TMZ Sports - Page 50

Kane ain't the only famous person running for mayor in Knox County -- the WWE star's opponent has a serious Hollywood background ... and even played a key part in "Friday Night Lights."

Kane (real name Glenn Jacobs) is running against Bob Thomas -- who played the sports radio host Slammin' Sammy in the 'FNL' movie. He was the first and last person you hear in the flick and his voice was a key part in moving the story along.

He's also a real-life radio DJ who had a big show in Knoxville for 25 years.

But get this, his son, Jake Thomas, is also an accomplished actor -- he played Lizzie McGuire's brother, Matt McGuire, on the Disney show. Bob also had a cameo on the show and wrote a few episodes.

Bob was also Jake's voice coach on Steven Spielberg's movie, 'A.I.' -- and spent months working alongside the Hollywood legend.

Bob (like Jacobs, is a Republican) is currently a Knox County Commissioner -- and if you think he's gonna roll over for a WWE superstar, he says you're sorely mistaken.

In fact, Thomas is extremely confident about his chances when the election goes down next year.

Clear eyes, full hearts (and tons of votes) ... can't lose.

Willie McGinest says the best thing the Raiders could do is sign Marshawn Lynch -- explaining why Beast Mode would send that high-octane Silver and Black offense into overdrive!

McGinest also gives his take on why a Lynch to the Patriots deal probably has little hope.

The man convicted of shooting and killing ex-NFL star Will Smith is now suing Smith's widow in civil court -- claiming it was Will who triggered the violence that fateful night and ruined his life.

Cardell Hayes is suing Racquel Smith, the estate of Will Smith and others over the events from April 9, 2016 ... when Hayes shot Smith in New Orleans following a road rage incident.

In the suit, Hayes says Smith was very drunk when he began dangerously taunting him on the road that night ... culminating in Hayes slamming his car into Smith's vehicle.

Hayes says Smith threw a drink in his face and punched him while one of Smith's associates tried to club him with a weapon.

Hayes says Smith went back to his car, grabbed a gun and shot at him multiple times.

Cops say they found a loaded gun in Smith's car that night -- but prosecutors had said there's no evidence he ever fired it during the altercation.

Hayes was eventually convicted of manslaughter and could face up to 40 years in prison. Sentencing is set for later this month.

Meantime, Hayes is suing the Smiths in civil court for the assault, severe emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life and more.

Big win for Von Miller ... an L.A. judge has BLOCKED a woman from releasing the sex tape featuring the NFL superstar after months of fighting it out in court.

As we previously reported, Elizabeth Ruiz claims she owns the rights to 50% of the video which was shot during a trip to Mexico in June 2016. She claimed Miller knew he was being recorded and consented.

But Miller claimed Ruiz was trying to shake him down for $2.5 MILLION -- insisting she was only using the tape in a cash grab scheme.

She denied trying to extort Miller -- saying it was HIS legal team that made the first cash offer and she was down to play ball.

But earlier this week, a judge issued a permanent injunction in the case -- forbidding her from not only distributing the tape ... but she's not even allowed to let anyone see it.

The judge also ordered Ruiz to pay Miller $50,000 in attorney's fees.

And get this ... the judge also ordered that a copy of the sex tape that Ruiz had submitted as evidence must be destroyed ASAP.

When Houston Texans offensive tackle David Quessenberry finished his last round of chemotherapy after a 3 year battle, he got to ring the victory bell at the hospital ... AND BROKE THE DAMN THING!

It's actually an awesome video ... Quessenberry has been fighting Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma since he was diagnosed in 2014 ... a year after he was drafted into the league.

Now, more than 1,000 days after he began his battle ... Quessenberry completed his last chemotherapy treatment at MD Anderson cancer hospital in Houston and got to ring the bell to announce to the world that he's well on the road to recovery!

He rang it so damn hard it broke!

Quessenberry commented about it, saying, "This bell, just like cancer, never stood a chance."

Vladimir Putin just got his pockets checked by one of the most powerful men in hip hop, who says he's willing to bet Putin millions Andre Ward DESTROYS Sergey Kovalev in their rematch.

The man is James Prince ... CEO of Rap-A-Lot Records and one of the most feared and respected figures in rap ... who also happens to manage Ward.

When we got James at the Hollywood Roosevelt and he offered a personal invitation to Putin to attend the fight and watch his countryman Kovalev get punished ... as long as the Russian Prez is willing to put a little (a lot) dough on it.

"We welcome him," Prince says ... "If he wanna come and witness this massacre about to take place? Don't be surprised if Kovalev gets knocked out."

"Putin, give us a call."

Our camera guy suggested the bet be around $500k ... and Prince immediately shot it down as TOO LOW.

"We can go above and beyond that. They might laugh at that. We could stack it to the ceiling."

Another win for the greatest of all time ... with Bill Belichick finding a way to get out of testifying in the Aaron Hernandez double murder case without getting in trouble with the court.

The New England Patriots head coach was initially named a witness for the defense. Unclear what they expected to get out of Belichick, but nonetheless, they wanted his testimony.

So, when he didn't show up during the hearing, questions arose ... until today.

The judge addressed Hernandez's lawyer, Jose Baez, and said the clerk had received a call from Belichick's attorney wondering if he was in trouble for not participating in the case.

Baez explained that his people TRIED to serve Belichick with papers compelling him to testify -- but they had a very hard time getting the papers to the coach in a timely manner.

"The reason for the delay on that part was the community where he lived," Baez told the judge ... "Our process server was not able to get him numerous times."

When they finally got to Belichick, the trial was wrapping up so Baez and his team "made a strategic decision to release him from service of process."

Ultimately, Baez said ... "We didn't think his testimony was critical to the defense so we released him."

Bottom line -- Belichick ducked the court without consequences.

The Chicago Cubs finally got their World Series bling Wednesday night -- complete with 214 diamonds, rubies, sapphires ... and a BILLY GOAT.

Great news for Sacramento Kings star Rudy Gay -- his recovery from a torn Achilles injury is going GREAT ... with Gay telling us he's 1 MONTH ahead of schedule!

As we previously reported, Rudy ruptured his tendon in a game against the Pacers on January 18 and underwent surgery a few days later.

Obviously, the Kings' season is over and Gay won't be in the NBA playoffs -- HOWEVER, he could choose to become a free agent on July 1st and sign a fat new longterm contract with another team.

So, when Gay says he's feeling great and should start running soon -- he's really probably talking to other teams ... letting everyone know he'll be healthy and worth every penny!!!

Ex-NFL quarterback Todd Marinovich says his naked drug arrest was a rude awakening about how out of control his substance abuse issues had gotten ... and now he's fighting to live for his kids.

The 47-year-old opened up to TMZ Sports about his life since his arrest back in August -- when cops found him naked in a stranger's backyard -- and how it was the rock bottom he needed to change his life.

"I've been running [from my addiction] for years and it definitely came a time, especially after the arrest, the humiliation that that brought, the self-loathing that I was feeling, where I was finally willing to do the things necessary to get better."

Todd says he's stopped counting the days he's been sober -- instead, he takes a day-by-day approach -- but says he's been getting treatment and he's in a MUCH better place.

"I have never been better," Todd says ... "I think it's a long time and a long journey getting to this point."

Todd's substance abuse issues are well-documented. He's struggled with addiction since he was a star QB at USC in the late '80s, early '90s and has been to rehab several times before.

So, what's different this time around? Todd says he's got two little kids who are motivating him to stay clean.

Suprise! The WWE is definitely interested in Rob Gronkowski -- AFTER he wraps up his career in the NFL ... this according to WWE superstar Mojo Rawley.

Mojo appeared on the "TMZ Sports" TV show (airs Wednesday night on FS1) and told us how awesome it would be crushing inside the squared circle with Gronk ... his longtime best buddy.

And with Gronk being such a natural during his 2 recent WWE cameos, we had to ask if Vince McMahon's company has taken steps toward locking him up full-time.

Mojo fills us in and talks about A LOT more in the full interview tonight on FS1.

Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Senquez Golson was stopped by TSA agents at an airport in Alabama after they found a handgun and bullets in his carry-on bag ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Maybe he was flying United???

Here's what we know ... the 2015 2nd round draft pick was going through security at Mobile Regional Airport around noon Wednesday when they found a Glock .45 caliber pistol along with 23 rounds of ammunition in the magazine.

There's a discrepancy over whether the gun can be considered "loaded" or "unloaded" since there was technically not a round in the chamber.

TSA alerted police and officers took the bag and escorted Golson out of the area.

Golson was NOT arrested. Instead, cops offered to hold the gun for him until he returned from his travels ... at which time he could pick it up.

How's that for southern hospitality?

Tim Tebow has already become the LEADER of his minor league baseball team ... so says the manager of the Columbia Fireflies, Jose Leger.

We spoke to the skipper of the NY Mets Class A affiliate and he was raving about Tebow -- even though Tim's only played 5 games with the team.

"He's the leader on the team already," Leger says ... telling TMZ Sports the guy's work ethic has blown everyone away.

"He outworks anybody that we have out here."

Tebow already has 2 home runs and 5 RBIs in 20 at-bats with the team ... and Leger says he's got the power to make it in the pros.

Stay tuned ...

Jackie Robinson's wife and children are among the special guests committed to attend the statue ceremony at Dodger Stadium this weekend honoring the MLB legend ... the team says.

Rachel Robinson, along with Jackie's daughter, Sharon, and son, David, will be front and center on Saturday ... the 70th anniversary of Robinson breaking MLB’s color barrier on April 15, 1947.

The 10 foot tall bronze statue will be the very first one installed at Dodger Stadium. The first 40,000 fans will receive a smaller replica.

Several Dodgers legends will also be in attendance including Vin Scully, Tommy Lasorda, Sandy Koufax, Don Newcombe and Dodgers owner Magic Johnson.

Seems Elisa Johnson is BACK ON with her quasi-boyfriend, Anthony Alcaraz -- 'cause they were all over each other on the beach in Miami!

Last we saw Magic Johnson's daughter, she claimed she wasn't really in a committed relationship, despite the on-again, off-again thing with the male model.

But here they are in Miami ... letting it all hang out.

Tennessee Titans tight end Delanie Walker JUST returned from a trip with the U.S. military -- and says he realized he played college football against one of the soldiers!

Walker was part of a USO tour to various U.S. military bases in the Middle East, Asia and North America -- where he learned how to fire weapons, ride camels and even threw around the pigskin!

In fact, Walker and Cam Jordan even hit some trick shots -- involving a basketball hoop!

In the end, Walker said he LOVED the trip and has even more respect for our troops.