TMZ Sports - Page 50

The Pittsburgh PD just announced an arrest warrant has been issued for a former Steelers running back -- whose alleged graffiti exploits have made him the Banksy of the Steel City.

The player is ex-RB Baron Batch -- a 2011 draft pick who was cut in 2013.

Cops say the 28-year-old has been tagging all over the city -- and caused more than $16,000 in damage after hitting the Three Rivers Heritage Trail, the Hot Metal Bridge and the Mon Wharf Parking lot.

He's been hit with 30 counts of criminal mischief.

Good news for Knicks fans -- Spike Lee seems pretty optimistic about signing Joakim Noah.

Bad news for Knicks fans -- He's not too confident about Kevin Durant.

The Knicks mega-fan was at LAX when he told us Noah is "doable" -- meaning he's convinced there's a very real chance NY signs the Chicago Bull.

He's way less confident about landing KD.

Bizarre video of Colin Kaepernick ... who was cornered at an L.A. hotel on Friday and interrogated by some overzealous fans -- who forced the 49ers QB to compare himself to Cam Newton.

Kaep was strollin' through the Ritz-Carlton in shorts and a t-shirt when he was stopped by fans asking for some selfies. One of the fans launched into a quasi-pep talk -- it turned weird.

The fans INSIST Kaep is as great as Cam. Colin's response -- "We ain't the same person."

Beware, children of Earth ... if you dare to get on a basketball court with James Harden you might go viral ... 'cause the Rockets star just totally put a kid in the popcorn machine and it's all on video.

It all went down at Harden's basketball camp where he went 1-on-1 with a kid and probably made the tyke's whole summer.

Check out the clip ... Harden gives him a little shake, a little bake, and a BIG fake ... then finishes the whole thing with a dunk.

Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Dan Skuta allegedly shoved a woman in the face -- sending her into a glass window -- after she refused to give him her number ... this according to the police report.

Skuta -- 6'3", 250 lbs -- was arrested in Orlando on June 19th around 2 AM for misdemeanor battery.

Now, we've learned the alleged victim is a woman who claims all she did was turn down his advances.

According to the police report, obtained by TMZ Sports ... Skuta allegedly approached the woman and began flirting with her.

"When Skuta asked for [victim's] phone number where she told him no, a verbal altercation ensued between the two."

"The altercation turned physical when Skuta pushed victim's face with an open hand which caused the back of her head to hit a glass window."

The victim refused medical treatment.

Cops say they believe Skuta was intoxicated at the time of the incident.

Lamar Odom couldn't look happier and healthier, doing the regular ole dad thing at Disneyland.

The former NBA star enjoyed quality family time with daughter Destiny and son Lamar Jr. ... along with his ex. Check out the pics ... great to see Lamar just having fun as a family man.

Chile was LIT after their team won the 2016 Copa America title ... literally ... with fans taking to the streets of Santiago for a massive celebration that included some pyrotechnic partying.

Only thing burning hotter than the fires in Chile? Argentina fans after Messi bricked that huge shot ... then FREAKIN' RETIRED after the match.

Congrats to the victors.

Here's a shocker ... the lawyer who accidentally texted a reporter A BUNCH of sensitive information about his client Johnny Manziel ... is off the case.

It was one of the most epic screwups ever ... attorney Bob Hinton said he didn't realize he was texting an AP reporter when he fired off info about the QB's drug problems, hit-and-run crash and domestic violence case.

Oops.

Now, Manziel's rep, Denise Michaels, says Hinton has resigned and is no longer a part of Manziel's legal team.

"Johnny Manziel’s lead attorney Jim Darnell today confirmed to me withdrawal of associate counsel Bob Hinton from Manziel case."

While Lionel Messi was busy sulking after his penalty kick choke, Team Chile was RAGING IN THE LOCKER ROOM ... celebrating with Bud Lights and golden trophy pics!

In fact, Alexis Sanchez -- winner of the Golden Ball (best player in the tournament) -- stripped down to his jockstrap and posed with his trio of golden awards ... the Copa trophy, his winner's medal and the Golden Ball.

Meanwhile the locker room at MetLife Stadium looked like a scene from "Dexter" -- with tarp laid down all over the place to make sure the beer and champagne celebration was easy to clean up.

Congrats to the winners -- question is ... you REALLY think Messi was serious about quitting his national team?

Guys named "Denzel" gotta stick together -- so says Denzel Washington ... who tells TMZ Sports he actually "tracked down" NBA draft pick Denzel Valentine to say what's up.

Denzel -- the actor -- was at Madeo over the weekend when he explained why it was important for him to meet the former Michigan State star.

FYI, Valentine -- who was drafted by the Chicago Bulls with the #14 pick -- was actually named after the "Training Day" star.

Moral of the story -- Wanna meet Denzel Washington? Just name your kid after him. It's that easy.

There's one die-hard Chicagoan who's actually HAPPY Derrick Rose is no longer wearing a Bulls uniform ... Common ... who says the NBA star wanted out of the Chi, and he's happy he got his wish.

Common was leaving Equinox -- where he practically LIVES -- and asked the huge Bulls fan how he felt about the blockbuster trade that sent Rose to the Knicks.

All you crazy bat-flipping home run hitters should thank your lucky stars you weren't born a couple years earlier ... 'cause retired MLB stud pitcher David Wells says if you did it to him ... you'd wear baseball.

We got Wells at the Hank's Yanks Golf Classic in NYC and asked him about the recent trend of the bat flip -- hitters showing up pitchers with aggressive lumber tossing after they go yard.

The main culprit is, of course, Toronto's Jose Bautista ... whose bat flip in game 5 of last year's ALDS has been called -- rightfully so -- "the most ostentatious bat flip of all time."

Check out the clip -- Wells says he would've given Jose a rawhide makeover his next time at bat ... 'cause in DW's opinion, flipping your hickory is just too damn disrespectful.

It's okay guys ... he's retired ... you can flip in peace.

Chad Ochocinco's a deadbeat dad ... this according to his baby mama who says Chad's in the red on child support.

Shaquille O'Neal has changed his mind -- and officially given the green light for a bunch of his kids to star in a brand new reality show ... TMZ Sports has learned.

TMZ Sports content quiz ... would you rather hear a harrowing story of sports glory from one of the most feared athletes of his generation?

Or ... do you wanna hear about the time Verne Troyer made a single tackle in a full-contact football game against a guy (obviously) three times his size.

We thought so ...

Verne was out at LAX when the subject of football came up and he broke the epic news to us that he's not just a fan of the game ... he used to be a player!!

Tracy McGrady thinks there was a way to stop Michael Jordan & the Bulls from winning the '97 NBA title ... just add a little T-Mac ... saying the team woulda never won had he been on the squad.

We got McGrady out at LAX and asked him about his claim that he was almost traded for Scottie Pippen during the 1997 NBA Draft.

The Bulls went on to win a ring that year so the question is ... would they have won that title with a young McGrady instead of an old(ish) Pip?

Check out the clip -- T-Mac keeps it real ... saying he was just too damn young (18 when he was drafted) to help the Bulls win a 'chip in '97.