Super Bowl Champ Jarvis Green Targeted By Scam Artist ... FBI Investigating
Ex-NFL stud Jarvis Green -- a 2x Super Bowl champ -- narrowly escaped being scammed into buying bogus shares of an NBA franchise ... and now the FBI is on the hunt for the con man behind the alleged scheme, TMZ Sports has learned.
The former New England Patriots defensive end -- who spent 8 seasons in the league -- tells us ... he was contacted by a person who claimed to affiliated with the Miami Heat and was offering to sell equity in the team so Green would be a partial owner.
Green said the guy sounded legit at first ... explaining, "He was telling me about LeBron James, courtside seats ... can you imagine high-fiving LeBron?"
The guy wanted more than $250k from Green -- but when the ex-NFL star started considering the offer, he became suspicious.
"It sounded amazing, but I kept thinking, 'Why Jarvis Green? Why not Tom Brady?' Something was off ... but I was excited."
Green says ... when the con man started pushing for bank account information, he contacted the Miami Heat to investigate. The Heat quickly called BS on the scheme and contacted the FBI.
We're told the feds got in touch with Green -- and opened up an investigation.
Sources familiar with the investigation tell us ... they believe the suspect could be the same person who allegedly scammed Warren Moon out of $200k in a similar scheme.
When contacted for comment, a rep for the FBI would only confirm there is an active investigation -- but would not comment on any specifics.
"People like that shouldn't be breathing," Green says .. "They're parasites."
LeBron James Handy With a Machine Gun
LeBron James is a helluva shot off the court ... so say the folks at a Miami gun range, where LBJ went all Rambo with a machine gun last week, TMZ Sports has learned.
We know ... James and his wife Savannah went for a little his & hers target practice at Lock & Load Miami on New Year's Eve, where they sprayed bullets from multiple guns, including an MP5 (that's the one featured in the video).
We're told both LeBron and Savannah were "very good shots" ... but LeBron had a slightly better aim.
Gun range staff tells TMZ ... LeBron was assigned a specialist to help him on the range -- and the guy is a legit badass ... an ex-police officer who's currently a military reservist.
Mr. and Mrs. James spent roughly two hours firing weapons ... and we're told they were very cool to fans, signing autographs and taking pictures.
No one was harmed in the making of this post.
Dwyane & Gabrielle -- Evidence They Were NOT on Break When Baby Was Conceived
Exactly 9 months before Dwyane Wade's son was born (by a woman who's NOT his fiancee) ... Wade and Gabrielle Union were still acting like they were very much a couple ... and TMZ has the proof.
We broke the story ... Wade's baby mama Aja Metoyer gave birth to Dwyane's son Xavier on Nov. 10. Wade claims the two were on a "break" at the time.
But on February 5th (9 months before the birth), Gabrielle was Instagramming about Wade ... posting a photo of the NBA star cuddled up with her dog Sasha along with caption, "Sasha don't play when it comes to her man... 'Down to ride 'til the very end, it's me and my boyfriend.'"
A couple of days before that (on Feb. 1), Gabrielle posted a romantic photo of the couple together from a photo shoot for a "Flashback Friday."
Doesn't seem like a couple on a break ...
There's more ... on February 19th, Gabby posted another pic of Dwyane holding one of her scripts ... with the caption, "It takes a village to help an actress learn her lines... @dwyanewade takin a break from his Gatorade commercial to give me a line reading. Thanks coach :)"
The patter continues until April ... when Gabby stopped posting pics of Dwyane and started posting a bunch of sad cryptic quotes. One reads, "We cannot start over, but we can begin now, and make a new ending."
Another says, "Sometimes you have to get knocked down lower than you have ever been, to stand up taller than you ever were."
But on May 16, Wade returns to the picture ... with Union posting a photo of the couple, along with the caption, "I like this dude."
One would assume it was right around this time that Union decided to take him back.
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Gabrielle Union Takes MASSIVE Ring to Lakers Game ... With Bodyguards
Gabrielle Union -- the future Mrs. Dwyane Wade -- took her brand new million dollar 8.5 carat diamond ring out in public yesterday ... but not without some serious hired muscle to keep it safe.
Gabby and Ring arrived to the Staples Center in L.A. ... flanked by private security ... to watch their man dominate the Kobe Bryant-less Lakers.
Funny, Kobe knows a little something about expensive jewelry ... in fact, he may have bought the most expensive ring out of ALL the NBA players ($4 million) .. except his wasn't a "Will You Marry Me" diamond -- it was a "FORGIVE ME!" diamond.
Hey, it worked.
LeBron James MY KIDS CAN DUNK HARD Just Like Blake Griffin!!!
Apparently, MONSTER DUNK SKILLS run in the family ... 'cause LeBron James' kids just went HAM on their Nerf hoop ... and the rim-crushing highlight was all captured on video.
LeBron's sons -- 6-year-old Bryce and 9-year-old Bronny -- teamed for a crazy alley-oop style slam on Christmas morning ... and LeBron was so proud, he posted the footage online.
James even Instagram'd a message to L.A. Clippers stars Blake Griffin and Chris Paul ... saying, "Bronny and Bryce gone hold down Lob City until y'all get back. Cool? It's like the both of y'all but we gone keep it in our room. Haha."
Fun Fact -- If 28-year-old LeBron can stay healthy enough to play in the league for 10 more years, he's got a shot at playing ALONGSIDE his son.
No pressure though, kid.
Gabrielle Union My Fat, New Engagement Ring is Worth ...
Every kiss begins with ... an engagement ring that costs MORE THAN MOST PEOPLE MAKE THEIR WHOLE FRICKIN' LIVES -- if you're Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade, that is.
Dwyane popped the question Saturday night with an 8.5 carat cushion cut diamond ring (pictured below) made by go-to celeb jeweler Jason of Beverly Hills ... and TMZ has learned it goes for nearly 1 million bucks.
We're told Dwyane had been on the hunt for months for the stone of her dreams ... and his jeweler made 3 trips to Miami looking for the perfect jewel ... and third time was a charm.
Bravo.
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LeBron James New Shoe Available with Matching Lambo
LeBron James missed a huge opportunity -- when he mistakenly promoted his new line of shoes by covering a Lamborghini in the same design as his kicks.
Why? Because he should have made a SHOE car ... according to some crazy people.
Gabrielle Union I Won't Fight Dwyane Wade's Battles (Especially the One with Kevin Durant)
Gabrielle Union is refusing to confirm if the beef between her BF Dwyane Wade and Kevin Durant is real ... but she ain't exactly saying it's BS either.
Things have been heating up between Wade and Durant recently -- after Durant called Wade an overrated player who should no longer be on the NBA's top 10 list. He later said Wade needs to "pass the torch."
Wade responded with an Instagram post saying, "Note to self ... make [Durant] respect your place in history ... again."
Union was at LAX this weekend -- and while she tried to play down the feud as a one-time thing, it seems as if there's more to the story.
Either way, the Heat take on the Thunder on January 29 -- bring your popcorn.
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LeBron James SCREAMING FIRE WORKOUT With Monster Truck Tires and Gold Chains
Here is a video of LeBron James flipping a monster truck tire, in an abandoned warehouse, while surrounded by flames and wearing giant gold chains ... and why, you ask? 'CAUSE IT'S BAD ASS.
Also, he was taping a scene for the new Miami Heat intro video (you know, the clip they play in the stadium during player intros).
Sure, LBJ was hamming it up for the cameras during the shoot, but the guy is an absolute beast.
As for D-Wade and Chris Bosh ... they shot intro scenes too. No fire, or tires, or gold chains ... just some smoke and dry ice.
Pays to be the king.
Michael Jordan I'd Destroy LeBron in 1-on-1 ... But Not Kobe
Michael Jordan says there's only one guy who would beat him in a game of 1-on-1 ... and it ain't LeBron James -- it's Kobe Bryant.
MJ made the statement in a video promoting the NBA 2K14 -- while talking about a bunch of NBA legends he would've liked to ball against in their prime, including Jerry West, D-Wade, Carmelo, Kobe, LeBron and more.
"I don't think I would lose," Jordan says ... adding, "other than to Kobe Bryant because he steals all of my moves."
MJ was later asked who was the better player -- Kobe or LBJ -- and explained, "In terms of dominance in the game of basketball at this stage, it's LeBron."
But he added, "Championshipwise, it's Kobe."
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Miami Heat Star Cleared in Internet Kiddie Crime Investigation
Miami Heat star Chris Andersen -- aka Birdman -- has been cleared in a criminal investigation allegedly involving an underage girl on the Internet ... a year after the Feds raided his Colorado home.
The Internet Crimes Against Children task force searched Andersen's home looking for some link between him and an underage girl in California, with whom Andersen had allegedly carried on an illicit relationship both online and in person. But it turns out, it was all an elaborate "catfishing" scheme.
According to police, Andersen was actually set up by a 29-year-old woman in rural Canada named Shelly Lynn Chartier -- who posed as a real girl in California while communicating with Andersen. In turn, Chartier then used Andersen's image to communicate with the actual girl in California.
The ruse was so convincing that the California girl -- who was of legal age -- flew out to Colorado to meet Andersen. The two made contact, but the relationship didn't progress from there.
That's when Chartier allegedly threatened Andersen with extortion, making claims the California girl was actually underage. Chartier was arrested in January. Andersen will NOT be charged with a crime.
A rep for the Miami Heat said, "We are not surprised this is the end result. We are happy for Chris and glad this unfortunate incident is behind him."
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LeBron James Bigger Than Ancient Roman
Pop quiz: LeBron James or temples built for kings -- which would you photograph? Yeah, LBJ wins every time ... at least in Rome.
Newlywed LeBron and his wife are honeymooning over in Rome and yesterday while he was busy taking pics in front of the Altare della Patria -- all the tourists were busy snapping pics of the NBA champ.
At only 6'8" ... King James towers over the nearly 100-year-old monument to King Victor Emmanuel II (yes, we looked it up.)
For his part ... LBJ was clearly impressed by the landmark. So much so, he busted out some dance moves. Go 'Bron! Go 'Bron!!
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LeBron James & Wife WE'RE MARRIED You May Gaze Upon Us Now
LeBron James has a third ring to add to his collection -- his wedding ring -- and Sunday morning, he was proudly sporting his new hardware as he emerged from his SoCal hotel with his brand new wife.
LBJ and his bride Savannah Brinson were spotted leaving the Grand Del Mar hotel in San Diego ... looking surprisingly well-rested considering the bash of the century that went down the night before.
As we previously reported, Jay Z and Beyonce performed at the shindig -- which was attended by 200 guests, including Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
Mazel tov.
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Lebron James Marries High School Sweetheart Beyonce Sings at After Party
Lebron James tied the knot in California last night -- and instead of some crappy band "We Are Family" -- playing at the reception ... they got JAY Z and BEYONCE!!!!
The Miami Heat forward and his fiancee Savannah Brinson made things official during a ceremony in San Diego at the Grand Del Mar Hotel ... after dating 12 years.
According to reports -- the 28-year-old basketball player was joined by teammate Dwyane Wade and his girlfriend Gabrielle Union ... Chris Bosh and wife Adrienne ... as well as Jay Z and Beyonce, who performed "Crazy in Love" at the reception.
... and you thought the picture booth at your wedding was cool.
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LeBron James Police Escort to Jay Z Concert No Big Deal
The Miami-Dade Police Dept. is pooh-poohing criticism that it crossed the thin blue line last Friday by giving LeBron James a police escort to the Jay Z concert.
As we reported ... Jay Z had announced he would not start the show until LeBron arrived.
It's nice to be famous, right?
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Dwyane Wade Foundation Sued ... I Got Beat with a Drumstick
High school marching bands are NOT to be trifled with -- just ask one Chicago woman, who claims she was attending a charity event for Dwyane Wade's foundation last year ... and took a beating to the head with a bass drum mallet.
Andrea Alexander filed the lawsuit against Wade's World (EXCELLENT!) claiming she had an aisle seat at the foundation's "Chicago Has Talent" event last year when a high school marching band blared and crashed its way past her.
Alexander claims the aisles were so narrow, one of the band's bass drummers whacked her in the head with his bass drum mallet ... causing her "severe and permanent injuries."
Alexander says its Dwyane's foundation's fault for negligently allowing the band to play in the narrow aisles ... and she wants at least $50,000 to make up for her pain and suffering.
Alexander is also suing the venue and the band's high school. Calls to Dwyane's foundation weren't returned. Badum-tish.