TMZ Sports - Page 50

Venus Williams has gone radio silent with attorneys trying to question her about the fatal car accident she had in Florida ... so now the matter's going to the judge.

According to docs, obtained by TMZ Sports, attorneys for the estate of Jerome Barson say the tennis superstar refuses to respond to their request to set a deposition date. They say they've contacted Venus' legal team numerous times since July ... but still can't get an answer.

Barson is the man who died from injuries suffered in the June collision. We broke the story ... Venus now says a third unidentified driver, who made a left in front of her, is really to blame for the accident.

Kyrie Irving could have some serious issues when he returns to Ohio ... so says Bone Thugs-N-Harmony's Wish Bone, who thinks Irving's DEAD WRONG to say Cleveland's not a sports city.

ICYMI -- K.I. struck a chord with Cavs fans for saying he was finally playing in a "a real, live sports city" after his trade to Boston ... which was taken as throwing shade at his old city.

Wish Bone -- a huge Cavs supporter from Cleveland -- says Irving's no longer welcome in northeast Ohio ... and hints he'll have to keep his head on a swivel if he tries to walk the streets of Cleveland again.

Ex-Packers star Jermichael Finley says Colin Kaepernick is NOT the answer to the Green Bay Packers QB problem, but knows a guy who could be ... Brett Favre.

Finley used to be one of Aaron Rodgers' top targets ... so we got him to weigh in on who should take the job now that A-Rod might be (most likely is) done for the season.

Jermichael straight up blew up the Kaepernick option, saying there's no way it's possible, because cheesehead land is just too conservative to embrace the controversial QB.

"That would never happen in the state of Wisconsin," Finley told TMZ Sports.

But when we brought up Brett, Finley's eyes lit up, and he told us the 48-year-old gunslinger is actually the perfect guy to step in and steady the ship.

"He looks really good, he knows the playbook, he knows the city. I think Brett would be a better fit then Colin Kaepernick. Brett Farve is the best decision for the Packers."

FYI, we talked to Brett earlier this year, and he told us he definitely feels like he could still play, but has no interest in taking NFL hits again.

Gregg Popovich is absolutely fed up with President Trump ... calling POTUS a "pathological liar" and "soulless coward" for comments he made while talking about the deadly ambush in Niger.

Here's the deal ... Trump has been criticized for not publicly addressing the 4 U.S. soldiers who were killed in an ambush in Niger on October 4.

Today, POTUS defended himself while calling out former presidents ... claiming he is more caring with families of fallen soldiers.

Popovich -- whose never held back when it comes to Trump -- RIPPED into 45 in a conversation with The Nation about his swipe at Barack Obama and George W. Bush ... and everything else.

"This man in the Oval Office is a soulless coward who thinks that he can only become large by belittling others," Pop said.

"This has of course been a common practice of his, but to do it in this manner -- and to lie about how previous Presidents responded to the deaths of soldiers -- is as low as it gets."

One of the Olympians who iconically raised his fist at the 1968 games says Colin Kaepernick will not play in the NFL again, but adds ... it won't impact his legacy.

John Carlos -- who, along with Tommie Smith, made the most memorable Olympic demonstration -- says Kaep's now waded into social justice territory ... not only by kneeling, but by filing his grievance against the NFL for collusion.

John says it's likely Colin put the last nail in the coffin of his NFL career by attacking the league so directly. Not that there's anything wrong with that -- according to John, Kaepernick now has a duty to right the wrongs he feels were done. For himself and others.

Fun fact: Today marks the 49th anniversary of John and Tommie's powerful gesture.

Aaron Rodgers means more to his team than any other football player in the NFL ... and that includes the arguable G.O.A.T. QB, Tom Brady ... so says former Packers WR Greg Jennings.

We asked Jennings -- a 2x Pro Bowler who was teammates with Rodgers -- turned Fox Sports analyst how crippling the loss of A.R. is to the 4-2 Packers.

"He means more to his team than any other player in this league."

More than 5x Super Bowl champ Tom Brady?

"Absolutely."

There's 1 ray of hope for Green Bay ... if Rodgers' broken collarbone heals up and he gets back on the field this season, Jennings believes the Packers gunslinger can still lead 'em to the Super Bowl.

The Atlanta Hawks announced Dennis Schroder will be disciplined for his "unacceptable" September 29 arrest ... but the team has vowed to support the NBA star throughout the ongoing investigation.

Schroder was arrested for battery outside an Atlanta hookah bar last month after he and his friends got into a physical altercation with a man. According to cops, Schroder initiated the fight.

"That behavior is unacceptable, will not be tolerated by the Hawks organization, and will result in discipline for Dennis at the appropriate time once the matter has been more fully developed through the law enforcement process and otherwise," Hawks GM Travis Schlenk says.

Jewel's rodeo champ ex-hubby, Ty Murray, is gettin' back on the horse ... when it comes to love and marriage.

Ty and FOX Sports reporter Paige Duke tied the knot September 30 at the Quarry at Carrigan Farms in North Carolina. They had the place decked out to be every cowboy/girl's dream.

Sources close to the couple tell TMZ ... Ty and Paige handed out homemade apple butter and personalized tobacco bottles as party favors to their 200 or so guests. Best of all, Ty and Jewel's son, Kase, was dad's best man.

And how's this for a real cowboy? Ty's wedding band was made out of elk antler and metal from his father's wedding ring. Paige went more traditional ... with a Cathy Waterman designed diamond ring.

Rick Pitino has officially been FIRED by UL ... less than 3 weeks after he was put on unpaid administrative leave over his suspected involvement in the NCAA bribery scandal.

The University of Louisville Athletic Association today voted to fire Pitino -- a Hall of Famer who coached the school's basketball teams since 2001 -- for "just cause."

As we previously reported, UL prez Greg Postel fired off a letter to Pitino last month ... saying the school believed evidence from the FBI investigation incriminated the coach.

For his part, Pitino and his lawyers have vehemently denied any wrongdoing ... and vowed "a bare-knuckle fight" ... if they were to fire him.

D.L. Hughley says there's someone America hates MORE than O.J. Simpson, and that man is Colin Kaepernick ... who Hughley thinks is getting the major shaft from NFL owners, and the American public.

As we previously reported, Kaep is gearing up to file a grievance against the NFL, alleging collusion by the NFL owners to keep him out of the league following his national anthem protest.

We got Hughley at LAX, and he told our guy he agrees 100% the NFL honchos are blackballing Colin -- and he has a reason.

"If Kaepernick had gotten an opportunity to try out for a squad and not made it, then this whole thing wouldn't have merit." Later adding, "If he's incapable of playing how come they've never let him prove it on the field?"

D.L. wasn't finished, saying in his opinion Kaep is one of the three most hated black men in America along with Obama and the aforementioned double murderer. But in his opinion, Colin has it worse.

Tristan Thompson got totally roasted by his teammates during a fan event Sunday night ... when he was asked if he's already gone fur coat shopping for his baby with Khloe Kardashian.

TMZ broke the story ... the Cavs star and Khloe -- his girlfriend of 1 year -- are expecting their first child together.

So when T.T. was asked about having "his and her" fur coats with Khloe at the Cavs' annual "Wine & Gold United" event on Sunday, J.R. Smith decided to tease Thompson about his new addition.

"You gettin' infant fur, too??"

You gotta see Tristan's reaction ... and his teammates absolutely lose it.

Yeah -- that's a pretty effective way of promoting a fight.

Earlier today in Norway, undefeated boxing star Cecilia Braekhus was facing off with Sweden's Mikaela Lauren for their upcoming fight ... when Mikaela decided to show Cecilia some love (literally).

Hard to say if it was mind games or if Mikaela just thinks Cecilia's hot ... either way, that was a serious lip-lock.

Cecilia shoved her face in shock, but took the kiss like a champ -- laughing off the gesture and even thanking her future opponent for giving her some sugar.

How does the Conor McGregor clan get down with the Lord?

Fire dancers, fireworks and bass-thumpin' live music ... in celebration of Conor Jr.'s christening over the weekend.

It all went down at Luttrellstown Castle in Dublin ... where McGregor, family and friends took in some serious pyro at the after-party.

Conor Sr. was all smiles for his 5-month-old ... less than 2 months after his insane payday for boxing Floyd Mayweather.

If this is all for a christening ... can you imagine this kid's 1st birthday party?!

Dwyane Wade is a Ferrari guy ... but for his son, Zaire, it ain't time for a Supercar just yet.

D-Wade went full Dad mode in a dealership sesh with his 15-year-old son over the weekend ... making sure the young baller stayed in his lane while shoppin' for his first set of wheels.

The Cavs superstar's got an All-Star squad of luxury vehicles (including a $300k Ferrari) but Wade shut down any possibility of his kid coppin' a car like that -- "Keep dreaming."

Not that Zaire didn't have options -- Wade was on board with an $40k-$50k Audi Q5 or $50k-$60k Audi Cabriolet convertible.

Still ... kinda rough when your Dad's already given you a taste of the good life.

From one 'Long Beach legend' to another ... Snoop Dogg had HIGH praise for Dodgers hero Justin Turner after crushing a 3-run walk-off homer against the Cubs Sunday night.

Snoop is known for giving his hilarious commentary -- both positive and negative -- for his favorite sports teams. This time, he was lovin' the late-game drama from his fellow L.B. native.

J.T. took notice ... and thanked the rap icon for the shout-out on Instagram.

David Ortiz says he's got a great idea which teams are gonna end up in the World Series ... and in true Red Sox fashion, he's showing no love for the Bronx Bombers.

TMZ Sports spoke with the Boston legend and current FS1 analyst at Mastro's in Beverly Hills about his fall classic picks ... and Big Papi has no faith in the Yanks to bounce back from being down 0-2.