NBA

Tony Romo touchdown pass to ... LeBron James????

The King and his business partner say that damn-near happened way back in 2011 ... with Maverick Carter revealing Jerry Jones offered LBJ a contract with the Dallas Cowboys!!

Here's the deal ... LeBron said on an Uninterrupted podcast Monday he had such serious concerns about the NBA lockout in 2011, he actually began training for a pro-football career.

The Lakers superstar -- who was with the Miami Heat at the time -- says he changed up his whole workout routine in the event he would have to switch sports.

LeBron says he was dead serious about it all too ... claiming he added 40 times, more bench pressing and even sled pushing.

"The thoughts came into my mind," James said. "I had no idea how long the lockout was going to be.”

In fact, Carter chimed in and said things got so serious -- the Cowboys actually reached out with an offer!!

Fortunately for the NBA, the league got back to work, and LeBron never had the chance to switch sports ... instead, deciding to frame and hang Jerry's offer on the wall as opposed to signing it.

But, LeBron admits football is an itch he's sad he never scratched ... revealing he straight-up still dreams about the sport!

"It’s crazy because I actually never run on the field in my dreams," James said. "It always gets to the point where I’m either in the locker room or getting dressed or talking about or seeing the fans and as soon as I’m about to run on the field, something else happens in my dream. It’s like something that it always happens like that."

The NBA is still hoping to return to play this season amid the coronavirus pandemic, but, in the meantime, the Cowboys COULD still use another tight end ...

Ice Cube's BIG3 basketball league has officially thrown in the towel on their 2020 season -- but they're adamant they WILL return next season.

"Due to a confluence of issues including safety, uncertainty of testing, changing government regulations, insurance and liability issues, sponsor and advertiser challenges of their own, and the changing nature of the virus itself, the decision was made to focus on a great return in 2021," the league announced.

Some takeaways ...

-- BIG3 says it explored playing at a single location like a Los Angeles studio sound stage, but ultimately decided it just wasn't feasible.

-- BIG3 will also push forward with its "Big Brother" style reality show.

"BIG3: Not in My House" will be premiering sometime before the regular season begins, the league says.

"The BIG3, along with Endemol, was ready to proceed with this show immediately, but were faced with issues because US networks mostly cannot start reality show and studio productions until at least September. We will have to wait until network studio production and scheduling stabilizes."

Ice Cube also issued a statement saying, "We tried everything in our power to give our fans a nice 2020 season but with a long list of obstacles, we decided to shift our focus to having a great 2021 season with our fans in the stands."

"Our goal from day one has always been to provide a remarkable experience full of top-level competition and entertainment."

"The Last Dance" wasn't just huge for Michael Jordan fans -- it's provided a HUGE boost for The Alan Parsons Project ... with people playing MJ's famous intro music in record numbers.

You know the song ... it echoed throughout Chicago Stadium and the United Center every single time MJ's Chicago Bulls squad was intro'd before a game.

The Bulls played "Sirius" by T.A.P.P. -- which was originally released in 1982 -- during their epic 6-title run between 1991 and 1998.

But, with the success of "The Last Dance," the good people at Spotify tell us there has been a huge surge of interest in the song ... in 2020.

We're told plays have gone up 335% across the world since the series premiered on April 19.

Fact of the matter is ... the song still slaps -- especially if you have a basketball hoop in your driveway, and you still have the urge to Be Like Mike!!

The Bulls STILL use "Sirius" at home games ... but have swapped out The Alan Parsons Project version for renditions from local musicians.

Tristan Thompson is fed up with what he calls out-and-out lies about him fathering a child... so he's followed through with a lawsuit against his accuser.

Tristan just filed the suit against Kimberly Alexander ... the woman who's very publicly claimed the NBA star is the father of her 5-year-old son -- something he's repeatedly denied. In the lawsuit, Tristan says the paternity test he took back in January "definitively concluded that [he] is not the father." Paging, Maury Povich!

According to the suit, obtained by TMZ, after the test results came back ... Kimberly posted the DNA report -- which was supposed to be confidential -- on her Instagram page. In the caption, she accused the lab of sabotage, and insisted, "I know for sure that Tristan Thompson is the father of my child."

As we first told you ... Kimberly's also pissed off Khloe Kardashian by accusing her of paying off people to fix the test results. Khloe and Tristan fired off a cease-and-desist letter, but Kimberly turned around and even posted that on social media.

In the docs, Tristan says Kimberly also publicly lied about him by claiming on social media he had actually taken an "at-home paternity test." Tristan says the reality is the test he took was administered by one of the most reputable labs in the country.

He's even offered to take a second test to appease Kimberly ... provided they use another reputable third party facility.

In fact, the whole matter reminds Tristan's attorney, Marty Singer, of an iconic #1 song. He says in the docs, "To quote Michael Jackson, 'The kid is not [his] son.'"

Tristan further alleges Kimberly "Billie Jean" is only barking about this now -- when the child is 5 -- because she's fallen on hard times, financially. The docs claim Kimberly has been evicted from 5 residences in the last 7 years. They also say that she was recently dropped by her celeb attorney, Lisa Bloom.

Michael Jordan's autographed Jordan VII Dream Team kicks -- rocked by His Airness during the Olympic qualifiers in 1992 -- just hit the auction block!!

Historically, Jordan's are the most sought after shoe ... now, imagine signed Jordans worn by, well, Michael Jordan ... while part of the most dominant and historic basketball team of all-time.

The 7's are on the auction block at Lelands Auction ... and there's already a $16k bid -- with over a month remaining in the auction.

In other words, these are gonna go for a FORTUNE!!

Jordan wore the shoes during the gold medal game of the Tournament of the Americas ... a qualifying tourney for the '92 Summer Games in Barcelona.

10 teams from North, Central, and South America competed. Team USA -- with MJ, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Charles Barkley and a bunch of other Hoops Hall of Famers -- were the #1 seed.

On July 5, 1992 ... MJ -- wearing this pair of J's -- along with his Team USA ... obliterated Venezuela in the tourney finals, winning 127-80.

The win sent the United States to the Olympics ... where they continued to DOMINATE the world on the hardwood.

Lelands says MJ gifted the white size 13 J's to a Dream Team staffer the night of the game ... and the employee held onto them for years.

Jordan memorabilia has EXPLODED in value (not that it was ever cheap) since "The Last Dance" docuseries ... with everything from MJ's baseball cleats to canceled checks to Donald Trump's casino going for big bucks.

Gov. Gavin Newsom says pro sports could re-open in California by June 1 ... but there's a serious catch.

The NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL and more would all be impacted since every major sport in the state (besides horse racing) is shut down at the moment due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

But, Newsom offered a real glimmer of hope on Monday.

"Sporting events, pro sports, in that first week or so of June WITHOUT SPECTATORS and modifications and very prescriptive conditions also can begin to move forward,” Newsom said.

The key, Newsom says, is the trend lines in California must continue to hold steady showing a decrease in people testing positive.

If not, the plans could change.

In other words, everybody keep your masks on, keep your distance and don't mess this up!!!

The announcement comes days after the NBA asked players whether they wanted to return to the 2020 season after suspending play back in March.

Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James has been outspoken about continuing the season ... saying "As soon as it’s safe we would like to finish our season. I’m ready and our team is ready. Nobody should be canceling anything."

Michael Phelps says he idolized Michael Jordan growing up and tried to act just like him ... right down to being an "asshole" to his teammates.

But, Phelps says it was all in the pursuit of greatness -- and guess what, IT WORKED OUT!

"To put it quite blunt, everyone saying he was an asshole," Phelps said to Yahoo Sports ... "But I would say the same thing about myself."

"I was an asshole when I was training because I wanted to help everybody make sure they had the same exact chances I had."

Phelps added, "We're all in there working together as a team even though it's an individual sport. We want the best for each other so I'm gonna challenge them and I'm gonna make sure that they're getting stress in practice that they're gonna face in a meet."

It worked out pretty well for Phelps ... who became the most decorated Olympian of all time with 28 total medals (including 23 gold).

"That was the guy I wanted to be," Phelps said of Michael Jordan ... "I wanted to do in so many ways what he did in the sport of basketball."

Michael Jordan is coming clean about his epic flu game performance in the 1997 NBA Finals ... saying he didn't actually have the flu -- it was some bad pizza.

Remember, #23 was dealing with "flu-like symptoms" before a crucial Game 5 against the Utah Jazz ... and fought through the pain for a 38-point performance to give the Bulls a 3-2 lead.

But, MJ's trainer, Tim Grover, revealed it was actually food poisoning -- not the flu -- that had Jordan under the weather ... after a late-night order from the only place that was open -- a pizza shop.

When the pie was delivered, Grover says 5 dudes pulled up to Jordan's hotel room ... and the trainer hinted there could have been something fishy going on, saying, "I’ve got a bad feeling about this."

Glover's instincts were right ... 'cause MJ woke up at 2 AM "throwing up left and right."

"So, it really wasn’t the flu game. It was food poisoning," MJ admitted on ESPN's "The Last Dance."

MJ's mom thought it was best he didn't play ... but as we all know, he didn't listen and went on to put up one of the most iconic performances of his career.

7. 16. 27. 44. 52.

Those are the numbers that Gilbert Arenas claims won him more than $300,000 last week in the California lottery!!!

$309,694 to be exact.

The former NBA superstar claims he hit all numbers (but missed on the Mega number) to cash in on the 2nd place prize on the May 12 Mega Millions draw.

The Mega Number was 5. Arenas picked 25 -- and had Gilbert gotten that right, he would've won the $248 MILLION grand prize.

The craziest part of the whole story ... Arenas -- who reportedly made more than $140 MILLION in NBA contract money -- says he didn't even buy the ticket himself.

Arenas says he had stopped at a gas station because he was low on fuel while on his way from the usual gas station where he buys his lottery tickets ... when he was approached by a homeless man.

Arenas says the guy initially asked for cash but Arenas told him he was on his way to buy lottery tickets and the man made a deal with Gilbert instead.

"After u WIN hook me up with $20."

By the time Gilbert got to his usual gas station, the place was closed -- and Gilbert thought he missed his chance to buy a ticket.

But, the next morning, he got a text from the gas station employee who says he played Gilbert's usual numbers for him anyway (figuring that's what Gilbert would want) ... AND THEY WON!!

So, Gilbert says he hooked up the homeless guy with his cut (as promised) ... and calls the whole thing a blessing.

Michael Jordan's son, Marcus, says he once WHOOPED his dad on the court in a game of 1-on-1 ... and he's telling TMZ Sports all about the huge accomplishment!!!

Marcus -- MJ's 2nd son -- says he used to play a modified version of 1-on-1 called "Cutthroat" with his dad ... and one day, he actually came away with a WIN!!!

"I had a quick victory," Marcus tells us. "I can't remember the score, but I did win."

So ... how did the G.O.A.T handle it?? Exactly like you'd expect.

"He ran it right back and he obviously won on me and it was over," Marcus says. "We really didn't play too much after that."

Of course, Marcus has a TON of insane stories about growing up with MJ ... and we had to ask him about the craziest memories he had.

The dude didn't disappoint.

"When I was a kid, Jay-Z and Beyonce came to our house. My dad and Jay-Z actually really played 'around the world' in our gym."

The moment was even immortalized in a Hov track, "N***a Please" ... where Jay says "I damn near beat Jordan in around the world."

Somehow ... Marcus has another memory that can even top that ... saying he went to the White House when his dad got the Presidential Medal of Freedom ... and got to chop it up with the First Family!!

"But, being who I am, it's just so natural that you kinda interact with people on day to day so there's not a lot of other people other than them."

Can't relate.

Greatness comes at a price, but Michael Jordan greatness? That's more like the cost of a house down payment -- just ask the person who now owns MJ's cleats.

The folks over at Heritage Auctions sold a pair of size 13.5 baseball cleats worn and signed by His Airness when he played for the Chicago White Sox's minor-league affiliate, the Birmingham Barons. The total cost ... a whopping $93,000!!!

MJ signed the cleats in bold silver ink. Legend has it ... the shoes were a gift from Michael to a White Sox announcer. The shoes were then obtained at MLB pitcher Jeff Reardon's Leukemia Charity Golf Tournament in 1995. The shoes come with a handwritten note from Reardon acknowledging the cleats are authentic.

As for the shoes, MJ -- whose first love was actually baseball and not basketball -- wore them during his short-lived campaign to reach the Major Leagues in 1994. You can clearly see the Air Jordan Nike cleats have incredible wear, with dirt and scuffs throughout. The Nike logo inside the heel is nearly worn off.

As we've reported ... tons of MJ memorabilia has hit the auction block, from a game-worn Bulls jersey to a $15k check Jordan signed over to Donald Trump's Indiana casino.

Russell Westbrook's got a special birthday message for his little man -- and it's another side of Russ we really don't see too often on the court.

The Rockets star point guard posted a sweet message Saturday to his only boy, Noah, wishing him a happy third birthday -- while also throwing up a bunch of photos and videos of the two of them doing some father-son bonding.

He writes, "Noah, I love you more than life itself and everyday It brings me so much joy to see that beautiful smile and to know you are my son. Thank you God for this unbelievable blessing. HAPPY 3rd BIRTHDAY MANMAN!!!!!!! Daddy loves you forever and ever and ever and ever......🎉🎉🎉🎂🎂🎂🎁🎁"

Noah is Russ' first kid between himself and wife Nina Earl. They had him in 2017, and a year later ... they welcomed twin girls. Russ might not get as much pub as some of the other NBA dads in the league -- a la Steph Curry and LeBron James -- but he's quite the family man, it seems.

Khloe Kardashian and Tristan Thompson are threatening to take a woman to court for continuing to claim Tristan's the father of her child -- and they say DNA proves he's not.

The lawyer for the co-parenting exes -- pit bull attorney Marty Singer -- fired off a cease-and-desist letter to Kimberly Alexander, saying ... "We demand that you immediately stop defaming them with malicious defamatory lies and specious fabrications" about the paternity of her child.

According to the letter ... Tristan had previously taken a paternity test in which it was "unequivocally proven" he's not Alexander's child's father, but she's continued to spread lies about Khloe and the NBA star, including claims they falsified or "fixed" the test.

Singer says the test was performed at one of the nation's more reputable labs and was approved by Kimberly's lawyers.

The letter also alleges Alexander has defamed Khloe by claiming she has paid people off to shut them up, as well as Tristan ... by claiming he's a deadbeat dad.

Finally, Singer says even though one test has already proven Tristan's not the father, he agreed to take a second test to confirm ... but Alexander refused, and subsequently lost her legal counsel.

Singer adds of Alexander ... "It is obvious that the reason you are spreading these lies about my clients is because you want your 15 minutes of fame."

Khloe and Tristan are demanding Alexander stop defaming them on social media and elsewhere, and remove any damaging posts about them ... or she'll be sued.

And, speaking of paternity ... just a reminder that Khloe is NOT currently pregnant with Tristan's baby either, despite persistent rumors she is. They are together in this legal battle, though.