TMZ Sports - Page 50

Moment of truth for WWE legend Kane -- it's election day in Knox County, Tennessee where he's running for mayor ... and the 51-year-old is still campaigning his unmasked face off!

It's only the primaries ... but whoever wins the Republican nomination is the heavy favorite to win the general election -- and reports say Kane (real name Glenn Jacobs) has a real shot.

The competition is stiff ... Kane is up against 2 real contenders, Brad Anders and Bob Thomas, who are sorta famous in their own rights.

Thomas is the father of "Lizzie McGuire" star Jake Thomas and he was also featured as the main radio voice in the "Friday Night Lights" movie.

But, no one has had more celebrity support than Kane -- with friends like Ric Flair and Mick Foley coming out strong in support of the wrestling legend.

Will it be enough to put him over the top? Results are expected to come in by 6 PM PT.

The LAFC team wants to KILL a soccer fan tradition of chanting a homophobic slur at players during goal kicks ... and says any fan who uses the word will be immediately banned from the stadium.

The threat came hours after the newest MLS expansion team played its first game at Banc of California Stadium on Sunday ... when they beat the Seattle Sounders 1-0.

During the game, fans could be heard chanting the word "p*to" -- a word that many people and organizations, including OutSports.com, have labeled a gay slur.

Now, the LAFC is laying down the gauntlet ... saying any fan who uses the word moving forward will get the boot.

"The offensive goal kick chant is wrong and not what we are about," team officials said in a statement.

"We ask that all of our fans and Supporters work to hold each other accountable to eliminate this from Banc of California Stadium."

"Any fans identified as participating in this offensive chanting will be removed from the stadium and the Club will revoke their season membership."

John Gotti Jr. -- a guy known as one of the toughest guys ever -- says there's actually one person in the family even tougher than him ... his MMA fighter son, John III.

If you don't know who John Gotti Jr. is then we're assuming you don't know who John Gotti Sr. was ... and to be honest, we're not sure if we can tell you (google it, and let them be the rat).

John Gotti III is an MMA fighter whose first pro bout is May 4 at a Classic Entertainment & Sports show in New York -- and at a recent workout at Powerhouse Gym in NYC said he's got a clear dream opponent.

"Who wouldn't wanna fight Conor McGregor?"

John Jr. was on hand for the workout and said it's actually tough to watch his kid get in there and bang -- but was quick to give it up to his son, saying he and other MMA fighters are the "real" tough guys.

"I have an immense amount of respect for anyone who climbs into that cage, those are the tough guys. Because those are the guys that gotta get in there in front of all these people and inflict harm, and be harmed."

Did you google it? Yeah, told you, now keep your mouth shut.

'NFL on FOX' star Curt Menefee says he spoke with Josh Rosen right after the draft ... and he's CONVINCED the kid from UCLA will eventually be remembered as the BEST QB from his class.

"I liked the kid before [the draft], I loved him after," Menefee said of the new Arizona Cardinals quarterback.

Menefee and his 'NFL on FOX' crew analyze football for a living -- and he really believes Rosen has the skill and the attitude to make him a GREAT player in the league. Watch the clip and see for yourself how passionate Curt is about Rosen.

Here's a couple of VERY rich guys hanging out -- Patriots owner Robert Kraft taking in the Boston Celtics game Monday night with team owner Wyc Grousbeck.

Kraft and Grousbeck have been hanging out a lot lately -- they were also together at the Celtics game Saturday night with another member of the Boston Billionaire's Club ... Red Sox owner John Henry.

The Celtics beat the 76ers on Monday in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals -- Kraft and Grousbeck were high-fiving on the court during the end of the game.

So, who's got the biggest bank between the three? According to Forbes, Kraft's worth $6.2 billion and John Henry's valued at $2.5 billion ... but Grousbeck's net worth isn't listed.

With the Celtics valued at more than $2 billion, he ain't poor either.

The NFL season is still 4 months away ... but T.I. is already making his Super Bowl prediction -- Atlanta Falcons, baby!!!!

The rap legend was at Studio Space in Atlanta when we started talking about the NFL Draft -- and it's clear T.I. is fired up about the Falcons' 1st round pick ... WR Calvin Ridley.

"We're going to the Super Bowl this year! I said it ... I can't take it back!"

T.I. isn't the only star who likes the Ridley pick -- Deion Sanders raved about him right after the draft saying, "[Falcons] got a steal with Ridley at that pick so late. That kid can play and he will see all 1on1 coverage because of [Julio Jones]."

As for Tip, this ain't the first time Tip's raved about his Dirty Birds to TMZ Sports ... remember when he money shamed our photog when he tried to make a Falcons bet in 2016?

Good times ...

The Dodgers can still win the World Series -- even without star player Corey Seager ... so says W.S. champ and Dodgers analyst Jerry Hairston Jr.

On Monday the team announced that Seager -- the 2016 Rookie of the Year and 2x All-Star -- needed Tommy John surgery ... ending his season.

We called a guy who knows a thing about winning a ring ... Hairston Jr. won a World Series with the Yankees in 2009.

Rest easy L.A., the season ain't over ... 'cause Hairston Jr. says with Cody Bellinger and Clayton Kershaw the team still has enough talent to go all the way.

FYI -- the team is 12-16 ... and in 4th place in the N.L. West.

Pete Rose owes more than $1 MILLION to the IRS ... but you wouldn't know it by looking at his car -- 'cause the ex-MLB star is still pushing a very expensive Rolls-Royce!

TMZ Sports has obtained pics of Rose's Rolls-Royce Wraith -- a car that usually costs about $300,000!

And to make sure people know it's HIS car, Pete got a custom license plate bearing his nickname, "Hit King."

Remember, Rose has admitted in court docs he fell WAY behind in federal taxes and is working to repay Uncle Sam the 7-figure debt he's racked up over the years.

But even debtors gotta BALL OUT IN VEGAS, right?!

LaVar, Lonzo, LaMelo and LiAngelo are officially back in L.A. from Lithuania -- but it ain't exactly the triumphant return they envisioned when they left in the first place.

As we previously reported, LaVar just announced 'Gelo & 'Melo wouldn't be continuing their seasons overseas, citing injuries and disagreements with the coaches.

The boys are back now ... and even though the cameras from their "Ball In The Family" reality show were shooting, the guys weren't putting on much of a show -- with Lonzo munching Pringles and LaVar uncharacteristically quiet.

Have they been humbled? We doubt it, but the silent treatment is extremely interesting considering the family's recent number of setbacks.

Tom Brady says Bill Belichick is the "best coach in the history of the NFL" -- and confirmed he will be BACK playing for the New England Patriots in 2018.

Brady addressed the alleged rift between himself and Belichick at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills during a Q&A with Jim Gray.

"He's very respectful to me," Brady said ..."We've had a great relationship. A very respectful relationship for a long time and I feel like he's the best coach in the history of the NFL."

Brady admitted Belichick's "not the easiest coach to play for" ... but added, "he's the best for me."

Tom Brady just did a live Q&A with Jim Gray at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills ... and talked about everything from his NFL future to kneeling during the national anthem.

Brady says the kneeling debate sparked a lot of "great conversations" in the locker room and meeting rooms.

"I have a lot of friends that I've played with and everyone's from different backgrounds. Everyone's from different parts of the country. Everyone has different stories ... and you gotta have respect for everybody."

"You gotta have respect for everybody's opinion and the way that they want to present themselves. And the opportunity that they have to make a difference."

Brady also said sports, for him, have been the most "unifying part of my life" and said it's important that the NFL should bring people together.

Dennis Rodman damn near packed President Trump's complete bibliography when he went to North Korea last year ... and then gifted the set to Kim Jong-un.

We got a shot of the 8 books, all translated, the NBA Hall of Famer handed over in June 2017 to North Korea's sports minister, Kim Il Guk. The set includes "The Art of the Deal" and "Time to Get Tough." We're told the sports minister handed them over to Jong-un.

TMZ broke the story ... Rodman's ecstatic his friends, Kim Jong-un and Trump, are getting along. He thinks the books might have greased the wheels for Jong-un to have a change of heart about his dealings with the Prez and America, in general.

Meek Mill is now free to start doing shows outside of Philadelphia ... thanks to his archnemesis, Judge Genece Brinkley.

Judge Brinkley amended the order regarding his bail conditions, and he now has approval to travel outside of Pennsylvania's Montgomery County for scheduled business activities. He just has to submit his travel plans to the probation dept. 72 hours in advance.

The amended order also gives Meek approval to live in Montgomery Co. The original bail conditions required him to live in neighboring Philadelphia County. Meek still has to submit to at least one urine test per month.

The judge signed the new order on Friday, and Meek took advantage almost immediately. We got him out in NYC that night with 76ers owner Michael Rubin ... after they had a biz dinner with Meek's Roc Nation management team.

A Louisville Slugger bat used in an MLB game by Babe Ruth just sold at Goldin Auctions for just under $200,000!!!

Experts have determined the bat was used during Ruth's 1929 and 1930 seasons ... but the exact game (or games) in which it was used is unclear.

Authenticators were able to confirm the details on the bat (weight, length, style) sync up to the bats Ruth ordered from Louisville Slugger during that time period, Goldin says.

The Hillerich & Bradsby hickory bat weighs 37.8 ounces and is 35.25 inches long.

To compare, Aaron Judge's bat is 35 inches long but only weighs 33 ounces.

Goldin says the final price on the Ruth bat was $196,400. The identity of the buyer has not been made public.

There's more ... an authentic contract Ruth signed with the Yankees in 1934 (his final contract with the Yankees) also sold for $282,325!

He signed the contract with his name, "George H. Ruth."

And now ... "Street Fighting Stories with Marlon Wayans!"

This time, Marlon is telling us all about the time someone picked a fight with UFC star Nick Diaz -- and it ended with VIOLENCE!

Marlon was leaving Catch in West Hollywood over the weekend -- where Nick Diaz had also been hanging out -- and it reminded Marlon about the one dumbass who tried to fight the Diaz Brothers in front of him.

"I said 'Brah, you f***ing with the wrong dude.' He goes 'F*** that bro. You don't know me. I'm gonna f*** [him up].'"

Marlon says he TRIED to warn the wannabe tough guy ... to no avail.

"Nick grabbed his ass ... Pop! Pop! Pop! Three elbows. Pop! Pop! Two knees. Fight was over. Blood everywhere."

9:30 AM PT -- Penn and his wife, Dominique, have issued a joint statement through their rep, Denise White, saying:

"There was a verbal disagreement, there was NO physical altercation. The two are in the middle of a divorce and it is a hard time for both parties."

Oakland Raiders star lineman Donald Penn is a suspect in a domestic violence incident ... after he allegedly slapped his wife's butt and then poured a drink on her head.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ Sports ... cops were called to Penn's L.A. area home Sunday evening, but when they arrived ... Penn had already left the scene.

Cops were told Penn was at the house earlier and got handsy with his wife, at one point slapping her butt. Donald's wife took exception to the slap and a vocal argument ensued.

Things escalated and Penn allegedly poured a drink on his wife's head and grabbed his wife by the wrist.

Cops took a report and are currently investigating.

Penn and his wife have had issues in the past when the NFL player knocked up "Bad Girls Club" star Camilla Poindexter ... who then aired out all of their dirty laundry on social media.