TMZ Sports - Page 50

WWE star Abraham Washington has just been FIRED after making a Kobe Bryant rape joke on live television last week -- and he's PISSED ... claiming the WWE has "turned its back" on him.

As we previously reported, the WWE issued an apology for its July 30 live broadcast of "Monday Night Raw" -- during which Washington took the mic and said a wrestler named Titus O'Neil was "like Kobe Bryant at a hotel in Colorado ... he's unstoppable."

Now, according to Washington, the WWE has taken further action after the joke, terminating his contract entirely.

Obviously, Washington is NOT happy -- taking to his Twitter moments ago with a barrage of angry messages ... like, "It was the #WWE that made me bold and now it has turned it's back on me."

"Just be normal shut up and be a yes man so you can collect your check and feel like your special. #SELLOUTS!!"

"I remember a time when the WWE didn't care about breaking the mold but now everyone is so afraid of their own shadow. #RemeberTheFans"

"Thank you WWE for creating me and then killing me because I only portrayed what I grew up watching... The #WWE!!"

No one is more excited about the blockbuster Lakers deal than Dwight Howard -- who was sporting a megawatt smile on his way out of a Beverly Hills hotel moments ago ... telling TMZ, "I'm just happy."

Howard pulled out of the hotel in a gleaming white Bentley, and it was obvious the big man is pumped to play for the Lake Show.

We asked Howard why he finally decided on L.A. -- and he responded by saying it wasn't entirely his decision ... claiming, "It wasn't on me."

Dwight Howard is officially suiting up for the Los Angeles Lakers -- the NBA approved the 4-team trade that finally gets him out of Orlando and into the purple and gold.

General managers for the Lakers, Magic, Nuggets, and 76ers wrapped up a conference call with the league to finalize details of the trade this morning.

Howard, a 3-time Defensive Player of the Year, had asked the Magic to trade him several months ago ... and since then there have been non-stop rumors about him ending up on the Nets, Mavericks, Rockets, or Lakers.

Kobe Bryant says he's already spoken with Dwight Howard ... and says the two are "locked and loaded" to win an NBA championship together.

Bryant -- who's currently in London playing for Team USA -- just went to his Facebook page to declare "Superman has found a home" with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Kobe writes, "The Lakers landed a piece that will hopefully carry the franchise long after I'm gone. I have spoken to Dwight Howard already and we are locked and loaded to bring back the title."

Kobe also mentions Andrew Bynum -- who will be shipped to Philadelphia as part of the 4-team trade.

"I wish nothing but the best for Big Bynum. I hope he follows what was a great season last year with an even better one next year."

Tyrann Mathieu -- aka "The Honey Badger" -- has just been kicked off the LSU football team for violating team and school rules.

20-year-old Mathieu was a Heisman Trophy finalist in 2011 ... and was supposed to be a frontrunner for the award in 2012. In other words ... the defensive back was considered one of the best players in college football.

LSU coach Les Miles is currently addressing the media ... and has said:

"Tyrann Mathieu is no longer on our team. Violated team policies."

Miles added, "Lost a quality person, enjoyed going to work with him ... we'll miss him."

Les wouldn't explain the nature of the violation, but said ... "I can't imagine he wouldn't want to transfer and go play football."

Honey Badger -- who will be entering his junior year -- was suspended for a game last season ... after reportedly testing positive for synthetic marijuana.

It's unclear if his dismissal is drug related.

U.S. Olympic champ Ryan Lochte emerged from a nightclub in London last night looking like a space oddity -- wearing a David Bowie t-shirt and a dazed expression on his face ... then stumbling into a waiting car.

Ryan had hit up a place called The Rose Club with several friends -- and left early this morning ... appearing much worse for wear.

But the night wasn't a total wash -- Lochte left the club with a couple of stunners.

Vince Young is in trouble ... the struggling NFL star is on the hook for $1.69 million ... after failing to pay back a high risk, high interest "lockout loan" that he took out back when he was a member of the Tennessee Titans ... this according to court docs.

According to court docs obtained by TMZ, Vince went to Pro Player Funding in May 2011 -- during the middle of the NFL lockout -- and took out a loan for $1.876,876.88. PPF is a company which specialized in "lockout loans" for NFL guys looking to cover their bills during the pay freeze.

Young's loan was VERY high risk ... with high interest rates and a clause that allowed PPF to call in the entire amount due, plus interest, if Vince missed ONE payment.

And according to court docs, that's exactly what happened in May 2012 ... right after Young left the Philadelphia Eagles and signed a new deal with the Buffalo Bills, he missed his payment.

PPF instantly went to the court and obtained a judgment against Young ... ordering the NFL star to pay back the remaining balance on his loan ... plus interest ... totaling $1.69 million.

The number is close to the salary Vince will be making with the Bills this season -- he signed a 1-year deal worth $1.9 mil.

Young's situation is virtually identical to Baltimore Ravens lineman Bryant McKinnie ... who took out a $4 million loan with PPF on the eve of the 2011 NFL lockout ... and also didn't pay it back.

Bryant reportedly struck a settlement deal with PPF earlier this week ... agreeing to pay half of the $3.2 he's scheduled to make with the Ravens in 2012.

During the lockout, several NFL players spoke out against loans of this sort claiming they weren't in the best interest of the players ... and now Young and McKinnie seem to be living proof.

The loan drama is just the latest legal nightmare for Young ... the QB recently sued his former agent and financial advisor for allegedly cheating him out of $5.5 million Vince was supposed to have earned in his rookie contract and through endorsement deals.

10:02 AM PT -- Vince's rep tells TMZ ... Young blames his former financial advisor, Ronnie T. Peoples, for pushing him to take out the loan.

Lamar was a minority investor in the company ... and swore by the non-scientifically proven magical powers the hologram-embedded bracelet is said to possess.

As for Shaq -- a former Power Balance spokesperson -- court docs show the big man is demanding $308,170.

The two join a long list of athletes who claim PB needs to open up its checkbook ... including Kobe ($400,000), Blake Griffin ($20,000) and skateboarder Ryan Sheckler ($25,000).

Dwight Howard had nothing to say when we asked him about the rumored blockbuster trade that would send him to the L.A. Lakers ... well, actually he has a lot to say ... but he's being muzzled.

TMZ has confirmed with sources familiar with the situation ... Dwight is in "serious negotiations" to become a Laker in a trade involving 4 teams ... and it could happen VERY soon.

If the deal actually goes through, it would send Andrew Bynum packing ... possibly to Philadelphia.

Moments ago, our photog found Dwight in L.A., where he's still recovering from back surgery ... and asked the NBA star about all the wheeling and dealing.

Dwight pursed his lips at the question (pun intended) -- but with millions of dollars on the line ... it's probably a smart move.

Usain Bolt is the GREATEST athlete in the history of all mankind ... so says Usain Bolt ... who just CRUSHED everyone in the 200 meter final.

*Sidenote -- don't bitch about the "spoiler" ... it happened ... get over it.*

Anyway, moments after he captured gold, Usain modestly touched on his accomplishments ... reportedly telling the media:

"I'm now a legend. I'm also the greatest athlete to live."

So ... greatest athlete ever? Better than Ali? Better than Michael Jordan? Jim Thorpe? Michael Phelps? Pele?

Jay Penske -- the media mogul son of NASCAR legend Roger Penske -- was arrested in Massachusetts early this morning after allegedly urinating on a woman in a yacht club parking lot ... this according to multiple reports.

Cops were reportedly called to the fancy schmancy Nantucket Yacht Club around 2AM Thursday morning ... after two women claimed Jay and his brother Mark assaulted them in the parking lot after breaking in to the property.

The women reportedly told police that Jay ... CEO of PMC Media ... was urinating in the parking lot ... so they decided to approach him. But when they got close, Jay allegedly turned the hose on one of the women ... and peed all over her boots.

The women told cops Jay and Mark also pushed them during the confrontation.

According to reports, Jay was arrested soon after ... while trying to run away from the club. Mark was arrested in a nearby apartment with cuts on his arm ... reportedly sustained from falling down some stairs. The brothers spent the rest of the morning in jail. They have since been released.

The women reportedly declined to press charges for assault and battery ... however the Penskes were eventually charged with breaking and entering into the Yacht Club with the intent to commit a crime.

Aside from being the son of a billionaire, Jay owns several entertainment websites ... including Deadline.com and HollywoodLife.com.

Russia's INCREDIBLE synchronized swimming team didn't just blow away the judges with their gold medal-winning Michael Jackson routine this week -- they also left a lasting impression on one particular member of the Jackson family.

In case you missed it, the Russian team of Natalia Ischenko and Svetlana Romashina donned MJ-themed bathing suits and performed an amazing routine to the King of Pop's "They Don't Care About Us." The performance eventually helped them land the gold, over Spain.

Their routine was near-perfect -- but no one was more impressed than Michael's sister, La Toya Jackson, who tells TMZ, "I'm thankful for the honor that the Olympian swimmers paid to my brother Michael's memory."

She adds, "It is so wonderful to see how many global fans he has!"

Nigel Lythgoe's niece is now England's idol, after winning her second gold medal in the Olympics this morning.

Charlotte Dujardin rode her way to victory in the non-sport of dressage ... a fancy term for horse dancing.

As for the connection between the famed "American Idol" honcho and Charlotte, she's his ex-wife's sister's daughter. Translation -- even though Nigel calls her his niece, it's really his ex-niece.

Nigel tells us, although he hasn't spoken to her in 9 years, he sponsored her for a year in dressage before he got divorced.

Nigel tells TMZ when he found out Charlotte won for a second time this AM, he actually cried.

Hopefully, we'll see Charlotte on Nigel's next show ... "So You Think You Can Horse Dance."

As if being a gorgeous, buff, rich NFL QB wasn't enough, Tom Brady further proved he's living the ultimate life by getting a hot wet kiss from his gorgeous pregnant supermodel wife Gisele at New England Patriots training camp in Boston on Wednesday.

Did we mention his two adorable sons were there too?

King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden and his wife Queen Silvia have officially earned the title of most AWESOME MONARCHS EVER -- cheering their faces off last night at Sweden's Olympic handball match against Denmark.

Their hilariously annoying battle cries must have worked too -- because Sweden advanced over its rival, winning 24-22.

Hungary's next in line -- but little do they know ... Sweden's got two incredibly rich (and loud) secret weapons.

Apologies to the meatball-hating, anti-IKEA, ABBA-bashing party pooper sitting in the front.