TMZ Sports - Page 50

The wild ending to the Vikings/Saints playoff game cost a lot of people a lot of money ... and it all came down to that extra point play.

The spread before kickoff was 5.5 in favor of the Vikings -- meaning if you bet the Vikings, they had to win by at least 6 points for you to collect on your bet.

So when Stefon Diggs caught that insane last-second pass with time expiring to put Minnesota up by 5, Vikings betters thought the extra point was a gimme ... and would be money in the bank.

Now the twist -- the players clearly thought the game was over, as both teams started to leave the field. But when officials explained the extra point play was mandatory, both teams returned ... but the Vikings apparently didn't wanna put salt in the wound ... so they took a knee instead of kicking the field goal for the extra point.

Final spread -- 5 points. Hope you bet on the Saints.

BetOnline.ag -- one of the biggest betting websites -- tells us that the kneel on the extra point favored a majority of gamblers ... 'cause 63% of people on their site bet on the Saints getting 5.5 points.

Aaron Rodgers and Danica Patrick seem to be rounding out the first lap of their rumored romance -- 'cause now they're dining together out in the open ... as seen here.

The Packers QB and NASCAR driver were spotted grabbing a bite Saturday night at The Mission Mexican restaurant in Scottsdale, Arizona, accompanied by a small group of people.

Eyewitnesses tell TMZ Aaron and Danica sat next to each other, but didn't show off any kind of PDA while there. We're also told other patrons recognized them, but left them alone.

Rumors have been swirling about the reported couple, who apparently got together shortly after the holidays. Word around town is ... things are moving fast with Aaron after Danica split from her BF of 5 years, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., late last year.

Looks like they have plenty of time on their hands to cozy up -- Aaron's season is over after the Packers didn't make the playoffs, and Danica's set to retire soon. Kismet!

Everyone in Philly was feeling competitive AF this weekend during the Eagles' playoff game against the Falcons ... including 76ers star Joel Embiid.

Embiid got a little rough with an Eagles fan Saturday during a tailgate at the game, when the guy pushed the NBA star and intercepted an incoming pass to him in the lot.

Safe to say, Embiid wasn't having it ... he shoved the dude right back.

Embiid -- who's 7 feet tall -- doesn't usually back down against fans who challenge him in sports. He definitely didn't hold back while playing one-on-one with folks 2 summers ago.

10:10 AM PT -- Rodman's rep tells TMZ, "Alcoholism has been a struggle on and off for Dennis the past 15 years," adding he's been going through some "tough personal issues." The rep says he's going to talk to Dennis about going back to rehab.

Dennis Rodman has been arrested for DUI ... TMZ has learned.

Rodman was driving in Newport Beach Saturday at around 11 PM when cops pulled him over for a traffic violation. Cops administered a field sobriety test, which he flunked. He was handcuffed, put in a patrol car and taken to the police station.

We're told Rodman was cooperative and submitted to a breathalyzer test, and he blew over the .08 legal limit.

Rodman remained in jail for 7 hours, and when police determined he was sober enough to care for himself he was released.

Rodman was busted for DUI back in 1999.

Gabrielle Union thinks Donald Trump's reference to "shithole" places actually refers to his brain.

Gabrielle was at Barnes and Noble Saturday in Cleveland signing her book, "We're Going to Need More Wine," when she sounded off on Trump's gross commentary on Haiti and African countries.

She also thinks Oprah -- who now says she's intrigued by the prospect of running for President in 2020 -- can do more outside the Oval Office than inside.

Ronda Rousey ain't the only UFC star gunnin' for the WWE ... Paige VanZant says she LOVES the pro wrestling biz, and is "definitely interested" in making the jump.

"If the knock comes onto my door, I'm taking it," Paige told TMZ Sports before adding ... "when the time is right."

PVZ also seemed pretty down to face Rousey in the ring ... especially if WWE lets 'em throw hands for real!

For now, VanZant's gonna stick with kickin' ass inside the Octagon. She's making her debut at 125 pounds this Sunday at UFC Fight Night 124 ... and says she's got BIG plans for 2018.

One of those plans involves the UFC ... but she's also got a serious proposition for "Dancing with the Stars!"

The Steelers are favored by a touchdown for their NFL playoff showdown with the Jags -- but do the boys in Black in Yellow score bigger off the field, too?

For the answer, we here at TMZ Sports have compiled the best of both team's red-hot WAGS ... and we gotta say, this one's going down to the wire.

But, judge for yourself ... using these shots of their better halves in bikinis and other attire -- but mostly bikinis.

Here's a small silver lining for Cleveland fans ... no matter how embarrassing their 0-16 season was, ex-Browns star Buster Skrine says there's one team his old squad can still beat:

'BAMA!!!

TMZ Sports asked the N.Y. Jets stud whether the best college football team can beat the NFL's worst team ... and Buster says they're 2 totally different beasts in favor of the Browns.

Speaking of the Browns' winless season, Skrine hopes Jets fans NEVER plan a parade for locking the No. 1 overall pick like they did in Cleveland.

BONUS -- Skrine says he's the most fashionable guy in sports ... and he lets his boots do the talking.

Kid Rock had a group of youth basketball players yellin' "bawitdaba" after a recent Pistons game ... and all he had to do was hook 'em up with some free hot cocoa!!

Here's what happened ... a Canadian youth hoops team was leaving the Pistons vs. Rockets game this past weekend when they spotted the rocker inside his Made in Detroit restaurant.

The American Bad Ass noticed the team gawking through the window, so he invited the whole group in and ordered 15 hot cocoas on the house!!

The team's coach thanked the Detroit native for the gesture ... who then told him to pay it forward.

Keith Jackson -- the longtime and legendary voice of college football -- has died.

Jackson spent 50 years working for ABC covering a wide variety of sports, but was best known for calling college football's biggest games for generations. Jackson's credited for dubbing the Rose Bowl "The Granddaddy of Them All" and Michigan's football stadium, "The Big House".

Todd Harris of NBC Sports broke the news Jackson passed away Friday night surrounded by his family.

He is survived by his wife, Turi Ann, and 3 children.

He was 89.

RIP

Here's a video of Jacksonville Jaguars player Myles Jack stepping in dog crap last month in his Jordans, and visibly grieving about the entire experience.

The feces fiasco happened outside the Four Seasons hotel in Palo Alto (the Jags were in town to play the 49ers), and was captured by a fan waiting to get an autograph from Jack.

You see Myles step in the doo doo, check to make sure it is in fact doo doo (WHY WOULD YOU TOUCH IT, FAM), wipe off the doo doo then remove his shoe to stop the defecation debacle from getting worse.

Best part? Dude looks legit bummed at the fate of his Jordans ... it's pretty hilarious.

Ciara and Russell Wilson spent Friday night eating everything in sight!!!

The couple hit up Mr. Chow -- for starters -- in Bev Hills, then beelined it for Sprinkles Cupcakes which is undeniably delicious.

That wasn't the end of a night filled with food and treats. They meandered over to Amorino for some tasty gelato.

The Seattle Seahawks QB seemed more than satisfied with his choice.

Bev Hills shuts down early, so they took off for parts unknown ... possibly for a third dessert. Sounds like a good evening for sure.

Can the Eagles survive without Carson Wentz??

Quavo doesn't think so -- 'cause when we asked him about their playoff matchup with the Falcons, he told us having Nick Foles sub in for the MVP candidate will crush their chances.

"They lost they main guy," Quavo told TMZ Sports. "Foles ... we ready to take him out."

For his own sake, we hope he's right. Quavo's a huge Georgia sports guy -- and we're not sure if he can handle 2 soul-crushing L's in 1 week.

Mark Wahlberg wants to direct the movie based on Caron Butler's life ... and guess who's super stoked to hear that??

CARON BUTLER!!

TMZ Sports spoke with Tuff Juice about Marky Mark wanting to tackle Butler's story of a drug dealing childhood to becoming an NBA All-Star in his directorial debut ... and he says it's a dream come true.

Butler says Wahlberg is his top choice to direct the flick ... even with HUGE names like Peter Berg and Spike Lee being interested in joining the project.

Here's something you don't hear everyday -- a UFC Hall of Famer saying Conor McGregor's next fight should be in BOXING, not MMA!

"If he's a smart guy he should keep on boxing -- that's what I would do," Bas Rutten told TMZ Sports.

Don't get it twisted -- Bas says he wants to see Conor come back and defend his UFC lightweight belt ... but at the same time, thinks it'd be crazy for McGregor to leave Manny Pacquiao/Floyd Mayweather money on the table.

FYI, McGregor told us he wants an MMA fight next ... but would he really turn down another HUGE payday??

Pierre Garcon wasn't the least bit surprised Donald Trump reportedly called Haiti a "shithole" ... but says he's willing to forgive the Prez.

Garcon -- a Haitian-American NFL star -- tells TMZ Sports he was upset when he first heard POTUS bash the country from which his family descends.

"When you first heard it, it was hard to understand why he'd say something like that."