TMZ Sports - Page 50

Good news for Duke star Grayson Allen -- a college basketball legend just gave him a green light to do all the trippin' he wants ... saying it's about time another Dukie embraced the villain role.

The hoops legend is former Blue Devil star Jay Williams (2-time NCAA player of the year), who we got out in NYC and asked about Allen's penchant for sticking his foot out and "accidentally" tripping players.

Jay has been SUPER critical of Allen, even writing an open letter criticizing Coach K, saying the 1 game suspension he gave to Allen earlier this year was too lenient.

That's apparently all over, 'cause Jay is now totally on board with flagrant fouling, and he told our camera guy why.

TMZ Sports POP QUIZ TIME!

Why did UFC star Fabricio Werdum bring a big ass 48" TV to the airport?

A. He's holding it for a friend until they come and pick it up.

B. He's opening a stand-up comedy bar in Brazil, and bought the TV in America to bring it there.

C. He's hoping someone will try to steal the TV, so he can practice kicking the hell out of people.

D. He likes his in-flight entertainment BIG.

It looks like Scottie and Larsa Pippen have come to a full reconciliation ... letting everyone know their divorce is seemingly a thing to be left in the past.

Larsa posted a pic of the two Saturday and it's got "happy couple" written all over it.

TMZ broke the story ... Scottie filed for divorce from the former "Real Housewives" star back in October, but we've seen the two hanging out again recently. However, this pic seems to seal the deal ... all is right again in the Pippen house.

10 reps on the bench press is bad ... REALLY BAD ... so says Cleveland Browns stud lineman Joe Thomas who says Christian McCaffrey needs to hit the weight room HARD.

We just spoke with Joe about the NFL combine -- and asked the 10-time Pro Bowler if Christian's poor strength showing will affect his draft stock.

"As we all know, there's no bench press on the football field," Thomas said ... "For the most part, your film from every Saturday in the Fall is what should matter."

Thomas also reveals the one question rookies MUST NOT GET WRONG at the combine -- and it's actually pretty hilarious.

Plus, Joe also tells us about BBQ joint, Mission BBQ, and how it's taking over! Who's hungry?

LaDanian Tomlinson says Colin Kaepernick is NOT ending his national anthem protest to score a new NFL contract ... saying he doesn't believe Kaep's change of heart is about money.

Kaep has reportedly decided to stand for the anthem next season because he believes there has been real change in America since he started taking a knee last year.

Some critics say that's a bunch of crap ... he's only changing because he's out with the 49ers and no team will touch him if he continues to protest.

People are divided over the issue -- but our friends at BSO have laid out 10 ways they feel Colin's protest has improved America:

1) More athletes speaking out

2) More youth aware

3) His money into programs

4) More racial injustice pointed out

5) More minds sparked

6) More prejudiced and biased media outed

7) $$$ given to shelters & homeless

8) Minority kids understanding their lives have value

9) Something that will be talked about FAR MORE than Kaep's playing career

Nothing pisses off Kelly Olynyk more than a poorly run fantasy basketball league -- which is why the Boston Celtics player tore our TMZ photog a new one right in the middle of the street.

Long story short ... our guy is in a league that starts the fantasy playoffs THIS WEEK. Olynyk feels that's wayyyyy too early. He's right.

When our guy tried to explain why (in case NBA playoff-bound teams sit their stars at the end of the regular season) ... Kelly called B.S. and called for the commish to be FIRED.

Cody Garbrandt says he's ready to release video footage showing him knocking out T.J. Dillashaw during a training session ... unless his UFC rival does one very humiliating thing.

Cody is out in Vegas for UFC 209 where he confirmed the video is very real -- claiming it was shot sometime around 2012.

The reigning bantamweight champ says he's sick and tired of T.J. claiming the KO never happened and he's wants to release the footage to protect his credibility.

Here's boxer David Allen using some genital intimidation tactics at a weigh-in for his fight in London ... and it's working.

Allen (10-2-1) is fighting David Howe at the O2 Arena this weekend ... and hopes to prove he's the total package.

The Chicago Bulls were so pumped after beating the Golden State Warriors Thursday night, some of 'em hit the club with Chance the Rapper to celebrate ... including the old guy on the squad!

Dwyane Wade (he's 35 now) joined Jimmy Butler at Studio Paris in Chicago where Chance performed that night.

In the video, you can see all the guys hanging in the VIP section where they got served up with champagne and cake.

The real reason Tony Ferguson won't fight Michael Johnson -- "He remembers the last time I whooped his ass!"

That's what the UFC fighter told us in Vegas moments ago when asked why he thought Ferguson wouldn't agree to let him replace Khabib Nurmagomedov this weekend at UFC 209.

As we previously reported, Dana White was down to let Johnson step in at the last minute -- but Ferguson said no.

Johnson admits he understands why Ferguson wouldn't want the bout -- "It's a risky fight for him" -- but says the dude needs to STOP DODGING HIM!

Could a hammered drunk Michael Bisping BEAT UP a sober Georges St-Pierre???

We almost found out live in Vegas moments ago when the two started trashing each other to their faces ... and it was awesome!

It all went down at the media event for their big fight later this year -- and after Bisping showed up super late and raspy-voiced, GSP accused him of going way too hard in Vegas last night.

Bisping's response: "I'll go out on an all night f**king bender and still beat you, pal!"

They went back and forth ... some names were called ... many expletives were used.

Dana White tells TMZ Sports there will be NO replacement fighter for Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 209 ... despite offers from several fighters ... which means Tony Ferguson is off the card, period.

White says he did speak with Michael Johnson -- the last guy to beat Ferguson -- and praises him for offering to step up and take the fight on short notice.

But ultimately, White says the decision was made to scrap Tony from the card completely and book him for another fight at a later date.

Greg Hardy just dodged a bullet ... he will NOT go to prison in his cocaine possession case, TMZ Sports has learned.

The ex-NFL star -- and current MMA fighter -- has struck a plea deal with prosecutors in Dallas in which his felony drug possession charge was reduced to a misdemeanor.

As a result, Hardy was sentenced to 2 years unsupervised probation along with other fines ... a clerk at the Dallas County Court tells us.

As we previously reported, Hardy was arrested on Sept. 25 when cops pulled over a 2010 Dodge Challenger for turning without signaling -- and during the bust, found a baggie of the white stuff in Hardy's brown Louis Vuitton wallet.

Officials say the coke weighed in at .7 grams.

UFC rising star Khabib Nurmagomedov was hospitalized Thursday evening and will NOT fight at UFC 209.

UFC officials say Khabib was hospitalized for "weight management issues." Khabib was treated and has been released.

Khabib was scheduled to fight Tony Ferguson on Saturday for the interim 155 pound title -- and Dana White had told us the winner would most likely face Conor McGregor.

But now, with Khabib out ... it's unclear what will happen next.

Gabby Douglas in full BOSS MODE -- telling TMZ Sports she doesn't want to follow the typical celebrity path and compete on "Dancing with the Stars" ... she wants to be a JUDGE!

The U.S. Olympic legend was at LAX when we asked about fellow gymnast Simone Biles entering the ballroom this season ... and that's when Gabby told us she'd rather dish out scores than take them.

Matt Barnes took a surprise shot to the stomach on his way into a NY courthouse Friday morning -- when a process server cut him off at the pass and smacked him with a lawsuit over his nightclub brawl.

The Golden State Warriors player had a scheduled hearing to take care of his misdemeanor assault citation from the Dec. 5 incident at Avenue nightclub ... in which he was accused of fighting two people in the V.I.P. section.

Barnes has said he only acted in self defense -- but the alleged victims filed a civil suit against Matt and DeMarcus Cousins demanding serious cash for their injuries.

The process server from PM Legal knew Barnes would be at court -- and came prepared. Barnes brushed off the documents and continued to walk into the courtroom.

Inside, Barnes went through a security check before facing the judge. His case was pushed back until June.