TMZ Sports - Page 50

The World Series bonus checks are in ... and the Houston Astros are coming up BIG!!!!

Here's how it works ... each team in the MLB playoffs gets a bonus check based on how far they advanced. The bonus money is pooled from gate receipts from the playoff games.

The big winner -- the Houston Astros ... with each player getting a $438,901.57 bonus check!!!!

According to MLB, it's the largest bonus ever paid out. The previous record was held by the 2014 SF Giants, which paid players $392k each.

But don't feel too sorry for the L.A. Dodgers ... even though they lost the World Series, each player still made out with $259,722.14.

Here's how the rest of the bonuses paid out:

NY Yankees -- $138k
Chicago Cubs -- $133k

AZ Diamondbacks -- $40k
Boston Red Sox --$36k

Cleveland Indians -- $36k
Washington Nationals -- $36k

Colorado Rockies -- $18k
Minnesota Twins -- $18k

It pays to be good.

The University of Tennessee says they found no evidence that Greg Schiano helped cover up child rape during his time at Penn State ... but they're still not explaining why they backed out of hiring him as the Vols head football coach.

FYI, Schiano was reportedly signed to be the next head coach -- but some students and supporters lashed out over the decision due to claims Schiano knew about the horrific things Jerry Sandusky was doing to children and didn't report him to police.

Schiano has denied covering up anything -- and said he never had any knowledge about Sandusky's disturbing crimes. Yahoo! Sports' Dan Wetzel explained where the allegation stems from.

Still, many have speculated that outrage over the Penn State connection is what led to Tennessee backing out.

Now, UT athletic director John Currie has issued a statement essentially saying the school vetted Schiano and determined he had no role in protecting Sandusky.

"Coach Schiano worked at Penn State from 1990-1995. Consequently, we, of course, carefully reviewed the 2012 investigation report by Louis Freeh. Coach Schiano is not mentioned in the Freeh report and was not one of the more than 400 people interviewed in the investigation."

"We also confirmed that Coach Schiano was never deposed and never asked to testify in any criminal or civil matter. And, we conferred with our colleagues at The Ohio State University, who had conducted a similar inquiry after the 2016 release of testimony."

Jaleel White's take on the Michael Crabtree vs. Aqib Talib chain-snatching fight might be the best take:

"If I had a chain on and you snatched it, I would f*ck you up terribly."

White continued, "I would have to do that on GP (general principle). I wouldn't even want to but because I knew my daughter would see the footage, I would have to do it."

Of course, Crabtree subscribes to the same set of principles ... he got violent with Talib during the Raiders vs. Broncos game on Sunday after getting his chain snatched IN JANUARY, too.

Still, worst chain snatching ever might still be that Steve Francis incident. Brutal.

Why so serious!?

Here's the brand new bust of soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo that's now on display in Spain ... and while it accurately portrays his rugged good looks, it's wayyyy less fun than the other one.

The artist behind the new statue is Jose Antonio Navarro Arteaga -- who reportedly made the new piece after his son saw the other bust at the Madeira airport and told his dad he could do better.

The kid was right -- the bust is pretty great. It's new home is at the Bernabéu Tour stadium in Spain, the home of Real Madrid.

Whatever. Still like the other one better ...

TMZ Sports has obtained court documents filed by the man who claims he's being stalked by Ray Allen -- and he believes the NBA star is out to kill him.

But Ray says the accuser is just a "deranged individual" who's obsessed with him -- and the allegations are as bogus as it gets.

Bryant K. Coleman filed the petition for a temporary restraining order against Allen on Nov. 6 -- a petition that was granted by a Florida judge.

In the docs, Coleman claims Allen called him on the phone on Sept. 9 -- after their alleged 3-year relationship had ended -- and said he wanted to "ensure that I went away and never opened my mouth again."

"He said he wanted me to get what I deserved."

Coleman says Allen has "repeatedly spied on me by sending his associates to follow me in my community." One incident allegedly took place in a Publix market on Oct. 10 where Coleman says a man approached him and told him to "watch your back."

Coleman also claims he received a phone call from someone threatening to strangle him -- and he believes the caller was Ray Allen.

In the docs, Coleman says Allen was recently seen in public with 2 armed men and believes the ex-NBA star may be planning a "more direct attack."

One interesting note -- in Coleman's petition, he lists Allen's aliases ... and wrote, "Jesus Shuttlesworth" -- the name of Allen's character in the movie "He Got Game."

We spoke with Allen's attorney, David Markus, who tells TMZ Sports, "As with everything else related to Briant or Bryant Coleman, his petition for a restraining order was filled with lies, falsehoods and fantasies."

"He is a seriously deranged individual who Ray Allen has never met, never spoken with directly or threatened in any way. Coleman is the stalker here who is obsessed with Ray."

"Ray wants nothing to do with him and is exploring all legal options to stop him from continuing to harass and threaten him, his family and friends"

Bad news for the Big Baller Brand ... at least one of Lonzo's Lakers' teammates says he won't be playing in the new ZO2s.

We spoke with Julius Randle outside Mastro's Steakhouse in Beverly Hills -- when he told us he's got a deal with Nike ... and he ain't about to mess that up.

Meantime, the $500-per-pair ZO2s finally shipped over the weekend -- and should be arriving to people THIS WEEK!!!

Bonus: we also spoke with Julius about the Michael Crabtree vs. Aqib Talib chain-snatching and he explained why that would never happen in the NBA!

Floyd Mayweather has been telling people close to him that he's considering a 51st fight -- and he's been training like a maniac in the gym ... but we're told there has been NO official movement ... yet.

Here's the deal ... people close to Floyd say he's still in fighting shape and ready to go. He even posted video training in his Vegas gym. We're told he's been kicking around the idea of another comeback.

The obvious matchup ... a Conor McGregor rematch -- especially with the money they made in the first fight.

We saw Showtime Sports honcho Stephen Espinoza -- a major part of the first fight -- and asked if there was any movement behind the scenes.

Long story short -- nothing happening now ... but Espinoza isn't ruling it out at some point down the line.

Stay tuned ...

The hardest hit in the first quarter of Sunday's Broncos-Raiders game came during a brawl that started after Aqib Talib tore off Michael Crabtree's gold chain -- AGAIN!!! -- at the end of a play.

Talib and Crabtree went at it after the pull and several other players soon joined in on the scuffle. Both players were given unnecessary roughness penalties, before being ultimately ejected from the game.

The Raiders' Gabe Jackson was also ejected for pushing an official.

The Broncos cornerback and Raiders wide receiver have beef ... Talib pulled off Crabtree's chain last season when the teams played in January. After the game, Crabtree responded by saying, "Snatching chains on the field, like what you accomplish? You hard? You tough? That make you tough?"

Looks like Crabtree got his answer.

Gabrielle Union gets what Gabrielle Union wants -- even if that means shelling out tens of thousands of dollars for street art.

Gabrielle was doing an interview to promote a book at the Epic Hotel in Miami, where an art exhibit was also going down at the Avant Gallery.

Gabrielle stumbled in and came across 17-year-old street artist Skyler Grey's artwork -- a painting of famed NYC artist Jean-Michel Basquiat as Juan Ponce de Leon. He calls it "King Jean Michel."

Gabby liked what she saw and dropped $40k for the 50" x 65" piece ... straight-up.

Don't rule out a Hulk Hogan-WWE reunion -- so says Hulk's son, Nick, who told us his 64-year-old dad is totally in good enough shape to "beat somebody's ass."

Nick couldn't tell us whether anything was officially in the works, but hinted the Hulkster would be game for a comeback under 1 condition.

"It's not the wrestling that's taxing on him, it's the traveling," Nick told TMZ Sports. "He just doesn't wanna stay on the road all the time."

Basically, don't expect Hulk to hit the mats for WWE full time ... but a part-time gig could make sense for the legend.

FYI, we talked to Brooke Hogan a couple months ago -- and she also made it clear that pops can still throw down.

Legendary trainer Freddie Roach has a potentially lifesaving tip for Rev. Jesse Jackson in the wake of his Parkinson's diagnosis -- strap on the gloves and start boxing!!

Freddie's speaking from personal experience ... conquering Parkinson's for over 3 decades with the help of hand-eye coordination drills (AKA hitting and holding mitts).

"Boxing probably saved my life," Roach told TMZ Sports at his Wild Card Boxing gym in L.A.

Jackson says he's gonna do whatever it takes to fight the disease ... so Roach's sport could be a real option for the Rev.

But whether or not takes up boxing, Freddie's got a powerful message for RJJ -- "You just can’t give up, can’t let it take over."

The scariest soap opera in sports ain't over just yet ... 'cause Cris Cyborg says a superfight between her and Ronda Rousey might still go down one day.

We got Cyborg training in L.A. for her fight with Holly Holm ... and the women's featherweight champ told TMZ Sports "maybe this fight can happen" if everything were to fall into place.

The problem -- Cris doubts Rousey's ever gonna step foot back inside the UFC Octagon.

Still ... it's a 180 from the stance Cyborg took a couple months ago, when she said she didn't wanna scrap with Ronda anymore because she's a loser.

The most important part of hip hop dance -- UGLY FACE -- and Tony Romo has it locked down ... so says Teyana Taylor.

The ex-Cowboys QB got 1-on-1 lessons from the dance goddess herself on the set of his Google Mini commercial last week in Dallas. It's unclear if he plans on using some of his new moves in the broadcast booth.

LaVar Ball is finally showing his hand -- not that it wasn't obvious -- his endgame with Donald Trump is to line his pockets with profits for his Big Baller Brand.

We got LaVar Friday at the New York Grill in Ontario, CA, and he's reveling over his feud with Trump. LaVar was with sons Lonzo, LiAngelo and LaMelo.

It isn't lost on him that he got the equivalent of $13 million in free advertising when he earned Trump's wrath by saying the Prez didn't really assist in getting LiAngelo out of Chinese custody.

LaVar thinks Trump needs a pair of ZO2's for his sanity ... and we're sure LaVar would be more than happy to send him a pair.

Colin Kaepernick has been out of a job for nearly a year, but his resume still looks appealing ... to Hollywood!

A well-known casting director posted on a message board for managers and agents last week, asking for someone representing the former NFL quarterback to contact her.

The casting director is currently working on a TV pilot and -- more notably -- the Pepsi commercial-inspired movie "Uncle Drew" starring Kyrie Irving, Lil Rel Howery, Nick Kroll and sports legends like Shaq, Reggie Miller, Chris Webber and Lisa Leslie.

It's unclear the role for which the casting director is eyeing Kaepernick, but a cameo in "Uncle Drew" seems like a good fit. If it works out ... it would be Colin's first acting gig.

It's no surprise the ex-NFL star's a hot Hollywood commodity despite not playing this season -- he's still been in the limelight as an activist, philanthropist, and President Trump talking point.

TMZ SPORTS DISCLAIMER: Curt Schilling is in no way dissing any of the baseball players mentioned in this post, this is simply his opinion on who will, and WILL NOT make the MLB Hall of Fame.

That said, some of y'all gonna be mad.

We gave Curt (who should already be in) a list of the some of the guys who made the ballot for the 2018 class, and he broke it down -- who's gonna be in, and who's gonna be out.

It's a dope class, with guys like Andruw Jones, Chipper Jones, Johnny Damon, Johan Santana, and Jim Thome up for consideration.

Schilling answers honestly about each guy, being careful and making sure not to hurt anyone's feelings in the process ... yeah, right.

Bonus Curt? He also weighs in on Joe Morgan's steroid-player-hating letter from earlier in the week, and tells us if he ever thinks guys who juiced up should get in.