Over the weekend it seemed that Plaxico Burress was trying to protect himself a little too much. According to various reports, the Giants wide receiver, who was out with an injury, shot himself in the right thigh Friday night while out at night club in New York. He was taken to a hospital and released early Saturday morning. Not much more information about the incident was given except that it was an accident.

Now's there's rumors that Plax tried to cover it up and used an alias at a New York hospital.

Burress turned himself to New York Police on Monday morning to answer to charges of criminal possession of a weapon. According to Burress' lawyer, Benjamin Brafman, Plaxico is planning to plead not guilty to the charges. Burress is facing at least 3 1/2 years in prison if he's convicted on gun charges.

"I do not expect that Mr. Burress will make a statement," Brafman told the Associated Press. "I would ask that his fans, the Giants and the media withhold judgment in this matter until all of the facts have been disclosed."

The 2008 black college football season is almost over, and it's a good time to take stock of what happened - and didn't. Other than Langston (Okla.), which advanced to the third round of the NAIA playoffs, every HBCU is going overt the season that was. So will we. Without further ado, here are the highlights and lowlights: South Carolina State is the top team. You can make an argument for Tuskegee, the best HBCU program over the previous two seasons, but there's no denying the Bulldogs from Orangeburg. S.C. State went unbeaten in the MEAC, advanced to the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs for the first time since 1982 and played three-time national champ Appalachian State tough before losing in the first round. That was the only FCS loss S.C. State took, and the Bulldogs beat every HBCU squad put across from them.

The best return to prominence belongs to Prairie View A&M. The Panthers completed their drive from joke to contenders in their fifth season under coach Henry Frazier with one of the SWAC's top defenses. A loss to West Division foe Grambling kept the Panthers out of the league title game, but that's about all that didn't go right for PV. Frazier deserves SWAC coach of the year and consideration for the Division I FCS honor as well. The swiftest fall from grace goes to Virginia Union. The Panthers, picked to finish first in the CIAA East, were 4-1 at midseason, but fell flat on their faces down the stretch to finish 5-5. First-year coach Greg Richardson was given the heave-ho to continue the carousel that started when Arrington Jones quit in the spring. Should've seen this coming, Lee Fobbs.

The North Carolina A&T Aggies didn't wait until season's end to run Fobbs off, cutting ties with the man hired with a mandate to return a proud program to relevancy. There was good news, however. A&T broke its school-record 27-game losing streak and finished 3-8. They're all in the (HBCU) family. Tennessee State, West Virginia State and Langston don't play in one of the four major HBCU conferences, yet fashioned strong seasons in their respective leagues. TSU went 8-4, 5-3 in the Division I FCS Ohio Valley Conference; WVS went 7-3, 5-3 in the Division II West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, and Langston, of course, is still playing in the NAIA tournament. No love for the CIAA. The league was moved to Super Region 1 in a realignment mandated by the NCAA. The result was a disaster, with the CIAA locked out of the postseason.

Three teams - conference champ Shaw, Fayetteville State and Elizabeth City State won at least seven games, but that pesky strength of schedule doomed the CIAA when postseason invitations were extended. Note to entire league: Better start beating non-conference opponents with some regularity if you want to be taken seriously at playoff time. Pioneer Bowl on hold - again. The Division II postseason game was called off for the second time in seven years, leading to speculation its future is in doubt. Drawing fans is a perennial challenge, and the game has never been an economic juggernaut. Still, if anything can be done to save the game between CIAA and SIAC champions, it's worth the effort.

It was almost two years ago when Microsoft and LeBron James hooked up for an endorsement deal. James was the first NBA player signed to endorse Microsoft products and was tapped to specifically endorse Windows Vista.

"We're happy with him. And I know his people are happy with it, too," said Microsoft spokesman Lou Gellos back in January 2007. "We're talking about what future projects we might do with him."

Well, it looks like that isn't going to happen.

Michael Vick is currently serving time for a federal dogfighting conviction, but now he's answering to the state of Virginia.

On Tuesday, Vick appeared in a Surry County Circuit Court and plead guilty to two felony counts of beating or killing or causing dogs to fight other dogs and engaging in or promoting dogfighting. While each felony count is punishable up to five years in prison, Vick's legal team agreed to a plea agreement deal with the state that would give Vick a suspended sentence and one year of probation.

According to the Associated Press, the plea was necessary for Vick to get out of prison early and into a halfway house where he could possibly play football again. Vick was convicted in August 2007 on federal dogfighting charges and sentenced to 23 months in prison. He was previously scheduled to be released on July 20, 2009 but is looking to get out a few months early, as soon as even January, with hopes of getting back into the NFL.

But would the NFL take him back?

While most people will be spending their Thanksgiving Day with their families and friends, L.A. Clipper center Marcus Camby is going to be hanging out with the homeless. On Thursday morning, Camby and the Volunteers of America of Greater Los Angeles (VOALA) will be heading down to L.A.'s infamous Skid Row to serve Thanksgiving meals to more than 200 homeless folks.

"Nobody should go hungry -- especially on Thanksgiving," Camby said in regards to his service. "And there are a lot of needy people here."

One year ago, NFL fans were hit with the devastating news of Washington Redskins free safety Sean Taylor's murder after intruders busted into his home and shot him in the upper leg, critically wounding him. His family continues to put their lives back together and now they're auctioning off Taylor's collection of vehicles to benefit his family. One of the hottest items on the list is Taylor's 2004 BMW 760.

"Sean bought this car when he was drafted in 2004. It was his customized Redskins burgundy masterpiece," the auction site says. "He loved this car so much that I think he actually liked to look at it more than drive it. He only drove it to games and other special events. That's why it only has about 35k miles on it. He took a lot of pride in preserving this car and always said he was going to keep it forever - It was the first gift he bought for himself when he was drafted." ...

General Motors released a press release this week announcing the end of the endorsement deal they've had with Tiger Woods for the last nine years effective December 31. The company says that Tiger is looking for more personal time while expecting his second child in a month or two and that GM is also looking for "budget efficiencies" during a difficult time for GM. Yes, a Tiger Woods paycheck is very expensive when the auto industry is suffering and asking for a government bailout. Tiger, however, is still rich.

"I am very proud of the long standing partnership I've had with GM and have enjoyed being a part of the company's dramatic product evolution," Woods said in a statement. "We've had a lot of fun together and I participated in some unique and rewarding activities. We've enjoyed a tremendous partnership over the years and we will maintain strong ties with the many people at GM we call friends."

Very quick shout out, particularly in an age when so many negative stats come out about black males and education. This time, we've got someone who shoots down the stereotypes and lifts us all up a notch.

Much love to Myron Rolle, a Florida State University safety who now gets a chance to study at Oxford and be in the company of some of the best and brightest in history including ex-president Bill Clinton, political commentator and journalist George Stephanopoulos, former Secretary of State Dean Rusk, and of course famed educator Alain Leroy Locke, the first black Rhodes Scholar.

This is a HUGE deal, and every time we see a brother earning something like this, we should definitely give him his props.

So big ups, to Myron. Much respect, sho 'nuff.

Or in scholarly language: Kudos and salutations for such a stellar educational attainment, my good man.

Last month Baltimore Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs celebrated his 26th birthday by hosting the 1st Annual Team Sizzle Worldwide Celebrity Weekend in Baltimore. Proceeds from the weekend, which included a star-studded party, a luncheon, the Raiders-Ravens game, and a private party, benefitted the The William E. Proudford Sickle Cell Fund.

Some of the celebrities that came through were Christina Milian (singer), Reagan Gomez-Preston (actress), Jill Marie Jones (actress), Hosea Chanchez (actor), Gary Sturgis (actor), Kellita Smith (actress), Winky Wright (boxer) along with Raven teammates Ray Lewis, Willis McGahee, Bart Scott and Evan Oglesby.

We caught up with Suggs and fired off a few questions about Team Sizzle, sickle cell, and his other projects off the field.

According to family members, Green Bay Packers wide receiver Donald Driver's father, Marvin Driver, was beaten by police during an arrest for traffic warrants on Monday morning. Family and friends of Marvin Driver held a news conference at Houston's Memorial Hermann Texas Medical Center on Wednesday and said that after Michael Driver, son of Marvin and brother of Donald, dropped off his father at home police pulled up and arrested him. Later that evening, after he was transported to jail, he was taken to the hospital because he was unresponsive. Marvin Driver is now breathing though a ventilator and was recently upgraded to good condition.

"So how can someone have traffic warrants for their arrest and be taken away from here in good health, no restraining whatsoever, then end up like this in intensive care after being in police custody," said community activist Quanell X, acting as the family spokeperson, at the news conference according to WBAY TV. "Supposedly he was being elbowed in the throat. He motioned like this with his arm that he was being elbowed to the throat and said they were kneeing him a lot."

Football and basketball generate most of the headlines in black college sports, but a couple of volleyball programs are laying claim to dominance below the radar.

Florida A&M and Albany State have collected eight straight titles in the MEAC and SIAC to lay claim as the best programs going in any sport. Both schools earned automatic postseason bids, with FAMU going to the NCAA Division I tournament and Albany State headed to the Division II playoffs.

FAMU extended its MEAC streak by knocking off Maryland Eastern Shore 3-2 in Hampton, Va. UMES (25-9) led two sets to one and were ahead in the fourth 22-19 when the Rattlers fought back to win 31-29. The decisive set was tied 10-10 but FAMU reeled off the next five points to seal the deal. Jovana Blazeski led Florida A&M (14-11) with 30 kills, while Samara Ferraz recorded 25.

Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas is still rehabbing is knee from third operation but the folks in Washington, D.C. still love the dude. His wax figure was unveiled at the Madame Tussauds Wax Museum in Washington D.C. along with 50 kids from his Zer0 to Her0 Foundation.

"It is an honor to join the ranks of sports icons such as Muhammad Ali and Tiger Woods by being immortalized in wax at Madame Tussauds Washington D.C.," Arenas said. "Like the Wizards, Madame Tussauds has become a fixture in the nation's capital and one that I'm proud to be a part of."

Former NFL star, and possibly future convict, Travis Henry thinks his child support is too high and is doing something about it. Why would a man who recently signed a 5-year $22 million contract be complaining about child support you ask? Slip on Travis Henry's shoes for just a moment.

You're a wealthy, talented football player in the NFL making millions of dollars. You travel from city to city and you meet women everywhere. Along the way you have one kid, no biggie. Then you have another and another, four, five, six all the way up to nine. Stupid? Sure, beyond belief, but at least you have the money to support them despite your deteriorating skills and age. ...

In 2010, LeBron James' contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers is up and the entire NBA is salivating at the idea of getting King James on their squad. Although LeBron has continually told the media that he ain't going anywhere and wants to spend his career in a Cavs uniform, the idea that he will bolt the Cavs for the Pistons, Nets or some other team continues to float around. It's more so with the Nets because Bron is good friends with Jay-Z who owns a stake in the team. And in a sideline interview at a recent Nets-Cavs game, Jay-Z made it known that the Nets want King James.

"LeBron James is one of the NBA's best players - everybody would love to have him on their team," Jigga Man told the YES Network according to LarryBrownSports.com. "I have a personal relationship with him but that's where it stops. His professional career is that, a business decision. If we put forth the best proposal then we would love to have him as any other team would."

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Terrell Owens' new book, "TO's Finding Fitness," has already been out a couple of months, but he's only been able to start promoting it in the last couple of weeks.

Last week, T.O. was in New York signing copies of the book for hundreds of fans. The book has workouts and diets for all types of people and if you're broke, T.O. has stuff for you too.

"Those are old-school things you can do if you don't have the resources," he told the Associated Press back in October. "I know the economy is bad, but I don't think it's that bad that you have to go in the garage and find paint cans to lift.

A healthy way of living should be enough of a goal in itself. Start with baby steps, maybe 20 minutes a day. Then you'll get to a point of 40 minutes a day, then an hour a day. ...