TMZ Sports - Page 50

Mike McQueary says he's not 100% positive Jerry Sandusky was anally raping a young boy in a Penn State shower back in 2002 ... but he's CERTAIN Sandusky was sexually molesting the child.

McQueary -- a Penn State assistant coach -- took the stand in a preliminary hearing for 2 former PSU officials this morning, and said he became suspicious when he heard skin-on-skin slapping sounds coming from one of the showers.

McQueary says he peeked into the shower and personally saw Jerry and the boy naked in the shower together -- with Jerry grabbing the boy's waist from behind, while the boy was facing the wall.

McQueary says he peeked in the shower several times -- and by the last time, they had separated. But McQueary told the court, "I know they saw me. They looked directly in my eye, both of them."

"Seeing that they were separated, I thought it was best that I leave the locker room," he explained.

McQueary says he went to Penn State football coach Joe Paterno to report the incident the following morning -- but didn't use the words "sodomy" or "anal intercourse."

McQueary says Paterno slumped back in his chair and appeared disappointed, but told Mike he had "done the right thing."

When asked why he didn't report the incident to police, McQueary explained that he had spoken with PSU Vice President Gary Schultz and felt that was good enough because Schultz oversaw the campus police.

If Pat Summitt -- the all-time winningest coach in NCAA basketball history (male AND female) -- thinks a woman ever coaching in the NBA is a "longshot" ... then you better believe it won't be happening any time soon.

Here's upcoming season 16 "Bachelor" Ben Flajnik in L.A. on Tuesday (left) -- and Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal last year (right).

One has got game.

Verne Troyer showed off his bowling skills in Belfast, Northern Ireland yesterday ... at an event for a local youth charity.

The 42-year-old actually bowled a strike in this pic and proved he's in a league of his own.

Los Angeles Dodgers star Matt Kemp has Ryan Braun's back -- claiming the reigning National League MVP shouldn't be branded as a cheater ... despite reports he tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs.

Kemp -- who finished 2nd to Braun in the MVP voting this year -- was at The Grove in L.A. last night when we asked about the allegations surrounding Braun. Kemp told us, "Nobody's proven anything man ... we don't know anything."

He added, "That's a good dude. That's my homie."

Lamar Odom's trade to the Mavericks could be a great thing for the Kardashian family business ... 'cause TMZ has learned the family is now hoping to open a DASH store in Dallas.

Sources close to the K-squad tell us ... the family is thrilled that Odom went to Dallas because they have several cousins that live out that way ... and the fam is familiar with the area since Kourtney went to college at SMU.

Khloe is currently in L.A. ... but plans to join up with her hubby in the next couple of days ... and we're told the entire family will head out to Big D to support the couple as soon they can.

As far as DASH is concerned, one source tells us the family is already researching possible store locations ... and they want to move quickly.

Scottie Pippen claims he's been unfairly portrayed in the media as a walking financial disaster -- and now he's suing every media outlet that reported he went bankrupt ... claiming he hasn't been worth LESS than $40,000,000 in the last 10 years.

Pippen has filed a lawsuit against TONS of online media outlets -- including CBSsports.com, CNBC.com, Arizona State University and more -- claiming they all falsely reported the former Chicago Bulls star had gone belly up.

According to the docs, filed in federal court in Illinois and obtained by TMZ ... Pippen claims, "It is a most foul libel indeed to be falsely accused of being bankrupt."

The lawsuit continues, "Scottie never filed bankruptcy and indeed has a substantial net worth, which has not been less than approximately $40,000,000 in the last ten years."

Pippen claims CNBC.com included him in an article titled, "15 Athletes Gone Bankrupt" ... and CBSsports.com posted a photo of Pippen along with a story about NBA players and bankruptcy.

As for ASU -- Pippen claims he was tagged as a person who had gone bankrupt in a law blog operated by the University.

Rick Fox, Kobe Bryant ... and Laker fans everywhere seem so distraught over Lamar Odom's move to the Mavericks -- the trade shoulda been sponsored by Kleenex. WAHHHH!!

The 2 men behind the Syracuse sex scandal accusations are adamant ... they're not making up stories about ex-coach Bernie Fine molesting them as children -- and now, they're suing the University's head coach for calling them liars.

The alleged victims, 39-year-old Bobby Davis and 45-year-old Mike Lang, announced their lawsuit in a news conference today -- Gloria Allred presiding -- claiming head basketball coach Jim Boeheim destroyed their reputations by publicly calling BS on their stories.

After their ESPN interview aired -- in which Lang and Davis accused ex-Syracuse coach Bernie Fine of abusing them as children -- Boeheim gave several statements to the media ... calling the two "liars" just looking for money, crawling out of the woodwork after the Penn State scandal.

Some of the top criminal defense lawyers in L.A. tell TMZ ... they are "astonished" that Jerry Sandusky's lawyer waived his right to a preliminary hearing, because it would have been the only possible way the former Penn State assistant coach could've beaten the child molestation rap.

The lawyers were unanimous -- the prelim was the ONLY opportunity Sandusky's attorney had to test the veracity of the alleged victims before the trial. As one criminal defense lawyer put it, "The prelim is where the lawyer can lock down the victim's story. It's the only time Sandusky's lawyer can probe as to why such a long delay in reporting the crime."

Crimes that are not reported for years create inherent problems for prosecutors, not the least of which are fading memories and exaggerations over time. There's also a "me too" dynamic in these cases -- people riding the wave and saying they were also victims. The prelim is where the defense can mine these weaknesses.

One of the defense lawyers we spoke with scoffed at Sandusky's statement this morning ... that he will fight for four quarters: "Waiving the preliminary hearing is like laying down on the field for the first half of the game."

Jerry Sandusky just executed a legal maneuver that will keep 8 of his accusers from telling tales of horrific sexual abuse ... but only temporarily.

The former Penn State assistant coach waived his right to a preliminary hearing this AM in his child molestation case. The judge was supposed to hear testimony from Sandusky's accusers and then decide if there was enough evidence to justify a trial. By waiving his right to a prelim, the case will automatically be set for a full trial.

On his way into court, Sandusky said, "We fully intend to put together the best possible defense that we can do, to stay the course, to fight for 4 quarters. We want the opportunity to present our side."

Former Oakland Raiders quarterback Todd Marinovich has finally found success off the field ... as an artist ... and dude tells TMZ he's been blowin' up ever since his work was featured on an ESPN documentary this weekend.

Todd -- who battled serious drug addiction during and after he fizzled out of the NFL back in 1993 -- has been painting and sculpting non-stop ... telling us, "I've been sober for over three years ... the art is my main therapy."

Some of Todd's work was featured in the new ESPN documentary, "The Marinovich Project" ... and T.M. says the exposure is having an insane impact on his business, "Orders are pouring in for the prints."

Todd tells us the main piece of art featured in the doc is called, "The Alchemist" ... which is based on himself. "It's the most sought after print," Todd explains ... "I'm only making 100 of them and I'm almost sold out."

Tim Tebow's ridiculous success has everyone wondering ... is he guilty of using a P.E.D. -- performance enhancing deity?? Hey-oh! (The preceding attempt at humor was not ordained by the Father, Son or Holy Ghost)

God is not helping Tim Tebow ... this according to a rep for The Church of Satan.

But there is a devilish twist ... the rep tells us Tim's faith COULD actually play a significant role in his success on the field.

TMZ spoke with Magus Peter H. Gilmore -- a high priest in the Church -- who tells us it doesn't make sense to say God is helping Tim win games ... because that would mean God's actively making other teams lose ... and why would God do that?

But what does make sense is Tebow's mental state -- Gilmore tells us, "Those who have a winning attitude tend to do better, and whatever fuels such team spirit, be it religious fervor or simply an overwhelming desire to succeed, is the real source for success."

Gilmore adds, "Satanists are atheists, and we would consider any triumph to rely on a combination of skill and luck – most certainly not in any form of supernatural intervention from either Heaven or Hell."

You'd think Baylor king Robert Griffin III would go wild after winning the Heisman Trophy this weekend in NYC -- but TMZ has learned, the star QB went straight to Ground Zero instead ... to pay his respects.

Griffin family sources tell TMZ, RG3 and several close family members made a beeline from the Best Buy Theater to the 9/11 memorial on Saturday. According to sources, the Griffins are a military family -- and Robert felt it was important to visit Ground Zero for some somber reflection.

We're told the Griffins spent a couple of hours at the memorial ... before heading downtown for a quick shopping excursion.

After the emotional tribute and the intimate family bonding time ... RG3 finally took off in his limo to party with fellow Heisman candidates Trent Richardson, Andrew Luck, Montee Ball, and Tyrann Mathieu.

Broncos QB Tim Tebow is winning games because of God, pure and simple ... this according to a pastor at a Colorado church with ties to the Tebow family.

Pastor Wayne Hanson -- who runs Summit Church in Castle Rock, CO where Tim's dad often speaks -- tells TMZ God is actively intervening in Denver Broncos football games ... and aiding Tim on the field because of his strong faith.

Hanson tells us, "It's not luck. Luck isn't winning 6 games in a row. It's favor. God's favor."

Pastor Hanson adds, "God has blessed his hard work."

We asked Hanson if Tebow would be winning games if he wasn't such a strong believer -- and the pastor replied, "No, of course not."

So far, it's the only plausible explanation for this insane Broncos winning streak.