TMZ Sports - Page 50

He racked up 45 catches and 8 TDs last year ... but instead of being in an NFL locker room, Plaxico Burress spent his Monday shopping on Madison Ave. in NYC.

Plaxico -- who's only 35 years old -- still has not been signed to an NFL team ... but when we ran into him on the streets of New York yesterday, he assured us he's still in shape and ready to get on the field.

Of course, Plaxico's off-the-field history may have something to do with the lack of interest from NFL teams -- in case you forgot, he accidentally shot himself in the leg at a nightclub a few years ago.

Still, the guy caught 8 FRIGGIN' TOUCHDOWNS last year.

So, we gotta ask ...

Bubba the Love Sponge just went on his radio show ... and claimed Hulk Hogan may have played a role in the release of the sex tape ... despite several public denials.

During the show, Bubba made it clear ... he and Hulk are no longer best friends -- in fact, it sounds like they pretty much hate each other's guts.

At one point in the show, Bubba called Hulk a "self-centered" man who has delusionally convinced himself that Nick was innocent in that 2007 car crash, Brooke actually has talent and that Linda is "whore." Bubba actually defends Linda throughout the show.

Bubba never really denied having anything to do with the sex tape -- but said, "I'm gonna be honest with you, I have not seen the tape ... including me supposedly bragging and being a horse's ass."

We broke the story, there is footage of Bubba on the sex tape ... talking about selling the footage if he ever wanted to be rich enough to retire.

On the radio show, Bubba continued, "At the end of the day, I can't even comment on the validity ... [Hulk] could have had something to do with the leak of it,"

Bubba also touched on the fact that he let Hulk have sex with his then-wife Heather Clem -- saying they all consensually agreed to it and reminding Hulk, "Nobody put a gun to your head."

Hulk Hogan just announced ... he's suing for more than $100 MILLION over his leaked sex tape.

Hulk's attorney spoke at a news conference in Tampa moments ago, announcing two lawsuits filed today by the wrestler -- one against Bubba the Love Sponge and his ex-wife for illicitly recording Hulk without his permission, and another against Gawker for publishing the tape.

Hulk's attorney says the wrestler is seeking $100 MILLION in damages from Gawker stemming from the leaked footage. It's unclear what he's seeking from Bubba and Bubba's ex Heather Clem.

In the suit, obtained by TMZ, Hogan claims he "had a reasonable expectation of privacy in his consensual, intimate activities in a private bedroom and reasonably believed that his privacy was safe and protected."

Hulk's attorney says Bubba and Co.'s actions were "illegal, outrageous, and exceeded the bounds of human decency."

In addition to forking over damages, Hulk's team wants Bubba, Gawker, and anyone else in possession of the sex footage to turn it over asap in order for it to be destroyed forever.

Hulk Hogan will sue his best friend, Bubba the Love Sponge, for allegedly betraying him by secretly taping Hulk's sexual escapade with Bubba's wife Heather ... TMZ has learned.

We're told ... the lawsuit will be filed in Florida and Hulk will allege invasion of privacy, on grounds Bubba and Heather (also a defendant) conspired to roll tape during her encounter with Hulk.

We broke the story ... in the tape, right after Hulk bangs Heather and leaves the room, Bubba enters and says to Heather, "If we ever did want to retire, all we'd have to do is use this footage."

Hulk said on TMZ Live he was sick to his stomach over the revelation.

He may be on "Dancing with the Stars," but based on this pic ... it's all about watching Apolo Ohno's massive gun show.

After a kickboxing session on Sunday, the 30-year-old Olympian tweeted a humble pic of himself ... flexing his huge yoked arms.

Doing the Cha-Cha-Cha with Karina Smirnoff does the body good.

The biggest hit in last night's Packers vs. Texans game happened before kickoff ... when an NFL Network reporter took an errant football to the face ... during a live shot.

Ian Rapoport was workin' the sidelines at Reliant Stadium in Houston before the game last night, when a football got loose and smacked Ian right in the kisser ... hard.

Gotta hand it to Rapoport ... 'cause he kept his composure and actually laughed at the situation.

Kanye West got mad ... real mad (Joe Jackson) ... at a paparazzi in Miami last night ... after the snapper fired off some questions about Kim's ex-BF Reggie Bush.

Kanye and Kim Kardashian were leaving a dinner date in Miami Beach, when the photog -- NOT OURS -- shouted, "Kim did you know Reggie is here [in Miami] having dinner?"

The pap continued, "Did you wanna go congratulate him on his pregnancy?"

That's when Kanye snapped -- angrily rushing after the female pap after grasping for her camera -- but never actually striking the woman. Kim was smiling during the entire confrontation.

K&K then got into a waiting Rolls Royce Phantom and left the scene.

Afterward, the pap told other photogs, "Kanye West just tried to beat me up."

It definitely ain't the first time Kanye's gone crazy on a snapper -- trust us, we know ... 'cause he SMASHED THE HELL out of a TMZ camera at LAX back in 2008.

Hulk Hogan is taking his sex tape fight to the big dogs -- contacting the FBI this week to help him track down the low-life who leaked his naked fun time footage to the media ... TMZ has learned.

Hulk's attorney tells TMZ, the wrestler had previously attempted to file a police report in Florida -- but local police couldn't help him for two reasons:

1) Because the tape was recorded in 2006, the four-year statute of limitations had expired on the offense of unlawfully recording Hulk without his permission.

2) The other offense -- distributing the illegal footage to the media -- crosses state lines, so it's a federal problem ... not a local one.

As a result, Hulk's lawyer says he has contacted the FBI to track down the sex tape leaker ... and bring that person to justice.

New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter fractured his ankle during last night's loss to the Detroit Tigers and will miss the remainder of the playoffs.

The Captain suffered the injury trying to make a diving play in the 12th inning. He is expected to be sidelined for the next three months, where he will be presumably be waited on hand and foot by the hottest women anyone has ever seen.

Game 2 of the series is today at 4:00 PM ET and it will mark the first playoff game the Yankees have played since 1995 without Jeter. In case you forgot what 1995 was like, here are a few things that didn't exist back then:

-- Facebook
-- Twitter
-- iPhone
-- Abigail Breslin
-- The Hunger Games
-- TMZ (HOW DID WE LIVE?!?!?!)

Jeter's injury isn't expected to be career threatening, but we gotta ask ...

Former Atlanta Hawks star Joe Johnson wasn't too attached to his GINORMOUS Georgia mansion -- TMZ has learned he listed the place for $4.7 mil after he was traded to the Brooklyn Nets.

Johnson purchased the massive 13,822 square-foot-pad back in 2005 for $3.8 mil -- the same year he signed with the Hawks. Fast forward to 2012 ... Johnson is traded to Brooklyn under a $119-million contract and it's sayonara GA.

The 7-bedroom, 9-bath crib is pretty AMAZING too ... 10-foot-high ceilings ...sleek modern decor ... movie theater ... massive game room ... infinity edge pool and spa. Plus, it sits on almost 2 acres of land.

Put your money on Harvey this week ... 'cause at 2-3, he's due for a BIG victory in our Week 6 matchup -- Vikings vs. Redskins.

Heeeeeeeere we go ...

Question: Who ya got?
Harv: "I'm pretty certain I'm going with the Vikings ... I have a problem with the whole Heisman Trophy thing. I think it's bad luck."

Question: Why?
Harv: "Ever since OJ, it's kinda bothered me ... and then the whole Reggie Bush thing ... and Matt Leinart, it rubs me the wrong way -- not that RGIII isn't a nice guy."

Question: How do you feel about Robert Griffin III?
Harvey: I like him ... and if I were doing 'Star Wars' I would name a robot after him."

Evander Holyfield says he's officially done fighting ... FOREVER ... despite reports the 49-year-old boxing great is looking to get back in the ring one last time.

After his last fight back in 2011, Holyfield had hinted that he wanted one more go inside the ring before hanging up the gloves ... and considering his troubling financial situation, it seemed like a sure thing.

But last night at LAX, Holyfield assured us his boxing days are over ... period.

Female pro golfer Rachel Connor won't be going to jail, TMZ has learned -- striking a plea deal after her March DUI arrest ... when she was busted while married NFL legend Eddie George sat in her passenger seat.

A rep for the State Attorney's office in Sarasota County, FL tells TMZ, Rachel has agreed to plead "guilty" today to DUI -- in exchange for no jail time.

As a result, Connor (who takes a damn cute mug shot) is expected to be sentenced to 12 months probation, and ordered to perform 50 hours of community service. Her license is also expected to be suspended for 6 months and her car impounded for 10 days.

TMZ broke the story, 21-year-old Connor was arrested following a golf event, also attended by ex NFL star and Heisman Trophy winner Eddie George. George -- married to singer Tamara Johnson -- was in Connor's passenger seat at the time of her arrest.

George later told TMZ he was NOT cheating on his wife -- Connor was just a friend who offered him a lift home.

Former LA Lakers point guard Smush Parker is calling out Kobe Bryant for being a diva who treated his teammates like crap -- and it comes just hours after Kobe blamed Parker for costing him a huge trophy 7 years ago.

Parker played with Kobe during the 2005-06 season, and tells TMZ the Lakers great is only lashing out because he once dared to say Kobe was "overrated" as a teammate.

Parker's never explained what he meant by that, but now tells us ... Kobe "told me out of his own mouth that I couldn't talk to him. That my accolades under my belt weren't deserving enough for me to talk to him." He also says Kobe didn't talk to most of his teammates.

Parker says he's opening up about Kobe's diss because Kobe told reporters earlier today ... he lost the '05-'06 NBA MVP trophy to Steve Nash because he was surrounded with no-talent players that season.

Kobe said, "I tell Steve, you won MVP, but I was playing with Smush Parker."

Kobe piled on more, saying ... "He shouldn't have been in the NBA but we were too cheap to pay for a point guard. So we let him walk on."

Michael Vick has finally said squarely ... his family does indeed have a dog.

There's been a lot of controversy over whether Vick -- who served hard time for brutally killing multiple dogs, should own one again.

Vick says, "I understand the strong emotions by some people about our family's decision to care for a pet. As a father, it is important to make sure my children develop a healthy relationship with animals."

While Alex Rodriguez keeps striking out, Derek Jeter strikes gold ... because he just unloaded his NYC condo for a cool $15.5 mil.

Jeter just sold his penthouse in the Trump World Tower to Brazilian magnate Silvio Luiz Reichert, says the NY Daily News. The four-bedroom apartment has 16-foot floor-to-ceiling windows, a living room, billiards room, piano lounge, wet bar, hardwood floors and an actual word-burning fireplace.

D.J. originally asked for $20 mil, but dropped the price and sealed the deal last month. Fear not ... there are no cardboard boxes in Derek's future, because he still owns a giant mansion in Tampa.

As for A-Rod, he's still trying to dump his $38 million Miami mansion. So far, no takers. Maybe he should call Raul Ibanez.