TMZ Sports - Page 50

Venus Williams has a new defense in her fatal car accident, and she's laying blame squarely on a third driver who drove away from the scene unscathed ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Venus filed new docs in the case which reference an unidentified driver in a dark-colored sedan. She says that driver, who was heading in the opposite direction, violated her right of way by cutting in front of her in the intersection ... to make a left turn.

What she's describing is clear in the surveillance video TMZ Sports first posted.

Venus says that other driver's "improper left hand turn" made her slow down, and stop to avoid hitting the sedan.

The video shows what happened next. Venus continued through the intersection, but police say by that time, the light had turned red ... hanging Venus out to dry in the intersection. Seconds later Linda Barson t-boned Venus' SUV. Barson's husband later died from his injuries in the accident.

In the docs, Venus says if she's at fault at all for the wreck ... the unidentified sedan driver should at least share the blame.

The victim in the Carolina Panthers stadium attack filed a police report -- claiming he only suffered "minor injuries" after getting socked in the face during "Thursday Night Football."

TMZ Sports has obtained the report which describes the victim as a 62-year-old man -- who claims he was assaulted at 11 PM.

The victim was treated by a medic at the scene.

The attacker's name is not listed on the report as the victim told police he didn't know the man before the incident. The Panthers say they have positively ID'd him and are working with police.

Steph Curry loves the thrill of victory ... but he's also a fan of da feet.

Turns out, the Golden State Warriors superstar has a thing for footsies, according to his wife Ayesha Curry.

"My husband really loves my feet," Ayesha admitted Friday on The Real (check local listings).

"So, when he says to send nudes, he gets a picture of my bare feet!"

Steph now joins a select group of celebrity foot lovers -- which includes Rex Ryan, Quentin Tarantino and Ludacris.

Congrats!

Georges St-Pierre UNLOADED on Michael Bisping in a backstage confrontation today ... warning the champ to never put his hands on him again after their UFC 217 media event in Toronto.

"Don't touch me, man! Don't touch me. I'm not afraid of you. I don't give a damn."

GSP is basically the nicest guy ever ... so what happened??

Well, at the end of their news conference, Bisping dangled his finger on Georges' chin when they faced off ... and GSP didn't like that at all, shoving Mike off him.

Bisping told St-Pierre to "keep your hands to yourself" when they saw each other in the back ... and that clearly set him off.

Got a feeling this won't be the last time these 2 go at it.

Jerry Jones thinks Ezekiel Elliott is getting a raw deal -- saying the 6-game suspension is simply unfair.

The Dallas Cowboys owner called in to "G-Bag Nation" on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas early Friday morning and said, "I'm very familiar with all of the facts and the details of this case. Very familiar ... Zeke did not get treated fairly here."

As we previously reported, a federal appeals court issued a ruling essentially clearing the way for the NFL to enforce the 6-game suspension it handed to Elliott as a result of a domestic violence investigation.

Elliott was never charged with a crime -- but the NFL's private investigators believe Elliott did, in fact, attack his girlfriend back in 2016. Zeke denies all wrongdoing and Jones clearly believes him.

"Zeke and his team and the Cowboys do not think [the NFL's suspension and punishment process] was done in a fair way. We are trying to get that looked at, and we got a setback yesterday."

Tom Arnold is DESTROYING Donald Trump for his war on the NFL ... and tells TMZ Sports he knows the real reason POTUS is going after the league and its players.

Tom says Trump's still pissed about a failed attempt to buy the Dallas Cowboys back in the day ... a business move that could've meant billions.

"He's mad because they wouldn't give him a franchise.”

"They wouldn’t let him do it and he holds resentment ... and it’s ridiculous.”

Arnold wasn’t done there – telling us Trump’s a “stupid idiot” for pitting his cult of "morons" against national anthem protests. Tom also called B.S. on Mike Pence ditching the 49ers-Colts game.

But the former 'Best Damn Sports Show' host says it’ll be OK – 'cause football's gonna outlast 'em.

Derek Jeter got a proper Miami introduction on Thursday night -- a star-studded welcome bash co-hosted by P. Diddy!!

The new Marlins owner turned up with Diddy and friends at KOMODO ... with huge artists like DJ Khaled, Busta Rhymes, French Montana and Prince Royce also coming through.

We're told Diddy's signature Ciroc vodka was free-flowin' ... and that Puff even stood up to toast the former Yankees captain at the end of the night.

A bunch of the gang headed to STORY Nightclub for the after-party ... but not Jeter.

DJ's an MLB CEO (and Dad) now -- probably the right call.

Team USA soccer coach Bruce Arena has officially "resigned" -- just days after the team failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.

People had been calling for Arena's job after the USMNT lost to Trinidad & Tobago -- eliminating them from World Cup contention ... but moments ago, Arena quit before he could be fired.

"It is the greatest privilege for any coach to manage their country’s National Team, and as I leave that role today I am honored and grateful to have had that opportunity twice in my career."

"In the end, we came up short," Arena said ... "No excuses. We didn’t get the job done, and I accept responsibility."

TMZ Sports had spoken with Arena earlier this week -- and he didn't seem too concerned about his job ... even giving a sarcastic response to his critics.

Still, Arena kept it classy in his goodbye statement ... and says he still believes in the U.S. soccer program.

That was quick ...

Brand new autographed O.J. Simpson memorabilia has already hit the market -- just 10 days after Juice signed a bunch of helmets in a secret Vegas hotel signing session ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Steiner Sports -- one of the biggest memorabilia dealers in the business -- just posted two new signed Buffalo Bills helmets in the "new arrivals" section of their website. One is selling for $400. The other, containing O.J.'s Hall of Fame year, is going for $450.

The website claims the helmets have been "hand signed" by Simpson and the autograph has been deemed "100% authentic."

A rep for Steiner tells us, "So it is clear, Steiner Sports did not hold the signing with O.J. Simpson, but purchased his new autographs from a third party."

Steiner CEO Brandon Steiner tells TMZ Sports, "Collectors collect and O.J. Simpson is a part of sports history for his accomplishments on the field. He’s a Heisman Trophy winner, 10,000+ yard rusher and Hall of Famer. We are just trying to answer the demand of our customers looking to complete their collections."

The big question ... with O.J. merchandise selling in the hundreds of dollars, you gotta wonder if Simpson is being paid for his Hancock.

If he is, O.J. owes all of it to the Goldman family -- thanks to the wrongful death judgment against him. If O.J. tries to hide the money, he could go back to prison.

10:25 AM PT -- Panthers executive director of risk management Lance Emory says the team has identified the fan in the video and is currently working with Charlotte-Mecklenburg PD to "pursue charges to the fullest extent of the law."

"The behavior exhibited by the perpetrator is unacceptable and will not be condoned at Bank of America Stadium."

WARNING: THIS VIDEO IS EXTREMELY VIOLENT AND DISTURBING

NFL officials are investigating a brutal incident involving a Carolina Panthers fan blasting another fan in the face during Thursday Night Football.

It all went down toward the end of the game -- the person who shot the footage at Bank of America Stadium says the Panthers fan had been standing for most of the game and the older fan had repeatedly asked him to sit down.

Instead, the Panthers fan berated him with insults -- and ultimately punched the other fan in the face, instantly opening a nasty gash that began to gush blood.

The Panthers fan ran away while witnesses called for security, as seen on the video published on Crossing Broad.

The NFL told Ian Rapoport it's working with the Carolina Panthers security team -- saying, "We take all of these very seriously."

We reached out to the Panthers who told us ... "We are reviewing the incident with the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department."

So far, no word from police. We're working on it.

Seems Kendall Jenner is already close enough with Blake Griffin to join in on steak night with his boys.

The L.A. Clippers star and 3 of his guy friends hit up the Ocean Prime steak and seafood house in Bev Hills on Wednesday night ... with Kendall rounding out the group.

Blake and Kendall have been hanging out for a couple of months now ... so no reason not to invite her along, right?

So, when does Blake get his invite to girl's night?

If Ezekiel Elliott really wants to help the Dallas Cowboys, he'd abide by one simple rule -- "Don't do dumb sh*t."

That's the advice NFL linebacker Kroy Biermann had for Elliott when we told him all about the RB's suspension going back into effect on Thursday.

Biermann doesn't think the 6-game ban will kill the Cowboys -- but it definitely doesn't help.

Boxing star Shannon Briggs says Donald Trump was a cool, nice guy when they kicked it together back in the day ... but says he has a message for his old buddy:

"PULL IT TOGETHER, CHAMP!"

The former 2-time heavyweight champion of the world joined the guys on the "TMZ Sports" TV show (airs Thursday on FS1) and recalled the time he fought George Foreman back in 1997.

The fight went down at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City -- and Donald, being a huge fight fan, spent some time with the boxers. Funny story.

Briggs also tells us the latest on a possible fight with Tyson Fury during the full interview on the show.

Sorry, Dodger fans ... but ain't NOTHIN' gonna stop the Yankees from goin' all the way this year -- so says NYY superfan Nick Turturro.

We spoke to the former "NYPD Blue" star after New York came back on Cleveland ... and to say he was hyped out of his mind wouldn't be doing him justice.

After sounding off on the franchise's greatness, Nick told TMZ Sports his Yankees will beat the Astros by any means necessary ... before upsetting the Dodgers in a "crazy" World Series.

3:01 PM PT -- An NFL spokesman provided TMZ Sports the following statement ...

"Earlier today, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals vacated the preliminary injunction that prohibited the league from imposing the six-game suspension issued to Ezekiel Elliott for a violation of the Personal Conduct Policy. The Court also directed the district court to dismiss the union’s lawsuit which was filed on Elliott’s behalf."

"As a result, Elliott’s suspension will begin effective immediately. Elliott is eligible to return to the team on Friday, November 24 following the Cowboys' Thursday, November 23 game against the Los Angeles Chargers."

2:56 PM PT -- Elliott's agent Frank Salzano tells us, “We are currently exploring all of our legal options and will make a decision as to what is the best course of action in the next few days. Until that time we have no further comment on the 5th circuit’s decision.”

Bad news for the Dallas Cowboys ... a federal appeals court has ruled Ezekiel Elliott's 6-game suspension is back on.

A federal appeals court made a ruling today ... essentially throwing out a lower court's ruling that allowed Zeke to play.

So, what does it all mean?

For now, the NFL's initial domestic violence punishment stands -- and the league has been cleared to enforce the 6-game suspension.

The Cowboys happen to be on a bye week -- which gives Zeke's team some time to counterpunch and fight the ruling.

The NFL had initially moved to suspend Zeke after a private investigation found he physically abused his girlfriend on multiple occasions.

Important to note, Elliott was never prosecuted for the incidents -- and he maintains his innocence.

But due to the collective bargaining agreement, the NFL believes it doesn't need a conviction to punish a player.

Dana White says he pulled Mark Hunt from next month's "UFC Sydney" card because "sometimes you gotta protect these guys from themselves."

White didn't specifically say the move was due to the article Hunt penned for the Player's Voice -- where he said he's been experiencing memory loss and slurred speech -- but it seems obvious that the article was the trigger point.

Hunt has been VERY upset about the move and trashed Dana on social media -- calling him a "piece of sh*t motherf*cker" and a "bald headed pr*ck."