TMZ Sports - Page 50

John Starks is rolling in the dough ... 'cause the former NBA star is now the co-owner of a pizza joint -- and he tells TMZ Sports he's gunning to be as successful as fellow pie-slanger Peyton Manning.

Starks recently became a co-owner of Custom Fuel Pizza in Washington D.C. ... after being approached with the opportunity by fellow NY Knicks teammate Anthony Mason.

"We've stayed great friends ... and Anthony came to me with this idea and I was down to do it."

Starks says he and Mason have plans to open at least 3 more locations in the near future, including a location in Harlem.

Starks is just latest athlete to get involved in the pizza game ... following LeBron James (hes reportedly an investor in a place called Blaze Pizza) and Peyton Manning ... who's been killing it after buying 21 locations in the Denver area.

John tells TMZ Sports ... he's hoping to do as well with Custom Fuel as Peyton's doing with Papa John's.

Hey, he dunked over Jordan, so anything's possible ...

Chad Johnson had a big, bold message printed on his t-shirt for all the little boys and girls at Toys R' Us to see on Christmas Eve ... "CARPE THAT F**KING DIEM" kids!

The former NFL star hit up the toy store in Pembroke Pines, FL to pick up some last minute gifts on Tuesday ... and actually decided to wear a shirt with the word "f**king" written in huge letters on the front.

Of course, the rest of the phrase was written in Latin ... so kids probably wouldn't get the "seize the day" message ... but "f**king" was written in plain English for everyone to enjoy.

We reached out to Chad for comment -- who told us, "I should've went in with no shirt."

Gabrielle Union -- the future Mrs. Dwyane Wade -- took her brand new million dollar 8.5 carat diamond ring out in public yesterday ... but not without some serious hired muscle to keep it safe.

Gabby and Ring arrived to the Staples Center in L.A. ... flanked by private security ... to watch their man dominate the Kobe Bryant-less Lakers.

Funny, Kobe knows a little something about expensive jewelry ... in fact, he may have bought the most expensive ring out of ALL the NBA players ($4 million) .. except his wasn't a "Will You Marry Me" diamond -- it was a "FORGIVE ME!" diamond.

Snoop Dogg took his show on the road last Saturday ... not his musical act but his football team ... and they kicked ass for charity.

Snoop's home grown L.A. team -- the Snoop Dogg All Stars -- traveled to Phoenix to play the Phoenix All Stars ... part of the Phoenix American Youth Football organization.

The 9 and 10 years olds were playing for a good cause -- Feeding America -- and feed America the fans did ... they donated 2,000 pounds of various items.

In the end ... Snoop's team destroyed Phoenix -- 19 to 6.

Actually in the end ... everyone won.

Evelyn Lozada got a helluva Christmas gift this morning from Dodgers star Carl Crawford ... a 14.5 carat DIAMOND ENGAGEMENT RING ... and sources tell TMZ the ring's worth $1.4 MILLION!!!

Crawford -- who's in the middle of a $142 million contract -- popped the question this morning ... and the "Basketball Wives" star said YES!

Just like Dwyane Wade, Crawford picked up the ring from go-to celebrity jeweler Jason of Beverly Hills.

For the record, the ring Wade gave to Gabrielle Union was ONLY 8.5 carats ... but size doesn't really matter, right???

Evelyn has been married before -- she tied the knot with Chad Johnson back in 2012 ... but divorced him later that year after the NFL star headbutted her during an argument. Before Johnson, she was engaged to NBA star Antoine Walker (but they never married).

As for her new man, she started dating Crawford earlier this year ... and Evelyn is 7 months pregnant with his child.

Congrats!

Apparently, MONSTER DUNK SKILLS run in the family ... 'cause LeBron James' kids just went HAM on their Nerf hoop ... and the rim-crushing highlight was all captured on video.

LeBron's sons -- 6-year-old Bryce and 9-year-old Bronny -- teamed for a crazy alley-oop style slam on Christmas morning ... and LeBron was so proud, he posted the footage online.

James even Instagram'd a message to L.A. Clippers stars Blake Griffin and Chris Paul ... saying, "Bronny and Bryce gone hold down Lob City until y'all get back. Cool? It's like the both of y'all but we gone keep it in our room. Haha."

Fun Fact -- If 28-year-old LeBron can stay healthy enough to play in the league for 10 more years, he's got a shot at playing ALONGSIDE his son.

We did it everybody ... we found the ONE GUY who actually enjoys the Pro Bowl ... Lil Jon.

The rapper -- who's usually a staple at the Super Bowl -- was at LAX this week ... and while he told us he wouldn't be at the big game this year, he was pretty pumped up about the other post-season NFL event.

It could be slightly more interesting this year, 'cause it's the first time the players will be "drafted" to the competing teams by NFL Hall of Famers Deion Sanders and Jerry Rice.

Still, could be tough for the Pro Bowl to lock down viewers that day ... since it's competing with the equally compelling PBA Bowling Tournament of Champions.

Who doesn't love bowling??/

George Bush was like a kid in a candy shop at the Houston Texans football game this weekend ... where the 89-year-old found himself drowning in a sea of Texans cheerleaders.

#41 had a big 'ol smile plastered across his face as he met several members of the Texans cheer squad, who happened to be dressed in naughty little Santa outfits.

Bush definitely has a thing for attractive women -- back in 2009, he had a bikini birthday party with some physically fit thespians.

#respect.

Gilbert Arenas has had a change of heart ... telling TMZ Sports he's abandoned his plans to retire from pro basketball ... and he's currently training to RETURN TO THE NBA!!

It was just last month, Agent Zero told us he was walking away from the sport forever ... happily ... 'cause he's still got another $38 million coming his way from the $111 million contract he signed with the Washington Wizards back in the day.

But now, 31-year-old Gilbert says ... his plans have changed -- and he's hoping to get back in the league as early as THIS SEASON ... if a team is willing to take a chance on him.

... and if it doesn't work out -- at least he's still rich.

Good news for Dwyane Wade ... he's officially received Shaq's approval to marry Gabrielle Union -- and the Big Man tells TMZ Sports he's GLAD D-Wade dropped $1 million on the engagement ring!!

Shaq hit up the Boys & Girls Club of Venice yesterday to spread a little holiday cheer as "Shaq-a-Claus" ... ya gotta see the clip of Shaq ordering the kids to sing Jingle Bells (see below), PRICELESS!!!!

But on his way into the center, Shaq had some words for the NBA's newest engaged couple -- it's actually pretty sweet.

Now, check the clip below and watch Shaq yell at the children ... if that doesn't make your heart grow three sizes this year, you're worse than the Grinch.

Jerry Jones needs to 86 Jason Garrett's ass and replace him with a TOUGHER head coach, so says Dallas Cowboys superfan (and NBA stud) Stephen Jackson.

The L.A. Clippers small forward (who's from Houston) was rockin' his Cowboys hat out in L.A. last night when we asked about the state of America's Team ... and it was obvious, dude's bummed out about the injury to Tony Romo.

"IT SUCKS," Jackson said.

But when we asked if it's time to drop the head coach, Jackson had some very interesting thoughts ... telling us he thinks Garrett is just too soft to run the Cowboys.

Lamar Odom's friends are deeply concerned that he's hitting the bottle way too hard lately ... and they're worried that he's drinking to cope with a serious bout of depression, TMZ Sports has learned.

We know ... Lamar has been boozing A LOT lately ... most recently he was spotted in AV Nightclub clutching a bottle of champagne all night long.

Before that, he sprung for rounds of drinks at a bar in Rhode Island ... and before that, he was taking tequila shots at Beacher's Madhouse. He had also told friends that his bizarre rap video was the result of a hardcore drinking session.

Sources connected to Odom tell us ... there's been LOTS of boozing in private as well.

We're told his friends believe Lamar is seriously depressed ... stemming from his unsuccessful NBA comeback and his ongoing divorce from Khloe Kardashian.

Kurt Warner says Tim Tebow's best shot for an NFL career ... is to LEAVE the league -- at least for a while.

The former Super Bowl MVP was at LAX ... and he told TMZ Sports he doesn't believe Tim can secure another NFL job unless he plays in ANOTHER league first.

Kurt -- who knows a thing or two about roundabout paths to becoming a starting QB -- says he's rooting for the guy, but unless Tim makes the jump to the CFL or another pro league to hone his skills, his NFL career is done.

They might not always get along, but UFC prez Dana White says he's GLAD Rampage Jackson punked an alleged ass-grabber last night ... and the dude's lucky Rampage didn't destroy him.

We broke the story, Rampage threatened to put a clubgoer in the hospital after the guy allegedly got a little too butt-squeezy with the MMA fighter's GF at a Hollywood nightclub.

Dana skyped into "TMZ Sports" today and told us ... he thinks ANYONE who violates a female deserves a good old fashioned ass kicking.

"If you're gonna go around and be a scumbag and touch people's asses that aren't your girlfriend ... you better make sure it's not Rampage's."

Matt Kemp is NOT filling Lamar Odom's shoes ... telling TMZ Sports there's no romantic relationship with Khloe Kardashian, despite rumors to the contrary -- they're just "friends."

The L.A. Dodgers superstar was leaving a doctor's office in Bev Hills moments ago ... WITHOUT his walking boot ... when he explained his situation with Khloe.

He even gave the K-fam a shout out.

As for his injury -- it's the first time we've seen Kemp out in public without the medical brace since he underwent surgery to remove bone spurs from his left ankle back in October.

Kemp also talked about another injured L.A. stud -- Kobe Bryant ... telling us he's confident the Mamba will hit the court HARD when he recovers from his newest injury.

TMZ Sports knows why Rampage Jackson threatened to DESTROY a clubgoer in Hollywood this weekend ... and it all has to do with an alleged ass grab.

Plus, an NHL star does one of the DUMBEST things ever recorded on video ... TALKING SMACK ABOUT THE COPS!!!!