TMZ Sports - Page 50

Listen up, LiAngelo and LaMelo Ball -- in case you're having any second thoughts about Lithuania ... we found a team for y'all that tours the whole damn globe!

That's right -- we got Cheese and Jet of the Harlem Globetrotters out in NYC ... and they told TMZ Sports they'd be totally down to bring in the Ball bros.

"If it doesn't work out, come to the Globetrotters! Or come here first -- forget Lithuania!" Cheese said.

Dope offer for BBB ... but also kinda funny considering their teammate, Hoops, told us big bro Lonzo ain't exactly Globetrotter material.

Master P says his dream of being an NBA coach nearly came true with the New Orleans Pelicans ... telling TMZ Sports he was actually up for a job on the NBA team's coaching staff this year.

P sat down with us to talk about his coaching debut later this month in the Global Mixed Gender Basketball league he owns ... but also told us he almost got a shot at the big time.

"I feel like I could help the New Orleans team this year. You know I was up for that job last year as an assistant coach?!"

P didn't tell us exactly what kept him from getting the gig, but he did say it was ultimately the Pelicans loss, because he truly believes he could've made them a winner.

"I would've turned that team around." Later adding, "That should be a championship team right now."

7:05 PM PT -- Diddy is weighing in on the Panthers' sale ... and it sounds like he wants to throw his hat in the ring as the next owner.

Well that was fast -- Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson says he's putting the team up for sale at the end of the season ... the same day the NFL said it's investigating him.

Richardson released a statement Sunday saying he was planning to sell the Panthers franchise to new ownership, but wouldn't start the process 'til the very last game.

As we reported ... the Panthers launched an investigation into their owner this week for alleged misconduct in the workplace, including reported cash settlements for at least 4 employees.

According to Sports Illustrated, the misconduct centered around alleged sexual harassment and the use of a racial slur. The NFL also announced Sunday that it was taking over the Panthers' original probe ... which appears to have forced Richardson's hand.

Gotta say ... this reminds us a lot of when TMZ Sports revealed racist comments made by former Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling ... who sold the team after news of his scandal broke.

A French soccer player went full-on blackface for an '80s costume party ... and quickly apologized for thinking it was okay.

Antoine Griezmann -- a star striker for Spain's Atletico Madrid --- posted a photo and video of himself Sunday in a full-body blackface costume of an NBA All-Star player, 'fro and all.

As you might imagine, the backlash was fast and furious ... and he eventually took down the controversial posts. He also apologized in his native tongue on Twitter, which translates to something like ... "I admit this is awkward on my part. If I hurt some people, I apologize."

Bow wow wow yippee yo yippie yay -- LaVar Ball got his soon-to-be Lithuania bound sons some new playmates ... 3 Rottweiller puppies.

TMZ Sports got video of Lavar, LiAngelo, LaMelo and leaving Petco in Chino Hills, CA as they toted out the puppies. They didn't get the puppies in the store, but they were stocking up like crazy for 'em.

We're told they got bedding, treats, food and toys -- all puppy essentials. LaVar told people in the store he'd just gotten the Rotties because he has a big backyard that needs patrolling ... plus, his kids wanted 'em. Santa Ball delivers!

The big question is if they'll be headed to Lithuania with LiAngelo and LaMelo. No word on that or names for the dogs.

Claudia Jordan's taking a serious shot at Ben Roethlisberger before his Steelers take on her Patriots this Sunday ... pointing to past sexual assault allegations against the QB.

"Steelers, your quarterback is very questionable. He should be in jail," Claudia told TMZ Sports outside Delilah in L.A.

Remember -- Big Ben was accused of sexual assault by two separate women in 2008 and 2010 ... but no criminal charges were brought against him in either case.

But, the former 'Real Housewives of Atlanta' star clearly ain't buying Roethlisberger's innocence.

LaVar Ball picking a Lithuanian league for LiAngelo and LaMelo had a lot of people scratching their heads ... but not Swae Lee, who says the Big Baller's makin' money moves!

"I think wherever the bag is calling, you gotta chase the bag," the Rae Sremmurd rapper told TMZ Sports outside Poppy in L.A.. "It could be Columbia, it could be Venezuela, it could be Australia -- wherever the bag is calling."

Swae ain't wrong, in theory ... but BBB claims it ain't about cash -- with Gelo and Melo reportedly pocketing no more than $500 per game.

Offset's showering of luxurious birthday gifts didn't stop with his fiancee buying him a Rolls ... he's also dripping in ice inspired by The Nature Boy.

The Migos rapper got the new chain from the CEO of his label, Pierre "Pee" Thomas. If Pee's name sounds familiar, it's because he also blinged out Gucci Mane and his wife at their wedding.

We're told the Naitch jewelry -- made by Wafi Lalani at Jewelry Unlimited in ATL -- is made up of 27 carats on the chain and 25 on the pendant.

At a cost of $70,000, it's enough to make anyone yell, WOOOOO!!!

This is why it's awesome to be in the NFL.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers star Vernon Hargreaves' rumored GF ... a woman so hot we, here at TMZ Sports, feel there should be a charge to read this post (there might be soon -- thanks, FCC).

The woman is IG model Kaitlyn Patrise, and there have been multiple reports that her and Vernon are getting cozy ever since she was spotted in the booth of a Bucs game.

Dean Cain is giving Roger Goodell a Kryptonian kick right in the ass ... telling TMZ Sports the commish's PHAT new contract is money horribly spent, cause Goddell SUCKS at his job.

Roger is now SWIMMING in money ... with the owners agreeing to extend his contract 5 years to the tune of a whopping $200 million.

Cain ripped into the new deal when we got him at LAX ... saying Goodell has mismanaged huge issues like Ray Rice, Tom Brady, and Ezekiel Elliott, making the big money a big mistake.

Dean's not the only one BTW ... Jerry Jones is leading a faction of owners in open rebellion against Goodell, mostly due to a perceived failure to gain control of the kneeling protests by players.

Victor Cruz might not be playing in the NFL this season, but he's still got a big smile on his face ... 'cause he's hooking up with Karrueche Tran!!!

The 2 were spotted holding hands in Hollywood Friday on their way to lunch with a friend ... and they definitely look like they're enjoying each other's company.

Karrueche and Victor were allegedly seen together on a movie date around Thanksgiving, but this is the first official PDA.

As we reported ... Chris Brown's ex had moved on to Quavo from Migos back in April, but it apparently didn't last.

Just another reason for the former Pro-Bowler and Super Bowl champ to bust out his salsa dance.

The ex-wife of slain NBA star Lorenzen Wright is locked up in Southern California ... after cops busted her in connection with his murder.

TMZ Sports got Sherra Wright's mug shot. The Riverside County Sheriff's Dept. busted her Friday evening on a fugitive warrant for murder -- which was issued in Tennessee. Memphis police have charged her with 1st degree murder and conspiracy.

Lorenzen -- who played 14 years in the NBA -- was murdered 7 years ago. His remains were found in the woods, 10 days after he was seen leaving Sherra's Tennessee home.

The case had gone cold until recently -- police found the murder weapon in a lake, and earlier this month arrested Billy Turner and charged him with 1st degree murder.

Police aren't saying yet what the alleged connection is between Turner and Lorenzen's ex-wife ... who is sitting in jail pending extradition to Tennessee. Reports say they went to the same church.

Sorry Pacquiao ... Conor McGregor says his putting his boxing career on hold for a bit -- because he wants his next bout to be a "real fight."

Conor was out with his baby mama Dee Devlin in NYC when he was asked about his fighting future -- and rumors he's hammering out a deal to box Manny Pacquiao.

But McGregor shot that down real fast -- insulting the sweet science in the process ... saying, "I think a true fight is what I want to do next."

He added, "MMA next."

The big question ... who's up first in the UFC? Nate Diaz? Tony Ferguson? Tyron Woodley??

Ex-Yankees OF Dustin Fowler is out for revenge against Chicago White Sox over a horrific injury suffered in his MLB debut ... when he slammed his knee into an electrical box while chasing a fly ball.

22-year-old Fowler was a huge prospect for the Yanks -- which expected BIG things from him when he made his MLB debut on June 29, 2017, when NY played the White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field.

After a 3-hour rain delay, Fowler started at right field -- and made headlines when he crashed into a metal electrical box while chasing Jose Abreu's foul ball in the 1st inning.

Fowler collapsed when he tried to put weight on his leg -- and was carted off the field. He never got his 1st at bat and missed the rest of the season. He's since been traded to the Oakland A's.

Fowler was reportedly diagnosed with an open rupture of the patellar tendon in his right knee which required emergency surgery.

Now, Fowler is suing both the Sox and the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority, which owns the park.

In his suit, Fowler claims the "exposed box was positioned at a hazardous location" -- between the padded right field wall and the padded rail, at knee level.

He claims both defendants had a duty to make the field safe for players -- and they failed. Now, he wants a ton of money to make things right.

Macaulay Culkin made a bigger mistake than "Richie Rich" when he messed with wrestling star Swoggle this week -- and now the ex-WWE superstar is hell bent on REVENGE!!!!

Remember, it was Swoggle who was targeted by Culkin at a Bar Wrestling event in L.A. on Thursday -- with Mac hitting him with a flying splash from the rope!

But now, Swoggle tells TMZ Sports ... Culkin is GONNA PAY for his transgressions.

"Macaulay Culkin ... this is pro wrestling. This is my world. This ain't Hollywood, bitch!"

"I will f**king gut you! I will make you bleed. Pain. Pain. A lot of pain."

That's Tim Kennedy -- UFC and U.S. Army Special Forces vet -- telling all the internet trolls what he's gonna do to them for spoiling "Star Wars: The Last Jedi."

Tim's a HUGE Sci-Fi guy ... but says he still hasn't seen the movie 'cause he's too busy being a badass in the desert.

Kennedy tells TMZ Sports he's pissed 'cause he can't touch social media -- "there's a bunch of a**holes out there trying to ruin it for people like me!"

So, if you spoil the party -- like UFC contender Colby Covington did on Thursday -- Tim says he's literally gonna cut you open and let you bleed out.

Yeah ... the force is strong in this one.