TMZ Sports - Page 50

TMZ has obtained a check ... signed by beleaguered Dodger owner Frank McCourt. We've been asked to black out the name of the Dodger employee, but she works at Dodger Stadium. The check was written on June 24 in the amount of $497.54.

The check was presented but rejected as "Refer to Maker."

The L.A. Dodgers now say ... checks for some game day staff members did indeed bounce, but checks were reissued Wednesday.

According to the medical examiner, Savage suffered from cardiovascular disease -- and the deadly "cardiac event" resulted from the condition.

According to the toxicology report, Savage tested positive for alcohol and hydrocodone (an opiate) during the time of his death ... but neither played a role in his death.

TMZ has learned ... the LAPD went over to Banda's house early this morning -- and Juan's telling friends, investigators specifically asked him about the bleacher footage ... which shows a pissed off Banda yelling right in Stow's face during the game. Stow was rooting for the San Francisco Giants.

We're told Juan gave his side of the story to police -- that Bryan incited him, claiming he'd "rather eat his own feces than eat a Dodger dog" -- and the officers informed him that he was NOT considered a suspect in the beating.

One of Stow's friends posted a photo on Facebook, showing Stow and his buddies proudly sporting their team colors in a sea of blue on March 31 ... while two unidentified Dodgers fans photobombed the shot by flipping off the camera.

As we previously reported -- Stow had a verbal altercation with another Dodger fan during the game ... after Stow allegedly yelled out that he'd rather eat his own feces than a Dodger dog.

Stow was brutally beaten in the parking lot after the game and is still recovering from some VERY serious injuries.

Hulk phoned-in to the "Bubba the Love Sponge Show" this morning to set the record straight with Bubba himself -- telling the DJ that Linda's claims of abuse, which she made this morning on the "Today" show, are "a cold, blatant lie."

He continued, saying there's "no reason" to defend himself against Linda -- calling her a "non-issue" who's "still riding on the Hulk Hogan name."

Stow's family is upset that we posted the video, showing Stow in a verbal altercation with a Dodger fan. The Dodger fan, Juan Banda, claims Stow had loudly said, "I rather eat my own feces than a Dodger dog."

A rep for the family tells TMZ, "There has been enough hurt and pain for Bryan, his family, friends and especially his two young children." The rep believes we suggested Bryan's attack may have been warranted.

The rep says, "Banter is expected at any sporting event. Violence should not be. Bryan is not a violent person. That shows as he remains seated, hands up as someone is in his face yelling. Over what? Comments about a hot dog?!!"

Linda sat down with Matt Lauer on the "Today Show" to talk about her autobiography -- "Wrestling the Hulk: My Life Against the Ropes" -- in which she details Hulk's alleged violent behavior.

She writes, "[Hulk] tore my shirt. He threw lamps. He held me down on the bed with his hands around my throat during arguments, slamming doors, pounding walls. I was always afraid he would kill me in one of his rages."

When Matt asked if Hulk ever showed remorse for his actions -- Linda replied, "He did not feel remorse — and to this day he’s never apologized for any of his actions."

TMZ has obtained a text message sent yesterday by Juan Banda, the man who had the pre-attack run-in with Stow in the stands. TMZ posted video of the altercation Monday morning.

A friend of Banda's texted him that he saw Banda on TMZ. Banda texted back "They are not saying they are looking for me....right? Reason I was arguing w him was because he [Stow] crossed the line ... he yelled out, 'I rather eat my own ficies (sic) than eat a dodger dog.'"

Banda continued, "I asked Merced [a friend Banda was with at the game] to watch my back and told him [Stow] it was one thing to root for your team but you are crosing (sic) the line ... he didn't say much ... neither him or his buddies who were with him ... they were just trying to excuse his words."

Banda continued texting: "Nothing happen and I went back to my seat. ... What I can't understand is where were his buddies when that [the attack] happened ... he was not alone during the game ... he was with 3 or 4 friends ... he did have a mouth though!"

And Banda texted, "Maybe he said the wrong thing to the wrong guys!"

What's interesting about the texts is it paints a picture of Stow trying to incite Dodger fans.

The Orlando Magic guard claims Laura Govan -- the mother of his 4 children -- signed up to do "Basketball Wives" solely to become a television personality. In the lawsuit, Arenas claims even though the soon-to-be-debuted series doesn't mention him by name, "the very presence of defendant Govan and the title of the show is an obvious reference to [Arenas]." And Arenas notes his name was used in the press release announcing Govan had joined the cast.

The man is Juan Banda, seen here posing with former Dodgers first baseman Eric Karros outside Dodger Stadium. We don't know when the photo was taken.

We're told after TMZ posted the video Monday morning -- showing Banda taunting beating victim Bryan Stow -- people from Banda's office told him to call the LAPD.

Liddell has been going toe-to-toe with his ex Lori Geyer for months -- in an effort to gain custody of their 12-year-old son.

But today in L.A. County Superior Court, the judge came down hard on Liddell -- because in addition to the child support, Liddell was also FINED $2,500 for failing to produce financial documentation requested by the court.

TMZ contacted Liddell's lawyer, who told us Chuck didn't show because "[Lori's] attorney failed to provide notice in an attempt to obtain favorable decision."

TMZ has learned ... Tyson and his wife Lakiha invited hundreds of friends to a joint birthday party they threw for each other at the M Resort ... but the b-day party was merely a cover for a secret vow renewal.

After the guests arrived to the party, the couple disappeared ... only to re-emerge behind a massive curtain ... which dropped to reveal both Mike and Lahika dressed in wedding outfits.

With the crowd completely surprised, the couple proceeded to renew their vows in a traditional Muslim ceremony.

We're told the two decided to do the big "wedding" party this time around because they skipped out on a celebration when they were secretly married at a small Vegas chapel back in 2009 ... two weeks after Mike's 4-year-old daughter passed away.

Sources tell us the party was AWESOME -- guests had their choice of a steak or chicken entree ... and then they partied it up in the hotel's ballroom with a live band.

Congrats!

It's a huge development in the saga of the troubled team. Frank McCourt has been struggling to make the payroll. Interestingly, the creditors include 23 current team members and former Dodger Manny Ramirez, who is owed $20,992,086. Andrew Jones, also a former member, is owed $11,075,000 and current slugger Matt Kemp is owed $216,944.

And legendary announcer Vince Scully is a creditor who is owed $152,778.

The top 40 creditors are owed a total of $74,121,433.

Sources tell TMZ ... the decision to file was made by Frank McCourt ... NOT MLB Commissioner Bud Selig or trustee Tom Schieffer.

The trigger for the Chapter 11 Bankruptcy filing was Selig's decision to kill the $3 billion Fox deal to broadcast Dodger games.

McCourt was bitter, saying Selig has "turned his back on the Dodgers, treated us differently, and forced us to the point we find ourselves in today."

The documents list Dodger assets between $500 million and 1 billion dollars.

The team will continue playing and all salaries will be paid, according to McCourt.

The short clip shows Bryan Stow in the bleachers at the Dodgers/Giants game on opening day, waving his arms in what appears to be the tail end of a verbal confrontation with a man wearing a Dodgers jersey. The Dodger fan has his finger right up in Stow's face.

The man in the Jersey is not Giovanni Ramirez -- the suspect in the beating who is currently being held on a probation violation. Ramirez insists he wasn't even at Dodger Stadium at the time of the attack.

Williams finally pulled the trigger Friday, filing papers in Hudson County Superior Court in New Jersey. Williams, who tied the knot with Eric in the Bahamas back in 2007, cites irreconcilable differences.

Williams wants alimony, plus an "equitable" distribution of the couple's assets.