TMZ Sports - Page 50

Paul Pierce is glad Villanova is refusing to visit Trump's White House to celebrate their NCAA basketball title ... saying the tradition is dumb and overrated.

Nova's coach Jay Wright, announced Thursday the team would not visit 1600 Pennsylvania this year -- as NCAA winning teams have traditionally done for years.

In fact, Villanova visited Obama's White House after winning the title 2016 -- but Wright explained, "Two years ago it was the experience of a lifetime for all of us. It’s just a different time."

Fast forward to Thursday night outside Mastro's Steakhouse in Bev Hills -- where we asked Pierce (who visited George W. Bush's White House with the Celtics in '08) if Nova was making a mistake.

"I think that's overrated," Pierce explained ... "Why you gotta visit the White House? You got your trophy, you won your championship."

Paul tells us it's a digital time -- so a simple congratulatory tweet should more than do the job.

Then, he started questioning why the tradition even started in the first place -- strongly implying the tradition is just dumb and unnecessary.

"I don't know why we go to the White House," Pierce said ... "Why did people even start going there?"

BTW ... when Pierce went to the White House a decade ago -- he called it "truly an honor" and even brought gifts for No. 43.

Derrick Lewis says he's in the best shape of his life -- he's been training 3 hours a day to go the distance with Daniel Cormier ... and predicts a KO in the last few seconds of the 5th round!

Of course, Lewis famously said his cardio was terrible after his last second victory over Alexander Volkov earlier this month (he also complained his balls were hot) ... but he's been kicking his own ass in the gym and looks super leaned out.

"I'm training 3 hours a day instead of 30 minutes," Lewis tells TMZ Sports ... "I'm prepared to go 5 rounds."

Lewis and Cormier will square off for the UFC heavyweight title on Nov. 3 at UFC 230 -- and even thought Derrick's the heavy underdog, he's advising everyone to BET MONEY ON HIM!!

"I'm the underdog just about every fight," Lewis says ... "Whoever betting on me, I'm making you money!"

So, what's next for Derrick if he wins?

The man who got beat up by Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Dante Fowler claims he needs surgery to repair his injuries from the 2017 attack ... so now he's suing the NFL player.

As we previously reported Fowler confronted and attacked Alvin Trotman on July 18, 2017 after a dispute in an apartment complex parking lot in Florida.

Trotman claims he was innocently strolling through with groceries when he witnessed Fowler almost hit another car. Trotman admits he made a comment to Fowler, who then got out of his car and said, "What did you say, bitch?"

Trotman says Fowler punched him in the face, stomped on his prescription glasses, stole his grocery bag and threw it in a nearby lake.

Fowler was arrested and convicted in the subsequent battery case and was sentenced to a year probation.

But, Trotman says he's still really injured from the attack -- with damage to his back and a torn rotator cuff that requires surgery.

Trotman also claims he suffers from humiliation and mental anguish, and he wants Fowler to pony up a check to make things right.

UFC badass Anthony Smith wants to fight Jon Jones ... and says he's 100% sure he can take out the all-time UFC great.

Smith -- who's DESTROYED his last two opponents, Shogun Rua and Rashad Evans -- fights Volkan Oezdemir Saturday on FS1, but tells us after that fight he's got his sights on a much, much bigger face off, and that's with Jones.

"Once I go through Volkan and do what I think I'm gonna do to him. I'm gonna stomp my foot in the ground and stake my claim."

His claim -- he feels -- is to be the #1 light heavyweight in the world ... and in order to do that he's gotta go through Jones, something he says only he can do.

"I'm not afraid of Jon Jones. And, there's probably not that many people in the division that can say that," Smith tells us ... "I'm 100% not afraid of Jon Jones. And, I really believe deep down in my soul that I can beat him."

Of course, Jones has some work to do first too ... he's got a fight against badass Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 232 in December -- his first fight since July 2017.

This could get awesome.

Disappointed in this year's World Series games?? Here's something that'll cheer you up ... the players' smokin' hot WAGS!!!

Boston and L.A. haven't played the most competitive W.S. so far ... but they've hit plenty of home runs off the diamond -- just look at their wives and girlfriends!!!

Justin Turner's wife, Kourtney Turner, steals the show ... but Kike Hernandez's fiance, Mariana Vicente, and Alex Wood's wife, Suzanna Villarreal, came to play too.

In Boston's lineup, Catherine Rodríguez is as hot as an Eduardo Rodríguez fastball ... and Matt Barnes' fiance, Chelsea Zara, rocks the hell out of a bikini.

LeBron James has debuted the first trailer to his new series "Shut Up & Dribble" -- and it's pretty powerful stuff.

The NBA superstar teamed up with stars like Kendrick Lamar and Charles Barkley to explore the impact NBA players have when it comes to social activism.

The Showtime series -- which premieres Nov. 3rd -- is narrated by Jemele Hill ... who's been very outspoken when it comes to politics and other hot button issues.

Hill was so outspoken, she was suspended by ESPN for going after President Donald Trump and criticizing Jerry Jones.

James -- along with his SpringHill Entertainment producing partners Maverick Carter and Rich Paul -- felt Hill was the perfect fit for this project.

The trailer features a recording of Martin Luther King Jr's famous "What Is Your Life's Blueprint?" speech from 1967 ... featuring powerful lines like:

" Always feel that you count. Always feel that you have worth. And always feel that your life has ultimate significance."

And ... "In your life’s blueprint, you must have as a basic principle the determination to achieve excellence in your various fields of endeavor."

Abby Wambach says FIFA's decision to double the prize money for the Women's World Cup is good -- but it's still FAR less from what the men are getting ... AND THAT'S NOT OKAY!!!

We spotted the Team USA soccer legend at LAX hours after the FIFA Council announced the move to increase the prize pool from $15 million to $30 million next year.

The women's champion will now get $4 million from that pool -- while the men's champs (France) just got $38 MILLION from a $400 million prize pool.

"We still got a lot of work to do," Wambach tells TMZ Sports ... "It's like a Band-Aid. They need to pay the women equally."

"The mission of FIFA isn't just to grow the men's game. It's to grow the game of football worldwide."

Cleveland Browns wideout Antonio Callaway had some trouble before he took on the Chargers last week -- dude got busted for speeding hours before the game ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Police records show the 21-year-old was caught going 58 mph in a 35 mph around 7:30 AM in his 2018 Jaguar F-PACE SUV in Strongsville, Ohio.

Don't worry -- wasn't a big deal (like his last police stop) ... he was merely cited and sent on his way.

Callaway and the Browns took on the Chargers a few hours later -- but Antonio didn't exactly have a great game ... only catching 2 passes for 9 yards. The Browns lost 38-14.

Back in August, Callaway was pulled over for a routine traffic violation but things went sideways quickly when the officer found marijuana, gun parts and bullets in Antonio's car.

Callaway was cited for possession of marijuana and driving on a suspended license. He pled not guilty. That case is ongoing.

Ozzie Guillen tells TMZ Sports ... he REALLY believes the Dodgers can come back and beat the Boston Red Sox even though they're down 0-2.

But, they're gonna need to take his advice ...

Of course, Ozzie knows how to win in the World Series -- he managed the Chicago White Sox when they won it all in 2005.

So, how would Ozzie do things if he was in Dave Roberts' shoes? Ozzie breaks it down for us and tells us why everyone counting out the Dodgers is straight-up wrong.

One big point ... Ozzie says L.A. needs to take a page from Bill Belichick and remember to do their jobs!

"Don't be a hero," Ozzie says ... noting that sometimes "players want to be the hero, try to do too much."

Fresh off getting destroyed by the Red Sox ... Astros superstar Alex Bregman is ridin' with Boston in Game 3 Friday night ... predicting a road win over the Dodgers!!

Of course ... Bregman knows both teams well -- the 'Stros beat the Dodgers in last year's World Series and just got knocked out by Chris Sale's boys in the ALCS last week.

So, listen up if you're trying to make a buck off tonight's game.

But ... Alex tells us he ain't so sure about the Red Sox in Game 4 on Saturday -- saying a sweep ain't easy!!!

As for advice for the Dodgers ... Alex doesn't exactly have a Herb Brooks speech for them, saying, "They know how to do it, they're a good team."

Rae Sremmurd wants to sing the national anthem at the World Series so badly, they're auditioning RIGHT OUTSIDE IN L.A. ... while smoking a bunch of weed.

... and it's actually pretty good (aside from skipping a bunch of the words).

Slim Jxmmi and Swae Lee tell TMZ Sports ... they REALLY want the Dodgers to come back and take down the Red Sox and if they can sing "The Star-Spangled Banner" before one of the home games, it would energize the hell out of the Blue Crew.

"Home runs out the ass!"

That's when Swae put his pipes on display and gave us a taste of what the Rae Sremmurd anthem would sound like ... after a few drags from a blunt.

Hey, at this point ... Dodgers might wanna consider bringin' 'em in!!!

BTW -- the rap superstars just inked a $20 MILLION deal with Belaire ... so if the Dodgers turn things around to win the Series and need some bubbly, they know who to call.

Why should you put your money on underdog Phil Mickelson beating Tiger Woods in their huge upcoming $9 MILLION 1-on-1 match?

It ain't 'cause he plays better with his back against the wall ...

"I think it pays better!"

PHIL'S GOT GAMBLING JOKES!!

But seriously, 48-year-old Lefty tells TMZ Sports he officially started his training Thursday for the day-after-Thanksgiving, pay-per-view battle ... explaining, "I gave myself a month to get ready for it."

It's not just about fattening his bank account, Phil says he's REALLY excited about the money the event will raise for charity.

Phil says some of the money will go to the Children of the 58 fund -- which will provide scholarships to the children of the 58 people killed in the 2017 Las Vegas shooting.

Another portion will go to Birdies for the Brave -- a foundation started by Phil and his wife -- dedicated to supporting wounded military vets.

Clinton Portis and Edgerrin James still got it!!!!

No, not on the football field ... in the club -- 'cause the two University of Miami legends hit up a D.C. hot spot Thursday night ... AND TURNED ALL THE WAY UP!!!

Loud music ... flashing lights ... bottle poppin' -- the ex-RBs did it all ... complete with a double-barreled champagne spill from C.P.!!

So, what brings the two RBs back together?? Edgerrin says he's in the nation's capital for Howard University's Homecoming (his daughter went there and now works there).

Sounds like a weekend full of raging is ahead ... 'cause Edge told Portis after the night, "U still got a little Juice... but that’s only 1 day. Tmr a new day. See what u got."

Dana White will eventually change his mind and sign Logan Paul to a UFC fight contract ... at least, Tyron Woodley is convinced that's how it'll go down!

Remember, White crapped all over the idea of Paul getting into the Octagon -- saying the YouTube superstar would get hurt fighting with the trained killers in the UFC.

But, on "The Hollywood Beatdown" this week, Tyron says he watched Logan's boxing match -- and feels the same way as Joe Rogan -- that Paul has some real fighting talent.

Tyron also points out that Dana, to his credit, has reversed course when it comes to UFC policy in the past -- remember when he said women would never fight?

There's more ... Tyron also explains why he probably WON'T fight Ben Askren in the UFC -- but tells us why the newest UFC superstar could cause some REAL problems for guys like Georges St-Pierre.

Ronda Rousey tells TMZ Sports ... pulling out of the WWE event in Saudi Arabia would be the WRONG move, because there is SO much good that can ultimately come from it.

And she's so passionate about the event, she was fighting back tears while making her point.

The WWE superstar was out in NYC promoting Sunday's all-female Pay-Per-View event 'Evolution' -- and explaining the cultural impact it can have ... when we naturally segued into the Saudi Arabia event.

Several politicians and other high powered people have been calling for Vince McMahon to postpone the event in the wake of the Jamal Khashoggi murder and alleged Saudi cover up.

But, Ronda tells us she supports the decision to move forward with 'Crown Jewel' on Nov. 2nd in Riyadh -- based on previous experience as an athlete who's competed internationally.

"I’m a 2-time Olympian, so I’m an idealist when it comes to sports," Ronda says ... while explaining how she bonded with a boxer from Iraq while the U.S. was at war with his country.

"Nowhere else in the world would some man from Iraq and a little girl from Venice Beach be respecting each other and sharing space. And, I think that sports is where we really find that common ground with each other."

"And, I think that pulling out of the 'Crown Jewel' would be the wrong move because I think that this is an opportunity to be able to share our cultures, and to define what we have in common and in times especially when, you know, times of adversity between two countries that’s the absolute wrong time to be able to pull away."

"I think that’s the time for us to be able to find what we have in common and be able to understand each other more."

Alex Rodriguez was rollin' around L.A. in style on Thursday -- hitting up Bev Hills in a custom Jeep made by the "Pimp My Ride" crew ... and he gave us an inside look right on the street!!!

A-Rod's 2018 Jeep Wrangler was customized by West Coast Customs as part of a Celebrity Customs challenge (yeah, XZIBIT was there) -- and it's SIIIICK.

It even features a functional cigar humidor right on the center console.

There's more ... it also features a custom grille, giant 26" Forgiato wheels, LED lighting, an iPad Pro embedded on the dash, souped-up wheels and tires and a nightclub-quality sound system.

Not too shabby!

We also asked Alex -- who was headed to Mastros to host a D'USSE dinner for his FOX colleagues -- to help break down the World Series ... and tell us if he REALLY thinks the Dodgers have a chance at a comeback.