TMZ Sports - Page 50

Mick Foley is praising the hell out of The Rock for buying the XFL with his ex-wife ... telling TMZ Sports his business relationship with Dany Garcia is just another example of why the former WWE star is an awesome person.

"The greatest part of this announcement is that one of his partners in this venture is his former wife, Dany Garcia," Foley says.

"The Rock not only sets an example on how to conduct yourself as a human being, an actor, a philanthropist but as a former husband."

FYI -- The Rock married Garcia way back in 1997, but they divorced in 2007 while promising at the time to continue to stay in each other's lives as "best friends."

Mick says the way Dwayne has kept up that commitment with Garcia despite the separation is powerful ... and Foley claims it tells a lot about the 48-year-old movie star's character.

"Of all the stories I tell about The Rock, I think my favorite one is he was actually at his ex-wife's wedding," says Foley, who wrestled with Dwayne for years in the WWE.

"I think that's a great lesson for everyone to learn for the fact that they can stay amazing friends, be amazing parents to Simone, and then take on these business ventures."

As we previously reported, Rock teamed up with Garcia and partners at RedBird Capital (led by Gerry Cardinale) to scoop up the XFL for $15 million on Monday.

The Rock's promising to build a good product on the field for fans ... and Foley says there's no doubt in his mind his former coworker is going to crush it.

"It's got a really good shot to succeed because of the intensity and the effort that he and Dany and their partners put into it," Foley says.

By the way, Mick is already lobbying his old pal for a role in the league ... but he tells us he doesn't want a suit-and-tie front office job -- he wants to strap on a helmet!!

"That's what I'd like to do," Foley says.

The mess continues for the St. Louis Cardinals -- 13 members of the organization have tested positive for the coronavirus ... and the team's upcoming 4-game series with the Detroit Tigers has been postponed.

MLB confirmed ... 7 players and 6 staffers returned positive COVID-19 tests within the past week.

The team will remain in Milwaukee -- where they have been quarantined since Thursday -- until medical officials clear them to travel.

The Cards were supposed to play the Tigers at Comerica Park in Detroit beginning August 4th -- but now, that has been pushed.

The plan, according to MLB, is for the Cardinals to "resume its regular schedule on Friday against the Chicago Cubs in St. Louis."

And, in unrelated bad news, the highly-anticipated Field of Dreams game between the Cards and White Sox in Iowa -- scheduled for August 13 -- has also been canceled due to a "logistical problem," according to the Athletic's Ken Rosenthal.

Got Milk Amazing Feat Of Athleticism?!?!

Katie Ledecky just swam the entire length of a pool while balancing a glass of milk on her head ... and she didn't spill a single drop the whole time!!!

The 5-time Olympic gold medalist posted the insane swim on her social media page as part of an ad for milk ... and the footage is straight-up mind-blowing.

Ledecky, sporting snorkel gear, hopped into the pool and put the glass of chocolate goodness right on the back of her head.

What happened next was amazing ... she cruised through the pool no problem, with not one ounce of milk wasted!!!

In fact, to prove it all was real, after she got up for air -- she took the glass off her head and chugged down a sip!!!

"Possibly one of the best swims of my career! (~open for debate~)," Ledecky said.

Odell Beckham is publicly calling for the NFL to cancel the 2020 season ... saying it's just too dangerous to play with COVID still wreaking havoc.

"I just feel like the season shouldn’t happen," the Cleveland Browns star told WSJ. Magazine ... "and I’m prepared for it to not happen and I wouldn’t mind not having it."

It's important to note the WSJ interview took place just before the NFLPA reached an agreement with the league about COVID protocol on July 24 -- and Odell reported to training camp on July 28.

Beckham is reportedly not considering opting out often 2020 season -- and feels more comfortable and confident about things after seeing the COVID protocols at the Browns facility, according to Cleveland.com.

Still, Odell's concerns to the WSJ seem pretty valid ... he explains why the NFL has much bigger challenges than other pro leagues like the NBA.

"Obviously with everything that’s going on, it doesn’t make sense why we’re trying to do this. I can understand basketball was already in the playoffs."

"Five-on-five basketball in an arena is going to be more intense than regular-season games. Hooping is different than playing an eleven-on-eleven contact sport where there's 80 people in a locker room."

"We’re not ready for football season. So why are we trying to push forward?"

Beckham suggested the owners are leading the charge to play ... because they don't want to lose money.

"It’s obviously for their money. And that bothers me because there’s always been this -- and I hate saying it like that -- but the owners’ [attitude is], Oh we own you guys, and just kind of that unfairness going on that they don’t see us as human."

Forget Johnny Football ... just call him Johnny Daredevil now!!!

Here's footage of former Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel leaping off a rooftop and doing a front flip into a pool ... and it's INSANE!!!

Unclear where the debauchery went down ... but Manziel posted the video Sunday -- showing a slow-mo shot of him soaring roughly 20 feet through the air before splashing down.

It's pretty scary ... the pool ain't exactly huge, and he appears to be just feet away from the shallow end!!!

Of course, jumping off high things into water is becoming old hat for the recently retired football player ... it was just a few weeks ago when he posted vid of him throwing himself off a cliff.

Don't worry, John's still alive and well ... and hey, the video is pretty cool.

FINALLY, THE ROCK HAS COME BACK TO ... PRO FOOTBALL!?

The WWE legend just teamed up with an investment group to snatch up Vince McMahon's XFL league for $15 million, the league confirms in a statement.

The league had filed for bankruptcy after being resurrected for the 2020 season -- and was supposed to be auctioned off to highest bidder on Monday.

But, Dwayne Johnson and his partners -- Dany Garcia (Rock's business partner and ex-wife) and partners at RedBird Capital (led by Gerry Cardinale) -- swooped in and bought it up this weekend before it hit the auction block.

The deal must now be approved in bankruptcy court on Friday -- and if everything goes smoothly, it could close by August 21.

The Rock (along with Dany) and RedBird are reportedly 50/50 partners in the deal.

Remember, the XFL got off to a pretty decent start in 2020 -- but COVID essentially served as a death sentence to the league, forcing it to shut down in March.

The league filed for chapter 11 in April -- listing $10 to $50 million in debts.

The Rock issued a statement saying, "The acquisition of the XFL with my talented partners, Dany Garcia and Gerry Cardinale, is an investment for me that’s rooted deeply in two things - my passion for the game and my desire to always take care of the fans."

"With pride and gratitude for all that I’ve built with my own two hands, I plan to apply these callouses to the XFL, and look forward to creating something special for the players, fans, and everyone involved for the love of football."

The plan is to relaunch the league -- but so far, no timetable has been set.

As for The Rock, he famously played college football at the University of Miami back in the day before becoming a global pro wrestling superstar with Vince McMahon's WWE.

The last man to fight Mike Tyson says he's down to run it back -- with Kevin McBride telling TMZ Sports, "Let's get it on!"

Of course, McBride is the man who sent Tyson into retirement when the Irishman dominated Iron Mike so badly in their 2005 matchup, Tyson quit on his stool before the 7th round.

After the fight, a then 38-year-old Tyson told the media he lost his passion for boxing and wanted to move on with his life.

McBride continued fighting professionally until 2011 and now works as a laborer at a tree company -- primarily doing heavy lifting.

Now, Mike is 54 and coming out of retirement for an exhibition with Roy Jones Jr. ... and McBride says once that's done, HE WANTS NEXT!

"Let's get it on! Definitely would love to fight him again," 47-year-old McBride tells us.

"Nobody can rule out anything in this world because that's life. It would be explosive to fight Mike Tyson again and I'm sure Mike would love to rectify his loss and I would just love to jump in the ring again with him."

Plus, McBride says the payday would be awesome -- he could use the cash to help put his kids through college.

In fact, Kevin says his boss at the Brendan Hoarty Tree Services company is fully supportive of rematch with Mike -- and already promised him time off so he could properly train again.

There's more ... we also spoke with Kevin about how that victory over the baddest man on the planet changed his life forever.

Emmitt Smith and his beauty queen wife, Pat, have announced they're separating -- just months after celebrating their 20th wedding anniversary.

"We are publicly sharing that after much contemplation and prayer, we have decided to separate," the 51-year-old Hall of Famer announced in a joint statement with Pat.

"We will continue to move forward with love and compassion for one another, as co-parents and friends."

"We will work together in the best interests of our children, our family, community and businesses."

The Dallas Cowboys legend married Pat -- a former Miss Virginia USA beauty queen -- back in April 2000. They have 3 children together.

the breakup is shocking considering Pat had just written a pretty emotional love letter to Emmitt for their 20th anniversary ... saying, "Hubby, I love you so dearly and I'm extremely grateful for all that we have built together and for the love that we share together."

Jonathan Isaac -- the Magic player who stood for the national anthem and did not wear a BLM shirt before Orlando's game last Friday -- has torn his ACL and will miss the rest of the season, the team announced Sunday.

Isaac gained national attention just 3 days ago ... when he became the league's first player in the NBA bubble restart to stand for the anthem.

Wearing his Magic jersey and warmup sweats ... Isaac stood with his hands behind his back and bowed his head during the song -- and after the game, he explained he didn't participate in the demonstration with his teammates for religious reasons.

But, Isaac, playing in just his second game since the Friday gesture ... drove the lane against the Sacramento Kings on Sunday and blew out his knee.

The video is tough to watch ... Isaac's leg buckled -- and afterward, the Magic said the 22-year-old is now "out indefinitely and his return to the court will depend on how he responds to treatment and rehabilitation."

Isaac had started 32 games for Orlando this season ... and averaged 11.9 points per game and 6.8 rebounds per game.

Only one other player, meanwhile, followed in Isaac's anthem-standing footsteps in the NBA's restart this past weekend ... Miami Heat's Meyers Leonard also stood for the song before his game Saturday.

After the move, Leonard -- who said he supports the BLM movement -- told ESPN, "Our world right now is black and white. There is a line in the sand, and it says if I don't kneel, then I'm not with Black Lives Matter. That is not true."

Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich also chose to stand for the anthem before San Antonio's game Friday night as well.

"Proper hiking attire not required 😎"

No lies detected here -- 'cause recently retired tennis superstar Caroline Wozniacki did an impromptu photo shoot while on a hike in France ... and all she needed was a tiny yellow bikini!!

The 30-year-old and her ex-NBA player husband, David Lee, are enjoying a "Staycation" in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, France ... just a quick 30-minute drive from one of their homes in Monte-Carlo, Monaco.

Wozniacki and Lee recently had their 1-year wedding anniversary in June and celebrated her birthday last month ... so there's been a LOT to celebrate!!

Of course, Wozniacki decided to hang up her racket back in January ... but there's no retirement bod here -- her abs are as hard as the rocks she's laying on!!

The former #1-ranked tennis player has been a fan of bikinis for years -- see here, here and here -- and even posed in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue back in 2015.

Nice to see nothing has changed in retirement life!!

It's Tom Brady's 43rd birthday today -- soooo .... avocado ice cream cake for everyone!??!

The Tampa Bay Bucs QB is about to enter his 21st season in the NFL as the oldest active QB in the league. He's among the oldest to EVER play the game.

To celebrate his special day, Tom's supermodel wife, Gisele, posted a mushy birthday note to her hubby:

"Happy birthday love of my life! You are the best dad, the best partner and the best friend."

She added, "We are so lucky to have you in our lives and we are looking forward to all the adventures ahead. We love you so much!"

Brady -- who famously uses an iPhone 6 from 2014 -- joked about his birthday on Twitter saying, "Thank you for the bday wishes!! Might treat myself to a new iPhone this year."

It's not like he can't afford it ...

FYI, Doug Flutie played pro football until he was 43. Vinny Testaverde, Steve DeBerg and Warren Moon played until they were 44.

George Blanda played until he was 48!

Awful start to Philadelphia Eagles training camp ... head coach Doug Pederson has tested positive for coronavirus and is now self-quarantining away from the team.

The NFL squad made the announcement Sunday ... saying the 52-year-old is both "asymptomatic and doing well."

But, the Eagles added he's isolating ... and say people he's come into contact with at the Eagles practice facility recently will now have to follow protocols and testing before they can return.

Of course, it's a big deal for Philly ... training camps are getting underway this month -- and the Eagles will now have to figure out a way to maneuver through practices and workouts with a head coach they can only communicate with virtually.

Pederson is just the second NFL head coach to test positive for COVID-19 ... New Orleans Saints head man Sean Payton came down with the virus in March.

Payton had said he felt like he had the flu ... but was cleared a couple weeks later and has repeatedly said he's had no lingering effects from the virus.

LeBron James has taken his talents to the typewriter -- the Lakers superstar is now a children's book author!!

King James is set to release "I Promise" on August 11 -- a 40-page picture book featuring "upbeat, rhyming text," based on a poem written by LeBron.

The artwork was all done by famed illustrator Nina Mata -- who also worked with Team USA Olympic gymnast Laurie Hernandez on her kids book, "She's Got This."

Bron says the title is in inspired by his "I Promise" program -- which "motivates children everywhere to always #StriveForGreatness."

Of course, Bron opened his "I Promise" school for at-risk children in Akron back in 2018 ... where students made huge gains in statewide testing after the first year!

LBJ's book is super positive -- with simple, inspiring messages like:

"I promise to use my voice and stand up for what's right."

"I promise to ask for help whenever I need it."

"I promise to be me."

Oh, and Bron is also dropping a companion audiobook read by his mom, Gloria James!

Bron spoke about the project ... saying, "Books have the ability to teach, inspire, and bring people together. That's why these books, and the opportunity to get children and parents reading together, mean so much to me."

But, this isn't a one-and-done project for the King ... James is also working on a "middle grade" book which is due in 2021.

The NY Mets are concerned about their star outfielder Yoenis Cespedes -- saying he didn't show up to the ballpark for Sunday's game -- and hasn't checked in with team officials.

In other words, they're concerned he may have gone missing.

The Mets are currently playing the Braves in Atlanta. Cespedes WAS in attendance for Saturday's game ... but never made it back to the field on Sunday.

The Mets issued a statement saying ... "As of game time, Yoenis Céspedes has not reported to the ballpark today. He did not reach out to management with any explanation for his absence. Our attempts to contact him have been unsuccessful."

Everyone's hoping there's a simple explanation for the situation ... like YS overslept his alarm -- but obviously, there are much more serious concerns at this point.

34-year-old Cespedes is a 2x All-Star and one of the most important players on the Mets.

Mike Tyson says he WILL be trying to knock out Roy Jones Jr. when they step in the ring in Sept. ... claiming his mentality is still "search and destroy."

The issue is, the head of the California State Athletic Commission recently told the media the guys will be going EASY on each other and WON'T be headhunting.

So, who ya gonna believe?!!?

Here's what CSAC executive director Andy Foster told Yahoo Sports -- "This isn’t a situation where they’re going out there to try to take each other’s heads off. They’re just going to be in there moving around the ring and letting fans see these legends."

But, when we saw Tyson leaving a training session in L.A. on Saturday, it didn't seem like he got that memo.

"This is search and destroy and I’m looking forward to recapturing my glory," a hulking Mike Tyson told us.

When we asked specifically if he'll be looking for a knockout, Tyson told us, "If the opportunity comes, I'm always looking for it."

Tyson is 54 and hasn't fought since a 2005 loss to Kevin McBride ... and that concerns boxing legend George Foreman who recently told TMZ Sports he's worried someone might get seriously hurt.

Mike appreciates George's concern -- but says, "Don't worry about us."

"[George] wasn't worried about getting hurt when he went on his tour of coming back and fighting."

Foreman famously retired at 28 -- and after a 10-year layoff, mounted a legendary comeback at 38. He became the heavyweight champ at 45 and finally retired for good in '97 at age 48.

Tyson says both he and Jones know exactly what they're getting themselves into -- "We're both professionals. We know how to handle ourselves and whatever happens, happens."

He adds, "The fighting game is what I'm about and hurting people is what I'm about."

We've seen the training videos -- Tyson still looks like he could do some serious damage.

As for Roy, he told us he's expecting Tyson to be headhunting from the opening bell -- but insists he's got a HUGE conditioning advantage over Mike.