TMZ Sports - Page 50

Cookie Johnson says her husband's new job with the Lakers is a "natural fit" -- saying Magic Johnson's always bled Purple & Gold ... and she's confident he can bring the team back to greatness!

"He's a Laker through and through," Cookie told us on the way out of Barneys in Beverly Hills ... "I love it."

We also asked the big question on everyone''s mind -- should Magic bring Kobe Bryant back into the fold?

"If it's a good fit, I think so ... if it's a good fit."

Byron Scott is expecting BIG things from the Lakers now that his friend, Magic Johnson, is running things -- telling TMZ Sports the Lake Show will be right back on top of the league in less than 5 years.

Scott not only coached the Lakers from 2014 to 2016 ... but he also won multiple championships with Magic during his first 10 years playing for the Lakers.

Byron and Magic are still close -- in fact, Magic wrote the foreword for his new book, 'Slam-Dunk Success.'

Which is why we also asked if Magic offered him a job with the organization -- would he take it?

Joey Porter DEFINITELY got up close and angry with a bouncer before his Pittsburgh arrest -- but he did NOT rough the guy up ... and new security footage proves it.

Officials have finally released the video evidence in the case against the Pittsburgh Steelers assistant coach ... and while he certainly gets mad at the bouncer for not letting him in, we sure as hell don't see an assault.

Porter was initially charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and public intoxication ... but eventually pled guilty to JUST disorderly conduct.

Rick Fox is fired up for the new Magic Johnson era with the Lakers -- and says the only thing that could be cooler is if Kobe Bryant signed on, too!!

Fox says he was on the set of the OWN Network show, "Greenleaf," when he heard the news about his former team and says Magic is the PERFECT guy for the job.

"Success is pretty much Magic's middle name!"

The giant spawn of Shaq and Manute Bol went DUNKIN' CRAZY in a high school playoff game ... reminding everyone they can ball just like their daddies.

Shareef O'Neal's Crossroads H.S. squad crossed paths with 7 foot tall Bol Bol's Mater Dei earlier this week in the 1st round of the CIF Open Division playoffs ... and the highlights are nothing short of INSANE.

O'Neal and Bol trade dunks, defensive stops and awesome passes throughout the game ... with Bol's team coming out on top 80-44.

Ronda Rousey's back ... to acting!

The UFC legend scored herself a guest role on the hit NBC show "Blindspot" -- where she'll play a tough prison inmate who's serving time for transporting weapons across state lines.

A rep for the show tells TMZ Sports the episode is scheduled to air in early May.

We're told her episode has NOT been shot yet but will be done in the near future. So, no, this didn't clash with her training for the Amanda Nunes fight.

Ronda has not made an official decision on whether she'll fight again -- but most people think she's likely done after losing her last 2 fights.

Pittsburgh Steelers linebackers coach Joey Porter just pled guilty to disorderly conduct stemming from a January altercation with security at a Pittsburgh bar.

Porter was initially charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and public intoxication over the January 8 incident ... in which cops say Porter got physical with a bouncer after he was denied entry into the bar.

TMZ Sports obtained video of Porter jawing at cops during the arrest.

Prosecutors had previously announced they would reduce charges based on video evidence -- but clearly believed Porter wasn't exactly a perfect angel that night.

MASSIVE SHAKE-UP with the L.A. Lakers ... Jeanie Buss just FIRED General Manager Mitch Kupchak and booted her brother, Jim Buss, from his role as Exec. Vice President of Basketball Operations.

Magic Johnson is the new President of Basketball Operations.

YOU HEAR THAT? MAGIC JOHNSON IS CALLING THE SHOTS!!!!

Jeanie -- the Governor of the Lakers -- explains, "Today I took a series of actions I believe will return the Lakers to the heights Dr. Jerry Buss demanded and our fans rightly expect."

"Effective immediately, Earvin Johnson will be in charge of all basketball operations and will report directly to me. Our search for a new General Manager to work with Earvin and Coach Luke Walton is well underway and we hope to announce a new General Manager in short order."

Malia Obama is on an Aspen vacay that will absolutely make you HATE your life when you see who she's posing with in what has to be the richie richiest photo of all time.

Here's the answer key for who's who in this shot, taken last weekend at Cloud Nine Alpine Bistro in Aspen:

1. Malia
2. Elizabeth Tisch, daughter of NY Giants co-owner Steve Tisch
3. Audrey Kotick, daughter of Activision/Blizzard CEO Robert Kotick (think Call of Duty money)
4. Fashion designer Monique Lhuillier
5. Jamie Tisch, ex-wife of Steve
6. Tom Bugbee, Monique Lhuillier's husband
7. Holden Tisch, daughter of Steve
8. Zachary Tisch, son of Steve
9. Tassilo von Furstenberg, grandson of Diane von Furstenberg

Michael Floyd's first week as a prisoner is going GREAT -- with officials saying the NFL star's been a model inmate since he was locked up at Lower Buckeye Jail in Arizona jail 5 days ago.

As we previously reported, Floyd was sentenced to 120 days in jail (he'll reportedly only serve 24) after striking a plea deal from his December extreme DUI arrest.

The New England Patriots WR turned himself in on February 16 and so far ... no issues!

As a Maricopa County Sheriff's Office spokesperson put it, "Michael Floyd has not been in any altercation or had any disciplinary issues so far."

Hooray!

Tom Brady -- or someone in his camp -- came up with the $500,000 value for the QB's missing Super Bowl jersey ... this according to the Houston PD.

TMZ Sports spoke with an HPD rep who tells us the $500k value listed on the police report was NOT determined by some fancy police property assessor ... it's the complainant who offers up the number.

In this case, the complainant on the report is Tom Brady ... and a Houston PD spokesperson tells us it was either Tom "or one of his people" who gave the $500k figure.

We're told if/when someone is arrested, the PD will kick the case over to the DA’s office which will work on determining its real worth.

Cops also note that if Brady filed an insurance claim, the insurance company would also tap their own people to assess the value.

For the record, the guys on the "TMZ Sports" TV show on FS1 spoke with Rick Harrison from "Pawn Stars" who said the value is closer to $200k.

Inflategate, anyone?

Tom Brady's Super Bowl jersey is still missing and presumed stolen, so say Houston cops, and it's valued at at HALF A MILLION BUCKS ... this according to the police report obtained by TMZ Sports.

The document lists the victim as 39-year-old Tom Brady -- a 6'4", 225 pound white male whose missing property is described as a "NFL New England Patriots Football Jersey" ... valued at $500k.

Of course, Brady famously noticed his jersey went M.I.A. while in the Pats locker room moments after beating the ATL Falcons at Super Bowl LI. Police confirm the case is still open with no new developments.

One interesting note ... the case is being investigated by a unit called Major Offenders - Police Impersona/Swindle.

Cops are listing the crime as a 1st degree felony.

It seems the Houston PD may be rubbing salt in the wounds of Falcons fans, because the report states Brady noticed his jersey was missing "shortly after winning the game."

This is amazing ...

UCLA superstar Lonzo Ball accepted a dunk-off challenge from a fellow Bruin student ... and it ended with a KILL SHOT!!

It's great video -- non-collegiate athlete Kevin Wei (who's studying for his degree in Applied Mathematics/Computer Science) went to Pauley Pavilion for the 1-on-1 dunk-off.

Wei actually managed to DUNK ON BALL (yeah, it's a lowered rim but still!) -- and that's when Ball decided to exact some hardcore revenge with a windmill powerdunk.

R.I.P. Kevin Wei.

(But really ... props on the insanely cool video).

Kenyon Martin says Lonzo Ball's father is OUT HIS DAMN MIND ... because it's absolutely insane to say the UCLA star could be better than Steph Curry!

Of course, LaVar Ball ignited a firestorm last week when he told TMZ Sports his 19-year-old superstar kid will be better than 2-time NBA MVP.

Kenyon -- the former #1 overall pick in the 2000 NBA Draft -- takes some SERIOUS issue with the comments.

"Listen man ... STOP IT."

By the way, Kenyon knows what it's like to be the father of a superstar kid -- his son, Kenyon Jr., is killin' it in the high school ranks. But even Martin Sr. won't say he'll be better than Steph!

DeMarcus Cousins fought back tears as he delivered an emotional goodbye message to Sacramento last night ... just 1 day after he was traded to New Orleans.

"My love for this city will never change," Cousins said at a going-away dinner in Sacramento on Monday.

"Even though I’m gone it’ll still be the same. I’m still looking out for these kids. Every family in this city matters to me."

"Every soul in this city matters to me. Everything’s the same. I’m just not in a Kings uniform anymore, which is OK because the love is still here."

Cousins played for the Sacramento Kings for 7 seasons before being traded to the Pelicans on Sunday.

Pop Quiz -- Guess who owns the rights to LonzoBall.com???

Answer -- It ain't Lonzo Ball.

Turns out, the site was snatched up by a huge basketball fan named Jeremy back in 2013 ... in the hopes the kid would blow up one day.

Now, Jeremy's prediction has come true -- and it puts him in a very precarious position.

Obviously, Ball -- who some say could be the #1 overall pick in the NBA Draft -- would want that domain to launch his official website.