TMZ Sports - Page 50

Rapper Lil Durk didn't let his wardrobe stop him from flexin' his hoop skills at the legendary Rucker Park in NYC this week ... ballin' in skinny jeans ... and TMZ Sports has the footage.

Durk had been running around NYC promoting his new album when he decided to chill out for a few minutes -- and basketball was the perfect way to unwind.

So, he squared off with his manager for a little 1-on-1 ... and we're told he impressed some of the locals. For the record, Durk has previously claimed he's the best hooper in the rap game.

By the way, this wasn't a one time deal at Rucker -- we're told Durk is planning to enter a team into one of the leagues this summer.

Magic Johnson's son is getting serious praise from a former NFL lineman ... who says E.J.'s dramatic 100+ pound weight loss is an "inspiration" for people looking to turn their lives around.

We spoke with former Pro Bowl center Nick Hardwick ... who dropped 85 pounds in 4 months after he retired in 2014 ... and he says he knows exactly what E.J. had to go through.

"It's hard work," Hardwick says ... "For E.J. to drop more than 100 pounds is significant. He is an inspiration for folks who want to get smaller and healthier and live longer."

Hardwick says he hopes the two could even team up to educate other people about how to shed the weight ... and more importantly, how to keep it off and stay healthy in the long run.

Might be a hot new couple in Hollywood ... 'cause last night Lakers stud Jordan Clarkson hit the clubs with Victoria's Secret model Chanel Iman -- and TMZ Sports has a shot of the two of them holding hands on the way out!

The 22-year-old NBA rising star was leaving DBA nightclub holding hands with the supermodel ... who has been featured in everything from Sports Illustrated to Vogue.

No word on how serious they are ... or if they're even an official couple ... but our sources who were there say last night, it sure seemed like there was some chemistry between the two.

BTW, this wouldn't be Chanel's first celebrity relationship -- she was engaged to rapper ASAP Rocky ... but they broke things off back in 2014.

He already conquered Vegas ... and this weekend Floyd Mayweather has his sights set on the L.A. party scene ... turning up with huge stars in Hollywood for his official victory party ... TMZ Sports has the pics.

Floyd hit club Lure in Tinseltown Friday night and got it crackin' with stars like Bow Wow, Keyshia Cole and Justin Combs with DJ Dirty Draws and Branden King controlling the party.

We're told Floyd wasn't nearly as low key as the last time he was out at Lure ... and turned up the whole night with his gal pal Bad Medina.

He's straight outta Compton but Ice Cube is only supporting ONE team from his hometown ... the Lakers -- and taking a shot at the Clippers in the process.

Despite the fact the Clippers are about to play in a Game 7 ... and the Lakers are sitting at home ... Cube told TMZ Sports "There's only one team in L.A."

Then, for good measure, Ice throws even more shade at Lob City ... making fun of the team name.

UFC stud Anthony "Rumble" Johnson says he was "disappointed" when Jon Jones got himself axed from their scheduled fight ... but says he wants the first crack at JJ when he's finally reinstated.

Of course, Jones was yanked from UFC 187 and suspended indefinitely in the wake of his felony hit and run arrest in New Mexico. Rumble will fight Daniel Cormier in his place on May 23rd.

So, how does Rumble feel about the situation? "I'm excited ... I still get to fight somebody and I'm still getting paid."

As for Jones, Rumble says he fully expects Jones to return to the UFC -- and wants to be his FIRST OPPONENT when Dana White gives JJ the green light to get back into the octagon.

Johnson says he expects Jones to be bigger, faster, stronger and better than ever when he comes back -- "He'll definitely be motivated to come back and try and destroy everybody."

Vernon Davis isn't the only NFL star with acting chops -- former Arizona Cardinals safety Kerry Rhodes has been bitten by the acting bug as well ... and he has sights set on LL Cool J's job.

Rhodes recently starred in a short film called "Protocol" where he plays a SWAT team member who rescues a young girl taken hostage by an escaped criminal.

Elliot Feld, the writer/director of the film, tells TMZ Sports that Rhodes approached him looking to make a short. Field says Rhodes was really into the idea of playing an action hero so Felds got the idea from a former SWAT team member ... and a few days later, they started shooting.

Feld says Rhodes was the consummate professional and they were done in three weeks time.

For his part, Rhodes tells TMZ Sports, "I had to channel my inner LL cool J, and now I am coming for his role on 'NCIS.'"

So might we see a collaboration with Vernon Davis and his "Captain Torpedo"?

"As far as Vernon Davis, he can play his superhero character in a movie and I will play the villain." Rhodes says. "But at the end, I will be the one who won."

Paris Jackson's coffee run with her BF is stirring some buzz she might be engaged -- but a closer look has us thinking ... it's not all that serious yet.

17-year-old Paris and Chet Castellaw -- an 18-year-old soccer player for Real So Cal -- hit up a coffee shop in Calabasas on Saturday, and when they walked out photogs were laser focused on the ring finger of her left hand.

Yes, Paris and Chet have been posting a bunch of cute coupley pics on social media -- and, YES ... she is sporting a ring where engagement jewelry traditionally goes.

Now, the reality check -- we're not seeing any diamonds, and if you were proposing to Michael Jackson's daughter ... you'd deliver a little ice. No?

Javaris Crittenton is dead to Gilbert Arenas.

Agent Zero was out in L.A. last night ... when we asked if he would ever consider visiting his x-NBA teammate in prison, where he'll be spend the next 23 years for killing a woman in 2011.

FYI -- the two made headlines together back in 2009 ... when they pulled guns on each other in the Washington Wizards locker room.

But Arenas tells TMZ Sports he's erased Javaris from his memory -- saying there's no chance he'll visit the guy because ... "Why would I need to be reminded of prison for? I've seen 'Locked Up,' it's not a nice place."

We also asked Arenas about his fireworks arrest in 2013 -- and if he still plans to light up the sky on July 4th, 2015 ... despite the fact he's on probation.

Mitt Romney and Evander Holyfield squared off in a boxing ring Friday night, and guess who went down? HINT -- it' wasn't Mitt.

The video is awesome. The former Presidential candidate and the 5-time world champ went toe-to-toe for 2, fun-filled rounds in Salt Lake City as a big crowd cheered and jeered. And what a shock when someone threw in the towel.

Mitt entered the arena to Gloria Gaynor's, "I Will Survive."

Proceeds from the fight went to a charity to cure blindness.

ATL Hawks forward Thabo Sefalosha hasn't been able to attend a SINGLE playoff game due to the injuries he suffered during an altercation with the NYPD and he's "devastated" ... sources tell TMZ Sports.

As we previously reported, Sefalosha claims he broke his right fibula and sustained ligament damage as cops tried to take him into custody following a stabbing outside of a nightclub last month.

Thabo underwent surgery ... and sources tell us he's basically been relegated to his home to rest and recover ever since .... while his teammates have been tearing it up in the NBA playoffs.

"It's killing him that he's not in the playoffs," one source close to Thabo tells us ... "He'd much rather be competing with his team."

Meantime, Sefalosha is still facing criminal charges from the night of the arrest -- obstruction of a police officer and disorderly conduct -- though we're told he's still fighting the case ... and expects to be vindicated.

Looks like the season has begun for the Washington Redskins cheerleaders ... bikini season!

The toned and tanned "First Ladies" squad are invading Mexico to shoot their 2015-16 calendar ... giving football fans a reason to enjoy the pigskin free summer just a little bit more.

Check out the pics ... even Cowboys fans gotta appreciate this.

B.B. King might be gone, but the Memphis Grizzlies are making sure he's not forgotten ... taking time out to remember the music titan before tonight's HUGE playoff game ... TMZ Sports has learned.

We spoke to the Grizzlies reps who tell us ... before the team takes on Golden State in Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals tonight ... they'll honor the hometown hero who passed Thursday at age 89.

The team didn't wanna give away too many specifics about how they're planning to honor King -- but are hoping fans of both basketball and music enjoy the huge surprise they have in store.

R.I.P. B.B.

Former UFC fighter Corey Hill passed away Friday ... after he was hospitalized for a devastating illness, his wife tells TMZ Sports.

Hill had been sick for days ... and family members and close friends were told he passed away on Thursday.

But Lauran Hill says he was still battling ... until Friday afternoon, when he was pronounced dead.

"Corey was a loving husband and devoted father," Hill says ... "He was such a strong role model for our children, and would do anything to keep them safe and happy and healthy."

"[He was] a fighter til the end."

Hill was 36.

Corey made his UFC debut in 2008 after appearing on "The Ultimate Fighter 5" ... and was most notably remembered for snapping his right leg in a gruesome injury suffered during a televised fight.

A really bad May just got worse for Manny Pacquiao ... 'cause the president of his beloved Philippines is telling Pacman he needs to RETIRE ... before he gets SERIOUSLY hurt.

Benigno Aquino III, the top man in Manila, reportedly made the statements to Bombo Radyo in the Philippines ... saying he thinks it's time for the 36-year-old Pacquiao to think of his long term health over ring glory.

According to Filipino reports (translated from Tagalog) ... the Prez didn't stop there, going on to say that Manny need look no further than Muhammad Ali -- who fought until age 39 -- for an example of a fighter who held on too long ... and paid the price for it.

“One of the most tragic examples, perhaps, was when I saw (Ali) lighting the Olympic torch with his hand shaking.”

Aquino also said that the Filipino fans -- who worship Pacman -- should be understanding of the fact that the magic can't last forever ... and allow the superstar to retire in peace.

“If we will push him (and say) that ‘No, there should be a rematch, you have to take a gamble again', I think we will not be showing debt of gratitude to the person.”

It's death for Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev ... a jury has ruled.

The convicted murderer/terrorist/scumbag appeared in a Boston courthouse ... where the sentence was read in front of several survivors.

According to witnesses inside the courtroom, Tsarnaev showed no emotion as the sentence was read.

The judge has thanked the jurors for their service.

Dzhokhar and his brother were responsible for the blast on April 15th 2013 ... which killed 3 people and injured several others. A police officer was killed in the hunt for Tsarnaev following the explosion.