TMZ Sports - Page 50

The new "Dancing with the Stars" cast could have its hardest bodies yet -- a bunch of pro athletes and an Olympian -- along with something new ... a YouTube superstar, TMZ has learned.

We got a hold of the 'DWTS' producers wish list -- the celebs they're gunning to get for Season 19 -- and it includes 'Bachelorette' Andi Dorfman, ex-UFC fighter Randy Couture, "American Ninja Warrior" contestant Kacy Catanzaro, Olympic track star Lolo Jones and Antonio Sabato Jr.

Our 'DWTS' sources tell us they're also trying to land a female YouTube star ... who we're told has tens of millions of followers. It's a smart ploy for a veteran show with aging viewers to pull in fresh, younger viewers.

We're told some of the celebs are already negotiating their 'DWTS' contracts. The one thing still missing though ... a really big traditional TV or movie star. The full cast will be announced Sept. 4.

UFC fighter Luke Rockhold worked on his grip Tuesday in Thailand ... and by that, we mean he grabbed a tiger by the balls -- and now the UFC fighter is apologizing.

The 29-year old middleweight posted a pic of the impromptu animal physical online ... only to issue an apology a short time later.

Rockhold tweeted, "For those of u who think it was disrespectful I'm sorry. Was so minor just joking around. I was way too scared and would never do anything harmful to any animal."

Believe it or not ... there are several tiger parks all over Thailand ... and taking pics with the giant cats is a super popular thing to do.

Former boxing champ Jermain Taylor -- who beat Bernard Hopkins TWICE -- admitted that he grabbed a gun and shot his cousin Tuesday ... this according to cops.

TMZ Sports obtained the police report filed in Pulaski County, Arkansas ... which was filed after Taylor's cousin was shot "multiple times" in the boxer's home.

Cops raced to the home after Taylor's wife called 911 ... and when they got to the home, that's when Taylor reportedly confessed.

"[Taylor] told responding ofc. that he went into his residence and obtained a firearm and shot his cousin."

The report does not say why the two were arguing in the first place.

36-year-old Taylor -- the former undisputed middleweight champion -- was arrested for 1st degree battery and aggravated assault and was hauled to a nearby jail where he was booked.

Screw 50 Cent, Floyd Mayweather has a more rich and powerful ally in his corner -- Warren Buffett ... and the two hung out together at Floyd's boxing gym in Vegas Tuesday.

TMZ Sports has the footage of Warren arriving to the location (where he was told he would have to WAIT because Floyd hadn't arrived yet).

But this video is GREAT ... with Warren telling us the ONE casino game he refuses to play when he's gambling in Sin City.

Warren wouldn't say why the two met up -- or how they became friends -- but Floyd later went to Instagram and wrote, "We talked about how we could turn a $100 million of my assets to $1 billion."

Hey Floyd ... feel free to SHARE that info. Thanks.

Pierre Garcon is gunning to run his own PIZZA EMPIRE -- after locking up deals with TWO pizza companies ... and he tells TMZ Sports he's modeling himself after another pizza legend -- Peyton Manning.

The Washington Redskins WR was hangin' at Paisano's in Virginia yesterday -- where he's the spokesman for the company -- and sporting a shirt for his new doughy endeavor Spinfire ... where pizzas are whipped up in 90 seconds.

Clearly, Garcon is betting on the pie industry to be as good to him as it has been to his former Indianapolis Colts teammate Peyton Manning ... who owns 21 Papa John's restaurants in the Denver area.

"I just followed in his footsteps," Garcon said ... "He taught me a lot ... so I'm just trying to be like him."

HERE'S THE RUNDOWN

Suge Knight hasn't always been the hardest man in the world -- we didn't say that by the way -- his college football coach Wayne Nunnely did ... telling TMZ Sports Knight was the total "opposite" of a thug at UNLV.

FYI -- Knight was a defensive end for the Running Rebels in 1985 and '86 -- and Coach Nunnely (the man in charge at the time) tells us the Suge he knew was less gangsta and more good guy.

"Imagine the total opposite of the guy you know now, that was Suge."

Nunnely, who went on to coach in the pros as an assistant with the Saints, Chargers and Broncos says Knight changed his image in a BIG WAY after he left Las Vegas.

"Helluva player, one of the most respectful, hard working guys I ever had. One of our leaders, I don't know what happened when he put his pads down."

Suge, who's refused to work with law enforcement in identifying the individual who shot him SIX times this past weekend, definitely has the support of his former coach in his recovery

"Hopefully he makes it back, I'm praying for him."

Fomer NFL running back Rashard Mendenhall says he has NO REGRETS about quitting football in March at the age of 26 ... saying he's now a TV writer with a gig on an HBO show.

Mendenhall -- who won a Super Bowl with the Steelers in 2009 -- wrote a blog for the Huffington Post saying, "I wasn't supposed to walk away from the NFL, but I did. I wasn't supposed to be writing television, but I am. I'm supposed to be lost after football. I'm not."

Rashard says he moved to Santa Monica earlier this year and became a member of the Writers Guild of America, West to pursue his dreams of writing for a TV show.

And in just a few months, Mendenhall says he's already got a pretty sweet job -- "I'm on the writing team of a new show that will air on HBO next summer."

USC football player Josh Shaw was named in a burglary report ... stemming from an incident that went down Saturday night ... law enforcement sources tell TMZ Sports.

We're told Shaw was NOT named as a suspect in the burglary.

More fishy information surrounding the story of USC football player Josh Shaw who says he seriously hurt both of his ankles in an alleged heroic rescue of his drowning nephew.

TMZ Sports spoke with the L.A. County Fire Dept. in Palmdale and the L.A. County Sheriff's Dept. in Palmdale -- and both say they never got an emergency call about a drowning or a trauma incident involving Shaw or his nephew.

One law enforcement official told us .. "Let me put it to you this way: A drowning or a near drowning is a big deal. And our officials would know about it."

USC head football coach Steve Sarkisian addressed the media moments ago and said the school would be investigating Shaw's story -- saying, "He came to us with what had occurred Saturday night. I have no reason, no history, to not believe Josh and his story with what has occurred."

FYI -- Shaw went on the record and said he lept from a 2nd story balcony at his cousin's Palmdale apartment complex to rescue to his 7-year-old nephew who was struggling in a pool.

Ohio State QB Braxton Miller is out of shoulder surgery -- after a season-ending injury to his labrum last week -- and woke up to a get-well note from LeBron James.

Miller -- who was considered one of the top college QBs in the country -- hurt himself during football practice ... and scheduled a surgery with legendary orthopedic doc James Andrews who has famously worked on huge stars like Tom Brady, Drew Brees and even Bo Jackson.

“Me & the best to do it , Dr. Andrews after surgery today," Miller wrote on Instagram ... adding, "So happy this man said everything went well!"

As for LeBron -- he went to Instagram to send some love to his fellow Ohioan ... writing, "Excited and Happy my lil bro @braxtonmiller92 surgery went great! Thanks to the best Dr. Andrews!"

Bron continued, "You'll be better than ever. Have a speedy and full recovery bro. See you soon! #GoBucks #OH #IO"

**WARNING -- THERE IS A LOT OF CUSSING IN THIS VIDEO**

It's the breast fight you're gonna see all week ... a bench-clearing RUMBLE at a Legends Football League game -- which culminated in a linebacker SOCKING an opposing coach!!!

It all went down in Vegas where the Atlanta Steam defeated the Jacksonville Breeze 20 to 12 in an overtime thriller.

But things hit a boiling went when one of the Jacksonville players got into it with a member of the Steam -- and called her a "p***y a** b**ch."

That's when the benches cleared ... the fists began to fly ... and Jacksonville's Adrian Purnell punched Atlanta Steam head coach Dane Robinson right in the face.

Security jumped in an tried to break it up -- but the women were out for blood.

It appears one of the women even swings her helmet at an opposing player -- which would almost certainly warrant an automatic suspension if it happened in the NFL.

Who dat???? Dat's Drew Brees' brand new baby daughter!

The 35-year-old New Orleans Saints quarterback skipped practice Monday to be with his wife Brit who went into labor earlier in the day.

Few hours later and BOOM -- brand new member of the Brees brood.

Drew tweeted an adorable pic along with the caption, "Spent the early morning with our new baby girl! Brit and she are happy, healthy, and doing great! Gods greatest gift!"

So far, no word on the kid's name.

It's the couples 4th child together -- and their first little girl.

Floyd Mayweather came to the rescue this weekend -- consoling a 6-year-old boxing phenom after the kid suffered a devastating defeat in a game of musical chairs ... and we've got the footage.

Floyd was sitting courtside at the 4th annual Ball Up Streetball Championship in Vegas on Saturday where a couple of kids participated in some musical chairs in between quarters.

The kid lost -- Floyd jumped out of his seat and gave the kid a hug. It was a very nice moment.

But get this ... the kid is a serious boxing prodigy!!! His name is Famous J and he trains with Floyd's uncle Roger Mayweather ... and he's QUICK!!!

Check out the clip -- the kid's got some serious potential (not in musical chairs tho).

Indy superstar Helio Castroneves tells TMZ Sports ... there was a moment during the Napa earthquake where he thought he was seriously going to die -- calling the experience the "scariest thing of my life."

The former "Dancing with the Star" champ says he was sleeping in a hotel in Napa Valley when the shaking began -- and it jolted him out of a deep sleep.

Castroneves says he was so discombobulated when he woke up -- he forgot he was in a hotel, and thought he was in an airplane that was crashing.

"I thought, 'That's it.'"

Chris Bosh has struck again.

For some reason (we're still trying to figure this out) the Heat star decided to attend the Emmys with his wife last night ... and decided to amuse himself by photobombing one of the most famous actors in the world, Matt McConaughey.

Of course, Bosh is somewhat of a photobombing pro ... the guy targeted teammates during post-game interviews almost every week last season.

But don't worry, Bosh showed off his fancy side too -- showing off his white jacket (with a white Rolls to match) before the awards.

Ballin'.