TMZ Sports - Page 50

Texas Rangers catcher Geovany Soto is apologizing to teammates, fans and his bosses ... saying he's "embarrassed" after being arrested for weed possession last night.

The 31-year-old former NL Rookie of the Year was pulled over for speeding in Grapevine, TX around 10PM Wednesday night ... and during the stop, cops say they found a small amount of pot.

Soto was ultimately arrested for marijuana possession -- and was hauled to a nearby station where he was booked and posed for a mug shot. He was released on $500 bail.

Moments ago, Soto issued a statement saying, "I was stopped by Grapevine Police on Wednesday night. I am embarrassed and would like to apologize to my family, the Rangers organization, and our fans that I was taken in on this charge."

LeBron James is a TRUE BASKETBALL HERO for deciding to return to Cleveland ... so says Cleveland rap legends Bone Thugs-N-Harmony.

We spoke with Krayzie, Wish, Bizzy and Flesh ... who all tell us they're FIRED UP about Bron's Cleveland comeback -- telling us, "He's a hero for Cleveland."

"He brought hope back to the city," Wish says ... "The entire city is already partying downtown. I am here now! All of my neighbors were screaming and yelling ... everyone is going crazy."

Krayzie adds, "It makes a better story for him in the end if he comes back to Cleveland and wins."

Flesh said, "I'm at a loss for words. I'm so happy I can't believe it."

We also spoke with Patrick Carney -- an Ohio native from The Black Keys -- who says he's already looking into getting tickets to the Cavs home opener.

Carney also has a message to any Cleveland fans who still hold a grudge for the move to Miami back in 2010 -- get over it!

A t-shirt website selling LeBron James "For6iven" shirts was bombarded with cyber-traffic in the moments following 'Bron's announcement ... breaking the site ... TMZ Sports has learned.

We spoke to the owner of Fresh Brewed Tees -- who tells us the demand for the shirts SKYROCKETED ... and in the first 5 minutes after the announcement, the site crashed due to a sudden influx of traffic.

The owner, Tony Madalone, says the site has only been selling the shirts for a few days -- but judging from the overwhelming interest, he expects to sell more than 10,000 shirts .

You didn't think LeBron James was gonna be able to pull this "Returning Home" thing off without getting some crap for it, did you???

Well, Snoop Dogg -- a hardcore Los Angeles Lakers fan -- was one of the first celebrities to fire a shot at King James ... with a little bit of help from Kobe Bryant.

Snoop just posted a pic on Instagram that shows the Black Mamba in the Purple and Gold with a caption that reads, "I Never Left."

LeBron James is RETURNING TO CLEVELAND ... telling Sports Illustrated he has finally made up his mind to leave the Miami Heat.

Bron is from Cleveland ... and still has a house in Akron.

During his 4-year run with the Heat, LeBron won 2 NBA championships and made the NBA Finals all 4 years.

James wrote an essay for Sports Illustrated explaining his decision ... in which he writes, "I always believed that I’d return to Cleveland and finish my career there. I just didn’t know when."

"After the season, free agency wasn’t even a thought. But I have two boys and my wife, Savannah, is pregnant with a girl. I started thinking about what it would be like to raise my family in my hometown. I looked at other teams, but I wasn’t going to leave Miami for anywhere except Cleveland. The more time passed, the more it felt right. This is what makes me happy."

James says, "I'm not promising a championship" ... but says that's clearly his goal ... a goal that will take several years to accomplish.

Cleveland Browns QB Johnny Manziel just tweeted -- "YESSSSSSSS!! Couldn't be happier for my guy @KingJames and the @cavs #Cleveland."

Here's a really stupid thing a soccer superstar just did ... Team Italy phenom Mario Balotelli just posted a message to all of his "haters" ... EAT SHOTGUN LEAD!!!

Of course, Balotelli and Italy were bounced from the World Cup in the 1st round -- and he's been getting all sorts of crap from Italians and soccer fans from around the world.

So, in what may have been the most ill-conceived PR move ever, he grabbed his shotgun ... aimed it at a camera and posted the pic along with the message, "Big kiss to all the haters."

After posting the gun pic, people started TRASHED Mario like crazy ... and he eventually decided to pull the pic OFF of social media. Unfortunately for him, it was too late ... the image had already gone viral.

Charles Barkley has emerged unscathed after going after the "big women" of San Antonio ... because last night some plus-size Texas ladies couldn't wait to give Chuck some love ... and TMZ Sports has the footage.

Of course, Barkley came under fire from MULTIPLE obese acceptance organizations after going on "Inside the NBA" on TNT and repeatedly making fun of S.A. for it's large population of big ladies.

But last night, 3 lovely larger ladies nearly lost their minds when they saw Barkley in Bev Hills -- telling him they LOVE him on the show and are huge fans ... even after the fat-scandal.

He always did have a talent for rebounding.

Reggie Bush is learning the hard way -- even for rich people, WEDDINGS ARE EXPENSIVE AS HELL!!!!

Bush and his GF Lilit Avagyan were leaving Fishing with Dynamite restaurant in Manhattan Beach ... when we asked about their big wedding at the Grand Del Mar in San Diego this weekend.

Tim Tebow refuses to let his NFL dream die -- telling TMZ Sports he's back in L.A. to continue his training ... whether he's on a team or not.

The 26-year-old hasn't played a single down since 2012 ... during a failed experiment with the New York Jets. He later signed a contract with the Patriots but they cut him before the 2013 season.

Tebow then made this pledge -- "I will remain in relentless pursuit of continuing my lifelong dream of being an NFL quarterback."

Over the past year, we've seen him working out all over Los Angeles ... mostly focusing on his throwing motion.

Nick Young and Iggy Azalea tell TMZ Sports ... they'll NEVER try to keep up with the Kardashians in the world of reality TV ... because they don't wanna end up like Lamar and Khloe.

The Lakers star and the rapper were leaving Crustacean in Beverly Hills last night -- and seemed to be having so much fun with each other in front of the cameras, we asked if they would ever consider a reality show in their future.

Not only did Nick shoot down the idea -- but also used Lamar Odom as Exhibit A ... telling us things have gotten so bad between L.O. and K.K., they can't even go to the same nightclubs anymore.

And they aren't the only relationship that's fizzled after reality TV ... just ask:
-- Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey
-- Carmen Electra and Dave Navarro
-- Hulk Hogan and Linda
-- Jon and Kate Gosselin
-- Whitney and Bobby
-- Kim K and Kris H.
-- Kim K and Reggie Bush
-- Britney and K-Fed
-- Kordell Stewart and Porsha

Dennis Rodman has been named in a police report -- by a woman who claims she was drugged last week during a hotel drinking session with the ex-NBA star ... TMZ has learned.

According to the report filed with Ft. Lauderdale PD ... 22-year-old Angela Torre says she met Rodman and a friend named Charlie at the Ocean Manor Resort Hotel on July 1st.

Torre claims the three went back to a hotel room -- where she had "one drink and a shot" ... and then she blacked out. Next thing she remembers is waking up in the hospital.

When Aaron Hernandez said goodbye to Bristol County Jail ... it wasn't forever ... because he'll locked up there again soon ... so says Bristol County Sheriff Thomas Hodgson.

As we previously reported, Hernandez was transferred from BCJ to Suffolk County Jail this week -- claiming he felt he became a target in Bristol after he was accused of threatening to kill a guard.

He also claimed the move to Suffolk wuold be easier on his Boston-based lawyers.

TMZ Sports spoke with Sheriff Hodgson who tells us he has "no hard feelings" toward Hernandez -- and even said goodbye before he left -- but says he'll be back in his jail soon enough.

Hodgson says he expects AH to be transferred BACK to Bristol County Jail once the Odin Lloyd murder trial begins -- because that's where the court typically houses incarcerated defendants.

As for Aaaron, he's currently in gen pop at Suffolk County Jail -- while officials at his new home evaluate the safety situation to decide if he should be placed in an isolated part of the jail.

Cops in Akron, Ohio are STEPPING UP the patrol around LeBron James' home ... amid concerns that locals could go a little crazy when the NBA star announces his new "decision" ... something that could happen as early as tonight.

TMZ Sports spoke with a rep for the Bath Township Police Department ... who confirmed a "significant increase" in police presence will go down around 3PM today ... the time 'Bron is rumored to be making his big announcement.

Officials are hoping locals won't recreate the madness that surrounded LeBron's 2010 decision ... when he left Cleveland for Miami and the city went NUTS -- with people starting fires in the streets and burning jerseys, posters and any other 'Bron items they could find.

As for LeBron -- he hasn't officially announced when he'll make his decision ... but there are reports it will happen TODAY.

Stop us if you've heard this one before ... Johnny Manziel hit the club last night with a bunch of hot chicks -- only this time, there were a couple fellow NFL players in the entourage ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Kobe Bryant says reports that he played in a pickup basketball game with Carmelo Anthony last week are complete B.S. -- and told the media that if he wants ACCURATE sports news, he reads TMZ.

Bryant made the statement during a news conference at UC Santa Barbara on Wednesday ... when a reporter asked the L.A. Lakers superstar if he could talk about the game that allegedly took place at UCLA last weekend.

"What pickup game are you referring to?" Kobe asked the reporter ... before shaking his head and denying the game ever took place.

"It seems like if I want to get sports source now, I have to -- accurate sports source -- I have to go to TMZ."