TMZ Sports - Page 50

LaVar Ball's mouth might've finally written a check his ass can't cash, because Shaq has accepted the Big Ballers' challenge, and he's putting his dome on the line for victory.

This all got started when we got Shareef O'Neal out at LAX and asked him if he thought he could beat LaMelo Ball in a 1-on-1 battle. He said "Yes," and his father, the Big Diesel, agreed.

The news made it back to LaVar ... and of course he didn't back down, offering to end the speculation with a 2-on-2 game, Shaq and Shareef, vs. LaVar and LaMelo.

Well, Shaq -- wearing a hilarious white wig -- made a video message to respond to LaVar, and he's in ... saying if his fam loses, he'll glue the white wig to his head for good.

Challenge accepted. Is the T-Mobile Arena available?!

Ex-con Jeremy Meeks isn't just a model ... he's a role model for the likes of O.J. Simpson ... or at least he thinks he can be.

Jeremy and his heiress gf, Chloe Green, drew a crowd Sunday night outside Madeo in WeHo -- and since he's flourishing in post-lockup life, we asked if he had any advice for Simpson ... who could be a free man again within months.

Seeing as how Meeks has been traveling the world, and living it up in Hollywood with the woman who stands to inherit the Topshop fortune, our advice to O.J. is ... listen to this guy.

If he can't avenge his (BS) loss to Jeff Horn, Manny Pacquiao needs to retire IMMEDIATELY ... and that's not us saying it, it's his hall of fame trainer Freddy Roach who says Pacman "got old overnight."

We got Freddie leaving Craig's and asked him the big question everyone wants to know after Manny's shocking loss to Horn earlier this month ... a fight most viewers felt was a bogus decision.

What now?

According to Roach ... Pacman only has two options -- avenge the loss, or hang up the gloves.

"Fight a rematch with Horn, otherwise retire. Fighters get old overnight, he did okay in the fight, but just okay, and just okay isn't good enough."

51-year-old Michael Irvin says he's itchin' for a fight -- a real MMA match -- telling TMZ Sports, "I would whoop somebody up!"

Odell Beckham Jr. is going to training camp soon, and it looks like he's getting a head start by treading water with some very hot weight bogging him down.

The New York Giants wide receiver hit the beach in Cancun, Mexico Saturday with girlfriend Polyxeni Ferfeli. They've been dating since April and possibly longer ... they've kind of kept it on the down low.

Odell's entering his 4th season with the team ... so it stands to reason he gets a big hug for good luck!

Krislian Rodriguez got booted off last season of "America's Next Top Model" for "oozing sex" a little too much ... but that feature works just fine at the beach.

The model and former 'ANTM' contestant -- who once dated Calvin Harris -- flew solo to the Santa Monica beach this week to get some sun, splash around, and rinse the sand off afterward ... all in a smoking hot bikini.

As we reported, Rita Ora slammed Krislian for oozing sex on 'ANTM' ... and the model thinks Ora 86'd her out of spite because they both banged Harris back in the day.

That's all irrelevant to these beach pics, though ... so just enjoy 'em.

Broncos receiver Cody Latimer was pepper sprayed by a bouncer during a fight outside an Ohio strip club ... and TMZ Sports has the insane footage.

We're told 24-year-old Latimer was trying to get into Diamonds Cabaret strip club near Dayton at the end of February with his uncle and a friend ... but got into a disagreement with the bouncer about the dress code.

We're told the group asked to speak to the manager and then moved outside. That's where the video starts.

In the footage, you see Latimer with his arms out between his group and the bouncer. Things escalate when Latimer slaps the bouncer, who then sprays C.L. with pepper spray. Latimer's uncle then lunges at the bouncer and is knocked out.

We're told Latimer's group left immediately after the fight and cops were never called to the scene. Law enforcement sources tell us there's no pending criminal investigation.

Greg Oden is finding out that college life ain't easy at age 29 -- but he's soldiering through like a boss!

We got the 2007 #1 overall NBA draft pick leaving lunch at L.A. Live ... and asked what it's like being back at Ohio State -- strictly as a student this time around.

"Still tough," he told TMZ Sports.

And the homework?

"It's homework. It sucks."

Oden -- who's taking sports industry classes -- has previously said that he's accepted his basketball career is over so he's returning to school to set up a better life for himself and his family.

Here's "Game of Thrones" star Alfie Allen -- aka Theon Greyjoy -- rockin' a NY Jets hat in L.A. this week.

When pressed about his favorite player on the Jets, Allen didn't know a damn thing about the NFL team and instead jokingly named soccer legend Thierry Henry.

There's only one explanation -- George R.R. Martin, the mad genius behind 'GOT.'

Martin's a huuuuge NY Jets fan -- die-hard -- and often blogs about how his team drives him absolutely crazy.

So, here's the theory: Allen's going Green to kiss Martin's ass so he won't kill off his character ... because as EVERYONE knows -- no one is safe on that show.

Venus Williams couldn't bring home another Wimbledon title ... but she drew a star-studded crowd to watch her go down to Spain's Margine Guburuza.

Celebrities like Woody Harrelson, Stanley Tucci, Hilary Swank, Bradley Cooper, Jude Law, Pippa Middleton and many more took in the tennis action on the grass Saturday ... and looked like they were really into it.

Shaq says his boy has it right (it's okay for him to say it, Conor) ... telling TMZ Sports his son Shareef's claim that he'd beat LaMelo Ball in hoops is 100% accurate.

Reef talked his ish to us when we got him at LAX, telling our camera guy he likes 'Melo as a person, but when it comes down to the hardwood, he'd best the Ball brother.

We talked to Papa O'Neal out in NYC, and he told us not only does he agree with his progeny, he's proud the kid has the attitude to go along with his game.

"When you're a young up and coming player you're supposed to say you're the the greatest in the world. Is he better? Yeah, I think he's better."

So far LaVar's been quiet on the whole thing ... but we doubt that's gonna last long.

Listen up Ice Cube, one of the greatest athletes of all time is about to ask you for a gig ... Terrell Owens, who is publicly asking Cube for a shot at hoops glory in the BIG3 league.

It's no secret Owens is a baller, his exploits in different leagues and charity games are well documented on Youtube, but when we talked to him, he told us he wants to try it on the pro level.

"I tried to get into that league. I gotta get Ice Cube's number to get my name in the hat to get on one of those teams."

The rub? The BIG3 league has been billed as primarily for ex-NBA and other professional BASKETBALL players to try their hand at. T.O. of course starred in the NFL.

That didn't stop him from making an impassioned plea to try his hand alongside Allen Iverson, Rashad McCants, Rashard Lewis and Kwame Brown, and it's clear he's 100% serious.

Washington Wizards player Kelly Oubre, Jr. ain't throwin' any punches, but he's still going for a knockout ... getting a custom-made, 14k white gold grill with his "K.O." initials on it!!

TMZ Sports has learned ... KOJ decided to treat himself to the white and purple VS+ diamond piece ... and hit up jeweler IF & Co. about a month ago for the job.

We're told Oubre dropped $12,000 for the finished product ... which is pretty tame compared to what other athletes have paid for their blinged-out mouth pieces in the past.

Regardless, the grill looks fresh as hell.

Ryan Lochte has been cleared of all charges in connection with his Rio hijinks.

An appeals court has thrown out the criminal charge filed against Lochte for allegedly lying to authorities when he told them he was robbed at gunpoint. Lochte was charged with false communication of a crime.

The judges ruled Lochte did not go to cops and report the incident ... they came to him after hearing stories in the media. So he never set out to create a lie, and that was the turning point in the case.

As you know, Lochte told NBC he and 3 other members of the U.S. swim team were stopped by men he thought were impersonating police officers. Surveillance video later showed the real story was Lochte and co. were stopped by owners of the gas station they'd vandalized.

An LGBT group is firing back at Floyd Mayweather for using a homophobic slur at Friday's press conference in London ... saying his reason behind using the word is complete B.S.

Floyd ripped into Conor McGregor at the final stop on the superfight's world tour ... calling him a string of names, including a gay slur.

Hudson Taylor, executive director of Athlete Ally -- an org. that promotes LGBT acceptance in sports -- took notice and denounced Floyd's actions, telling TMZ Sports: "Athlete Ally strongly condemns the homophobic slur used by Floyd Mayweather."

"The response given by Mayweather's representative is equally troubling. If Mayweather truly has the utmost respect for the LGBT community, he wouldn't resort to using slurs that perpetuate anti-LGBT stigma and hate."

Taylor goes on to address McGregor's alleged involvement, saying, "Resorting to homophobic and racial epithets is shameful no matter how or why one uses them."

Venus Williams' phone records could be crucial in the wrongful death lawsuit filed against her ... or attorneys for the man who died in the accident think so, anyway.

According to docs, attorneys for Jerome Barson's estate have filed a request for documents from the tennis star. They want all bills for the month of the accident for any smartphones and devices Venus owns.

Sources connected to the case tell us Barson's team wants to make sure Venus was not talking, texting or using her phone in any way in the moments leading up to the June 9 accident win Palm Beach Gardens, FL.

In the surveillance video ... you can see Venus' left elbow resting on the door through an open window -- we've slowed it down, but it's still not clear if she's holding a phone.

The estate's attorney, Michael Steinger, is also requesting prescriptions for any medications Venus may have taken within 72 hours of the accident.