TMZ Sports - Page 50

Ray Rice is no longer just insisting he's a changed man -- he also understands why the images of him knocking out his wife ... are all some people will ever think of when they see him, on or off a football field.

Rice spoke to ESPN's "Outside the Lines" -- about his attempts to make a comeback in the NFL, and in life. Rice said, "Over time I want to be able to rewrite the script to tell my daughter ... 'Y'know, Daddy made the worst decision of his life, but this is what I did going forward."

He also said he understands how serious domestic violence issues are now, and assured victims he'll never take that for granted.

Rice added, "If you have never seen what domestic violence looks like, and you look at my video I can understand why some people will never forgive me."

Nike is unsure if it's gonna just do it with James Harden -- TMZ Sports has learned the Swoosh isn't jumping to top his $200 million Adidas offer.

We spoke with some Nike honchos who told us they held a war room style gathering in the wake of Adidas trying to nab last year's MVP runner-up, and former Nike client. We're told they were unable to reach any consensus about a counter offer amount, or if they even want to make a counter.

As one source put it, "Signing James is Nike's top priority, but we do have other athletes as well that we're looking to sign."

Translation: We're not sure we want to break the bank for just one guy. Nike has one week to counter, and we're told it will use all of that time, if necessary.

DeMarcus Cousins and Kings coach George Karl HATE each other on a Drake-Meek Mill level ... well, at least they did until today ... when both men posed looking like longtime homies.

The beef ran deep. Earlier in the summer ... after word leaked Karl wanted to trade his star center ... Boogie (very creatively), using 3 emojis, called his coach a snake in the grass on Twitter.

So, game over. Relationship over, right? Nope. Shout out to our friends at BSO for finding this gem -- the 2 thought-to-be mortal enemies ... smiling with arms wrapped around each other for an Instagram pic.

That sound you hear is a DEEP sigh of relief from Kings fans and front office staffers.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. is officially confirming what TMZ Sports first told you -- he's giving Andre Berto a shot at the title next month.

Floyd just posted a promotional poster for the Sept. 12th Las Vegas bout on his Instagram.

We broke the story more than 2 weeks ago ... when the deal was actually inked.

As usual, the 48-0 Floyd is feeling confident. He boasted on his IG post, "September 12, 2015 for number 49. Come be part of the history."

Of course, Berto's no slouch at 33-3. Place your wagers.

NFL star Jadeveon Clowney's father got busted for attempted murder following a wild west style shooting outside a South Carolina strip club.

Wichita Police handled the tragic death of 9-year-old bat boy Kaiser Carlile the same way they would any death of unnatural causes -- by launching a homicide investigation ... TMZ Sports has learned.

As we previously reported ... Kaiser died from a head injury when an unnamed player for the Liberal Bee Jays accidentally hit him in the head with his bat ... while taking warm up swings.

Wichita PD Lieutenant Ojile says although they strongly believed this was a freak accident ... they conducted a thorough investigation ... reviewing video of the incident and interviewing all players and witnesses at the park.

Aaron Hernandez hasn't even wifed up his fiancee yet, but she's already said "I do" to changing her last name.

Shayanna Jenkins just doubled down with Aaron -- who's in prison for life -- by taking his last name. The change was approved by a judge in Rhode Island.

The judge said Jenkins-Hernandez requested the change, so she could have the same last name as Avielle, the 2-year-old daughter she had with Aaron.

Jose Canseco's gonna be a daddy again -- if he can just sort out some fertility issues that might be tied to his past steroid use ... according to his wife, Leila Knight.

Leila was leaving Katsuya in Hollywood and decided to break the news -- she and Jose are trying to get knocked up ... with TWINS! Leila says they're going through in vitro right now, and they're even removing those pesky 'Y' chromosomes to ensure they get girls, 'cause she doesn't want carbon copies of Jose and his twin bro. Her words, not ours.

But she admits there's some stuff Jose has "to get off of and get on" before they get the job done. And don't miss her jab at Jose's age at the end!

Formula 1 superstar Lewis Hamilton's fast, but maybe not fast enough for the likes of Rihanna -- after he hitched up to her rear at a Barbados street festival.

RiRi seemed like she wasn't even giving shirtless Hamilton the time of day ... even though his crotch was glued to her ass during Monday's Kadooment Day parade.

Still, you gotta figure Hamilton -- who's got a great track record with Kendall Jenner and Nicole Scherzinger -- has a decent shot with the singer.

Like a true pro though, Hamilton had plenty of other options close at, uh ... hand.

Finally some good news for Meek Mill ... Drake isn't trolling him with that new NFL-style championship ring he's rocking ... or at least that wasn't the original plan.

You know what they say about the family that wears stupid expensive jewelry together -- one of them is probably in the NFL ... like Chargers star Melvin Ingram.

The linebacker now has his fam dripping in more than $165k worth of bling ... which he just hooked 'em up with after a run to Avianne Jewelers in NYC.

Owner Joe Avianne tells us Melvin "went crazy" ... buying 25 diamond chains (1.5 karats each) for his relatives -- yes, cousins too. They all got "YPC' pendants for helping him launch a new YPC (Young Paper Chasers) clothing line.

But of course a guy's gotta treat himself too -- Melvin copped a Presidential Rolex, plus a 45 karat gold chain with 7.5 karat diamond charm.

Melvin's about to have a bunch of "new" kin come out of the woodwork.

Ohio State University quarterback-turned-wide receiver Braxton Miller doesn't seem to be having much trouble with the position change ... based on the crazy one-handed snags he appeared to make.

Miller hit the gridiron with teammate Chase Fields, and was shagging punts one handed -- not that big a deal. Except, as our friends at BSO pointed out -- he was also holding 5 BALLS in his other hand! Pretty impressive.

Every man has his limits though. Check out the clip to see Braxton's ...

It didn't take Luke Walton long to win his 2nd championship of the summer -- this time in beach volleyball ... and his teammates included Richard Jefferson and Matt Leinart.

The former NFL and NBA players were part of Team Fletch ... which won the coveted Six Man title in Manhattan Beach, CA this weekend. Two awesome things about the victory: First, the former pro athletes mostly rode the bench. Beach volleyball is serious biz in MB!

Secondly, Walton -- now an assistant coach with the NBA champ Golden State Warriors -- had to sport the rival Lakers gear, since that's also Team Fletch's uni.

Doesn't look like the Warriors minded the unintentional diss, since the team shouted out Walton's victory on social media.

Quick title count:
- Walton -- 3 NBA (2 as a player, 1 as asst. coach), 1 Six Man
- Leinart -- 2 1 NCAA, 1 Six Man
- Jefferson -- 1 Six Man

Ronda Rousey would not be denied in the Octagon AND in the kitchen -- where a chef whipped up her famous celebratory meal ... even though she was behind enemy lines!

As we all know by now, Ronda celebrates each victory with wings -- but considering Brazil is hardly known as a chicken wing central ... you had to wonder if she could keep that up this weekend.

Well, TMZ Sports has learned RR did manage to toast her whupping of native Brazilian Bethe Correia with a plate full of buffalo wings, and a side of blue cheese dressing! Ronda's camp confirms a private chef at her hotel in Rio made the meal for her specially.

Yes, the wings took longer to eat than the fight -- they always do, these days.

Chad Johnson's daughter Cha'iel continues to make a mockery of the youth track & field world ... 'cause she just blew through everyone at the 800m Jr Olympic final.

Cha'iel just won gold at the Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships in Jacksonville posting a final time 2:27.13 ... almost a full three seconds faster than the lil tykes looking at her back.

Check out the vid ... and remember, kids ... by just participating you're a super special winner.

Cha'iel just gets to keep the medals.

Indiana Pacer Jordan Hill had the nerve to ask cops if they HAD to arrest him ... after they busted him doing 107 mph -- and the exchange was all caught on dash cam video.

TMZ Sports got the full video, including the audio, which reveals Hill's hysterical attempt to get some leniency. As we previously reported, he got arrested last week in Georgia, and after cops pulled him out of his Range Rover -- shirtless, for some reason -- he tried to turn on the charm.

Watch the clip -- the police officer said, "What's your story, man? Just driving like an idiot?" Hill actually mutters an excuse which clearly did NOT sway the officer ... who quickly put him in cuffs.