TMZ Sports - Page 50

They're 3 scary letters ... but Howie Long says when it comes to CTE, the NFL is doing "as good a job as you can" in preventing players from suffering brain injuries on the field.

Donovan McNabb is now Inmate #T231133 ... 'cause the ex-NFL star has officially begun his jail sentence in Arizona stemming from a DUI arrest back in June, TMZ Sports has learned.

We've confirmed McNabb has turned himself in to begin his 18 day sentence ... sporting a fresh Nike jacket.

Ex-Dallas Cowboys running back Joseph Randle has been charged with several misdemeanors stemming from his altercation with cops at a Kansas casino and faces jail time ... TMZ Sports has learned.

We broke the story ... Randle allegedly assaulted an officer at the Kansas Star Casino on Nov. 24th after he was kicked out of the place for being too drunk.

Now, the County Attorney's Office in Sumner County, KS tells us he's been formally charged with 2 counts of disorderly conduct, 1 count of criminal trespass and 1 count of resisting arrest, the most serious of the charges.

If convicted on all counts, Randle faces up to 1 year behind bars. He's due back in court next month.

It's true ... Tim Tebow did NOT have sex with ex Miss Universe Olivia Culpo, but that didn't break them up -- because they weren't actually dating ... TMZ Sports has learned.

According to multiple reports Tebow and Culpo split up recently due to Tim's commitment to abstinence. The story goes ... she wanted it, but he wasn't giving it up.

Well, sources close to the situation tell us Tebow and Culpo's romantic relationship never went beyond the rumor stage. We're told the chatter started after Olivia and Tim met in church a few months ago -- and even though their reps denied it, a lot of people ran with it.

Our sources say Tim did show interest in Olivia, and they hung out a few times WITH mutual friends ... but never had a one-on-one date.

Ex-Duke basketball star Chris Duhon was arrested for extreme DUI on Monday morning after cops found him passed out in his car with the engine running ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Cops responded to a call of a "man down" around 4 AM in Eleanor, West Virginia. Officials say officers found 33-year-old Duhon, who is currently an assistant basketball coach at Marshall, fast asleep in his Ford Escape with the keys still in the ignition.

When they woke him up, cops say they noticed Duhon's eyes were red and his speech was slurred. He was taken to the Putnam County Court House after failing three field sobriety tests.

This is where it gets crazy ... cops say Duhon took a breathalyzer test while getting booked and blew a .202 ... more than TWO AND HALF times the legal limit.

Duhon was released on $1,000 bond and has been suspended by the Marshall athletic department for "violating the department's rules and policies."

#8 or #24 ... that's the issue the Lakers will face when it comes time to retire Kobe Bryant's jersey -- but Rick Fox says he has a better solution ... RETIRE 'EM BOTH!!!

The issue is that Bryant dominated in both numbers ... winning 3 NBA championships in #8 (2000, 2001, 2002) and 2 in #24 (2009, 2010).

It's a completely different situation from Michael Jordan ... who only rocked the #45 for 22 games before switching back to #23.

So, what should the Lakers do??

Fox says it's time for the team to break tradition and let Kobe become the first player with TWO numbers in the rafters.

The USC football team was FIRED UP when they were officially told Clay Helton will be the permanent head coach ... swarming the guy during an epic team celebration.

USC athletic director Pat Haden broke the news to the players during a team meeting -- and everyone went crazy ... swarming Helton and chanting his name.

Helton was reportedly signed to a 3 year deal after USC stomped all over UCLA this weekend ... the 5th win he's racked up since taking over for Steve Sarkisian.

What feud?

Shaquille O'Neal says he loves Kobe Bryant like a brother ... despite their rocky "Tell Me How My Ass Tastes" past ... and to prove it, he offered Mamba some advice on his upcoming retirement.

"Its time for u to take it all in," Shaq tweeted to his former teammate ... "Sit back, relax & enjoy all that u have built. Love u lil bro."

The two essentially buried the hatchet back in August ... when they appeared on a podcast together and expressed regret over the way their feud played out in the media back in the day.

Of course, the biggest shot fired was Shaq's freestyle attack on Kobe in a NYC club back in 2008 ... but it seems they're both over it now.

Another bizarre twist in the Otis Nixon arrest ... with cops saying they found marijuana in the ex-MLB star's rental car ... TMZ Sports has learned.

We broke the story ... Nixon was arrested in Georgia last week after cops found a 16-year-old boy driving a car rented to Otis ... despite the fact the boy doesn't have a license.

Now, more details ...

Cops say there were 4 people in the Dodge Charger -- two 15 year olds, a 16-year-old and an 18-year-old. The driver was 16.

When they approached the vehicle, which cops say was being driven erratically, they smelled weed ... and a search turned up around 6 grams of marijuana.

Cops also found a BB gun rifle with the stock removed and a blue bandana wrapped around the stock area.

The driver produced a letter from Nixon authorizing him to have and drive the car ... which is obviously not valid ... so a warrant was issued for Nixon's arrest.

Nixon was later taken into custody for allowing an unlicensed driver to drive and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

As for the weed, Nixon has not been charged for that.

Jay Z's got some competition in the sports management world ... all thanks to Marc Anthony -- who just started his own company and ALREADY signed a pretty huge client.

Anthony just announced the creation of Magnus Media ... Marc's version of Roc Nation Sports ... and already inked Reds closer Aroldis Chapman, who holds the record for the fastest pitch ever recorded (105 mph).

Anthony's not going at it alone -- he's partnered up with Praver Shapiro Sports Management -- a sports agency that focuses on MLB players.

Anthony's been involved with Major League Baseball for years ... and famously sang the National Anthem at Shea Stadium in 2001 when baseball resumed after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

It's curtains on his career ... but the timing couldn't be better for a Kobe Bryant MOVIE -- so says Michael B. Jordan.

Prince Harry's charity polo match in South Africa over the weekend didn't quite go as planned ... unless he was trying to get thrown off his horse.

The prince was tossed head first off his steed, but bounced right back up and appeared unscathed. Good news for Harry, but better news for his ride.

South Africans needs glue too, ya know.

Yasiel Puig's Thanksgiving Eve bar fight was captured on surveillance video, sources tell TMZ Sports ... and cops say they have seen the tape.

Sources tell us ... the entire incident was recorded from multiple angles -- including the physical altercation between Yasiel and his sister.

However, we're told investigators only saw the "outside the bar" footage -- which definitively showed Puig hitting a bar manager in the face ... and then several people attacking Puig in retaliation.

As for the incident with his sister, one bar staffer who's seen the tape says the footage definitely shows Puig getting physical with the woman ... slapping her hand and pulling her hair.

TMZ Sports spoke with Dodgers team president Stan Kasten last night who tells us the team and MLB officials are still investigating.

When we asked Kasten if Puig will be on the team next season, he told us he's not ready to commit to an answer until the investigation is over.

The world is Kobe Bryant's oyster ... so says Metta World Peace who tells TMZ Sports his Lakers teammate has plenty of options in retirement -- including being an NBA coach.

Peace was out at Greystone nightclub to celebrate Julius Randle's birthday when we asked about Kobe's next move.

"He could do whatever he wants," Peace said ... "He could do TV. He could [be a] coach. He could be front office."

Check out the clip ... Metta gushes about how much Kobe means to him -- and says he has special plans for the goodbye letter #24 sent to friends and teammates.

This.Is.Awesome ...

White Sox star Alexei Ramirez was torn on what color he wanted his 2016 F-TYPE Jaguar to be ... so he dropped $25k so he wouldn't have to decide ... 'cause now the car freakin' CHANGES COLORS.

We spoke to customizing god Alex Vega from The Auto Firm who tells us the whip was painted by graffiti artist Rene Turrek using thermochromic paint ... meaning when the Jaguar is cold ... it's black ... but when it warms up it morphs into a red, white, and blue masterpiece.

Final price tag for the paint job? $25k!!

Alexei's ride is a work of art ... literally ... it's destined to be part of Miami's Art Basel show this December and is a joint project with Warren Henry Automotive Group.

Picasso, baby.

This will be Kobe Bryant's final season in the NBA ... he just made it official by penning a love letter to basketball.

Kobe says the 2015-16 season will be his last in the Lakers purple and gold -- and any other uniform. In the letter, posted on The Players' Tribune, Kobe writes ... "Dear Basketball, From the moment I started rolling my dad's tube sock and shooting imaginary game-winning shots ... I fell in love with you."

He also said, "This season is all I have left to give. My heart can take the pounding, my mind can handle the grind, but my body knows it's time to say goodbye. And that's OK. I'm ready to let you go."

The letter's pretty extraordinary, and kind of emotional.

37-year-old Kobe closed with -- "I'll always be that kid with the rolled up socks. Garbage can in the corner, :05 on the clock, ball in my hands. 5 ... 4 ... 3 ... 2 ... 1. Love you always, Kobe."