TMZ Sports - Page 50

Fun Fact: In the NFL, it's perfectly LEGAL to tackle an opposing player by the hair if it's hanging out of the helmet.

Funner Fact: Players who pull hair deserve to get their ASSES KICKED because they've made things "personal" ... so says LaVar Arrington.

The former NFL defensive stud -- who has some luscious dreadlocks of his own -- says there's an unspoken code among players regarding the "mane" ... and violators NEED to be dealt with.

Of course, Arrington must REALLY hate guys like Jason Babin (JAX) ... who ripped Andre Ellington's (ARIZ) dreadlocks out of his skull during a game earlier this season ... and then displayed it to the crowd like a trophy.

No, LaVar doesn't like that one bit ...

We've never seen Kate Upton do a dance we didn't instantly love -- but her attempt to pull off a Super Bowl TD celebration actually sparked a debate.

Love it or hate it ... we all agree it's fun to watch her try it.

Seattle Seahawks legend Walter Jones just SLASHED the asking price for his Alabama mansion ... and it's the perfect spot for a serious fan looking to play more than just fantasy football.

The 9-time Pro Bowler bought the 8 bed, 9 bath, 13,450 square foot pad back in 2005 ... and first tried selling the place for $3.5 million back in 2011 -- but now he's knocked half a mil of the price.

The house is an athlete's dream palace -- there's a full football field (with NFL sized FG posts) ... a basketball court, tennis court, swimming pool, workout room ... and a detached "sports house."

Non-sports nuts will have to settle for a home movie theater, game room, spa-bath ... and an ELEVATOR.

Jones is considered a shoe-in when the new Hall of Fame inductees are announced tomorrow ... so the 'bama spread could be a legit piece of NFL history.

Former middleweight boxing champ Kelly Pavlik was rushed to a hospital today after PASSING OUT in the middle of a court hearing in Ohio ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Courtroom sources tell us ... Pavlik was in court to face charges in a theft case (stemming from an incident where he allegedly stiffed a cab driver) ... when he suddenly collapsed.

We're told 31-year-old Pavlick was loaded up onto a stretcher and taken to an ambulance ... which transported him to a nearby hospital.

Sources say Pavlick was awake and alert inside the ambulance.

Officials have not released any information about what caused Pavlick to collapse ... but it's known he suffers from seizures -- which played a large role in his retirement from boxing.

Stone Cold Steve Austin just threatened to open a can of WHOOP-ASS all over Justin Bieber ... warning the pop star that if he doesn't straighten up, he's gonna catch a Size 13 in his ass.

The former WWE champ was on "The Arsenio Hall Show" last night when he issued the ultimatum -- shape up ... or else.

Stone Cold says he loves kids ... and just wants to make sure Justin gets on the right path before it's too late -- but he thinks an ass-kickin' is the only thing that'll get through to the Biebs.

Justin Bieber isn't letting 3 criminal investigations in 2 countries cramp his style ... he's just gone wheels up -- with the Super Bowl as the final destination ... TMZ has learned.

Bieber chartered a private jet Friday from Canada for the big game on Sunday. He's in the air right now.

We're told Justin's planning to attend some pre-game parties, and he brought along some friends for the ride ... and his dad.

The white powder scare affecting several hotels located right near the site of the Super Bowl was nothing more than a prank, officials tell TMZ Sports ... and no one is in danger.

Law enforcement sources tell us ... officials believe the white powder is corn starch and NOT anthrax or any other dangerous substance.

Maurice Jones Drew is winning the battle of the bulge ... 'cause the Jacksonville Jaguars running back tells TMZ Sports he's dropped 15 POUNDS in the past 2 weeks ... and plans to keep it off.

A slimmer, trimmer MJD was out in NYC last night ... and told us why he deserves to be back in the running for top fantasy football RB next season -- and a lot of it has to do with this physique.

Maurice acknowledged that his 2013 season rubbed a lot of fantasy owners the wrong way ... but says, "It's a brand new off-season. Started working out ... I've lost 15 pounds in the last 2 weeks."

You can already see the difference -- it was just last May that MJD was out partying in Florida while smuggling what appeared to be a spare tire under his tank top.

Take THAT, Jenny Craig!

Drew Brees tells TMZ Sports ... he's COMMITTED to the famous birthmark on his face and has no plans to remove it ... EVER ... unless doctors tell him it poses a threat to his health.

This video is AWESOME ... Brees was at a NYC event for the Super Service Challenge -- an organization that encourages people to do positive things in their communities -- when he opened up about all sorts of stuff.

Besides the mole talk, Brees (who's from Texas) set the record straight about which movie more accurately portrayed his high school football experience in the Lone Star State -- "Varsity Blues" or "Friday Night Lights."

His explanation actually makes a lot of sense.

As for the Super Service Challenge -- Drew also tells us why he believes the organization is so important to him and his organization, The Brees Dream Foundation.

Ray Rice is no dummy ... telling TMZ Sports he's GOING BACK TO COLLEGE so he can finally get his degree.

The Baltimore Ravens running back was out in NYC last night when he revealed that he recently enrolled in online classes at Rutgers University in an effort to lock up his diploma.

The 27-year-old admits he's still a long way from donning the cap and gown ... but says he's determined to finish what he started back in 2005.

We've learned ... Rice is currently taking 4 courses:

-- Intro to Logic
-- Public Speaking
-- Employment Law
-- Diversity at work

Like a commuter trying to cross the George Washington Bridge, Chris Christie's attempt at comedy last night came to a grinding halt at the Roast of Boomer Esiason in NYC.

The Gov. took the stage at the legendary Friars Club to roast the former NFL star and quickly learned the first lesson of comedy -- don't do it unless you're actually funny.

Among the lowlights ...

-- "When I was approached about doing to this event, I said yes right away. I said listen, 'I''ll do anything for Super Bowl winning quarterback Boomer Esiason' ... and then i said, ya know, he didnt win that game did he? That was Joe Montana that won that game." [Boomer looks at his watch].

-- "Look at this dais ... I mean Robert Wuhl, seriously? I mean at this point, Robert will show up for anything."

-- "I mean I've seen bigger stars after bumping my head."

-- "What happened? Were Screech and the dog from Frasier busy today?"

And the Joke de la Resistance ... Christie PRETENDED like he was going to announce his candidacy for President of the United States ... but then, CURVEBALL!!!

"NFL Today" host James Brown says George Zimmerman would never agree to fight him ... insinuating Zimmerman would be too scared.

We got James last night in NYC ... and asked him if he'd be willing to fight GZ ... who's offered to take on any opponent -- black or otherwise -- in a celebrity boxing match.

NYPD rocked Super Bowl week with a huge bust of a drug and hooker ring. Are thousands of tourists looking to party gonna have to change their plans? You gotta hear what NFL stars are saying.

Plus, Coach Mike Ditka knows a lot about football ... and, as it turns out, love! Or so he thinks. Would you take dating tips from the Bears legend?

With a federal investigation underway into allegations the Oakland Raiders grossly underpaid their cheerleaders ... the Raiderettes are finally getting a shot at a fair income .... thanks to Penthouse.

TMZ Sports has learned ... the legendary nudie mag has reached out to the squad in the hopes of hiring some of the women for a "tasteful pictorial in the magazine."

As we previously reported, one of the Raiderettes has already filed a lawsuit against the team claiming she made less than $5-per-hour ... way less than the state mandated minimum wage. And the U.S. Dept. of Labor is investigating the team.

Sources connected to the situation tell us ... Penthouse is prepared to make a "significant offer" to the women if they're interested in showing a little skin. We're told the mag isn't pushing for full nudity.

In a letter sent to the team squad, Penthouse says ... "You can even wear your silver and black ... or not."

So far, unclear if any of the Raiderettes are game.

The winner of Super Bowl XLVIII is NOT allowed to party with champagne ... or beer ... or any other form of alcohol ... so says the NFL.

TMZ Sports has learned ... unlike the MLB (or any other major sport), the NFL has a very strict policy against booze in the locker room ... which means, NO POPPIN' BOTTLES!!

A rep for the league tells us ... the rule goes all the way back to the 1960s and the NFL has decided to continue to enforce it because it's "not the right image" for the league.

Former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Farrior just bought one SICK place to spend his retirement years ... a $3.8 million mansion in Houston, TMZ Sports has learned.

Sources tell us ... 39-year-old Farrior -- who made at least $35 million during his 14-year NFL career -- locked up a 10,332 square foot palace right next to a golf course.

The mansion comes with 6 bedrooms, 8 baths, an enormous wine cellar, game room, study ... and (of course) an awesome built-in movie theater.

There's also a sweet outdoor loggia -- which is an open air facade of the house that features its own fireplaces (one of four on the property).

It's good to be rich.