TMZ Sports - Page 50

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Riley Cooper needs some serious n-word counseling ... so much so he's taken a leave from the team.

A rep for the Eagles was blunt and to the point: "Riley Cooper will be seeking counseling and we have excused him from all team activities."

The rep says Riley needs to understand how his racist threats -- to fight every n***er at the Kenny Chesney concert -- are hurtful.

The team is hedging over whether Cooper will be welcome back.

For his part, Riley says, "The organization and my teammates have been extremely supportive, but I also realize that there are people who will have a tough time forgiving me for what I’ve done. The best thing for me, and for the team, is to step away for a period of time."

Alex Rodriguez will never play baseball again ... is what some people think -- just because he scarfed down 20 wings at a Hooters, just as he's supposed to be getting in game shape.

Before you dismiss the theory, please note -- A-Rod also had CURLY FRIES!! Boom.

Aaron Hernandez wrote a pen pal a letter from inside his jail cell, declaring his innocence, saying his murder charges are God's plan, and vowing to return to the NFL ... and TMZ has a copy.

We have verified with law enforcement the

is the real deal. You can read it yourself ... among the highlights:

-- "The world just makes things out of false accusations ... and it will all die down, especially when they say NOT GUILTY"

-- "All the people who turned on me will feel like crap."

-- "God put me in this situation for a reason."

-- "Can't wait to sign [autographs] again when I'm playing again an [sic] prove all the haters WRONG."

As for the fan who received the letter, Karl ... he just called in to "TMZ Live" and told us he wrote Hernandez first.

Karl says he sent the letter because he was in the same jail 15 years ago, and wanted to reach out to Hernandez to give him some encouragement.

Karl also says he would like to visit Aaron in jail -- if Aaron will let him.

FYI, Hernandez -- who's been accused of murdering semi-pro football player Odin Lloyd -- has been denied bail and will remain behind bars until his trial.

His face was blasted open ... his eyes were swollen shut ... but MMA fighter Mike Barreras still posed for a photo after getting destroyed in a Bellator fight -- and the pic is NASTY!!!!

Barreras' ass-whooping came at the hands of Bubba Jenkins -- who put a hurting on Mike during an undercard fight at "Bellator 97," which aired on Spike TV.

He was a joke in "Street Fighter" ... he sucked in "Double Team" ... but Jean-Claude Van Damme could BEAT YOUR ASS in real life, so says UFC champ Georges St-Pierre.

A well-dressed GSP was out being a badass in NYC yesterday when we asked if he thought martial arts legend Bruce Lee would be able to dominate in today's UFC (c'mon, of course he would).

But Georges said the superfight he'd REALLY like to see is Van Damme vs. Chuck Norris -- "I think that would have been the best showdown."

GSP says he's trained with JC in the past and says the Muscles from Brussels is no joke when it comes to fighting (see: final scene from "Bloodsport").

Of course, Chuck Norris is kind of a badass too -- he once FOUGHT A BEAR!

With his career in jeopardy and cheating allegations swirling ... Alex Rodriguez found comfort at a Hooters in Florida this weekend ... TMZ has learned.

We've confirmed ... A-Rod and a lady friend walked in to the chicken joint in Sarasota, Florida this weekend and went to town on chicken wings.

Hooters sources ... yeah, we got those ... tell us A-Rod and his woman woofed down a total of 20 wings (medium sauce) along with an order of curly fries ... and washed it down with a soda and an unsweetened tea.

We're told A-rod left a pretty great tip and was super nice to everyone in the restaurant.

Unclear if either Alex or the chickens tested positive for growth hormones.

Former NFL star Shawne Merriman is a certified badass on the football field -- but tackling the "American Ninja Warrior" course is next level.

And Shawne, let's just say real ninjas don't lose fights ... with trampolines!

The guy who attacked WWE Superstar Randy Orton during a live event in South Africa yesterday turned out to be a wrestler after all ... but not one who works for the WWE.

According to Enca.com in South Africa ... 20-year old Tshepo Sekhabi -- an independent wrestler who calls himself "Jozi the Wrestling Machine" -- told the site he hoped to catch the attention of WWE officials by going rogue and jumping Orton after his match.

As we previously reported ... Tshepo snuck his way past security yesterday during an unscripted segment -- entering the ring and blasting the wrestler with a mean low blow.

Sekhabi told the site, "I just don’t like Randy Orton; this was an opportunity for me ... so I got up there and made a name for myself.”

Bad move -- because a case investigator says Sekhabi was instantly booted from the hotel that was hosting the event.

The investigator says Tshepo wasn't "formally arrested" ... but says Orton is free to pursue further legal action against Sekhabi.

A rep for WWE says Orton is "considering pressing charges" but no decision has been made yet.

2:54 PM PT -- The Eagles tell TMZ ... Cooper has been FINED for making the comments and "has accepted responsibility for his words and actions."

The team tells us, "This sort of behavior or attitude from anyone has no role in a civil society."

The Eagles did not specify the amount of the fine.

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Riley Cooper -- who is white -- is begging for forgiveness after a video surfaced showing the 25-year-old threatening to fight "every n**ger" at a country music concert.

The video was shot June 9 during a Kenny Chesney concert in Philadelphia ... where a sleeveless Cooper turned to the camera and says, "I will jump that fence and fight every n**ger here.”

Now, after the video, which first appeared on CrossingBroad.com, began making the rounds on various websites, Cooper has released a statement saying, "I am so ashamed and disgusted with myself. I want to apologize."

"I have been offensive. I have apologized to my coach, to Jeffrey Lurie, to Howie Roseman and to my teammates. I owe an apology to the fans and to this community. I am so ashamed, but there are no excuses. What I did was wrong and I will accept the consequences.”

The Eagles had high hopes for Cooper going into the 2013 season -- and was expected to be a starter when the season kicks off in September.

Pro fireballer Brian Wilson says it's "f**king exciting" to bring his talents -- and his tremendous facial hair -- to L.A., telling TMZ he's pumped to play for the Dodgers.

A mohawked Wilson was leaving Equinox gym in L.A. yesterday -- right after signing a 1-year, $1 million deal with the Dodgers -- and expressed his excitement as only Brian Wilson can.

"Well, I'm a pretty big America fan ... red, white and Dodger blue, I guess."

The 31-year-old ex-San Francisco Giants pitcher says he's grateful to get another shot in the bigs after undergoing Tommy John surgery last April ... but insists he harbors no ill will toward his former team.

"I got much love for San Francisco. We had a good time. But there's nothing I can do ... they don't want me back."

When asked about the storied rivalry between the squads, Wilson explained, "I don't worry about rivalry, bro ... I just play baseball, you know."

Welcome to L.A..

It's official, Shaun White dominates everything he touches -- snowboards, skateboards, surfboards, and now electric guitars ... and we got video proof last night.

If you haven't heard ... Shaun plays lead guitar in a band called Bad Things -- and last night their summer tour stopped at DC9 in Washington, DC.

The Olympic gold medalist had a Gibson Les Paul sunburst ax slung over his shoulder during the gig ... and while he's not Slash or Stevie Ray Vaughan just yet ... dude ripped off a decent solo.

Next up for Shaun -- the World Cup of Pottery!

A crazed WWE fan has been arrested after climbing into the ring during an event in South Africa today ... and blasting Randy Orton in the nuts, TMZ has learned.

The video is pretty wild -- the fan jumps into the ring and sneaks up behind Randy while the wrestler is on the turnbuckle ... and swings his arm up between Randy's legs. Security immediately jumps in and drags the fan away, but not before Randy attempts to kick the guy.

A rep for the WWE tells TMZ, "Randy was violently attacked from behind" by the fan -- who was not part of the show ... and is now in police custody.

There's a GOOD REASON you've never seen a 260-pound "Ninja Warrior," 'cause they suck on trampolines ... so says ex-NFL star Shawne Merriman.

Shawne knows from experience -- the former San Diego Chargers linebacker recently appeared on the show ... and started off strong ... only to crash hard when it came time to negotiate the trampoline obstacle.

"260 don't work on trampolines," Merriman says ... "My weight made the trampoline touch the ground."

Gotta give the guy credit -- he actually put together a pretty solid run before bailing on the jump. But SM says if he's invited back next year, he GUARANTEES he'll finish the course.

Paula Deen has a very powerful ally ... 'cause undefeated boxing champ Laila Ali tells TMZ she's still got Deen's back, even after the n-word controversy.

Right before Deen's kingdom came crumbling down, Laila joined Deen on the Food Network show "Paula's Best Dishes" back in April to cook up some Cloverleaf Rolls, Brussels sprouts, stewed beef and cheese grits.

Since her appearance, Deen has basically been branded a racist due to the fact she admitted using the N-word in private.

So, when Laila and her husband, former NFL star Curtis Conway, rolled into Malibu yesterday, we had to ask how she felt about the disgraced chef.

L.A. Dodgers sensation Yasiel Puig went back to Cuba last night -- or as close as he's gonna get to it in Hollywood ... and a TMZ camera guy was there to roll out the bad Spanglish welcome mat.

Puig hit up El Floridita restaurant in Hollywood last night for some of L.A.'s most authentic Cuban food and music -- and on the way out our guy hit him up about ... "los playoffs."

Gotta give our guy credit ... Puig's English ain't so good yet, so we gave it the old high school Spanish try. Shout out to Google Translate too.

Daniel "Boobie" Gibson tells TMZ ... he was just defending his wife's honor when he got into an altercation with a man at the Essence Music Festival earlier this month ... after the guy disrespected Keyshia Cole in a "profane way."

Gibson -- who played with the Cleveland Cavaliers last season -- just called in to "TMZ Live" to explain why he turned himself in to police in New Orleans today on 2nd degree battery charges.

Boobie says Keyshia was performing at the event ... when some guy approached her and spouted off some very "disrespectful" comments toward the singer.

Boobie says an altercation broke out and "safety was threatened" ... so Boobie says he "needed to take action."