TMZ Sports - Page 50

Baltimore Ravens star Ray Lewis KILLED IT in the Super Bowl this year and now we totally (maybe) know why -- just days before the game ... his baby mama DROPPED her lawsuit against him.

As TMZ previously reported, Ray and baby mama Sharnika Kelly have been knee-deep in a NASTY child support battle for over TWO YEARS because Sharnika wanted more money ... and Ray refused.

According to Florida court records, Sharnika voluntarily dismissed the suit on February 1 ... two days before the NFL star suited up for one of the biggest games in his career.

It's unclear if the couple came to an agreement outside of court or if Sharnika simply dropped the case.

The estranged wife of Dwight Gooden has been granted a temporary restraining order against the baseball legend after she had to call the police on him for making threats against her and her family … TMZ has learned.

According to documents obtained by TMZ, Monique Gooden called the Bergen County Police Department in New Jersey on March 1. Monique claims Dwight made "terroristic threats," specifically claiming he said, "All bets are off and I will hurt you and your family. You'll see, just wait."

We're told when police arrived, they called a family court judge who granted Monique a temporary restraining order on the spot after speaking to her on the phone.

Dwight is currently living in the same home as Monique as the couple goes through their divorce, but the judge ordered Dwight to grab his belongings and leave ... which he did. He was not arrested or taken into custody by police.

The court order also strips Dwight of visitation of his two young children until the next court hearing ... which is March 11. The judge will also decide at that time on whether to make the temporary restraining order a permanent one.

He was also ordered to continue to make payments on the Range Rover and its insurance for his wife, and make child support payments from a previous court order.

Monique filed for divorce back on November 20, 2012 after three years of marriage. Dwight was arrested back in 2005 for allegedly hitting Monique after she threw a phone at him.

Manti Te'o posed with some flesh and blood cheerleaders yesterday after accepting the Maxwell Award and Chuck Bednarik Award as last year’s top player at an event in Atlantic City, NJ.

Uncle Sam just gave Terrell Owens 430,000 MORE reasons to find an NFL team STAT -- in the form of a GIANT TAX BILL.

A federal tax lien was filed against the fired wide receiver in February -- claiming T.O. still owes major income tax dollars for the years 2005 ($294,661.71), 2007 ($46,504.00), and 2009 ($97,747.81). All totaled -- he's allegedly in the hole $438,913.52.

As for why the bill's so high -- in those years T.O. was still making big bucks in the NFL playing for the Philadelphia Eagles (under a $49 MIL contract!!!), Dallas Cowboys, and Buffalo Bills.

Fast forward to now ... and he's just got too much time on his hands.

Michael Jordan's alleged baby mama never planned to file a paternity suit against the NBA legend -- until her son pleaded with her to make his famous (alleged) dad step up to the plate ... TMZ has learned.

As TMZ first reported, Pamela Smith is suing Michael for paternity and child support, claiming Jordan knocked her up back in 1995, while he was still married to Juanita Vanoy.

Sources close to Smith tell TMZ that she's always had a good relationship with Michael and doesn't need the money to support herself. But we're told her son -- Grant Reynolds (a.k.a Taj) -- desperately wants MJ to acknowledge him as his son, so HE begged his mom to file the docs.

We're told Pamela's intention was never to "call Michael out" -- the lawsuit is simply so her 16-year-old son can have his real (alleged) father be a bigger part of his life.

In fact, we're told Michael and Grant have met a few times over the years and Pamela claims Michael has given the family money and gifts here and there ... but Grant always had to keep it a secret.

Calls to MJ's rep were not returned.

Don't blame 50 Cent for the awkward encounter he had with Erin Andrews at the Daytona 500 last week -- the hottest woman in sideline reporting says the blame lies squarely with her.

During the big race last Sunday, Erin was searching for Danica Patrick (to no avail) when she ran into Fiddy and ... well, it was weird.

But yesterday at LAX, Erin told our photog she was so frazzled in the moment ... the entire encounter was totally her fault and she's actually good friends (and even business partners) with 50.

The old "it's not you, it's me" -- we've heard that one before.

Michael Jordan has been sued by a woman who claims he fathered her 16-year-old son ... and she wants a paternity test to prove it.

Pamela Smith claims in her paternity suit -- filed February 6 in Fulton County, GA and obtained by TMZ -- she became pregnant after having sex with Jordan in 1995. Pamela gave birth to Grant Pierce Jay Jordan Reynolds -- aka Taj -- in June 1996. BTW, Jordan was married to Juanita Vanoy at the time he allegedly had sex with Smith.

Pamela says in her legal docs she welcomes a paternity test to prove Jordan's the dad. She wants full custody and child support. She also wants Jordan to pay the kid's medical expenses.

Pamela also wants the judge to make Jordan the boy's legal last name.

The docs do not describe any alleged relationship between Smith and Jordan.

"Taj" posted a YouTube video (below) in December declaring that Jordan's his daddy.

Jordan is scheduled to marry Yvette Prieto in April.

A rep for Jordan had no comment.

The new NCAA tournament uniforms are the highest form of flattery -- because they're nothing more than an imitation of Zubaz shorts ... at least according to the guys who make the zebra print shorts from the 80s.

Adidas revealed new postseason uniforms today for six of its sponsored teams -- Louisville, UCLA, Baylor, Notre Dame, Kansas, and Cincinnati -- and they look like the 80s vomited up a bunch of highlighters.

But a company called Zubaz -- which made the neon animal print style famous -- isn't offended ... telling TMZ, "Companies have been ripping off our designs for years but as one of our former partners used to say, 'Often imitated, but never duplicated.'"

The rep adds ... if Adidas ever needs design help, they can contact Zubaz any time.

Linda Hogan insists ... downing ONE glass of champagne before getting behind the wheel isn't enough to put her in the DUI category -- pleading not guilty today to driving under the influence after her October arrest.

TMZ broke the story ... Linda was popped for DUI in Malibu after cops say she was speeding around town with a blood alcohol level of .084 ... just over the legal limit in CA.

At the time, a rep for Linda said Linda drank one glass of champagne at a jewelry event that night ... on an empty stomach ... but she also had taken antibiotics, which exacerbated the effects of the alcohol.

Nevertheless, Linda was subsequently charged with two counts of DUI. She pled not guilty today.

If convicted, she could face up to 18 months in jail ... though it's unlikely she'll spend any time behind bars since she has no prior DUI convictions.

NFL superstar Terrell Suggs doesn't care how many not-dead-fake GFs Manti Te'o had ... he'd still welcome the ex-Notre Dame stud in the Baltimore Ravens locker room.

Suggs was in NYC when we asked if he'd work with Manti if the Ravens drafted him, and he said ... "Manti? Most definitely."

He added, "He's got a future, man."

Suggs' comments are a huge vote of confidence for Te'o ... because some experts have said the whole Ronaiah-Lennay mess might make NFL teams think twice about drafting him.

Oh, and you gotta see why T-Sizzle says the NFL Scouting Combine is a "s**tty" way to judge a player's skills. It's interesting since Suggs' own coach was pretty critical of Te'o at the Combine.

But are you gonna argue with a 6'3", 260 lb. Super Bowl champ and ex-Defensive Player of the Year?

Long-term brain damage remains a serious issue among NFL players ... and the league still has LOTS of work to do in order to fix it ... so says New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees.

Brees said, "I think it's a major issue. It's something that we need to continue to put research [into] and treatment protocols at the forefront to try to find ways to treat guys that have those long-term head and neck injuries when they leave this game."

He added, "It is definitely a serious problem."

You'll recall, pro football has recently come under intense scrutiny for its long-term health risks -- following the high-profile suicides of several NFL stars like Junior Seau. The deaths have been attributed to a brain disease stemming from injuries the players sustained during their careers.

Last week, Adrian Peterson -- one of the greatest running backs of all time -- said he would never let his son play the game.

Even President Obama has said he would have to think twice about whether he would let a son of his play football due to the health risks.

WNBA legend Chamique Holdsclaw has finally been hit with criminal charges for allegedly FIRING A GUN at her ex-GF's car last year ... and if convicted, she could spend 65 YEARS in prison.

We broke the story ... Holdsclaw -- considered one of the greatest players in WNBA history -- was arrested in Atlanta last year for a violent encounter with ex-girlfriend Jennifer Lacy.

According to the police report, 35-year-old Holdsclaw attacked Lacy's car with a baseball bat and then fired a gun inside the vehicle while Lacy sat in the driver's seat.

Now, Holdsclaw has officially been charged with 6 crimes -- including 2 counts of aggravated assault, 1 count of criminal damage in the first degree, 2 counts of criminal damage in the second degree, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

If convicted on all counts, Holdsclaw faces up to 65 years in state prison.

As for what provoked the alleged attack, sources close to Lacy tell us she believes Chamique was simply pissed that the two had broken up.

Daytona 500 winner Jimmie Johnson dumped some major intel on us about NASCAR drivers' bodily functions during a race -- and our reaction was totally juvenile mature!

It's been 5 years since former NFL MVP Shaun Alexander hung up his cleats ... but now, TMZ has learned the ex-Seattle Seahawks star is exploring a new career ... in Hollywood.

Sources tell us ... Shaun -- along with 21 other past and present NFL players -- are participating in the NFL Pro-Hollywood Boot Camp in March -- a training program to help players transition to another line of work after their playing days are over.

We're told ... stars like Phillip Buchanon, Darrius Heyward-Bey, Derek Hagan, Justin Fargas and Hank Baskett are all signed up to learn about several facets of the entertainment industry -- from writing to production and even film financing.

In fact, sources say "Friday Night Lights" director Peter Berg will lead one of the training sessions -- along with "Meteor Man" star Robert Townsend and Legendary Pictures honcho Thomas Tull ... who produced all of the Christopher Nolan "Batman" movies.

Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson is so damn fast ... he went to a nightclub, pulled a bunch of chicks AND scarfed a hot dog ... all in the blink of an eye.

Johnson hit up Supperclub in Hollywood last night ... sporting a pair of pants that sagged down below his ass cheeks. Hey, it's the style ...

But the chicks didn't seem to mind ... 'cause after Johnson was finished inside the club, he ordered some street meat (one of those sidewalk hot dogs) ... and proceeded to chat up a couple of ladies.

Eventually, the chicks climbed into a waiting SUV ... and a few minutes later, Chris joined the group.

Somewhere, General Larry Platt is FUMING!!!

It's the biggest question Daytona 500 champ Jimmie Johnson -- and every other NASCAR driver -- faces during a grueling 3-4 hour race ... HOW DO YOU GO TO THE BATHROOM??? And JJ actually gave us an answer.

Jimmie -- who was out in NYC yesterday -- told TMZ, "Some guys just go." Yes, in their pants.

But the 5-time Sprint Cup champ adamantly denied ever wetting himself, adding ... "I never have. Of course I wouldn't do that."

SURE YOU WOULDN'T.