TMZ Sports - Page 50

Donald Sterling has Alzheimer's and that's why doctors declared he is incompetent to have a voice in the sale of the L.A. Clippers ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Sources connected with the Sterling family tell TMZ ... the trust agreement that governs the family's ownership of the team provides if 2 qualified doctors determine either Donald or Shelly shows "an inability to conduct business affairs in a reasonable and normal manner" ... they will then be stripped of control over the team.

We're told earlier this month Donald agreed to an examination by 2 prominent neurologists. He underwent extensive tests, including a CT and PET scan. We're told both doctors diagnosed Donald with Alzheimer's and concluded he may have had the disease for as long as 5 years. The doctors both concluded he did not have the ability to conduct the business of the team.

Under the trust agreement ... the doctors' conclusions were enough to strip Donald of control.

Our sources say Donald can appeal the doctors' conclusions to the California Probate Court.

One interesting thing ... TMZ Sports broke the story ... on May 22 Donald signed a letter written to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver relinquishing control of the team to his wife Shelly. It's unclear if Donald's lawyer will now argue the letter is invalid because of Donald's mental incapacity.

Here's your TMZ Sports motivational video of the day ... courtesy of ex-NFL player Leigh Bodden.

The 9-year NFL veteran -- who played for the Browns, Lions and Pats -- was asked to give the commencement speech at Northwestern High School in Maryland (where he graduated in '99) ... and brought the house down.

Bodden delivered his speech in rap form ... talking about how he overcame some huge obstacles to become a starter in the NFL.

There were tears ... there were cheers ... and in the end, there was a standing ovation.

NBA Hall of Famer Jerry West tells TMZ Sports ... he doesn't get a single cent in residuals for being featured on the official NBA logo ... and you can tell by his tone, he's not happy about it.

West was leaving a birthday dinner at Madeo in Beverly Hills this week -- when we asked him about the perks of having one of the most famous silhouettes in all of sports.

But the question seemed to strike a nerve with the NBA legend ... who told us the situation with the logo is "complicated" ... and not in a good way.

Here's the twist -- over the years, The NBA hasn't exactly acknowledged that the person on the logo is West ... despite the fact the person who designed the image has said on record he adapted it from a 1969 photo of of the NBA star.

We're reaching out to the NBA to see where they stand now. Stay tuned ...

The billionaire owner of the Ottawa Senators is begging soccer fans to BOYCOTT sponsors of the 2018 World Cup in Russia ... claiming it's a mistake to allow "Putin's army of war mongers" to host another global sporting event.

Eugene Melnyk -- a Canadian-born billionaire who's also the Chairman of the Campaign Advisory Committee for "United with Ukraine" -- just blasted FIFA for allowing Russia to host the '18 Cup.

"Major international sporting events such as the Olympics or FIFA’s World Cup serve as powerful forces of global unity and peace, not conflict and war."

Now, Melnyk and his organization are calling for soccer fans to boycott the major World Cup sponsors including Anheuser-Busch hoping it will pressure the powers that be to change the '18 venue.

"We are asking FIFA’s major partners to take a firm principled stand and demand FIFA immediately re-assign the 2018 World Cup to a more deserving nation," Melnyk says.

Shelly Sterling has sold the L.A. Clippers to former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer for a whopping $2 billion.

As TMZ Sports reported ... the deal was signed just before midnight Thursday. The NBA must approve the sale, but our sources say NBA commissioner Adam Silver has been well aware of Shelly's negotiations with Ballmer and other potential buyers and will support it.

Donald Sterling has made rumblings he may challenge the sale, but he will almost certainly fail.

TMZ Sports broke the story ... Donald gave Shelly sole control over the team -- allowing her to sell it -- and even sent a letter to Silver affirming that Shelly had the reins.

As for Ballmer ... he vowed Thursday night to keep the team in Los Angeles. Ballmer is entrenched in Seattle -- which currently has no NBA team -- and even made a bid to buy the Sacramento Kings and move the team to the Emerald City.

Nicki Minaj doesn't even have to sing to make bank -- sources tell TMZ Floyd Mayweather Jr. paid her $50,000 just to show her face at his daughter's 14th birthday party.

According to sources, Mayweather rented out the entire MGM ballroom in Vegas to celebrate Iyanna Mayweather's birthday last weekend -- and Nicki showed up to surprise her.

We're told Nicki stayed for about an hour -- hanging out with Iyanna, taking pics ... annnd that's pretty much it.

You'll recall, Iyanna's birthday party is essentially what set off the brawl between T.I. and Floyd -- after T.I.'s wife Tiny posted a photo of herself with Iyanna. Tiny was an unpaid guest.

Iyanna's pretty spoiled as far as celeb guests go -- last year, Justin Bieber showed up at her party. Just imagine what her sweet 16 will look like.

When A.J. McCarron and Katherine Webb swap "I dos" ... it will NOT be televised on a reality show, despite reports to the contrary ... this according to Webb herself.

Right after A.J. popped the question back in March, rumors swirled that they were negotiating a deal to have a reality crew document their trip to the altar ... with cameras shooting during the big day.

Charlie Sheen is gonna make "Major League" fans and baseball collectors lose their minds -- he's slapped his autograph on a limited number of baseball cards to mark the awesome movie's 25th anniversary ... TMZ Sports has learned.

You may have heard ... Topps just released a series of cards with the main characters -- featuring Charlie, Tom Berenger, and Corbin Bernsen -- but our sources gave us the scoop ... some of the rare cards are actually signed by the stars.

For instance, we're told Charlie -- aka Ricky "Wild Thing" Vaughn -- sat down and hand signed 99 of 'em (as in his jersey #) with his name, quotes from the movie and/or special Charlie-isms (think "Winning!").

Berenger, Bernsen, and Chelcie Ross (pitcher Eddie Harris) did the same, but we're told they autographed a ton more than 99 -- which makes Charlie's signature the rarest of the collection.

Good luck scoring one though ... 'cause these things are like Willy Wonka's golden tickets.

We're told only 1 out of every 60 packs of Topps Archives Baseball cards will contain a single "Major League" Ricky Vaughn card -- and it'll be even rarer to find an autographed one.

Translation -- when it comes to scoring a Charlie card most collectors will be ... "Juuuust a bit outside."

Shelly Sterling will sign a deal Thursday night to sell the L.A. Clippers to former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer ... for $2 billion ... sources familiar with the negotiations tell TMZ Sports.

Contrary to various reports ... the deal has not be signed, but in the last 2 hours Ballmer and Shelly have made "an agreement in principle."

We're told lawyers for both sides are currently hammering out details, and they expect the parties will sign on the dotted line before midnight Pacific Time

Delino DeShields Jr. -- the MLB prospect who's face went viral after taking an 90 mph fastball to the grill -- says the swelling has FINALLY gone down and he looks and feels like a human again!!

"Everything is pretty much back to normal. I feel good," DDJ tells TMZ Sports ... "I don't have any lingering effects. Nothing bothers me."

The 21-year-old was hospitalized after suffering a facial fracture on April 18th during a minor league baseball game while playing for the Houston Astros Double-A team.

But DeShields recovered ... and has already returned to the diamond.

"It felt great to get back. I hit a homerun in my first two at bats."

In case you were wondering, Delino is also back to eating solid food -- and tells us his first "real" meal was chicken wings ... boneless, of course.

As far as the pitcher who fired the face-breaking fastball, Delino says he has not spoken with him since the accident ... and says he's totally OK with that.

Seems like Chicago Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford is gonna be OFF THE HOOK in his alleged water bottle squirting attack ... TMZ Sports has learned his accuser is backing down in a big way.

We broke the story ... L.A. Kings fan Clark Wong filed a battery report with the LAPD after Crawford allegedly sprayed him with water during Game 4 of the NHL Playoffs earlier this week.

Now, law enforcement sources tell us ... officials have reached out to follow up with Wong, but have not been able to reach him and he's not returning calls.

We also spoke with Wong who told us he no longer wants to pursue the case.

A new report by the L.A. Times that the L.A. Clippers have been sold to ex-Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer for $2 billion is not true ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Sources familiar with the negotiations tell us ... Shelly Sterling is in a meeting now -- at the time of this post -- negotiating with Ballmer and several other prospective buyers who have made offers.

We're told Shelly is currently reviewing documents, but no agreement has been struck with anyone.

Our sources say, however, a deal will be finalized by end of business Friday ... and Ballmer is definitely in the running.

She already dunked on LeBron ... now Michelle Obama is getting screamed at by Richard Sherman in a spoof of his epic NFL sideline rant ... in the hopes she can convince kids to eat succotash.

Mrs. O recruited the Seattle Seahawks star -- along with Russell Wilson and Earl Thomas -- to appear in a video to promote her Let's Move initiative ... encouraging kids to eat healthy and exercise.

In the video, Sherman whips up a salmon and succotash combo -- and breaks into Erin Andrews screaming mode to brag about the meal.

"WE THE BEST CHEFS IN THE GAME!!!"

It's kinda funny ... especially the last scene at the end. Still, nothing compares to the original.

We knew it was coming ... we saw it from a mile away ... but our TMZ photog still fell for one of the oldest tricks in the book last night ... courtesy of Jadeveon Clowney.

The 1st pick in the NFL Draft hit up Mastro's Steakhouse in Beverly Hills with some friends last night ... and though he wasn't talking much, he still felt like screwin' with our guy.

It all started when we tried to talk about the HUGE contract he's about to sign (his friend made it clear he hasn't put the pen to paper yet) ... and that's when the local flower lady stepped into the picture.

Don't wanna get eaten by an alligator during your stint in Florida? Great, neither do we ... but Blake Bortles says he had a VERY close call with a scaly beast while growing up in the Sunshine State.

The Jacksonville Jaguars QB was walking through LAX with fellow Jaguars rookie (and L.A. native) Marqise Lee when we asked if they were worried about gator attacks in their new city.

Lee kinda laughed it off ... but Bortles -- who grew up in Central Florida -- revealed that he DID come face-to-face with a gator ... and had to act fast to avoid becoming lunch.

The clip is great ... Bortles and Lee get along like old friends (which is great for Jags fans) ... and Blake even weighs in on a Twitter rival who's kicking his ass when it comes to followers.