TMZ Sports - Page 50

Hollywood seems torn about who they'll be rooting for this Super Bowl Sunday ... literally, this thing's split right down the middle.

We got a handful of celebs and athletes this weekend and asked them the same thing that's on everyone's mind for Super Bowl LII -- Pats or Eagles?

Anthony Scaramucci doesn't hesitate with his pick. Meanwhile, Donnie Wahlberg appears to waffle a bit before confirming his prediction ... no real surprise there.

Other stars who weighed in include Seahawks OT Duane Brown, ex-Pats defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, Joe Walsh ... and, of course, Lil Uzi Vert.

Jennifer Lopez took the stage Saturday night at a Super Bowl party and performed a rousing tribute to Prince.

JLo performed "When Doves Cry" and "Let's Go Crazy" at the Armory in Minneapolis ... an homage to Minneapolis' home town hero, who died in April, 2016.

The concert -- thrown by DIRECTV NOW -- raised money for Hurricane Maria victims.

During the concert, she gave a shout out to BF Alex Rodriguez, with whom she was celebrating their 1-year anniversary.

During her costume changes DJ Khaled came out and worked the audience into even more of a frenzy.

Good times.

Kobe Bryant was way more direct than Viola Davis about his guest-starring role on "How to Get Away with Murder."

Kobe was at UCLA Saturday night for the Annie Awards, and he essentially confirmed he's on the show. You'll recall Viola was coy about it, but the ex-Lakers star told us what we needed to know.

Check out the video ... Kobe starts to leave but hears a bunch of screaming kids pleading for a John Hancock, so he comes back. As he signs he gives a mini-lecture about excellence in school.

Tiny Fey and Rachel Dratch returned to "SNL" for an hilarious skit about the Boston vs. Philly game, but this one rolled back time several hundred years.

The date -- 1776. The place -- the freshly minted United States colonies. The mission -- win the Revolutionary War.

The rivalry between the Pats and Philly is hilarious. BTW, the Patriots are led by a dude named Tom Brady who, at 40, is several years beyond his life expectancy.

Turns out Tom Brady still balling at 40 is NOTHIN' ... that's according to Mark Ingram who says his 39-year-old QB Drew Brees can play for 5 or 6 more years.

Do the math, that's until Brees is 44 ... at least.

We got Ingram at the EA party in Minneapolis and asked him how long he thinks his signal caller can slang the rock ... being that he still looks as sharp as ever.

"At least 5 or 6 more years."

Ingram told our guy Brees' preparation and recovery efforts put him in a class by himself, and he totally thinks DB can be like TB, that is being elite well into his mid-life crisis years.

BTW ... we also got Drew out and he seems to agree.

Justin Timberlake's good looks are full-time!

Here's a 18-year-old version of the 'NSYNC standout rocking curly locks back in 1999 (left) and 19 years later ... the Super Bowl LII halftime hunk -- who just celebrated his 37th birthday -- doing a Press Conference in Minneapolis earlier this week (right).

Man of the Woods.

The question is ...

Bad news for Nick Foles -- the Denver Broncos ain't interested ... this according to Broncos legend Terrell Davis.

We got TD in Minnesota for the Super Bowl ... and it was clear the Hall of Famer didn't think the Eagles' incumbent QB has done enough to warrant interest from his boy, Broncos GM John Elway, this offseason.

"You gotta look at the body of work. He's having a good playoffs, but you can't just take a few games ... matter of fact, he's only had one good game so far," Terrell told TMZ Sports, talking about Foles' explosion vs. the Vikings.

While the Patriots and Eagles duke it out for the Lombardi Trophy ... the REAL competition is right before your eyes -- the best WAGS of Super Bowl LII!!

The temperature is expected to be 3-degrees in Minneapolis when the teams kick off later today ... but one quick look at these lucky players' ladies is all you need to escape the cold.

From Danny Amendola's model GF, Olivia Culpo, to Nelson Agholor's bae, Viviana Volpicelli, these receivers have proven they can make some amazing catches.

Kyle Busch says other drivers "piss themselves" all the time during races ... but despite his best efforts, he can't join NASCAR's #1 club.

We got Kyle and his smokin' hot wife, Samantha, out at Craig's ... and the conversation quickly turned to racing's dirty little secret -- peeing in the cockpit!

Busch told TMZ Sports he's "tried like hell" to pull the trigger -- races are 3 HOURS long -- but he can't bring himself to go full R. Kelly on the track.

But KB says some guys got no problem taking a leak mid-race ... and even claims one of his teammates broke the seal BEFORE his race started!

Legendary Atlanta Braves manager Bobby Cox says he's got a special place in his heart for newly minted Hall of Famer Chipper Jones ... cause he says the dude saved his job.

To be fair, Chipper owes a lot to Cox, too ... Bobby was general manager of the Braves when Jones was drafted #1 overall in 1990, and the two won a World Series together five years later.

That might be why Cox -- who most believe is the greatest manager in Braves history -- gave it up to Jones when we got him in Atlanta this past weekend.

"Well, he saved my job. He was that good."

Before you think Cox is just being nice, remember that he drafted Jones in his SECOND stint as Braves manager, after being fired the first go around.

P!nk's got the flu -- the nasty flu that's been spreading and intensifying this season -- and her illness could keep her from singing "The Star-Spangled Banner" on Super Bowl Sunday.

Sources close to Super Bowl LII production tell TMZ ... P!nk had a really tough time making it through her rehearsal Thursday night. We're told it didn't go smoothly ... and everyone involved didn't feel good when it was over.

There's more cause for concern too -- P!nk managed to power through her pre-Super Bowl concert Friday at The Armory in Minneapolis ... but had to rely to backup singers and the audience often to sing for her.

She even had to cut off her track "Beautiful Trauma" shortly after starting, telling the crowd, "I can't do it. I hate this ... I can't do that song. I'm sorry."

The singer assured fans she's trying to fight through her illness and "practice the flu away," but as we know ... the flu's hit hard this year and takes a few days to recover ... even with rest. And it doesn't seem like P!nk's resting too much.

Still, she says she promises she's going to do her best.

Rob Gronkowski's dad isn't concerned about his son's head or health heading into the Super Bowl, telling TMZ Sports ... Gronk's fine, focused and ready to go!!!

He also put on a one-man dance show with wild friends chanting his name -- standard Gronk family swagger.

We got Gordon Gronkowski -- aka "Big G" -- heading into the Leather and Laces Party in Minnesota Friday night more than ready to have a good time ... and he doesn't even hint there's any reason to think his son's not going to have a great game

Patriots Nation's been uneasy all week about Gronk's status for Sunday -- since he just got medically cleared Thursday following a concussion in the AFC Championship -- but Big G says there's no reason to worry.

Justin Timberlake's been rehearsing his ass off for the Super Bowl LII halftime show, and TMZ has the first video ... which gives you a sneak peek of what's about to go down.

Sooo, HERE'S YOUR LAST WARNING ... SPOILERS AHEAD!!!

Sources inside rehearsal tell us JT did 4 run-throughs, just on Thursday. We're told one was a dress rehearsal that was taped for emergency ... just in case anything happens to JT and he can't perform.

This video is from one of his Thursday sessions, and one thing's for sure ... there's gonna be a TON of fireworks inside the U.S. Bank Stadium.

Our sources also reveal there are no 'NSYNC or Janet Jackson cameos planned ... so anyone hoping for a reunion or redemption ... you can pretty much abandon all hope.

HOWEVER, we're told Justin does have one pretty cool trick up his sleeve -- a hologram to honor ... wait for it ... Prince, in his hometown.

Of course, plans and strategies can change ... but an overhaul at this point seems unlikely.

P!nk's cleavage and Donald Trump's Twitter fingers can both get you PAID during this year's Super Bowl ... if you're willing to throw down some bread on prop bets!

There are a ton of wild wagers on the big game ... and, like they've done in the past with Lady Gaga, Beyonce and Katy Perry, BetOnline.ag is letting fans risk it all on whether P!nk's girls show up during the national anthem.

Right now ... the chances that they make an appearance aren't great.

Yes +260
No -350

Want better odds? Trust in POTUS... it's almost even money Trump fires off 5+ tweets on Sunday!!

Over 5 1/2 tweets +100
Under 5 1/2 tweets -130

Some other gems ...

-- Which quarter the announcers first mention Trump

-- Whether or not Justin Timberlake rocks a beard

-- The color of Bill Belichick's shirt (read: hoodie)

If ya still ain't sure where to put your money ... we also got some tips from Sportsbook Review betting experts Jimmy the Bag and Peter Loshak.

Joey Fatone is itching to collect $1k from our photog, who bet him that 'N Sync will take the stage with Justin Timberlake during the halftime show at the Super Bowl.

We got Joey Friday night at the Leather and Laces Party in Minneapolis and he's stickin' with his story that Justin will perform solo, although he's not ruling out a surprise appearance by Janet Jackson.

Joey offers evidence ... singers who perform for a billion people typically don't go out and party 2 days before the big game.

Don't let these two almost identical images of Tom Brady cause you to fumble ... tackle the tricky pics by spotting the differences between these two super similar shots.