TMZ Sports - Page 50

Dave Chappelle is DEFENDING Donald Sterling ... claiming the disgraced former L.A. Clippers owner got screwed when his team was ripped away from him.

Chappelle opened up about the topic in an interview with GQ ... saying, "Ultimately, I don’t think he should have lost his team."

"I don’t like the idea that someone could record a secret conversation and that a person could lose their assets from that, even though I think what he said was awful."

Of course, Sterling was banned from the NBA for life -- and Commissioner Adam Silver said he did everything in his power to force a sale of the team in the wake of Sterling's racist comments.

Sterling fought the sale ... but eventually, a judge allowed Donald's wife Shelly to unload the team to Steve Ballmer for $2 BILLION.

Chappelle's opinion lines up with Bill Maher -- who also defended Sterling's right to free speech back in May ... and took serious heat over it.

The big question ... why would someone as influential as Chappelle wait so long to go public with such a strong point of view? Kinda too little, too late.

Dwight Howard is under criminal investigation for child abuse ... law enforcement sources tell TMZ.

We've learned the Cobb County PD in Georgia now has an active criminal investigation into allegations he beat his 6-year-old son Braylon with a belt buckle.

TMZ Sports broke the story ... the Dept. of Children and Families in Florida (DCF) determined there wasn't enough evidence of child abuse to go forward, but it turns out the incident occurred in Georgia. Howard admits he hit his kid with a belt, but says he didn't know it was wrong because he was hit as a kid.

Law enforcement tells us ... Georgia cops asked Florida for the file, but the DCF dragged its feet and did not cooperate. So it turned into a cold case until Monday, after Cobb County detectives saw the TMZ Sports story summarizing a doctor's findings that Howard committed child abuse.

A Georgia law enforcement source tells TMZ ... "People who were not so forthcoming before today [Monday] have been." The source adds detectives did several one-on-one interviews Monday and say the case "has now been raised to top of the list."

Howard's attorney tells TMZ ... Howard's baby mama Royce Reed is "shopping her baseless allegations" to Georgia authorities even though Florida's Dept. of Children and Families found her claims had "no merit."

For the record ... DCF found the allegations credible, but concluded they did not meet the standard of proof required for formal action.

The attorney says he's confident Georgia will reach the same conclusion because "The truth is on our side."

Hours after having one of the biggest games of his life, Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell wasn't done showing off his moves ... cyber-flirting with Jordin Sparks.

Bell played out of his mind last night -- putting up 204 yards against the Titans ... the most rushing yards by a Steelers player in "Monday Night Football" history.

Well, the recently single Sparks took notice ... posting, "Le'Veon Bell is just a beast. Titans D cannot contain him."

She then reposted Le'Veon's stat line ... adding, "Again, beast."

Bell -- who also appears to be single -- was all about it and tweeted back at Sparks ... "I see @JordinSparks liked the way I played last night."

Total cyber-flirting, right?

For the record, Sparks is a huge football fan (her dad is ex-NFL star Phillippi Sparks) .... and after things ended with Jason Derulo earlier this year ... we asked if Phillippi would be cool with his daughter dating a football player. She gave an interesting answer.

As for the twitter-flirting ... we'll keep an eye on it.

Adrian Peterson will not play in the NFL this season ... he's been suspended for at least the rest of the year -- without pay -- for violating the league’s personal conduct policy.

The earliest Peterson will be considered for reinstatement is April 15, 2015.

In a letter to Peterson informing him of the suspension, commissioner Roger Goodell wrote, "The timing of your potential reinstatement will be based on the results of the counseling and treatment program set forth in this decision. Under this two-step approach, the precise length of the suspension will depend on your actions."

He continued, "We are prepared to put in place a program that can help you to succeed, but no program can succeed without your genuine and continuing engagement. You must commit yourself to your counseling and rehabilitative effort, properly care for your children, and have no further violations of law or league policy."

**WARNING -- SO. MUCH. BUTT**

Floyd Mayweather sure loves crack ... and he proved it by posting footage of a 10-on-1 twerk session in what appears to be his hotel room.

There is so much jigglin.

Floyd also posted this caption, "If GOD made anything better than a woman, I don't want it" #mrmylifeisthesh*t #tmt #tmg."

The very beginning of the footage shows Floyd laying face down on a massage table in his boxers ... enjoying the view.

Tony Hawk swears his new hoverboard video is 100% REAL. No joke. No hoax. No fakies.

There was serious speculation about the footage ... since the last time we saw Tony riding a "Back to the Future" inspired board ... the whole thing turned out to be one giant prank. It sucked.

But Hawk appeared on "TMZ Hollywood Sports" on Reelz this week and set the record straight -- telling us it's totally legit ... and spilled his guts about the 15 sessions he spent riding an actual, functional hoverboard at a special warehouse in Santa Clarita, CA.

Hawk says the board weighs about 90 pounds ... and runs around $10k-per-unit.

Tony just posted more footage of his ride on his new website TheRideChannel.com showing all sorts of tricks, spins and even some falls. Pretty cool stuff.

BONUS: Hawk also talks about the NEW TONY HAWK VIDEO GAME coming out next year ... so get your thumbs ready.

Josh Gordon's 10-week stint at an Ohio car dealership was NO JOKE ... the guy worked his ass off and was a big part in several car sales ... multiple employees tell TMZ Sports.

The Cleveland Browns wide receiver has been reinstated -- and is officially back with the team -- which means he will no longer be working with the sales team at Sarchione Auto Group in Ohio.

It seemed like the gig was a joke at first ... but we're told Gordon took the job seriously and treated the whole thing like a very serious apprenticeship.

"He was totally into it," one employee tells us ... "He was very patient with customers. He answered their questions. Josh knows a lot about cars."

We're told Josh often shadowed one of the owners -- spending most of his time at the Chevrolet dealership -- and showed real potential when it came to working in the car biz.

"He was working a full schedule. 8AM to 8PM Mondays and Thursdays ... 8AM to 6PM on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. He also worked 8-3 on Saturdays."

We're told several of Gordon's teammates visited the WR on the lot -- unclear if any of them actually bought a car.

But get this ... Cleveland Cavs player Mike Miller leased a car from the dealership ... and we're told Gordon had a lot to do with the sale.

The disabled man who made headlines after releasing a video showing the harassment he endured on the streets of Toronto just spoke with "TMZ Hollywood Sports" about the V.I.P. treatment he received courtesy of NBA star Greivis Vasquez ... and it's a pretty cool story.

As we previously reported, Vasquez reached out to Andre Arruda after seeing the video online ... and invited him to a Raptors game over the weekend.

Now, Arruda -- an actor/comic -- is talking about the experience with "TMZ Hollywood Sports" ... telling us why he thought the whole thing was a joke at first ... but then found himself sitting courtside.

Arruda also says the guys plan to keep in touch.

Make sure to check out the entire interview on Reelz tonight at 8 PM ET ... 5 PM PT!!

FOR SALE: Used .45 caliber Remington pistol.

It's clean. It's got gold-plated grips. And it took out Jose Canseco's middle finger.

The former MLB superstar has announced he's selling the handgun that blew off the middle digit on his left hand.

Jose had previously explained that the gun accidentally fired while he was cleaning it earlier this month ... and says the whole thing freaked him out because the bullet almost struck his girlfriend.

Now, Jose says he wants the weapon out of his life for good ... well, as long as the price is right.

Canseco has said he wants to sell the gun on eBay -- but the company doesn't allow people to sell firearms on the website ... so he's gonna have to find another way to unload it.

So far, no word on the asking price.

Oh, and Jose also says he's considering selling the finger he shot off ... claiming it's currently being stored in his freezer.

Canseco says it could be used for "stirring straw for drinks."

Former New Orleans Saints lineman Charles Grant will NOT face criminal charges for viciously body slamming a student-athlete ... because both men were putting up a fight during the incident.

TMZ Sports posted the video of Grant crushing the student at Bowie State University ... where Grant was a part-time linebackers coach. University police investigated the October 30th incident ... and we've learned they determined it was a case of "mutual combat."

We obtained a copy of the incident report ... which states Grant -- who won a Super Bowl with the Saints -- refused to give police any statements about the body slam.

Wrestling legend Mick Foley is the godfather of ear-related fight injuries (sorry, Evander), so when UFC fighter Leslie Smith had her's bashed in over the weekend ... who better than Mick to offer up support.

In case you missed it, Smith was fighting at UFC 180 in Mexico City when she took a right hand to the head that turned her left ear into mush. It's as gross as it sounds.

Foley -- who had his ear destroyed all the way back in 1994 -- says he spoke with Smith after the incident and then explained to our photog one of the biggest things he can't do without an ear.

Shockingly, "hear" was not the thing he mentioned.

Dwight Howard was cleared of child abuse in Florida ... but now we know the doctor who examined his child determined the boy was hit with a belt buckle, struck with excessive force and was the victim of abuse.

As TMZ Sports previously reported ... Howard was investigated in Florida for hitting 6-year-old Braylon with a belt. Howard admitted to authorities he hit the kid but says he didn't know it was wrong because that's how he grew up.

TMZ Sports has obtained documents from the Dept. of Children and Families (DCF), summarizing the findings of the doctor who examined Braylon. It says, "Dr. Kesler noted Braylon to have a linear bruise and patterned abrasions consistent with the history given by Braylon of being struck with a belt numerous times by his father."

The report goes on to say the injuries were "consistent with Braylon being struck with the buckle end of the belt ... with excessive force, resulting in soft tissue injuries such as bruising and abrasions."

And the report indicates Dr. Kesler found the injuries lasted longer than 24 hours and were "consistent with a medical diagnosis of physical abuse."

And the doctor recommended that Howard participate in parenting classes and use methods other than corporal punishment to discipline his son.

DCF concluded the child abuse allegations were "not substantiated," but in Florida that means there is "credible evidence" of child abuse, but not enough to warrant action. What's curious is why the doctor's findings weren't enough.

Howard's rep tells TMZ, "The Florida Dept. of Children and Families thoroughly examined all of the evidence and determined that there was insufficient evidence of child abuse," adding the case has been closed in Florida. It appears this is the first time Howard's people have acknowledged some evidence of child abuse, although they insist there was no child abuse.

Howard's people are lashing out at baby mama Royce Reed, saying, "It is appalling to see a mother use her son as a pawn against his father in an attempt to extract money, which is what is happening in this case."

Did you know ... World Series MVP Madison Bumgarner and country music superstar Eric Church are from the same small county in North Carolina?

And did you also know that tonight county officials are going to vote on whether they should honor its two heroes with giant signs bragging that Eric and Madison grew up there??

Well, it's all going down in Caldwell County, NC (population: 80,000) in just a few hours.

We know ... the Caldwell County Board of Commissioners are voting to decide if they should go to the N.C. Dept. of Transportation and request the signs.

Each sign would say something like, "Caldwell County ... Home of Madison Bumgarner."

We're told the vote is likely to pass -- everyone in town seems to LOOOVE these guys -- and then it will be up to Dept. of Transportation to make the final decision.

Kevin Hart went right up to Jameis Winston's face this weekend and delivered some cold, hard advice -- "YOU NEED TO STOP DOING DUMB S**T."

The star of "The Wedding Ringer" hit up Florida State University as part of his college tour and met with some of the football players ... including Winston.

And that's when he started an impromptu roast of the Heisman Trophy winner.

"I started to bring a bunch a crab legs to see if you was gonna take 'em!" Hart joked.

There's more ... it's hilarious.

But check out the look on Jameis' face -- doesn't seem like he was too happy about it.

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant was officially welcomed to the Roc Nation Sports family this weekend with a huge party at Jay Z's NYC nightclub ... complete with champagne, hot chicks and expensive jewelry.

It all went down at Jay's 40/40 Club ... where Dez sipped on expensive Ace of Spades champagne and D'USSE Cognac.

Also, check out Dez's brand new chain -- the Roc Nation Sports logo -- we're guessing a gift from his new agency.

Of course, Dez fired his old agent and signed with Jay's group earlier this month -- and clearly, he's fired up about it.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. would be PROUD of LeBron James ... so says Jesse Jackson who tells TMZ Sports LeBron's work off the court makes him "great."

Rev. Jackson was leaving Boa Steakhouse on the Sunset Strip this weekend when we asked about a recent interview Jackson gave to the Northeast Ohio Media Group ... in which he praised LeBron for all he's done for the city of Cleveland

"His work in the community beyond the court makes him very great," Jackson said ... "Dr. King would be proud of that."

Jackson notes that LeBron has helped to lift up the housing projects ... he built a playground for the kids ... and made the poor feel better about themselves.