Controversial S#!T

Barstool Sports honcho Dave Portnoy is officially OFF the Antonio Brown bandwagon ... telling TMZ Sports he hates the WR now -- but he's open to change!!!

Remember, Portnoy sort of defended Brown after the Raiders cut his ass back in Sept. and then sung his praises once Dave's beloved New England Patriots brought him on board.

But, now that Bill Belichick and company kicked AB to the curb, how does Dave feel about the embattled wideout now?!?

"Hate him now," Portnoy says ... "when he's on the Patriots, I love him. When he's not on the Patriots, I hate him."

But, Portnoy admits he's not really trying to judge AB's character -- he's a fan of anyone who can help his team win. And, it seems obvious Dave thinks Brown can help (let's face it, the guy's a monster on the field).

Brown -- who recently filed a grievance against the Patriots and Raiders -- went on social media last week and suggested the Pats give him a second chance since he believes New England is gonna be on the hook for paying him roughly $10 mil in salary anyway.

Dave ain't opposed to the idea ... but says if Pats management makes it clear they want no part of AB, Portnoy will "fall in line" and swear off the WR too.

MMA fighter Luis Peña -- aka "Violent Bob Ross" -- tells TMZ Sports the time has come to renegotiate his contract with the UFC ... and he's confident he's gonna get it.

We spotted the 26-year-old after he landed at LAX on Sunday following a controversial split decision loss to Matt Frevola at 'UFC Fight Night' on Saturday ... and it's clear Pena thinks he got robbed.

Pena points out that Frevola trains in Tampa -- where the fight went down -- and he suggests there may have been some "small-town bias" affecting the judges' cards.

Pena stormed out of the Octagon after the judges announced the decision -- and Luis admits he was heated and pissed off, and let his emotions get the best of him.

"At the end of the day, it's on me for not going out there and finishing the fight," Pena says.

Still, Pena (7-2 as a pro) is not only a good fighter -- but he's entertaining -- and it seems the UFC appreciates it. Pena says UFC exec Sean Shelby told him the company is ready to start talking about a new deal.

Steve Kerr still isn't ready to talk about China -- shutting down our photog when we asked the Golden State Warriors coach about the NBA's drama in Asia on his way out of dinner with Steph Curry.

Of course, Kerr initially shut down China questions last week -- saying he didn't know enough about the situation with China and Hong Kong to opine in the wake of the Daryl Morey tweets.

Morey essentially created an international incident by tweeting out support for Hong Kong -- which led to the Chinese government blackballing the Houston Rockets and putting the country's relationship with the NBA in jeopardy.

Since then, President Donald Trump verbally attacked Kerr ... saying the usually outspoken coach was "like a little boy" when asked about China -- claiming Kerr "was so scared to even be answering" a question about the topic.

Fast forward to Sunday night when Kerr and Curry hit up Mastro's Steakhouse in Beverly Hills -- not exactly a low-key hangout -- where our guy asked Kerr if he finally felt "well-versed" enough to talk about the biggest issue in pro sports.

But, Kerr shut it down. He was nice and friendly but made it clear he's still not ready to have a public conversation about China.

New York City's biggest hip-hop radio station says Tekashi 6ix9ine will get no spins once he releases new music ... unless the snitching rapper's music forces their hand.

An executive from HOT 97 FM tells TMZ ... when Tekashi is released from prison and drops new music, the radio station will NOT jump to debut any of the records, and they don't anticipate playing any of 6ix9ine's music at all.

Fact is, the exec tells us HOT 97 has NEVER been a huge Tekashi69 supporter, and him ratting on former gang members is digging an even bigger hole for himself as far as the radio station is concerned.

We broke the story ... one record label is making a multi-million dollar investment in Tekashi, banking on him getting out of prison sooner than later and surviving all his snitching.

This is creepy, even for Zak Bagans ... he got his hands on John Wayne Gacy's brain -- a brain he wants to buy -- and says he could sense the evil that consumed the serial killer.

The "Ghost Adventures" star tells TMZ ... he held Gacy's brain in his hands during a recent trip to the Chicago home where the late serial killer's forensic psychiatrist, Dr. Helen Morrison, keeps the organ ... which is preserved in a container in her basement.

Gacy -- infamously known as the "Killer Clown" -- was executed way back in 1994 after being convicted of murdering 33 young men and boys during the '70s, burying most of the bodies in a crawl space under his Chicago-area home.

Elton John says Michael Jackson came off as "genuinely mentally ill" late in life -- which left the Rocket Man himself believing the King of Pop had gone off the deep end.

The singer makes some pretty big claims about MJ in his new memoir, "Me," which is coming out Tuesday. Certain outlets have obtained an advanced copy of the book -- and one excerpt about Michael is making the rounds ... in which Elton discusses his mental state.

Per reports, Elton writes ... "I’d known Michael since he was 13 or 14 ... He was just the most adorable kid you could imagine. But at some point in the intervening years, he started sequestering himself away from the world, and away from reality the way Elvis Presley did."

Tinashe has no doubt that Tekashi 6ix9ine will get a record deal somewhere when he gets released from prison --and the reason is simple ... he's a polarizing cash cow.

We got the R&B singer Saturday night while she was leaving TAO in Hollywood, and picked her brain about Tekashi's chances at reviving his music career after this snitching saga is over. Tinashe makes no bones about it ... dude will absolutely be back in the studio.

She poses an interesting question to our camera guy -- asking if he knows anything about the industry, and then answering herself ... saying they're all about $$$$.

Tiki Barber says Antonio Brown's NFL career is NOT over ... the Giants legend says there's no way in hell the receiver ain't playing in the NFL again -- despite all of his drama.

"He's got skill," Tiki tells TMZ Sports. "Eventually, he’ll be back in the league."

It's a surprising take from Barber ... considering most football pundits think AB's antics in Pittsburgh and Oakland -- plus all of his legal issues -- will be the end of his pro playing days.

But, when we got Tiki out in NYC ... he told us Brown is just too damn talented to be out of the NFL for good.

"He’s good, he’s still a great athlete," Barber says. "He's just got some demons he's got to work out."

As for Brown's pitch to the Patriots -- the one where he told them Wednesday if New England is gonna pay him, it might as well play him -- Tiki actually kind of agreed with the WR's logic.

But, Barber added ... "They can't do that!"

When it comes to which team might take a shot at signing Brown ... Tiki didn't name names -- only telling us it'll all go down once "some of this heat blows over."

Casanova and other NYC rappers appear to have been effectively blackballed from performing in their own town by the NYPD, getting nixed from Rolling Loud after a mere request.

A letter that's purported to have been written by the City of New York and signed off by Asst. Police Chief Martin Morales surfaced over the weekend, and it appears to show the NYPD asking Rolling Loud organizers to block Casanova and co. from getting on stage.

The letter -- addressed to Rolling Loud and Insomniac, LLC -- reads ... "The New York City Police Department requests that the below individuals be removed from performing at the 'Rolling Loud Festival' taking place at Citi Field on Saturday October 12, 2019 and Sunday October 13, 2019, due to public safety concerns."

It goes on to list 22GZ, Casanova, Pop Smoke, Sheff G and Don Q as artists who shouldn't be allowed to perform -- with cops citing affiliation to recent acts of violence in the city.

They say it quite clearly ... "The New York City Police Department believes if these individuals are allowed to perform, there will be a higher risk of violence. I look forward to working with you in an effort to keep this event safe."

It would seem the letter -- and the not-so-subtle plea -- was taken to heart, because Casanova announced he was, in fact, not performing ... and wasn't happy about it.

On IG, the rapper -- who's had past beefs with Tekashi 6ix9ine -- wrote in part ... "My last felony conviction was 2007. I lost everything I ever loved and I’m STILL losing. So much so that 'they' won’t allow me to perform at Rolling Loud NYC on Sunday."

Casanova added, "It’s unfair and unfortunate that my past, which I’ve dealt with legally and personally, continues to stigmatize me and my career as a recording artist."

Al Sharpton is weighing in on the NBA's recent drama with China ... telling TMZ Sports the league needs to take a stand for democracy and not let the money talk them out of it!!!

Of course, Sharpton is referring to the backlash the association's gotten after Rockets GM Daryl Morey tweeted out support for Hong Kong protesters ... with the league losing Chinese sponsors, airtime and a number of NBA events that were planned this week as a result.

Sharpton says the whole situation is bothersome ... but the league can't be hypocritical, especially when some of the biggest NBA figures have been critical of America's current leadership.

"We can’t have them try, in the name of some commercial interest and money, take away people’s democratic rights and then claim that we are the home of democracy around the world," Sharpton says.

"Clearly, we should stand up to them and say that people there are protesting their democratic rights in Hong Kong and we must identify with them. Money should not be able to buy our commitment and passionate commitment to democracy."

Snoop Dogg is all about forgiveness -- even if it's the guy who left his beloved team lookin' like a soap opera -- 'cause the rap legend says Antonio Brown deserves another chance in the NFL.

TMZ Sports spoke with the Steelers superfan about AB wanting to get back in the league ... and despite the state he left Pittsburgh in when he was traded (there was a bit of drama if you recall)... Snoop says he should get a shot.

"Everybody deserves a second shot. Everybody deserves a second and third shot. Look at me!"

Snoop knows about getting second chances ... he has a history of run-ins with the law, and all these years later, the drop is still hot.

As for Antonio, the Raiders and Patriots cut bait with him due to off-the-field drama ... from illegally recorded phone calls to much more serious allegations of sexual assault and sexual misconduct. The NFL is currently investigating Brown and some people think his career in the league is finished.

Snoop hopes there's a team willing to give AB another shot -- he's still an elite athlete -- but it's definitely an uphill battle.

In the meantime, check out Snoop's badass Bentley.

Shaunie O'Neal straight-up says it's BS for costar OG Chijindu to accuse "Basketball Wives" of colorism ... 'cause it just ain't true.

Shaunie's fiercely defending the show she stars in and executive produces ... saying they work hard to make sure cast members like OG don't feel like outcasts because of the color of their skin.

Things have gotten heated on the set for sure. OG was kept in a separate, small set during the taping of the reunion, but we're told that was for security reasons.

Wale's pushing a brilliant idea that would help artists the second they put pen to paper on a new record deal ... now he just needs record labels to step up.

The rapper hopped on "TMZ Live" Friday and talked about a noble and personal cause -- getting record labels to do right by looking after the mental health of their artists as they rise and fall.

Wale's committed ... so much so he dropped his new studio album, "Wow ... That's Crazy" to bring awareness on #WorldMentalHealthDay. The rapper says with artists being under the microscope these days, every one of their moves -- from bad days to breakups -- are immediately magnified 100 times over.

Shannon Sharpe tells TMZ Sports if Antonio Brown doesn't start shaping up and following NFL rules ... he's NEVER going to play a down in the league again!!!

"The game will go on without Antonio Brown," Sharpe says. "He needs to understand that."

Sharpe -- co-host of FS1's Undisputed -- tells us his beef with AB is simple ... he thinks the wide receiver believes he's bigger than the league -- and therefore doesn't have to abide by its laws.

Specifically, Sharpe believes Brown is dodging NFL investigators when it comes to his civil lawsuit against Britney Taylor -- the woman who alleges Brown raped her in 2018.

"He thinks he can play by his rules," Shannon says ... "We'll see how far that takes him."

Sharpe says unless Brown has a change of heart ... NO NFL team will touch him -- not now, and not EVER -- saying the game will ALWAYS find a replacement for players, no matter how good they are.

"It's been going on for 100 years -- Joe Montana, John Elway, Deion Sanders -- some of the greats. And, the game still goes on."

Jane Fonda is willing to go to jail over climate change -- she just got busted outside the U.S. Capitol during a massive protest.

Jane was arrested Friday along with a number of other protesters on the steps on the east side of the Capitol building. In video from the demonstration, you see Jane being placed in handcuffs and escorted into a police van.

Jane was demonstrating with the group Oil Change International over the climate change crisis. The protest is part of Jane's "Fire Drill Fridays" initiative -- she's vowed to protest outside the Capitol every Friday, rain or shine, and says she's been inspired by Swedish teen activist Greta Thunberg and her weekly climate strikes across the globe.

Gather 'round kids, it's NBA PREDICTION TIME WITH LAVAR BALL!!!

This time, the head of the Big Baller Brand is seeing BIG things for the New Orleans Pelicans ... telling TMZ Sports his son Lonzo's team will DEFINITELY win a 'chip this season!

"They're gonna take it all this year, for sure," LaVar told us at the L.A. Regional Food Bank, where he donated 70,000 bottles of Big Baller Brand Water.

Why so confident? LaVar thinks the New Orleans Pelicans are a MUCH better fit for Lonzo than the Lakers ... and it all has to do with the coach and the young stars surrounding him, like Zion Williamson.

"All you need to be successful in the NBA, ya gotta have a coach be behind you. And, Alvin Gentry is that guy."

LaVar continued ... "What did Gentry say? He wants [The Pelicans] to play the fastest pace. That's Lonzo's best game!"

And, the biggest difference between the Pels and the Lakers?

"You've got a bunch of youngsters so you don't have 20 different people asking for the ball. Give it to Lonzo and let him just run it."

When asked if playing with Zion is better in the long run for Lonzo than playing with LeBron, LaVar explained things this way ...

"If you gonna run and pass the ball and play the right way, Zo will play with anybody. So, it's not that Zion is better than Lebron or Lebron is better ... anybody with an IQ that can play the game of basketball, [Lonzo's] fine playing with."

There's more ... we also asked LaVar how he feels the NBA is handling the issue with China, which is relevant since the Ball family had their own international crisis when LiAngelo was arrested in China for shoplifting back in 2017.

"My thing is this, anybody should speak out on whatever their heart feels. If you feel it's good for you to speak out, then speak out! If not, then shut the hell up."