TMZ Sports - Page 50

Swaggy P feels the same way we all do about Ice Cube trying to get Kobe Bryant in the BIG3 -- make it happen, bro!!!!

Earlier this week, Cube said he's been talking to Kobe and he's hoping he can convince the Black Mamba to join the league for Season 2.

We know there are a handful of ex-NBA stars interested in joining next year -- including Lamar Odom -- but Kobe would bring the league to a whole new level.

Meantime, Nick Young is clearly a fan of the 3-on-3 league -- and says he'll be at Staples Center for the games this weekend.

Michael Irvin says the "special treatment" the Dallas Cowboys get from the NFL is the kind of special treatment "you don't want" -- because their high profile status makes them big, fat targets.

We started off talking about Ezekiel Elliott and asked #88 if thinks the RB will get suspended as a result of the domestic violence investigation.

That's when our guy asked if Cowboys players will sometimes get a pass from Commish Roger Goodell because they're "America's Team."

"A pass?!" Irvin said ... "The kind of special treatment the Cowboys get is the kind of special treatment you don't want."

If Mitch Trubisky isn't the Chicago Bears starting QB in Week 1, "You've got problems" -- so says Bears legend Mike Ditka.

To say Da Coach was impressed with the rookie's preseason debut Thursday night is a gross understatement ... Ditka believes it's TRUB OR CONSEQUENCES!

"What I saw out of Trubiksy for a rookie in his first game I thought was outstanding."

Trub -- the #2 pick in the draft -- went 18-25 for 166 yards and a TD after replacing starting QB Mike Glennon who went 2-8 for 20 yards and an interception.

Ditka thinks the decision is obvious ... and says Mitch made a better first impression than guys like Tom Brady and Fran Tarkenton.

Tennis superstar Victoria Azerenka is furious a judge has given her a real-life Sophie's choice -- tennis or her kid -- that is making her drop out the US open.

The former #1 player in the world is locked in a nasty dispute with Billy McKeague -- the father of her 8-month-old son, Leo. The two split back in July.

Here's the problem ... McKeague filed custody papers in L.A. (where Victoria has a home) and the case has gone to a judge who told Azerenka she's not allowed to take the child out of California while the custody trial rages ... and it's not going to end until October at the earliest.

The dilemma -- the US Open kicks off August 28 in New York. Victoria will not leave her child -- whom she's been breastfeeding until a month ago -- with McKeague because she doesn't believe he's capable of caring for the kid.

Her attorney, "Disso Queen" Laura Wasser, told the judge her client is more than willing to buy a plane ticket for McKeague and put him up in a hotel for the 2-week tournament, but the judge said no.

Wasser also told the judge her client already has a valid custody order from Belarus, the country where Victoria, Leo and and Billy are all residents, so it should be game, set, match. But for some reason the judge won't defer to the Belarus court.

Casey Affleck must have forgotten he was at an airport and not home plate -- 'cause he casually tried bringing a baseball bat onto a plane.

We got Casey Thursday at LAX rushing to catch a flight, with bag and bat in hand ... and a ton of confidence he'd get through TSA.

When we ask if he really thinks he'd get past with the equipment, he says we'll see ... and see we did.

After what looks like several earnest attempts to persuade, Casey gets a definitive answer with one head movement.

Casey could have checked the bat, but decided to surrender it, and scurried to his plane.

Paige VanZant won't let a massive bloody wound keep her from fighting -- she's already stitched up the gash on her foot and got back on her grind.

The UFC superstar opened up a gnarly hole in her foot on Wednesday -- but one day later, she was back working out ... hitting a set of crunches with a fresh set of stitches.

VanZant is rumored to fight Jessica Eye at UFC 216 in October -- and at this point, it doesn't appear she's gonna let the injury keep her out of the Octagon.

Pro bodybuilder Rich Piana was placed into a medically induced coma this week after suffering a medical emergency at his Florida home, law enforcement sources tell TMZ Sports.

46-year-old Piana has competed and won several bodybuilding competitions over the years -- including Mr. California -- and has become an Instagram sensation, racking up more than 1 million followers.

Law enforcement sources tell us ... emergency personnel responded to a possible overdose call at Piana's home on Monday afternoon. When they arrived, Piana was unresponsive and was transported to a nearby hospital where he was placed into a medically induced coma.

Unclear how he's doing now. We're working on the story.

Tiger Woods has broken his silence about his dating life to let everyone know he broke up with his hot blonde girlfriend, Kristin Smith ... last year.

Andrea Bocelli doesn't need to be able to see to enjoy the sea ... and doesn't give a damn how he looks as long as he's having fun.

The famous Italian tenor was spotted windsurfing while vacationing at Elba Island, Italy Wednesday ... not letting his disability get in the way of good time on the water.

Bocelli's known for partaking in action sports, and if you think a blind man windsurfing is impressive ... you should see him fly down the slopes.

Taylor Swift took the stand to testify this week in her butt groping trial -- but from the way she was drawn in court sketches ... you'd never know it was her.

Sketches show Taylor in what appears to be a floral top, under an updo with loose curls ... keyword here is appears.

Point is ... the sketch is pretty bad, and not very flattering. The guy she's accusing of literally latching on to her ass, David Mueller, got a more neutral side profile sketch ... where he was seen with a hand over his face as Taylor testified.

Still ... neither are as bad as the infamous Tom Brady sketch that was drawn during his Deflategate hearing. The jury definitely ain't out on that one.

10:30 AM PT -- Randolph allegedly had roughly 2 POUNDS of weed on him at the time of the arrest. We're told the weed was in a "large backpack."

That's a lot of weed.

8:02 AM PT -- TMZ Sports shot Randolph leaving jail moments ago ... with a big smile on his face!

Randolph didn't seem concerned one bit and casually walked to a waiting ride.

NBA star Zach Randolph was arrested in L.A. on Wednesday night -- igniting a crazy disturbance that required cops to call in the cavalry for backup, TMZ Sports has learned.

LAPD officers were called to the Nickerson Gardens area in L.A. around 10 PM -- and when they arrived, cops found a large crowd of people smoking, playing loud music and blocking the roadway.

Law enforcement sources tell us 3 people were seen grabbing their waistbands and running -- so cops went after them.

Three people were detained -- including Randolph, who was eventually arrested for possession of marijuana with intent to sell, A FELONY. We're told the "intent to sell" part was due to the large amount of weed found.

Another man who was arrested was an ex-con in possession of a gun, law enforcement sources say.

After the arrests, we're told things got crazy -- the crowd became unruly and LAPD had to call for backup.

We're told 6 cop cars were vandalized -- tires slashed and windows busted -- and cops formed a battle line to restore order.

In the end, cops recovered 2 guns, drugs, a significant amount of cash and 2 vehicles were impounded -- though it's unclear if any of those things belonged to Randolph.

Randolph is listed at 6'9", 260 on his booking sheet, which also says bail was set at $20,000.

FYI, Randolph spent years with the Memphis Grizzlies before signing a brand new 2-year, $24 million contract with the Sacramento Kings.

We've reached out to Zach's rep for comment -- so far, no word back.

Story developing ...

Ice Cube says he's been in touch with Kobe Bryant about joining the BIG3 ... and he's gunning to get the Black Mamba back on the court as early as next year!!

The rap legend and 3-on-3 league commish talked to KTLA Morning News Thursday about his talks with the retired Lakers superstar ... and Cube says he's hoping Kobe will get the competitive itch again.

This is the second BIG3 honcho to publicly pull for Mamba ... 'cause Allen Iverson told TMZ Sports back in February it was his dream to play with Kobe.

Speaking of the Answer ... Cube also talks about suspending the ex-Sixers superstar for bailing on his stop in Dallas last month.

It's all over for Evelyn Lozada and ex-MLB star Carl Crawford -- the two have broken up and called off their engagement, Lozada's rep confirms ... but we're told they're still friends.

The "Basketball Wives" star got engaged to Crawford back in 2013 after he proposed with a 14.5 carat ring reportedly valued around $1.4 million. They have a 3-year-old son together.

But a rep for Lozada tells us the two split back in February after Evelyn became suspicious of Carl's fidelity. We tried to contact Crawford for comment. So far, no luck.

Still, Evelyn's rep says the two are focusing on being co-parents and remain on good terms. Carl is currently living in Houston while Evelyn is living in Arizona.

Chuck D tells TMZ Sports ... if fans upset with the Colin Kaepernick situation REALLY wanna send a message to the NFL, the best way to do it is with a full, serious boycott.

"Don't go to the sports bars. Don't turn the game on. Leave your team for a year."

The Public Enemy legend says it's a bunch of crap that Kaep hasn't been signed to a team -- claiming his accomplishments on the field speak for themselves.

Chuck says he thinks it'll be tough for protesting fans to really make a difference -- but if you are gonna protest, go all the way.

Sinead O'Connor is getting support from a huge star -- British boxing champ Tyson Fury -- who says he also suffers from mental illness and wants to help the singer through the darkness.

"I recently watched one of your heartbreaking videos where you talked about mental health problems," the former heavyweight champ said.

"Being alone, and feeling like you wasn’t a role model – and it wasn’t your fault – and no one was there."

Sinead posted a video last week saying she's suicidal and living in a motel in New Jersey.

Fury, who stepped away from boxing last year to get help for substance abuse issues, says he's also been suffering from mental illness and wants Sinead to know "you're not alone."

"There’s a lot of people out there who go through this same thing ... millions of people around the world suffer with this."

"Mental health problems is one of the worst things that anyone could ever have, no matter how successful or rich you become. Mental health will always bring you down. And it always gives someone a right to write you off, for whatever reason."

"But I’m here if you need me. Tyson Fury – get someone to contact me. I’d like to speak to you."

WARNING: This is pretty gnarly. And bloody.

UFC star Paige VanZant tore a massive bloody hole in her foot -- and the photo is pretty graphic.

23-year-old VanZant didn't say how it happened ... but with rumors she could return to the Octagon at UFC 216, it's likely she opened the gash during a training session.

Pretty gross ... but this kinda stuff happens.

UFC 216 is scheduled for Oct. 7 -- and reports say PVZ will likely fight Jessica Eye.