TMZ Sports - Page 50

Being Kelly Ripa's #2 sure does pay ... just ask Michael Strahan, who's throwing down serious cash to rent a $20 MILLION mega mansion in Beverly Hills ... adjacent.

Michael and hot fiancée Nicole Murphy sold their Bel Air home earlier this week for $11 million. Get this ... they bought it for $7.9 mil a year ago. Yeah, we hate 'em too.

Here's the problem -- they're currently homeless ... so for the time being they're renting a 10,575-square-foot casa in Beverly Park.

FYI -- Beverly Park's a celeb magnet -- residents have included Denzel Washington, Mark Wahlberg, Sylvester Stallone, Tim McGraw, Wayne Gretzky, Samuel Jackson ... the list goes on.

We don't have the exact rental price, but estates like this rent in the $100,000 / month range. In the meantime Michael and his realtor Bob Hurwitz are on the hunt for a permanent place.

Until then ... Michael and Nicole have to settle for the Italian style villa, with 8 bedrooms, 10 baths, guest house, perfectly manicured grounds, fountains up the wazoo, and resort style pool.

N-word hurling Philadelphia Eagles player Riley Cooper isn't getting any sympathy from his own grandma -- who tells TMZ, Cooper screwed up big time ... and it's his mess to clean up.

Riley's Grandma Betty didn't make excuses when we spoke to her ... saying, "[Riley] brought it upon himself and he has to deal with the consequences."

As we reported, Cooper has already taken leave from the Eagles to pursue counseling after his n-word threat at a recent Kenny Chesney concert -- when he said he would fight "every n***er" at the show.

Grandma says Riley was raised in a good household that never condoned racism of any kind -- so she's surprised by his behavior, especially because she says he's never gotten into any kind of trouble before.

That said, Grandma Betty is optimistic about Riley's future, telling us it's good he's nipping this problem in the bud now before it gets any worse.

"Basketball Wives" star Royce Reed claims Dwight Howard took off with their son and won't tell her where he is ... a perilous problem because the tyke doesn't have his meds.

Royce went to court asking for an emergency hearing ... claiming their 6-year-old son Braylon went to California to visit Dwight, and that's the last she heard from her baby daddy or the boy. Dwight's parents eventually called her to say the kid was in Colorado.

Royce says her son needs his meds for an undisclosed medical condition and the Rx bottle is now empty -- Dwight never bothered to get it refilled.

She says without the meds, their son's health is in danger.

Royce doesn't have a problem with Dwight taking care of the boy for a while, but she wants the judge to order him to refill the prescription and give Braylon his meds. She also wants to know exactly where her boy is and how she can get in touch.

TNA superstar Kurt Angle has been arrested for DWI again, TMZ has learned -- his 4th alcohol-related arrest in 6 years .. and the pro wrestler now plans to enter rehab.

A rep for the Texas highway patrol tells TMZ, Angle was busted Thursday night in Wise County, Texas following a live taping of "Impact" for Spike TV. We're told police received a call about a reckless driver, and caught up to Angle on the road.

We're told they pulled him over on suspicion of reckless driving, and detected an odor of alcohol emanating from Angle's vehicle. It's unclear if a field sobriety test was administered, but Angle was placed under arrest and taken to a nearby police station.

Angle has a long history with alcohol-related arrests.

In 2007, he was arrested for DUI in Pennsylvania. He was then arrested twice in 2011 -- once for being drunk behind the wheel of his parked car, and once for DWI.

Angle pled guilty to being drunk while parked, but he got off on the other charges.

Late Friday Angle tweeted ... "In light of recent events I will immediately be entering a rehabilitation center." He added, "I am confident that in taking these steps I can begin to address necessary changes in my life."

Disgraced Milwaukee Brewers left fielder and admitted steroid user Ryan Braun has just been dropped by his biggest sponsor ... Nike.

A rep for Nike confirmed the athletic company no longer has a relationship with Braun, who has been suspended for the rest of the 2013 season over his admitted steroid use. The Nike rep wouldn't comment any further.

It's unclear how much Braun's Nike deal was worth exactly, but safe bet ... it's a lot.

Former FHM model Anna Benson -- who has just been charged with armed robbery and all sorts of other crimes -- is no stranger to the law. She was once charged with murder.

A judge has denied Benson bail in her current legal predicament -- for allegedly barging into the home of ex hubby former Mets pitcher Kris Benson with a handgun and a metal baton and threatened to harm him if he didn't hand over some loot.

As for why she was denied bail -- turns out back in '96 Anna was charged with murdering a man in Tennessee and she went on the lam for 5 months. Although the charges were ultimately dropped, the judge in the current case felt because of her conduct in '96 Anna is a flight risk.

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Riley Cooper needs some serious n-word counseling ... so much so he's taken a leave from the team.

A rep for the Eagles was blunt and to the point: "Riley Cooper will be seeking counseling and we have excused him from all team activities."

The rep says Riley needs to understand how his racist threats -- to fight every n***er at the Kenny Chesney concert -- are hurtful.

The team is hedging over whether Cooper will be welcome back.

For his part, Riley says, "The organization and my teammates have been extremely supportive, but I also realize that there are people who will have a tough time forgiving me for what I’ve done. The best thing for me, and for the team, is to step away for a period of time."

Alex Rodriguez will never play baseball again ... is what some people think -- just because he scarfed down 20 wings at a Hooters, just as he's supposed to be getting in game shape.

Before you dismiss the theory, please note -- A-Rod also had CURLY FRIES!! Boom.

Aaron Hernandez wrote a pen pal a letter from inside his jail cell, declaring his innocence, saying his murder charges are God's plan, and vowing to return to the NFL ... and TMZ has a copy.

We have verified with law enforcement the

is the real deal. You can read it yourself ... among the highlights:

-- "The world just makes things out of false accusations ... and it will all die down, especially when they say NOT GUILTY"

-- "All the people who turned on me will feel like crap."

-- "God put me in this situation for a reason."

-- "Can't wait to sign [autographs] again when I'm playing again an [sic] prove all the haters WRONG."

As for the fan who received the letter, Karl ... he just called in to "TMZ Live" and told us he wrote Hernandez first.

Karl says he sent the letter because he was in the same jail 15 years ago, and wanted to reach out to Hernandez to give him some encouragement.

Karl also says he would like to visit Aaron in jail -- if Aaron will let him.

FYI, Hernandez -- who's been accused of murdering semi-pro football player Odin Lloyd -- has been denied bail and will remain behind bars until his trial.

His face was blasted open ... his eyes were swollen shut ... but MMA fighter Mike Barreras still posed for a photo after getting destroyed in a Bellator fight -- and the pic is NASTY!!!!

Barreras' ass-whooping came at the hands of Bubba Jenkins -- who put a hurting on Mike during an undercard fight at "Bellator 97," which aired on Spike TV.

He was a joke in "Street Fighter" ... he sucked in "Double Team" ... but Jean-Claude Van Damme could BEAT YOUR ASS in real life, so says UFC champ Georges St-Pierre.

A well-dressed GSP was out being a badass in NYC yesterday when we asked if he thought martial arts legend Bruce Lee would be able to dominate in today's UFC (c'mon, of course he would).

But Georges said the superfight he'd REALLY like to see is Van Damme vs. Chuck Norris -- "I think that would have been the best showdown."

GSP says he's trained with JC in the past and says the Muscles from Brussels is no joke when it comes to fighting (see: final scene from "Bloodsport").

Of course, Chuck Norris is kind of a badass too -- he once FOUGHT A BEAR!

With his career in jeopardy and cheating allegations swirling ... Alex Rodriguez found comfort at a Hooters in Florida this weekend ... TMZ has learned.

We've confirmed ... A-Rod and a lady friend walked in to the chicken joint in Sarasota, Florida this weekend and went to town on chicken wings.

Hooters sources ... yeah, we got those ... tell us A-Rod and his woman woofed down a total of 20 wings (medium sauce) along with an order of curly fries ... and washed it down with a soda and an unsweetened tea.

We're told A-rod left a pretty great tip and was super nice to everyone in the restaurant.

Unclear if either Alex or the chickens tested positive for growth hormones.

Former NFL star Shawne Merriman is a certified badass on the football field -- but tackling the "American Ninja Warrior" course is next level.

And Shawne, let's just say real ninjas don't lose fights ... with trampolines!

The guy who attacked WWE Superstar Randy Orton during a live event in South Africa yesterday turned out to be a wrestler after all ... but not one who works for the WWE.

According to Enca.com in South Africa ... 20-year old Tshepo Sekhabi -- an independent wrestler who calls himself "Jozi the Wrestling Machine" -- told the site he hoped to catch the attention of WWE officials by going rogue and jumping Orton after his match.

As we previously reported ... Tshepo snuck his way past security yesterday during an unscripted segment -- entering the ring and blasting the wrestler with a mean low blow.

Sekhabi told the site, "I just don’t like Randy Orton; this was an opportunity for me ... so I got up there and made a name for myself.”

Bad move -- because a case investigator says Sekhabi was instantly booted from the hotel that was hosting the event.

The investigator says Tshepo wasn't "formally arrested" ... but says Orton is free to pursue further legal action against Sekhabi.

A rep for WWE says Orton is "considering pressing charges" but no decision has been made yet.

2:54 PM PT -- The Eagles tell TMZ ... Cooper has been FINED for making the comments and "has accepted responsibility for his words and actions."

The team tells us, "This sort of behavior or attitude from anyone has no role in a civil society."

The Eagles did not specify the amount of the fine.

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Riley Cooper -- who is white -- is begging for forgiveness after a video surfaced showing the 25-year-old threatening to fight "every n**ger" at a country music concert.

The video was shot June 9 during a Kenny Chesney concert in Philadelphia ... where a sleeveless Cooper turned to the camera and says, "I will jump that fence and fight every n**ger here.”

Now, after the video, which first appeared on CrossingBroad.com, began making the rounds on various websites, Cooper has released a statement saying, "I am so ashamed and disgusted with myself. I want to apologize."

"I have been offensive. I have apologized to my coach, to Jeffrey Lurie, to Howie Roseman and to my teammates. I owe an apology to the fans and to this community. I am so ashamed, but there are no excuses. What I did was wrong and I will accept the consequences.”

The Eagles had high hopes for Cooper going into the 2013 season -- and was expected to be a starter when the season kicks off in September.

Pro fireballer Brian Wilson says it's "f**king exciting" to bring his talents -- and his tremendous facial hair -- to L.A., telling TMZ he's pumped to play for the Dodgers.

A mohawked Wilson was leaving Equinox gym in L.A. yesterday -- right after signing a 1-year, $1 million deal with the Dodgers -- and expressed his excitement as only Brian Wilson can.

"Well, I'm a pretty big America fan ... red, white and Dodger blue, I guess."

The 31-year-old ex-San Francisco Giants pitcher says he's grateful to get another shot in the bigs after undergoing Tommy John surgery last April ... but insists he harbors no ill will toward his former team.

"I got much love for San Francisco. We had a good time. But there's nothing I can do ... they don't want me back."

When asked about the storied rivalry between the squads, Wilson explained, "I don't worry about rivalry, bro ... I just play baseball, you know."

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