TMZ Sports - Page 50

Tyron Woodley came thiiiiiiis close to beating the dog snot out of YouTube star Vitaly when a stupid prank crossed the line ... and Tyron's still fuming about it.

FYI, Vitaly is famous for screwing with big stars like Kim Kardashian -- but when he tried to punk Tyron with an ass-grabbing stunt in L.A., the UFC star says things got really heated.

"His [stunt] almost got him knocked out," Tyron said on "The Hollywood Beatdown."

"I said, 'Do you know who I am? I will knock your ass out in the middle of the street.'"

Don't worry, Tyron let the dude live ... but it's clear he doesn't like the guy.

So, when Vitaly made a racist joke while weighing in on the upcoming KSI vs. Logan Paul fight, Tyron unleashed some of the fury.

There's more ... Tyron revealed some behind the scenes secrets from the new Stallone flick, 'Escape Plan 2' ... and tells us how he got the producers to hire one of his NFL star friends.

And, if you're sick of the Royal Wedding, you're gonna love watching Tyron go in on the British.

Legendary trainer Bob Baffert says American Pharoah is old news ... telling TMZ Sports his new horse, Justify, is a "superior" animal to the 2015 Triple Crown winner.

Seriously!!

Justify DOMINATED ... winning the Kentucky Derby, making some people think Pharoah might have company as a TC winner pretty soon.

We got Baffert at LAX earlier this week, and he told our camera guy the Triple Crown winner isn't in Justify's company at all, because Baffert -- who trained both horses -- thinks Justify is better.

"He's a superior horse," Bob says. "And he's come really quick. He's done it a little bit quicker than Pharoah."

Impact wrestling star DJZ says he came thiiis close to dying from an injury he suffered during a 2017 wrestling match ... and it's a miracle he was able to recover and wrestle again.

DJZ -- real name Michael Paris -- unknowingly ruptured his colon during a match in Mexico City ... but didn't realize the severity of the injury until after the match.

"I sh*t pure blood," DJZ says ... noting he collapsed at his hotel and had to be rushed to a nearby hospital.

Once he was admitted, doctors told him he was in very bad shape and internally bleeding -- and needed emergency surgery.

Doctors told DJZ there was a 20% chance he could die or become severely disabled from the operation ... but he had no choice.

Fortunately, the wrestler was able to pull through -- and he's got the gnarly scar on his stomach to prove it.

Now, he's not only fully recovered ... but wrestling again -- and on Thursday, he and Andrew Everett won the Impact Tag Team title against Scott Steiner and Eli Drake.

Chris Paul is speaking out about the Texas school shooting that happened roughly 35 miles from Houston on Friday ... and he's calling for change to prevent similar tragedies from happening again.

“First and foremost, aside from the playoffs going on, which is minor compared to what is taking place down in Santa Fe," Paul said Friday morning at Rockets practice.

"Our prayers going out to the victims and the families having to deal with that situation."

FYI, 10 people were killed and several more injured at Santa Fe HS when a shooter opened fire inside the building.

"We have a lot of fan support there. Those people come out and support us night in, night out. So, this is very minor compared to what those people are dealing with.”

Johnny Manziel is back in action after being hospitalized in Texas last week ... returning to L.A. for a fancy dinner with his wife, Bre Tiesi.

The QB looked healthy and sober on his way out of Mastro's Steakhouse in Beverly Hills ... where he told photogs he's still working on his NFL comeback.

TMZ Sports broke the story ... Manziel was hospitalized on May 7 in Humble, Texas. Johnny says he had a bad reaction to an increase dosage of medication for his bipolar disorder.

Baltimore Ravens rookie QB Lamar Jackson has touched down in L.A. -- so, of course, he's gotta party with a celebrity!

21-year-old Jackson -- along with fellow 1st round draft pick Calvin Ridley -- hit up Hyde on the Sunset Strip ... where they raged with rap star Lil Uzi Vert!

The funniest part ... Jackson's wardrobe -- dude was allowed inside despite the fact he was rockin' Adidas slides!

Didn't stop him from turning up ... the guys danced away to Lil Dicky's "Freaky Friday."

Jackson and Ridley are both in town for the NFLPA Rookie Premiere event ... which is supposed to educate high profile rookies about business moves off the field.

As for Lil Uzi Vert ... dude just likes to party.

By the way, Hyde is one of the most legendary clubs in L.A. -- back in the day, it was the most exclusive place in town ... where the likes of Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan and Kim Kardashian would party together.

Another major NFL honcho is being deposed in the Colin Kaepernick collusion case -- this time it's New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Kraft follows a long list of powerful NFL people questioned by Kaep's team -- earlier this week, Denver Broncos general manager John Elway answered questions at team headquarters in Colorado.

Colin had personally attended Elway's deposition -- just as he had when Houston Texans owner Bob McNair was deposed in the case back in March.

No word if Kaep is currently present at Kraft's depo ... but it's a pretty safe bet he's there, too.

Other big wigs who have reportedly been deposed include Seahawks coach Pete Carroll and GM John Schneider, NFL commish Roger Goodell, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and Ravens coach John Harbaugh.

WHY!?!?!?!?!

Phoenix Suns guard Elfrid Payton looks like a completely different person now ... 'cause the dude just chopped off his signature hairdo ... and we really don't know what to do anymore.

The NBA baller might be most known for his Weeknd-esque hairstyle ... but that didn't stop him for following in the R&B singer's footsteps and parting ways with the beloved locks.

FYI -- the 24-year-old's barber teased last month that he might've done the deed ... and now we have confirmation that it wasn't a late April Fool's joke.

While we're mourning the loss of the locks ... Suns fans are probably rejoicing ... 'cause there have been several instances where his 'do got in the way of his game ... and many people have wanted him to get a new look for years.

Now we wait to see if it makes a real difference on the court ... or if it was all for naught.

But seriously ... pour one out for Elfrid's hair.

Here's Odell Beckham pushing 315 lbs on the bench press -- impressive -- but the question is -- how much did that shirtless trainer dude help him out?

The NY Giants wide out was clearly impressed with himself -- enough to post the footage on social media -- but it got us wondering, is that a "true" rep ... or was topless guy being a little too hands on with the spot?

Either way, Beckham's come a long way from his horrific bench performance at the 2014 NFL Combine ... where he only put up a measly 7 reps of 225.

For comparison, 2 of the top WRs in the 2018 Draft -- Calvin Ridley and D.J. Moore -- pushed 15 reps at the Combine.

John Cena's very public campaign to win back Nikki Bella is working, but she's still not ready to seal the deal with the wrestling/movie star.

Nikki tells TMZ, John's public hand-wringing -- including posting a photo of John Cusack holding the boombox over his head in the film "Say Anything" -- has convinced her his change of heart about wanting kids wasn't hollow. She says, "I believe 100% he wants kids. It makes me want to run back and jump into his arms."

She says she believes he's now sincere that he wants children ... which was the deal breaker that caused her to break up with him. Until this week, Nikki believed she had forced John to say what she wanted to hear so she'd take a walk down the aisle.

Here's the problem ... Nikki says it's kind of been like a Pandora's Box. The conflict over children has raised issues in her head about the relationship. She says, "I care about him and love him a lot," but now she has to do some serious thinking about the turn in their relationship and feel if it's still right.

She says she's really hurt by the buzz that the whole conflict -- and even the relationship -- is fake to goose ratings for her reality show and John's career. She says, "A lot of people get married for publicity. I'm not like those reality show people. I don't want to be hesitant. I want to do what my heart says."

Nikki says she has no idea what she'd say if John comes face-to-face with her and begs her to marry him. She says, "I'm a girl who lives in the moment and I honestly don't know what I'd say."

Yankees legend David Wells ain't exactly thrilled with the whole Robinson Cano scandal ... telling TMZ Sports he's disappointed over Cano's 80-game suspension.

Cano was popped for taking a banned substance -- though he INSISTS it was a prescribed medication and NOT a performance enhancing drug.

But, not everyone is buying Cano's excuse ... considering the substance he took can be used as a masking agent for PEDs.

So, when we saw Wells in NYC, we asked if he was disappointed.

"Of course," he said ... noting, "I'm glad I'm not playing anymore."

We asked to explain his comment ... "Because 5 innings is a quality start."

He's definitely throwing shade at the new generation of MLB players -- essentially calling them soft.

We also asked about the Yanks vs. Red Sox rivalry ... Wells says it's good, but not like it used to be.

"Now they hug when they have a fight!"

Dwyane Wade's trying to get that Hollywood money ... telling TMZ Sports he's trying to do a movie with his wife, Gabrielle Union!!

The Miami Heat star and Gabby hit up Craig's in West Hollywood on Thursday night -- and you gotta check out the paparazzi crush that waited out front for 'em ... it was almost like a Hollywood red carpet.

So, naturally we asked Wade if he's got any interest in following his wife into the movie business.

"I'm trying to get [a movie]," Wade said ... "but she won't put me on!"

He continued, "I'm trying to do a love movie. Like something romantic."

We did some digging ... Wade's got SOME acting experience -- remember that cameo on Disney Channel's "Austin & Ally" ... we do!

Brad Stevens might be the best young coach in the NBA ... but is he on the level of Bill Belichick?

He's certainly on the way ... according to Celtics and Patriots superfan Mark Wahlberg ... who told us "that's a very, very good comparison."

TMZ Sports saw Wahlberg in L.A. ... and asked if the Celts head coach was "the new Belichick of Boston."

(Yeah, we know Boston is a part of New England -- but you get the point.)

It's high praise for a guy who's only been on the job for a few years ... considering B.B. has 5 'chips and is believed by some to be the best damn football coach ever.

But, Mark says there is still 1 thing Stevens has left to do.

The Philadelphia Eagles have officially been invited to the White House to celebrate their Super Bowl win ... and now the question is -- who's gonna show up?

The folks at 1600 Penn. announced the invite Thursday afternoon, saying "President Trump looks forward to welcoming the Philadelphia Eagles to the White House on June 5th to celebrate their Super Bowl LII win.”

The Eagles seemed to accept the invite saying ... they're "working through the logistics of a trip to Washington DC, including a visit to the White House, on June 5th."

Here's the thing ... several prominent players have made it VERY clear they have no interest in meeting up with Trump ... including Torrey Smith, Chris Long, Malcolm Jenkins and Dannell Ellerbe.

FYI -- the last team to be so outspoken about Trump -- the Golden State Warriors -- had their White House invite pulled after Stephen Curry opposed the visit.

So, while the whole team might visit the nation's capital next month ... there probably won't be perfect attendance when the players head over to Trump's crib.

Terrell Owens LOVES him some him ... even in retirement!!

Now that the NFL legend is FINALLY getting into the Hall of Fame this year ... T.O. got to get a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the bronze bust that'll live forever in Canton.

The 6-time Pro Bowler flew to Utah on Thursday to get the ball rolling on the project ... and in true T.O. fashion, he seemed to enjoy looking at the dozens of reference pics of himself pinned on the board.

As for the bust creator himself, Blair Buswell ... he's legit. He's made over 80 busts for the NFL HOF -- and told Owens he's also doing Randy Moss' and Ray Lewis' this year.

From one Oriole to another ... MLB star Adam Jones just bought Cal Ripken Jr.'s insane $12.5 million Maryland estate!!

As we previously reported ... Ripken's been trying to part ways with the 24-acre estate since 2016 -- initially asking for $12.5 mil before knocking it down to $9.75 milli back in April 2017.

The Hall of Famer found a buyer in the current Baltimore slugger ... and according to Seth Rosenthal of The Athletic, Jones -- a real estate enthusiast -- couldn't pass up the sweet deal.

Jones' new crib comes with 6 bedrooms, 15 bathrooms, a home theater, 10-person spa, private hiking trails, pool, baseball field, indoor basketball court, full gym and a private fishing pond!!

While the final selling price has not been made available, the 32-year-old has made nearly $100 million during his long career ... so yeah, just a drop in the bucket for Jones.