TMZ Sports - Page 50

Terrell Owens tells TMZ Sports ... he's ready, willing and able to step in and play for the Chicago Bears now that Brandon Marshall is out for the rest of the season with a serious injuries.

T.O. just appeared on "TMZ Hollywood Sports" -- which airs TONIGHT at 8PM ET, 5PM PT on Reelz -- and told us he's been working out every single weekend and believes he's 100% ready to go.

In fact, the 40-year-old is adamant he's still BETTER than the majority of the wide receivers in the NFL -- and just wants a chance to prove it on the field.

Ya gotta watch the show tonight -- T.O. also talks about the infamous crying press conference (he doesn't regret it one bit), reveals the biggest NFL partier and spills secrets from "Celebrity Apprentice."

Superstar boxer Adrien Broner unleashed the fury ... of his wallet -- spending a cool $10,000 to scoop up a ton of toys for kids today, and even personally handed 'em out.

Hundreds of kids showed up for the giveaway at a boxing center in Broner's hometown of Cincinnati. The former champ tells TMZ Sports he organized the toy drive in conjunction with the Toys For Tots Foundation, and pulled up with an army truck full of loot.

Lebron James has a message for guys like Richard Sherman and Colin Kaepernick ... when it comes to the post-game music jam, big is out ... small is in.

James was rockin' his new Beats by Dre "Powerbeats" headphones after the Cavs beat up on the Knicks in NYC last night.

They're tiny. They're wireless ... and it's a huge fashion change from the classic Beats by Dre headphones which are intentionally bulky and have become a fashion staple for tons of athletes.

James is a trendsetter -- so if he goes small ... does it mean the reign of the bulky headphones are over?

Adrian Peterson finally has a celebrity ally ... rap superstar Lil Boosie ... who hooked up with the embattled running back for a photo in Texas.

We're told the two ran into each other in Dallas earlier this week ... after Peterson returned from NY where he was attending appeal hearings in his effort to get back in the NFL.

Boosie -- who's a huge sports junkie -- is still a fan of the embattled running back ... and wants everyone to know he still sees "greatness" in Peterson.

Victor Cruz won't let a busted right knee keep him from hitting the party scene ... 'cause the NY Giants star hit up a huge party in Miami Thursday night -- with his knee brace -- and we've got the pics.

Cruz -- sporting a medical brace under his sweatpants -- hit up a Crooks & Castles party presented by Hennessy V.S for Art Basel Thursday night.

Despite the fact he's recovering from a season-ending torn patellar tendon in his right knee that he suffered during a game back in October, Victor was seen laughing and having a great time at the party.

Meanwhile, back in NY ... Cruz's teammates -- who have lost 7 straight games -- are preparing to take on the Titans this weekend.

Cruz seems to be making good progress on the knee -- he looked pretty spry while walking through a NY mall a few weeks ago ... and told us he expects to be busting out his salsa again very soon.

NBA star Kyrie Irving's getting into the designer man bag game ... rocking an $800 high-end bag on his way to the team bus in Manhattan.

All the big athletes are droppin' big money on man purses these days ... from Colin Kaepernick to DeMarcus Cousins to Floyd Mayweather ... and Anthony Davis.

Irving's bag is particularly nice ... MCM's Stark Studded Large Backpack ... which usually between $800 and $900.

Irvin had a sick game last night -- dropping 37 points and hitting a clutch shot at the end of the game.

Remember what Deion Sanders said when it comes to fashion -- "If you look good, you feel good, If you feel good, you play good, If you play good, they pay good."

He's off the team, but Michael Sam still has a lot in common with his former St. Louis Rams teammates -- throwing up the Ferguson "Hands Up" tribute last night with Dave Chappelle.

The two were hanging out at the 2014 GQ Men of the Year party at the Chateau Marmont hotel on the Sunset Strip when they decided to throw up the hand signal to show their support for Mike Brown.

Chappelle has been pretty vocal about the situation with Ferguson recently -- and has even made the topic a part of his stand-up act.

Why does super rich NBA superstar Blake Griffin have a $100 TV stand from Best Buy?

WHY NOT!? That's why.

Blake was leaving Nobu in West Hollywood last night when he answered that question ... and THREE OTHERS ... when we asked about the mancave in his L.A. home last night.

OK, so it wasn't exactly a Matlock-style interrogation ... but at least we finally found out about the big giant mystery thing on trunk.

Forget turtle doves and French hens (who the hell wants a hen?) ... all Gabrielle Union wants for Christmas is for Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat to CRUSH LEBRON JAMES!!

Union was out in New York Thursday when we asked about her holiday wish list ... and she came back with a not-so-subtle jab at the Heat's #1 defector ... King James.

Of course, the Heat take on the Cleveland Cavaliers on Christmas Day ... and it's clear Union wants her husband to send a message to his old teammate.

There's more ... Gabrielle also reveals who sent the best wedding gift when she tied the knot back in August.

Ricky Williams says white people can't understand the pain African-Americans feel over the issues in Ferguson or NYC ... because they have no clue what it's like to deal with police brutality.

TMZ Sports spoke with Ricky about the critical remarks his old New Orleans Saints coach Mike Ditka made about the Rams players who gave the "Hands Up" gesture before a recent game. The remarks caused a stir on social media, with some going so far as to call Ditka a racist.

Williams says he KNOWS Ditka's not a racist ... but says he doesn't think Ditka can fully understand the issue because of his skin color.

"He's a white guy. White people don't relate to police brutality."

The former Heisman Trophy winner says he's experienced racial profiling first hand ... even on his own college campus.

"I was arrested for failing to provide identification when I was at Texas, I told them my name was 'Ricky' when my lD said 'Errick.' This when I was the best player in college football."

Ricky also says that most white people -- almost inherently -- use racially insensitive language on a routine basis.

There are rules in the strip club -- no touching, no pictures and NO JACKING STRIPPER'S CELL PHONES ... but an NBA player has been accused of breaking Rule #3 ... TMZ Sports has learned.

The man in hot water is Orlando Magic player Maurice Harkless -- who's been named in a police report filed by an exotic dancer in San Francisco.

Law enforcement sources confirm ... the dancer claims 21-year-old Maurice came into the club late Sunday night -- but before he left early Monday morning, he swiped her cell phone and took it with him.

Sources connected to the situation tell us the stripper confronted the 6'9" player and tried to get the phone back ... to no avail.

We're told the San Francisco Police Department is now investigating the incident -- and there is surveillance footage that could crack the case.

We reached out to Harkless and his camp for comment -- so far, no word back.

5:03 PM PT -- A rep for Harkless just sent us a statement saying, "There must be a mistake in identity. Maurice Harkless was not involved in any situation that involved taking a cell phone or any property."

Michael Sam's former college teammate -- who's played with NFL stars like Aldon Smith and Sheldon Richardson -- says Sam is RIGHT ... his sexual orientation is the reason he's not in the league.

We spoke with Marvin Foster -- who played alongside Sam at Missouri -- and says Sam is one of the best players he's ever stepped on the field with.

"There's no way the Defensive Player of the Year in the SEC should be a free agent," Foster said.

TMZ Sports posted footage Wednesday showing Sam very strongly suggesting that he has the talent to play in the NFL -- but isn't on a roster because he's openly gay.

"The kid can play and I think he showed he can play," Foster added ... "He had three sacks in the pre-season. I don't know why they cut him."

But not everyone shares Foster's opinion -- we spoke with an active NFL lineman who tells us, "If Sam was killing he would be on a roster."

UFC honcho Dana White tells TMZ Sports he's definitely interested in having a conversation with CM Punk about fighting in the octagon ... now that Punk's no longer with the WWE.

White was at an event in NYC to celebrate the new UFC-Reebok partnership when he told us he likes Punk and knows he's a fan of MMA -- and would be open to having a conversation with the 36-year-old about joining the organization.

"I don't know if he can fight or anything like that ," White said ... "but sure, I wouldn't mind talking to CM Punk."

As for rumors about Brock Lesnar wanting to get back into MMA at the end of his contract with the WWE -- White says, "If and when his deal if up with them and he wants to fight, I'm, sure he'll call me."

The man who "boxed" Mickey Rourke in Russia is PISSED -- telling TMZ Sports the actor's people are STIFFING him out of $5,000 he was promised for the fight.

We spoke with 29-year-old Elliot Seymour who says he was supposed to be paid $15k to step in the ring with the 62-year-old actor ... but only got $10k.

Seymour says the whole situation was sketchy -- but insists he was NOT paid to take a dive.

"People can say whatever they want ... if you've never been in a fight before in your life, you have no idea what it feels like to get hit."

Despite the financial dispute, Seymour says he's down to fight Mickey again -- if Mickey wants a rematch.

Rourke's boxing manager tells TMZ ... Seymour only got $10,000 because that's the most he can carry through customs. He says Seymour will get the other $5,000 next week, saying, "I think the poor kid is just enjoying the attention a little too much and is beginning to talk to the press about anything just to get more attention."

It's one of the most famous Yankees rules ... NO BEARDS DURING THE SEASON!!!

But with star pitcher CC Sabathia, who's growing out his whiskers in the off-season, we had to ask the 34-year-old if he was planning to rage against the machine this year ... and fight to keep his face warmer when it's time to put on the pinstripes.

Don't worry Steinbrenners, Sabathia told us he's gonna play by the family rules ... even though he likes his new scruff.