TMZ Sports - Page 50

4:07 PM PT -- Karl-Anthony Towns -- Mac's close friend -- just showed up at Miller's home. He stayed for a few minutes before leaving.

Towns -- who said he broke down when he heard the news -- tweeted ... "Not only were you my favorite artist, you was one of my closest friends. The love we had was genuine and the moments we shared were filled with nothing but positivity and laughter. I love you man and I’m sure as hell gonna miss you."

The death of Mac Miller has hit the sports world hard -- with several notable athletes who were fans of his music paying tribute to the rapper Friday.

Steelers superstar Le'Veon Bell -- who had a strong connection with the Pittsburgh native -- tweeted, "NOOO! I do not wanna believe my brother is dead! I cannot take this anymore, life is too short...I just know you’re now in a better place now than this place we call Earth @MacMiller ...I love you bro, and will miss youu 😭"

Another Pennsylvania product -- legendary corner Darrelle Revis -- shared a heartfelt message underneath an old photo of the two, saying, "My heart just dropped when I heard the news about my brother Mac Miller. Our last conversation we had I told you I would come to one of your shows but I never mentioned which one because it was going to be a surprise."

"9 years ago I saw a young man with a gift that would change the world with his voice. I saw a young man who was talented as anybody in the rap game and he was 17 years of age at the time. I remember rushing back home in the off-season to spend time in the studio to be around a creative genius."

"You inspired so many people across the world as an MC from the 412 and one thing I can say is I was here to watch you become a Legend from the very start of your career. To the rap game and to PITTSBURGH we lost a real one but his music will live on forever!!! #kids #longlivemacmiller"

NBA stud Jabari Parker also reflected on how Mac Miller impacted his life with an old photo of the two in L.A., saying, "DAMN MAC. I’m hurt. And the crazy thing is, I don’t even take pictures with my hero’s because the memory is more important than the canvas."

"But this particular day I had to. This day I wasn’t even suppose to be there. But as soon as my boy told me your whereabouts, I rushed over to holla at you. 'Huge fan MAC'. Always will be your fan. RIP brother, one of the greatest to do it!"

Cardinals rookie Christian Kirk gave his thoughts on Twitter, writing, "another talent gone way too soon" and Cowboys WR Cole Beasley -- who also raps -- said, "Mac Miller being gone is hurtin me right now."

Even UFC boss Dana White paid tribute to the musician, posting a photo of Mac Miller and writing, "WOW!!!! Very sad..... RIP."

NBA stud Deron Williams was once offered a real-deal fight with Greg Hardy ... and wanna guess what his response was??

Yeah, it was a firm HELL NO.

Deron is actually a pretty legit MMA fighter ... dude has a serious wrestling background and he even co-owns Fortis MMA in Dallas where 3 fighters on the UFC 228 card train.

In fact ... UFC heavyweight Rashad Coulter -- who works out with Williams -- tells TMZ Sports, "He's a good wrestler and has fast hands."

But, when word of those skills got around to the Legacy Fighting Alliance -- where Hardy used to scrap -- they asked if Deron wanted to fight Greg ... D-Will's response was a swift no.

"Are they crazy right now!?" Williams says.

"Greg Hardy has to cut weight to make 265. You think I'm getting in there with that animal!?"

Williams tells us there is one scenario where he might step into the Octagon for real -- albeit not against Hardy -- saying he'd be down to fight one day for charity.

As for his basketball future ... Williams sure seems like he's done with the NBA -- although he ain't officially closing that door yet.

You knew Burt Reynolds was a badass ... but did you know he once lit up Brian Bosworth for NOT hitting him hard enough?!?!

It's true ... Bill Romanowski tells TMZ Sports the late Burt once got so mad that The Boz wasn't going all out for a movie scene -- HE CHUCKED A FOOTBALL AT HIS HEAD!!

It all went down on the set of "The Longest Yard" (the 2005 one) ... where Romo tells us the then 69-year-old Reynolds had to beg one of the best linebackers in college football history to run him over for the movie's crucial scene.

"He's got to go in the game, pick up a fumble, run around the left side of the offense and jump into the endzone," Romanowski says of Burt.

"And, guess who has to tackle him? Brian Bosworth!"

You gotta hear Romo tell the tale from here ... so watch the video now.

As for the end result?? It came out great -- like everything Burt Reynolds did.

Pamela Anderson broke things off with her soccer star boyfriend just days after he proposed the idea of marriage to her ... TMZ has learned.

Sources connected to Anderson tell TMZ she's called it quits with Adil Rami after dating the World Cup champ for over a year. We're told he gave her a Cartier ring after winning the soccer tournament as a precursor to a proposal ... and recently talked about popping the question, but Pam said no.

Pam's still in France after moving out of the home the couple shared.

Pam and Adil's relationship seemed to be healthy when he met Pam's mom in July, but apparently that wasn't enough to get them through the summer.

As for the ring ... our sources say Pam's given that to her oldest son, Brandon.

UFC champ Tyron Woodley says he LOVES that Nike signed Colin Kaepernick -- because it's inspiring and brave ... and he strongly believes the QB is continuing the legacy of Muhammad Ali.

"When Muhammad Ali died, I think [Kaepernick] took the torch."

Tyron says Kaep could have easily taken his NFL money and shut up somewhere -- ignoring the glaring issues when it comes to police brutality against minorities ... but he did the courageous thing and spoke out.

... just like Ali.

There's a lot more on this episode of 'The Hollywood Beatdown' -- including Tyron's weight cut for his UFC 228 fight against Darren Till.

Tyron tells us everything about all of his last minute preparations -- including final meals and what music he listens to right before walking into the Octagon.

It's great stuff.

12:21 PM PT -- The Wichita PD tells TMZ Sports ... they got a call around 1 AM on Friday morning about a "rape in progress."

Cops responded to an apartment complex and found a 28-year-old woman "who had minor facial injuries, and reported being sexually assaulted by Randle."

"Through the investigation Randle was arrested and booked into the Sedgwick County Jail. The investigation is ongoing and will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office."

Ex-Dallas Cowboys running back Joseph Randle was arrested for rape in Kansas early Friday morning ... TMZ Sports has learned.

The details surrounding the arrest are unclear -- but jail records in Sedgwick County, KS show the 26-year-old was booked for rape at 3:43 AM on Sept. 7.

According to his booking sheet, he's being held without bond at a local detention center. He's listed at 6'1" and 215 lbs.

Randle has been in trouble with the law before -- he was arrested 6 times in 17 months including an incident in which he stole underwear and cologne from a department store while he was still playing for the Cowboys.

Since then, he was arrested at a casino, busted at his ex-girlfriend's home, and allegedly ripped a TV off the wall in jail.

Back in June, he was sentenced to 5 years probation for an incident in which he tried to run over people with his car after losing at a drinking game at a party.

He had been bouncing between jail and mental health facilities after that incident -- but the court ultimately declared him mentally competent to receive his punishment for the crime.

Randle was a 5th round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft -- and was named the starting RB for the Cowboys during the 2015 season, but was waived by the team later that season.

Karl Malone and ex-NBA star Brian Grant were enemies on the court ... but when BG was diagnosed with Parkinson's, the HOFer came up big ... helpin' his old rival AND raising $100k for charity.

Grant -- a 6'9" PF who was a beast on defense and the boards -- played 12 seasons in the NBA for the Kings, Trail Blazers, Heat, Lakers, and Suns ... before retiring in 2006.

Approximately 2 years later -- when he was only 36 years old -- Grant was diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson's ... sending him into a depression.

Grant says once the diagnosis became public ... Malone reached out and offered his help.

Malone and Grant put together a dope Alaskan fishing trip and auctioned it off ... raising $107k to help combat Parkinson's.

Grant says not only did that cash help people ... but hangin' with Malone -- his idol -- was super therapeutic for him during a dark time in his life.

BG's still fighting the disease ... and working with the Parkinson's Foundation to help spread awareness and raise money.

Beto O'Rourke -- the congressman who went viral defending NFL kneelers -- says he's totally fine with people boycotting Nike ... because it's another form of nonviolent protest.

Beto is currently in a very tight senate race in Texas against incumbent Ted Cruz -- and his speech on the NFL protesters has become a major issue between the two candidates.

So, when we saw O'Rourke in D.C. on Friday -- we had to ask about the outrage over Nike's new ad featuring Colin Kaepernick ... which inspired some people to burn their shoes and cut Swooshes out of their socks.

"I think it's fine for people to do that," O'Rourke tells TMZ Sports ... "I think that's a peaceful, nonviolent way to protest a decision that you disagree with, which again comes back to the genius of this country and our democracy."

Barack Obama just made some very interesting comments to people who want to protest the way black people are being treated by the criminal justice system ... and it seems it may have been influenced by Colin Kaepernick.

"If you are really concerned about how the criminal justice system treats African-Americans ... the best way to protest is to vote," Obama said Friday in a speech at the Univ. of Illinois.

We should note he never mentioned Kaepernick by name -- or even referenced the NFL or kneeling.

But Colin has famously told the media that he didn't participate in the 2016 election -- saying, "You know, I think it would be hypocritical of me to vote."

"I said from the beginning I was against oppression, I was against the system of oppression. I'm not going to show support for that system. And to me, the oppressor isn't going to allow you to vote your way out of your oppression."

Fast-forward to Obama ... who drilled down on the importance of voting.

"[Don't just vote] for senators and representatives -- but for mayors and sheriffs and state legislators."

The Florida State University football team will pay tribute to one of their own -- Burt Reynolds -- by wearing special helmet decals this weekend honoring the late actor.

Reynolds played halfback at FSU back in the '50s -- and was a proud supporter of the Seminoles football team over the years.

The 82-year-old actor died Thursday after suffering a heart attack -- and when FSU takes the field on Saturday against the Samford Bulldogs in Tallahassee ... they'll all be sporting some sort of BW-inspired decal near the legendary arrowhead.

Reynolds was a scholarship athlete at FSU -- and in his 1st season with the Noles, ran for 134 yards and 2 touchdowns on 16 carries.

He was supposed to blow up his next season -- but a couple of knee injuries (along with a bad car accident) slowed him down.

The younger brother of L.A. Dodgers legend Tommy Lasorda died Thursday night in a major car accident involving a police vehicle.

Officials confirm 83-year-old Joseph Lasorda tried to make a left turn in front of a Boca Raton Police Dept. SUV patrol vehicle around 8:30 PM ... and was T-boned by the cop car.

Lasorda was transported to a nearby hospital where he was later pronounced dead. The officer driving the police vehicle was hospitalized for minor injuries and is expected to be okay.

Officials are investigating the incident.

Joseph is survived by his wife Gaetana, 2 children and a grandchild.

LeBron James is out ... and now the City of Cleveland has announced they're replacing the legendary banner with a new icon ... a Guardian!!!

No, not Groot. Or Rocket. Or even Mantis ... it's the Guardian of Traffic!

ALL HAIL THE TRAFFIC GOD!!

It's true -- the greatest athlete in the history of the city (maybe the world) is being subbed out for an image of the statue that overlooks traffic on the Hope Memorial Bridge.

City officials proposed the idea during a meeting early Friday morning -- claiming the statue is one of the "iconic landmarks" in town ... adding, "We all serve as guardians in terms of protecting and working within our community."

Okay, but honestly ... wouldn't you rather have Baker Mayfield or Bernie Kosar or Drew Carey?

Hell, throw Ricky Vaughn up there!

The Guardians of Traffic poster will include a slogan for the city -- "All For The Land."

And, if the guardian looks a little grainy to you -- it's 'cause the city wanted it that way ... saying it's a mosaic of "a composite of crowd-sourced images" of Clevelanders.

Immediate reaction to it hasn't been great ... with some tweeting, "Wait, is this real or a meme?"

Colin Kaepernick has another major supporter -- Miss Virginia -- who went to bat for the QB during a Miss America prelim competition on Thursday ... a prelim competition she WON!

22-year-old Emili McPhail was competing against 49 other women at night #2 in the 2019 Miss America prelims -- when she was asked how she'd advise the NFL when it comes to the kneeling issue.

"Kneeling during the national anthem is absolutely a right that you have to stand up for what you believe in, and to make the right decision that’s right for you,” McPhail said.

"It’s very important that we also have to take into consideration that it is not about kneeling: it is absolutely about police brutality."

The judges were so impressed with her answer, she was awarded the $1,000 prelim onstage question scholarship.

After the competition, McPhail talked about her answer with the Press of Atlantic City.

"I said standing up for what you believe in is the most important thing that you can do, and that’s what I did ... I was very happy to have that moment to be honest, because it’s not always easy."

Ex-UFC fighter Melvin Guillard -- who fought the likes of Nate Diaz and Justin Gaethje -- brutally attacked and KO'd a man in a Colorado bar ... and now cops are on the hunt.

TMZ Sports has obtained surveillance footage which shows the 35-year-old getting into it with several people at Bar Standard in Denver around 2 AM on Monday morning.

After some pushing and shoving, you can see Guillard -- with his trademark bleach blonde hair -- cold-cock a bar patron in the face ... knocking the guy out cold before he hit the floor.

The victim was clearly unconscious and people ran to tend to him -- while a female patron tried to attack Guillard in retaliation. Guillard hit her too.

TMZ Sports spoke with a Denver Police Dept. spokesperson who told us several witnesses were able to identify the attacker as Guillard ... and now a warrant has been issued for his arrest.

Guillard was a pretty promising MMA fighter when he first started out -- appearing on "The Ultimate Fighter" season 2. He famously scored a victory against UFC stud Jeremy Stephens back in 2010.

But, he also got his ass kicked a lot ... chalking up Ls to guys like Nate Diaz, Israel Adesanya, Justin Gaethje, Michael Johnson and Donald Cerrone.

What do LeBron James, Justin Bieber, Hailey Baldwin, Whoopi Goldberg, Ben Simmons, Scooter Braun, Swaggy P and a bunch of yellow milk crates have in common?

They all came together -- at a skate park no less -- for an incredible photo Thursday during New York Fashion Week.

The murderer's row of sports stars and celebs were gathered for the John Elliott runway show ... the runway being the center of a skateboarding ramp.

It looks like the lineup includes Robert Englund and Maverick Carter, as well ... but we're not certain. No clue who the guy behind the fence peering in is, though.

As we reported ... stars like Nicki Minaj, Cardi B, Kendall Jenner and more have already flocked to NYC for Fashion Week events.

Kevin Garnett claims his former accountant helped swindle him out of $77 MILLION and now he's suing in hopes of getting some of his cash back.

The NBA star -- who reportedly made more than $343 MILLION during his NBA career -- claims his former accountant Michael Wertheim was helping a crooked wealth manager skim a fortune from his bank accounts over several years and did nothing to stop it.

In fact, Garnett claims the accountant aided wealth manager Charles A. Banks IV in the theft and should be held responsible ... according to the suit, which has been moved to federal court in Minnesota.

Garnett claims part of the diabolical plot against him involved his wealth manager and accountant trying to get him to live on a budget so they would have a greater pool of cash to steal from.

One example ... in August 2013, Garnett claims he asked his wealth manager to wire him $40,000 of his own money -- but was scolded for exceeding their budget. Meanwhile, KG claims the wealth manager took more than $2 MILLION for himself over an 8-day span.