TMZ Sports - Page 50

2:00 PM PT -- Bubba played the apology after coming back from a commercial break ... and the audio was sped up and hard to listen to ... just like a legal notice at the end of a car commercial.

Hulk Hogan has settled his lawsuit against his ex-BFF, Bubba the Love Sponge, over the sex tape scandal ... but he is pressing on with his lawsuits against Bubba's ex-wife and Gawker Media.

Financial terms of the settlement were not released, but clearly a public mea culpa from Bubba, real name Todd Alan Clem, was part of the deal.

Bubba released an apology letter today ... saying he now believes Hulk had no idea he was being recorded and that Hulk did not play a part in releasing the tape.

Bubba continues ... "It is my belief that Hulk is not involved, and has not ever been involved, in trying to release the video, or exploit it, or otherwise gain from the video’s release in any way."

Bubba closed the letter by saying he is "committed to helping Hulk and his attorneys find whoever is responsible for the release of the tape."

Former NFL star Chad Johnson may once again be able to communicate with his ex-wife Evelyn Lozada -- after allegedly head-butting her -- because Evelyn plans to let the no-contact order against him expire.

Sources close to the ex-couple tell TMZ, Chad's on track to finish his batterer's intervention program in the next couple months -- at which point Chad will ask the judge to terminate his probation and lift the no-contact order.

If that happens, Evelyn would have to get a civil restraining order to keep Chad away -- but we're told she has decided NOT to do that ... because she just wants to "move on."

Chad was sentenced to one year probation and the batterer's class after pleading "no contest" to domestic battery following the August 11 fight with Evelyn -- but since he's completing the class early ... the judge can also lift the probation early.

"Basketball Wives: L.A." axed four of its six cast members -- and TMZ has learned the catalyst was when Gloria Govan shut producers out of her nuptials to L.A. Clippers star Matt Barnes.

Sources connected to the show tell TMZ the producers are getting rid of Gloria, Laura Govan, Malaysia Pargo and Brooke Bailey because the wives, especially Gloria, weren't allowing "all of their reality to be filmed."

We're told the breaking point came when Gloria (who is known for her feisty ways) jetted off to Vegas to marry Barnes -- and didn't even let the show know about it. Our sources say the producers felt extremely disrespected by her actions and made the decision to clean house.

Our sources tell us the producers haven't told the wives they're getting fired yet, but are already looking for new women to fill their spots.

Retired NFL badass Michael Strahan just took a $150,000 hit on his L.A. beach pad ... which is actually GREAT ... 'cause it could've been A LOT worse.

Strahan JUST sold his swanky 2,560-square-foot Hermosa Beach condo for somewhere in the neighborhood of $1.85 mil. He originally paid $2,050,000 for the place.

BUUUUUT ... Strahan bought the condo in 2005 ... at the height of the ridiculously over-inflated real estate market ... so to only take a $150k hit is pretty damn good.

As for the property ... it's awesome -- 3 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, a rooftop deck, an elevator and it's less than one block from the Pacific Ocean -- which is by far one of the top 5 oceans.

Strahan has been busy on the real estate market this year ... he recently unloaded his OTHER crib in Hermosa Beach for $3 mil -- and then he and his hot fiancée (below) bought a giant Bel Air estate for $7.9 mil.

It's good to be Michael.

The San Francisco Giants/Detroit Tigers World Series is on. Forget the plays ... who's banging who and who's bad luck. So we gotta ask ...

WWE announcer Lilian Garcia was hospitalized in Los Angeles yesterday after she was struck by a car.

According to the WWE, Garcia is in stable condition but doctors had to immobilize her neck as a precaution and was kept overnight in the hospital. She suffered suffered multiple contusions and lacerations on the left side of her body.

The Detroit Tigers don't want a repeat of their devastating 2006 World Series loss, so they made a major change in how they do things -- and that change is eating more chicken.

TMZ spoke with a Tigers clubhouse rep who tells us a chef comes in and cooks for the players every day and the menu is pretty expansive -- we're talkin' hamburgers, jambalaya, Chinese food, eggs, fresh fruit, soup, Kobe sliders, mac and cheese ... the works.

But the biggest item on the menu is chicken and lots of it. The rep says chicken breast is always available for breakfast and there's always a baked chicken for lunch too, as a healthy option.

The rep says the major difference between the Tigers' menu during their failed 2006 Series run and this year ... "more chicken."

Lawrence Taylor celebrated his court victory against a young prostitute cigar style.

The girl, Cristina Fierro -- who was 16 at the time of the incident -- sued Taylor in civil court, claiming the NFL legend had brutalized her into submission in a hotel room back in 2010.

But after a week of testimony, the jury returned a verdict in LT's favor in just 50 minutes. LT -- who shouted "Whoooeee!" as he lit up the stogie, said afterward, "I feel for what she’s gone through. I wasn't a bad person. I could have helped her. I hope the best for her. Now it's time to go back and concentrate on my own broken life."

You'll recall, Taylor was sentenced last year to six years probation after pleading guilty to misdemeanor charges of sexual misconduct and patronizing a prostitute.

Once again, Harvey Levin is desperate for a win ... because he wants everyone in the office to stop making fun of him for his crappy record (3-4) ... and he'll get his chance for redemption in our Week 8 matchup ... Patriots vs. Rams.

For the record, the game is taking place in London this weekend ... which clearly had an impact on Harvey's pick.

"Weather will be a factor ... and New England is closer to London than St. Louis ... and London weather is going to seem mild compared to Frankenstorm ... so on that basis, Patriots have the advantage."

"Secondly, I've already lost by betting against Tom Brady ... and I don't consider myself stupid."

"Third ... the St. Louis Rams have never gelled with me. I liked them when they were the L.A. Rams ... I liked Rosie Grier ... I liked Roman Gabriel ... I also liked the Colleseum, where I saw Bruce Springsteen's 'Born in the USA' concert ... Best concert I've ever seen."

President Obama was blindsided by the one question that could change the outcome of the election, turn the course of history ... and bring about world peace, once and for all!! No pressure.

As the world is well aware, Olympian McKayla Maroney isn't impressed by much, but we may have finally found something that she actually does appreciate ... an exotic bird.

While the cheetah exhibit at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay elicited her trademark bored smirk on Thursday, the 16-year-old gold medal winning gymnast showed some positive emotion and appeared generally excited with an African Ground Hornbill perched on her arm.

She's so fowl.

Finally, Michael Phelps broke something that wasn't a world record -- HIS ASS -- taking a nasty spill while crowd surfing in a Vegas nightclub this week ... and TMZ has the footage!

Phelps -- who's STILL in party mode after the London Games -- hit up XS nightclub Monday night, and for some reason thought it would be a good idea to crowd surf inside an inflatable raft.

It was not ... because the 18-time gold medalist barely made it a few feet before toppling backwards onto his ass.

Thankfully, we're told he was okay -- but the video's still awesome. Check it out.

Disgraced LSU football star Tyrann Mathieu -- aka the Honey Badger -- was arrested earlier today on drug-related charges ... this according to the Baton Rouge Police Dept.

According to the police report, cops were called to an apartment around 3:30 PM after an alleged confrontation. When officers arrived to the scene, Honey Badger answered the door ... and cops say they could smell a strong odor of weed.

Honey Badger was with 3 other guys --Jordan Jefferson, Derrick Bryant and Karnell Hatcher -- all former members of the LSU football team. In fact, Jefferson was the starting QB for LSU last season.

Cops say they searched the apartment ... and found a marijuana grinder, digital scale and 10 bags of high grade marijuana. Cops say 7 of the bags were found inside Bryant's booksack.

All four men were taken into custody and arrested.

Honey Badger and Jefferson were charged with simple possession of marijuana. Hatcher was charged with 2nd Offense Simple Possession of Marijuana and Bryant was charged with Possession With Intent to Distribute Marijuana.

Mark Sanchez and Eva Longoria proved the old adage it's never one person's fault when a couple breaks up -- instead, there are 53 people to blame ... and they all have J-E-T-S on their helmets!

Emanuel Steward -- one of the most famous trainers in the history of boxing -- has died.

Steward was a god in the boxing world -- training superstars like Thomas "The Hitman" Hearns and Wladimir Klitschko. He was also a popular ringside commentator.

According to reports, Steward had recently been hospitalized for a stomach disorder.

Klitschko has released a statement saying, “Boxing has suffered a tremendous loss with the passing of Emanuel Steward.”

Emanual's sister tells TMZ ...Steward passed away at 2:46pm with his family and chief doctor surrounding him ... noting, "He was at peace and in no pain."

She adds, "I deeply miss my brother but am overjoyed that he willingly went with God this afternoon. Thank you for your prayers and concern."

It wasn't another woman that got between Mark Sanchez and Eva Longoria ... it was 52 other men ... TMZ has learned.

Sources connected to the former couple tell us ... they broke up because Mark was impossible for Eva to be around because he was in such a crappy mood over the NY Jets' horrible season.

As one source puts it, "It's hard to maintain a relationship when one person is upset all the time."

FYI -- the Jets are 3-4 and coming off another heartbreaking loss to Tom Brady's Patriots.