TMZ Sports - Page 50

Believe it or not, Daly isn't photo-bombing the boringly well-dressed group of men around him ... they're all past winners of the British Open (Daly included), which begins on Thursday.

As we previously reported, documents filed back in 2002 show there is a 99.9% chance that Pele Watkins is the father of James' 9-year-old son.

But in a letter dated August 1, 2009 -- and obtained by TMZ -- Watkins, writing from prison, tells James he never took a DNA test. At one point he wrote, "They will never get DNA from me."

He closes the letter, "I never took a DNA test but tell your mom I will fight her for messing wit [sic] me in jail."

As you can see from the pics, Shaq turned up the heat at PURE Nightclub inside Caesars Palace -- dropping all sorts of rhymes ... and several buckets of body moisture.

TMZ has learned ESPN sent a cease and desist letter to Cicada restaurant in downtown L.A. -- accusing them of violating its trademark by using the ESPN name to promote an event that's not officially endorsed by ESPN.

But the restaurant is serving up some legal smack talk of their own in a strongly-worded letter back to the network -- in which they rip into ESPN for being "arrogant," "narcissistic" and "out of step ... with its own assumed importance."

As for their legal defense, the restaurant claims it is not the one behind the party -- it is merely the venue ... but Cicada's attorney, Keith Fink, closed his letter with a particularly personal parting shot saying:

According to the report, a woman named Nan Fowler phoned the pro shop at the Country Club at Muirfield Village around 6:53 PM and complained that a white, tall male -- sporting a blue golf shirt and khaki shorts -- was "urinating into some trees."

The report states that Nan was informed by the woman at the pro shop that the person who fit that description was Big Ben. Nan then called police and told them that the NFL star was peeing in public.

Cops eventually arrived to the scene and spoke with country club management -- and later determined that no crime had been committed. Sources connected to the investigation tell us cops never interacted with Roethlisberger -- because Ben was "long gone" by the time authorities had arrived.

TMZ spoke with reps at Muirfield who tell us, "We had a full slate of golfers that day ... it may have been anyone."

Of course, this isn't the first time Ben's penis has been at the center of controversy -- earlier this year, he was accused of raping a young woman inside a nightclub bathroom. That case was ultimately dropped after investigators determined there wasn't enough evidence to proceed.

So far, no comment from Roethlisberger's camp.

Tricera Revolution, Inc. -- which manufacturers state-of-the-art indoor cycling studios -- alleges in a new lawsuit filed in New York and obtained by TMZ ... it made a deal with Tiki and his wife Ginny, because they were "purportedly a happily-married, celebrity couple who were known to attend indoor cycling classes together."

The company gave the couple stock in return for PR, only to learn later, "...Barber was engaged in an adulterous affair with a twenty-three year old intern, Traci Lynn Johnson and intended to divorce Ginny Barber, with whom he had already fathered two children and who was pregnant at that time with twins."

Short story -- the company claims Barber knew the whole "happily married" thing was a lie when he signed on, and now the promotion is worthless.

Sabathia -- who was at an event in Anaheim, CA connected to the MLB All-Star Game -- also said George's death was a "tough loss for our organization" and offered his condolences to the Steinbrenner family.

The crowd went insane ... and after the game, the dunker was already talkin' smack -- saying, "[T.O.] should have never been underneath the rim ... this is basketball, street baller thing ... this ain't football!"

According to multiple reports, Steinbrenner -- who turned 80-years old on July 4th -- was rushed to St. Joseph's hospital in Tampa where he was later pronounced dead.

Steinbrenner -- a U.S. Navy veteran -- retired from running the Yankees in 2006 ... leaving his sons Hank and Hal to run the team.

Since Steinbrenner took over the team in 1973, the Yankees locked up 11 pennants and 7 World Series titles.

Among Steinbrenner's many accomplishments -- his famous "grooming policy" ... in which players and coaches are not allowed to sport hair past their collar ... and the only acceptable facial hair is a mustache.

UPDATE: A rep for the Steinbrenner family has released a statement saying, "It is with profound sadness that the family of George M. Steinbrenner III announces his passing. He passed away this morning in Tampa, Fla., at age 80."

The rep adds, "Funeral arrangements will be private. There will be an additional public service with details to be announced at a later date."

As he was walking into the building, a reporter asked, "Can you comment about what's happening today?

LT responded, "Darling ... grow up."

Mayer was out in NYC yesterday -- and when we asked about LeBron James, dude BS'd for a little while before finally admitting, "I play music ... we don't like sports ... we got beat up by guys like LeBron James."

he's sick of "faking" interest just to fit in with other "alpha males."

Jamison -- who joined the Cleveland Cavaliers during last season -- told our photog, "I'm happy for him, man. I hope he gets a championship."