TMZ Sports - Page 50

He could've been the greatest husband of all time ... but Barry Sanders is leaving the world of marriage ... healthy ... and years before his prime.

Sanders has filed for divorce from his wife, TV newscaster Lauren Campbell-Sanders ... after 11 years of marriage and 3 kids together.

According to OaklandPress.com, Barry filed the docs in Michigan ... in which he explains there's been a breakdown in the marital relationship with no chance they'll be able to work things out.

In the docs, Barry notes that he expects to pay child support for their 3 kids -- ages 4, 8 and 10.

Chris Bosh and his baby mama Allison Mathis just got scolded in court by the judge in their ongoing custody battle -- who reprimanded the ex-couple for refusing to hash out their parenting problems ... without the government's help.

TMZ broke the story ... Bosh dragged Mathis to family court this morning in Orlando -- just hours after the All-Star game -- insisting she's doing everything she can to ruin his relationship with his 3-year-old daughter ... putting up a fight every time he wants to see his kid.

But the judge was pissed he even had to hear the case -- chastising the former couple for involving lawyers in what should be a simple levelheaded discussion about sharing custody.

The judge said, "Life passes you by waiting for lawyers and cases to resolve. Meanwhile, the world continues."

The judge then reluctantly set a visitation schedule that will allow Bosh to see his daughter -- and both parties agreed to it. If either Bosh or Mathis violates the agreement, that person could be held in contempt.

WWE star John Cena will still wave the honorary green starter flag at the Daytona 500 tomorrow -- despite rumors the wrestling star would be forced to miss the race ... TMZ has learned.

In case you didn't know, the Daytona 500 was rained out today for the first time in its 54-year history and pushed back to tomorrow at noon.

There were several reports ... Cena would have to miss the race because he's also scheduled to appear at Monday Night RAW in Portland, Oregon.

But a rep for the WWE tells TMZ, "John Cena will still start the Daytona 500 off by waving the green flag and saying drivers start your engines."

The rep adds, "Shortly after he'll fly to Portland, Oregon to be at Monday Night RAW."

Busy day.

February 27, 7:20 AM PT -- The Daytona 500 start was pushed back to 7 P.M. Monday night which means Cena can no longer make an appearance at the race.

Evelyn Lozada claims she did nothing wrong when she accepted over half a million dollars from her ex-fiancé, former NBA star Antoine Walker, because she had no idea he was in debt ... this according to court docs filed this week.

As TMZ first reported, the "Basketball Wives" star is being sued by the bankruptcy trustee in Walker's case who claims Walker funneled money to her while they were engaged as a way to hide if from his creditors.

Lozada has responded to the suit with an answer filed Friday in bankruptcy court in Miami. She claims she was not aware of Walker's financial problems and questionable business deals.

According to the docs, Lozada denies the allegation that Walker's money was used to open her shoe store, Dulce. She says any money she got from Walker was "used for the ordinary living expenses of the [Walker] and his household" and that she was simply an intermediary for Walker.

Dwyane Wade was once again working with a sidekick this week -- but instead of LeBron James on the basketball court, it was rapper Ace Hood in the club.

Wade hosted a party Thursday night at VAiN nightclub in Orlando to kick off NBA All-Star Weekend. Wade took the mic with Ace as he performed his song "Hustle Hard."

Warren Sapp denies half of the allegations levied against him by his ex-wife -- saying he's not behind on child support, but maybe a little on the alimony ... sources close to Sapp tell TMZ.

As TMZ first reported, Sapp's ex-wife filed documents in Florida saying the former NFL star owed her $728,100 in back child support and alimony.

But sources close to Sapp tell TMZ he's current on his child support and that to Warren, his kids "always come first."

However, like we've seen with so many retired sports stars, we're told Sapp feels his alimony is too high since his playing days are over and the paychecks he gets as an analyst just don't stack up.

Manny Pacquiao's wife Jinkee says the Pac-Man is too wiped out after fights to go another round in the bedroom -- but karaoke? Well, that's a whole other story.

Lamar Odom's father says he's NOT gravely ill ... and was only suffering from a stomach virus earlier this week ... but he's grateful that his famous son would skip an NBA game to be by his side.

Joe Odom was out in L.A. yesterday and explained, "[Wednesday] night [Lamar] stayed with me all night ... just kickin' it and whatnot ... but everything is good now I feel a lot better."

The Mavs were scheduled to play the Lakers that night (L.O.'s former team), but Lamar was excused for what the team called "a family matter."

Lamar's had a pretty tumultuous relationship with his dad -- the two were estranged for years due to Joe's heroin addiction.

Disgraced MLB star Lenny Dykstra desperately wants to attend the Florida funeral of his former NY Mets teammate Gary Carter ... and has filed documents with the judge BEGGING him to travel even though he's currently under house arrest in L.A..

Carter -- who played with Dykstra on the infamous '86 Mets championship team -- passed away last week after battling brain cancer. His funeral is set for later today in Palm Beach Gardens, FL.

Problem for Dykstra ... he's on house arrest for a whole bunch of alleged crimes, including bankruptcy fraud and embezzlement ... and needs a judge's permission if he wants to leave the state.

In the docs, Dykstra notes that he wants to stay until Sunday ... so he can attend an intimate gathering reserved for close friends and family on Saturday.

If New York Knicks sensation Jeremy Lin wasn't a big ass deal before, he sure as hell is now -- because Manny Pacquiao tells TMZ ... even HE'S Linsane in the membrane.

Manny was on his way into Loews Regency hotel in New York yesterday -- we asked if he's succumbed to the wave of Linsanity sweeping across the planet, and the boxing legend said YES ... claiming, "He's good ... from Asia."

DID YOU HEAR THAT?!?!?!?!?!! Manny Pacquiao said Jeremy Lin is GOOD!!!

Chris Bosh says his baby mama is doing everything she can to destroy his relationship with his daughter -- and the latest evidence is that she only wanted to let Chris see the child a grand total of 22 hours in February.

Bosh -- who is slated to play in the All-Star Game Sunday in Orlando -- will be in an Orlando family court first thing Monday morning, asking a judge to either force Allison Mathis to give him "meaningful time" with his 3-year-old daughter or hold Mathis in contempt for denying him that.

According to the docs, Mathis is supposed to hand the child over to Chris 12 days a month, but it hasn't happened ... not even close.

Fans everywhere have been clamoring for it ... and now, Weird Al Yankovic himself claims he'd be HONORED to perform at next year's Super Bowl halftime show -- he's just waiting for the NFL to extend the invite.

In case you didn't know -- there's a massive movement spreading online ... with thousands of Weird Al fans signing multiple petitions to get the singer booked for next year's show.

But Weird Al ain't convinced the movement's big enough yet -- claiming, "I'd be surprised if that's being seriously considered by the NFL, but prove me wrong!"

When asked if he'd even accept an invite to take the stage at the big game -- Al replied, "Sure, if they asked!"

So we gotta ask ...

The Nevada prep school named after and founded by Andre Agassi has been sued by a former biology teacher who claims he was treated like crap and FIRED because he's black.

TMZ has obtained the lawsuit filed by James Holmes Jr. -- who claims he was hired to teach 9th and 10th grade biology at Andre Agassi College Prep Academy in 2005.

According to his suit, things went smoothly for the next 3 years ... until the school hired a new principal in 2008 ... who allegedly favored white teachers.

James claims the principal refused to let him travel to a science conference ... blaming it on budget restraints. But James claims he later discovered the school head DID have funds reserved for other teachers who wanted to attend conferences ... and they all happened to be white.

James also claims the principal denied his request for new lab materials due to budget restraints ... only to find out the lab materials were ordered for two white teachers instead.

According to the suit, James says he filed a complaint with the school ... but officials retaliated by firing his ass and replacing him with a substitute elementary school teacher who wasn't certified to teach science courses.

James is demanding at least $75k in damages. Andre is not personally named in the suit.

Not everyone hates Kobe Bryant's wife ... in fact, she has a pretty big fan in Shaunie O'Neal -- Shaq's ex-wife -- who tells TMZ she "LOVES" that the Bryants seem to be reconciling.

Shaunie -- the executive producer of VH1's "Basketball Wives" -- was leaving MyStudio last night when we asked about the photo of Kobe and Vanessa kissing after a recent Lakers game.

"I think it's wonderful ... too much energy to be angry ... some situations are worse than others, but I love it."

TMZ broke the story ... Vanessa filed for divorce back in December ... but we're told Kobe is trying like hell to win her back.

Shaunie has spent A LOT of time around the Bryants over the years ... especially Vanessa ... since Shaq spent 8 years as Kobe's teammate on the L.A. Lakers.

Buffalo Bills linebacker Shawne Merriman came face to face with police in Vegas this morning ... after a friend alerted hotel security that the NFL star may have harmed himself ... but it turned out to be a case of a simple over-reaction.

Law enforcement sources tell us ... officers were dispatched to Merriman's room at the Cosmopolitan Hotel after the friend claimed he had received startling text messages from Shawne ... which made the friend fear for Shawne's safety.

But when cops arrived to the room ... we're told they talked things out with Shawne and quickly concluded he did not pose a threat to himself or others.

Sources tell us Merriman also denied sending any texts about harming himself.

We spoke with Shawne's rep ... who told us, "It was an over-reaction on the part of whoever called. Shawne was fine."

Pilar Sanders says her estranged husband Deion and his daughter Deiondra mind-tricked her into believing she really is a "worthless, gold diggin' ho" ... so she's suing them both for $200 MILLION.

The suit was clearly triggered by Deiondra's Twitter rant earlier this month ... in which she trashed Pilar as a "gold diggin' h*e" ... and publicly accused her of cheating on Deion.

In her lawsuit, Pilar claims Deiondra and Deion have been attacking her with various "emotional weapons" for years ... including dominance, humiliation, isolation, threats, intimidation, denial and blame.

Pilar claims the Twitter rant was just another example of the humiliation she was forced to endure during the marriage ... adding, "[Deion and Deiondra] even persuaded [Pilar] that she was and is worthless, a 'gold diggin' ho, and that no one else would want her."

Pilar also claims the two would intimidate her by leaving various weapons on display around the house and "hurting pets."

The details of the alleged animal abuse are not explained in the suit.

Pilar is demanding $150 MILLION in punitive damages and $50 mil in actual damages. Her attorney Larry Friedman tells TMZ Pilar also wants a public apology -- and adds ... she "passed a polygraph test confirming" she didn't cheat on Deion.

Meanwhile, the divorce proceedings are still underway.

Deion's lawyer Jody Johnson says Pilar's suit is bogus -- and added, "Continued efforts to extort money and negatively impact the children will not be rewarded by Mr. Sanders." She also says Deion is looking forward to a "quick and private resolution of the divorce."