TMZ Sports - Page 50

If you live in California, we all did the same thing last night -- we wondered, 'Who the hell sent me this Amber Alert on my cell phone ... and how can I turn it off?"

It happened at 10:54 pm -- cell phones across the state started buzzing, sending people (especially sleeping people) scrambling to find out which app was responsible for the late night push notification.

Turns out, there's an Amber Alert setting in the "notification" section of your iPhone -- that most people didn't know about until last night ... when everyone from Shaquille O'Neal to Mike Epps to our camera guys got the message.

More trouble for the New York Jets -- ANOTHER running back was arrested. This time, the perp is Joe McKnight who was busted in Jersey on outstanding warrants during a routine traffic stop.

McKnight -- who was drafted out of USC in 2010 -- was initially pulled over in Hanover Township on July 30 around 11am after cops noticed his 2010 Mercedes speeding and changing lanes without signaling.

But during the stop, the officer ran Joe's plates -- and noticed outstanding warrants for his arrest for (1) failing to pay a $200 fine because he didn't have proof of insurance during a previous incident and (2) failing to pay a $120 fine for a prior routine traffic violation.

According to the New York Post, 25-year-old McKnight was cuffed and hauled to a nearby station where he was booked and released after posting the $320 bail.

Convicted child rapist Jerry Sandusky says he's having a "very challenging" time behind bars but insists he's "trying to get better" ... this according to prison letters obtained by TMZ.

Just like Aaron Hernandez, Sandusky has been communicating with multiple pen pals he's made from inside his Pennsylvania prison cell over the past 9 months ... and it's clear, the 69-year-old is struggling.

"I've been quite confined, always searching for purpose," Sandusky writes ... "It is very challenging."

In the letters, -- one sent in May, another in June -- Sandusky is still playing the victim ... calling his conviction a grave injustice. He vows to continue battling the case "until the last whistle."

Sandusky also touched on his "personal battles" -- and while there's no specific reference to pedophilia -- Jerry ensures his pen pal, "I'm trying to get better."

Warren Sapp isn't just a QB Killa ... he's a DANCE FLOOR KILLA ... and he proved it this weekend when he went all H.A.M at his NFL Hall of Fame induction party.

Sapp -- sporting his newly acquired HOF jacket -- was the guest of honor at the special Warren Sapp party tent in Canton, Ohio ... where stars like Dan Marino, Lawrence Taylor, Marshall Faulk and Deion Sanders came by to party with the big man.

But during the party, Sapp -- clearly feeling the adrenaline -- grabbed the mic and told the crowd, "One time like my dog Ray Lewis used to do."

Then he straight BROKE. IT. DOWN.

Tony Hawk's first skateboard now hangs in The Smithsonian -- but the museum better make room on the wall for another Hawk sighting.

Turns out ... the son also shreds!

Alex Rodriguez's new hip must be fully healed -- because he did some serious bobbing and weaving from reporters' questions about the 211 game suspension MLB slapped him with for alleged steroid use.

In a strange pre-game news conference, A-Rod disappointed again by refusing to directly respond to questions about the suspension (which he plans to appeal). The closest he came to discussing it was when he said, "I'm sure there's been mistakes along the way. I'm a human being."

A-Rod will be back on the field when the New York Yankees play the Chicago White Sox tonight -- and repeatedly said he was only focused on the game.

"I feel like I was 18-years-old back in Fenway in 1994 when I faced the Red Sox for the first time."

Imagine being thiiiiiis close to bowling a perfect 300 game ... only to watch that stupid lane rack thingy come down and BLOCK YOUR BALL on the VERY LAST roll.

That's what happened to Troy Walker, who was killin' it at the 2013 Luci Bonneau Doubles Tournament in Houston this weekend ... and the heart-breaking moment was all caught on tape.

Ya gotta watch the footage ... captured by InsideBowling.com ... and then listen to Walker's explanation.

According to Walker, the whole thing may have been his fault because he hit a reset button on the lane right before his throw -- though Walker says he THOUGHT he was resetting the lane next to his.

Either way, Troy got a do-over on the final shot ... but blew it.

Gary Lineker is a soccer legend -- he's even been enshrined in England's Football Hall of Fame -- which is why it's a little shocking that someone with his experience and soccer knowledge believes Cristiano Ronaldo is better than Pele.

Lineker -- who's now a popular soccer analyst -- was leaving STK this weekend when we asked how Ronaldo's career compares to Pele's.

"Ronaldo is Ronaldo," Lineker told us ... "He's better than Pele."

Just a quick stat comparison:

Pele -- 3 World Cup titles
Ronaldo -- none.

Aaron Hernandez is jonesin' for the Internet ... according to a new letter he wrote to a fan.

TMZ has obtained a second letter Hernandez recently wrote behind bars, thanking a fan for a Facebook support page she started ... a page he can't read because jail is an Internet-free zone.

He wrote, "Thanks for the site and sry [sic] I can't check site [sic] there is no internet in jail lol."

Correct ... Hernandez wrote out the word "lol" in pen.

Also, FYI, Hernandez is now aware that his jail letters are making headlines. We spoke to the sheriff at the jail who tells us, Hernandez has been warned to be careful with his letters because TMZ keeps publishing them.

Michael Jordan's alleged baby mama LIED about the NBA star fathering her child in a desperate attempt to cash in on his fame ... and now there are consequences.

TMZ broke the story ... Pamela Smith filed a paternity suit against Jordan, claiming he was the father of her 17-year-old kid. She demanded a DNA test, full custody and child support. Jordan called B.S. -- and even asked the court to bitch slap Smith for wasting his time.

On July 19th, Jordan got his wish when a judge hammered Pamela ... and here's why -- The judge says Pamela FAILED to mention that paternity was established way back in 2003 -- and M.J.'s NOT the daddy.

The judge called Pamela's bogus claim one big publicity stunt, pointing out she hired a publicist before even getting a lawyer ... and then dragged Michael through the mud.

Being Kelly Ripa's #2 sure does pay ... just ask Michael Strahan, who's throwing down serious cash to rent a $20 MILLION mega mansion in Beverly Hills ... adjacent.

Michael and hot fiancée Nicole Murphy sold their Bel Air home earlier this week for $11 million. Get this ... they bought it for $7.9 mil a year ago. Yeah, we hate 'em too.

Here's the problem -- they're currently homeless ... so for the time being they're renting a 10,575-square-foot casa in Beverly Park.

FYI -- Beverly Park's a celeb magnet -- residents have included Denzel Washington, Mark Wahlberg, Sylvester Stallone, Tim McGraw, Wayne Gretzky, Samuel Jackson ... the list goes on.

We don't have the exact rental price, but estates like this rent in the $100,000 / month range. In the meantime Michael and his realtor Bob Hurwitz are on the hunt for a permanent place.

Until then ... Michael and Nicole have to settle for the Italian style villa, with 8 bedrooms, 10 baths, guest house, perfectly manicured grounds, fountains up the wazoo, and resort style pool.

N-word hurling Philadelphia Eagles player Riley Cooper isn't getting any sympathy from his own grandma -- who tells TMZ, Cooper screwed up big time ... and it's his mess to clean up.

Riley's Grandma Betty didn't make excuses when we spoke to her ... saying, "[Riley] brought it upon himself and he has to deal with the consequences."

As we reported, Cooper has already taken leave from the Eagles to pursue counseling after his n-word threat at a recent Kenny Chesney concert -- when he said he would fight "every n***er" at the show.

Grandma says Riley was raised in a good household that never condoned racism of any kind -- so she's surprised by his behavior, especially because she says he's never gotten into any kind of trouble before.

That said, Grandma Betty is optimistic about Riley's future, telling us it's good he's nipping this problem in the bud now before it gets any worse.

"Basketball Wives" star Royce Reed claims Dwight Howard took off with their son and won't tell her where he is ... a perilous problem because the tyke doesn't have his meds.

Royce went to court asking for an emergency hearing ... claiming their 6-year-old son Braylon went to California to visit Dwight, and that's the last she heard from her baby daddy or the boy. Dwight's parents eventually called her to say the kid was in Colorado.

Royce says her son needs his meds for an undisclosed medical condition and the Rx bottle is now empty -- Dwight never bothered to get it refilled.

She says without the meds, their son's health is in danger.

Royce doesn't have a problem with Dwight taking care of the boy for a while, but she wants the judge to order him to refill the prescription and give Braylon his meds. She also wants to know exactly where her boy is and how she can get in touch.

TNA superstar Kurt Angle has been arrested for DWI again, TMZ has learned -- his 4th alcohol-related arrest in 6 years .. and the pro wrestler now plans to enter rehab.

A rep for the Texas highway patrol tells TMZ, Angle was busted Thursday night in Wise County, Texas following a live taping of "Impact" for Spike TV. We're told police received a call about a reckless driver, and caught up to Angle on the road.

We're told they pulled him over on suspicion of reckless driving, and detected an odor of alcohol emanating from Angle's vehicle. It's unclear if a field sobriety test was administered, but Angle was placed under arrest and taken to a nearby police station.

Angle has a long history with alcohol-related arrests.

In 2007, he was arrested for DUI in Pennsylvania. He was then arrested twice in 2011 -- once for being drunk behind the wheel of his parked car, and once for DWI.

Angle pled guilty to being drunk while parked, but he got off on the other charges.

Late Friday Angle tweeted ... "In light of recent events I will immediately be entering a rehabilitation center." He added, "I am confident that in taking these steps I can begin to address necessary changes in my life."

Disgraced Milwaukee Brewers left fielder and admitted steroid user Ryan Braun has just been dropped by his biggest sponsor ... Nike.

A rep for Nike confirmed the athletic company no longer has a relationship with Braun, who has been suspended for the rest of the 2013 season over his admitted steroid use. The Nike rep wouldn't comment any further.

It's unclear how much Braun's Nike deal was worth exactly, but safe bet ... it's a lot.

Former FHM model Anna Benson -- who has just been charged with armed robbery and all sorts of other crimes -- is no stranger to the law. She was once charged with murder.

A judge has denied Benson bail in her current legal predicament -- for allegedly barging into the home of ex hubby former Mets pitcher Kris Benson with a handgun and a metal baton and threatened to harm him if he didn't hand over some loot.

As for why she was denied bail -- turns out back in '96 Anna was charged with murdering a man in Tennessee and she went on the lam for 5 months. Although the charges were ultimately dropped, the judge in the current case felt because of her conduct in '96 Anna is a flight risk.