TMZ Sports - Page 50

DeMarcus Cousins says there's no question about it ... every single Confederate statue needs to COME DOWN ASAP.

Oakland Raiders cornerback Sean Smith -- who signed a $40 million contract last year -- was arrested Thursday and charged with felony assault, TMZ Sports has learned.

Officials say Smith attacked his sister's boyfriend on July 4 -- beat and stomped on his head in Pasadena in the early hours.

He's been charged with felony assault by means of force likely to produce great bodily injury and battery with serious bodily injury.

If convicted, Smith faces up to 7 years in state prison.

It's not Smith's first brush with the law -- he was convicted of DUI stemming from a 2014 car crash in which he smashed into a light pole.

We've reached out to the Raiders for comment -- so far, no word back.

Oakland Raiders star Marshawn Lynch was asked point-blank by the media about his national anthem protest -- but by the way he bobbed, weaved and clowned the questions, you'd think he was Floyd Mayweather.

When asked to address the "elephant in the room" ... Beast Mode responded with an elephant metaphor -- something about how elephants are scared of mice.

When asked how he felt about the way Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio responded to the anthem protest, he slithered out of that one, too.

Mike Vick says his home state of Virginia WILL overcome the politically charged violence in Charlottesville ... telling TMZ Sports he has faith in the people of the commonwealth.

"Virginia's home -- I love Virginia," the QB told us outside Mastro's in L.A. "We'll get it right, trust me."

President Trump's been under fire for his reaction to the events in Virginia, and we asked Vick about 45's response, but Mike chose to stay mum on that topic.

Ryan Lochte's son is just 2 months old, but that ain't too early for the Team USA star to know his kid's potential ... telling TMZ Sports his boy will follow in daddy's footsteps and be an Olympic swimmer!!

Lochte and his Playboy model fiancee, Kayla Rae Reid, were leaving Catch in L.A. when we asked about baby Caiden ... and although too early to start training, Lochte's got a hunch his boy's got his gold medal genes.

Three major Tampa sports teams are pitching in to remove a Confederate monument from the city's courthouse in the wake of the backlash against similar statues in Virginia.

The statue in the middle of the controversy is the infamous Memoria en Aeterna -- a 106-year-old monument honoring the Confederate soldiers who fought in the Civil War.

Officials recently voted to remove the statue -- but only if removal costs were raised from private donors. The cost was estimated at roughly $150,000.

Enter the NFL's Tampa Bay Bucs, the MLB's Rays and the NHL's Lightning ... which just stepped up.

"Recognizing that this monument does not reflect the values of our community, in collaboration with the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce, our organizations have dedicated funds to assist in moving the statue from the public space in front of the courthouse."

"Now more than ever before, we must stand united and committed to diversity and inclusion as we all attempt to heal from the tragedy in Charlottesville."

No word on when the statue will come down.

Europe's biggest sports stars are showing their support for Barcelona after today's terrorist attack ... including Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

"Dismayed by the news arriving from Barcelona. Full support and solidarity with the family and friends of the victims," Ronaldo said in a translated tweet.

Ronaldo is from Portugal, which neighbors Spain. The soccer superstar also plays professionally for Real Madrid in Spain's top pro league, La Liga.

Messi posted about the attack on Instagram ... "I want to send my condolences and all my support to the families and friends of the victims of the terrible attack in our beloved Barcelona, ​​in addition to totally rejecting any act of violence," the FC Barcelona superstar said in a translated message.

"We are not going to give up, we are many more who want to live in a world in peace, without hate and where respect and tolerance are the basis of coexistence."

Former Barca superstar Neymar also chimed in on IG: "May God comfort all families. #PrayForBarcelona. I love you BARCELONA," he said in a translated message.

Rafael Nadal added: "Shattered by what has happened in Barcelona! All my support to affected families and the city," in a translated tweet.

Pau Gasol -- who's from Barcelona -- tweeted, "Sad and horrified by the tragic events that took place today at the #Ramblas of #Barcelona."

"All my support to the victims and their families during these incredibly tough times."

She may not be in the WWE anymore, but Eva Marie is still "All Red Everything" ... including her tiny string bikini.

Marie just parted ways with the WWE and is trying to cross over into acting. But in between auditions, Eva hit up Laguna Beach and set the place on fire.

The 32-year-old is a fitness freak -- so is her husband, Jonathan Coyle -- hence the crazy, fit physique.

Eva was with the WWE for 4 years -- after breaking onto the wrestling scene by slapping Jerry "The King" Lawler in the face during her first appearance on "Raw."

Best moment of his life.

Daniel Cormier just rejected Jon Jones' friend request -- but the good news ... it sounds like they don't hate each other as much as they used to.

Remember, the animosity between the two was legendary -- they trashed each other for years in public and in private and called each other every bad name in the book.

But after Jones defeated Cormier at UFC 214 in July, JJ offered the olive branch -- and then told TMZ Sports he hoped the two would be friends one day.

Well, Cormier finally responded Wednesday night on FS1's "UFC Tonight" -- and politely declined the offer.

"Friendship would be very difficult for us to achieve because of our history," Cormier said ... "And I'm okay with that. I've always said that we don't have to be friends."

Cormier says he respects Jones as an athlete -- and still wants another rematch.

"In terms of going forward, we will be professional because we have to ... until the cage door closes again."

Kevin Durant is standing next to LeBron James in his opposition of President Donald Trump -- saying, "We don't f*ck with him."

KD made the statement during the "Kevin Durant Day" parade in Prince George's County, Maryland -- which is about a 30 minute drive from the White House.

With LeBron, Ray Allen, Dwyane Wade, Steve Nash and others going after Trump -- we asked Durant how he felt about that.

"Hell yeah, hell yeah. That's how it's supposed to be. We don't f*ck with him."

LeBron has the been the strongest opponent of Trump -- even referring to him this week as our "So called president.'

Tennis superstar Victoria Azarenka -- one of the best players in the world -- has finally broken her silence on the custody war that could force her to miss the US Open ... saying it's unfair that she has to choose between her job and her kid.

As we previously reported, Azarenka is at war with her baby daddy -- who filed custody papers in L.A. and the judge overseeing the case won't let Victoria take the kid out of the state while the trial rages.

Problem is ... the US Open starts on August 28 in NY -- but Azarenka says she REFUSES to leave her kid behind.

"Shortly after Wimbledon, Leo’s father and I separated and as we work to resolve some of the legal processes, the way things stand now is that the only way I can play in the US Open this year is if I leave Leo behind in California, which I’m not willing to do."

"No one should ever have to decide between a child and their career, we are strong enough to do both," Azarenka said.

Azarenka's attorney, Laura Wasser, recently told the judge the tennis star is more than willing to buy a plane ticket for the baby daddy and put him up in a hotel for the 2-week tournament, but the judge said no.

Still, Victoria is holding out hope that the two sides can reach an amicable resolution.

NUTS!

A Boston Red Sox photographer took a baseball square in the balls on the ceremonial first pitch Wednesday night ... and it looked BAD.

It was just another night at Fenway with the Sox taking on the Cards ... until the PA announcer told the kid throwing the first pitch to "fire it in there!"

Young Jordan must have took "it" to mean a random guy's balls ... and the unlucky photog wide right of home plate paid the price -- taking it right in his manhood before limping away.

The dude who took the beanball seems alright, though ... using his own photo to joke about the nut-shot after the game:

NBA superstar Isaiah Thomas says he will NOT be sitting during the national anthem this upcoming season ... but tells TMZ Sports he supports his fellow athletes for doing what they feel is right.

We spoke with the Celtics point guard about players like Marshawn Lynch and Michael Bennett staying seated over the weekend ... and while I.T. says he's not gonna join the movement, he understands the bigger picture.

"Stand for what you feel is right. I'm not going to do it, but that's those players' decisions."

Thomas also talked about the recent violence in Charlottesville ... and he wants to send a simple message:

Jermichael Finley's baby mama just WENT OFF on the former NFL tight end for trashing guys like Marshawn Lynch and Colin Kaepernick over their protests ... telling him, "You are black!"

The ex-Green Bay Packer really pissed off his ex, Courtney Finley, with comments he made on social media and TMZ Sports ... when he said the national anthem protests are more about self-promotion than social justice.

Courtney, who is white, blasted the guy in a scathing Twitter post saying ...

"This serves as a reminder @jermichaelf88 in case you have forgotten; you are black."

"The athletes (foremost people) you are telling to sit down (or stand) and shut up are the very men that are protesting for your safety and equality in a country that has nearly revoked that right based on your skin color."

"As a biracial mother of 4 black boys, that have been left to be raised by a single mother, I have deep and desperate gratitude for those that use their platform to fight for our community's justice, safety, & equality."

Courtney says Jermichael's comments are "absurd" and "offensive" -- adding, "Don't be so pathetically thirsty for attention that you choose to devalue another man's motives."

"Don't choose to be so insulting and imply professional athletes have no place in changing the world."

"Most importantly, don't forget to look in the mirror and see that you too are black and have an obligation to derail racism as best you can for yourself and others."

"If you don't want to be part of the resolution to the racial inequalities in this country that's on you, but for the sake of our 4 sons, don't be part of the problem. I pray you will reevaluate your stance."

Floyd Mayweather Sr. is coming out swingin' at Justin Bieber -- saying the pop star doesn't know a DAMN THING about boxing if he thinks Conor's gonna go the distance.

Remember, Bieber -- Floyd Jr.'s longtime friend -- recently shot down the idea that Mayweather would K.O. McGregor ... and that ain't sittin' too well with Floyd Sr.

"Justin Bieber ... he don't even know boxing," Floyd's dad told us at LAX ... "He knows Floyd. But he don't know Floyd like I know Floyd."

Floyd Sr. also went in on Vegas gamblers putting their money on Conor -- saying they're crazy ... and a bet on Floyd is like taking free money!

Curt Schilling is standing by his President -- telling TMZ Sports Donald Trump is NOT a white supremacist and will continue to have his support.