TMZ Sports - Page 50

LeBron James stunk up the basketball court for his huge homecoming game -- but still pulled out a huge victory for business owners in downtown Cleveland ... TMZ Sports has learned.

We spoke with several restaurants, bars and pubs near LBJ and the Cavs' home arena -- and they tell us revenue was up a whopping 80% on average ... from the Lebron-less home opener last year.

The Cavs pulled out all the stops for the King's return -- Imagine Dragons and Kendrick performed -- and it paid off. One biz owner told us they attracted tons of people from the 'burbs who normally wouldn't be there.

In fact, we're told many fans spending money downtown didn't even go to the game ... because cash registers were ringing before, after, and DURING the Cavs' loss to the Knicks.

(To the tune of Monster Mash)

We were working in the newsroom around sunrise,
When some TMZ staff showed up in disguise

Roger Goodell raised from his slab, with covered eyes
And suddenly, to our surprise ...

We did the Mash ... with our own Riff Raff!
We did the Mash ... with the Caddyshack cast!
We did the Mash ... Mama June wants a snack!
We did the Mash ... with a Black Panther pack!

Happy Halloween!

Now enjoy filling up on candy corn while looking through the pics -- and make sure to see them all in action tonight on "TMZ on TV."

Click here to check your local listings.

The Cleveland Cavaliers tell TMZ Sports ... they have NO IDEA why a ball boy was serving players Gatorade masked in a Powerade bottle last night -- but they're gunning to find out why.

Twitter EXPLODED last night during the Knicks-Cavaliers game when a TV camera caught a Cavs ball boy making the switch behind the Knicks bench.

Now the Cavs -- who have a sponsorship deal with Gatorade -- tell us they're investigating why their official drink was poured into a competitor's bottle.

"We are looking into why the Powerade bottles were used. We're trying to figure out what happened."

The team made sure to clarify that the incident did not occur on their bench -- however. it was a Cavs employee who made the switch.

So what the hell happened? "That's what we're trying to figure out."

Michael Buble respects a man willing to fight 5 men at the same time ... which is why the long-time NHL fan says Gino Odjick is the best hockey brawler EVER!!!

Odjick was a BEAST out on the ice during his 12-year run in the NHL ... but Buble says his favorite memory ever is when the guy tried to fight an ENTIRE hockey team at once.

We think Buble was talking about an incident in May '95 ... when Odjick went after several players on the St. Louis Blues.

Odjick is currently battling terminal heart disease ... and just like when he played, Gino says he refuses to go down without a fight.

#Badass

With her racist husband banned from the arena, Shelly Sterling hit up Staples Center in L.A. last night to watch the Clippers play ... under new management.

As we previously reported, Shelly demanded to be recognized as the team's "Owner Emeritus" and "Clippers' Number 1 Fan" when she sold the team to Steve Ballmer for $2 billion ... and it seems like Steve is a man of his word.

Shelly sat right on the court during the Clip's victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder ... and cheered on all of the people who hate her husband.

Kenny G is one of the best celebrity golfers alive -- and has played with some of the most famous people on Earth -- but he says there's a 4-letter reason Bill Clinton is one of his faves to play with.

The saxophone god was out in NYC yesterday and told us what's great about Bill is that he cusses when he plays ... just like everyone else ... which is awesome coming from an ex-President.

But even for a guy who appreciates some quality profanity, Kenny was SHOCKED when he learned that Michael Jordan referred to President Obama as a "sh**ty golfer."

LeBron James was welcomed back to Cleveland last night by a huge band of celebs -- including Justin Bieber, Michael Strahan and even Johnny Manziel.

The Cavs lost in Bron's first game back with his hometown team -- but there was one guy in the stands who was happy about the upset ... Spike Lee ... notorious Knicks fan who traveled to Ohio to support his team.

Also in the stands ... Kendrick Lamar, David Beckham, Joe Haden and Kevin Hart.

Antoine Dodson says he's been training hard for his upcoming celebrity boxing match -- and tells TMZ Sports he truly believes he's like a young Roy Jones Jr.

Seriously.

Dodson -- who famously fought off a bedroom intruder a few years ago -- is set to take on a man who claims he's the actual burglar this weekend.

But Antoine says there was ANOTHER celeb he was supposed to fight first -- a famous person who really wanted to punch Dodson in the face.

Check out the clip -- and also watch Antoine throw his first punch in the video below ... yeah, he's like a young Roy Jones all right.

People have to STOP blaming KC Royals 3rd base coach Mike Jirschele for NOT sending Alex Gordon to score in the bottom of the 9th during Game 7 ... so says Royals legend Bret Saberhagen.

The 2-time Cy Young winner was at LAX and explained why Jirschele made the RIGHT CALL by telling Gordon to hold up when the Giants were still trying to track down a line drive shot he smacked to left field.

"For me, I like the call," Saberhagen explained ... saying all it could've taken was one ball in the dirt to change history.

Sorry Green Bay. Condolences Chicago. It ain't Oakland, either.

In fact, super chef Bobby Flay tells TMZ Sports there's only one stadium that comes to mind when it comes to be the best NFL tailgating food.

Flay also drops some knowledge about the hot new tailgating item that can turn your parking lot party into a delicious feast!!

Michael Jordan is dead wrong about Barack Obama's golf game ... with several sources telling TMZ Sports that the top man's skills are far better that the "sh**ty" rating MJ gave him.

His Airness spewed the trash-talk during an interview with Ahmad Rashad's Back9Network -- where he called Obama a "hack" and described the Prez's golf game as "sh**ty."

Well, we did some digging -- calling dozens of golf courses in states where Obama has played, and it turns out Barry ain't too bad ... turning in scores between 80 and 100 consistently.

Here are some of the reviews ...

Virginia: "He plays anywhere in the 80s on average. He's not horrible, but he certainly can't keep up with the best."

Maryland: "Our course is a little harder than the average one, and he hasn't ever broken 100 here. He's pretty awesome, though, to staff and visitors when he comes by -- a perfect politician."

Hawaii: "When he first started golfing, it was pretty rough. Surprisingly, though -- he's gotten significantly better. It's hit or miss with him, but he's around average. You have to give him credit, though ... it's a lot of pressure to have everyone watching "

Bottom line -- Obama's not the greatest golfer in the world ... but he ain't exactly crap, either.

Madison Bumgarner is getting all the credit, but Cedric the Entertainer says the San Francisco Giants had 2 other World Series MVPs -- Kim Kardashian and Kanye West.

TMZ Sports spotted the comedian in Calabasas and he admitted he was pulling for the Kansas City Royals ... since the Giants whupped his beloved St. Louis Cardinals.

But Ced is buying into the not-so-widely held theory that Kimye was a good luck charm for San Fran ... considering they got engaged at AT&T Park last year and also attended the Giants' Game 5 victory in SF.

Mike Tyson says he was sexually abused as a child ... by a man who snatched him off the street when he was only 7-years-old.

Tyson visited "Opie Radio" on SiriusXM earlier this week and opened up about how an old creepy man he didn't know abducted him and abused him roughly 41 years ago.

During the interview, Tyson explained ... "[the man] bullied me, sexually abused me and stuff ... snatched me off the street. I was a little kid. Never seen him again."

Mike says he never spoke with police about the incident.

The stats are in from the chaotic World Series madness in San Francisco, according to the SFPD, and it's pretty shocking:

-- 40 total arrests
-- 9 police cars damaged
-- 3 officers injured
-- 2 people shot

We're told 29 of the arrests were for public intoxication.

As for the shootings ... the details are minimal, but we're told they both stemmed from the madness that ensued in S.F. after the Giants beat the Royals.

We're told both people who were shot are alive.

In the cases of the injured officers, we're told all 3 were hospitalized with injuries caused by flying glass bottles.

One officer suffered a "severe laceration" to the hand. Another was struck in the shoulder. And the third officer had an arm-wound.

The SF Fire Dept. also had a busy night -- putting out makeshift bonfires all over the city.

SF Giants hero Madison Bumgarner is about to get his OWN DAY in the town where he grew up ... with officials telling TMZ Sports there's even talk of a parade to honor the World Series MVP.

We spoke with an official from Caldwell County, N.C. -- population just over 80,000 -- who tells us Madison is the talk of the town ... everyone is so proud of their hometown hero after his legendary pitching performance against the Royals.

In fact, plans are already in motion to determine which day of the year will become "Madison Bumgarner Day."

We're told the only thing holding up the date selection is Madison's schedule -- because officials want to select a day when Madison is in town.

Officials tell us there are talks of throwing a parade in Madison's honor -- but those plans are not set in stone yet.

We reached out to Madison -- but as you can imagine, he's a pretty busy guy today.

Meantime, officials have already put up a billboard to honor Madison.

Pretty cool, right?

Former NFL linebacker Takeo Spikes says he had a secret routine before he would take the field on Sundays ... he'd fire up a Rachel McAdams movie.

Spikes -- who played 15 seasons in the NFL -- says McAdams flicks like "The Notebook," "Wedding Crashers" and "The Time Traveler's Wife" would get his mind right before a game.

"[Her movies take] me to a place where I'm very confident in myself," Spikes said ... "It's kinda like the calm before the storm."