TMZ Sports - Page 50

Magic Johnson is the consummate diplomat, turning LaVar Ball's threat to yank Lonzo from the Lakers into a testament on parenthood.

The beloved President of Basketball Operations for the Lakers was leaving Mastro's in Bev Hills Friday night with his wife Cookie, when our photog asked about LaVar's ultimatum -- put my 2 other sons on the team or say goodbye to Lonzo.

Magic doesn't miss a beat ... heaping praise on the elder Ball.

As for taking in a screening of "Black Panther" this weekend ... well, there's one thing more pressing.

Cardi B, and the guys from Migos were swallowed up in a gigantic crowd waiting for them as they arrived for an event for NBA All-Star Weekend.

Cardi, her fiance Offset, Takeoff and Quavo all showed up in an SUV at Murano in WeHo. Victor Oladipo, a guard for the Indiana Pacers, was along for the ride.

Cardi made 6 figures for hosting the event, and she's expected to make a bundle more during the weekend festivities. She's also hosting at Penthouse and Ace of Diamonds.

The house-cleaning in Cleveland was all for nothing -- because LeBron James is leaving the Cavs to sign with the Lakers in the off-season ... at least, that's what LaVar Ball believes.

The Big Baller was at his pop-up shop in L.A. when we asked about the possibility of Bron coming out West to play with Lonzo when he becomes a free agent at the end of the season.

LaVar is not only convinced it's going to happen -- he tells TMZ Sports, "Lonzo is gonna make HIM a better player!"

He also loves the idea of having "two stars" on the same team -- and already has a nickname for the duo.

Mark Henry has a way for Hulk Hogan to make a complete return to the WWE ... one that he says will allow everyone in the organization to forgive Hogan for good.

Hulk has to apologize, again, but this time to all the existing black talent currently wrestling for the organization.

Mark dropped this knowledge when we got him out in NYC and asked what he thought of Hogan's chances of getting back into fold are, since Hogan's been angling for a comeback.

Although there are many in the wrestling world -- including Ric Flair -- that think it's high time Hogan is let back in, Henry's opinion matters, because he's now a producer for the WWE, and a prominent black voice.

Lonzo Ball is "a ballplayer," not a rapper -- so says T.I. ... who tells TMZ Sports he's got ZERO interest in hitting the studio with the rookie MC.

Don't get it twisted -- T.I. thinks it's great Lonzo dropped a track in honor of LaVar ... but the King of the South ain't convinced Ball's serious about mastering the craft.

"He would have to establish himself and really, really put in the work as an artist, and he'd really have to dedicate himself to the arts, in order for me to take him seriously," T.I. told us at LAX.

Don't think T.I. realized 'Zo released a full 17-track mixtape, but the bottom line -- Ball's got A LOT of bars to spit to get respect in the rap game.

NFL star Joe Haden says he wants a pair of super rare (and expensive) "Back to the Future" sneakers for his epic collection, but there's 1 problem ...

The $10K he wants to throw down ain't gonna cut it!!

FYI, Haden recently shared a pic of his shoe-seum ... so when we saw him leaving Delilah in L.A., we had to ask if there was a Mona Lisa out there he needed to have.

Joe told TMZ Sports he wanted Nike's Marty McFly shoes ... and he'd be willing to drop "about 10 bands" to get 'em.

Problem is ... Haden specifically said he wanted the self-lacing 2016 joints -- which are currently going for around $30K. The 2011 first editions are closer to $10k a pop.

Bobby Brown says he knows exactly who should star in the LeBron James "House Party" reboot ... and his ideas are ... how should we put it ... unconventional.

If you don't remember, "House Party" was about two teenagers and the hijinks that ensued when one threw a party that the other's father forbid him to go to. He went anyway, and thus there were hijinks.

We got Brown outside of Madeo, and asked his thoughts on who could pull it off in this new era -- and he named two huge stars that are, shall we say ... older.

The Winter Olympics isn't the only place famous faces are hitting the slopes ... strap on your cyber-skis and plow through our gallery of stars on snow to see which celebs have been basking in the winter sport.

UFC star Sage Northcutt's using his "Creed 2" snub as the ultimate motivation to kick-start a massively successful acting career ... telling TMZ Sports he's gunning to land lead movie roles!!

ICYMI -- Sage campaigned on social media to play Ivan Drago's son in the next installment of the Stallone/Michael B. Jordan flick. He didn't get the role, though ... and now he's out for revenge.

Northcutt says he's gonna put in the same amount of effort he's put into all his interests ... and he's already been doing acting lessons with coaches via FaceTime!!

Not only does Sage say he wants to be in movies ... but he wants to land a lead role in a project.

Jamie Foxx was NOT having it when he was asked about Katie Holmes on ESPN -- and straight-up walked away from the camera during the live interview.

Foxx was on "SportsCenter" talking with Michael Smith -- and everything was cool when they were talking about the All-Star Celebrity Game during NBA All-Star weekend in L.A.

But when Smith asked if Foxx prepared for the game by hoopin' around with Katie Holmes -- Foxx took off his headset and walked away ... refusing to even acknowledge the question.

Foxx and Holmes have been VERY private about their relationship -- refusing to "go public" despite the fact everyone seems to know they're together.

Scottie Pippen ain't playin' in the All-Star Game this weekend, but he already scored ... a freakin' awesome $30,000 luxury Swiss watch -- at a celeb packed party last night.

Haute Living and Larsa Pippen threw Scottie a party at Bungalow 1 at Chateau Marmont in L.A. to celebrate his Hall of Fame career.

Scottie -- along with guests like Kourtney Kardashian, Ludacris, Omarion and L.A. Reid -- ate (steak and salmon) and drank super expensive Louis XIII cognac.

Best part of the night (at least for Pip) ... when HL presented him with a Roger Dubuis Titanium Excalibur 45 timepiece -- a watch they tell us goes for $30k.

Now Scottie's got a watch to go with those 6 rings.

Tyron Woodley's sick and tired of all the drama between him and Dana White ... but says he's finally ready to let bygones be bygones with the UFC honcho.

Tyron turns his Namaste all the way up in this week's episode of "The Hollywood Beatdown" -- explaining why he's not only ready to cool it with Dana, but also Nate Diaz, Rafael dos Anjos and all the other fighters who've been throwin' shade on him.

That said, Woodley ain't afraid to check the celebs that need it -- including LaVar Ball and Blake Griffin's baby mama.

The UFC champ also weighs in on Damon "Snacks" Harrison, the NY Giants star who told us he'd kick Stipe Miocic's ass ... and tells us about a different NFL player who he says could take a UFC fight RIGHT NOW.

Lonzo Ball tells TMZ Sports there's no animosity whatsoever with new Lakers teammate Isaiah Thomas -- despite the fact they might be competing for the same job.

Lonzo -- who was at a Big Baller Brand pop-up shop in L.A. -- is sidelined right now with a sprained MCL and Thomas is playing the point guard spot while he's out.

Thomas' agent has made it clear Isaiah is demanding a starting role -- meaning he won't surrender the job to Lonzo without a fight.

Dodgers pitcher Kenta Maeda has a pretty clear New Year's resolution: scaring the living hell outta his translator!!

Since the calendar hit 2018, Kenta's been on a tear messing with his language bro, Will, in the most hilarious ways possible.

On Thursday, the Japanese star punk'd him with a jump scare (again) ... but his best work had to be the classic water bottle coin trick (c'mon, bro ... that one was obvious).

Will's being a great sport through it all ... probably 'cause he's plotting a mistranslating scheme for when the season starts up again.

Ronda Rousey is unfit to join the elite Dora Milaje guard and protect King T'Challa from all enemies, because, according to one of the stars of "Black Panther," ONLY WINNERS ARE ALLOWED.

FYI -- the Dora Milaje is an all-female squad of ass-kickers who are sworn to protect the king (Black Panther) -- and basically beat the hell out of anyone he wants.

We talked to Janeshia Adams-Ginyard at LAX -- she plays a member of the Dora Milaje in the movie -- and asked her to put together her real-life version of the fighting force.

We got some usual suspects like Cyborg and Laila Ali, but when we asked about Ronda, the panther claws came out, and Ginyard, who's a pro wrestler and fighter herself veto'd Rowdy.

It's cold out there in Wakanda.

The man behind some of the most iconic mixtapes in rap history says Lonzo Ball could be the next "rap king" ... and tells TMZ Sports he wants to work with the Lakers star.

DJ Drama -- whose uber-popular Gangsta Grillz projects have featured rappers like Lil Wayne, Gucci Mane and Meek Mill -- says he listened to Zo's "Born 2 Ball" album ... and he sees major potential in the BBB MC.

Not only does Drama give props ... he wants to get Zo AND LaVar in the studio for his next G.G. tape ... with Papa Ball co-hosting the project.