TMZ Sports - Page 50

Jeff Van Gundy says he's NOT mad about the on-air ass-ripping he took from Howard Stern -- saying he even thought it was "funny" when the King of All Media called him a douchebag.

The basketball announcer just called in to "The Dan Le Batard Show" on ESPN radio -- and said he was trying to be "jokey" when he said the Knicks should stop giving tickets to Howard if he was going to leave NBA games early.

Of course, Howard didn't think it was funny and spent 10 minutes berating Jeff on his radio show earlier this week -- calling him every name in the book from "douche bag" to "midget" and even "schlub."

It's clear, Jeff is trying to end the fight ... saying he wasn't hurt and took laughed off the attack as a funny comedy bit. Though he did say "schlub" sound pretty bad.

But Jeff did go after another huge star -- Arnold Schwarzenegger -- saying his new movie "Sabotage" is a total piece of crap.

Clay Buchholz and the Boston Red Sox have landed in NYC for their series with the Yankees -- but not without their trusty instruments ... and Clay tells TMZ Sports there's one guy on his team who's got serious rock star skills.

Clay is a huge fan of the guitar -- telling us he plays before and after he takes the mound because it helps clear his mind.

But he's not the only picker on the team -- Clay tells us there's a whole bunch of guys who jam together ... but there's one guy in the rotation who's not only killer on the strings, but can SING too.

"Simpson" co-creator Sam Simon is a man of his word ... 'cause after he lost a poker game to "Blackfish" race car driver Leilani Munter -- HE PAID UP ... and TMZ Sports has the proof.

As we previously reported, Simon had kicked in $107,500 to sponsor Leilani's car in an upcoming ARCA race at the Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama in May -- and the two met up at Sam's L.A. home to talk about the event.

We're told ... during the visit the two played a little Texas Hold 'Em -- and the winner had to fork over a single dollar bill.

Leilani won ... and Sam paid up -- but sweetened the pot, drawing a Bart Simpson image right on the buck along with a message to Leilani. Pretty awesome.

Of course, Leilani and Sam didn't bond over racing -- but rather their love for animals ... and both hope the Blackfish car will help raise awareness for the plight of orca whales in captivity.

10:32 AM PT -- TMZ Sports has obtained a police report filed after the alleged incident ... in which the accuser claims the alleged incident took place at a residence at the Viceroy Hotel on April 1.

According to the report, issued by the Miami PD, the woman claims she went to the apartment of Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Ricardo Lockette ... to hang out with him, Kaepernick and 49ers wide receiver Quinton Patton.

The woman told police, around 9pm that night she mixed some drinks for the guys and gave them shots, but they told her that "in order to drink the shots she had to 'hit' the bong which contained marijuana."

The woman says she felt lightheaded and went to the bedroom to lie down. She claims Kaepernick "came up behind her into the bedroom and started kissing her."

Apparently, Ronda Rousey's feud with UFC fighter Bryan Caraway is 100% real -- because the woman's champ tells TMZ Sports she still wants to BEAT HIS ASS in the ring!!!

Rousey and Caraway exchanged some pretty harsh words last year -- when Rousey was gearing up to fight Caraway's GF Miesha Tate.

Caraway said Ronda was "stuck up and snotty" .. and Ronda called Caraway a "douche."

But when Ronda went out to dinner in L.A. this week, she made it clear the hatchet is far from buried -- telling us she still wants to set his ass straight in the octogon.

The rise of "Stat Boy" continues -- Tony Reali has just been called up to NYC where the host of ESPN's "Around the Horn" will now be featured on "Good Morning America."

Reali -- who started off as the research guy on "Pardon the Interruption" -- has signed a new gig to cover social media on "GMA."

To accommodate his new job, "Around the Horn" will move from from Washington D.C. to NYC ... where it will be taped in a new studio close to the "GMA" building.

Darren Sharper is gearing up for a showdown in Arizona -- where he could become a free man again ... at least temporarily.

Sharper's lawyers have been repeatedly shut down in their bail bid, but they're finally getting a shot ... an Arizona judge has now set a bail hearing for next week in his sexual assault case.

Sharper has been held in an L.A. jail cell since February, despite the fact he posted bail in his rape cases in the Golden State -- because the California judge felt the charges he's facing in Arizona were "non-bondable."

But apparently the Arizona judge begs to differ and that's why he set the hearing for April 15. It's a HUGE break for Sharper.

If prosecutors can't provide "clear and convincing evidence" of Sharper's guilt -- a very high standard -- the judge will likely set bail and Sharper could be released as early as that same afternoon.

Clothes make the man ... especially during a murder trial ... so says ex-NBA player Javaris Crittenton who's begging a judge not to force him to wear his JAIL UNIFORM in court so he won't look guilty.

The former Los Angeles Lakers player is facing murder charges in the 2010 drive-by shooting death of a Georgia woman ... and he just filed court docs because he believes his wardrobe will play a KEY ROLE in the hearing.

In fact, Crittenton wants to be allowed to wear "civilian garb" -- because he knows the media is interested in his case and pics of him sportin' orange (or stripes) could paint him with a guilty brush and damage his shot at a fair trial.

Crittenton's request isn't as crazy as it may seem -- our legal experts tell us this concern is not uncommon and sometimes the judge will grant the request.

The Ultimate Warrior was the most mulleted, most face-painted wrestler to ever step in the squared circle -- so, we're honoring him with a TMZ tribute.

Warning: If you're Arsenio Hall ... don't watch this. Might trigger flashbacks.

Larry Bird's 22-year-old son has plead guilty to criminal recklessness -- stemming from a 2013 incident in which he allegedly tried to run over his GF with his car ... TMZ Sports has learned.

As we previously reported, Connor Bird was busted on the campus of Indiana University last February after cops say he threw a cell phone at his GF and then tried to run her down in a campus parking lot.

Bird was initially facing several charges, including battery and possession of marijuana -- but we've learned he struck a deal with prosecutors in which they agreed to toss 2 of the charges if he plead guilty to criminal recklessness.

As part of the deal, Bird has agreed to participate in a sober-living program -- where he will be monitored by a sober mentor -- and must stay out of trouble for 12 months.

The death of the Ultimate Warrior wasn't shocking or unexpected ... it's par for the course with wrestler who abuse their bodies ... so says ESPN host Colin Cowherd.

Cowherd went on his radio show this morning and said pro wrestlers are dying at an alarming rate -- and at a very young age ... and blames it on a culture of drugs and painkillers.

"The story behind the story is ... drugs, painkiller, HGH ... it's the roll of the dice that pro wrestling dudes with limited options not good enough to play pro sports [take]."

Cowherd didn't specifically accuse Warrior of drug abuse -- but said it's something that nearly all wrestlers acknowledge.

Colin went on to compare wrestling to pro baseball -- saying, "You think baseball season is long? There's is double and they don't get 4 at-bats. They're getting batted on all night."

"SNL" paid off big time for Drake ... because his hosting work on the show earlier this season helped him lock up the job to host the ESPYS this year ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Long before Drake cozied up to Kentucky, there was another major hip hop star who aligned herself with a popular Final 4 team ... QUEEN LATIFAH ... so says former UCLA superstar Tyus Edney.

Tyus was out in Santa Monica last night and told us Queen was such a big fan of the Bruins back in the day, she sent the players a BOTTLE OF EXPENSIVE CHAMPAGNE when they won the championship in '95.

"I think I still have the bottle," Edney said ... "I didn't even drink it!"

Bonus -- Tyus was out with Andre Johnson (Magic's son) ... and told us they just started a company together called "Where Were You When ...?" which is all about famous moments in sports history.

In what can only be described as a total lack of gender equality, the students at UConn failed to riot after the women's basketball team won the NCAA title last night ... with ZERO student arrests.

Of course, the insanity in Storrs, CT became a national story after the men's team won the championship on Monday -- with 15,000 people flooding the streets and 35 arrests in the riots that followed (20 of those people were students).

But law enforcement tells TMZ Sports ... when the Lady Huskies clinched the title the following night, only an estimated 3,500 people took to the streets ... and only 2 arrests were made (neither person was a student).

A rep for the school tells us, "All in all, people had a good time, but they did so responsibly and respectfully. A great night in a great week for the Huskies.”

The Ultimate Warrior "clutched his chest" moments before he collapsed at an Arizona hotel Tuesday afternoon ... this according to law enforcement sources who spoke with witnesses.

TMZ has learned ... Warrior was walking down a hallway at the Gainey Suites Hotel in Scottsdale, AZ and headed toward his car with his wife -- when he stopped, clutched his chest and went down.

We're told Warrior never recovered.

Sources connected to the situation tell us officials believe Warrior suffered a "catastrophic medical event" and so far, we're told there is no evidence to show drugs or alcohol were a factor in his death. All signs point to massive heart attack.

We're told an investigation is underway. The Maricopa County Medical Examiner tells us the autopsy is scheduled for Thursday.