TMZ Sports - Page 50

The New York/Boston rivalry just took an interesting turn -- with NY Giants co-owner Steve Tisch telling us he's rooting for Tom Brady to beat the Colts this weekend ... and eventually hoist the Lombardi Trophy.

Tisch was out at Craig's in L.A. last night -- when we asked if it's cool for NFL owners to root for another team after their own squad gets eliminated from the playoffs.

Steve says he's got some pretty good reasons for backing New England -- including the fact he's already beaten the Pats the last two times they faced 'em in the Big Game.

Another huge star is set to perform at the Super Bowl ... Idina Menzel has just announced she's on board ... and says she's honored to be following in the footsteps of legends like Whitney Houston.

The "Let It Go" singer just broke the news on Twitter ... saying:

"It was 1991 and I remember it well: Whitney sings the national anthem at the Super Bowl. Almost as glorious as her voice was her huge radiant smile. I am so humbled and honored to be asked this year."

Last year, the NFL gave the honor to opera singer Renee' Fleming ... who shocked gambler by knocking it out in 2 minutes and 3 seconds -- almost 20 seconds shorter than expected.

Kevin Nash's days in wrestling purgatory are OVER -- the WWE has reinstated the icon after officials dropped the charges in his Xmas Eve father-son brawl.

Vince McMahon's company had put Big Sexy's contract on ice once he was arrested for allegedly battering his 18-year-old son Tristen during a rumble in their Florida home.

But after investigators determined Nash wasn't the primary aggressor -- charges were dropped ... and now the WWE is welcoming the 55-year-old back with open arms.

"Now that Kevin Nash’s legal matter has been resolved with all charges being dropped, his 'legends' contract has been immediately reinstated," the WWE tells us.

But it seems Nash is still upset with the org. for putting him on time-out in the first place ... and earlier this week tweeted that he doesn't see himself returning to WWE programming.

L.A. Clippers President Doc Rivers says the NBA ain't Little League ... telling TMZ Sports his son Austin Rivers won't be treated ANY DIFFERENTLY now that he'll be joining his team.

FYI -- The Clippers acquired the 22-year-old in a 3-team trade that went through on Thursday.

Hours after the deal, we saw Doc leaving a power dinner with Donald Trump at Boa Steakhouse in West Hollywood and asked him if he was worried that the players thinking Austin will get special treatment because of their relationship.

Rivers is adamant he'll treat Austin just the same as everyone else -- not easier, not harder.

A father has never coached a son in the NBA before -- so the minute Austin takes the court, he'll be making history.

Pretty cool, right?

The man who became the custodian of O.J. Simpson's 1968 Heisman Trophy lugged it around the streets for years ... TMZ Sports has learned.

We've learned the person is in the crosshairs of the LAPD -- because he's the guy who called USC a while back inquiring about how much he could get for the trophy.

SC called the LAPD stat and forked over the guy's cell phone number -- and the LAPD went on the hunt.

We found the guy ... and he tells TMZ Sports he came into possession of the trophy in 1996, two years after it was stolen from Heritage Hall on the SC campus.

The man swears he's not the guy who broke the case and made off with the statue (we confirmed he was in jail at the time of the heist) but he did say he traded for it with a burgundy Honda Accord and $500 cash. And get this ... the guy he got it from had the Heisman buried in his backyard. Kind of a hint something was up.

After 17 years ... the man says he decided to return the Heisman -- for a reward. He took a photo of the trophy (seen above) to prove he's legit.

It may be a little more than coincidence that his change of heart happened right at the same time the LAPD got a search warrant that targeted him.

Bottom line -- cops nabbed the Heisman but they're still on the hunt for culprits.

Pre-menstruation = obliteration.

That's according to UFC hottie Paige VanZant who tells TMZ Sports there's a certain time of the month she's even more dangerous in the octagon than usual.

The 20-year-old prodigy was out in NYC and says fighters wanna be angry and aggressive when they get in the ring ... so why not harness the power of Mother Nature??

Check out the clip ... Paige also tells us one of her "musts" when it comes to dating ... and let's put it this way -- you better know how to use your hands.

The man who stabbed a former MLB player to death has been convicted of 2nd degree murder in a L.A. courtroom ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Rod Craig -- who played 4 seasons in the league back in the early '80s -- was living on the streets back in 2013 ... when he tried to stay at a homeless encampment but was turned away by other transients.

According to investigators, 55-year-old Craig tried to kick a dog as he left the encampment ... infuriating several people who chased after him and attacked ... with one of attackers stabbing Craig in the chest.

The next Thomas Edison could totally kick your ass ... 'cause NFL star Bernard Pollard tells TMZ Sports the counter-top organizer he invented last year totally BLEW UP in sales this holiday season.

Pollard, who won a Super Bowl with the Ravens in 2012 invented a bathroom counter-top organizer last year called the "Smart Sink Tray" that he says lets was inspired by the tiny sinks out in Baltimore.

"I first thought it up back in 2012 ... I'm a germaphobe and the counter space in Baltimore was so limited that I wanted something to expand it."

His Howie Mandelness has led to cold hard cash with Pollard telling us this holiday season business was BOOMING for the "Smart Sink Tray" -- with a sales spike of nearly 60%.

"It was really cool to see the orders come in. The east coast went crazy for it."

And Pollard says things are only looking up from here ... 'cause the tray has gotten so popular, it's drawn interest from hotels all over the country and outdoor retailer Camping World.

"We putting it your RV's."

Former NFL star Matt Light -- a 3-time Pro Bowler -- just finished up a charity event with special needs children in which he took them out hunting for deer ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Light is an avid hunter who strongly believes in the positive value of outdoor activities such as hunting, clay shooting and camping.

In this case, Matt and his friend Noah (who he met through The Light Foundation) got themselves a buck out in Alabama.

"All of the lessons I've learned in the outdoors have really proven well for me," Matt says ... "And I want to pass them along to kids like Noah."

Light says he believes the kids learn everything from teamwork to trust and respect on the hunting trips.

Here's MLB pitcher Brian Wilson -- sporting a "Big Lebowski" shirt -- hanging out at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino on Wednesday with Penn and Teller.

His father is one of the most famous pot-smokers on the planet ... but Snoop Dogg's football star son says he doesn't touch the sticky icky ... because his body is a smoke-free temple.

Cordell Broadus -- one of the top high school wide receivers in the country -- appeared on ESPN's new documentary series "Snoop & Son: A Dad's Dream" ... and addressed the green elephant in the room.

"I don't mess with that at all," Cordell said ... "If you're an athlete, you shouldn't cheat your body."

As for Snoop, the Doggfather says he goes out of his way to keep his weed habit away from Cordell ... saying, "I don't want him no where near it."

Wrestling legend Kevin Nash is officially off the hook in the Christmas Eve brawl with his son -- after cops determined "Big Sexy" wasn't the one who started the fight.

We broke the story ... both 55-year-old Kevin and his 18-year-old son Tristen were arrested at the family home in Florida after an allegedly drunken Tristen got physical with Kev.

According to the police report, Kevin took Tristen down to the ground hard after Tristen spit in his face. Tristen claimed Kev used his signature choke-slam move and caused him to black out.

But now officials tells TMZ Sports the State Attorney's office investigated the incident and determined "Mr. Kevin Nash was not the primary aggressor in this situation and that criminal charges should not be filed against him."

As for Tristen ... officials say he's not in the clear -- they're still investigating his role in the fight.

Ray Rice went ALL OUT to spoil his wife on her birthday Wednesday -- and Janay Rice was so impressed, she bragged about having the "best husband in the world."

Sources tell TMZ Sports ... the former Baltimore Ravens star organized a day-long celebration for Janay ... with a dinner party, private celebrity chef, fancy cake and a special appearance by a former teammate.

The chef is former "Hell's Kitchen" competitor JR Robinson -- who cooked up lobster, lamb chops, mussels and some special dessert for Janay's family and friends.

Among the friends ... Ravens wide receiver Torrey Smith -- whose family has remained extremely tight with the Rice's over the past year.

After the party was over, Janay put a message on social media thanking Ray -- "I literally have the best husband in the world. He went above and beyond to make my birthday special."

As for how Ray paid for everything, he reportedly just settled a grievance with the Ravens in which he wanted more than $3.5 million for cutting him over the elevator video.

No word on how much cash Rice ultimately received in the settlement -- but we're guessing it covered the party.

The royal cranium has been pampered, Your Highness.

LeBron James has landed in L.A. to take on the Lakers Thursday night -- but before the game, The King found a few minutes for some "me time" in Beverly Hills.

James and his posse stopped in to Bella Nails -- where a team of beauticians rubbed down his head and gargantuan feet.

LeBron LOOOVVEESS this particular nail salon -- and brought a bunch of his old teammates with him last year back when he was with the Miami Heat.

She lived the Gucci lifestyle before the divorce ... and now Byron Scott's wife is demanding the Gucci lifestyle AFTER the split too -- telling a judge the Lakers coach needs to pay up so she can continue to live like a BOSS!

We broke the story ... Byron filed for divorce from his college sweetheart Anita Scott last year after 29 years of marriage -- right before he signed a $17 million contract with the Lakers.

But Anita says they were living large way before the Lakers gig -- and in new court docs obtained by TMZ Sports, she spells out why Scott needs to open up his checkbook.

Here's a sample of the life Anita says she was accustomed to during her marriage to Byron:

BALLER MANSIONS
-- Anita says the couple lived in several insane cribs over the years (8 bedroom pad in NJ, 7 bedroom house in New Orleans, swanky 4 bedroom penthouse in Cleveland).

BALLER SHOPPING SPREES
-- Anita says she "regularly" bought clothes from Chanel, Gucci, Prada and Louis Vuitton ... with no specific dollar limit.

BALLER HAIR
-- Anita says she dropped at least $600 every six weeks for hair upkeep ... and $500-per-month on manis, pedis and massages. Plus another $400-per-month on facials and "other personal maintenance."

BALLER VACATIONS
-- The Bahamas. Once a year. First class airfare. Suites at top-rated resorts. Oh, and they'd often pay for additional family members to join along.

Anita says she needs spousal support asap, since she doesn't have a job and is living in a cramped 3 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom condo in Culver City which is "not comparable to the lavish and spacious homes we purchased during the marriage."

#RichPeopleProblems

What do Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova and Danica Patrick have in common?

Second place ... so says "Criminal Minds" star Shemar Moore who says he's got a new girlfriend who's the #1 HOTTEST chick in pro sports.

So who's the mystery woman who was out with the notorious ladies man in L.A. this week?

Meet Shawna Gordon ... a pro soccer player with Sky Blue FC (a NJ-based team that competes in the National Women's Soccer League).

"If she stands up and turns around you might just faint," Moore told us ... before advising us to "look her up."

We did. Nice work bro.