TMZ Sports - Page 50

Tyron Woodley says Nick Diaz must be out of his DAMN MIND if he really wants a piece of The Chosen One ... telling TMZ Sports he'd destroy Nick if he really wants to get in the Octagon.

Remember, Nick fired some shots at Tyron on Wednesday night ... calling him a boring fighter and vowing to bust him up if they can get a fight on the books.

So, we reached out to Tyron ... who had some thoughts.

"Get your weak ass outta here," Woodley said ... "You could have fought me a long time ago."

In fact, T-Wood -- who's in ATL shooting a movie -- proceeded to clown Nick and Nate Diaz with a little help from his UFC pal, Kenny Florian.

And, Kenny does a GREAT Nate Diaz impression!!

But, ya gotta watch when Tyron breaks down Nick's fight style ... COMEDY!

"How can he beat me? He's gonna try to beat me by taking punches to the face? He can't stop me from taking him down. He'll never submit me. He gonna slap me to death? Nah, I'm good."

Suck at football but still wanna own your own Heisman Trophy?? Better have NEARLY HALF A MILLION DOLLARS laying around.

The 1937 trophy -- won by Yale's Clint Frank -- is hitting the Heritage Auctions block ... and experts tell us it's expected to go for over $400,000.

The 25-pound award was only the third one ever given out ... but Frank's family is ready to part ways with it -- for the right price.

Clint was a beast back in the day ... playing BOTH halfback and safety for the Bulldogs -- but decided to forego an NFL career for a job in advertising (seriously).

The trophy is only one of just a handful of Heisman's that have ever hit the auction block -- O.J. Simpson's sold back in 1999 -- which explains the huge price tag.

Bidding is slated to end on Oct. 18.

Kobe Bryant sprang into action Thursday after witnessing a car crash in Newport Beach -- helping out one of the drivers after a Tesla got hit outside his local Starbucks.

The retired NBA superstar was driving through the area in his blacked-out Range Rover when he saw a car run a red light and slam into the Tesla. Kobe stopped to make sure the driver was okay.

A rep for Bryant tells us ... the Tesla driver told Kobe his phone was damaged in the wreck, so the Lakers legend offered to take pics on his cell instead.

You can see Kobe snapping away in pics obtained by TMZ Sports.

The good news ... we're told no one suffered any serious injuries in the crash. Cops responded to check in on the situation but no arrests were made.

Remember, Kobe's buddy Shaquille O'Neal did a similar thing back in April -- hopping out of his ride to tend to a crash he witnessed in L.A.

See, these guys have more in common than ya thought ...

9:55 AM PT -- Kanye just explained to the group he's redesigned the MAGA hat ... changing the brim and the shape of the front of it. He also says he's put "positive energy" in the hat.

Can you support both Donald Trump and Colin Kaepernick at the same time?

Kanye West believes you can ...

The rapper rolled over to the offices of The Fader on Thursday in Trump's "Make America Great Again" hat ... while wearing a sweatshirt with Kaep's name spelled out across the chest.

Is he making a point about how he can see both sides? Is he just out of clean laundry?

Remember, Trump famously referred to Colin as a "son of a bitch" and called for NFL owners to fire all players who didn't stand for the national anthem.

But, Ye applauded Nike for signing Kaep to a deal recently -- saying, "I stand for giving everyone a voice."

He added, "Adidas giving me a voice and Nike giving Colin voice on a big business level makes the world a more advanced place."

Colin Kaepernick says he's THRILLED his pal, Eric Reid, is back in the NFL -- but claims the safety shoulda been signed WAY earlier.

"Congratulations to my brother [Eric Reid], an all pro safety who should have been signed the first day of free agency, who has signed a football contract," Kaep posted.

"He has was the FIRST person to kneel alongside me. Eric is a social justice warrior, continues to support his wife, two beautiful daughters and communities in need."

Kaep and Reid were teammates on the 49ers and have been good friends for a WHILE.

In fact, when the guys found themselves jobless after the kneeling demonstrations -- they hired the same lawyers to sue the NFL for collusion ... claiming they'd been blackballed.

As for Kaep's claim Reid shoulda been signed sooner, he's right -- Reid's just 26 years old, has a Pro Bowl on his resume AND had 67 tackles and 2 picks last season.

Reid's new teammate, Torrey Smith, also commented -- saying, "I’m excited. It shouldn’t have taken this long, a person with his talent."

"We all understand the reason why."

Eric Reid -- who filed a collusion grievance against the NFL -- has just signed a 1-year contract with the Carolina Panthers, the team announced.

Reid was widely considered one of the best free agent safeties on the market -- but he believed he was being blackballed, like Colin Kaepernick, for taking a knee during the national anthem at NFL games.

Eric and Colin were teammates on the 49ers. They're still good friends and are using the same lawyers -- Mark Geragos and Ben Meiselas -- to go after the NFL for collusion.

Reid is a former Pro Bowl safety who racked up 67 tackles and 2 interceptions last season -- and many believe he should have easily gotten a roster spot in 2018 based on his talent.

Reid, 6'1" and 215 pounds, played the first five seasons of his NFL career with the San Francisco 49ers after being selected by the team in the first round (18th overall) of the 2013 NFL Draft.

“Eric has been a starting safety in the NFL and has played at a high level throughout his career," Panthers GM Marty Hurney said.

"After we put (safety) Da’Norris Searcy on injured reserve, Ron (Rivera) and I discussed our options, and Eric was at the top of our list. He is a physical safety with good ball skills and play-making ability."

Reid is already at the team facility.

Story developing ...

Dallas Cowboys fans everywhere rejoice ... Tony Romo is healthy enough to play quarterback in the NFL again!!!!!!!!!

Sooo ... when's the comeback date?!?!

Well ... maybe never.

Romo stoked the rumor mill Wednesday when he said his back, collarbone and everything else he broke in his playing days are good enough for him to get back on the field.

"I played much more hurt back in probably '13 and '14 then I would be now," Romo told the Ben & Skin Show.

"Yeah, I mean, I'm healthy enough. That wouldn't be the issue at all I don't think. That would be the least of my thoughts when it came to a decision like that, obviously."

But, is Tony actually considering it?!?! Romo wouldn't say, poo-pooing the question by saying, "You guys are silly."

Romo's been killin' it in the CBS broadcast booth ... and he's got big-time golf dreams now too. Football seems to be firmly in his past.

So, sorry, Dallas. Looks like you're stuck with Dak.

Nelly doesn't hate the Rams for leaving St. Louis -- he's still rooting for 'em ... assuring TMZ Sports they're just "on loan" to L.A. for the time being.

Yeah, don't hold your breath ...

The Rams are killin' it right now -- they're 3-0 and Jared Goff and Todd Gurley are playing out of their minds.

So, when we saw the STL rapper at Mastro's in Bev Hills on Wednesday night -- we had to ask if he's still backing his boys in blue and white.

That's when Nelly reminded us where his team REALLY belongs.

"They're on loaner out here," Nelly said ... "They're on loaner out here. They're on LOANER out here, man!"

We got it. Loaner. Out here.

By the way, back when the Rams announced the move in 2016, Nelly told us he thinks the team should change the team colors and leave the blue and gold to STL.

The team actually has plans to do that -- but league rules slowed down the process. Expect new threads by 2020.

Nick Diaz with the fire takes it outside Warwick nightclub in Hollywood Wednesday night -- saying Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov are "not that good" and he'd crush 'em both.

The older Diaz brother was out clubbin' Wednesday night when we asked if he was bitter at the USADA-imposed punishment that kept him out of fighting for years for missing drug tests.

"There wasn't nobody to fight anyways for me," Diaz says ... "Ain't nobody out there. Everybody out there ain't sh*t right now."

He's eligible to fight now -- so we asked if he's planning to return to the Octagon anytime soon. Diaz replied, "I'll beat all those guys. All those motherf*ckers."

Even UFC welterweight champ Tyron Woodley?

"I'll whoop his ass too. He's too boring."

But, after the trash talk, it seemed he defended Woodley -- saying, "I don't even know why he fights those guys. They don't pay him enough money."

Which brings us to Conor vs. Khabib.

"I'll beat both of them. Both they asses ... THEY'RE NOT THAT GOOD!"

When in France, right?

Michael Jordan proved he's too classy to drink beer with the normies at major sporting events -- instead, he sips from his own bottle of fancy wine.

MJ was in the VIP suites at the Paris Saint-Germain vs. Reims game in Paris on Wednesday -- where he watched Neymar dominate in a 4-1 victory at Parc des Princes stadium.

He also apparently brought in his own bottle of red. Guessing they waived the corkage fee.

Jordan was treated like the legend he is during the game -- since PSG recently teamed up with Jordan Brand for a collaborative range of threads. The team prez even presented MJ with his own custom #23 jersey.

Jordan took in the game with his pal, Ahmad Rashad -- no word if he let the ex-football player dip into his wine.

No word on what brand Jordan was drinking -- but the guy's a billionaire so you know he ain't sippin' the cheap stuff.

Jim Brown is happily enjoying his crow today ... 'cause the Browns legend tells TMZ Sports he was so wrong about Baker Mayfield -- he actually thinks Cleveland's got a shot at the playoffs now!!

You'll remember ... Jim was one of the least pleased people in Cleveland when his ex-squad chose Baker over Saquon Barkley with the top pick in the NFL draft.

But, after watching Baker's 21-17 comeback performance against the Jets last week ... he's all in on the selection now ... even apologizing to John Dorsey and co.!!!

"They didn't go with what everybody said, including myself," Jim tells us.

"They went with what they thought was correct, and I really appreciate being able to say to them, 'I guess you were right.'"

Another twist in the Nicki Minaj, Lewis Hamilton "Are They Dating?" saga -- with more signs pointing to yes. This time, the two were riding ATVs together in Dubai.

Remember, Lewis and Nicki ignited the dating rumors earlier this month when they hung out at NY Fashion week -- and then went on a dinner date afterward.

There was a pretty telling picture where Nicki was touching Lewis' leg with her pinky ... which seemed pretty flirty to us.

Lewis just posted the pic of the two riding a quad in the desert -- but the pic was taken a few days ago because now she's in Brazil.

Unclear if the two had business in Dubai and happened to run into each other -- or if this was a romantic getaway.

Lewis has been pretty private about his relationships -- despite the fact he's been linked to some of the most famous women in the world ... from Rihanna to Kendall Jenner.

So, are they dating or just friends? Our money's on dating.

Rob Gronkowski says he's ain't mad at his big bro for stirring up drama with the Patriots -- claiming Chris Gronkowski just got caught up in the moment when he shaded Rob's team on the radio.

Backstory ... Chris appeared on "Kirk & Callahan" on WEEI this week and told the guys Rob had issues with the team during the offseason that seemed to center on his contract.

Essentially, Chris said Rob wanted more freedom, more respect ... and more money!

"He wanted to get what he deserved. He was being paid like he was just a mediocre tight end, and just wanted to get some respect on that end."

Enter Rob, who faced the media Wednesday and was asked if what Chris said was true. Short answer ... no.

"He doesn't speak for myself and he knows he doesn't. He probably just got caught up a little bit," Rob said.

"To tell you the truth, I feel like he probably was going on for a promotion thing for his ice shaker. No lie."

It's true ... Chris' ice shaker business is kind of a big deal -- Rob pointed out he's even been featured on "Shark Tank" with Alex Rodriguez.

"So, I guess buy his ice shaker is what he was trying to get to ... and he probably got caught up in all that nonsense."

Dustin Johnson is working his way out of Paulina Gretzky's doghouse ... and it seems to be working -- the two were just spotted together in Paris holding hands.

It's the first time we've seen them out since Paulina wiped the PGA star from her Instagram page amid rumors he banged a model that golfs at his home course back in L.A. (rumors she denied BTW).

But Wednesday, the two arrived to the Ryder Cup Gala at the Palace of Versailles dressed to the nines.

DJ clearly knows the way to Paulina's heart -- snapping pics of her on the way in. Smart dude.

Earlier this month, Johnson put out a statement acknowledging the two were going through a rough patch -- but didn't specifically address the cheating rumors.

"Every relationship goes through its ups and downs," Dustin said ... "but most importantly, we love each other very much and are committed to being a family."

So, why are they in Paris? Dustin is part of the Team USA Ryder Cup squad which takes on Europe on Friday.

Victor Ortiz will NOT be boxing this weekend after getting arrested for rape ... so says his opponent, John Molina, Jr. ... who just announced the fight has been scrapped.

Ortiz was arrested Tuesday and charged with 3 counts of felony sexual assault -- including rape, oral copulation and digital penetration -- stemming from an alleged incident that took place inside of a home in Oxnard, CA back in March.

Molina and Ortiz were scheduled to headline a Premier Boxing Championship on FS1 on Sunday -- but Molina just issued a video statement saying it's off.

"All right guys, bad news ... the fight has officially been canceled obviously due to uncontrollable circumstances from Team Ortiz."

"Team Molina was ready. To all my friends, family and fans that were ready to see me get down on Sunday, I'll be in the house still, but I apologize."

Here's a sign Le'Veon Bell's holdout has probably gone on too long ...

Bill Peduto -- the mayor of Pittsburgh and a longtime Le'Veon supporter -- tells TMZ Sports he's beginning to think the Steelers don't need the RB to make a Super Bowl run.

"James Conner's proving to be a worthy back and it's a team sport," Bill says. "It's beyond one player."

It's a bit of a surprising claim ... considering Bell has nearly 8,000 yards from scrimmage in 62 career games ... but Bill -- like some of Bell's own teammates -- seems to be fed up with the holdout.

"He's, I think, getting very bad advice from his manager," Peduto tells us.

"It's getting to the point of a certain tipping point when you can still come back and your teammates and the fans will want to have you back."

As for Bell ... probably doesn't care what Peduto has to say -- he still wants to get paid. Plus, it's hard to hear the critics above the roars of a jet ski!!!!!!