TMZ Sports - Page 50

When speaking of the Rodman incident, Gigi throws out heroic lines like, "If I had to be the one to go through it to have that be the catalyst [for rehab] ... I'm glad it was me." On the ex-husband front, she says her "maniacal" ex is "full of lies," and that she's appealing the restraining order.

Oh yeah, that busty girl to her right is her daughter.

So Ronaldo -- the Brazilian soccer star who got all ball when he hired what he thought were three female hookers last week -- just got the chop for his little tranny trip.

According to reports from the continent, Italian mobile firm TIM has dropped Ronaldo as a spokesjohn, canceling its $4.8 million contract with him. There's a clause in his contract that lets the company end the deal if he's involved in any bad PR.

Ronaldo, according to cops, had tried to buy off the he-shes. Clearly not nearly enough.

Indianapolis Colts star wideout Marvin Harrison has been interviewed by Philly police in connection with a shooting there this week.

Philadelphia PD confirms that an investigation into the shooting, in which a man was shot in the hand near a garage owned by Harrison, is "continuing" but stressed that they have no suspect yet. Harrison's agent says that he wasn't involved in the shooting and isn't the subject of the po-po's investigation.

Chris Ohman is suing the Lance Armstrong Foundation for making doggy versions of their yellow "livestrong" bracelets, because Chris claims he patented a "pet collar with an embossed slogan for encouraging charitable contributions" in November 2007. Ohman's collars say "barkstrong," which is definitely not a rip-off itself.

Royals fans can rest easy -- there won't be 25 crying kids in the crowd when David Cook comes to town.

Cook was approached by the Kansas City Royals to sing the national anthem at game on May 9. The problem is 25 elementary kids were already booked.

A spokesperson for the Royals told TMZ that Cook didn't feel comfortable bumping the kids -- so he'll sing "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" during the 7th inning stretch instead, and throw out the first pitch.

She's a family person, y'all!

In an interview this week, Canseco blamed his financial woes on a couple of divorces and the fact that after taxes, he was really only living on $17 or $18 million.

The slugger did admit that his financial situation is different than most Americans and that he felt sympathy for other families going through foreclosures -- with even fewer millions than he has.

The docs allege that the baller and his company, Sprewell Motorsports, haven't paid their credit card bills since September 29, 2007. They owe the bank $23,600.12, plus interest. And late fees, of course.

According to his credit card application, Sprewell used to make $1.2 million a month! His $23,000 bill is for less than he made in one day. What gives??

TMZ has learned the identity of the NBA star who was dating Rob Lowe's former nanny -- and he could be a big player in this case.

His name is Dale Davis and this is how he ties into the Rob Lowe story -- Lowe's former nanny, Laura Boyce, says that Rob's wife Sheryl constantly made sexual remarks around her about her boyfriend's genitals. Boyce dated Davis while she worked for the Lowes. Boyce claims Sheryl once said Boyce "got strep throat from sucking ni***r d**k. I mean black d**k."

Larry Stein, Sheryl's lawyer, tells TMZ the allegations are false and notes that the former nanny didn't make a single sexual harassment claim against Rob.

Davis, who stands nearly 7' tall, had a long career in the NBA but is currently out of the league.

In the video -- shot inside a bar hours before -- Rodman and his girlfriend, Gigi, appeared quite affectionate and in good spirits. Rodman's rep told us they had too much to drink before the hotel altercation.

He was arrested at 11:00 PM at a Century City hotel and was released early this morning.

Law enforcement tells us they charge suspects with a felony if there is evidence of injury, such as bruising or blood.

Rodman was released on $50,000 bail today at 4:16 AM.

UPDATE: Rodman's manager Darren Prince tells TMZ, "Last night Dennis and his girlfriend had too much to drink. When they returned to their hotel they started arguing and a minor altercation broke out where Dennis grabbed her by the arm and left a bruise." Hotel security got involved and called LAPD, who responded and made the arrest. We're told Dennis plans to enter a rehab facility immediately upon returning to Florida because -- according to Prince -- "his drinking has been escalating in the last six weeks due to a nasty divorce and not seeing his children in over two months."

Sure it's cheaper ... but these guys can probably afford the extra couple hundred to fly first class.

Brazilian futbol star Ronaldo has been caught playing in his own personal "Crying Game."

The 31-year-old AC Milan forward claims he's become a victim of extortion after he unknowingly took three transvestite prostitutes back to his Rio motel on Monday. Save him, Eddie Murphy! After realizing the gals were actually guys, the transvestites claim Ronaldo threatened to harm and tried to bribe them to keep the entire incident silent. Good luck with that.

In February, Ronaldo suffered a career-threatening knee injury and, according to Reuters, has been suffering "psychological problems" from recent surgery.

Rider, who played for the Lakers and Timberwolves, was busted last month while driving through Skid Row in L.A. for failure to stop at the limit line at an intersection. He originally was booked for grand theft auto -- since the 2001 Chevy Monte Carlo he was driving seemed to have been a stolen vehicle -- but only was charged with one misdemeanor count of driving with a suspended license. Isaiah was released on $25,000 bail.

He already has an alleged prior conviction for driving with suspended license back in 2007.

Story developing...

Michael Merriweather, who played for the Pittsburgh Steelers, alleges in his suit that the company blocked him from leads and bonuses, an office, and even a telephone line, all because he was black.

Hilariously, he claims that a manager once mocked his NFL career by "lower[ing] his shoulder" and almost knocked him over, causing him stomach sickness and headaches. Who knew insurance agents could hit?

Other times, says the 'backer, he was called "Kobe" or "Tyson" when those athletes got into hot water with the law. No one ever said insurance people were funny -- or creative.