TMZ Sports - Page 50

William Clay Ford, owner of the Detroit Lions, has died from pneumonia. He was 88.

Ford was the last surviving grandson of Ford Motor Co. founder Henry Ford.

Lions team president Tom Lewand said in a statement, "It is with profound sadness that we mourn the loss of Mr. Ford and extend our deepest sympathies to Mrs. Ford and to the entire Ford family. No owner loved his team more than Mr. Ford loved the Lions."

Dennis Rodman now knows what we all figured out from the beginning ... his trips to North Korea were NOT a good idea.

Rodman appeared on ESPN today where he was brought to tears when talking about the negative reaction he received following his visits with Kim Jong-un ... particularly the time he sung the man "Happy Birthday."

But Rodman said he believes that one day he will be vindicated and that relations with North Korea will improve, and when they do, "Watch all these people kiss my ass."

Count Hulk Hogan among the legion of WWE fans who hope CM Punk makes a wrestling comeback in the near future.

Punk has been radio silent (no interviews and his Twitter account has been quiet for over a month) since he quit the WWE. As TMZ first reported, Punk was pissed that he was passed over for the title match at next month's WrestleMania event in favor of Batista.

When our photog spotted the Hulkster yesterday in New York, he made it clear ... he wants CM back in the squared circle where he belongs.

The only way Dallas Cowboys coach Jason Garrett and quarterback Tony Romo could become more hated by sports fans is if they ... oh, we don't know ... threw on a couple of Duke shirts and went to last night's Duke/North Carolina game.

Oh, would you look at that.

The only people who don't find this photo offensive are Yankees fans, Heat fans, Notre Dame fans and anyone who roots for King Joffrey Baratheon on "Game of Thrones," the Yellow King on "True Detective," and the zombies on "Walking Dead."

MLB stars are known for chewing, spitting and ... chewing and spitting.

LeBron James just hooked his childhood friend up in a HUGE way ... pulling some strings to help get one of his boys' rap songs on the new NBA 2K14 soundtrack ... TMZ Sports has learned.

We spoke to Sian Cotton -- who's been close with 'Bron since they were kids. In fact, Sian says they've been having rap sessions together since they were 9.

Sian says LeBron hasn't just been supportive of his aspiring rap career -- but when LBJ learned he'd be on the cover of 2K14, he did everything he could to help get Sian's track "Almost Home" on the game.

"I'd been submitting my stuff to 2K, and then I found out LeBron was gonna be on the cover," Sian said.

Sian says he was gonna hit up James to help him out -- but when he grabbed his phone he already had a text from the Heat star that said, "'I wanna get you on the game."

"He thought of me before I could say anything."

Eventually, LeBron called him back with the good news -- "He said 'the people from '14 have been calling you. They picked your song!"

Warning: DON'T DRAFT ANDY DALTON IN YOUR FANTASY FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEXT YEAR ... so says Hollywood Exes star Mayte Garcia.

Turns out the woman formally known as Prince's wife is obsessed with FF ... and she just gave TMZ Sports her top 5 guys to STAY AWAY FROM in 2014. So, without further ado ...

1) Philip Rivers: "I believe he has 7 kids. How do you remember a playbook when you have to remember all those kids' names?"

2) Reggie Bush: "If they play Kanye West songs in the stadium, it could force him to have a flashback of Kim Kardashian"

3) Dez Bryant: "Anyone who 'allegedly' slaps their mother shouldn't get to celebrate in the end zone."

4) Andy Dalton: "He has red hair. Has there ever been a fantasy stud with red hair?"

5) DeAneglo Williams: "He's going to have a bad season because he's a hunter. And I'm an animal lover."

If you had "under one month" in your "When Will Michael Sam Cash in on His Newfound Fame" office pool, then congrats ... YOU'RE A WINNER!!!

Sam, who is about to be drafted into the NFL and thus become the first openly gay man to play in the league, has launched his own line of merchandise, which is now for sale on his website.

Hey Guys, #StandWithSam and #SamStrong gear is finally available at https://t.co/8eA9jfcnOx

— Michael Sam (@MikeSamFootball) March 8, 2014

But Sam is no fool ... he's got a few items for sale thats use the rainbow flag, a prominent symbol in the gay rights community. As the old saying goes ... know your customer.

During last night's game between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Chicago Bulls, ESPN's Jon Barry either dropped a very causal F-bomb or ... well, we really don't have another option.

As Grizzlies center Marc Gasol drained a midrange jumper, Barry remarked, "four f**king jumpers he's knocked down."

It's possible Barry said something else (one site postulated he was trying to say "flat-footed" jumpers), but it's clear he got a little tongue-tied.

He might be the welcher-weight champion of the world ... 'cause TMZ Sports has learned Antonio Tarver was sued over unpaid gambling debts by TWO VEGAS CASINOS before his problems with the Wynn.

According to court docs, Tarver got into some trouble with the MGM Grand and the Bellagio back in 2009 after taking out a heavy-duty gambling marker at each hotel and failing to pay it back.

MGM Grand says ... Tarver borrowed $100k but only paid back $10k
Bellagio says ... Tarver borrowed $50k but only paid back $5k.

They sued -- and according to court records, both casinos got their money back two years later.

But Tarver didn't learn his lesson. As we previously reported, the 45-year-old was locked up for allegedly skipping out on a $200,000 gambling marker from the Wynn stemming from 2012.

Tarver suggested his friend would help him repay the debt -- as long as he gets back in the ring and starts boxing again.

We spoke to Tarver's reps who insist the guy does NOT have a gambling problem.

Wanna bet?

Dear Ty Lawson,

We get it. The Lakers are terrible. First, they lost to the Clippers on Thursday by a whopping 48. Then last night in Denver, you made Lakers guard Jodie Meeks FALL DOWN ON HIS ASS with an ill crossover dribble.

The video above (which was posted by the NBA's official account) shows the move from every angle imaginable.

This isn't the first time you clowned the boys in purple in gold. Last year you

to our cameras after beating the Lakers in Los Angeles.

Blink and you'll miss it ... but when we asked comedian Bill Bellamy about the best celebrity basketball players he's seen, check out the surprise in his voice when he brings up a white guy.

Bellamy drops the words "actually good" before mentioning the guy's name (hint: he's part owner of an NBA team) and there's some definite subtle reverse racism in the way he says it.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are finally making some progress ... at least when it comes to fashion ... because TWO top couture designers tell us the new Bucs uniforms are downright SEXY!

TMZ Sports spoke with "Project Runway" alum Michael Costello -- who also designed Beyonce's Grammy dress -- and he tells us he's all about the change in Tampa Bay.

"I LOVE the new uniform," Costello says ... "It's fresh, it's cool. It's a lot sexier. The old one looked like a t-shirt."

We also spoke with celeb stylist/designer June Ambrose ... who's worked with huge stars like Jay Z and Diddy ... who's also fired up for the Bucs' new uni to hit the field.

"The look reminds me of this wild black bird! It's a sexy suit ... looks like it's ready for the runway!"

Ambrose adds, "I love how it minimizes the tight end of the players tail. The suit is sleek and super powerful! All the ingredients for the iconic class."

It's good news for the Bucs -- 'cause as Deion Sanders once said: "If you look good, you feel good. If you feel good, you play good. If you play good, they pay good."

Nick Cannon suddenly has something in common with 2 Super Bowl champs -- they were all targeted for tens of thousands of dollars by an alleged scam artist who just got slapped with multiple felonies.

As TMZ Sports first reported ... ex-Patriots star Jarvis Green was nearly ripped off earlier this year ... by a man who claimed he could hook him up with Miami Heat season tickets AND partial ownership of the team.

According to the California Attorney General's office ... George French Jones made similar offers to Charles Woodson, Warren Moon, and oddly ... Cannon.

Jones was charged today with 11 felonies ... including grand theft, obtaining money by false pretenses, and identity theft.

What's interesting is how much cash he tried to lift from each victim: $50k from Woodson, and $25k from Green.

Clearly he didn't think Nick's pockets were as deep ... because he only asked for, and ultimately got, $15k from Mariah's husband.

But the biggest fish was Moon -- whose rep wired $200,000 to Jones, according to the docs.

Darren Sharper will sit in a Los Angeles jail for another week, while the clock ticks as the New Orleans D.A. decides whether to charge the football star with rape.

Sharper appeared in court today ... trying to get out of the slammer he's been sitting in since last week ... when a New Orleans judge issued an arrest warrant in connection with rape allegations by 2 women.

Sharper wanted out of jail today, but the L.A. Superior Court judge concluded she can't let him because the New Orleans D.A. has 10 full business days to decide whether to charge Sharper. The judge felt she had an obligation to hold him until the 10-day period runs out next Thursday.

So Sharper will sit behind bars and New Orleans has to decide whether to s*** or get off the pot. If he isn't charged by next Thursday, it appears the judge will release Sharper, who has already posted $1 million bail for rape charges that have been filed against him in L.A. County.

Aaron Hernandez has been charged with assault and battery for a ferocious attack on a defenseless inmate last month ... TMZ Sports has learned.

According to Sheriff Thomas Hodgson ... the charge is a misdemeanor offense.

TMZ Sports broke the story ... Hernandez attacked an inmate who was wearing handcuffs on February 25th. Our sources tell us the victim had been talking smack to Hernandez.

Hernandez was supposed to be isolated for his own protection.