Baseball

NBA star Manu Ginobili says there are lots of reasons he's still ballin' in his 40s ... but the BIG one is something he shares with Tom Brady -- the ol' ball and chain!

We got Manu out in D.C. ... and asked if his wifey, Marianela, has his back like Gisele does Brady. FYI, Gisele recently revealed she's A-OK with Tom playing football for as long as he wants ... as long as it makes him happy.

Turns out, Mrs. Ginobili doesn't just sign off on her man logging more game-time -- she's what's kept him sharp through his 16 YEARS on the Spurs.

"She's always very helpful and extended my career," Ginobili told TMZ Sports in D.C.

Sorry, Gisele -- Marianela's overtaken you in our WAGs rankings (yeah, we do that).

Dennis Scott ain't gonna let his love for BBB change his mind on LiAngelo Ball's NBA chances ... telling TMZ Sports not even the worst teams in the league would be interested in signing him.

We spoke with D.S. -- the 4th overall pick to the Magic in 1990 -- about Gelo, and he says the middle Ball son isn't even a top 100 talent ... which is a problem, considering only 60 dudes will get their names called in June.

Scott says scouts know Gelo is playing against "C-level talent" in Lithuania, so his 72-point game didn't really impress him that much.

Former NBA point guard Sebastian Telfair has been ordered to stay away from his estranged wife for 3 YEARS ... after an alleged violent incident earlier this year.

In court docs obtained by TMZ Sports, Telfair is ordered to have absolutely no contact with his wife, Samantha -- that means no phone calls, texts, or emails.

Samantha claimed Sebastian showed up to her home in Irvine, CA on January 12 and went nuclear on the doorbell when he realized she wasn't home.

She claims Sebastian started kicking the front door ... before eventually smashing her car windshield.

After the incident, the court granted Samantha a temporary restraining order ... but her lawyers asked the court for something more permanent.

A judge in L.A. County granted that request earlier this week ... and now Telfair must steer clear of Samantha.

Imagine having a fantasy baseball draft party with all your bros ... and then the pizza delivery guy turns out to be a World Series champ!!

That's exactly what happened when Chicago Cubs superstar Kris Bryant surprised 3 different groups of guys the other day, going undercover as the owner and operator of Kristio's Pizza & Wings!!

FYI -- this is the 3rd year Kris has teamed up with Red Bull to prank unsuspecting fans. This time around, Kris talked himself up as each group held their draft, waiting for his name to be called.

Albert Belle exposed himself to 2 minors and 2 adults before getting arrested on Saturday in Arizona, according to cops ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Belle, 51, was arrested after cops got a call around 9:20 PM reporting a man had exposed himself to a group of people at the Phoenix Rising Soccer Club stadium -- where a game had been played.

It's unclear if the alleged incident occurred inside or outside the stadium.

When cops arrived, they say they located Belle in a vehicle ... attempting to leave the soccer stadium parking lot.

After investigating, Salt River PD determined there was enough probable cause to arrest Belle -- and another adult male.

Belle's charges include 3 counts of indecent exposure and DUI.

Ex-Cleveland Indians star Albert Belle was arrested for indecent exposure and DUI in Arizona on Saturday.

Belle -- a 5-time All-Star during his 12-year MLB career -- was arrested in Scottsdale and booked into Maricopa County Jail.

The ex-slugger was arrested for 2 counts of indecent exposure and 2 DUI counts.

The 51-year-old is listed as 6'2", 270 lbs in the jail database.

This isn't the first time Belle -- who was one of the most feared hitters in the game -- has been in trouble with the law.

He spent time in jail back in '06 after pleading guilty to stalking his ex-girlfriend.

Was Donald Trump REALLY a baller athlete growing up ... or was it all just a bunch of fake news??

TMZ Sports spoke with Donald's younger bro, Robert, about POTUS' skills on the field ... and he admits that while he's a good athlete himself, Donald's got him beat.

FYI -- Trump has boasted about his athletic career in the past, claiming to have been the best high school baseball player in the state of New York back in the day. His football teammates have also raved about his talent on the field.

Robert backs it all up ... saying Donald is "a great sportsman" and while they never went head-to-head on the field, it was fun to ball out together growing up.

Real-life MLB studs are bringing Smalls, Benny the Jet and all the 'Sandlot' stars back to life ... and it's freakin' AMAZING.

FYI, the classic baseball flick -- set in the 1960's -- is approaching its 25th anniversary ... so, the Milwaukee Brewers took a few hours outta Spring Training to reenact their favorite scene.

All the guys were pretty great -- but ya gotta give it up to whoever was in charge of casting.

Stephen Vogt (Ham), Eric Sogard (Squints) and Brett Phillips (Smalls) REALLY look like the kids grown up ... and the Brew Crew also nailed it with their version of "The Beast."

Not all the actual 'Sandlot' stars are doing so hot, but maybe this video will remind 'em of the better days.

Angels star Shohei Ohtani could be leading a baseball revolution -- so says MLB postseason legend David Eckstein.

We spoke to the '06 World Series MVP after he paid a visit to Halos spring training ... and he told us Ohtani -- the team's huge offseason signing who can pitch, play outfield and DH -- is the real deal.

But the more interesting takeaway -- Eckstein told us Ohtani's just the beginning of a new wave of super-athletes who can play both ways!!

"If you start looking at more of the lower levels, and especially now going into college, you see that's where the game's going. And he might be the first," Eckstein said.

Eck knows all about trailblazing -- the 5'6'' shortstop paved the way for Jose Altuve and all the other small ballers of today!

Danry Vasquez did stay engaged to his girlfriend for months after the August 2016 beating -- but eventually they broke up and he has since married a new woman.

Vasquez posted a photo with his beating victim in Oct. 2016 showing the two smiling together and described her as "the person who is always with me in the good and the not so good!"

But now we're told they broke up after that -- and Vasquez began dating a new woman.

With regard to the beating victim ... we spoke with Danry's attorney who tells TMZ Sports, "I recall conversations about the extreme stress he was under and the pressures to perform that he was young. Came to USA at a young age with no parents (accommodating him) and no guidance ... just his dreams. She never excused his behavior just loved him enough to believe they could move forward."

Danry got engaged to a new woman in Nov. 2017 and in an interview with elemergente.com, he explained the situation.

"I am currently married, and not with the girl with whom I had the incident."

A professional baseball team in Pennsylvania has cut outfielder Danry Vasquez after a 2016 video surfaced showing him beating the hell out of his girlfriend IN A STADIUM.

Vasquez was arrested for domestic violence in Texas back in August 2016 -- and despite the fact officials had the video showing him backhanding the woman in the face and continuing to beat her while dragging her down a stairwell ... he basically got off with a slap on the wrist.

FYI, at the time of the incident, Vasquez was playing for the Corpus Christi Hooks -- the AA minor league affiliate of the Houston Astros. The team released him days after the incident.

Nueces County District Attorney Mark Gonzalez tells TMZ Sports the victim did NOT want to cooperate with prosecutors and wanted the case dropped.

Prosecutors WANTED to press but felt it was an uphill battle with the victim not wanting to press charges. Ultimately, Vasquez was ordered to complete anger management courses ... and that's basically it.

Gonzalez says Vasquez has now completed the terms of his probation and the case was formally dismissed on March 6.

"At that point, probation checked with us, and he had done everything we asked him to do so I was forced to dismiss the case," Gonzalez told KRIS 6 News.

Vasquez went on to sign a contract with the Lancaster Barnstormers of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. They have now released Vasquez in the wake of the video being released ... saying, "Upon being made aware of the nature of the incident, the Barnstormers made a prompt decision to cut ties with the 24-year old."

Manager Ross Peeples added, "There is no choice but to sever the relationship. Neither I, nor the Barnstormers' organization as a whole, can condone or associate with that behavior."

Jose Altuve INSISTS he wasn't angrily staring through Donald Trump's soul at the White House on Monday -- he just has resting angry face.

The photo of Altuve went viral ... showing the Houston Astros star with the ultimate mean mug while standing behind Trump during the ceremony to honor the World Series champs.

But on Tuesday, Altuve spoke with reporters and insisted he was NOT trying to disrespect the President.

"The president was talking ... what do you want me to do?" Altuve said.

"I was just standing there listening. It was an honor to be there. If I didn't want to go, I just wouldn't go."

"I'm behind the president ... probably one of the most important guys in the world. I can't be laughing or doing stupid things while he's talking. I need to listen."

Who needs Tom Brady ... when you got Justin Verlander!!

Donald Trump just gushed about his friendship with a World Series champ during the Houston Astros visit to the White House ... while also dropping some humble brags about himself (duh).

"So, I know Justin. Justin's a friend of mine," Trump said while noting they play golf together.

"I'm a pretty long hitter," Trump bragged ... "[but] this guy, he is a monster!"

"And he said he's a -2 or a -3 handicap, but believe me, he's much better than that. He's about a +2 or +3. but we love playing and it was really great."

Trump also had some words for Jose Altuve ("you're taller than I thought!") and World Series MVP George Springer before reminding everyone he also played in high school!

He also assured the team the country's doing "fantastically well" under his leadership.

Justin Verlander and his Houston Astros teammates arrived in D.C. to visit President Trump at the White House ... just weeks after Trump and the Golden State Warriors turned each other down.

TMZ Sports just spotted Jose Altuve, Dallas Keuchel and World Series MVP George Springer -- along with a bunch of other players -- walking up to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave ... with the trophy being carried in right behind!

Visiting the White House has become a polarizing issue with pro athletes. Tom Brady skipped the White House last year after a falling out with President Trump.

Just a few weeks ago, several members of the Philadelphia Eagles -- including Chris Long and Malcolm Jenkins -- said they would NOT visit the White House to celebrate the Super Bowl because they don't agree with Trump's politics.

Of course, the Warriors spoke out strongly against Trump and decided as a team to boycott Trump's White House. Trump rescinded their invite as well.

You think the Kardashians would suit up and play softball against normies? Hell no -- the team they faced was Tito Jackson's family!!!!

That's right ... Kim, Kourtney, Kris and the rest of the Calabasas Peaches faced off against "Tito's Team" -- led by team captain Tito Jackson, his sons T.J., Taryll and Taj and the rest of their families.

The best part ... Tito ditched the traditional baseball cap for a bowler hat because #fashion.

So, who won the big game? Our sources tell us the Jackson family emerged victorious ... shocking for a couple of reasons. First, it's the Kardashians' show, and also because the Kardashians reached out to 14-time MLB All-Star Alex Rodriguez for coaching help!

The Kansas City Royals held a seminar to educate players about the dangers of watching pornography -- and XXX legend Lisa Ann has a SERIOUS problem with it.

Royals general manager Dayton Moore first spoke out against porn last year -- saying it's connected to domestic abuse -- and brought in an org called "Fight the New Drug" to "educate" young players.

But, Lisa Ann -- who's starred in classics like "Who's Nailin' Paylin?" and "Doctor MILF" -- says the workshop is completely misguided and wrong.