Shark Tank

The next Thomas Edison could totally kick your ass ... 'cause NFL star Bernard Pollard tells TMZ Sports the counter-top organizer he invented last year totally BLEW UP in sales this holiday season.

Pollard, who won a Super Bowl with the Ravens in 2012 invented a bathroom counter-top organizer last year called the "Smart Sink Tray" that he says lets was inspired by the tiny sinks out in Baltimore.

"I first thought it up back in 2012 ... I'm a germaphobe and the counter space in Baltimore was so limited that I wanted something to expand it."

His Howie Mandelness has led to cold hard cash with Pollard telling us this holiday season business was BOOMING for the "Smart Sink Tray" -- with a sales spike of nearly 60%.

"It was really cool to see the orders come in. The east coast went crazy for it."

And Pollard says things are only looking up from here ... 'cause the tray has gotten so popular, it's drawn interest from hotels all over the country and outdoor retailer Camping World.

"We putting it your RV's."

"Shark Tank" Investor Daymond John is a shameless Santa who walked the streets of NYC in disguise to hawk some wacky sunglasses in which he has HEAVILY invested.

John blended into the crowd during SantaCon, and unlike most of the other Santas, his mission was not to get wasted. Instead he tried to make a go of Sunstaches -- novelty glasses with attachments that can turn you into a pirate, a cowboy, a Rosta, and even a devil.

The FUBU CEO owns 30% of the company after anteing up $300K on Shark Tank.

Mark Cuban wrapped up his jury duty by reaching a verdict in the one day trial ... and then shouting out his fellow jurors on Instagram.

As we told you ... Cuban was selected for a Dallas jury in a civil lawsuit over a car accident -- and amazingly, the billionaire owner of the Dallas Mavericks tells TMZ Sports he did NOT have a ton of influence over his fellow jurors.

Mark says they wanted him to be the foreman, but he turned it down. Ultimately, the jury ruled in favor of the defendant -- saying he was NOT negligent.

As soon as the trial was over ... Mark posted what looks like a pic of the jurors deliberating, with the caption -- "Verdict reached and we are dismissed. World's best jury :)" Important to note he didn't post the pic until AFTER the trial. Doing it before would've been a major no-no.

By the way ... Mark took home a whopping $6 for his service.

He called in to TMZ Hollywood Sports right after court. Make sure you check it out on Reelz at 8 PM ET ... 5 PM PT!

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban won't be spending Monday afternoon blogging or ripping NBA officials ... instead he'll be deciding someone's legal fate on a jury.

Cuban showed up to Dallas County Civil Court today and flaunted his jury summons on Instagram. As luck would have it -- bad luck -- Cubes got picked for a case!

According to court records ... the "Shark Tank" star and 5 other citizens are hearing a case involving a two-car accident from 2012 -- one driver is suing another for negligence. The trial is expected to wrap up today.

As long as neither party cops to being a Spurs fan, Cuban should be able to remain impartial. And you just know one of his fellow jurors is gonna pitch him a business idea.

"Shark Tank" contestant Phillip Lapuz's fiance is still stuck in Japan ... even though he said she'd move to America if a deal was struck -- but don't worry, there's a good reason.

In case you missed it, Lapuz bawled his eyes out on last night's episode ... saying he couldn't move his fiancee Mariko to America because his business is not yet a success -- so her parents wouldn't approve.

The waterworks, and biz plan, hooked Robert Herjavec -- so it seemed like only a matter of time.

TMZ spoke with the Kronos Golf founder who tells us he had to keep the good news under wraps since the episode was shot back in June -- but now that it's aired ... he's put the clip in an email to Mariko's parents.

He's waiting for them to wake up in Japan to get the news he's bigtime now.

You know what SUCKS?? Having a chance to invest in an $18 BILLION COMPANY ... but making the WRONG decision ... just ask "Shark Tank" star Daymond John.

John -- who's usually pretty damn good when it comes to investing -- admits he was offered the opportunity to own a piece of Uber ... and turned it down!!!

Hey, even the greats can't bat 1,000 ... but John admits he still thinks about the numbers ... and what his bank account COULDA been -- had he pulled the trigger.

You've seen Tom Brady's college resume -- the one he got ready in case the NFL didn't work out -- but the real question ... would T.B. have been hirable in the real world!???

Enter "Shark Tank" business guru Kevin O'Leary who was out in L.A. Thursday night -- so we had to ask ... based off his resume alone, WOULD YOU HIRE TOM BRADY?!

Keep in mind Kevin's a HUUUUGE Pats fan.

Check out the clip.

Daymond John scored a great role in Hollywood, but it hardly makes up for his biggest regret on "Shark Tank" -- the missed opportunity that cost him $20 mil!

He may be a racist ... and an ahole ... but when it comes to dollars and cents, disgraced Clippers owner Donald Sterling is a LEGEND in the investment community ... so says "Shark Tank" star Kevin O'Leary.

Mr. Wonderful was out in L.A. last night when we asked about the risks of investing in pro sports franchises ... and that's when the financial genius brought up Sterling.

"I think sports teams are based on losing money while you own them and hoping somebody else pays a lot more later. That has certainly been the truth. I mean the Sterling situation really accentuates that."

He continued, "[Sterling] put $12 million in play and now [the Clippers are] worth $2 billion? Very. Smart. Man."

We hit up famous TV 'Shark' Daymond John for a round of STREET "Shark Tank" ... and we got to make 3 pitches.

Two of 'em were DOA, but Daymond thinks the one about a fame hungry family willing to do anything to make it in Hollywood ... just might have legs. IF their legs have an ounce of talent.

Jennifer Love Hewitt's face is getting spread all over the Internet and she ain't happy about it -- she is suing the company using her image to promote a product the "Shark Tank" investors called a total "scam."

The product is called Slim Spray ... which claims to be an oral vitamin spray that will boost your energy and shed pounds. According to the lawsuit ... J.Love's face and bod have been attached to spam ads (you might have one in your inbox right now) that make it look like she endorses the stuff.

Jennifer claims she's worked too hard to develop her "stellar reputation and credibility" to have it all blown by Slim Spray -- and says she never authorized the company to use her image.

As for the photo of her holding the product -- she implies someone put it in her hand on a red carpet event, snapped a pic ... which ended up on Slim Spray's website and ads.

In the docs -- filed Wednesday in L.A. -- she points out the "Shark Tank" crew dismissed the spray as nothing more than a "hustle."

Mark Cuban tells TMZ Sports he does NOT believe Donald Trump can afford to purchase the Buffalo Bills all by himself ... a statement that Trump says is DEAD WRONG.

Trump also says Cuban's a "lightweight whose net worth is a fraction of mine" ... and claims he has first-hand knowledge that Mark sucks at golf.

Mark Cuban wasn't joking when he promised a "Shark Tank" entrepreneur he'd get his product into Mavs gift shops -- 'cause TMZ Sports has learned U-Lace is planning to drop at American Airlines Arena beginning next season.

We spoke with Tim Talley -- who got Mark to invest $200k into his customizable shoe lace business on a recent episode of "Shark Tank."

Talley says sales have exploded since Mark came aboard -- and so far, Cuban has been dead serious about delivering on the promises he made on the show, starting with the plan to sell at Dallas Mavericks team shops.

"We'll likely get the laces into the arena early next season," Talley says ... adding that U-Lace is also gunning for deals with other NBA teams ... as well as organizations in the NFL, MLB and NHL.

Talley says the company is also developing shoes to go along with the laces.

Makes sense to us.

Levin made an emotional pitch to Daymond John, one of the sharks from "Shark Tank" on TMZ Live, offering a 5% cut for $500k. The question -- Was Damon buyin' what Levin's sellin'?

Daymond John and Robert Herjavec, two of the money guys from “Shark Tank” are at the center of a massive $50 million lawsuit ... involving a pissed off "shark" wrangler, TMZ has learned.

A Personal Injury lawyer in Florida – Bobbie Celler – claims he hired John and Herjavec as experts to speak at an upcoming event called the "Shark Tour" -- an expo for people trying to start their own businesses.

In his lawsuit, Celler says John and Herjavec pulled out of the event just one month after they signed contracts to appear. -- and Celler says he smells something fishy.

According to the suit, filed in Florida, BC is convinced Daymond and Robert were coerced to withdraw because of “internal pressure” from Sony Pictures Television, one of the companies that produces “Shark Tank.”

Celler -- who says he's in the process of securing a trademark for Shark Tour -- suggests Sony meddled with the deal because it doesn't want anyone to think the Shark Tour is in any way affiliated with "Shark Tank."

Celler is NOT suing Daymond or Robert -- instead, he's going after Sony for tortious interference with a business relationship ... and he wants $50 mil to make things right.

With a combined estimated net worth approaching $700 million ... Daymond John, Barbara Corcoran, Kevin O'Leary and Robert Herjavec (aka the cast of ABC's "Shark Tank") took in the rides at Disneyland yesterday with their families.