TMZ Sports - Page 50

An IndyCar team owner -- whose driver won the Indy500 in 2011 -- claims he's being hosed by his biggest sponsor ... who bailed on a $2 million deal AFTER he covered his car in their logo.

The man behind the suit is Bryan Herta -- a former racer who owns the Bryan Herta Autosport racing team which competes in the Verizon IndyCar series.

Herta claims he struck a $2 million deal with the people behind Integrity Energy Drink back in April -- and immediately plastered the company logo all over the team's car ... complete with a fluorescent green paint job to match the Integrity colors.

But according to a lawsuit filed in L.A. County Superior Court and obtained by TMZ Sports, Integrity failed to live up to its name ... and only forked over $470k in payments.

Herta claims he went after company honchos for the money -- and got an email from the CEO apologizing for the payment problems ... but NEVER got the remaining $1.53 mil.

In the suit, Herta claims the lack of funding put his squad at a "severe competitive disadvantage" -- forcing the team to scale back important race prep to save money.

Herta is demanding the remaining $1.53 mil -- plus damages.

DeMarco Murray did NOT score with his ex-teammate Brennan Clay's wife after all ... at least according to Clay who's snuggling his wife again -- but also eating a big serving of crow.

Clay and Gina D'Agostini look like the picture of wedded bliss in the pic he just posted ... where she appears to be naked, and he's laying on top of her. Clay captioned the pic ... "Jumped to a conclusion that wasn't true ..can't judge a situation without knowing all the facts ..I apologize .."

It's a huge about face from the former Oklahoma Sooner player ... who recently blasted DeMarco, accusing him of banging his wife of just 4 months.

Clay claimed he had more than 50 incriminating texts to prove Gina and DeMarco were cheating.
Unclear what changed his mind. We've reached out, but no word back from him yet.

It was the battle of the birds ... Cardinals vs. Seahawks ... and Jordin Sparks let hers fly right in the direction of a Seattle fan this weekend -- and TMZ Sports has the pic.

Sparks -- a die-hard AZ Cards fan -- was singing the National Anthem at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale this weekend ... when a fan in a Seahawks beanie got her attention.

We're guessing there was some smack talk between the two sides ... and it culminated in a pretty solid one-finger salute from the former "American Idol" champ.

Nick Young said he felt like "Westside Connection" after he got his new '62 Impala. But according to Snoop Dogg ... Nick's missing one VERY important part of a true "Westside" whip -- HYDRAULICS!

Everyone knows Snoop has a thing for classic cars -- he owns a grip including a few Impalas of his own.

We're told Snoop thinks Nick's new ride is "tight" -- but the rapper is telling friends that "real Westside riders" can make their rides jump like Kris Kross.

One source close to the rapper says Snoop put it this way ... "He ain't really Westsidin' because he can't hit no SWITCHES!"

But get this ... we're told Snoop wants to connect Young with a famous L.A.-based lowrider crew that can make Nick's ride bounce like a check from Wesley Snipes.

No word if Young will accept the offer -- but we'll stay on it.

Manti Te'o says he's sick and tired of other NFL stars harassing him about that whole fake girlfriend scandal ... and says his tormentors need to MOVE ON!!!

The San Diego Chargers linebacker was talking with UTSanDiego.com and admitted he was harassed about the situation "a few times" last season -- but had hoped people would let it go.

But they didn't ... and this week, 49ers tackle Anthony Davis admitted he talked smack to Te'o about the GF hoax when they met on the field.

"Asked Manti Te'o about his imaginary girlfriend last night and he snapped. lol I thought that was hilarious," Davis tweeted.

So how did Te'o react?

"I told him, 'Find a new joke,'" Te'o said.

Of course, while Te'o was at Notre Dame, he was catfished by a man -- pretending to be a girl -- but when Manti realized he was the victim of a hoax, he lied to the media in an effort to cover the whole thing up.

Eventually, the whole story came to light ... the catfisher was ID'd as Ronaiah Tuiasosopo -- who eventually fessed up to hoaxing Te'o.

Michael Sam told Oprah Winfrey ... he knows of other gay men currently playing in the NFL -- and some of them have reached out to Michael on the phone to talk.

Michael sat down with Oprah for a tell-all interview set to air on the OWN network this weekend after a 90-minute documentary focusing on his journey to make an NFL team as an openly gay man.

During the interview, Oprah asks Sam ... "Gay men in the NFL reached out to you and called you?"
Sam replies says yes ... "very few" did reach out and tell him they were grateful he'd had the courage to come out.

TMZ Pap: "What athlete do you think would make the best singer?"
Jermaine Dupri: "Serena"
TMZ Pap: "Serena? Why do you say that?"
Jermaine Dupri: "She got dat ass!"

Jermaine says she can sing too (check out her talents on display below) ... but who cares, SHE GOT DAT ASS!

Just because he can't play in the NBA doesn't mean Isaiah Austin can't BALL UP stars like Kevin Durant and Kobe Bryant ... 'cause the ex-NCAA star says he's using his own character to dominate in the NBA 2K15 video game.

You probably know Austin's story by now ... he was supposed to be a 1st round pick in this year's NBA Draft but was forced to end his career after he was diagnosed with Marfan Syndrome.

Still, the people at 2K Sports announced they would include Austin as a playable character in this year's video game to "celebrate his remarkable courage."

So, when we got Austin out in NYC the other day -- we had to ask ... what's it like to play with yourself?

If Christmas is a battlefield ... Nick Young is France -- 'cause he just surrendered in the war for the best Xmas gift after his GF Iggy Azalea hooked him up with a sick classic car.

The Lakers star was rollin' around L.A. in his brand new '62 Chevy Impala -- which Iggy delivered to him outside the Lakers facility Monday -- when we asked if it was even possible to top Iggy's gift.

The short answer ... no ... and Nick knows it -- admitting that she "won" the holiday gift exchange this year.

Swaggy also had some things to say about Kobe Bryant. Check out the clip ...

Dennis Rodman no longer wants to be seen with Kim Jong-un -- at least not in a video game -- and he's threatening legal action if a video gamer doesn't make some big changes ... STAT.

The game is called "Glorious Leader!" -- and players can take on America as the N. Korean dictator or as his trusted ally, Rodman. The game was designed by Jeff Miller and his company, Moneyhorse ... and Dennis is not pleased with his role in the game.

TMZ obtained a letter Rodman's attorney sent to Miller ... demanding Dennis be removed from the game because it portrays him in a "negative light."

The letter makes it sound like Dennis has finally taken off the blinders when it comes to Kim Jong-un.

Taylor Swift gave a “Happy Birthday” shout out to snowboarder Greg Bretz after he crushed HARD on her. Greg even went on TMZ Hollywood Sports to send a shout out.

Now can he close the deal? Taylor's waiting! So are we, actually.

The war over Jerry Buss' fortune just took a shocking turn -- with a mysterious woman claiming she's the secret daughter of the late Lakers owner ... but Jerry's family is calling B.S.

According to heavily redacted legal docs filed in L.A. County Superior Court, the woman describes herself as an "omitted child" ... who is entitled to just as much of Jerry's estate as his other 6 children.

It appears from the docs that the woman claims she's the oldest of Jerry's children ... but all of the details about why she's convinced she's the fruit of his loins is redacted in the legal papers.

However, the woman has met staunch resistance from Jerry's most famous daughter, Jeanie Buss -- who filed legal docs of her own calling the woman a liar who deserves JACK SQUAT.

Of course, Jerry was reportedly worth in excess of $600 million -- so there's a lot of money on the line.

A moronic college football player stupidly removed his helmet during a brawl at the Miami Beach Bowl today ... and appeared to SWING IT at an opposing player.

The fight broke out at the end of the BYU vs. Memphis game ... after Memphis picked off a BYU pass to clinch the victory. Things got chippy and the benches cleared.

That's when Memphis player Chase Johnson (#68) removed his helmet and appeared to use it as a weapon -- swinging it at a BYU player.

The incident is eerily similar to a high school football game in Pennsylvania last year -- where officials PRESSED CHARGES against a player who allegedly swung his helmet at a kid from the other team.

Santa Claus ain't got nothin' on Iggy Azalea ... who just hooked up Nick Young with one helluva Christmas present -- a 1962 Chevy Impala ... complete with a red bow.

Iggy personally delivered the ride to Swaggy P outside the Lakers practice facility -- where Nick got the chance to show off his new whip in front of all his boys.

No word on how much Iggy paid for the ride ... but some '62 Impalas have been appraised around $100k.

Question is ... how's Nick gonna compete with that?

Muhammad Ali's daughter tells TMZ Sports ... the boxing icon is "doing so much better" following a bout with pneumonia over the weekend ... but says she's not surprised by his quick recovery.

We spoke with Rasheda Ali-Walsh ... who tells us "My daddy is a strong man. He's so resilient and we're all very grateful and blessed."

Rasheda tells us all sorts of people have reached out to the family with kind words and prayers since 72-year-old Ali was hospitalized in Kentucky over the weekend.

"When I see my dad, I'm gonna tell him about all the people who have sent their love," Rasheda says.

After months under the radar, Ray Rice is hitting the charity scene HARD -- bouncing from fundraisers to toy drives and other events (all on camera of course) ... in an effort to prove he's not a monster.

On Saturday, the couple hosted "Ray and Janay's Holiday Toy Drive" at Steiner Sports headquarters in New Rochelle, NY ... which happens to be Ray's hometown.

We're told the couple handed out more than 150 toys to kids ... and then donated $10k to the Evelyn Sachs Steiner Home for Girls and the Jerome Wagner Youth Residence for Boys.

Our sources tell us the event came together about a month ago.

After the event, Ray and Janay went to a nearby housing project where Ray grew up -- and a rep tells us the couple "surprised a young mother and her three daughters with a box full of presents."

The cameras were rolling (of course) ... and Janay posted the footage on her Instagram account.

Just a few days earlier, the couple attended a Toys for Tots drive organized by his ex-teammate Torrey Smith. Ray made sure to speak to the media and asked the public for forgiveness.

There's more ... Janay also posted a photo of Ray posing with a sick child during a recent hospital visit -- and included a message about how the running back is focused on "giving back."

Sources close to the couple tell us ... Ray has made it clear to friends and associates that he hopes his charity work will help to save his image and get him back into the good graces of the public.