TMZ Sports - Page 50

Look closely at the photo above ... one of these guys is a professional NBA player.

The other 4 dudes are rabbis ... who have a stellar reputation for blessing athletes before big games.

Which could be why Dwyane Wade made a kosher pit stop before the Miami Heat took on the Lakers in L.A. on Tuesday.

TMZ Sports has learned ... the Heat used the facilities at the JEM Community Center in Beverly Hills to warm up hours before their game. And before they left, Wade met up with Rabbi Hertzel Illulian ... who offered up a "quadruple rabbi blessing" before the game.

Turns out ... the Jews came through -- with the Heat beating the Lakers 78-75.

The win brings the rabbis to 2-0 when it comes to blessing NBA players -- after bestowing a "triple rabbi blessing" on Kevin Durant last year before he went on to beat the Clippers in the playoffs.

Mazel.

Coming to you from his kitchen ... in a tank top ... former L.A. Lakers baller Kareem Rush singing Sam Smith's "Stay With Me" -- and dude can definitely hit the high note!

As we previously reported, Rush is laser focused on growing his music career -- something he's been passionate about for years. In fact, Rush dropped a single back in 2010.

Now, with a new album on the way ... Rush put his pipes on display on "TMZ Hollywood Sports" -- busting out a ridiculously tough song with no warm-up, no backing track and only basement level acoustics.

NY Giants co-owner John Mara says there's no doubt Roger Goodell's reputation took a major hit due to his handling of the Ray Rice incident ... but he's fully confident Roger will bounce back.

Mara -- who, along with Steelers owner Art Rooney, oversaw Robert Mueller's investigation into the NFL's handling of the Rice situation -- called into WFAN in NYC and voiced his support for the NFL commish while acknowledging Goodell has a serious PR problem.

"No question he's been damaged by recent events," Mara said ... "He's a pretty strong person and he can get by this and I think he can repair his reputation."

Mara says he still believes Goodell is the right man for the job -- and says his body of work as NFL Commish is "exceptional."

Maurice Clarett doesn't want another superstar Ohio State running back making the same mistakes that he did -- which is why he's begging Ezekiel Elliott to STAY IN SCHOOL.

Of course, Clarett knows what he's talking about -- he's the guy who famously left OSU after 1 season back in 2002 and challenged the NFL's draft policy which requires players to be at least 3 years removed from high school.

Clarett never returned to form -- even when he did finally get on an NFL team ... and now he's trying to pass on the lessons from his experience to the current OSU star running back.

After reading a report urging Ezekiel to skip his junior season and wait for the NFL, Clarett chimed in ... saying, "Ignore all of this Zeke.... I'm speaking from experience."

"You can't beat the machine (NFL). Go to class and focus on getting better as a ball player."

They have many talents ... golf is not one of them.

The top contestants in the Miss Universe pageant spent a day on the links with Donald Trump at his new course at the Trump National Doral in Florida ... and futilely attempted to smack around a few balls in high heels.

There were swings. There were misses. There was a strong gust of wind that almost created a Marilyn Monroe moment. All in all ... pretty solid video captured by the Miami Herald.

George Lopez ain't a fan of Brooklyn Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov -- saying he's not just shocked the guy is "bailing" on the team ... but couldn't believe he would do something as "low" as trading the coach.

Lopez was out in D.C. when he heard the news that Prokhorov is looking to sell the team -- less than 5 years after buying the majority share of the Nets for $223 million.

"That guy's bailing on them already?" Lopez asked ... "it's shocking to me."

Lopez also ripped Prokhorov for trading away head coach Jason Kidd to the Bucks last year -- "Trading a player, that's what they normally do. But trading a coach? That's low."

Check out the clip -- Lopez says he's also planning to round up some of his huge celebrity friends like Jennifer Lopez and Eva Longoria to buy the franchise.

Oregon shmoregon ... That's how NY Giants star Prince Amukamara felt about Monday Night's big game telling TMZ Sports the only competition he cared about was from the thirsty chicks on ABC's "The Bachelor."

Prince was out in NYC Monday night -- not watching the big game -- when we asked who he thought might take it between the Bucks and Ducks.

Here's the thing ... Prince didn't care!! He was more into "The Bachelor" ... and the BRACKET he filled out for the show.

Yes, a "Bachelor Bracket" is a thing ... just like the Final Four where you pick the names of the women who you think will get a rose from Chris Soules and advance every week.

Hopefully, Prince didn't have Alissa, Jordan, Kimberly, Tandra or Tara going the distance.

But here's the rub, the house never got built and Key eventually moved out of town ... but according to court docs obtained by TMZ Sports, Johnson never paid the design company what it claims it was owed for drawing up the blueprints.

Now, a collection agency is on Key's ass -- looking to recover more than $40k in back payments for the mansion that never was.

But Johnson says it's all a baseless money grab -- claiming the blueprints were drawn up by his architect, not the designer ... and he doesn't believe he owes the designer a single cent.

"Be careful who you deal with. Everybody's looking for a buck. You can't get paid for work you didn't do."

Don't write off Jon "Bones" Jones just yet ... so says UFC legend Chuck Liddell who tells TMZ Sports the light heavyweight champ is a "good guy" who simply made a mistake.

Jones checked in (and then out) of a rehab facility last week after testing positive for cocaine following UFC 182 ... but The Iceman says Jon will beat this problem like he beats everything else.

"He's gonna be fine, trust me," Liddell said while heading into Katsuya in Hollywood ... "He made a mistake. Give the guy a break."

His days with the Lakers are over ... but ex-NBA player Kareem Rush is still gunning to sell out the Staples Center ... as the next big superstar in pop music.

The 34-year-old tells TMZ Sports he's focusing on a singing career -- "I'm a cross between Timberlake and Maxwell."

Rush has been working on his craft for years ... and even dropped a single back in 2010 ... before he officially retired.

But now that he's done hoopin', Rush says he's putting everything he's got into music -- and plans to drop a brand new album later this month.

More than half his body's covered in tats ... which can cost a FORTUNE ... but NBA stud Chris Andersen tells TMZ Sports he hasn't paid a single cent for any of his artwork.

So, how did Birdman get the low, low price of "on the house" when it comes to his ink?

"I'm a walking billboard," Andersen says.

We're guess what he means is ... tattoo artists LOVE having their work displayed on a 6'10", 245-pound canvas that gets seen by millions and millions of people every week.

Translation -- it pays to be famous ... so you don't have to pay.

Potential jurors in the Aaron Hernandez murder trial are getting grilled about everything from drugs, tattoos, team allegiance, and even TMZ -- this according to court docs.

The third day of jury selection just wrapped in the ex-Patriots star's trial, and the jury questionnaire -- 51 questions deep -- was just released. It includes the following:

- Do you believe that Mr. Hernandez is more likely to be guilty in this case because he has tattoos?
- Are you a fan of the New England Patriots? Have you ever attended a Patriots game?
- Is there anything about [Hernandez playing for the Patriots] that would impair your ability to be fair and impartial?

There are a bunch more questions addressing potential jurors' feelings about Hernandez being "Hispanic" -- and also their opinions about smoking marijuana ... and firearms.

Also interesting ... a question about where they've learned info about the case. Dozens of TV shows, channels, magazines, newspapers and websites are listed, including TMZ -- which is relevant since we were first to post the selfie Hernandez took while holding a gun.

Hope Solo will NOT go to trial over allegations she beat up her half-sister and nephew last summer at her home in Seattle, WA ... the case has been dismissed.

Solo had been facing two counts of fourth-degree domestic violence. The judge described the case as "impermissibly prejudiced" and "materially affected" because of the lack of cooperation by witnesses.

Solo's attorney said afterward, "If the case had been reviewed carefully at the outset, no charges would have been filed."

As TMZ Sports previously reported, the soccer star was arrested last June after allegedly beating up her half-sister and 17 year-old nephew following an argument.

Wanna dress as ridiculous as "Macho Man" Randy Savage? Got a few thousand to spend?

Well, good news ... one of Randy's awesomely gaudy used outfits from the early 2000s is officially on the auction block ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Trademark cowboy hat? Check.
Over-the-top checkered jacket thingy? Check.
Old-school wrestling boots with black flair? Ooooooo yeahhhhh!!!!

The shoes and the cowboy hat even come with an authentic Macho Man signature, according to Lelands ... the company behind the auction.

J.J. Watt's most badass 7-year-old fan just got hooked up with some serious swag ... including the cleats Watt wore during one of his most dominant games this season.

Anthony Tarantelli made headlines last month when he sent HIS autographed jersey to Watt ... and bragged about being the "most feared" pass rusher in his youth football league.

Watt vowed to return the favor and came through with an awesome package, including ... a jersey, a hat, and a letter from the MVP candidate. Anthony's dad tells TMZ Sports, "He told him to stay confident in himself, and keep working hard."

But the coolest gift was the cleats J.J. wore when he sacked the Jaguars QB 3 times in one game. Watt wrote "3 sacks" on the side ... and Anthony says they still had mud on them.

Anthony's father says, "For J.J. to actually follow through and hook the kid up with the gear ... it was a pretty sweet move."

Boston Red Sox owner John Henry tells TMZ Sports ... he's got NO GRUDGE against Johnny Damon for leaving the team for the Yanks back in 2005 ... despite Johnny suggesting there was lingering beef between the two.

As we previously reported, Damon told Donald Trump he didn't hit up Henry for a donation during a fundraising task on this week's "Celebrity Apprentice" because they weren't exactly on speaking terms after the whole contract situation from '05.

But Henry tells us he has absolutely NO ill will toward Damon -- saying, "I have nothing but respect personally for Johnny."

Henry continued, "He accomplished a great deal in Boston and will always be welcome at Fenway."

So, seems Trump was right ... maybe Johnny shoulda hit Henry up for a donation after all.