We blanket the sports scene in this issue of The Irish American Post with hard-hitting articles on boxers, bookies, runners and an insider's view of basketball and sports cable television.

In addition, Bill Clinton's last hurrah is a visit to Belfasts and encouraging words to both North and South to hang tough in the name of peace.  As we move into the new year, we hope that his words are taken to heart. In our feature about a Belfast cabbie, it appears that some of that optimism is already well grounded.       In the arts, a seanachie tells tales out of court and the Queen of Irish letters, Maeve Binchy, along with court jester Malachy McCourt explain what makes their literary clocks tick.

No Turning Back on Peace Process: Clinton
Irish American News Service and Staff
On his third and final state visit to the island of Ireland, President Clinton told the people of Northern Ireland that he believed there was no turning back in the peace process. During his mid-December trip, Clinton said that it was very important people the world over could see what was being done in their homeland. [More]
 

Unconventional Tour Leader Shows Off His Belfast
By Mike Gerrard
It's not your conventional tour. But then Belfast is not your conventional city. Nor is Michael Johnston a conventional tour leader. Johnston was a taxi driver at the height of The Troubles, which forced him out of his own city.[More]
 

Seanachi Lifts the Latch
By Annette Bishop

Odds Mean Nothing When God's Made You Lucky
By Pól Ó Conghaille
"There are two times in a man's life when he should not speculate: when he can't afford it, and when he can."
Mark Twain had it sussed. Shame we never listened to him. But the deaf ear turned makes more and more sense when you journey back into Ireland's love affair with gambling. [More]
 

In 'Dis Corna...Irish Tim Murray...
By Martin Hintz
It's the 9th annual Ringside benefit for the Mercy Home for Boys and Girls and the 10th floor dressing room of Chicago's Downtown Marriott is filling with tuxedoed fellas named Bob and Jim. They like hanging around fighters, chatting them up but thankfully knowing they'll never have to go glove-on-glove with any of 'em. [More]
 

Track Star Races Toward Medial Goal
By Carrie Trousil
Track star Emily Haley can tell one of those stories that makes you sit back and think a minute. And then say a little prayer of gratitude for the simple things taken for granted in day-to-day life. [More]

You'll Stay for a Drink
By Mike Gerrard
Brendan Behan was holding forth in Bittles Bar when I went in, large as life, which seemed a bit odd as this was Belfast and besides, the man is dead. But there he was sharing a painted pint with James Joyce, Samuel Beckett, Oscar Wilde and W.B.Yeats.  [More]
 

Fitz Goes to Court
Irish American Post Staff
Jim Fitzgerald's running shoes beat a rhythm on his much-used home treadmill. He's not breathless -- quite yet -- although he's been exercising for at least a half hour.  [More]
 

Keane Still Takes Irish Music by Storm
By Mike Danahey
Movies have played more than a bit part in the career of Irish musician and Chicago native Kathleen Keane. In 1989, and 18 at the time, Keane joined the eclectic Irish rock band The Drovers. The band recorded two well-received albums, and their sound caught the ear of filmmaker Ron Howard. [More]
 
 

Homegrown Irish Book World Blossoms
By Anna Carey
It may have taken a while, but modern Irish literature is selling well all over the world. And the majority of new Irish writers have achieved success without losing their own distinctive voice. That doesn't mean hard hitting stories about theTroubles in Northern Ireland or romantic tales from Irish mythology.  [More]
 

Literary Queen Maeve Seeking Time to Dance
By Dave Abbott
"I'd love to be a monument in Phoenix Park and have people come and have a picnic at my feet."
Dublin-born Maeve Binchy, one of the top-selling authors in the world, was in an expansive mood attending her final International Writers Festival, held recently in Vancouver, B.C. [More]
 

Bawdy Jokester Gets Another Chance
By Carrie Trousil
Malachy McCourt writes like a bawdy jokester because he is one. But his new book Singing My Him Song (HarperCollins, 2000,$25) tells about the living that goes on behind the boozy facade as well as in the spotlight — the real life joke-fodder that isn't always funny.  [More]