TMZ Sports - Page 50

Former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez has just been charged with murder in connection with the death of a 27-year-old former semi-pro football player named Odin Lloyd.

23-year-old Hernandez was arraigned this morning in a Massachusetts courtroom. He has since been remanded into custody without bail.

In addition to murder, Hernandez has been charged with 1 count of carrying a gun without a license, 2 counts of possession of a large firearm, and 2 counts of firearm possession. He has pled not guilty.

FYI, there is no death penalty in Massachusetts ... so that's not an option in this case.

The DA said Lloyd was shot multiple times in the groin, arm, side, chest and back with a .45 caliber semi automatic weapon before his body was discovered last Monday.

Prosecutors say there was communication between the victim and Hernandez just 10 hours before the victim's death. They believe they have video showing Lloyd getting into Hernandez' car around that time. They also say Hernandez had been texting Lloyd.

The DA said keys were found in Lloyd's pocket to a car that had been rented by Hernandez.

The Friday before Lloyd's body was found, prosecutors say Hernandez and Lloyd went to a nightclub together.

As for the motive, prosecutors believe Odin had said something recently to Hernandez that destroyed his trust.

As we reported, Hernandez was arrested today at his Massachusetts home after Lloyd's body was discovered close to the NFL star's home last week.

Lloyd is believed to have been dating the sister of Aaron's fiancee at the time of his murder.

WWE superstar CM Punk has obtained a restraining order against his estranged mother -- claiming she constantly hits him up for money and then threatens to kill herself if he doesn't come through ... TMZ has learned.

Punk -- real name Phillip Brooks -- claims in legal docs filed in Illinois that he's tried to break off his relationship with his mother for more than a year "due to repeated financial demands and years of abusive, harassing and threatening behavior."

In the document, Punk says he's made an effort to help his mom -- who he claims suffers from bipolar disorder -- giving her more than $100,000. But Punk says her "abusive/threatening behavior" escalated when he cut her off.

That's when Punk's mom allegedly unleashed a torrent of nasty emails -- telling the wrestler, "You don't give a s**t about us. You just care about your money and money hungry/fame hungry friends. You would sell us for a nickel."

Punk also says his mother threatened to release potentially embarrassing information about her son's past. Punk suggests the information has to do with arrests when he was in high school.

In the docs, Punk says his mother has threatened to commit suicide on at least 4 occasions in 2012.

Punk says, "I wish for the harassment to stop and am requesting the assistance of the court in this regards."

World record-setting Grand Canyon tightrope walker Nik Wallenda won't have to worry about scaring the pants off himself anymore -- because one jeans company has offered to keep him stocked with trouserly replacements for life.

FYI, Wallenda was wearing Buffalo Jeans when he performed his highwire stunt on Sunday -- becoming the first man ever to cross a massive gorge near the Grand Canyon -- and the jeans company wants to express its gratitude by giving him a lifetime supply of their threads.

A rep for Buffalo tells us, "We know we have brand loyalists but this takes it to a whole new level -- literally."

The rep says Wallenda's wife and children will also be receiving a lifetime supply of Buffalo jeans.

As for some kind of business partnership, or spokesperson agreement, Buffalo says nothing of the kind has been discussed just yet. The rep says, "We can discuss business later."

And if free jeans weren't enough, Buffalo has also erected a thank-you billboard to Wallenda in Times Square.

The New England Patriots have DROPPED tight end Aaron Hernandez in the wake of the NFL star's arrest early Wednesday morning ... and the team says the move was the "right thing to do."

23-year-old Hernandez was a rising star with the Patriots and signed a 5-year contract worth $40 MILLION just last summer.

The Patriots just released a statement saying, "A young man was murdered last week and we extend our sympathies to the family and friends who mourn his loss. Words cannot express the disappointment we feel knowing that one of our players was arrested as a result of this investigation."

"We realize that law enforcement investigations into this matter are ongoing. We support their efforts and respect the process. At this time, we believe this transaction is simply the right thing to do.”

Officials have not announced what Hernandez has been charged with so far ... but the charges will be revealed when Hernandez appears in court for his arraignment later today.

8:55 AM PT -- The NFL has issued a statement ... saying, "The involvement of an NFL player in a case of this nature is deeply troubling."

8:53 AM PT -- The Patriots are scrubbing any trace of Hernandez from the organization -- removing all A.H. merchandise from the team store ... and erasing him from the official roster on the team website.

New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez has been ARRESTED in connection with the murder of a man whose body was discovered close to the NFL star's home.

Hernandez was taken into custody at his home in Massachusetts. He was handcuffed and led into a waiting police cruiser, which left the scene moments later ... presumably headed for a local police station.

The 23-year-old NFL star is reportedly set to be arraigned later today.

There are reports based on law enforcement sources that Hernandez destroyed evidence and could be charged with obstruction of justice. So far, no formal charges have been announced.

The move comes days after cops searched Hernandez's Massachusetts home ... looking for evidence connected to the murder of 27-year-old Odin Lloyd, an ex semi-pro football player.

Lloyd's body was discovered in a park in North Attleborough, Mass last Monday. It appears he was shot through the back of the head.

Lloyd's family says the NFL star does have a connection to Lloyd -- but they wouldn't elaborate. According to reports, Lloyd had been dating the sister of Hernandez's fiancée.

TMZ broke the story ... Hernandez is also facing a lawsuit stemming from a separate incident, in which he allegedly shot a man in the face following a dispute at a Miami strip club back in February.

Hernandez is a rising star with the Patriots and signed a 5-year contract worth $40 MILLION just last summer.

With a combined net worth somewhere in the $100 million range (maybe more) ... NBA superstar brothers Pau and Marc Gasol saved a few bucks by yachting TOGETHER in Spain this week.

With the 2012-13 NBA season officially over ... and zero combined championship rings to show for it ... the two 7-footers decided to chill on a fancy boat in Menorca, Spain.

... don't you ever forget!!!

NFL superstar LeSean McCoy believes he has a smoking gun that proves he NEVER physically assaulted a woman on a party bus back in 2012 -- a text message -- and TMZ has a copy of the digital evidence.

The Philadelphia Eagles running back just filed new documents in his legal war with "Mary Roe" -- a woman who sued McCoy claiming she was assaulted and badly injured on his party bus back in December after she objected to being sprayed with water.

In his legal response, McCoy included a text message that "Roe" -- aka Brandi -- allegedly sent to another woman in which the accuser states, "Lesean [sic] didn't touch me physically."

In the text, Brandi says she has bruises and a lump on her head from the incident -- but she needs witnesses to back up her allegations that McCoy ordered his bodyguard to rough her up.

The alleged text continues, "I'm trying to keep Leseans [sic] name out of this even if he encouraged his body guard initially at first."

"I know this isn't a pretty situation but females go thru things like this all the time and it gets brushed under the rug or thrown out. I have 2 other girls that I'm hoping will at least speak to my lawyer as well."

Brandi is suing both McCoy and a man she believes to be his bodyguard for more than $50k in damages for assault and battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, false imprisonment and negligence.

Michael Turner's days in the NFL ain't over yet ... the ex-Falcons running back tells TMZ he's "pretty sure" he'll return to the field in 2013.

31-year-old Turner was leaving LAX Monday when we asked if he's found a new squad after parting ways with Atlanta after the 2012 season.

"I'm still relaxing right now," Turner said ... "Still waiting."

Doesn't seem like he's gonna have to wait long -- sources connected to the 2010 and 2011 NFC rushing leader tell us there's real interest from "multiple teams."

We're also told Michael's been busting his incredibly large ass in the off-season and feels back to his old self after suffering groin and elbow injuries last year.

We also asked Turner about Tim Tebow in New England -- Turner suggested we should be more concerned about Tom Brady.

Scottie Pippen's claiming he attacked a fan in Malibu this weekend in self-defense ... after the man called him the n-word and then spit at him.

Sources close to Pippen tell us, the middle-aged man who got his ass kicked by Pippen outside Nobu Sunday night was a drunk, overly aggressive fan who had been badgering Pippen for attention all evening ... beginning inside Nobu, where Pippen was eating with friends.

At one point, we're told one of Pippen's dinner guests went to the bathroom ... and the man sat in the guest's place ... continuing to pester Pippen with questions. We're told Pippen bit his tongue and politely asked the man to leave.

After the meal, we're told Pippen agreed to take a photo with the man outside the restaurant ... but the man continued to be aggressive, demanding an autograph as well. Pippen refused and we're told that's when the man dropped the n-bomb, shoved the NBA legend, then spat at him.

Sources close to Pippen say he lost it when the spit landed on his young daughter -- and Pippen flew into attack mode.

As we reported, the alleged victim was subsequently transported to a nearby hospital with severe injuries to his head, face, and back. Pippen has since spoken with authorities and he was not arrested.

The Chicago Blackhawks partied hard after their dramatic Stanley Cup victory over the Boston Bruins, and lived by that old adage -- to the victor goes lots and lots of meats!!!

Stanley Cup MVP Patrick Kane and the rest of the team headed straight to the famous Harry Caray's Steakhouse once they arrived back in Chi-town early Tuesday morning -- and our 'hawks sources gave up all the deets on their feast:

- Crab cakes
- Lamb chops
- Mini "holy cow" burgers
- Chicken vesuvio (the house special)

Remember, they were eating all this at ... 4:30 AM!!

No word on how much the celebration meal cost -- but the team picked up the tab. We're told this is the exact same menu the Blackhawks had when they last won the cup in 2010.

NFL superstar Maurice Jones-Drew will NOT be charged with battery for allegedly socking a security guard in the face during a bar fight in Florida last month ... TMZ has learned.

The State Attorney's Office in Florida announced ... they do not believe they have enough evidence to prove the Jacksonville Jaguars running back committed a crime during the May 26 incident at the Conch House in St. Augustine, FL.

"Based on the evidence, the evidence does not support the charge," a rep for the SA tells TMZ.

We broke the story ... a security guard told police MJD suckerpunched him during a melee ... causing serious damage to his face. Cops initially identified MJD as a person of interest.

We know the alleged incident was captured on tape ... but clearly, prosecutors didn't feel the footage proved MJD's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Paula Deen's sons are adamant ... their mother is NOT a racist ... and they have the Hank Aaron pajamas to prove it!!!

Jamie and Bobby Deen just appeared on CNN's "New Day" ... and told Chris Cuomo, "Neither one of our parents ever taught us to be bigoted towards any other person for any reason."

"This is so saddening to me because our mother is one of the most compassionate good-hearted empathetic people that you'd ever meet," Bobby said.

Then Jamie told the story about the Hank Aaaron pajamas -- explaining how when he was 7-years-old, he was a big Hammerin' Hank fan ... and before he had his tonsils removed his parents gave him some H.A. PJs.

Jamie says when his parents gave him the pajamas ... they told him about the challenges Hank faced "because of his color" and explained that people deserved to be judged on their merits, not skin color.

Just hours after inking a deal with Roc Nation Sports, NBA superstar Kevin Durant celebrated at the most obvious place ever ... Jay-Z's 40/40 club in NYC.

Carmelo Anthony knows ... the 2003 NBA draft was LEGENDARY -- with 4 of the top 5 picks putting together Hall of Fame careers. There's just one exception ...

Anthony was arriving at LAX yesterday when we talked about his incredible draft class -- which includes NBA superstars LeBron James (#1 overall), Carmelo (#3), Chris Bosh (#4) and Dwyane Wade (#5).

So what happened to the #2 guy taken in the 2003 draft? Let's just say no one's clearing out space for a Darko Milicic plaque in Springfield, Mass.

The guy ex-NBA star Scottie Pippen allegedly knocked out in Malibu was so injured he was removed by ambulance ... and TMZ has the first photos from the scene.

We broke the story ... police have questioned Pippen about the violent incident that went down outside Nobu Sunday night.

The alleged victim is an autograph seeker who, we're told, suffered injuries to his head and back, and even broke some teeth when the Chicago Bulls legend allegedly punched him in the face and kicked him repeatedly.

This is Miami Heat star Ray Allen on a beach -- and yes, those are his rippled ab muscles ... all 100 of them.

The 10-time NBA All-Star took his talents -- his gleaming, chiseled torso -- to South Beach over the weekend to ride jet skis with friends.

The NBA champion Heat desperately want 37-year-old Allen back next season for his clutch 3-point shooting (see Game 6 of the Finals).

But he clearly has much more than that to offer Miami.