TMZ Sports - Page 50

Fun fact for you ... O.J. Simpson will have a say in this year's Heisman race, because he's still allowed to vote and, according to the Juice, he exercised that right.

Simpson was out in Las Vegas Monday night celebrating his daughter Arnelle's birthday when he broke down the race for the Trophy, which will be handed out Saturday night.

He seems to be up on all the leading candidates -- which is a little surprising, considering he's had a lot on his plate this fall. Y'know, getting out of prison and all.

O.J. was never forced to forfeit his Heisman winning status a la Reggie Bush. So, even though his '68 trophy was sold at auction to pay the Goldman family -- Simpson still gets a vote, by virtue of being a former winner.

Tom Izzo's won the NCAA tournament and been to 7 Final Fours ... but from the looks of it, the happiest moment of his life was being on the set of "Judge Mathis."

The legendary Michigan State basketball coach was a special guest on the courtroom reality show ... and dude was cheesin' like it was his damn wedding day.

Mathis was presiding over a diehard Ohio State fan (from Michigan!!), so he had to throw shade and shout out Coach Izzo -- who couldn't get enough.

Fun fact: Judge M says his daughter was a student assistant for Izzo ... so it's no surprise that they bro'd out backstage during the taping.

Mathis even dropped the gavel on rival Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh, captioning their pic: "I hear you are a Judge Judy fan. Izzo wins!"

Chris Pratt is giving credit where it's due -- even if it's the QB on one of his favorite team's conference rivals -- 'cause he says Carson Wentz is "a helluva player" ... but he's got someone else in mind to win MVP this season.

TMZ Sports spoke with Star-Lord -- a HUGE Seahawks fan -- about the tight race for the league's best player ... and while he gives the Eagles star props, he says Russell Wilson shouldn't be overlooked.

The Game has some strong advice for all those judging LaVar Ball's parenting tactics -- DON'T -- 'cause he says whatever the Ball family leader decides to do, it's in the best interest of his kids.

TMZ Sports spoke with the Compton rapper at Ace of Diamonds in West Hollywood about LaVar pulling LiAngelo outta UCLA ... and Game says no matter how he personally feels about the move, LaVar's doing what he thinks is best for his sons.

Warren G is telling the NY Giants exactly what they need to do about the Eli Manning situation -- a situation that they totally screwed up -- telling TMZ Sports the Manning era should continue.

Here's a refresher ... the Giants benched their 2-time Super Bowl MVP for Geno Smith -- ending his consecutive games streak, losing the game, then firing their coach and GM. Nice.

It looks like Eli's job again, for now ... question is, for how long? Will the organization stick with him?

Conor McGregor mingled with a lot of huge celebs at London's Fashion Awards on Monday night -- including Rita Ora, who shared photos of her and the UFC mega-star with the caption: "Date night."

The Irish fighter and British pop singer were hangin' for most of the ceremony ... seated together at a table with F1 superstar Lewis Hamilton and supermodels Irina Shayk and Jourdan Dunn.

Before you freak out -- Conor just had a kid with longtime girlfriend Dee Devlin ... and Rita's rumored to be dating musician Andrew Watt.

Still ... that didn't stop the haters from coming after Ora -- including Conor's BFF Artem Lobov, who said, "Sorry Rita, burgers are nice but not when a man has steak at home."

LaVar Ball says the punishment UCLA dropped on his son, LiAngelo, is worse than him going to jail ... saying the school shouldn't "hang him on a cross" over one mistake.

TMZ Sports broke the story ... LaVar is pulling LiAngelo from UCLA due to the school's decision to indefinitely suspend his son. The Ball family patriarch now tells CNN's Chris Cuomo the decision wasn't just his and, in fact, Gelo agreed with the call.

LaVar says Gelo trusted him to make the decision because ... he was gonna be 1 and done -- leaving UCLA after one season, and then heading to the NBA or Europe.

LaVar says there's no reconsidering -- the decision's done.

LiAngelo -- along with LaVar -- also appeared on the Today show ... and talked about shoplifting in China, getting caught by the cops, and spending time in Chinese jail.

Ex-boxing champ Zab Judah beat people up for a living ... but now he's got another job, assisting elderly patients with dementia, and helping teach a nursing class.

Could LiAngelo Ball make an epic return to China?? Caron Butler thinks it would be a huge success for the ex-UCLA player ... but tells TMZ Sports the middle Ball kid's best move was to stay in school.

We broke the story ... LaVar Ball pulled Gelo from the Bruins basketball squad after growing frustrated with his son's indefinite suspension for shoplifting in China.

Butler disagrees with the move, saying academics should come first for Gelo ... but admits there's still opportunities for him to develop into a massive hit on the court.

Here's Conor McGregor and Lewis Hamilton proving you don't have to be in the NBA to be sports fashionistas ... stuntin' like bosses at the annual Fashion Awards show in London.

The UFC and F1 mega-stars pulled up to the red carpet at Royal Albert Hall on Monday night and posed for some pics with fashion icon Donatella Versace -- who was honored at the ceremony.

Conor was no doubt rockin' one of his custom David August suits ... but Lewis might've outdone the champ with his bright-red plaid joint.

McGregor and Hamilton kept the party going inside the venue -- rubbing elbows with Rita Ora and supermodels Irina Shayk and Jourdan Dunn.

Holly Holm better be on her game come UFC 219 ... 'cause Cris Cyborg tells TMZ Sports one of the top dogs in women's fighting is joining her training camp to help her prep.

We got Cyborg in Downtown L.A. ... and the UFC women's featherweight champ told us undefeated boxing superstar Cecilia Braekhus is flying in all the way from Norway to help her smash Holly (a former pro boxer) at UFC 219.

Cris got in some serious work with ex-boxing champ Mia St. John a couple weeks ago ... but Cecilia's a whole different animal (and a proven team player).

As for the fight itself ... Cyborg admits that she and Holm are cool -- but says that ain't gonna stop her from taking her head off!!

N.Y. Giants legend Tiki Barber says Ben McAdoo sealed his fate when he benched Eli Manning ... and now tells us the team should put the 2x Super Bowl winning QB back in the starting lineup.

Barber, a 3x Pro Bowler who played from '97-'06 with the Giants, told us NYG brass totally botched the Manning benching -- inciting fans -- and that forced Giants ownership's hand.

The Giants cleaned house Monday morning ... axing the head coach and GM Jerry Reese after a 2-10 start.

Barber -- host of Tiki and Tierney on CBS Sports Radio -- says the Giants next move needs to be ... put Eli Manning back under center, now.

2:35 PM -- UCLA coach Steve Alford has addressed Gelo's departure, saying “We learned today of LiAngelo Ball’s intention to withdraw from UCLA. We respect the decision he and his family have made, and we wish him all the best in the future.

It's a stunning move ... LiAngelo Ball will no longer be on the UCLA basketball team and, in fact, he will not be a student at UCLA ... because his father, LaVar Ball, is removing him from the institution ... TMZ Sports has learned.

As you know, LiAngelo was indefinitely suspended from the team after he stole from several stores during a trip to China. LiAngelo was placed on house arrest but was sprung after Trump and others went to bat for him.

We're told LaVar believes the suspension was unfair, especially since the charges were dropped. LaVar's people tell TMZ Sports the famous dad thinks, "There's no need to break down a kid's spirit for making a mistake."

Our sources say LiAngelo is not officially withdrawn from the school but he's at home and will not return to UCLA.

LiAngelo was a freshman and never actually played a game for the team.

A family spokesperson added LiAngelo and Lavar appreciate UCLA for everything ... despite the circumstances that led to the suspension.

Story developing ...

There's no way Gronk should be suspended for his controversial hit on a Bills player ... so says former Super Bowl champ Jermaine Wiggins, who thinks anyone saying otherwise is just a Patriots hater.

TMZ Sports spoke with Wiggins about the Gronk backlash after he hit Tre'Davious White during Sunday's game, and he says if the NFL wants to remain consistent -- and be fair -- with its punishment, Gronkowski shouldn't be suspended a single minute.

Wiggins does admit it was a "dirty play" and "cheap shot" ... but says "cheap shots happen in the game all the time."

Ben McAdoo is out as NY Giants head coach ... less than 2 seasons after taking over the job, according to reports.

The last place, 2-10 Giants lost again on Sunday ... falling 24-17 to the Raiders in Oakland. However, it was the benching of star QB Eli Manning that had the sports world up in arms ... and fans calling for BM's head.

McAdoo wasn't always hated in NYC ... he got off to a great start with the Giants last year, going 11-5 and making the playoffs.

12 games after playing a playoff game in Green Bay ... McAdoo is unemployed.

The NYG have also reportedly fired GM Jerry Reese -- who was the general manager for the Giants last 2 Super Bowl wins.

The Giants have not yet released a statement.

Tom Brady hopes he won't have to play without Rob Gronkowski next week ... despite the superstar tight end's controversial late hit on a defenseless Bills player on Sunday.

TB12 spoke with 'Kirk and Callahan' on WEEI Monday morning and addressed the hit on Tre'Davious White -- resulting in a concussion -- saying Gronk lashed out after growing frustrated with unfair calls earlier in the game.

"It's an emotional game and these are like spur of the moment things, they just happen," Brady says.

"You always love to keep your cool all the time but you're in a sport where you're trying to run and block and hit and tackle and be physical and aggressive. That's why people tune in."

"I think if it was a pillow fight, people wouldn't tune in to watch."

When he was asked whether Gronk deserves to be suspended, Brady defended his teammate ... saying, "I certainly hope not."