Josh Allen Apologizes for Racist Tweets ... 'Young and Dumb'
7:09 AM PT -- Allen spoke with ESPN's Stephen A. Smith -- fessed up to the tweets and explained he was "young and dumb."
Smith says Allen insisted the "If it ain't white" line was a reference to an episode of "Modern Family" -- and was not meant to be racist.
Allen also claims at least one of the N-word tweets was a reference to a Rick Ross song.
Allen told Smith there's no excuse for the tweets and he understands posting that stuff was wrong -- but says his teammates know he's not a racist person.
Josh Allen -- one of the top QBs in the NFL Draft -- is apologizing for dropping the n-word on Twitter years ago ... saying he was "young and dumb."
The tweets surfaced Wednesday night ... one day before the draft -- and Allen had posted them to his real, authentic account back when he was in high school.
Some of the tweets ...
"i dont think you n**gas want a troubled son!" -- June 14, 2012
“N**gas Trying To Get At Me" -- February 12, 2013
"Bout to show up these N**gas at pong" -- February 26, 2012
"If it ain't white, it ain't right" -- June 25, 2013
See also
Deontay Wilder I Offered Anthony Joshua $50 Million ... To Stop Ducking Me
Deontay Wilder tells TMZ Sports he's offered CRAZY money to Anthony Joshua to make their mega-fight happen, and if Joshua passes, it's proof the Englishman is a COWARD.
Joshua had previously said he'd have no problem fighting Wilder for $50 million dollars upfront ... a demand so crazy that some thought it was his way of backing out of the fight.
It might have backfired, because when we got Deontay at LAX he told our guy they put the money together, and sent over a deal to Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn.
"I just sent them what they wanted. They said they wanted 50 mil ... and he'll fight, you gotta be a man of your word."
Wilder says the fight would take place in the United States -- after all, his side is putting up all the money -- and insisted the ball is now squarely in Joshua's court to take the fight or not.
"I'm just ready to do what I got to do."
We all are.
See also
Reuben Foster Ex-GF Now Says ... Domestic Violence Claims Were a Lie
San Francisco 49ers linebacker Reuben Foster might be off the hook soon for felony domestic violence charges ... because his ex-girlfriend just recanted her story.
Elissa Ennis released a statement through her lawyer Wednesday, essentially taking back her accusations against Foster stemming from a February incident.
Ennis reportedly claims Foster "did not strike her, injure her or threaten her," and adds that her injuries were "the result of a physical fight with another woman, and that Foster tried to end his relationship with Ennis after he learned of the fight."
She also claims there's video of the fight that proves Foster is innocent of the charges against him. Her lawyer adds that Ennis "was extremely upset and told him if he broke up with her she would 'trash his career.'"
As we reported, Foster was charged with felony domestic violence for allegedly dragging Ennis by her hair, physically throwing her out of the house, and punching her in the head 8 to 10 times ... which hospitalized her.
He was also hit with a charge of possession of an assault weapon. It's unclear at this time how Ennis' recanting her story will affect the charges.
See also
Blake Griffin Responds To Ex-Fiancee I Don't Owe You Anything!
Blake Griffin is adamant he does not owe his baby mama any money ... after she accused him of abandoning her and their kids for Kendall Jenner ... in courts docs obtained by TMZ Sports.
We broke the story ... Brynn Cameron -- Blake's former fiancee and the mother of his 2 kids -- filed a lawsuit in February claiming the Pistons superstar left her only a week before their wedding.
Brynn claims that she and Blake had an agreement ... where she would take care of the kids so he could concentrate on basketball. She says Blake promised to take care of her financially.
But Cameron says Griffin bolted ... and didn't live up to his end of the bargain.
Griffin just fired back in court -- denying all her allegations, and asking the court to throw the case out.
See also
NFL's Gareon Conley Rape Accuser Files Lawsuit Conley Denies Wrongdoing
The woman who claims Gareon Conley raped her at a Cleveland hotel last year has filed a lawsuit against the Raiders player ... claiming she was mentally and physically hurt during the alleged incident.
FYI, Conley -- 22 years old -- was never arrested or charged with a crime ... and adamantly denies any wrongdoing.
In the lawsuit -- filed earlier this month in Cuyahoga County Court in Ohio -- the accuser alleges Conley "physically touched and engaged in the sexual contact" and "sexually assaulted, battered and raped" her after meeting and partying at a nearby bar.
As a result, the suit alleges the woman "sustained serious physical, psychological, emotional and mental injuries."
In addition to Conley, his management group and the hotel have also been named as defendants in the lawsuit.
The accuser is asking for compensatory and punitive damages ... but it's unclear exactly the amount they're after.
See also
Rep. Steve Scalise I Wanna Play Ball Again Oh, and About Kanye & Trump ...
Steve Scalise wishes he could be out on the baseball field with his GOP pals almost a year after he was shot at the Congressional baseball team practice -- and he also has advice for Kanye West on his future run for Prez.
We got the Republican House Majority Whip Wednesday at Reagan National Airport, and asked what he thought of Sen. Jeff Flake and other members of the GOP holding their first practice since a gunman opened fire. Scalise suffered severe internal bleeding from a gunshot to his hip.
Steve, who was walking with minor support from crutches, said he's glad Congress is keeping up the tradition and hopes to get back out there himself soon.
In regards to Kanye -- who's publicly reaffirming his love for President Trump -- Scalise sounded excited to have West's backing.
He did have one request for Kanye though ... IF the rapper's serious about getting into politics, himself. It has do with his timing, and it seems like 'Ye is fully on board with Rep. Scalise's plan.
2024
@kanyewest
See also
Saquon Barkley More NFL Ready Than I Was ... Says Reggie Bush
-
EXCLUSIVE
- 32 shares
Reggie Bush says Saquon Barkley's gonna waste no time dominating the NFL ... telling TMZ Sports the ex-Penn State star is more pro ready than he was coming out of USC.
We saw Bush -- regarded by many as the top player in the 2006 NFL Draft -- and asked who was more NFL ready heading into the draft ... him or Barkley.
"I think Saquon is more ready, prepared, going in. Just because his running style to me translates right now to the NFL," Bush -- the #2 overall pick in '06 -- tells us ... "For me, my first year in the league there was a learning curve of how to run between the tackles at the NFL level."
"There was an adjustment period for about 2 years, I would say. Before I really got comfortable running between the tackles" ... RG says.
But Saquon ... Reggie says he'll be ready to go from the jump.
Bush also tells us who he'd pick #1 ... and which QB is the best in the class.
See also
Meek Mill Grubs on 1st Meal Post-Prison ... Guess What it Was?!
Meek Mill enjoyed his first post-prison meal after the Philadelphia 76ers' big Game 5 win over the Miami Heat this week -- and it was a full VIP experience.
Sources tell TMZ that Meek celebrated with a group of 76ers -- including co-owner Michael Rubin and star player Joel Embiid -- and chowed down at Philly's high-end restaurant, Buddakan, where we're told Meek ordered the fish.
Interesting choice ... especially since sources present tell us there were lots of options -- from aged beef to peking duck and, of course, lo mein. Sounds like Meek just wanted some tuna, cod or bass ... we're not sure which dish he got ... but the fishy entrees all run from $29 to $37.
As we've reported ... Meek probably hasn't eaten this well since at least November, when his institution served him and the other inmates a proper Thanksgiving meal, including turkey, mashed potatoes and the like.
Either way, it's gotta feel good to have some real food back in his belly. Bring Meek the fish!
See also
LaVar Ball Pulls LiAngelo, LaMelo from Lithuania
The great Lithuania experiment is over ... because LaVar Ball is pulling his 2 sons off BC Vytautas after just 3 months.
LaVar told Lithuanian journalist Donatas Urbonas he's bringing both LiAngelo Ball and LaMelo Ball back to Los Angeles.
The move comes after Vyautas announced the Ball bros would not be playing in Wednesday's game.
LiAngelo is currently nursing an ankle injury. LaMelo has been dealing with a back issue.
According to Urbonas, LaVar said his beef is with the coach ... and not Lithuania, the Lithuanian people, or the organization.
"We're not going to waste our time no more," Ball reportedly said ... "Coach ruined everything and he’ll have to pay the price that Melo is not coming back.”
LiAngelo has already declared for the NBA Draft -- but what happens if he doesn't get selected? He could always join LaVar's new semi-pro league.
And what about LaMelo? He could join, too.
Stay tuned ...
See also
Robert Kraft Ripped Trump In Front of NFL Owners, Players
Seems Robert Kraft's bromance with Donald Trump is over ... because the Patriots owner reportedly slammed the President during an October meeting with NFL owners, players and league execs.
It all went down at NFL headquarters ... where NFL commish Roger Goodell called the group together to discuss how to handle the fallout from Colin Kaepernick's kneeling demonstration.
After Eagles defensive end Chris Long told the owners Kaep "should be on a roster," Kraft stood up to address the "elephant in the room ... this kneeling."
"The problem we have is, we have a president who will use that as fodder to do his mission that I don’t feel is in the best interests of America," Kraft said according to the NY Times.
"It’s divisive and it’s horrible.”
Surprising words considering Kraft and Trump have been close pals for years.
Other owners also spoke on the issue ... but the bottom line -- six months later, NO ONE HAS SIGNED KAEPERNICK!
See also
Jonathan Martin Faces Judge Over Gun, Knife Threats
Dressed up in a suit and tie, ex-NFL player Jonathan Martin appeared in an L.A. courtroom Wednesday to face the judge in his weapons case ... where he allegedly threatened to shoot multiple people.
Martin had been charged with 4 counts of making criminal threats and 1 count of possessing a loaded firearm after posting a cryptic message aimed at former NFL teammates and high school classmates.
The message showed a picture of a gun and bullets and said, "When you're a bully victim & a coward your options are suicide, or revenge."
Cops tracked down Martin hours after the post -- who was allegedly carrying a loaded gun, knife and ax -- and took him into custody. He was then placed into a mental health facility for evaluation.
A judge had previously approved Martin to leave the facility -- but ordered him to wear a GPS device and alcohol monitoring anklet.
On Tuesday, Martin appeared in court where a preliminary hearing was set for May 14. We tried speaking with Martin outside of the courtroom, but he clearly wasn't in the mood.
See also
Philadelphia Eagles Another Player Won't Visit White House
04/24/18
Another member of the Philadelphia Eagles' 2017 Super Bowl team says he's not planning on going to Trump's White House with the team ... this time it's linebacker Dannell Ellerbe.
"Me personally, I wouldn't go," Ellerbe says ... noting, "I've already been before."
Ellerbe -- who's now a free agent -- is referring to the Super Bowl ring he won as a member of the 2012 Baltimore Ravens team. That squad visited then-President Barack Obama.
But, several Eagles players have stated they're not feeling the current President and will not attend the ceremony at 1600 Penn ... including Torrey Smith, Chris Long and Malcolm Jenkins.
Plus, it recently came out that Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie had made some anti-Trump comments -- calling his presidency, "disastrous."
Still, the White House has said it's working with the team to schedule a visit ... it'll be interesting to see who actually shows up.
See also
Wayne Gretzky Buys Back Famous Mansion He Sold to Lenny Dykstra
Wayne Gretzky REALLY IS the great one ... he just bought back the famous SoCal mansion he once sold to Lenny Dykstra for MILLIONS less than he sold it for!!!!
Gretzky had sold the palatial 6.5-acre estate in Thousand Oaks, CA to Dykstra for $18.5 million back in 2007 -- back when Lenny was still being hailed as a financial guru.
Dykstra was later exposed as a fraud and his kingdom fell apart -- and the bank eventually foreclosed on the property. Dykstra famously trashed the home he left for good.
The home recently went up for sale ... and Gretzky swooped in and picked it up for $13.5 MILLION, according to the L.A. Times.
AMAZING, RIGHT!?
In case you're wondering, the place is BALLER AS HELL ... 12,000 square feet of living space, 6 bedrooms, 8 bathrooms, a gym, movie theater, tennis court and TWO guest homes.
Wayne Gretzky ... straight killing it.
See also
Lewis Hamilton Open to NASCAR 'Maybe One Day!'
Lewis Hamilton is still considering making the jump from Formula One to NASCAR ... telling TMZ Sports he ain't ruling it out.
The 4-time F1 World Champ first expressed interest in NASCAR back in 2015 ... saying he'd like to take a stab at the Daytona 500.
That hasn't happened yet -- but when we saw Hamilton at LAX on Tuesday, he told us he isn't shutting the door on NASCAR.
"Maybe ... maybe one day," Hamilton said.
We also asked why he thinks F1 hasn't taken off in the U.S. like it has in the rest of the world -- and the 33-year-old superstar broke it down for us.
Ronda Rousey & Mark Wahlberg Break Out the Big Guns
It was an arms race in Vegas ... with Ronda Rousey and Mark Wahlberg flexin' all over the 2018 CinemaCon ... and left everyone in the crowd feeling weak as hell!
The two were pushing their new movie, "Mile 22," during the event at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace ... the flick in which Mark plays a jacked CIA operative.
Remember, Ronda was shooting scenes for the movie in Colombia a while back -- when she snuck back to the U.S. for the Royal Rumble ... where she announced her WWE contract.
"So fun getting the gang back together again," Ronda posted after the event.
Now, it's back to wrestling ... where Ronda will most likely clash with, and then murder, Mickie James.
Good luck, though ...
See also
Saquon Barkley My Baby Was Born ... 2 Days Before Draft!
Saquon Barkley canceled a bunch of media appearances on Tuesday and now we know why ... HE JUST HAD A BABY!!!
The former Penn State running back revealed his girlfriend, Anna Congdon, gave birth to a bouncing baby girl on April 24 -- Jada Clare Barkley.
"Words can’t even describe how I feel right now," the 21-year-old said on Instagram.
"You are the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen in my life. Thank God for blessing me with you in my life and into my arms. I pray that I can be the best father to you and help you grow into an amazing woman. I love you so so so much."
It's a huge week for the Barkley family ... Saquon is expected to be selected in the 1st round of the NFL Draft on Thursday night.
Congrats!!