TMZ Sports - Page 50

A 26-year-old Pennsylvania man just pled guilty to trying to extort former NFL star Hines Ward ... but TMZ has learned, he won't get any jail time.

Josh Van Auker pled guilty today to first degree misdemeanor attempted extortion ... after allegedly threatening to release evidence that the former Pittsburgh Steelers superstar paid women for sex. Van Auker allegedly demanded $15,000 for his silence.

He was arrested last October in a sting operation and charged with third degree felony attempted extortion ... but prosecutors agreed to reduce the charge.

Make no mistake about it, Jon Jones doesn't consider Chael Sonnen a "friend" -- even though Chael's been showering him with compliments lately ... in fact, Jones says he can't wait to punch Chael in the face this weekend.

Jones and his team were in NYC yesterday getting ready for the big fight at UFC 159 this Saturday -- when we asked if it would be weird punching a guy who's been so nice lately.

In case you missed it, Chael gushed about Jones to USA Today -- saying he's a "very nice guy" who could've beaten up both Mike Tyson and Muhammad Ali in the same day.

Doesn't seem like Jon was fazed by the flattery ...

As for Chael, he was also in NYC yesterday ... bragging about the size of his cojones. Dude's pretty funny ... check out the clip.

Former Philadelphia Eagles QB and soup pitchman Donovan McNabb was put to the test -- when asked to name the best soup of all-time. Get ready ... for the first (and probably last) Soup-er Bowl!

NFL draft favorite Jarvis "Dawg Bones" Jones is getting better footlong treatment than Jenna Jameson ... because TMZ has learned, Subway is giving him free sandwiches ... FOR LIFE!

Jarvis -- a projected 1st-rounder in tomorrow's NFL Draft -- just signed a tasty 6-figure endorsement deal with Subway ... that included the elusive Subway Black Card, which can be used to purchase all the sandwiches the holder wants, and never expires.

Jones -- a 6'3," 241-pound linebacker out of Georgia -- joins a pretty exclusive group of black card holders, which includes Michael Strahan and Robert Griffin III.

According to the experts, Jarvis will probably be selected within the first 10 picks of tomorrow's draft -- and will become an instant millionaire.

Barry Bonds GOT JACKED, SON!!!

Someone -- or someones -- stole Barry's famous home run champion plaque right off the stadium wall at AT&T ballpark in San Francisco last night.

The plaque was originally unveiled at the stadium a few years ago, after Barry smacked his 756th* dinger while playing for the SF Giants.

But a rep for the team says it went missing last night -- explaining, "We're not sure what happened. We're reviewing video, but haven't found anything yet.''

Stealing a home run plaque right off the wall?? That's gotta take some big, giant cojones ... so, obviously the culprit isn't a steroid user.

Just days after his DUI arrest, Al Michaels ventured back out to Hollywood to another fancy restaurant ... but instead of hiring a driver, he decided to take the wheel himself.

TMZ was outside of Toscana restaurant in Brentwood last night when Michaels -- along with his wife -- rolled up in the same black Mercedes-Benz he was driving the night of his arrest.

We broke the story ... Michaels was popped for drunk driving in Santa Monica on Friday after making an illegal U-turn in front of cops. Sources tell us his blood alcohol level was JUUUST above the legal limit.

Kendra Wilkinson is out of the hospital, shaken from a weekend car wreck ... and her tricked-out Audi is in even worse shape ... check out the photos we got.

The former Playmate was hospitalized Sunday after what was described as a nasty head-on crash in the San Fernando Valley. Kendra was bruised and battered but doctors found no broken bones.

Cops tell TMZ ... the person Kendra hit has neck and back injuries.

The initial investigation shows Kendra turned left in front of a car that had the right of way -- in other words, it looks like it's her fault.

The wife of former NFL player Hank Baskett dropped out from the ABC diving show "Splash" ... because she was scared of getting hurt.

Johnny Manziel may still be riding high on his Heisman win -- but insists the trophy is no pothead ... despite a photo circulating on the Internet.

The Texas A&M quarterback was photographed kissing his hardware this past weekend in Vegas, and it looks like Heisman is carrying a big fat blunt.

But Johnny says the photo's a fake! He just tweeted: "ABSOLUTELY PHOTOSHOPPED. People are always out to get me...sorry for kissing my trophy."

Then again ... Johnny football does like to party hard.

So, we've gotta ask ...

Al Michaels cracked a confused sorta half-smile when it came time for the mug shot following his DUI arrest this weekend ... and TMZ has obtained the pic.

We broke the story ... the 68-year-old broadcasting legend was arrested Friday night in Santa Monica when he allegedly made an illegal U-turn in front of a DUI checkpoint.

Michaels was arrested -- and sources tell us his blood-alcohol level was JUUUUST north of the legal limit.

Sources say Michaels couldn't have been nicer during the arrest.

Terrell Owens has no one to blame but himself for losing a fortune ... so says his financial guy.

Owens has sued Jeff Rubin, Edward Rappaport and Pro Sports Financial, claiming they grossly mismanaged his stash ... opening a bank account without his knowledge and then forging his signature, and leading him to really bad investments, including a failed Alabama casino.

Rubin is now firing back ... claiming T.O. was fully aware of everything ... and down with it all. Rubin thinks Terrell is a cry baby who just can't accept the fact that sometimes investments go South.

In a final scold, Rubin snarks ... T.O. was asleep at the wheel by not taking the time to understand what he was getting into and the risks he was taking.

Al Michaels -- perhaps the most well-known sportscaster in the world -- was arrested Friday night for suspicion of DUI ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... Michaels went through a DUI checkpoint in Santa Monica at approximately 10:00 PM on Friday and when he spoke to officers, they detected an odor of alcohol.

We're told he was pulled over and given a field sobriety and after performing poorly, he was placed under arrest. Michaels was released from jail at 4:15 AM on Saturday on his own recognizance.

According to our sources, Michaels blood alcohol level was right at the legal limit -- he blew a .08 and a .09 in two breathalyzer tests.

Our sources say Michaels could not have been nicer throughout the ordeal.

Michaels was the play-by-play man for "Monday Night Football" for 20 years before moving over to "Sunday Night Football." He's also done baseball and basketball ... but is best known for his call of the legendary "Miracle on Ice" hockey game at the 1980 Winter Olympics.

Seems Chad Johnson has officially abandoned his plan to win back his ex-wife Evelyn Lozada ... 'cause last night the former NFL star threw a little trash-talk her way ... and it's all on tape.

A well-dressed Johnson was leaving Dan Tana's in West Hollywood Thursday ... when we asked if he still talks to the woman he was convicted of battering last year.

His response? A diss ... followed by another diss.

As for Johnson's career -- the unemployed wide receiver told us he still plans to get back in the NFL ... but says he's got a backup plan in case that falls through.

Kris Humphries might have walked away from his divorce from Kim Kardashian with squat ... but he still had enough green to go grocery shopping near his apartment in NYC this morning.

Legendary fighter Micky Ward wants to make it clear to the world ... he has NO relationship with dead bombing suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev -- despite a photo which reportedly shows them arm-in-arm.

Micky's agent tells TMZ he's been hammered with calls ever since the 2006 photo was posted on a local Boston news site.

We can't confirm it's actually Tamerlan in the photo, but it sure looks like him. Nonetheless, a rep for Micky -- whose life was chronicled in "The Fighter" -- says, "It was just like any random person who came up to Micky and asked him for a picture."

The rep adds the former New England Golden Gloves champ had no professional or personal association with Tsarnaev.

As we previously reported ... Tsarnaev had high hopes about making the US Olympic boxing team.

Brooklyn Nets guard Joe Johnson made it clear to a judge in Georgia -- postpone his baby mama trial until AFTER the NBA playoffs ... or risk angering the entire team's passionate fan base.

As TMZ first reported, Joe filed a suit against baby mama Shannon Beckton to be legally recognized as the father of their kid and share custody. The case was set to be heard between April 15 and May 5.

Like teammate Kris Humphries, that trial window was a BIG problem for Joe ... since the Nets made the playoffs and it could easily conflict with court times. To get the date moved, Joe explained to the judge he's a key member of the Nets and "a vital part of that team's success."

Joe also argued that his absence violate his contract (worth $126 million) and could seriously "harm" the Nets' championship dreams -- which would mean less cash for him and less cash for his kid.

The judge agreed and postponed the trial.

With Blake Griffin and the L.A. Clippers heading into the NBA Playoffs, one question MUST be answered! Or so our camera guy thought, "Hey, ask a stupid question ..."