TMZ Sports - Page 50

CM Punk's legal wish has been granted -- a judge has issued a 2-year restraining order against the WWE superstar's estranged mother after she allegedly bombarded him with threats, TMZ has learned.

We broke the story ... Punk filed legal docs in Illinois claiming his mom threatened to commit suicide several times after he stopped giving her money to pay for her living situation. Punk also claimed his mom had threatened to expose humiliating secrets from his past.

Punk had already received a temporary restraining order against his mom -- but today, the judge decided to extend the order of protection for 2 years.

And boom goes the dynamite ... NFL star Aaron Hernandez' biggest sponsor PUMA has just dropped him like a hot potato.

A rep for PUMA tells TMZ, "PUMA has ended the relationship with athlete Aaron Hernandez in light of the current situation."

Hernandez signed the 2-year endorsement deal with PUMA in April 2013 as the face of its "training category." It's unclear how much the deal was worth ... but safe to say, a lot.

As we reported, Hernandez is currently in custody awaiting his murder trial. Hernandez was charged with 1st degree murder and 5 other gun-related charges in connection with the death of a 27-year-old former semi-pro football player named Odin Lloyd.

Hernandez is being held without bail.

NFL star and murder suspect Aaron Hernandez has just been denied bail ... meaning he'll rot behind bars until his trial ... and that could take forever.

Hernandez was present in court today for a bail review hearing, where his lawyer begged the judge to release Hernandez from custody while he awaits trial.

But the judge wasn't moved by his arguments -- that Hernandez is an upstanding citizen and family man with no flight risk -- claiming the prosecution already had very strong evidence that Hernandez had committed the crime.

As for the evidence ... the prosecutor went through the entire timeline leading up to the murder of Odin Lloyd earlier this month, including matching shell casings found at the murder scene and inside Hernandez' rental car. He also mentioned the photo TMZ posted last night -- showing Hernandez brandishing a glock in the mirror 4 years ago -- claiming it's possible the murder weapon was also a glock.

The prosecutor said they'd be seeking the max sentence for Hernandez ... life without parole.

Hernandez' fiancee -- who was also present in court -- was inconsolable when the judge issued her decision to keep the NFL star behind bars.

As we reported, Hernandez was remanded into custody yesterday following his arraignment and was ordered to be held WITHOUT bail.

Hernandez has been charged with murder in the death of 27-year-old Odin Lloyd. He's also been hit with 5 gun-related charges.

Officials in Massachusetts will NOT confirm if Aaron Hernandez is connected to a 2012 double murder investigation ... but they're not exactly denying it either.

There are reports that Hernandez is being investigated about a shooting incident from July 2012 -- when two men were killed in a late-night drive-by in Boston.

We reached out to the Suffolk County District Attorney ... and a rep for the office would only confirm there is an "active investigation" into the case.

When we pushed and asked if Hernandez was a person of interest ... the rep had no comment.

However, one source close to the situation tells us, "It's safe to assume he is now involved."

Stay tuned ...

TMZ has obtained a photo of Aaron Hernandez throwing up gang signs often associated with the Bristol Bloods street gang in Connecticut ... while dressed head-to-toe in red clothing.

The photo was taken approximately 6 years ago, when Aaron was 17-years-old ... and a senior at Bristol Central High.

Aaron was long-rumored to be a member of the gang ... and now, with this photo -- combined with the "blood" tattoo spotted on his hand during his arraignment -- the doubt has seemingly been erased.

23-year-old Hernandez has been charged with the murder of 27-year-old Odin Lloyd. He's due back in court later today.

6:45 AM PT Arenas was booked for misdemeanor possession, and has been released without bail. We're told there were 100 POUNDS of fireworks in the truck.

Ex-NBA star Gilbert Arenas' 4th of July is gonna suck -- 'cause he got nailed by cops early this morning for illegal fireworks -- A TON OF ILLEGAL FIREWORKS -- as in a full truckload of 'em ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell us Arenas was pulled over by California Highway Patrol around 2:30 AM in Los Angeles for speeding in a Ford pickup -- but officers immediately saw that the truck was filled with fireworks ... sitting in plain sight in the bed and cab of the truck.

We're told Arenas was arrested and will be booked for possession of illegal fireworks, and cited for speeding -- he was allegedly doing 80 mph -- and driving without a license.

It's unclear exactly how much fireworks were in the truck, but it was enough that the LAPD bomb squad was called to handle the illegal booty.

Our camera guy counted around 20 boxes being unloaded ... very carefully.

Arenas -- whose last NBA team was the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2011-12 season -- was infamously busted for gun possession when he brandished a loaded pistol in his Washington Wizards locker room back in 2010.

Aaron Hernandez was in constant fear that someone wanted him dead ... and that's why he stocked up on firearms ... sources close to the former New England Patriots star tell TMZ.

We're told ... the stories about Aaron's connections to gang members in Connecticut are real -- because the 23-year-old had joined one back when he was a teenager.

Sources connected to Aaron tell us ... he had been trying to move away from the gangster life ever since he signed his fat $40 million contract with the Patriots back in 2012, but it's not as easy as it sounds.

In fact, we're told Aaron believed people in the gangster world felt Aaron owed them something ... but it wasn't all about money -- they wanted his time and respect.

Sources say ... in the months leading up to the death of Odin Lloyd, Hernandez became paranoid that people from his "old lifestyle" were trying to kill him. It's unclear if Aaron feared scorned friends ... or rivals.

Scottie Pippen's brawl with a fan outside Nobu in Malibu was totally unprovoked -- so says Scottie's alleged victim, who tells TMZ, he never ONCE said the n-word ... and simply asked for a photo.

The 48-year-old -- who didn't want to be named -- tells us, he first spotted Scottie inside the restaurant on Sunday while waiting for a table.

The fan, his girlfriend and Scottie eventually ended up sitting near each other ... so the fan says he asked to take a photo with the NBA legend for his 12-year-old son.

According to the guy, Scottie didn't want to get up from his table to pose with him, but allowed the fan to take a photo of him sitting down (below).

When the fan saw Scottie leaving, he says he approached the ex-Bulls star in the parking lot -- thinking it wasn't a big deal -- and again asked for a pic WITH Scottie, knowing it would mean a lot to his son.

He tells us Scottie turned and said, "I told you no motherf***er" ... and then spit at him and punched him, at which point the victim fell to the ground. He says the last thing he remembers is seeing Pippen's shoe coming at his face.

According to the victim, he woke up in the hospital Monday with a concussion, fractured ribs, busted lip and chin, a broken tailbone, and possible brain injuries. He's back at home now.

As for Pippen's allegation the man spewed the n-word and spit at him ... the fan says not true -- "It’s sad to see Scottie is trashing me. I never called him the N word, and I haven’t done anything to that guy ... What’s the big deal? Taking one picture with a fan."

The man says police have already interviewed him and his girlfriend, but right now he doesn't plan to sue. "I'm not thinking about anything at the moment but getting better."

Calls to Scottie's people weren't returned.

When TMZ asked Aaron Hernandez about a hypothetical bounty on his head ... all he could do was smile and laugh -- then again, the footage was shot nearly 4 months before he allegedly killed someone.

We found this clip showing the former New England Patriots star leaving Saddle Ranch on March 5 ... sporting a big ol' smile as we asked him about the NFL bounty scandal.

Now, of course, the term "hit" has taken on a totally different meaning ... as the 23-year-old faces murder charges in the slaying of 27-year-old Odin Lloyd.

Prosecutors believe they have a CRUCIAL piece of evidence that proves Aaron Hernandez murdered Odin Lloyd ... and the proof tastes like cotton candy.

As Aaron stood shackled in a Massachusetts courtroom moments ago, prosecutors spelled out their case against the former New England Patriots player.

During the hearing, prosecutors say they can prove Hernandez stopped at a gas station hours before the murder and purchased gas, cigarettes and BLUE COTTON CANDY FLAVORED BUBBLICIOUS BUBBLE GUM.

After Odin was murdered, investigators say they found a shell casing in his rental car that matched the caliber of the bullet used to kill the 27-year-old ... and next to the casing -- A CHEWED PIECE OF BLUE COTTON CANDY FLAVORED BUBBLICIOUS BUBBLE GUM.

Officials believe the gum places Hernandez at the scene of the crime -- and proves he killed Odin.

Former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez has just been charged with murder in connection with the death of a 27-year-old former semi-pro football player named Odin Lloyd.

23-year-old Hernandez was arraigned this morning in a Massachusetts courtroom. He has since been remanded into custody without bail.

In addition to murder, Hernandez has been charged with 1 count of carrying a gun without a license, 2 counts of possession of a large firearm, and 2 counts of firearm possession. He has pled not guilty.

FYI, there is no death penalty in Massachusetts ... so that's not an option in this case.

The DA said Lloyd was shot multiple times in the groin, arm, side, chest and back with a .45 caliber semi automatic weapon before his body was discovered last Monday.

Prosecutors say there was communication between the victim and Hernandez just 10 hours before the victim's death. They believe they have video showing Lloyd getting into Hernandez' car around that time. They also say Hernandez had been texting Lloyd.

The DA said keys were found in Lloyd's pocket to a car that had been rented by Hernandez.

The Friday before Lloyd's body was found, prosecutors say Hernandez and Lloyd went to a nightclub together.

As for the motive, prosecutors believe Odin had said something recently to Hernandez that destroyed his trust.

As we reported, Hernandez was arrested today at his Massachusetts home after Lloyd's body was discovered close to the NFL star's home last week.

Lloyd is believed to have been dating the sister of Aaron's fiancee at the time of his murder.

WWE superstar CM Punk has obtained a restraining order against his estranged mother -- claiming she constantly hits him up for money and then threatens to kill herself if he doesn't come through ... TMZ has learned.

Punk -- real name Phillip Brooks -- claims in legal docs filed in Illinois that he's tried to break off his relationship with his mother for more than a year "due to repeated financial demands and years of abusive, harassing and threatening behavior."

In the document, Punk says he's made an effort to help his mom -- who he claims suffers from bipolar disorder -- giving her more than $100,000. But Punk says her "abusive/threatening behavior" escalated when he cut her off.

That's when Punk's mom allegedly unleashed a torrent of nasty emails -- telling the wrestler, "You don't give a s**t about us. You just care about your money and money hungry/fame hungry friends. You would sell us for a nickel."

Punk also says his mother threatened to release potentially embarrassing information about her son's past. Punk suggests the information has to do with arrests when he was in high school.

In the docs, Punk says his mother has threatened to commit suicide on at least 4 occasions in 2012.

Punk says, "I wish for the harassment to stop and am requesting the assistance of the court in this regards."

World record-setting Grand Canyon tightrope walker Nik Wallenda won't have to worry about scaring the pants off himself anymore -- because one jeans company has offered to keep him stocked with trouserly replacements for life.

FYI, Wallenda was wearing Buffalo Jeans when he performed his highwire stunt on Sunday -- becoming the first man ever to cross a massive gorge near the Grand Canyon -- and the jeans company wants to express its gratitude by giving him a lifetime supply of their threads.

A rep for Buffalo tells us, "We know we have brand loyalists but this takes it to a whole new level -- literally."

The rep says Wallenda's wife and children will also be receiving a lifetime supply of Buffalo jeans.

As for some kind of business partnership, or spokesperson agreement, Buffalo says nothing of the kind has been discussed just yet. The rep says, "We can discuss business later."

And if free jeans weren't enough, Buffalo has also erected a thank-you billboard to Wallenda in Times Square.

The New England Patriots have DROPPED tight end Aaron Hernandez in the wake of the NFL star's arrest early Wednesday morning ... and the team says the move was the "right thing to do."

23-year-old Hernandez was a rising star with the Patriots and signed a 5-year contract worth $40 MILLION just last summer.

The Patriots just released a statement saying, "A young man was murdered last week and we extend our sympathies to the family and friends who mourn his loss. Words cannot express the disappointment we feel knowing that one of our players was arrested as a result of this investigation."

"We realize that law enforcement investigations into this matter are ongoing. We support their efforts and respect the process. At this time, we believe this transaction is simply the right thing to do.”

Officials have not announced what Hernandez has been charged with so far ... but the charges will be revealed when Hernandez appears in court for his arraignment later today.

8:55 AM PT -- The NFL has issued a statement ... saying, "The involvement of an NFL player in a case of this nature is deeply troubling."

8:53 AM PT -- The Patriots are scrubbing any trace of Hernandez from the organization -- removing all A.H. merchandise from the team store ... and erasing him from the official roster on the team website.

New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez has been ARRESTED in connection with the murder of a man whose body was discovered close to the NFL star's home.

Hernandez was taken into custody at his home in Massachusetts. He was handcuffed and led into a waiting police cruiser, which left the scene moments later ... presumably headed for a local police station.

The 23-year-old NFL star is reportedly set to be arraigned later today.

There are reports based on law enforcement sources that Hernandez destroyed evidence and could be charged with obstruction of justice. So far, no formal charges have been announced.

The move comes days after cops searched Hernandez's Massachusetts home ... looking for evidence connected to the murder of 27-year-old Odin Lloyd, an ex semi-pro football player.

Lloyd's body was discovered in a park in North Attleborough, Mass last Monday. It appears he was shot through the back of the head.

Lloyd's family says the NFL star does have a connection to Lloyd -- but they wouldn't elaborate. According to reports, Lloyd had been dating the sister of Hernandez's fiancée.

TMZ broke the story ... Hernandez is also facing a lawsuit stemming from a separate incident, in which he allegedly shot a man in the face following a dispute at a Miami strip club back in February.

Hernandez is a rising star with the Patriots and signed a 5-year contract worth $40 MILLION just last summer.

With a combined net worth somewhere in the $100 million range (maybe more) ... NBA superstar brothers Pau and Marc Gasol saved a few bucks by yachting TOGETHER in Spain this week.

With the 2012-13 NBA season officially over ... and zero combined championship rings to show for it ... the two 7-footers decided to chill on a fancy boat in Menorca, Spain.

... don't you ever forget!!!