TMZ Sports - Page 50

What did Tua Tagovailoa's championship game heroics mean to the people of Hawaii?

UFC champ Max Holloway -- one of Hawaii's biggest sports stars -- told us it was "HUGE" ... and says the 'Bama QB should expect the VIP treatment when he comes home.

"Hawaii has a lot of pride," Max told TMZ Sports. "A parade is probably gonna happen down here and it’s gonna be insane."

But Max says the best is yet to come for Tua -- and even compared him to an NFL legend!

Speaking of 'Bama heroes, we also talked to Eryk Anders -- a linebacker-turned-UFC fighter who sealed the 2009 title game for the Tide -- and he couldn't say enough good things about Nick Saban AND Kirby Smart!!

One of baseball's most dangerous power hitters ain't done swinging for the fences just yet ... 'cause 38-year-old Ryan Howard tells TMZ Sports he's gunning to return to the MLB this season!!

We spoke with the 2006 National League MVP about his future in baseball ... and the 3-time All-Star makes it very clear he's not ready to walk away just yet.

"I'm still active, so we'll see what happens. Right now, we're kinda in the belly of the beast," Howard says.

Howard blew up early in his career ... leading the league in homers 2 different seasons. He spent most of last season bouncing around the minor leagues, but wants to put any retirement talk to rest:

The Ball bros (mostly LaMelo) had some sick hoops to kick off their pro careers in Lithuania ... but there was some ugliness, too -- and we cut up the video for all you Ball fans/haters out there.

Young Melo probably had the plays of the game -- a dope, no-look dish on a fast break and a Kobe-esque up-and-under reverse (see that, Lakers??). But LM also got sloppy with the rock and missed all his 3-balls.

LiAngelo got the start and looked sluggish out the gates ... but recovered to outscore his little bro, 19 to 10.

Of course, LaVar was watching in the stands -- and lost his mind whenever anything good happened.

Oh, and over 100,000 FANS tuned in. BBB's clearly doing something right.

Dallas Cowboys WR Cole Beasley ... can rap.

The 28-year-old slot receiver just dropped the first single from his new album. It's called "80 Stings" and Cole hits on everything from Dak Prescott's throwing ability to his professional relationship with Jerry Jones.

He also addresses the fact he's a white rapper -- and how nobody expected him to have real rap skills.

"Who knew, huh? White dude rappin' too tough."

Spoiler: He's pretty good.

Beasley is dead serious about hip-hop and even started his own record company, ColdNation Records, to put his music out.

Some of the lyrics from the track ...

"Can’t snap a necklace up off me, cuz I don’t have one. Spent that on college funds for both my sons ... but that’s 4 accounts I’m accounting for. Another 2 that’s yet to come, yes I have enough."

Tom Brady says he "loved" Jimmy Garoppolo -- and absolutely did NOT strongarm the Patriots into trading him to the 49ers because he felt Jimmy was a threat.

TB12 went off about the allegations during an interview with WEEI's "Kirk & Callahan" -- essentially calling BS on the ESPN article that described a major rift in the Patriots organization.

When asked specifically if his fitness guru/business associate, Alex Guerrero, refused to treat Garoppolo and even locked him out of Brady's training facility, Tom responded, "It is so far from the truth that I know."

He also shot down several other points from the article -- including having a fractured relationship with Bill Belichick and being pissed over not winning a team award.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr says it's a damn shame LaVar Ball has gotten as big as the Kardashians ... and he's taking aim at everyone who's let that happen.

"Somewhere, I guess in Lithuania, LaVar Ball is laughing at all of us," Kerr told reporters before the Warriors game on Monday.

"People are eating out of his hands for no apparent reason, other than he's become like the Kardashian of the NBA or something."

Steve added that everything LaVar spouts -- including saying the Lakers don't wanna play for his former assistant, Luke Walton -- is "complete nonsense" ... and ain't worthy of media coverage.

Guessing LaVar's gonna have something to say about this ... remember, he told TMZ Sports he HATES when the Balls are compared to the Kardashian clan.

'Bama QB Tua Tagovailoa is an overnight celebrity -- and the proof? He's already getting love from one of the hottest singers in the world, 5th Harmony's Dinah Jane.

After his National Championship heroics, Dinah reached out to Tua -- who's Polynesian just like she is -- to tweet some love in the QB's direction.

"Wow!!!! The turnover was crazy to watch 😱😱 had everybody’s jaw dropped! congrats @Tuaamann_ way to come through with the win man !!! Love seeing polys on the rise ✊🏽 leggooo xx"

Not a bad way to start your Tuesday morning!

He's also getting love from stars like UFC champ Max Holloway and ex-'Bama running back Mark Ingram.

Get used to it pal.

Alabama running back Bo Scarbrough is adamant he did NOT fire an F-bomb directed toward President Trump before the college football national championship.

Instead, Scarbrough claims he said, "F**k Georgia."

And if you listen to the video ... sounds like he's telling the truth.

A Sporting News reporter inside the tunnel at Mercerdes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta released the video and claimed Bo said, "F**k Trump."

With Trump in attendance at the game, it made sense.

But Bo claims the reporter simply misheard him -- saying, "If y’all really listen I said Georgia smh about y’all people in this world."

How did Nick Saban celebrate his 6th National Championship? PARTY IN THE BAMA LOCKER ROOM!

The man who launched the legend of Tua Tagovailoa rallied up his team in following the 26-23 victory over Georgia on Monday and led a spirited rendition of the Bama fight song.

It's a pretty awesome sight ... even if Saban's been through it before.

For some reason, Terrell Owens was with the team and soaked up the awesome moments. See -- he finally knows what it's like to be in a winning locker room!

It wasn't just Alabama that came up big Monday night ... Drake won a HUGE bet with rap superstar Quavo -- we're talking STACKS ON STACKS ON STACKS!

Here's the situation ... Drake was at a college football national championship party with 2 Chainz -- but all eyes were on 6God because he made a huge bet with Quavo, who's a big Georgia guy.

When Bama won the game, Drake went nuts -- calling Quavo on the phone to rub it in.

"I need all my chips, Quavo!! I need my chips with the Huncho Jack DIP my boy!"

He threw around stacks of $100 bills to brag. Meanwhile, Quavo was at the game (he was on the sideline!). No word on the exact amount, but let's get serious ... it's more about bragging rights than money -- both these dudes are loaded.

Hollywood can forgive Tonya Harding if they want ... but Johnny Weir says that's NEVER gonna happen with him and the rest of the figure skating community.

We spoke with Weir the day after Harding got a shout-out at the Golden Globes ... and he told us why the inspiration for "I, Tonya" doesn't deserve a pass.

"She did a horrible, horrible thing," Johnny told TMZ Sports. "She's a pariah in our sport and she shouldn't be forgiven for basically, possibly having the opportunity of ruining somebody's life."

Of course, Weir's referring to the 1994 scandal where Harding's ex-husband hired a goon to attack rival Nancy Kerrigan before the Olympics.

Harding was subsequently blacklisted from ice skating -- and Weir says it should stay that way.

On a lighter note, Johnny told us Team USA looks great this year -- and name-dropped the one American skater we all gotta watch at the Games!

Tonya Harding kneecapped Piers Morgan, or at least her interview with him ... abruptly cutting it short when he called her out for acting like she was the victim, and not Nancy Kerrigan.

Tonya was on "Good Morning Britain," and clearly expecting a softball convo about "I, Tonya." But after she gushed, "My movie is going to help so many people" .... Piers had enough, and the trainwreck began.

He very directly stated Nancy was the only one who had a dream, along with her kneecap, shattered -- and it totally caught Tonya off guard.

7:15 PM PT -- Alabama RB Bo Scarbrough definitely wasn't in Trump's corner Monday night. He was heard yelling, "F*** Trump," before kickoff.

President Trump was met with a LOT of noise at the college football National Championship game on Monday ... and from what we heard on the broadcast, it sounded mostly positive. There were some boos, too.

Trump waved to the crowd and had a big smile on his face at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta -- flanked by military personnel. He stayed on the field through the National Anthem.

Remember, both Alabama and Georgia were Trump states in the 2016 election.

One other thing ... Kendrick Lamar is set to perform for the halftime show. It'll be interesting to see if the rapper -- who's a huge Trump critic -- says anything to ruffle feathers.

Wiz Khalifa, T.I. and Josh Smith have some shiny new hardware after an award ceremony where the nominees have way more impact on the public than your average Golden Globe winner.

The rappers and former NBA star attended the Developing Options Awards Banquet ... a Southern California event rolled out by its foundation's CEO, Eugene "Big U" Henley.

Wiz took home the "Epic Man of the Year Award" for his multiple donations -- totaling up to $100k -- to drive the foundation. T.I. scored the "University Iron Man" award for donating to Crenshaw High School's new football field.

Smith got the "Baller-Shot Caller" award for hooking up Snoop Dogg's youth football league and Crenshaw High's football team with new uniforms.

Nipsey Hussle ("Business Cluster Leadership") spearheaded educational classes and, along with rapper Trinidad James ("First Class"), spent thousands of dollars on clothes and shoes to outfit more than 400 inner city kids.

Congrats!!!

The college football National Championship looks Hollywood friendly -- 'cause there's a few celebs at the game ... and we don't just mean Donald Trump and Kendrick Lamar.

Some other big names at the big game in Atlanta include Quavo, Samuel L. Jackson, Ric Flair and Zac Brown -- who sang the national anthem with his band.

A few notable athletes were there Monday night as well -- Terrell Owens, Matt Stafford of the Detroit Lions, Derrick Henry of the Titans and Thomas Davis Sr. of the Panthers ... just to name a few.

LeBron James ain't havin' none of that racist H&M clothing ad featuring a black kid in a sweatshirt that reads, "Coolest Monkey in the Jungle" ... telling the clothing company, "U got us all wrong!"

After stars like Diddy and The Weeknd blasted the company for the insanely racially-insensitive ad -- King James weighed in with the most positive (yet condemning) statement yet.

"@hm u got us all wrong! And we ain't going for it! Straight up!"

"Enough about y'all and more of what I see when I look at this photo. I see a Young King!! The ruler of the world, an untouchable Force that can never be denied!"

"We as African Americans will always have to break barriers, prove people wrong and work even harder to prove we belong but guess what, that's what we love because the benefits at the end of the road are so beautiful!! #LiveLaughLove❤️ #LoveMyPeople"