TMZ Sports - Page 50

Former NASCAR driver Leilani Munter WILL be taking her "Blackfish" car to Talladega, TMZ has learned -- all thanks to an incredibly generous donation from "Simpsons" co-creator Sam Simon.

As we reported, Leilani had desperately been trying to raise money to pay for the $115,000 fee to enter the car for a big race at an ARCA event at Talladega Superspeedway on May 3rd. As of our last story, she had raised only $7,500.

But that all changed last week -- Leilani appeared on Simon's radio show to talk about her car and orca-related activism ... and Simon was so moved, Leilani tells us, he donated the balance of her entrance fee immediately after the show ... $107,500.

We're told Simon visited Taiji in February (the place where "The Cove" was shot) and has become an outspoken advocate for the humane treatment of orcas. Leilani tells us, she plans to win the race on behalf of orcas around the world suffering in captivity.

Sam -- who has terminal colon cancer -- has vowed to give away his fortune before he dies ... specifically toward animal rights and feeding the hungry.

As if giving the world "The Simpsons" wasn't enough.

Cal Ripken Jr. tells TMZ Sports ... there was only ONE pitcher he was TOO SCARED to face ... a pitcher who many consider the greatest of all time ... a pitcher who happens to be a woman.

Of course, the fireballer who put the fear of god into #8 is softball goddess Jennie Finch -- who struck out a bunch of MLB ballplayers in hitting challenges ... including Mike Piazza and Albert Pujols.

But Cal says he refused to face The Finch -- simply because he was just "too scared."

Can't really blame the guy.

Bonus: Cal also reveals his favorite baseball movie of all time ... and his explanation is pretty interesting.

The Buffalo Bills could have a new owner -- one Donald J. Trump -- who says he's been contacted about buying a piece of the team and will "take a look at it."

Trump was on WBEN radio in Buffalo, NY when they asked him about taking over the NFL team now that longtime owner Ralph Wilson has passed away.

"People have actually talked to me about the Bills. I mean, the group of people called me -- would I be interested in investing, and I'll take a look at it. I mean, I look at a lot of things. I'll take a look at it."

9:25 AM PT -- Yup, we JUST found out what songs were on the radio while Sims was in the car -- "All About Tonight" by Blake Shelton and "This Is How We Roll" by Florida Georgia Line.

A DUI at the University of Georgia turned into a country music sing-a-long this weekend when a UGA baseball player was arrested ... and asked the cop to play country music on the way to jail.

According to police, Zach Sims -- a 19-year-old first baseman -- was pulled over when officers noticed his Ford Explorer weaving all over the road and running into the curb.

When the officer approached the vehicle, the cop says Sims appeared wasted and reeked of booze. He also bombed all of the field sobriety tests and blew a .212 on the breathalyzer.

Once Sims was arrested for DUI, he was placed into a squad car -- and during the transport, he allegedly asked the cop to turn on a local country radio station.

The cop, who apparently obliged, noted in the report ... "Sims sang along with the radio during the entire transport."

Jonny Gomes actually did it -- he rocked the most patriotic jacket EVER during the Boston Red Sox visit to the White House this morning ... and his teammates LOVED it.

The Sox were in D.C. to meet President Obama as a perk of winning the World Series last season.

There were rumblings the entire team was going to rock the red, white and blue jackets -- but it seems Gomes is the only one who went through with it.

AJ McCarron and Katherine Webb finally got engaged -- but so did Matt Stafford ... so, sorry chicks ... but we gotta do it: WHO'S RINGER IS BIGGER??

Plus, Floyd Mayweather Jr. shows off his own massive hunk of bling -- 60 carats blanketing a watch!! Typical Mayweather waste of money ... or beautiful collector's item??

Cincinnati Bengals fullback Orson Charles was arrested in Kentucky late Monday night ... after cops say he had an extreme case of road rage ... involving a GUN ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Orson -- who was featured on the HBO reality show "Hard Knocks" -- was busted for 1st degree wanton endangerment ... and we're told it all stems from a road rage incident.

According to the police report, obtained by TMZ Sports, a man called cops saying Orson had cut him off on I-75 and "brandished a firearm toward him several times while driving down the highway."

When cops stopped Charles, they discovered a silver and black Smith and Wesson semi-automatic handgun in a purse in the back of Orson's 2004 Nissan Murano.

We're told no one was hurt during the alleged road rage incident.

Charles spent the night in jail and bonded out early Tuesday morning.

The Boston Red Sox are all set to meet President Obama at the White House today ... and one W.H. staffer is so pumped, he THREW ON A BEARD in honor of his favorite team.

The man behind the whiskers is White House press secretary Jay Carney -- a well-known Red Sox superfan.

In fact, the day after the Sox won the series, he wore a Boston hat to start his daily briefing.

This morning, the White House's official twitter page posted a pic of Carney in full face warmer with the hashtag "GetBeard."

He could shoot. He could score. But Wayne Gretzky tells TMZ Sports ... he couldn't fight for a damn.

The Great One was leaving Craig's restaurant in L.A. last night when we talked about going mano a mano on ice ... and Wayne admitted, "I wasn't very good at it."

He's not kidding ... we found footage of #99 in action back in the day ... and it's just as bad as Wayne says.

LeBron James has finally recorded an entire RAP VERSE (and even laid down the hook) during a private studio session with a friend ... and TMZ Sports has the exclusive audio.

'Bron and his childhood friend Sian Cotton hit up a recording studio in Ohio last summer and busted out a remix of the Jay Z club banger "F**kwithmeyouknowIgotit."

Ray Rice might have to wait a couple of months before the wedding gifts start to roll in -- because TMZ Sports has learned the newly married NFL star isn't having a wedding reception until June.

As we previously reported, the Baltimore Ravens running back traded "I Dos" with longtime girlfriend Janay Palmer last week in a quiet private ceremony.

Now, we know the couple is planning to celebrate the occasion with a standard reception -- but it won't go down for another couple of months. The reason for the delay is unclear.

Rap star Wale PUNCHED A GUY IN THE FACE at a WWE event Monday night -- and judging by the way security rushed in to break it up, it appeared to be 100% REAL.

It all went down at "Raw" in Washington D.C. -- TMZ spoke with eyewitness Jawn Murray from AlwaysAlist.com who says Wale was sitting right behind the announcers enjoying the show ... when some fan seated nearby began taunting the rapper.

Murray says Wale eventually got up out of his seat and "the next thing I know Wale is putting the smackdown on dude. Punched him dead in his face. It was a full fight."

Security rushed over and broke up the fight -- and took everyone involved into a hallway. Moments later, Wale returned to his seat and began snacking on popcorn like nothing happened.

We're told the other guy is also back in his seat.

Mike Trout THOUGHT he could take down an entire 58 ounce mega-steak by himself.

He was wrong.

You've probably seen the pic ... Mike and Los Angeles Angels teammate Garrett Richards celebrating Trout's new $144 MILLION contract extension with a massive steak dinner.

Now, we know it all went down at The Ranch restaurant in Anaheim on Saturday night -- where Mike chowed down with his entire family in a private dining room.

Our carnivorous sources tell us ... Mike and the gang got the total V.I.P treatment Saturday night -- with executive chef Michael Rossi personally cooking the $89 steaks.

Trout and Garrett made a friendly wager about who could finish their steak first ... but we're told they only made it about 3/4 of the way through before they both threw in the towel.

The good news ... we're told Mike boxed up the rest of the meat and said he was gonna make steak and eggs the next morning.

Chad Johnson can still burn rubber -- the former NFL speedster cranked his treadmill up to 23-miles-per-hour and hit a full sprint ... WITHOUT SHOES!!!

CJ was training with Rams wide receiver Tavon Austin at Fit Speed Athletic Performance in Florida when they decided to work on some speed drills.

The most impressive part -- the incline was raised to 2.5%.

And get this ... Chad's gone EVEN FASTER -- just last year, he posted video while running at 24 mph (with an incline).

Still, the gold standard when it comes to treadmill sprints has got to be former Arizona Cardinals WR Robert Gill -- who hit 25 MPH last summer.

But Gill was running on a flat surface. With shoes.

Just sayin' ...

Matthew Stafford just put the ICE in ice cream -- at least judging by the MASSIVE DIAMOND ENGAGEMENT RING his girlfriend was flashing at Cold Stone Creamery.

Looks like the Redskins are serious about DeSean Jackson -- 'cause TMZ Sports has learned the WR hung out with RG3 in L.A. this weekend BEFORE he got on a plane to meet with the team in D.C.

Sources tell us ... DJ and Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III "spent several hours" together in Los Angeles -- apparently things went well.

Jackson is now on a plane destined for D.C. -- where he's reportedly set to meet with team honchos.

Despite all the drama surrounding his release from the Eagles, we're told DeSean has been laser-focused on football -- and has been training like a maniac.

There are several teams that have reportedly expressed interest in Jackson -- but with the meeting between RG3 and DJ, it looks like the Redskins could have an edge.