MLB

Staind frontman Aaron Lewis says it was a simple case of nerves that caused him to screw up the lyrics to the "Star-Spangled Banner" ... and now he wants the country to forgive him.

In case you missed it ... Lewis rearranged the lyrics pretty badly, screwing up almost immediately. But he quickly rebounded and didn't do a terrible job overall.

Still ... he's pretty embarrassed about the whole thing and took to his website to apologize for the blunder. He wrote, "All I can say is I'm sorry and ask for the Nation's forgiveness. My nerves got the best of me and I am completely torn up about what happened. America is the greatest country in the world."

He added, "I hope that the Nation, Major League Baseball and the many fans of our national pastime can forgive me."

What's particularly funny about the whole thing is that back in 2011, Lewis ripped Christina Aguilera for flubbing the anthem at the Super Bowl.

Karma is a real thing.

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Oscar Taveras -- a 22-year-old rising star -- died Sunday in a car crash in the Dominican Republic.

According to a rep for the team, Taveras was driving the car -- with his girlfriend on board -- when he lost control and the car went off the road. Oscar's girlfriend also died in the wreck.

Officials are investigating the cause of the wreck -- though local police say rainy conditions may have been a factor.

Oscar's teammate Kolten Wong went to Twitter moments ago and wrote, "Wow! My heart truly hurts to hear the passing of Oscar! I've played with him every year and we truly lost a great person! #RIPOscarTaveras"

Oscar was a rising star in the MLB -- and most recently hit a home run during Game 2 of the NLCS against the SF Giants.

Barry Bonds is a single man again ... no asterisk needed ... because his marriage is officially over, TMZ Sports has learned.

The breakup between Barry and Elizabeth Watson Bonds has been going on for YEARS -- she first filed papers in 2009, then they reconciled ... only to split again in 2010 for good.

Now, after 4 years in the court system, an L.A. County Superior Court judge has signed off on the divorce ... meaning 50-year-old Barry is back on the market.

According to the docs, filed in L.A. and obtained by TMZ Sports, Barry and Elizabeth struck a private deal that presumably covers everything from money to custody of their 5-year-old daughter.

The two were married back in 1998 ... many, many hat sizes ago.

Sorry baseball ... Floyd Mayweather is just not that into you.

In fact, Floyd's so indifferent about America's pastime, the legendary gambler is sitting out of one of the biggest sporting events of the year -- the World Series ... TMZ Sports has learned.

As you know, Floyd's quick to drop anywhere from $20k to $1 MILLION on a football game (college or pro) ... but our sources tell us Floyd won't touch the MLB.

And why not? As one source puts is ... "He's just not into baseball."

Forget that regional rivalry garbage, Nelly says it's OK for Cardinals fans to root for the Royals in the World Series ... with the St. Louis native telling TMZ Sports it's all about supporting the Show Me State.

The rap star was leaving Siren Studio in L.A. Monday night when he talked about his beloved Cards getting knocked out of the NLCS -- "We didn't deserve to win man."

"We gave away too many runs and that makes it easier to cheer for KC ... Show Me State in the building!"

L.A. Dodgers star Hanley Ramirez wanted a hot car ... so he got one that SHOOTS FIRE!!!!

TMZ Sports has learned ... Hanley dropped around $550k for a white 2014 Lamborghini Aventador -- but wanted to make it stand out ... so he went to The Auto Firm in Miami and upgraded the exhaust to one that spits flames.

We're told Hanley has already shipped the car back to Los Angeles -- so if you see a pimped out fire-breathing white Lambo on the 405 ... it's probably best not to tailgate.

Jenni Rivera's husband wants $35 million from the owners of the plane that crashed and killed her ... even though the couple had filed divorce papers prior to the crash.

Jenni filed for divorce from former MLB pitcher Esteban Loaiza more than 2 months before the plane she was on went down in December 2012 ... but the paperwork hadn't been finalized when she died, so they were still married.

According to court docs ... Loaiza is suing Starwood Management for $25 million in lost future income, $5 mil in past earnings, and -- get this -- $5 mil more in loss of companionship.

Remember, they'd already separated ... so you'd think the S.S. Companionship would have sailed long before Jenni's death.

Gotta hand it to him -- pitcher's got balls.

Artie Lange cares about one thing more than NY sports -- keeping it real when NY sports teams blow ... and the diehard Big Apple fan tells TMZ Sports his beloved Yankees are SCREWED ... especially with Alex Rodriguez coming back.

Lange was out in NY when we asked him the question on every Yankees fan's mind ... now that "Number 2" is out to pasture -- and he's showing the Bombers ZERO fanboy love.

Watch the clip -- Artie blasts everyone ... from A-Rod to Eli Manning. Yeah, he's that down on the state of Empire State sports.

The wife of Boston Red Sox star Clay Buchholz says she's the latest victim in the nude photo hacking scandal -- and tells TMZ Sports the racy photos were ONLY meant to be seen by her husband.

We spoke with Lindsay Clubine -- a former "Deal or No Deal" briefcase model -- who tells us she was devastated when she found out someone had hacked into her husband's phone.

"This is a terrible crime," Clubine said ... "I have my attorneys removing the pictures. This is very upsetting to my family and I."

Clubine says she doesn't blame her husband at all for keeping the pics on his phone ... saying, "Clay and I are good. I send him pictures on the road."

However, Clubine says she IS upset that she's been wrongly identified in some of the more hardcore pics that were hacked from her husband's phone.

"There are pics on his phone that [a teammate] sent some of the guys that are NOT me."

He once signed a $126 MILLION contract ... but former MLB pitcher Barry Zito could still use a few extra bucks -- which is why he's trying to rent out his S.F. mansion for $25k per month.

The ex-San Francisco Giants hurler has listed his 2-acre estate in Marin County, CA to rent or buy ... the latter will run you about $9 million.

The place is pretty sweet -- 4 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, a wine cellar, pool, outside fire-place with seating area, a guest house ... and privacy, privacy, PRIVACY!!!

The former Cy Young winner bought the place in 2007 for $8.8 mil ... but clearly, he's over it.

Zito's also selling another mansion he owns in the Hollywood Hills.

Another reason to love Magic Johnson: He's not forcing his kids to watch baseball -- even though he OWNS the Dodgers ... so says Magic's daughter Elisa.

The 19-year-old was out at a birthday party in Beverly Hills when we asked how her father was doing after the Blue Crew was bounced from the MLB playoffs earlier this month.

That's when Elisa hit us with a refreshing dose of honesty -- "My dad is probably doing really well ... I don't really watch baseball."

The St. Louis Cardinals tell TMZ Sports they have a "heightened awareness" of the explosive situation in the streets of St. Louis and will take extensive security measures to keep fans safe at this weekend's playoff games.

All hell is breaking loose in The Lou ... with angry protesters clashing with police over the recent shooting deaths of Michael Brown and Vonderrit Myers Jr. -- who were both killed by police gunfire.

With the Cardinals hosting the NLCS on Saturday and Sunday, a rep for the team tells us, "Our people have been coordinating with the St. Louis Police Department and Major League Baseball security" in an effort to protect the fans.

Bravo's Andy Cohen is a HUUUUGE St. Louis Cardinals fan ... he even named his dog after a player ... and he's got some great advice for the team before their next playoff game -- GET LAID!!!

Andy was out in NYC Wednesday when we asked how he felt about pre-game sex ... since so many World Cup teams BANNED their players from banging during the tourney.

But Andy is all about it ... telling us, "They should burn it out, let the poison out!"

Cardinals are red ...
Dodgers are blue ...
But be careful where you rock those colors ...
Or it could mean THE END of you.

At least, that's what The Game told us out in L.A. the other day -- when he warned Cardinals fans that sporting RED in certain parts of town could be bad for your health.

Game is clearly referring to the Bloods (red) vs. Crips (blue) rivalry ... telling us:

"It depends on where you out out here ... because the Cardinals are red ... you get caught slippin' in the wrong hood, it might not be about baseball. It might be about baseball bats."

Derek Jeter ain't getting married at Oheka Castle in NY today ... despite serious buzz.

We know various high end vendors had been contacted to work a "Derek Jeter event" at the historic location this weekend ... but it turns out, it's just not true.

There IS a wedding going down at the Castle tonight -- but the groom is not a future Hall of Famer ... he's the owner of a Crunch gym franchise in Florida ... which is still pretty baller ... but it's not Jeter.