TMZ Sports - Page 50

The Doggfather is in the OC for the Western Conference Quarterfinals, where the Anaheim Ducks clinched the first-round playoff series in a 4-1 victory in game five against the Minnesota Wild. Puckin' great!

Actor Louis Gossett, Jr. says he's the victim of an identity thief -- and that someone forged his signature to get their hands on a pair of $37,000 Lakers tickets.

In an exclusive interview with TMZ, Gossett swats away allegations that he took the tickets and didn't pay for them -- and, by the way, he's had his own Lakers seats since the Magic-and-Kareem era!

Gossett tells TMZ that he recalls being offered the Staples Center Premiere seats, which are good for nearly any sporting event at the arena for two years, but denies ever agreeing to take them -- adding that the signature on the "contract" he signed is a fake. What's more, Gossett says he hasn't been served with the lawsuit from L. A. Arena Funding which accuses him of deadbeating on the Premiere Seats, and that he first learned about the suit through the media.

The Oscar winner adds that he doesn't really give a layup about any other team that plays at Staples, other than the Lakers, whom he considers "family," counting Magic as a "good friend."

A Lakers rep confirms that Gossett has been a Lakers fan in good seating for "twenty years," and that he's fully paid up. A call to lawyers for L.A. Arena wasn't returned.

Actor Louis Gossett, Jr. is being slammed for allegedly not paying for a pair of $37,000 Lakers tickets, and now the brass behind the basketball team is crying foul.

In a lawsuit filed recently in Los Angeles Superior Court, the former "Iron Eagle" is accused of signing a 2003 contract for a pair of exclusive Premier Seats at Staples Center -- home to the Los Angeles Lakers, Clippers and the NHL's L.A. Kings -- but never forking over the dough. The tickets, located close to the floor, are good for nearly any sporting event at the arena -- for two years!

Now, L.A. Arena Funding, the company that handles ticket sales for Staples Center events, is asking for $38,850 in damages. To put things in perspective -- that's less than 1% of what Kobe Bryant made this year (endorsements not included).

Reps for Gossett had no comment.

Jon Bon Jovi flashed a double bird at the referees at an Arena Football League, after the team he owns gave up a late touchdown -- just as ESPN2 cameras cut to him for a reaction shot. Yeah, that's a reaction all right!

It happened Monday night after Jon's Philadelphia Soul gave up a controversial score late in the game. But it was only controversial because Bon Jovi didn't quite understand what happened, which resulted in his aforementioned gesture. He expressed regret afterwards, saying, "I apologize for the middle-finger thing. I didn't understand the rule. Simple as that."

It's gotta be a drag when your NFL quarterback BF dumps you after three years and takes up with a Victoria's Secret supermodel ... and then you find you're three months preggers. Now Tom Brady says that knocked-up ex Bridget Moynahan is trying to make him "look like a jerk." That shouldn't be tough!

While Tom and Brazilian bombshell Gisele Bundchen (who used to date Leonardo DiCaprio) were vacationing in Paris, Bridget dropped the bomb that she was in the family way ... an out-of-wedlock event which couldn't have pleased Tom's staunchly Catholic family. Apparently, Bridget was trying to embarrass Gisele and make her look bad. That'd be tough!

Reports say that Gisele has never been happier, despite Tom's lil' pigskin slip, and that the two will probably marry. GB and her QB are headed to Milan so G can appear in the D&G show there.

Cee-Lo, half of the Grammy-winning duo Gnarls Barkley, partied it up at JET Nightclub at the Mirage on Monday with his entourage in tow. Our spies tell us he sipped on Patron with about twenty groupies surrounding him. When the DJ decided to put on his hit song, "Crazy," Cee-Lo grabbed the mic to belt out the song to the packed room.

The relationship is over, but the drama has just begun -- and it looks like Cameron Diaz is hooking up to make Justin Timberlake jealous.

According to TMZ spies, Cameron is currently camped out on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii with super surf stud and current ASP World Tour champ Kelly Slater.

We're told the couple shared a romantic oceanfront dinner at Haleiwa Joe's restaurant before heading back to Slater's place. Indeed, we're told Cameron is staying with Slater. The two have been friends for years; Slater even appeared on Cameron's MTV show "Trippin" in 2005.

Other TMZ spies tell us that during the Golden Globes, Cameron kept coming up to Justin's table, trying to engage him in conversation.

Each time she left, a frustrated Justin made it clear he just wanted a clean break.

Kobe Bryant was sued in Federal Court today by a fan who claims he was deliberately elbowed by the NBA star during a Lakers game at FedEx Forum in Memphis last year -- and now the fan wants $75,000 in damages for unspecified injuries!

According to court documents, Bill Geeslin claims that during a game against the Memphis Grizzlies on November 14 of last year, Bryant came off the court during play, landed on him, and that Bryant "committed assault and battery and engaged in extreme and outrageous conduct when [Bryant], without provocation, violently struck Mr. Geeslin with [his] elbow, causing Mr. Geeslin injury and damages." So much for sitting courtside.

Bryant was famously accused of sexual assault back in 2003. While all criminal charges were later dropped, he settled out of court for a reported sum of $5 million.

Calls to Lakers representatives were not immediately returned.

They might not be gay lovers, but Lance Armstrong and Matthew McConaughey certainly do have cutely butch names for one another. In the November issue of Details magazine, on newsstands this week, cover boy Lance says that the BFFs call each other "LiveStrong" and "J.K. Livin," and when asked whether they're gay, he jokes: "We tried it. Wasn't for us."

The two Austin, Tex. natives have been friends for years, but they really started to bond, says Armstrong, when their respective relationships with Sheryl Crow and Penelope Cruz dissolved. And when it comes to the tabloid attention both attract, they've got totally different approaches. "He's all tin cans and yam," says Lance of the famously crunchy Matt. "I get s**t on my Blackberry ... My cell phone. Most of it is bulls**t."

During a taped episode of "Monday Night RAW" last night in Los Angeles, Federline made a surprise appearance in the ring and received a chorus of boos from the sold-out crowd at the Staples Center. After an argument between K-Fed and Cena got a little physical, Cena unleashed his signature move -- the F-U slam -- on Mr. PopoZao.

In this clip, K-Fed, sporting his traditional white t-shirt and jeans, makes his way to the ring to a chorus of boos -- and meets John Cena when he gets there. Also, "Jackass" star Steve-O takes a turn in the ring, but things don't go well for him, either.

John Cena, you have acted on the wishes of millions. For that, we salute you.

Jack Nicholson at a Lakers game is a normal occurrence, but Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon at a NY Rangers game not so much. You may not know this, but apparently the A-list couple are die hard NHL hockey fans. The family has been frequently spotted at NY Rangers home and away games. Now that's a fan.

Tim and Susan aren't the only ones in the family who are big fans, apparently son Miles is also a hockey buff. Tim recently took 15-year-old Miles to an FHM/NHL party at Marquee in NY to mingle with his favorite players.

Kim Etheredge: "Hi, I have an emergency please."
911 operator: "You need the police out there?"
Etheredge: "I need an ambulance please."
911 operator: "Let me give you the paramedics."
Etheredge: "Thank you."
911 operator: "Stay on the line."

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Terrell Owens attempted suicide by overdosing on pain medication Tuesday night, The Associated Press reports this morning, citing a police report.

According to the report, Owens even put two more pills into his mouth after fire rescue personnel arrived and also told rescue workers he was "depressed."

KTVT in Dallas reported that a woman named "Etheridge" -- most likely his publicist, Kim Etheridge -- called police at 7:51PM Tuesday night to report a suicide attempt. The station also reported that Owens took 35 pills.

Owens fractured a bone in his hand in a game on September 18 and had to have a plate screwed into his hand to help it heal properly.

Things are getting ever more serious between Nick Lachey and his summer squeeze Vanessa Minnillo, just as reports of a relationship between his ex Jessica Simpson and singer-songwriter John Mayer heat up.

A TMZ spy who recently rode in an elevator with the pair at Minnillo's apartment building say they were "totally into each other," very affectionate with one another, and were oblivious to anyone around them, and Lachey has been spotted shacking up chez Minnillo regularly when he's in Manhattan.

And starting this fall, Manning's going to be even more exposed, featuring prominently in high-profile ad campaigns for Reebok and Sony, the latter alongside golf prodigy Michelle Wie. In 2005, Manning landed $10.5 million in endorsements according to Sports Illustrated, amongst the highest of any athlete. And his agent's recent defection to powerhouse Creative Artists Agency suggests that more showbiz is in the offing for the NFL's golden boy.

But, like tennis' Anna Kournikova before him, Manning's a superstar pitchman who hasn't actually won anything on the field, from high school to college to the pros. To be fair, Manning, at 30, already holds several NFL passing records, and he nearly led his team to an undefeated season last year, a level of success Kournikova never came close to achieving.

And yet, how is it that Peyton, without Tiger Woods' titles or Anna K's, er, talents, has become the face of just about everything?