TMZ Sports - Page 50

The fact that Colin Kaepernick and Bruce Maxwell are dealing with blatant prejudice proves that protesting is the right move -- so says Denver Broncos star Brandon Marshall.

We spoke with Marshall -- one of the NFL's first players to take a knee -- about how Maxwell -- MLB's only player to take a knee -- was allegedly denied service by a pro-Trump waiter ... and Brandon saw a silver lining in the "ridiculous" act.

"It kind of just proves our point," he told TMZ Sports.

"Just like, I heard that Colin, I guess he just got a million-dollar book deal ... there was a lot comments, a lot of hate comments – and they’re just proving our point."

Point being -- "Those things need to be brought to light because prejudice is still (very) much alive in our society."

Sources connected to Wanya tell us he isn't the one who invited O.J. to the shoot -- instead it was a friend of his, who also owns the home where it all went down.

We're told Wanya was at the shoot, briefly, but didn't interact with Simpson.

Forget O.J. Simpson's Heisman pose ... LOOK AT THIS!!!

The Juice was smack in the middle of a double dose of insanely hot chicks Wednesday in Las Vegas. The women were there for a commercial shoot ... the one on the right is Laura Saucedo, and she was so thrilled with the O.J. run-in, she posted pics and video.

We're told the crib used for the commercial is owned by Boyz II Men member Wanya Morris, who invited O.J. over for the day to hang. As for the commercial ... it was for a laser hair removal company -- L.A. Laser Hair Removal LV -- owned by Morris' longtime friend.

Simpson was NOT officially a part of the commercial, but he did get in a couple shots ... unclear if he'll make the final cut.

He's never met a camera he didn't love, though.

The manager of the restaurant where Oakland A's catcher Bruce Maxwell claims he was refused service by a pro-Trump waiter claims the MLB player is lying through his teeth.

Maxwell -- the only MLB player who took a knee during the national anthem this season -- told TMZ Sports he was recognized by a waiter at an Alabama restaurant after the protest ... and the guy refused to serve him.

Maxwell said the server told him he supported Trump, disagreed with the protest, and refused to serve him lunch.

But Anne Whalen -- the manager at Keegan's restaurant in Huntsville, Alabama -- tells TMZ Sports ... the story just ain't true.

Whalen says there was a dispute that day ... but it was over alcohol -- someone in Maxwell's party didn't have ID and the restaurant refused to serve that person beer.

Whalen also told Fox News, "He is outright lying. This is really upsetting as he was given full service."

NBA Commish Adam Silver needs to take David Stern's advice and pull marijuana off the league's banned list -- and then smoke with John Salley immediately ... so says John Salley.

"You’ve been the man so far. Just take it off the list and come blaze witcha boy."

As we previously reported, Stern just came out in a video calling for the rule change -- and Salley couldn't agree more ... especially since he's launching a CBD product of his own called Deuces 22.

"I don’t know too many guys with D-U-highs. It’s a safer, better, cleaner alternative for your health."

But will Silver listen to his old boss?

Salley seems to think so, saying Silver's "all about the flow of what's going on in society" ... like when he gave Donald Sterling the boot and turned up at the Gay Pride Parade.

Jackie Robinson's widow says she doesn't think the MLB legend would have taken a knee and joined in the recent national anthem demonstrations ... but she really can't say for sure.

Rachel Robinson was on her way out of L.A. -- where she was honored by the Dodgers before the World Series -- when she told us she thinks Jackie would have stood ... maybe.

You gotta watch the clip -- Rachel says she honestly doesn't know what Jackie would have done and believes it's not fair to give a definite answer since he's been gone for so long.

O.T. Genasis says he's all for Janet Jackson getting another crack at the Super Bowl ... especially if she busts out a finale like the first time!!

We got O.T. at LAX ... and the rapper told TMZ Sports he wouldn't perform at the big game himself 'cause there's too much BS going on between the NFL and its players right now.

But when it comes to Janet, O.T. says he's hoping for an encore ... 'cause his teenage self was a HUGE fan of her R-rated finish back in 2004.

"That was amazing. That was amazing."

Former WWE superstar Kaitlyn is opening up about her battle with drug and alcohol addiction ... saying she's turned her life around after "wanting to die" at her lowest point.

Kaitlyn -- real name Celeste Bonin -- shared her story on the 1-year anniversary of checking herself in for a drug detox.

"I remember getting out of the hospital feeling like death, with a medical taper plan of meds and thinking, 'What have I done to myself?'"

"I celebrated my 30th birthday 5 days later and I remember wanting to die."

Kaitlyn says a lot of people get hooked on those detox meds ... but she instead turned to alcohol to deal with her depression and anxiety.

The former Divas champ didn't detail exactly how she overcame her addictions -- or the drug(s) she was hooked on -- but says she's been able to rebuild her life in the time since.

Kaitlyn left off with a message for anyone in her shoes -- "Never be too proud to ask for help. Be able to wake up and look at yourself in the mirror."

Here's some great news to brighten your Wednesday morning ... Pittsburgh Steelers receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster is going to be reunited with his missing bicycle!!

The rookie -- who doesn't have a driver's license -- delivered the heartbreaking news Tuesday that his wheels had been jacked overnight ... forcing him to walk to practice.

With the help of teammate Antonio Brown, word spread fast on social media ... kick-starting a campaign to find his bike.

Turns out it was a great idea ... 'cause someone noticed they bought the exact same bike off the street for $200 on Tuesday and turned it in to cops, according to CBS Pittsburgh.

JuJu is set to reunite with his beloved bike later today.

Ex-NBA commissioner David Stern says anti-weed rules in pro sports are antiquated -- and he thinks it's time the NBA and other major leagues give the green light to the green stuff.

"I'm now at the point where, personally, I think [weed] probably should be removed from the ban list," Stern told ex-NBA player Al Harrington during an interview for Uninterrupted.

FYI, Harrington is now a marijuana entrepreneur who's invested more than $3 MILLION in his weed business. Harrington says he started using Rx weed during his playing days and saw real results.

So, he asked Stern how he felt about weed -- and the ex-Commish is VERY open to the idea of finally allowing players to smoke.

"I think we have to change the Collective Bargaining Agreement and let you do what is legal in your state," Stern says.

"If marijuana is now in the process of being legalized, I think you should be allowed to do what's legal in your state."

Stern says back when he was the commish, public perception was that weed is a gateway drug to harder stuff ... but Stern says the perception has changed radically.

Hard to tell who enjoyed Kim Kardashian's birthday party more -- Kim or her kids, since they all let loose in a big way all over Disneyland.

Kim's entourage -- North, Saint, Aunt Kourtney, Larsa Pippen and their kids -- roamed the Anaheim park on Tuesday ... complete with VIP tour guides and bodyguards, of course. The triple digit temps didn't seem to bother the krew.

She's 37 now, but Kim looked more like a carefree 7-year-old while riding Dumbo, the Gadget's GO Coaster and the Monsters Inc. ride.

How do you stay cool when the temp's over 100 degrees? Bikini beach day!!

That's what WWE superstar Lana did while the rest of the city was melting.

Lana was rollin' solo in Santa Monica -- no sign of her husband, Rusev ... but we're not complaining.

The model/reality star/singer -- real name CJ Perry -- is also an actress and appeared as one of the Bellas in "Pitch Perfect" and "Pitch Perfect 2."

Yasiel Puig's 8-month-old boy bleeds Dodger blue (through his dome) just like daddy -- stuntin' with a colored faux hawk for Game 1 of the World Series!

The Dodgers slugger went true blue with his hairdo for the game ... and apparently, so did baby Daniel.

Yasiel and his GF, Andrea de la Torre, documented the process -- and we think the kid might've outdone his pops on cuteness alone.

FYI, L.A. went up 1-0 on the 'Stros on Tuesday ... but Puig went 0 for 3.

Maybe change up the hair again?

Ex-NBA star Ben Gordon was sending threatening videos to people in the days before a violent standoff with a woman in his NY gym ... TMZ Sports has learned.

FYI, Gordon was hospitalized for psychiatric evaluation over the weekend after cops responded to his business, Of Our Own -- a sports rehab and recovery center.

According to the police report, Gordon's girlfriend claimed Ben had locked her in the gym -- and was going berserk with a blade. Cops eventually went inside the gym, found Gordon in the bathroom and took him into custody. He was then transported to a nearby hospital.

But we know Ben's strange behavior has been going on for months -- he sent a video to several people he calls "bitch n*****" ... and dared them to "pull up" at his gym. He claims the men are wrongfully taking credit for launching the Of Our Own gym.

Traffic at Dodger Stadium was terrible last night -- unless you were Lady Gaga, who battled the crowd in her $200k Lamborghini Huracan.

The singer showed up to Game 1 of the World Series in the same whip she took to the Super Bowl in Houston ... a whip that goes from 0 to 60 in 2.5 seconds. Not bad.

Gaga didn't talk much -- but she was cool with fans, posing for pics on the way in.

After the game, Gaga wasn't in the mood to fight the even crazier traffic out of the stadium -- and got in the back of a waiting SUV. Can't blame her.

UFC champ Michael Bisping is being sued for allegedly choking a man at a 24 Hour Fitness gym in Anaheim back in July ... TMZ Sports has learned.

According to the suit, Bisping went crazy on Antonio Georgakopoulos for "taking his weights" without asking during a workout.

Antonio claims Bisping called him all sorts of names including a "little punk" and an "idiot."

After the verbal tirade, Antonio claims Bisping grabbed him by the throat and began to squeeze -- cutting off oxygen. Antonio claims he was about to lose consciousness when another weight lifter intervened and broke it up.

At that point, Bisping allegedly screamed out, "Let's take this outside."

Antonio claims the Anaheim PD was called to the gym and Bisping was arrested for assault and battery.

But we spoke with the APD -- and we were told Bisping was NOT arrested.

We're told cops took a report and kicked the case over to the City Attorney's Office -- which ultimately determined there was NOT enough evidence to proceed with criminal charges against the UFC star.

We're told Bisping complied with the investigation.

Still, Antonio says he's had to see doctors for his injuries and now suffers from nightmares and anxiety as a result of the alleged attack.

He's suing for assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress and more.

Floyd Mayweather "obviously" threw several rounds during the Conor McGregor fight in a "marvelous scam" to set up a rematch ... so says Hall of Fame boxing commentator Jim Lampley.

Lampley -- who's been covering the sport for 3 decades -- UNLEASHES on Mayweather as a scam artist whose essentially praying on "suckers."

But the biggest allegation ... Lampley tells TMZ Sports he's CONVINCED Mayweather intentionally tanked at least 3 rounds in the Conor fight and then carried McGregor to the 10th for show.

And anyone who thinks Mayweather is REALLY going to retire after pulling off that stunt is dead wrong.

"Why should he retire? He created a marvelous scam with this whole thing," Lampley said.

"He allowed Conor to quote 'win' 3 rounds so that the whole global MMA wish community could have something to latch on to. I think there's a decent chance there's enough suckers out there Floyd could maybe make another $150 million, why not?"

"It's all a set up."