Basketball Wives

TMZ broke the story ... Meeka and Tami had been at odds with each other for a long time -- and according to sources close to the show, Tami tried to settle the score once and for all last month ... with a fist fight.

According to the lawsuit, filed yesterday in New York, Tami "assaulted, battered, beat, threatened, menaced, attacked, jumped on, pushed to the ground, thrashed, punched, and shoved" Meeka ... causing serious injury.

Meeka wants Tami to cough up unspecified damages, claiming the incident cost her a day of filming -- and put her through an emotional and physical hell.

Sources connected to the show tell us ... "Dancing" producers love the idea of having Evelyn on the show -- especially since she's engaged to Chad who was a previous contestant.

We're told the show is even hoping to involve Mr. Ochocinco ... since he's now an expert in the ways of the ballroom.

So far ... no comment from the show.

Sources close to Tami tell us -- the reality star had just been picked up from the airport by a car service ... when a driver slammed into the car BEHIND Tami's car ... causing a chain reaction collision.

Tami was in the front car -- which sustained massive rear-end damage.

The Orlando Magic guard claims Laura Govan -- the mother of his 4 children -- signed up to do "Basketball Wives" solely to become a television personality. In the lawsuit, Arenas claims even though the soon-to-be-debuted series doesn't mention him by name, "the very presence of defendant Govan and the title of the show is an obvious reference to [Arenas]." And Arenas notes his name was used in the press release announcing Govan had joined the cast.

Williams finally pulled the trigger Friday, filing papers in Hudson County Superior Court in New Jersey. Williams, who tied the knot with Eric in the Bahamas back in 2007, cites irreconcilable differences.

Williams wants alimony, plus an "equitable" distribution of the couple's assets.

Bosh's ex -- Allison Mathis -- filed the lawsuit in Orlando, FL earlier this week ... in which she claims she signed a deal with show producers which could have scored her more than $250,000 for at least 4 seasons ... but Chris screwed it up.

According to the docs, Bosh lied to producers -- and told them Allison had several court-orders in effect which prohibit her from appearing on camera. Bosh also allegedly threatened to sue producers if they put her on the show.

Mathis claims the producers folded like a cheap suit -- and axed her from the show ... after she had already taped two episodes.

Sources close to the show tell us Meeka Claxton (left) and Tami Roman (right) have been on frigid terms for months now -- all because Tami has repeatedly accused Meeka of creating animosity between the girls on the show.

Meeka denies the accusations ... but during a recent taping at some nightclub in Rome -- where the girls filmed several scenes abroad -- Tami decided to confront her ... fists flying.

We're told a full on brawl broke out ... and ended with Tami PUNCHING Meeka right in the face.

Shaquille O'Neal's ex-wife was at LAX when she blasted Bosh -- claiming he "must like wasting money on attorneys." The Heat power forward recently sued Shaunie over her reality show "Basketball Wives."

Shaunie executive produces the show -- and Bosh is trying to block his baby mama, Allison Mathis, from joining the cast.

Howard won the judgment against Royce Reed for half a mil last year because she violated a court order, prohibiting her from talking about him in the press.

Howard claims Reed now owes him $551,606.74 -- which includes interest. So Howard has filed papers with a California court, which could give Howard the right to go after Reed's assets in Cali.

Good luck ... our sources say the "Basketball Wives" star has nada in California.

Like drawing blood from a stone ...

Sources close to the production tell TMZ, Evelyn didn't get the $20k per episode she demanded ... but we're told she's "very happy" with the counter-offer.

But Evelyn didn't just get a pay bump -- we're told Producers also APOLOGIZED to Lozada for the way she was portrayed in the Season 2 finale ... a huge reason why Evelyn was hesitant to re-sign with the network.

We're told Lozada -- who threatened to leave the show after she felt the producers backstabbed her -- is happy with the new deal ... and shooting is already underway.

Sources close to Evelyn tell TMZ -- as soon as E! execs caught wind that she wanted to quit "Basketball Wives" ... they approached her with a new TV offer.

We're told the new show would feature both Evelyn and Ocho living the life -- which is kinda difficult ... because she lives in Miami ... and he lives in Cincinnati.

As we previously reported, Lozada has already threatened to leave the show -- after, we're told. she became upset because she believes the producers of the show leaked sensitive information about her to another cast member in hopes of inciting a violent confrontation between the two women.

Sources close to the production tell TMZ, Lozada and the other girls currently pull in around $7,500 an episode -- which means Lozada's latest demand would mean a SERIOUS raise.

No word yet on the show's next move.