TMZ Sports - Page 50

Kobe Bryant can afford a $300k Ferrari ... but for some reason, the NBA star hasn't sprung for a hands-free device for his cell phone.

Bryant was cruising down the 405 Freeway yesterday ... steering through traffic while yakking away on his hand-held cell phone ... a major no-no in the state of California.

In fact, Kobe's lucky he wasn't spotted by the CHP -- 'cause a talking-while-driving ticket usually runs around $159 for the first offense ... and $279 for subsequent violations.

Things are getting racial in the Marshawn Lynch DUI case -- the NFL star's lawyer tells TMZ he believes the two white cops who arrested Lynch may have had it out for the running back because of the color of his skin.

Lynch was pulled over by the California Highway Patrol in Oakland back in July and was arrested for drunk driving after officers say his blood alcohol level was above the legal limit. In the police report, cops said they had noticed the Seattle Seahawks running back had been swerving all over the road.

But Lynch's attorney, Ivan Golde, tells us "There may be an issue of police misconduct/racism based on the fact that you have two white cops [and] an African American defendant by himself."

Golde believes the proof may rest in the fact that the incident was NOT captured on the CHP dash cam. Golde claims cops told him the recording device was "not functioning properly" during the arrest.

"There’s an inference, a possibility ... it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to say that the police maybe turned it off," Golde says.

TMZ spoke with a rep for the CHP who tells us, "Although the lawyer for Mr. Lynch alleges there is possible police misconduct and racism because both of the officers who arrested him were of Caucasian ancestry and their patrol vehicle's mobile video/audio recording system was inoperative, this allegation is false and without merit."

The rep continues, "False allegations such as this undermine the mission and morale of all public safety personnel who faithfully work and serve within our communities."

Read the entire CHP statement after the jump.

Michael Strahan was picked to partner with Kelly Ripa on her morning syndicated show ... this according to staffers at ABC in New York City.

Several staffers told TMZ ... the talk in the building is that Strahan -- who played in the NFL and won a Super Bowl ring -- will be announced as the co-host.

Strahan's rep was seen outside the building on 67th and Columbus a short time ago grinning from ear to ear.

BTW ... Strahan is 6'5" ... Kelly is 5'3". Dancing should be fun.

We got Strahan out a few weeks ago, joking about Tim Tebow getting laid -- he's a pretty funny guy ... so we gotta ask ...

Mike Tyson versus Muhammad Ali ain't your typical hot topic for women, but what is typical is Harv getting schooled on sports -- by a chick. Awesome!

Cleveland Indians pitcher Chris Perez sincerely regrets verbally blasting an Oakland A's fan before the game yesterday ... this according to a team rep who tells us the GM has already spoken with Chris about the incident.

In case you missed it ... Perez -- a 2-time MLB All-Star -- snapped on an A's fan who had been taunting him about being a crappy relief pitcher. Among Perez's comebacks -- "you piece of sh*t ... get your d*ck out of your mouth."

Now, a rep for the Indians tells us the General Manager, Chris Antonetti, has already spoken with Chris and discussed the situation in full.

After the conversation, the team believes "Chris certainly regrets what he did."

We also spoke with a rep for Major League Baseball who told us the office is aware of the video and insists the incident is "currently under review."

MLB adds, "When unfortunate situations arise, we always investigate the circumstances to the best of our abilities and evaluate whether disciplinary measures are appropriate."

Junior Seau was completely sober when he shot himself in the chest back in May ... and his cause of death has been ruled as a suicide ... this according to the San Diego medical examiner.

TMZ obtained the autopsy report, filed by Deputy Medical Examiner Craig Nelson ... which shows Seau died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest from a .357 caliber revolver on May 2, 2012.

The report also shows "No alcohol, common drugs of abuse, or other medications were detected."

However, a small amount of Zolpidem (aka ambien) and Naproxen (an anti-inflammatory) were detected ... but the M.E. says test results were "consistent with therapeutic use."

The report notes that Seau's brain tissue was sent to the National Institutes of Health at the request of his family.

According to the report, Junior did not leave a suicide note.

Kris Humphries' ex-girlfriend says Kris was just a friend whom she never even texted ... and she denies Kris paid her off to keep her quiet ... TMZ has learned.

Informed sources tell TMZ ... Myla Sinanaj -- who was deposed by Kim Kardashian's lawyer today in New York City -- testified she didn't date Kris, she was never pregnant and she never got any money from him. As for whether she had sex with Kris, Myla's lawyer instructed her not to answer the question.

Myla also said she never considered filing a lawsuit against Kris for telling the FBI she tried to extort him. Tell that one to Myla's former lawyer, Joe Tacopina, who drafted a 26-page defamation lawsuit on her behalf.

Fred Durst DID NOT get kicked out of WWE's SummerSlam last night for giving the middle finger to the camera, despite reports to the contrary ... in fact, the real reason he left the main arena was to apologize to the producers.

The web has been blowing up this morning with reports that Durst was hauled out of the Staples Center in L.A. Sunday night because he flipped off the camera during the broadcast (above) ... a big no, no on a family friendly show.

A rep for the WWE tells TMZ ... the reports are 100% FALSE. The "Limp Bizkit" frontman didn't get the boot, he just felt so bad following the incident, he immediately went backstage to apologize for his actions.

The rep notes, "We appreciate Fred’s apology. However, we take our family-friendly environment very seriously and this was a violation of that. We sincerely apologize to our fans.”

For the first time EVER, the Augusta National Golf Club -- home of The Masters -- has admitted a woman as a member ... and the honor went to Condoleezza Rice!!

Augusta -- located in Georgia -- had been a woman-free zone since it opened for business in 1933 ... and only started allowing black men into the club in 1990. Seriously, 1990.

But this morning Augusta announced it had invited the former Secretary of State, along with South Carolina businesswoman Darla Moore, to join the club.

Rice is an avid golfer.

Guess they'll have to build a new locker room.

9:00 AM PT -- Augusta National chairman Billy Payne has released a statement saying, ""It will be a proud moment when we present Condoleezza and Darla their green jackets when the club opens this fall."

Chad Johnson's domestic problems extend beyond his recent arrest ... because a guy who worked on CJ's Florida home claims Chad owes him $130,000 and has filed a lien against Ocho to get his money.

According to docs filed in Broward County, FL on August 7, Jacinth Preston claims Chad owes him the chunk of change for work done on Johnson's home ... the same home where the alleged domestic violence incident with Evelyn Lozada occurred.

Preston claims the money stems from providing "salary, car insurance, cleaners, landscaping, decorating."

According to the lien, if Johnson doesn't pay off the debt soon, his house could be foreclosed on.

Of course, Chad is in danger of moving into a much bigger house soon if things don't go his way with the Lozada domestic violence case.

Love is elusive for the Humphries family these days -- TMZ has learned that Kris Humphries' parents are going through a divorce of their own.

According to documents filed in Minnesota, Kris' mom Debra filed for divorce from husband William earlier this month. The couple has three adult children -- Kris and his two older sisters, Krystal and Kaela.

There will be some serious burger money up for grabs in the split -- William owns several Five Guys Burgers and Fries restaurants throughout Minnesota.

It's pretty ironic ... Kris is fighting a divorce from Kim because he says it goes against his religious beliefs. Perhaps it's time to take a cue from mom?

U.S. Olympic hero Ryan Lochte attempted a social experiment yesterday -- could he still land chicks while wearing the dumbest bathing suit imaginable? The answer, of course, was yes.

Lochte donned a pink Speedo of his own design while frolicking around at the Azure Luxury Pool at The Palazzo hotel in Las Vegas.

Chad Johnson's college girlfriend -- whom the ex-NFL player was convicted of slapping in 2000 -- wants a pow wow with Chad's latest alleged battery victim ... his wife ... and TMZ has learned, it's all in an effort to find closure.

Sources close to the former girlfriend tell TMZ, the woman has been attempting to reach out to Chad's wife Evelyn Lozada on Twitter and Facebook -- ever since news broke last weekend that Chad had allegedly attacked her.

We're told the ex-GF believes she and Evelyn have a lot to talk about and can help each other heal in the process.

According to our sources, the GF has had no luck in reaching Evelyn thus far..

And how's this for irony ... TMZ has obtained Chad Johnson's certificate of completion from a domestic violence batterers' treatment program back in 2002, following his domestic battery conviction.

According to a status report from the program, Chad was cooperative and appeared to make good progress -- but "struggled initially with accepting the need to make lifestyle changes as well as minimizing his past behavior."

The report says Chad eventually came to terms with his problems -- and his "risk to re-offend appears low."

"Basketball Wives" star Evelyn Lozada is not ready to face the public following her brutal break-up with unemployed NFLer Chad Johnson ... so she cancelled all her upcoming public appearances, TMZ has learned

Sources tell TMZ ... Evelyn had several gigs lined up -- including the second half of her book tour for "The Wives Association: Inner Circle," as well as various club gigs and a book expo in September where she was supposed to appear alongside "Real Housewives of New Jersey" star Teresa Giudice.

But we're told Evelyn is not ready to deal with the questions the public will ask regarding the domestic violence incident and divorce ... so she pulled the plug on all the engagements.

Unemployed NFL star Plaxico Burress needs a hail mary to solve his massive debt problems ... a judge just slapped him with another $34,000 bill, this according to legal docs.

As TMZ first reported, Plax lost a lawsuit back in January from a 2008 car accident and a judge awarded the victim, Alise Smith, $125,000 for her troubles.

Plax is currently appealing that decision, but in the meantime ... a judge came back this month and ordered Plax to shell out ANOTHER $34k for Smith's ongoing legal fees.

On top of that judgement, Burress still owes Smith an additional $125k from the first ruling and he still owes the State of NY $59k in back taxes.

U.S. Olympic hero Ryan Lochte might have an unexpected speed bump on his way to trademarking the phrase "Jeah!" in the form of 90s rap star MC Eiht, who claims the phrase was his long before it was Lochte's.

Eiht tells TMZ he coined the phrase back in 1988 and is insulted to hear Lochte is trying to claim it as his own now. Eiht tells us, "Why try and trademark something his ass didn’t even create? I am mad that he isn’t giving me proper recognition for taking my saying. He is just disrespectful."

The Compton's Most Wanted rapper tells TMZ he's not so much concerned about the money as he is the "respect and the truth."

Eiht says he plans on sending a cease and desist letter urging Lochte to stop using his phrase.