TMZ Sports - Page 50

It was only a matter of time until Charles Barkley's DUI arrest had serious repercussions for the NBA star.

Barkley will take a leave of absence from TNT for a minimum of several weeks with no return date set, a source told the AP. David Levy, president of TNT Sports, released a statement that reads in part, "When I spoke with Charles, he was apologetic for the events that transpired and it was obvious he understands the significance of the situation. This is an important time for Charles as he deals with the legal and personal issues that confront him. Charles is a valued part of the Turner Sports organization and we are concerned for his well-being."

On the audio tape captured by Gilbert P.D., Barkley can be heard counting his steps during the "walk-the-line test," losing his focus during the "raise-your-leg-and-count-to-30 test" and sternly refusing to take a breath test because he claimed his bodyguard told him not to.

The audio tape also captured that special moment when a cop reads Sir Charles his Miranda rights.

Charles Barkley had booze in his blood on the night he was busted for DUI, this according to the cops who nailed the basketball star last month.

Cops say Barkley's blood alcohol level was .149 -- nearly twice the legal limit in Arizona.

The BAC number came from a blood test taken in the field, when Barkley refused the Breathalyzer.

All that greasy body oil and pomade really can make a steering wheel slippery.

According to The Smoking Gun, this bizarre chairlift mishap left the Vail skier dangling head over heels for 15 minutes freezing his ass off -- for reals!

Employees of the Blue Sky Basin eventually got the man down before he could fall through the, er, crack.

San Diego Chargers wide receiver Vincent Jackson was arrested early this morning on suspicion of DUI.

CHP officials tell TMZ Jackson was booked into county jail on a misdemeanor charge and released at 6:00 AM.

A healthier looking Tom Brady was back in full-on "errand boy" mode yesterday, testing out his poor, quasi-rehabilitated knee at an L.A. grocery store ... while his fiancee Gisele probably was lounging around somewhere.

Dude still wouldn't comment about his engagement, but we will: It's very, very real!!

The tape -- which also shows a cop car from the DUI task force pursuing Barkley -- was shot from a nearby building in Scottsdale, Arizona on December 31. You first see a woman walking down the street. A short time later, you see Barkley's SUV blow a stop sign, and head in her direction. It appears the SUV stops up the street and picks her up.

Then a cop car comes into frame and chases after the SUV, stopping it for good.

The time code embedded in the footage is one hour off from the time marked in the police report, but we've learned the camera was programmed for Pacific standard time -- not Arizona time -- which is an hour ahead. We're told the camera could only program Pacific, Central and Eastern time.

Former NBA and "Best Damn Sports" star John Salley should have learned by now ... you don't tug on Superman's cape, and you don't mess around with the most feared legal pit bull in Hollywood.

Marty Singer -- who has struck the fear of God in people who messed with celebs like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis, Jim Carrey, Celine Dion and on and on -- is suing Salley for stiffing him on a serious legal bill.

Singer's firm, Lavely & Singer, was hired to have Salley's back after dude was sued back in 2005 allegedly for physically and mentally abusing his supposed mistress.

Singer's firm claims Salley has ignored repeated requests to pay the $50,599.22 bill, so it's game on in L.A. County Superior Court.

The Round Mound of Rebound has finally found ... a DUI lawyer!

Sir Charles just hired Scott Maasen, a criminal defense attorney in Scottsdale who specializes in DUI cases -- and the guy is already going on a serious PR offensive.

So far, Maasen has already launched an independent investigation into the case and managed to get the basketball star to finally talk about it:

"Mr. Barkley, who has no prior DUI convictions, believes wholeheartedly in the court system and is cooperating fully with the court's process. Mr. Barkley wishes to thank family, friends and his ardent fans for their tremendous outpouring of support during this difficult time."

Barkley is set to appear in court on January 20.

Police pulled over the 6'9", 250 pound Walker after he was spotted driving a black Mercedes with the lights off. Cops say they smelled "a strong odor of alcohol" and his eyes looked "bloodshot." Walker refused a breathalyzer test.

Brian Kelly, coach for the Cincinnati Bearcats, moved the team from the Fontainebleau hotel in Miami Beach because P. Diddy and Co. were throwing a huge NYE bash at LIV nightclub there and the coach felt it would be one giant distraction.

TheDirty.com was able to get a copy of Sir Charles Barkley's receipt from the Dirty Pretty Rock Bar where Chuck, Jaleel White (aka Urkel) and Michael Strahan partied well into the morning.