TMZ Sports - Page 50

Artie Lange says he WASN'T shocked by Chris Culliver's homophobic remarks during his explosive pre-Super Bowl interview with the 49ers player ... 'cause Chris' anti-gay feelings are probably shared by 99% of the NFL.

FYI -- Lange was the man who interviewed Culliver during Super Bowl week ... and is responsible for releasing the footage of Chris saying gay players are NOT welcome in the team's locker room.

"I hope he learns from it," Lange said after he arrived at JFK ... "and I hope I'm responsible for breaking the gay barrier in the NFL."

Lange says he hopes NFL players will become more tolerant of gay players ... but he doesn't think that will happen until an active gay player comes out of the closet.

"I think unfortunately what Culliver said reflects what 99 % of the league thinks," Lange says.

"What's gonna have to happen is a real star player ... a Jackie Robinson type ... a real star player is gonna have to come out WHILE HE'S PLAYING ... and other people will follow."

As for Culliver, the 49ers have announced he'll undergo sensitivity training with an LGBT organization.

It's the question millions of gentlemen ... and Brent Musburger ... have been dying to know -- WILL KATHERINE WEBB TAKE IT OFF FOR PLAYBOY?!?!??

Miss Alabama USA -- more famously known as AJ McCarron's super hot GF -- arrived at LAX yesterday when one of the photogs finally posed the question ... and her answer is interesting.

It's clear the decision to do it would upset some very important people in her life ... but IF they were ever to come around, you think she would too?

Chris Brown's volcanic temper -- in particular his recent blowup with Frank Ocean -- has ironically become NBA star Tony Parker's secret weapon in a lawsuit against a New York City nightclub ... TMZ has learned.

TMZ broke the story ... Parker has filed a $20 million lawsuit against W.i.P. nightclub, claiming it should never have let Brown in last June -- the night his posse fought with Drake's people ... a fight that ended with a shard of glass piercing Tony's cornea.

Tony has just filed new legal docs in his lawsuit, claiming Chris Brown's parking-spot fiasco last week with Frank Ocean is proof he's unfit to socialize in places where he's likely to fly off the handle.

You'll recall ... the fight between team Brown and team Drake at W.i.P. erupted because both men were romantically linked to Rihanna.

And speaking of Rihanna ... Tony's new legal docs make reference to her brutal beating ... at the hands of one Chris Brown.

Tony believes there was more than enough evidence on the table to deny Chris a table at W.i.P. on the violent night in question.

Rob Gronkowski scared the hell out of New England Patriots fans last night ... when the superstar tight end BODY SLAMMED his friend on stage at a Las Vegas nightclub ... landing hard on his broken forearm ... and TMZ has the footage.

Gronkowski -- who signed a $54 million six-year contract extension in June -- broke his forearm last season, then injured it again during the Pats' first playoff game against the Texans.

But that didn't stop him from executing a Stone Cold Stunner-esque move on a friend during a playful dance battle at XS nightclub last night.

As Gronkowski was throwing his friend to the ground, the tight end -- who was wearing a protective sleeve on his busted wing -- also crashed to the ground and smacked his damaged arm on the stage in the process.

Ex-NFL superstar Eric Dickerson is calling out the Hall of Fame voters as a bunch of non-football-playing posers ... after they passed over Michael Strahan for the honor this year.

Dickerson was in New Orleans when he ripped the sportswriters who vote on the H.O.F. ... telling us, "I think they're biased in a lot of ways. They don't like certain guys ... Them sportswriters don't even know how to put uniforms on, most of 'em."

E.D., who was voted into the Hall in 1999, said he wasn't sure why voters snubbed Strahan, and thinks the Giants great will get in eventually -- but he's still not convinced writers are fit to judge legends of the game.

"Has a sportswriter ever lined up against Michael Strahan? Has a sportswriter ever lined up across from me? No, I wish one would, 'cause I could run over their asses."

Here's video of the smokin' hot ... super flexible ... Baltimore Ravens Cheerleaders on their way to party their faces off last night ... while wearing really short skirts. You're welcome.

Right after the Ravens trampled the 49ers and took home a Super Bowl championship ... the scantily-clad girls arrived at the Hilton Hotel for a post-game celebration ... and everyone with eyes was grateful.

And to prove we're not sexist, we also talked with the 1 male cheerleader ... which was also fun.

Baltimore Ravens stars Joe Flacco and Ed Reed dominated on the field to win the Super Bowl -- but somehow they got upstaged by livestock! In Harvey's mind, anyway.

Bar Refaeli's mouth has the power to turn a regular man into a bona fide Casanova ... 'cause that geek she sucked face with in the Go Daddy commercial says chicks have been all over his jock ever since the spot aired.

The lucky sonofabitch in the commercial is Jesse Heiman who tells TMZ his life has completely changed in the past week ... and obviously, all for the better.

"I’ve actually had guys tweet me that they wish they were me, and girls tweet me saying they wish they were Bar.”

But the interest from the ladies isn't just from the cyber variety -- Jesse explains, "I have girls run up to me and take pictures with me, tweet me for dates.”

Jesse tells us his career has also exploded ... saying, "There are lots of inquiries coming in to my agent and manager, their phone has been ringing off the hook, but they are really letting me enjoy the moment right now.”

Know why your Super Bowl party sucked? Because competitive eating champ Takeru Kobayashi wasn't there ... eating an ENTIRE PIZZA in one minute flat.

Kobayashi's rep tells TMZ, some guy on Long Island paid the human garbage disposal to make an appearance at his 40-person Super Bowl party last night ... and perform an eating challenge.

Kobayashi decided to attempt to break his world record for scarfing a 12-inch pizza (1 minute 9.36 seconds). In the clip, Kobay downs the 12-incher in 60 seconds flat ... but it wasn't an official event, so it doesn't count as a new record.

His rep wouldn't comment on how much he was paid -- but Kobay's publicized rate for lunch or dinner appearances is $1,500.

Kobayashi also accepted a beer chugging challenge from a random party goer yesterday ... but we were a little disappointed with TK's performance.

Ed Reed just won the Super Bowl ... he tied the RECORD for postseason interceptions ... so why couldn't anyone give the guy a damn seat in the SUV on the way to the victory party???

TMZ shot some funny video of the Baltimore Ravens superstar leaving his hotel after the big game last night with a big cigar in his hand ... getting ready to celebrate like the CHAMP he is.

But when the whip rolled up, there weren't enough seats for his entire entourage, so Ed graciously offered to sardine himself into some open space so everyone could fit ... winding up completely hunched over and BACKWARDS. Meanwhile, one of Ed's boys sat comfortably in the front seat.

Here is the sign language guy from last night's Super Bowl (left) ... and TV's Eddie Munster from the iconic 1960s TV show (right).

Only one of them is in character.

Joe Flacco got some pretty solid protection in New Orleans last night -- both on and off the field -- 'cause after he won the game, the cops made sure no one laid a hand on the Baltimore Ravens QB.

Flacco got the Super Bowl MVP treatment from police following his big win ... 'cause the boys in blue made sure Joe and his lady friend were as safe as they could be when they got into a waiting car outside of the team hotel to head to the post-game festivities.

Soulja Boy HIT IT BIG last night ... coming up victorious on a $200k Super Bowl bet thanks to the Baltimore Ravens ... and the rapper says he already has a plan to spend the money.

Soulja was hanging out with Sean Kingston in L.A. last night after the game ... and explained why he felt so confident bettin' on the birds. It's pretty solid logic.

Rachel Uchitel doesn't need the money, but she's putting her baby girl to work anyway ... as a high-priced baby model ... TMZ has learned.

We're told Uchitel and hubby Matt decided to bring their daughter Wyatt into a modeling agency when she was 4-months-old ... after they kept getting compliments on how beautiful their baby was.

Sure enough, the agency signed her up and she's done two shoots for Tea Collection, a clothing line for children, and is making $150/hour. Rachel even had her first check framed.

Rachel doesn't cash checks under $10 million.

San Francisco Giants pitcher Sergio Romo (and his beard) can breathe a sigh of relief ... 'cause the world series superstar will NOT be charged following his recent Vegas bust, TMZ has learned.

We broke the story ... Romo and his beard were detained by cops on New Year's Day -- after he allegedly became "angry and aggressive" with a TSA agent at the airport. According to sources, he appeared to be under the influence.

Romo and his beard were cited with a misdemeanor -- and escorted off airport grounds.

A rep for the Clark County District Attorney's office tells us ... Romo will NOT be charged due to a "lack of prosecutorial resources."

The rep explains, "We simply do not have the manpower or resources to go forward on every case ... and must weigh the value, provability, and seriousness of each case accordingly."

9:10 PM ET -- The Super Bowl is back, baby!!!

A power outage at the Superdome in New Orleans left half the stadium in darkness less than two minutes into the third quarter of the game ... delaying Super Bowl XLVII indefinitely.

Insert Bane joke here.

CBS has announced that stadium officials hope to have full power restored by 9:20 PM ET.

The outage took place just minutes after Ravens wide receiver Jacoby Jones returned the second half kickoff a record-tying 108 yards for a touchdown.

The Baltimore Ravens currently lead the San Francisco 49ers 28-6.