TMZ Sports - Page 50

Khloe Kardashian is finally coming to her husband's defense -- claiming Lamar Odom is not the shady charity scammer he was made out to be in an ESPN report.

Mrs. Odom lashed out in a statement posted on her website ... saying, "It is unfortunate that my husband has been the target of an attack on athletes’ charities, although he has personally contributed approximately $2.2 million to his foundation, Cathy’s Kids, to fulfill its charitable purposes that include helping underprivileged inner-city youth."

Khloe is clearly going after an "Outside the Lines" report that said there was NO evidence that any of the $2.2 million raised by the charity went towards cancer research, as the mission statement for the charity said it would. Instead, the report says a majority of the cash went towards two "elite" youth basketball teams.

During the "OTL" report, Lamar bizarrely explained, "It's my money" ... and now Khloe is trying to clear up Odom's comment ... saying her husband personally contributed "more than 90% of the money raised by the foundation."

She adds, "All of the funds donated by Lamar and the other contributions to Cathy’s Kids were used for one of the foundation’s intended charitable purposes. Not one penny went to help Lamar personally or any member of his family. No charitable funds were misused, and the IRS has repeatedly given Cathy’s Kids a clean bill of health, confirming that there were no improprieties."

"Cathy’s Kids was formed with several purposes in mind, including benefitting underprivileged youth and cancer research. A decision was ultimately made that the charity should focus on one of those purposes -- to help enrich the lives of underprivileged inner-city youth."

Kobe Bryant is awestruck by a former Lakers star who rivals him -- Magic Johnson ... telling TMZ Magic's support of his gay son is a lesson everyone, including pro athletes, should learn.

TMZ broke the story ... Magic and Cookie are 100% behind their son, EJ, who is openly gay. Kobe tells us ... "Of course Magic is supportive of and loves his son. Why should anyone be surprised?"

Kobe says, "What I can't tolerate is a lack of tolerance."

The strong implication -- tolerance is not just limited to parents and their kids, but to pro athletes whose teammates may soon come out of the closet.

In case you aren't reading between the lines -- given Kobe's stature, his statement could have a huge impact on athletes coming out.

Ex-NFL star Joe Theismann might be out-gruesomed for the most stomach churning sports injury of all-time ... thanks to Louisville's Kevin Ware.

But just in case, let's grab a bucket ... and rundown the contenders.

After recently getting back together, Hayden Panettiere and her giant boyfriend Wladimir Klitschko continued on their face sucking PDA tour by soaking up the sun -- and each other -- on the beach in Hollywood, Florida on Tuesday.

With rumors speculating they are already engaged, a ringless Hayden showed off her lady curves in a sexy purple fringe bikini, while Wlad bronzed his jacked up boxer's physique by going shirtless.

Lamar Odom is facing allegations the tax exempt charity he created is being sketchy with its money ... and not donating ANY cash to cancer research, despite the charity's mission statement.

Lamar established the charity -- Cathy's Kids -- in memory of his mother, who died from cancer when he was 12 ... and initially stated that the purpose of the charity was to help underprivileged kids and raise money for cancer research.

But according to official records -- obtained by ESPN's "Outside the Lines" -- there is no evidence any of the money ever went to fight cancer.

There is proof, however, $1.3 million of the $2.2 million that was raised went toward funding two "elite" youth basketball teams -- the insinuation is that the kids on the teams were so good, they were already on college radars for scholarships and other financial help.

Of the remaining $900k, there is no evidence based on available documentation that any of it went to cancer research. In fact, according to OTL, there's no evidence whatsoever of where the money went.

Lamar sat down for an interview with ESPN producers -- he brushed off questions about where the money went by saying it was all his dough, despite the fact the money was raised through solicitations on his website, Khloe Kardashian's website and others.

Magic Johnson's 20-year-old son hit the Sunset Strip, hand in hand with his boyfriend ... and his parents couldn't be happier for their kid.

Earvin Johnson III -- aka EJ -- is one of Magic's 3 kids. The Lakers legend tells TMZ, "Cookie and I love EJ and support him in every way." Magic goes on, "We're very proud of him."

The feeling is mutual ... 'cause EJ told us he's been "hoping and praying" for his dad's team, the Los Angeles Dodgers, ever since Magic and his business partners took over the franchise.

He's also a huge Lakers fan ... obviously.

EJ -- who's a student at NYU -- has a close relationship with his parents. Back in August, Magic tweeted, "Thx to my son EJ for hosting me at NYU. Look forward to taking him to dinner tonight in the city."

Funny moment with NFL superstar Adrian Peterson ... when our guy was shooting the Minnesota Vikings running back in D.C. yesterday ... and fell ... HARD!!

It's pretty funny ... we were talking to A.P. about gay athletes in professional sports -- and he gave an interesting answer -- but that's when a stationary orange construction cone TOTALLY ATTACKED OUR PHOTOG!!

Our guy never saw it coming and went crashing to the ground as Adrian did the play-by-play -- "Down goes Frazier!!"

NFL legend Joe Theismann -- famous for suffering one of the gruesomest career-ending injuries in sports history -- is optimistic about the recovery of Louisville basketball player Kevin Ware ... telling TMZ, Kevin's young enough to make a full comeback.

Theismann says he saw 20-year-old Ware's injury on TV Sunday night when it happened ... Louisville was playing Duke and Ware jumped to block a 3-pointer ... but he landed wrong on his foot and snapped his right shinbone through his skin.

Theismann -- whose QB career came to an end in 1985 when Lawrence Taylor snapped his leg like a twig during "Monday Night Football" -- tells us, "I got sick to my stomach ... It brought back a lot of memories that weren't very pleasant for me."

TMZ has obtained the 911 call placed by Ric Flair ... moments after the wrestling legend discovered his son Reid Flair unresponsive in a Charlotte, NC hotel room.

Ric frantically tells the operator, "He's out cold! He's out cold and he's purple!"

As we reported, Ric's 25-year-old son Reid -- who had just returned to the U.S. after wrestling in Japan -- passed away on March 29th.

After a long, grueling match, tennis star Andy Murray celebrated winning the Sony Open by soaking his ripped abs -- and farmer's tan -- in the warm waters off Key Biscayne in Miami on Sunday.

Just one day after Kevin Ware snapped his shinbone in what might've been the grisliest injury ever broadcast on TV, the Louisville guard is back on his feet ... with the help of crutches.

The 20-year-old was just photographed at an Indianapolis hospital looking surprisingly good ... his leg freshly bandaged after surgery.

In case you missed the game, Ware snapped his leg -- through his skin -- during Louisville's game against Duke yesterday. Ware was attempting to block a 3-point shot and landed wrong. Google at your own risk.

Ware underwent a two-hour procedure following the injury ... doctors had to insert a rod into his tibia ... but thankfully, everything went well.

Things former basketball star Cuttino Mobley hasn't done in a while:
A) Play in the NBA
B) Pay his credit card bill

Mobley -- who signed a five-year contract back in 2005 for $42 million -- is being sued for running up a $95,846.62 American Express bill which has gone unpaid.

A rep for Cuttino tells us someone used Cuttino's card without permission and therefore he's disputing the charges.

Michael Jordan isn't ready to call it quits with his alleged baby mama drama just yet ... in fact, he wants the lady who accused him of spawning her 16-year-old son to PAY UP for all the trouble she caused.

As TMZ first reported, Pamela Smith went after Jordan in court, claiming he knocked her up back in 1995, and asked a judge to order a DNA test to make the paternity official.

The NBA star called B.S. and denied the kid was his and then, rather suddenly, Pamela dismissed the suit without explanation.

Now MJ has filed new legal docs asking the case be kept open so he can file a counter-claim against Smith to cover his court costs and whatever other sanctions a judge deems necessary.

Reid Flair never got to wrestle Friday night after he passed away unexpectedly ... so the folks at Big Time Wrestling paid tribute to the 25-year-old with a 10 bell salute in his honor.

Reid -- who recently returned to the states after wrestling in Japan -- was scheduled to appear at an event for Big Time Wrestling in Hagerstown, MD along with his dad, WWE legend Ric Flair.

But Reid never made it -- he was found dead in his hotel room early Friday morning.

Following the tragic events, Big Time Wrestling took time out before the show began to honor the wrestler's life ... by giving him a traditional wrestler's memoriam.

Thanks to our friends at rfvideo.com for the clip.

Olympic skiing champ Bode Miller wants to be in his son's life ... so much so, he's asking a judge to force his new baby mama to bring the kid back to California.

TMZ broke the story ... Bode's been battling Sara McKenna since filing a paternity suit demanding shared custody of their one-month-old son. McKenna has claimed Bode's a terrible dad ... who asked her to abort the child.

Bode insisted he has a good track record as a dad ... citing his relationship with another child, from a previous relationship.

Now, Bode has filed docs, asking a judge order Sara to take the baby out of New York ... and return to San Diego, where Bode lives. He also wants an order stating she needs written consent, if she wants to take the kid out of CA.

L.A. Lakers legend Jerry West is a slam dunk for best dad ever ... dropping $1.3 mil on a condo for his 24-year-old son. No justice.

The 3,000-square-foot condo sits on a golf course in the exclusive MountainGate complex on L.A.'s Westside. And speaking of West and side ... the condo is 5 minutes from Jerry's estate.

The West kid will have 2 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, hardwood floors, high ceilings, spa tub, top-of-the-line finishes and golf course views. Homeowners dues -- $980 a month.