College’s programs.

More than 200 PVAMU alumni, students and supporters traveled from across Texas and the U.S. for the historic event, which marks the university’s second naming of one of its colleges and schools since the university’s founding in 1876. The first naming occurred in 2005 when the university named its College of Education for PVAMU alumnus Whitlowe R. Green. Present for the ceremony, were both Lt. Gen. (ret.) Marvin D. Brailsford and June Samuel Brailsford and a host of their family and friends. Lt. Gen. Brailsford graduated from PVAMU in 1959 and Samuel Brailsford graduated from PVAMU in 1960.

“I’m overjoyed today,” stated Lt. Gen. Brailsford. “When I received the news from President Wright that the university was considering naming the college in our honor I was both stunned and deeply humbled,” shared Brailsford. The couple currently resides in Beaumont, Texas.

While serving in the U.S. Army, the Brailsfords were stationed in several U.S. states and foreign countries including Germany. Together, they have contributed to the university’s first-ever capital campaign and offered generous support for major university programs and alumni initiatives.

Presiding during the ceremony was longtime PVAMU administrator and musician Dr. Danny R. Kelley, who serves as dean of the PVAMU Marvin D. and June Samuel Brailsford College of Arts and Sciences. Also on program was Dr. John R. Adolph of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church of Beaumont, Texas, who traveled to PVAMU to provide the invocation at the request of the Brailsfords.

PVAMU President George C. Wright delivered the dedicatory tribute and encouraged guests to remember the high measure of service and contributions that the Brailsfords have donated to the university. The university named its College of Arts and Sciences in honor of the Brailsfords for their significant service to university, which includes their work on the university’s capital campaign cabinet, the PVAMU alumni association and dedication and appreciation of the natural sciences and the arts.

Former PVAMU President Lt. Gen. (ret.) Julius W. Becton, Jr. was also on hand to help the Brailsfords celebrate during the dedication ceremony.

Prairie View A&M University’s Marvin D. and June Samuel Brailsford College of Arts and Sciences consists of eight departments and one division offering courses leading to fifteen bachelor’s degrees and six master’s degrees. The College seeks to develop students through critical thinking, analysis, problem solving and communication.

Prairie View A&M University is pleased to announce that prominent educator and administrator Dr. Lucian Yates III, has been appointed as the new dean of the university’s Whitlowe R. Green College of Education.

Yates, who officially started with PVAMU Jan. 2008, was previously the chair and associate professor of the School of Education at Kentucky State University.

“I’m excited about growing and strengthening the programs of the Whitlowe R. Green College of Education. The College has maintained a strong reputation for producing scholars in several disciplines and I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to lead it to greater heights,” said Yates.

The spirited leader replaces former dean M. Paul Mehta, who recently retired after more than a decade of service to PVAMU. In his new post as dean, Yates states that he seeks to further align PVAMU’s education curriculum with other national standards and seeks to gain external funding for initiatives that will enhance learning for students majoring in all areas of education.

Since arriving to campus, Yates has implemented “Breakfast with the Dean” and “Conversations with the Dean” dialogue discussions to develop a relationship with the College’s seasoned faculty and forge new insight from the College’s students.

Yates has also successfully implemented two new initiatives within the College. The first being a self assessment method for education students and the second concerns a requirement for education majors to maintain an electronic portfolio. Yates asserts that these new procedures will further develop students for careers in education.

While serving at Kentucky State, Yates was the university’s chief administrator in its School of Education where he oversaw the recruitment, program design, evaluation and certification and quality of the school’s teacher education program. During this post, he led several groundbreaking studies and education programs.

As a member of the board of the National Alliance of Black School Educators (NABSE), he wrote the conceptual paper and implemented the first African American Male Youth Leadership Summit for students in grades eight though ten. In partnership with NABSE, the African American Male Youth Leadership Summit will host its second annual conference on the campus of Prairie View A&M University, July 31-Aug. 3.

Yates has traveled extensively across the U.S. and the world to deliver presentations and facilitate consultations on issues concerning teaching in urban areas, and ways to improve the understanding of the learning styles of African American males and how to reduce high school drop-out rates. In St. Petersburg, Russia, he presented learning strategies on the onset of the country’s move from a communist state to a democratic state and consulted with education corporation Kumon Institute of Education Co., Ltd. in Ottawa, Canada, to deliver advice on how to expand study centers in urban areas.

The author of numerous articles for several academic journals, Yates has served as the director of education recruitment and retention for the Kentucky Department of Education and as the superintendent of the Harrisburg School District in Harrisburg, Pa. An accomplished professor, he has also been featured in U.S. News and World Report and Atlantic Monthly.

While serving as a principal in Louisville, Kentucky, he served as the principal investigator for a million dollar grant from the General Electric Foundation, which allowed him to double the number of Kentucky high school students that matriculated to post-secondary institutions. Yates earned a bachelor’s degree in history and political science and a master’s degree in history and education from Morehead State University. He holds a doctorate degree in curriculum, instruction and supervision from Ohio University.

HOUSTON, Texas- Suites are currently on sale for the Prairie View A&M Panthers match-ups versus the Texas Southern Tigers and the Southern Jaguars at Reliant Stadium.

On Saturday, August 30th, PVAMU will square off against cross-town rival Texas Southern in the Annual State Farm Labor Day Classic. Panthers head coach Henry Frazier will look to improve his overall mark in the classic to 4-1 as the Panthers will try to capture their second consecutive win over TSU.

On Saturday, October 25th, Prairie View A&M will look to defeat the SU Jaguars for the second time in the past three seasons. The Panthers emerged victorious during SU’s last visit to the Houston area in 2006 as PVAMU pulled off a thrilling 23-21 overtime win over the Jaguars at Tully Stadium.

Both respective contests are sure to be highly entertaining affairs as the Panthers continue their pursuit towards a Southwestern Athletic Conference Title.

Reliant Stadium, home of the NFL’s Houston Texans and host site for the Super Bowl in 2004, is regarded as one of the nation’s premier sporting venues. Suites in the facility are setup to accommodate anywhere from 14 to 100 sports fans.

For more information regarding suites for both games please visit http://www.reliantpark.com/en/cms/?164 or call Premium Seating/Group Ticket Sales Manager Herb Kelly at 832-667-1820.

Breakin Up:Ne-Yo – Ne-Yo has a new song called “Breakin Up” that surfaced.The singer will release his “Year of the Gentleman” album on September 16, 2008.Ne-Yo recently talked to “Vulture” about his failed attempt to learn to play guitar and working with Michael Jackson.He said:

“They didn’t tell me that learning to play the guitar hurts. Your fingers bleed and they cramp. I was like, ‘This is not sexy. I do not like this.’… Playing guitar is not the hottest thing. And then when you shake a person’s hand, you’ve got sandpaper hands. No, thank you.”

According to Ne-Yo, Jackson himself called to get him on board:

“I actually hung up on him because I thought someone was playin’.” “‘Who’s this?’ [high voice] ‘This is Michael Jackson.’ Click. Then his representative called back. ‘This is Peter Lopez. I have Michael Jackson on the phone.’ And I was like, ‘Oh my God. Are you serious?’ And then I apologized for the next ten minutes. Any comedian who has ever made fun of Michael Jackson was right on. Sad but true. He does have a very high, not very manly voice.”

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Whitney Houston Ft. Akon-Like I Never Left – “Like I Never Left” is a new song from R&B/Pop diva Whitney Houston,featuring Akon.The track is rumored to be featured on Houston’s upcoming album.’Like I Never Left’ is not an awful song,it’s pretty decent by the current music standard.But I am not sure people want to hear,Akon screaming Konvicted music,on a Whitney Houston track.

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