TMZ Sports - Page 50

Metta World Peace has the perfect post-Big Baller Brand career move for LaVar Ball ... saying that LaVar should turn his focus to the NBA ... AS A HEAD COACH.

Metta is serious, he told our guy LaVar has everything he needs to be an NBA head coach, so much so that Metta would've been down to go to battle for him.

"He should go through the NBA's head coaching program, I would play for him."

Metta told our guy he thinks it's obvious LaVar wants to coach -- remember he's coached his sons in the summer for years -- and thinks it could really happen if Ball can handle one thing.

"As long as he can take criticism from his players, I think he should go through the program and be a coach."

We talked to LaVar recently, and he says he's not looking for a new gig, saying the Big Baller Brand is still alive, despite Lonzo covering his tattoo, and his manager tossing out his merch.

Le'Veon Bell is going to have a HUGE season for the New York Jets in 2019 ... and it's all 'cause he sat out last season -- so says NFL legend, Chris Johnson.

"He gave his body a rest," CJ2K tells TMZ Sports ... "Now he's coming back healthy. He rejuvenated his body and he's ready to go."

Le'Veon was known as arguably the NFL's biggest workhorse before he sat out all of last season over a contract dispute with the Steelers.

In 4 of the 5 seasons that he suited up for Pittsburgh ... he touched the ball at least 289 times -- including a staggering 406 in the 2017 season.

But, after carrying it ZERO times this past year ... Chris says he's projecting a monster year for Bell with his new team.

"I think it'll be a big season," Johnson says ... "It's a lot that goes into it, but, you know, I wish him the best and I hope he proves all the doubters wrong."

Great news for Shawne Merriman ... if Batista is too busy to take him up on his fight offer, there's another WWE superstar willing to take his place -- Bobby Lashley!!!

As we previously reported .... the ex-NFL All-Pro linebacker is getting into the MMA game with his own promotion, Lights Out Xtreme Fighting ... and called out Dave freakin' Bautista for a fight in the process.

TMZ Sports spoke to Lashley about the potential matchup ... and while he thinks that's cool and all, Bobby's got a better opponent in mind ... himself!!!

"Shawne Merriman, if he wanted to do it, sure. Call me up. I'll train, I'll fight. I would do it."

Look, Bobby ain't a scrub -- not only is he a wrestling champ, but he's also got a 15-2 career record in MMA.

So ... you still think this is a good idea, Shawne???

Betcha didn't see this coming ... Cris Cyborg -- who had a heated rivalry with Ronda Rousey -- says she's PUMPED to watch Ronda.

TMZ Sports saw Cris at LAX on Friday ... and asked her if she planned on watching her former foe at WM35.

"Yes, I will. I'm gonna be very excited."

That's not exactly shocking ... 'cause Cyborg's a big time wrestling fan -- but what she said next was.

"I think Ronda's doing great. She's showing girls from MMA can do it same thing."

Cris and Ronda had beef for years ... and although they never stepped foot in the Octagon together, there was no shortage of crap talking.

Lookout Ronda Rousey, Becky Lynch, and Charlotte Flair ... 'cause the prize for winning the triple threat match at WrestleMania is 5x WWE champ, Alexa Bliss.

TMZ Sports got Bliss -- who's hosting WrestleMania 35 -- out in NYC on Friday ... and it was clear, even though she ain't competing this weekend, she's keeping a very close eye on the headlining match.

"My plan is, ya know, whoever wins that women's main event, that's who I got my eyes on," Bliss tells us.

We asked Alexa who she wanted to win the historic match ... and cue the shade.

"Charlotte Flair is who I'm rooting for, and that's who I want to happen. Because, ya know, I feel like with the story and how everything is going on, the other 2, ya know, have gotten a little cocky, and I feel like the queen is the one who can humble them."

Bliss against any of the WWE superstar women would be a big deal ... she's been out of the squared circle for a minute after sustaining a concussion late last year.

But, she clearly seems ready to return in a big, big way.

We also talked to Sheamus and Cesaro aka The Bar -- the 5x WWE tag team champs -- who gave us their take on the best tag team EVER.

Hint, it's them.

Sorry, James Harden ... you are NOT the MVP of this year's NBA, so says Rip Hamilton -- who tells TMZ Sports, "I might have to go with Giannis."

The Association's MVP race is basically down to Harden vs. Giannis Antetokounmpo with only a handful of games left to play ... and Rip tells us he's giving the nod to the Bucks star for now.

And, why? The Detroit Pistons legend says he's gotta reward Giannis' win-loss record.

"You gotta give credit to Giannis, man. He's on the No. 1 team. He could be All-NBA on defense. So, right now, with Giannis being the best team, I might have to go with Giannis."

Antetokounmpo's Bucks are No. 1 in the East with a 59-20 record ... while Harden's Rockets sit at No. 3 in the West at 51-28.

But, Harden's numbers KILL Giannis' ... James is averaging almost NINE more points per game AND more assists and steals per contest too.

Beyonce did NOT walk out of a meeting with Reebok because it lacked diversity contrary to reports ... this according to the shoe company.

A rep for Reebok tells TMZ ... "The report that Beyoncé walked out of a meeting with Reebok due to lack of diversity is categorically false. Our discussions with Beyoncé and her team continued for several months after our initial meeting. We are disappointed that false information is being reported as fact."

It is not yet clear why the deal ultimately fell through.

ICYMI ... ESPN reported during a segment on Rachel Nichols' show, "The Jump," claiming Bey walked out of a meeting with Reebok after realizing its corporate structure wasn't at all diverse.

As we reported ... it was just announced Beyonce ultimately signed with Adidas, which will relaunch Bey's Ivy Park line.

Rams head coach Sean McVay's L.A. home was burglarized Thursday night by men who broke in and made off with a bunch of valuables ... law enforcement sources tell TMZ Sports.

We're told 3 men wearing hoodies, bandanas and gloves smashed through the back door of the home ... before stealing $20k worth of jewelry and expensive purses.

No one was home ... and McVay's security system went off -- alerting police to the break-in -- but when they arrived, the thieves were gone.

In addition to what was stolen, we're told there was damage done to the house ... which is still being assessed.

McVay lives with his longtime girlfriend, Veronika Khomyn.

Our law enforcement sources tell us cops are trying to identify the men using surveillance from McVay's home ... as well as from his neighbors' cameras.

McVay isn't the first L.A. Ram to get burglarized ... receiver Robert Woods had his home broken into last year during a Thursday Night Football game.

Forget a Kamaru Usman rematch ... Tyron Woodley says the fight he REALLY wants is with Donald Trump's hair!!!

"Dana, set it up. Tyron Woodley versus Donald Trump's hair, UFC whatever the f**k."

OKAY, Woodley's just playin' around ... but it doesn't make his rant over Trump's hair any less HILARIOUS!!!

The UFC superstar was cruising through his TV channels when Trump popped up ... signature hairdo on full display for the cameras.

Woodley's reaction? "What the f**k are you doing, bruh?"

Tyron continued, "He should wear a bandanna, man. It's terrible. It's so f**king horrible. I hate your hair, man. I don't know you, but I hate your hair. I want to fight your hair."

For his part, Trump knows the look ain't exactly great ... the Prez admitted during a speech last year, "I try like hell to hide that bald spot, folks. I work hard on it!!"

As for Tyron ... he's reportedly agreed to rematch Robbie Lawler in late June.

Conor McGregor appears unretired from fighting ... and Justin Gaethje tells TMZ Sports he BADLY wants to be locked in a steel cage with The Notorious.

But, does Conor want to fight him? Gaethje says nah, doubt it.

"[Conor's] a warrior. I know that it would intrigue him for sure. But, I also think his mind would be like, 'no, thank you.'"

"He can't take my leg kicks. If I wanted to wrestle him, I could wrestle him all day. And, I could knock him out. The last thing he needs to be is f**king on his back reaching for the sky and I will, I could do that to him."

Gaethje's coming off a crazy impressive performance ... he starched Edson Barboza -- one of the scariest dudes in the UFC -- with a vicious right hook in the 1st round last weekend.

Earlier in the week, JG -- the 5th ranked UFC lightweight -- told us he wanted the Holloway-Poirier winner and then Khabib ... but when he was in the TMZ offices on Thursday, clearly things done changed.

"I wanna fight [Conor]. I wanna fight him in Ireland. I know it's not gonna happen in Ireland, but that's my dream. To go over there and be in that sorta chaos. That's what f**king wakes me up every day."

"I'm going out there. I'm gonna stand. I'm gonna stand, I'm gonna knock him out. If he wants to retire, I can help him on his way out."

Conor-Gaethje would be a sick fight ... both guys have great power in their hands and ain't afraid to stand toe-to-toe and mix it up.

Ronda Rousey will straight-up QUIT the WWE if she loses to Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania this weekend ... so says The Man herself.

"She won't be able to hack it," Becky said of Ronda on "TMZ Live" ... "She won't be able to take it. She won't be able to look defeat in the face and say I can come back from this."

Becky says this has actually been her plan for MONTHS ... saying she's allowed Ronda to build up wins just so she can be the one that beats her and forces her to quit fighting for good.

"When Ronda feels untouchable, that's when she gets put to sleep. That's when she gets knocked out."

"And, we all know what happens to Ronda when that happens, she goes and she cries under her blankey for a year or whatever."

Becky added, "The only thing she knows how to do is either be invincible or be gone." She also had a lot more to say about the women's revolution in WWE, and being the main event at Wrestlemania. Tune in for Friday's TMZ Live to see why The Man saw this coming years ago.

BTW, if you think Becky is just talking trash? Maybe not, 'cause Ronda did tell us when we got her out in NYC this week that Wrestlemania 35 is "a do-or-die moment" for her.

The match is set to go down Sunday night ... could it really be Ronda's last in the squared circle?!?

Forget being the best DB in the NFL ... Jalen Ramsey is gunnin' for best BF honors -- 'cause the Jacksonville Jaguars superstar got his baby mama a DOPE Rolex for her birthday!!!

Of course, JR is famously dating Giants WR Golden Tate's sister -- Breanna Tate -- and for her cake day ... he got her some ICE for her wrist.

Unclear which make and model the Rollie is ... but similar gold & diamond Rolexes run in the $35,000 range!!!!!

"My Queen gon stay fresher & icier than me I PROMISE," Ramsey wrote of the gift.

24-year-old Jalen and Breanna have been going strong for a while now ... and the two just had a little baby girl together last summer.

In fact, Jalen missed a portion of Jags training camp last season for the birth of their child, writing, "family is among the most important things in my life."

Kit Harington absolutely HATES that he was born on Boxing Day, but ya can't hate on him for squaring up like a champ in the ring.

The "Game of Thrones" star worked up a sweat at a gym Thursday in NYC ... where he was attending a boxing class with a buddy, but clearly the spotlight belonged to him. Kit -- aka Jon Snow -- started off looking like a newbie but didn't take long before finding his rhythm.

Check out the pics and this vid ... his right hook's got potential.

It's a big weekend for Kit ... he's also hosting 'SNL' this weekend. As we reported ... the entire cast got together Wednesday for a huge 'GoT' bash also in the Big Apple. Kit, of course, was there looking dapper as hell in an all-black ensemble.

BTW ... Kit hates Boxing Day -- the day after Christmas in the UK -- because there's nothing more annoying than the dual birthday-Christmas gift. December babies know what we're talking about.

LeBron James and the Lakers paid tribute to the late Nipsey Hussle on Thursday ... with Bron rocking a shirt honoring the slain rapper at the game.

The NBA superstar was crushed after Nipsey was shot and killed outside his L.A. store on Sunday ... sharing recent convos he had with the rapper and listening to his music during workouts.

LBJ honored Nipsey with his wardrobe choice for L.A.'s game against the Warriors on Thursday night ... wearing a shirt with his face on it.

"Man Nip I promise I’ll continue to fly high for you bro!! The Marathon Must Continue On!! 🏁," Bron said on IG.

"And while you’re resting and enjoying paradise I hope I can make you proud down here below. "

The Lakers honored Nipsey with a moment of silence during the game as well.

JR Smith -- LeBron's old teammate -- also repped Nipsey while out in Hollywood on Thursday ... wearing a red Crenshaw hoodie.

A lot of hoopers and other athletes have paid tribute after Nipsey's death this week ... with Russell Westbrook dedicating his 20-20-20 game to him on Wednesday.

Nipsey was 33 years old. RIP.

Kyler Murray's too darn short to play quarterback in the NFL and he chose the wrong sport ... so says Joe Theismann.

"From my perspective, I think he's going to be challenged in the NFL," the Redskins legend tells TMZ Sports ... "I think he should've taken baseball. That would have been my suggestion to him."

Of course, Kyler's height has been a HUGE talking point ever since the Heisman Trophy winner decided to forgo a baseball career with the Oakland A's to enter this month's NFL draft.

The Oklahoma QB measured in at 5-10, 207 pounds at February's combine ... and count Theismann in as one of the doubters who says that's way too small for an NFL QB.

And why? Joe tells us he's worried Kyler won't be able to throw over taller defensive linemen ... saying, "It's the mechanics of playing the quarterback position."

Theismann also says he's concerned Kyler won't have as good of an O-line as he had at OU ... and thinks that could have devastating results on his style of play.

But, don't get it twisted ... Theismann tells us he's actually rooting for the QB to succeed at the next level -- and thinks he's "a wonderful athlete."