TMZ Sports - Page 50

Floyd Mayweather has a new member of The Money Team -- Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov ... an alleged violent warlord who unapologetically hates gay people.

Floyd met up with Kadyrov during a recent trip to Chechnya -- buddying up with Kadyrov and urging his fans to follow Ramzan on Instagram.

But here's the problem ... Kadyrov has a very controversial past -- littered with accusations of human rights violations from kidnapping to torture and murder. He's denied all wrongdoing.

But what's undeniable ... Kadyrov says he doesn't want gay people in his country and has said on the record he'd ship them all to Canada if he could.

The U.S. State Dept. issued a warning in April 2017 saying it was "increasingly concerned" about the anti-LGBT movement in Chechnya -- after "numerous credible reports" indicating gay people were being detained, tortured and even killed based on their sexual orientation.

It's a beautiful sight for N.Y. Giants fans ... Odell Beckham Jr. makin' his way around the Big Apple without his walking boot!!

TMZ Sports spotted the NFL superstar heading into MSG for the Knicks vs. Lakers game Tuesday ... and although his boot was super swagged out, it's a great sign for his health to see him without it.

OBJ went down with a season-ending ankle injury in October ... but watching him sit courtside with Magic Johnson to cheer on the Knickerbockers sans boot should give fans hope.

Get well soon, OBJ!

LaVar Ball says there's one thing he could do differently to have everyone love him and embrace the Big Baller Brand -- be a white dude.

LaVar and his sons, LiAngelo and LaMelo, sat down with the gang on "The Breakfast Club" -- where Charlamagne Tha God asked if he thinks the perception of him would be the same if he were Caucasian.

"Heck no. They're scared of me because I'm uncontrollable. When you can't control one of us you in trouble."

Ball then explains what he means -- that a black man with a vision is a threat to the status quo, and he feels he's been vilified to a degree for being that threat.

Holly Robinson Peete declared a win for decency after accused pedophile Roy Moore was defeated in Alabama's special election -- and she's giving an NBA great an assist for the victory.

We got Holly at LAX Tuesday night and asked her about Democrat Doug Jones pulling off the stunning win and, for her, America was the real winner Tuesday night.

There were TONS of huge stars at the Knicks vs. Lakers game at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday ... but, for some reason, everyone seemed to have their eyes on Bella Hadid.

So, we present two photo galleries ...

The Celebs (LaVar Ball, LiAngelo Ball, Odell Beckham, Spike Lee, Magic Johnson and more) -- and if you're not into that, we've also got 20 pics of Bella sitting courtside.

Think of it as a sports-themed "Choose Your Own Adventure."

Don't worry ... no one's judging you.

Remember that guy who pulled up from half-court and bet a date with tennis beauty Genie Bouchard during the Super Bowl??

Well, that guy is looking like a freakin' genius right now -- 'cause the unlikely couple has been spotted together for a THIRD time ... bustin' out the bikinis and trunks for a beach date in Miami on Tuesday!!

ICYMI -- 20-year-old fan John Goehrke tweeted at Genie during Super Bowl 51 when the Patriots were trailing the Falcons by 25 points in the 3rd quarter. The Pats pulled off the upset, and John got his date.

They looked cute together at the time (we shot video of them on their way into their "date" at an NBA game a few months ago but c'mon -- NO ONE thought it would really turn into something.

Fast forward to last Wednesday when Goehrke suddenly reappeared on Genie's couch ... followed by the beach date.

Begging the question -- is they really a thing?!!?

If there's one lesson to learn today, fellas ... it's to ALWAYS shoot your shot.

How cool is this?

Saints QB Drew Brees spent his Tuesday opening a VERY cool "fully inclusive playground" in New Orleans for kids "of all abilities" ... including those with special needs.

Drew and his family attended the grand opening of the Walnut Street Playground at Audubon Park -- it's the very first fully inclusive playground in the city.

The place has everything from swings to slides to ZIP LINES!! Plus, the play area was designed to be fully accessible for wheelchairs!

Props to Drew and his foundation -- and everyone involved.

Charles Barkley is now a prime political commentator on CNN -- and after the election Tuesday night, he WENT OFF about how Alabama isn't just "rednecks" and "ignorant people."

Sir Chuck -- who's from Alabama (he played college ball at Auburn) -- had been campaigning hard for Doug Jones ... and after he took down Roy Moore last night, Barkley didn't hold back.

"You know, we've been stuck in a time warp for a long time," Charles said ... "This is just a great night for Alabama and for Doug Jones."

"Roy Moore was an embarrassment. Hey listen, if any other man had 8 women accusing him of sexual harassment ... talking about how he really enjoyed slavery ... he thinks people who are homosexuals should go to jail, they wouldn't have even been in this election."

Barkley says he's extremely proud of Alabama ... adding, "We got some amazing people here."

Ex-NFL star Terry Glenn crashed his truck into a concrete divider on a Texas highway after apparently tailgating at the Dallas Cowboys game ... according to the police report obtained by TMZ Sports.

The Irving Police Dept. has now released crash photos and incident reports from the Nov. 20 crash that killed the former WR and left his fiancee severely injured.

Cops say Glenn was driving his Ford F250 around 12:18 AM when he hit the entrance to the toll lane and flipped. Neither Glenn nor his fiancee were wearing seatbelts.

When cops arrived, they found Glenn unconscious on the ground, barely breathing with a slight pulse. He had a massive wound on the back of his head.

Glenn's fiancee suffered injuries to her face and a possible broken collarbone.

Cops say Glenn was transported to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead short time later.

Glenn's fiancee told police she and Terry attended the Cowboys game in Arlington earlier in the evening. You can see tailgating supplies, including a cooler, chairs and BBQ charcoal, scattered around the crash scene.

Glenn's fiancee admitted she had been drinking earlier in the day -- but "was not clear" if Glenn had consumed alcohol, too.

Officials conducted toxicology tests on Glenn's body -- so far, no word on the results.

Cops say no alcohol was recovered at the crash scene, however investigators did find a "marijuana grinder and bottle."

Glenn's clothing was taken as evidence.

TMZ Sports also obtained several 911 calls made by witnesses detailing the scene in the moments after the crash.

Glenn was 43.

Tony Gonzalez says it ain't fair to label all the NFL legends accused of sexual harassment as the next Harvey Weinstein ... but if the allegations are legit, guys like Warren Sapp and Donovan McNabb should get canned.

"You can't give judgment on those things until you hear it from both sides," Tony told TMZ Sports in L.A.

BUT -- "If you're abusing using your power to manipulate or control ... heads gotta roll."

Tony says the accusations levied by wardrobe stylist Jami Cantor against Sapp, McNabb, Marshall Faulk and other NFL Network colleagues are "tragic" ... adding that serious damage will be done to their legacies if Jami's complaints hold water.

Jose Canseco says the women accusing politicians of sexual misconduct are only complaining because the alleged offenders are "ugly men" ... and now the Oakland A's are distancing themselves from the ex-MLB star.

Canseco began ranting on Twitter on Tuesday ... saying, "What is going on with all these politicians molesting women I've been molested by several women and never complained."

He continued, "Well I mean I've been beaten by women taken advantage of by women and molested by women I never complain but it was kind of a turn-on."

"I see the difference I guess cuz I was a good-looking guy and these politicians look like a bag of boogers."

But, it was the next line that REALLY pissed some people off ...

"These women complaining against sexual misconduct are just racist against ugly men."

The comments got back to Jose's former team -- the Oakland A's -- and the organization wasted no time condemning the comments and making it clear they have no relationship with the ex-slugger.

"We were disappointed to learn of Mr. Canseco's statements," the team said.

Metta World Peace thinks LaVar Ball's move to ship his kids to Lithuania is "extremely brilliant" -- telling TMZ Sports he's putting the boys in the BEST possible position to succeed.

And yeah, he'd dead serious.

Metta played in both China and Italy during his pro career -- and told us going overseas will help LaMelo and LiAngelo Ball develop their game faster than they would have in the U.S.

"If it wasn't for a lack of fundamentals in the AAU system, then yeah, I would say just stay here. But overseas, the coaches are way more advanced. They give you a bit more freedom to play."

"WWE Tough Enough 3" winner Matt Cappotelli has terminal brain cancer ... but is still doing everything he can to fight the disease 6 months after the painful diagnosis.

Back in June, TMZ Sports reported on Matt's second surgery to remove a brain tumor -- over 10 years after he had one removed ... and had his pro wrestling career cut short.

But this time, 10% of the Grade 4 tumor could not be operated on since it was too close to his brain stem ... which gives Cappotelli 5 more years to live, at best -- doctors told WDRB in Louisville.

But, Matt ain't goin' down without a fight -- staying physically active and wearing a special cap 18 hours a day to keep the cancer at bay.

“Though it seems unfortunate, I want it to be portrayed as a story of hope -- unending hope,” Cappotelli said.

Jimmy Fallon's so stoked on Giancarlo Stanton joining the Yankees, dude went straight PRIMAL when we asked him about the blockbuster trade.

"OOOOOOOOOH ... what a season we're gonna have, oh my goodness!" Jimmy grunted/said to TMZ Sports in the Big Apple.

Fallon's New York born and bred ... so he couldn't even try to play it cool talking about Stanton -- and new manager, Aaron Boone -- putting on the pinstripes.

The real question -- how are Jimmy and Giancarlo gonna top Aaron Judge's appearance on "The Tonight Show?"

Here's LaVar Ball talking about the biggest BBB news yet -- the move to Lithuania ... telling TMZ Sports he doesn't give a single DAMN about the language barrier.

LaVar was with LiAngelo and LaMelo -- the newest members of Prienu Vytautas -- and the Big Baller told us he's not worried about ANYTHING when it comes to shipping his sons to Lithuania.

"There's not gonna be a struggle at all," LaVar said.

Floyd Mayweather's larger-than-life Asia trip has docked in Phuket, Thailand ... and the retired boxer's soakin' in the sun on a frickin' yacht!!

Floyd's retirement vacay has taken him through China, Russia and Dubai ... but it seems like he's REALLY enjoying this leg of the trip -- an island-hopping tour also featuring beach time on the world-famous James Bond Island and guided cave kayaking.

"I don’t know about y’all, but I’m living!!!" Mayweather wrote on social media.

Floyd even managed to squeeze in some time for romance ... swingin' with Jamie Lynn, one of his many lady friends, next to a candlelit pool.