TMZ Sports - Page 50

Retired NFL superstar Eddie George is adamant ... he's JUST FRIENDS with pro golfer Rachel Connor ... despite the fact he was a passenger in her car when she was busted for DUI at 2 AM this week.

George -- who's been married to singer Tamara Johnson since 2004 -- tells TMZ ... Connor was "simply trying to be nice by offering me a ride" Wednesday morning after a golf event in Florida.

George says he "realized that Rachel lived the closest to where I was staying. So she offered to drop me off. I believed her to be competent to drive and not impaired at all."

He was wrong ... allegedly. As TMZ first reported, cops believe Connor was HAMMERED ... because she could barely walk, couldn't count and reeked of booze. George was never accused of any wrongdoing.

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stevie Johnson knows ... when you sign a $36.25 MILLION contract ... you thank your boss every time you get a chance!

Johnson was out in L.A. last night ... celebrating his new 5-year deal with the Bills with friends ... and told us, "Shout out to the Buffalo Bills for signing a kid!"

Stevie continued, "I'm in a comfortable position right now ... I can take care of everybody now ... I can take care of the family now."

NFL great Peyton Manning was all choked up after the Colts axed him -- but he can take comfort in knowing he's not the first pro jock to bawl like a baby. Altogether now ... waaauughhh!!

Retired NFL star Eddie George was sitting in the passenger seat ... when pro golfer Rachel Connor was busted for drunk driving in Florida early this morning ... TMZ has learned.

Connor -- a 21-year-old British golf pro -- was pulled over at 2:21 AM in Sarasota, Florida ... after cops say they noticed her speeding and weaving in her lane.

According to the police report, obtained by TMZ ... cops smelled booze when they approached the vehicle ... and Connor admitted to drinking 2 vodka cranberries earlier in the evening.

Cops noticed a man in the passenger seat ... who was identified as 38-year-old Eddie George ... former NFL star and Heisman Trophy winner.

According to the report, Connor was given a breathalyzer test and blew a .133 and a .137 ... way over the legal limit, .08. Cops say she had trouble walking straight and couldn't count in numerical order.

According to the report, Cops asked Rachel if she could turn back the clock and change any of her decisions what would it be? ... And Rachel responded, she would have decided "not to drive."

Hours before the arrest, Connor tweeted a photo of Eddie on the golf course ... and another photo of herself and Eddie posing together at an event.

For the record -- Eddie was NOT arrested. We're told he took a cab home after the incident.

We called reps for both Eddie and Rachel -- so far, no response.

Peyton Manning and Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay have made it official ... Manning's playing days in Indy are over ... but the team plans to RETIRE Manning's #18 jersey, stat.

Fighting back tears ... an extremely emotional Peyton addressed Colts fans ... saying, "Thank you very much from the bottom of my heart, I truly have enjoyed being your quarterback."

Peyton -- who's been plagued with neck injuries -- said he's confident he'll play in the NFL again ... but says he hasn't thought about which team he'll join next.

Manning talked about his recovery ... saying, "I've got some progress to make ... but I've come a long way. I really enjoy being back out there."

Irsay -- who was equally emotional and also battled tears -- explained his decision to cut Peyton by saying, "[The Colts are] rebuilding a team with a salary cap problem."

Peyton was due to make a $28 million bonus with the Colts tomorrow as part of a 5-year $90 million deal -- but Irsay decided to release him before the payout.

Still, Irsay made it clear ... "The 18 jersey will never be worn again by a Colt on the field."

He continued, "We're here very much as well to honor all the incredible memories and incredible things that he's done for the franchise ... for the city ... for the state ... I can't thank [Peyton] enough."

Hulk Hogan says the sex tape being shopped to porn companies was "secretly filmed" WITHOUT his permission ... and claims the footage is nothing less than an "outrageous invasion of privacy."

TMZ broke the story ... the grainy video which has already been shopped to Vivid Entertainment features Hulk and a mystery brunette. It's unclear when the tape was shot.

Now, Hulk's lawyer David Houston has released a statement ... saying, "Terry Bollea is appalled at the unauthorized release of a secretly filmed video."

A sex tape featuring legendary wrestler Hulk Hogan has surfaced -- and TMZ has learned, it's currently being shopped to a major porn studio.

We've seen a portion of the grainy footage -- featuring Hulk getting undressed and a naked, unidentified brunette lying on a bed. The woman is NOT his ex-wife Linda or his current wife Jennifer McDaniel.

In the clip, Hulk pulls his shirt off and brags to his companion, "I started to work out again." Hulk then runs his hands through his blonde hair like he always does.

The best part ... Hulk's thong-shaped tan line.

It's unclear when the tape was shot -- but Vivid honcho Steve Hirsch tells TMZ, he was approached with the tape very recently by a third party.

So far, no word on whether Hirsch or anyone else has made an offer to buy the tape.

Hulk did not have an immediate comment.

Hulk says the tape was "secretly filmed" without his permission -- and now his lawyer's on the rampage ... claiming, "We will take all necessary steps to enforce both civil and criminal liability.”

WWE star Kia "Kharma" Stevens did not deliver a healthy baby boy on December 31st, despite what she told friends. Kia tells TMZ the child tragically died before she was able to give birth.

Kia tells us she is still devastated over the loss ... and initially lied to friends about the child being "healthy" because she was incredibly emotional and was afraid to tell the public the truth after announcing her pregnancy on live TV.

Kia says she's finally coming to grips with everything ... and wants to help other women in her situation.

"I am planning to start a foundation for women that have experienced the same thing" ... Kia says ... adding, "It's a bigger club than people think."

Dallas Cowboys linebacker Keith Brooking is the mastermind in a diabolical scheme to screw Wells Fargo out of $2 MILLION ... this according to a new lawsuit obtained by TMZ.

Brooking -- a 13-year NFL vet who signed a 3-year $6 million contract in 2009 -- has been sued in federal court in Georgia ... where he allegedly took out 2 separate loans in 2008 which totaled $1,996,224.73.

But according to the suit, Brooking "realized he would not be able to meet his obligations" to Wells Fargo ... and secretly embarked on a "systematic effort to hinder, delay and defraud" the bank.

WF claims Brooking began to hide all of his substantial assets, including property in Georgia, Florida and South Carolina ... so the bank couldn't go after his homes to satisfy the debt.

According to the lawsuit, the plan was simple ... Brooking simply transferred the deeds out of his name to various "insiders, affiliates and relatives."

The bank is asking the judge to clear a legal path so it can go after Keith's property.

But a rep for Brooking tells TMZ "There is absolutely no evidence whatsoever to support Wells Fargo’s allegations that Keith transferred any properties ... to fraudulently conceal assets."

In the immortal words of Kenny Powers ... sorry, Peyton Manning ... you're f**kin out.

The Indianapolis Colts will reportedly cut the 35-year-old QB tomorrow during a news conference in Indianapolis.

Not really a shocking move ... considering Manning has all sorts of neck problems and was due to make a TON of money. Plus, the Colts have the #1 pick in the draft ... and are in LOOOOOVE with Andrew Luck.

Sorry shameless fame-whorish ladies ... Tim Tebow will not be the next rich stud hunting for love on "The Bachelor."

Tim just set the record straight on Twitter ... saying, "Haha rumors can be crazy! Even though I've watched the show before, I'm definitely not gonna be on the Bachelor. #JessePalmer."

But the most shocking part -- TMZ has learned who's to blame for the rumor ... and it's "Bachelor" host Chris Harrison. Though he swears it wasn't intentional.

Chris just called in to TMZ Live to explain himself ... check it out below.

Former college football star Marcus Vick -- younger brother of Michael Vick -- refused to smile for his newest mug shot this weekend after he was arrested for contempt of court in Virginia.

Marcus turned himself in to authorities in Newport News, Va on Sunday ... after a warrant was issued for his arrest for failing to appear for 2 court dates to face a driving on a suspended license charge.

Vick will spend 10 days behind bars ... and will then be transferred to officials in Montgomery County, Va to face separate charges stemming from an unrelated incident.

According to reports, Vick's a wanted man in Montgomery County because he failed to show up to hearings involving his failure to pay a $40k settlement of a civil case in which he was accused of having sex with a 15-year-old girl in 2008 ... when Vick was 19.

Tim Tebow just got a metaphoric slap in the face from the Colorado Rockies mascot ... who struck the QB's famous pose even though he's -- a DINOSAUR!!

TMZ obtained the ironic pic that flies in the face of all Tebow holds dear -- Dinger the Triceratops ... Tebowing with several Rockies players in a Phoenix, AZ park Saturday.

The Elias Sports Bureau is getting back to us, but we're fairly confident this is the first time a dinosaur's been spotted Tebowing in the wild.

Evolutionists -- 1
Creationists -- 0

Baseball legend Lenny Dykstra has been sentenced to three years in California state prison in his grand theft auto case.

The former New York Mets outfielder had asked the judge to allow him to change his plea last week -- from "no contest" to "not guilty" -- but the judge refused to allow it today.

Lenny entered the "no contest" plea back in October as part of a plea deal -- copping to three counts of felony grand theft auto and one count of submitting false statements to a financial institution. 21 other charges against him were dismissed.

Lenny wanted to change his "no contest" plea because he felt it was "not knowing and intelligent" -- meaning Lenny wasn't provided with all the available information in the case before he made his plea decision.

Lenny was accused of leasing luxury cars from an L.A. dealership with fraudulent paperwork. Drug charges were also filed in the case.

Kris Humphries believes ... Kim Kardashian has NO RIGHT to keep the gifts from their doomed wedding ... insisting every single item should be returned to the guests.

Sources close to the NBA star tell us ... Kris is adamant that gifts from a fraudulent wedding should be returned.

We're told Kris gives Kim props for cutting a check for twice the value of the gifts and giving it to charity ... but he feels Kim should have made the contribution IN ADDITION to returning the gifts.

Kris has told friends he feels the guests were duped into spending their hard-earned cash on wedding gifts ... claiming Kim never intended to give their marriage a real chance.

Kim insists she truly loved Kris and was legitimately heartbroken when their relationship fell apart.

LeBron James' mother is finally facing the music for slapping a valet at the Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami Beach last year ... but she will NOT spend any time behind bars ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell us ... Gloria James struck a deal with prosecutors for the incident in which she slapped Rockfeller Sorel after allegedly berating him at the valet stand last April.

Under the terms of the deal, the court has agreed to dismiss the public intoxication charge against Gloria ... if she completes 20 hours of community service, stays away from Sorel and donates $1,000 to the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund. FYI -- Sorel is Haitian and personally agreed to the deal.

In case you haven't seen the video ... Gloria was a hot mess ... slapping, wildly swinging her purse ... and falling on her ass during the late-night altercation.