TMZ Sports - Page 50

TMZ has learned the identity of the NBA star who was dating Rob Lowe's former nanny -- and he could be a big player in this case.

His name is Dale Davis and this is how he ties into the Rob Lowe story -- Lowe's former nanny, Laura Boyce, says that Rob's wife Sheryl constantly made sexual remarks around her about her boyfriend's genitals. Boyce dated Davis while she worked for the Lowes. Boyce claims Sheryl once said Boyce "got strep throat from sucking ni***r d**k. I mean black d**k."

Larry Stein, Sheryl's lawyer, tells TMZ the allegations are false and notes that the former nanny didn't make a single sexual harassment claim against Rob.

Davis, who stands nearly 7' tall, had a long career in the NBA but is currently out of the league.

In the video -- shot inside a bar hours before -- Rodman and his girlfriend, Gigi, appeared quite affectionate and in good spirits. Rodman's rep told us they had too much to drink before the hotel altercation.

He was arrested at 11:00 PM at a Century City hotel and was released early this morning.

Law enforcement tells us they charge suspects with a felony if there is evidence of injury, such as bruising or blood.

Rodman was released on $50,000 bail today at 4:16 AM.

UPDATE: Rodman's manager Darren Prince tells TMZ, "Last night Dennis and his girlfriend had too much to drink. When they returned to their hotel they started arguing and a minor altercation broke out where Dennis grabbed her by the arm and left a bruise." Hotel security got involved and called LAPD, who responded and made the arrest. We're told Dennis plans to enter a rehab facility immediately upon returning to Florida because -- according to Prince -- "his drinking has been escalating in the last six weeks due to a nasty divorce and not seeing his children in over two months."

Sure it's cheaper ... but these guys can probably afford the extra couple hundred to fly first class.

Brazilian futbol star Ronaldo has been caught playing in his own personal "Crying Game."

The 31-year-old AC Milan forward claims he's become a victim of extortion after he unknowingly took three transvestite prostitutes back to his Rio motel on Monday. Save him, Eddie Murphy! After realizing the gals were actually guys, the transvestites claim Ronaldo threatened to harm and tried to bribe them to keep the entire incident silent. Good luck with that.

In February, Ronaldo suffered a career-threatening knee injury and, according to Reuters, has been suffering "psychological problems" from recent surgery.

Rider, who played for the Lakers and Timberwolves, was busted last month while driving through Skid Row in L.A. for failure to stop at the limit line at an intersection. He originally was booked for grand theft auto -- since the 2001 Chevy Monte Carlo he was driving seemed to have been a stolen vehicle -- but only was charged with one misdemeanor count of driving with a suspended license. Isaiah was released on $25,000 bail.

He already has an alleged prior conviction for driving with suspended license back in 2007.

Story developing...

Michael Merriweather, who played for the Pittsburgh Steelers, alleges in his suit that the company blocked him from leads and bonuses, an office, and even a telephone line, all because he was black.

Hilariously, he claims that a manager once mocked his NFL career by "lower[ing] his shoulder" and almost knocked him over, causing him stomach sickness and headaches. Who knew insurance agents could hit?

Other times, says the 'backer, he was called "Kobe" or "Tyson" when those athletes got into hot water with the law. No one ever said insurance people were funny -- or creative.

The smokin' hot 23-year-old was caught at a Manchester airport on Wednesday, looking so suave it hurts.

Who wouldn't want to play on his team!

Yeah, Al Reynolds is probably laughing about this too.

It's been one whole day since news broke that Star Jones filed for divorce from Al -- and already Star is being linked to Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade. The two were recently spotted together at a Miami-area tennis tournament, which probably means they're in love and soon to be married. As if.

What's next? Al Reynolds and Maria Sharapova?

Reps for both Star Jones and Dwyane Wade tell TMZ that the rumors aren't true.

The photo shows the Dallas Cowboy strolling into an adult photo shoot with a huge smile on his face. After being displayed on the porno company's site, the shot wound up on TheDirty.com with the headline "T.O. Loves Porn." Turns out, Owens loves to pick fights even more -- and immediately launched his legal team to clean up the mess.

TMZ obtained a cease and desist letter sent to folks at TheDirty.com explaining that Terrell unknowingly walked into the sticky situation. Team Terrell is also demanding the website take down the shots and "state to the public that these photographs linking Mr. Owens to porn were not done with his consent." The photo was removed from the porno site, but TheDirty has yet to follow suit.

There's no doubt that using the n-word is stupid -- but allegedly using the n-word in front of a guy that's over six-feet-tall, weighs nearly 400 pounds and calls himself "The World's Strongest Man" is beyond idiotic. Enter WWE writer Michael Hayes.

TMZ has confirmed that Hayes, the head writer for WWE's "Smackdown," has been suspended for 60 days -- allegedly for using racist language in front of wrestler Mark Henry. Michael's haymaker was supposedly thrown while out drinking at a party during the weekend of Wrestlemania, where ProWrestling.net reports Hayes told Henry, "I'm more of a n----- than you are."

It's unknown whether or not Hayes was subsequently hit in the face with a metal chair.

Amanda, along with fellow speedo-heads Jason Lezak, Aaron Peirsol and Kaitlin Sandeno, are suing Penta Water Company for misappropriation of name and likeness. Here's what we know. The four swimmers signed endorsement deals with Penta, but we're told it expired in Fall 2006. Penta continues to use the endorsements, by "posting the names, images and testimonials of the Athletes on their Website."

Kaitlin, who took gold in 2004, said in the original endorsement, "I go to school with it, I wake up with it, and I go to bed with it." Clearly MENSA material.

Orange County sheriffs are investigating an alleged drugging of Pasha Grishuk, the biggest ice dancer in the world. Cops now tell TMZ the drug is GHB, commonly called the "date rape" drug.

The two-time Olympic gold medal winner attended a business meeting at the swanky St. Regis in the OC on April 12. Grishuk ordered a glass of wine at the table, which she briefly left unattended. After taking a few more sips, Pasha noticed a half-dissolved pill at the bottom of her glass. By the time cops and paramedics arrived, Pasha was feeling numb and ill. They also found a second glass she had been drinking from in the lounge and it had residue from a pill as well.

Eli Manning and new wife Abby McGrew enjoyed their first few days of fiery, wedded bliss together on Monday -- he was reading a book about golf, she was reading one on Darfur.

How romantic.

This time David did his best to keep his eyes on the action ... on the court.

DB knows hell hath no fury like a Posh Spice scorned!