TMZ Sports - Page 50

If there's a guy the KKK should REALLY hate, it's Amar'e Stoudemire -- who checks 2 of their "most hated" boxes ... black and Jewish.

So, when we saw the former NBA superstar out in L.A. today, we had to ask for his thoughts on the situation in Charlottesville.

"Don't worry about things you can't control," Amar'e told our photog.

And when our guy (a fellow Jew) expressed concern about the anti-Semitic groups, Stoudemire offered up this advice -- "Stay strong, brother."

Ric Flair is still in critical condition -- and suffering from "multiple organ problems," this according to the wrestler's fiancee.

"I have been unable to talk on the phone without crying and just feel shocked over events," Wendy Barlow said in a statement.

Barlow says she first took 68-year-old Flair to the hospital Friday night after he was complaining of severe abdominal pains ... and "from that moment on it all seems like a nightmare."

Barlow says Flair is now dealing with multiple organ problems -- but didn't specify exactly what he's been diagnosed with or what caused the problems in the first place.

"I want everyone to know he still needs prayers," Barlow said ... while noting that she hasn't left Flair's side and vows to give him "the best care possible."

As we previously reported, Flair was placed in a medically induced coma earlier this week and underwent a surgical procedure on Monday. No word if he's still in the coma.

The NFL Players Association is firing back at the NFL for its recent statement on the Zeke Elliott case ... calling them hypocrites and liars who should be ashamed for "stooping to new lows."

The scathing statement is in direct response to NFL's release on Wednesday ... where they accused the PA of "spreading derogatory information to the media about the victim in the Ezekiel Elliott discipline case."

The Players Association released the following statement.

"The public statement issued on behalf of every NFL owner is a lie. The NFLPA categorically denies the accusations made in this statement. We know the league office has a history of being exposed for its lack of credibility."

Karl-Anthony Towns thinks his Minnesota Timberwolves are gonna "have some fun" this year at the rest of the NBA's expense, telling TMZ Sports it's time for the league to watch out for the pups in Minneapolis.

The Wolves are pretty stacked, adding Jimmy Butler to a squad that already has Andrew Wiggins and Towns, two of the best young players in the league.

When we got KAT out at Craig's in L.A. and asked him how he feels about the Wolves getting a marquee Christmas Day matchup this year, he answered with a little message to the whole league.

"We're gonna have fun this year I'll tell you that much, watch out for us."

The NFL is calling out the NFL Player's Association ... saying the league has received tips that the NFLPA is going on a smear campaign against Ezekiel Elliott's accuser in an effort to exonerate the RB.

Multiple reports have surfaced in the past few days, painting the accuser as everything from a racist to an extortionist ... and the NFL's public relations honcho says the reports are shameful.

"Over the past few days we’ve received multiple reports of the NFLPA spreading derogatory information to the media about the victim in the Ezekiel Elliott discipline case," Brian McCarthy said.

"It's a common tactic to attempt to prove the innocence of the accused by discrediting the victim -- in this case Ms. Thompson -- when coming forward to report such abuse."

"Common or not, these tactics are shameful. Efforts to shame and blame victims are often what prevent people from coming forward to report violence and/or seek help in the first place."

We called the NFLPA for comment -- so far, no word back.

The NFL is standing by its investigation into Zeke -- which the league says showed a pattern of domestic violence against his ex-girlfriend, Tiffany Thompson.

ESPN analyst Byron Scott says the fantasy football auction sketch that aired on the network is "unacceptable" ... but he's not calling for the producer to get fired.

The network has already apologized for the sketch which showed a white man auctioning off players (many of them black) to a white crowd. Critics say it resembled a slave auction.

Stars like Kevin Durant and Odell Beckham made it clear the sketch was NOT cool with them.

So, we asked Scott -- who often appears on ESPN's "The Jump" -- how he felt about the situation.

"It is unacceptable ... I thought we've come a lot further than we have. Obviously we have not. We have a ways to go."

Scott says he hopes the producer of the segment can learn from his mistakes.

With Scott being an avid golfer, we also asked the NBA legend if he would ever play on a Trump course.

Hint: Don't book a tee time at Doral any time soon ...

Cris Carter says Ezekiel Elliott's fantasy value is just like his recent off-the-field conduct ... shaky at best, telling TMZ Sports Zeke's suspension makes him a no-go as a fantasy 1st rounder.

We got Carter and his FS1 on-air partner Nick Wright in NYC and asked the NFL expert what Elliott's 6-game ban means to the fantasy crowd.

On the one hand, Zeke ran for 1,600 yards and 15 TD's last year so you want that, on the other hand 6 games is a huge chunk of the NFL season.

So what to do?

Lakers head coach Luke Walton knows ya never put a ceiling on a player -- including Lonzo Ball.

So, when he was asked if Lonzo could be the next Kobe Bryant ... he didn't exactly rule it out.

Walton's clearly excited about his team -- telling us good things about the Lakers on his way out of Catch in L.A.

But does Walton REALLY think LaVar's kid can rack up stats like the 5-time NBA champ, 2-time NBA Finals MVP, 18-time All-Star, 2-time NBA scoring champ, 2008 NBA MVP, 11-time 1st Team All-NBA & Slam Dunk Contest champ?

Beyonce's mom tells TMZ Sports it would be "really great" if her daughter became the next owner of the Houston Rockets -- saying she's got the Houston connection that fans would love!

After current Rockets owner Leslie Alexander announced he was selling the team last month, Beyonce's name showed up in reports as a very interested buyer.

So, when we saw Tina Knowles leaving Mastro's Steakhouse in Bev Hills on Tuesday, we had to ask ... what's up?!

Tina wasn't spilling the tea on B's business plans -- but did explain why she thinks the Rockets would be the perfect fit for her daughter.

Tim Brown is against Marshawn Lynch's national anthem protest -- telling TMZ Sports, "Why bring negativity to this incredible, positive situation?"

Brown is a Raiders icon -- one of the greatest players in franchise history who's still very involved with the team.

So, we asked #81 how he felt about Oakland's star running back taking a seat during the anthem at the pre-season game in Arizona this weekend. Brown didn't hold back.

"Why man? Why bring this to yourself? He has the perfect thing going on in Oakland. Why bring negativity to this incredible positive situation? ... I just don't get it."

"I understand these guys man, they're trying to make statements and they're trying to be a part of this world but football is where people go to get away from that stuff."

Brown says he's confident Raiders honchos would support Marshawn's causes any way the team could outside the stadium ... but he just feels the political and social statements don't belong at work.

7:36 AM PT -- Tim Brown believes his comments are being misunderstood.

He believes his points are expressed better in the context of the full interview and has asked us to post the entire 8 minutes. So, here it is.

Floyd Mayweather says he's putting business before pleasure -- and won't have sex before he fights Conor McGregor.

It's an old superstition that's been around the boxing game for years. You remember Mick from the 'Rocky' movies famously said, "Women weaken legs."

Floyd seems to agree. Conor McGregor has a different strategy.

"That is most certainly a superstition that I do not abide by," Conor told Conan O'Brien back in 2015 ... "I definitely have as much sex as possible."

So, to bang or not to bang? That is the question ...

Rasheed Wallace says he knows "for a fact" Zach Randolph is no drug dealer -- despite getting busted with more than 2 pounds of weed ... telling TMZ Sports Z-Bo just knows how to throw a party.

We spoke with Sheed about the NBA star's recent L.A. arrest for possession of marijuana with intent to sell ... and Wallace laughed off any notion that Randolph was trying to slang.

"It seems to be -- no matter who you are -- the bigger the paycheck, the bigger the party," Sheed says.

"I know for a fact he ain't no dope dealer."

Whatcha gonna do, brother ... when O'CONNELLMANIA runs wild on you?!?!?

Yep, Jerry O'Connell stepped right into the squared circle at the Rumble of the North event in Canada this weekend ... where Carter "King of the North" Mason was battling Travis McCabe.

O'Connell was the special "guest referee" -- but when McCabe called him out in the center of the ring, Jerry ditched the stripes and went full beast mode!!!

Fun Fact -- Jerry's JACKED!!!

Also, he totally screwed over McCabe to help Mason win the match.

Duke's Grayson Allen -- one of the biggest stars in college basketball -- says he's ready, willing and able to mentor his new teammate Marvin Bagley -- the #1 high school player in the country.

18-year-old Bagley -- who was a junior at Sierra Canyon high school in L.A. -- just reclassified so he could play in college this upcoming season ... and announced he's going to Duke.

Which brings us to Allen ... a big-time player who's entering his senior season at Duke after a controversial junior year -- in which he was suspended for tripping an opposing player.

Grayson -- who was awesome when we saw him at LAX -- told us he's fired up for Bagley and can't wait to play with him.

"I think our team's gonna mesh really well and he'll help."

FYI, Bagley is a 6'11", 220 pound super-athlete who became the undisputed #1 high school player in the country after dominating everyone ... he can dunk, shoot and play defense.

Should be fun to watch ... unless you're North Carolina.

Two NBA superstars are going off on Donald Trump -- LeBron James and Steve Nash -- trashing POTUS over the comments he made about anti-racist protesters in Charlottesville.

"Hate has always existed in America. Yes we know that but Donald Trump just made it fashionable again," Bron posted ... "Statues has nothing to do with us now!"

James is responding to Trump's news conference Tuesday in which he said alt-left protesters were also to blame for the violence in Virginia. He made a specific reference to protesters removing a statue of Robert E. Lee.

"This week, it is Robert E Lee," Trump said ... "I noticed that Stonewall Jackson's coming down. I wonder is it George Washington next week and is it Thomas Jefferson the week after?"

Trump then mentioned that he owned a winery in Charlottesville ... and that set off Steve Nash.

"To defend white supremacists and then slang his sh*tty ass grape juice pretty much sums the man up."

Ezekiel Elliott has officially filed his appeal against the NFL for the 6-game suspension he got in the wake of a domestic violence investigation.

The NFL now has 10 days to schedule a hearing, according to Adam Schefter.

The Dallas Cowboys running back has adamantly denied allegations he attacked his ex-girlfriend on multiple occasions in 2016 ... and points to the fact prosecutors decline to file charges against him.

The accuser claims Elliott got violent with her at least 3 times during July 2016 -- striking her in the face, arms, legs and neck.

Elliott says the bruises she showed to police were the result of a bar fight she was involved in -- and were not the result of domestic violence.