TMZ Sports - Page 50

Lamar Odom needs some legal firepower after his DUI arrest, and its OJ Simpson's lawyer Robert Shapiro to the rescue ... TMZ has learned.

Lamar has hired Shapiro in what promises to be a sticky situation. TMZ broke the story ... Lamar was popped early Friday AM on the 101 Freeway ... and cops believe he was under the influence of both drugs and booze.

Shapiro is known for plea bargaining. These cases are pretty standard -- he'll probably plead no contest to one count of DUI and get probation. He'll also be required to attend an alcohol ed class. And, since he refused to submit to a blood-alcohol test, he'll automatically get his driver's license yanked for 1 year. No getting around that.

This has Kris Jenner's paw prints all over it. She's used Shapiro for other legal messes in the past -- most recently Robert Kardashian Jr.'s criminal battery and theft case.

Enough is enough ... Russian President and alleged Super Bowl ring snatcher Vladimir Putin needs to get that ring back on U.S. soil ASAP ... so says Senator John McCain.

Our photog caught up with Sen. McCain in Georgetown Sunday and broke down President Obama's chances of resolving the greatest threat to US-Russian relations since that thing in Cuba.

McCain -- a true American war hero (just sayin') -- says he's outraged and makes it clear ... the SB bling Putin took from New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft ... belongs back in the U.S. of A.

FYI --- Putin denies stealing the ring in 2005, his people say it was a gift. Riiiight.

So, can Prez O -- who's heading to Russia this week -- get it back? Check out JMC's take.

Rose's tax problems are legendary -- just last year, the federal government smacked Pete with a tax bill of $120k for 2009 and 2010.

And before that, Pete racked up a $973k debt with Uncle Sam for stiffing the govt. from 1997 to 2002, though he ultimately paid off that debt.

Dear Tony Parker's rap career ...

You were only 6 years old ... but Tony has decided to put you out of your misery.

You were cheesy ... you were part French ... and you were terrible.

You also inspired YouTube comments like, "Tony, what the f*ck is this?" and "Bad bad bad."

Maybe it's a good thing Tony decided to pull the plug ... at least according to L.A. Lakers player Nick Young ... because, as we said before, you were really, really bad.

But we're not too sad, 'cause as long as YouTube exists, you'll never really die.

Au revoir for now ...

R.I.P. Tony Parker's rap career
2007 - 2013

Khloe Kardashian has given Lamar Odom an ultimatum -- get help or get an apartment.

Our well-placed sources say Khloe has laid down the law -- Lamar can't live at home until he completes rehab -- which he's been unwilling to do since his addiction spun out of control.

Khloe has kicked Lamar out before, but we're told this time she's vowing not to fold ... and Friday's DUI bust was the last straw. Our sources say Lamar didn't call Khloe or his lawyers after the arrest. They found out when TMZ broke the story hours later. Khloe was pissed.

Khloe and Lamar did spend time together Saturday at their home -- but Lamar was sent on his merry way after 4 hours of jawboning about his addiction to crack and other drugs.

Dodgers Stadium could be renamed Beamish Waterproofing Stadium unless the team antes up more than $4 million ... TMZ has learned.

TMZ has obtained liens that have been filed against the Stadium, for services that have gone unpaid. Here's the breakdown:

-- Raymond-Southern California, Inc. ... $2,037,689 for improvements of IDF rooms, clubhouse, press box, concessions and retail

-- Mark Beamish Waterproofing, Inc. ... $129,014 for caulking and sealants

-- ValleyCrest Landscape Development, Inc. ... $443,609.50 for tree location, landscaping and irrigation

-- Safe Scaffolding ... $63,808.02 for erecting and dismantling scaffolding

-- Muir-Chase Plumbing, Inc. ... $1,180,684.94 for plumbing materials and labor

Total delinquency: $3.854,985.46 ... plus interest.

A spokesman for the Dodgers tells TMZ ... this is a big misunderstanding, "It is not uncommon to have liens while the process of verifying bills goes on," adding, "all payments are now being processed." The rep expects the liens to be removed shortly.

Lamar Odom can't be that drugged out ... he was able to find the last Blockbuster video store in LA.

Lamar went deep into the heart of the San Fernando Valley today -- to Reseda -- to pick up some DVDs for his Labor Day enjoyment.

Lamar Odom was seen for the first time since his DUI arrest (barely) ... getting around the only way he can now ... IN A TAXI.

TMZ broke the story ... Lamar was popped for a DUI in L.A. early Friday morning after cops believed he was driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol. Lamar refused all chemical tests and as a result his driver's license was suspended for year.

As for where he was headed ... the agency who took the photos claims they were snapped outside the gated community where Khloe and Lamar's house is. But frankly, it's hard to tell.

1:00 PM PST -- Khloe was just photographed driving into the gated community moments after Lamar.

Lamar Odom went after his drug enabler with a vengeance, calling the woman a "groupie junkie" and "crack head" ... and he did it while Khole Kardashian was breathing down his neck.

TMZ has seen text messages between Lamar and Polina Polonsky, an attorney who Lamar stayed with during the last few months ... partying with him while he was doing crack.

We've learned on July 13, Khloe confronted Lamar at a downtown L.A. motel, where he was holed up with the woman and doing drugs. In an effort to save her husband, Khloe practically manhandled him out of the room and back to their home.

Once home ... Lamar started texting Polina right in front of Khloe, telling Polina he had "f**ked up." Polina responded by saying, "You're corny." Lamar -- standing next to his furious wife -- then fired his salvo, texting Polina, "Groupie junkie ... crack head."

Lamar went on, "U might want to b careful. Narcs know. They have footage, audio n pics."

Polina responded, "Stay in your lane." He fired back, "4real Know where u work U live Ur parents."

Tebowing has a brand new meaning -- unemployed NFL star -- 'cause Tim Tebow has been dropped by the New England Patriots.

Tebow -- who signed a 2-year contract with the Patriots back in June -- was cut from the roster Saturday morning ... after failing to impress head coach Bill Belichick, according to ESPN.

The news comes just a little over 4 months after Tebow was fired from the New York Jets.

Since Tebow has been in the NFL less than 4 years, he could become a free agent and sign with another team ... begging the question, will another team even want him?

So we gotta ask...

Allen Iverson's ex-wife is sick and tired of dragging him to court to squeeze out child support ... she's asking a judge to make him cough up the next 13 years worth RIGHT NOW -- a cool $1.2 MILLION.

TMZ broke the story ... after the couple's nasty divorce Iverson was ordered to pay $8000/month in child support for their 5 kids. Problem is, Tawanna has gone to court on numerous occasions because A.I. won't pay.

It came to a head in July when a judge threatened Iverson with jail, unless he forked over $40,000 in back support -- which he did. But Tawanna says she doesn't want to keep running into the same problem.

On August 1st she filed docs asking a judge to make A.I. cover ALL the support through October 2026 (when their youngest turns 18). After the math, it comes to $1,272,000 ... which Tawanna wants put in a trust for the children.

Cincinnati Reds 2nd baseman Brandon Phillips is in deep-fried trouble with a pro-fat person organization after blasting a sports reporter as a "fat motherf**ker" ... TMZ has learned.

The National Association for the Advancement of Fat Acceptance (NAAFA) had their ears (and probably their mouths) open when Phillips went off on C. Trent Rosecrans during a news conference with Reds manager Dusty Baker.

Rosecrans -- who happens to sport a fuller figure -- had gotten on Phillips' bad side for criticizing his on-base percentage ... and while CTR was talking to Baker, Phillips interrupted and called him a "fat f**k" and a "fat motherf**ker."

Baker just sat there ... refusing to call out Brandon.

But the NAAFA is hungry for an apology ... and also probably pizza ... and meatballs ... telling TMZ, "[Brandon's] poor choice of words indicates that he may have missed the fact that verbal aggression and threats are bullying."

The org. says they're especially upset because the Reds participate in anti-bullying campaigns -- "Putting on an anti-bullying face then allowing the blasting of a reporter's body-size is not acceptable."

We've reached out to the Reds -- so far, no word back.

Lamar Odom allegedly pulled a Kylie Jenner just 6 days before his DUI arrest -- rear-ending another car and causing a chain-reaction collision on an L.A. freeway.

The 3-car accident occurred at around 6 PM on the 101 Freeway -- the same freeway on which Lamar was popped for DUI on Friday morning.

So how did the media find out about the story? Turns out ... the person Lamar hit is a reporter for the L.A. Times. It's unclear why the Times waited so long to publish the story.

According to the reporter, Lamar's white Mercedes slammed into the back of his ride near the Gower Street exit.

After the collision, the reporter says he tried to swap insurance info with Odom ... but the NBA star was resistant ... and insisted the damage "doesn't even look that bad."

Eventually, the reporter says he obtained Odom's insurance info ... but when he tried to give the insurance card back to Lamar, he bizarrely resisted at first ... before realizing he needed to have his insurance card to drive.

The reporter says the accident was not reported to the cops.

Lamar Odom got some secret visitors yesterday -- two drug counselors who work with the National Basketball Players Association ... just hours before he was busted for DUI.

Sources familiar with the situation tell TMZ ... the counselors -- former NBA players Dirk Minniefield and Cliff Robinson -- had contacted Lamar to offer help, and he accepted -- thus, the meeting.

Cliff and Dirk know a thing or 2 about addicts and drug addiction -- they both struggled with substance abuse during their careers. They currently work with the NBPA ... counseling rookies and struggling NBA players about handling addiction.

During the visit Thursday at Lamar and Khloe's house ... we're told Lamar was receptive and, as one source said, "It was very positive."

Here's the problem ... Shortly after Dirk and Cliff left, Lamar drove off and never came home.

As we first reported, he was arrested early this morning for DUI ... and law enforcement sources tell us they believe he was under the influence of both drugs and alcohol.

11:07 AM PT -- TMZ has just obtained a photo of Lamar's Mercedes SUV inside the tow yard, where his car was taken after the DUI arrest.

10:05 AM PT -- According to the L.A. County Sheriff's Dept., Odom was released from custody at 8:33 AM. However, it's unclear if Odom has actually left the station yet.

9:17 AM PT -- Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... officers at the scene smelled alcohol on Lamar and believe he was under the influence of both drugs and alcohol. The sources say Lamar's driving and conduct were consistent with drugs. We're told there were no drugs or alcohol found in Lamar's car ... only cigarettes, 2 bottles of cologne and other innocuous items.

Lamar Odom was arrested for "driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs" early Friday morning ... TMZ has learned.

The bust occurred in the San Fernando Valley at 3:54 AM. Lamar -- who was driving a white Mercedes SUV -- was popped by the California Highway Patrol and taken to a nearby station, where he was booked and is being held on $15,000 bail.

He was pulled over on the 101 Freeway for going too slow -- 50 MPH. Cops say Odom had been driving in a "serpentine manner."

Lamar initially did not respond to cops, and drove 3 exits before finally coming to a stop. Law enforcement sources tell TMZ he showed obvious signs of intoxication.

Lamar failed numerous field sobriety tests.

When Lamar was booked, we're told he refused all chemical tests.

Lamar's booking sheet shows he is 6'10" and 235 lbs.

Lamar has been tooling around town lately ... this after TMZ broke the story he had been on a crack binge.

Lawrence Taylor Jr. -- the son of NFL legend Lawrence Taylor -- has just been released from jail after his July arrest for statutory rape, child molestation, and sodomy, TMZ has learned.

LTJ's mom bonded out her son moments ago in Georgia. Bond was set at $50,000. The 31-year-old will remain free until his next court date, which hasn't been scheduled yet.

TMZ broke the story ... LTJ was arrested on July 7 on 3 counts: statutory rape (felony), aggravated child molestation (felony), and statutory aggravated sodomy (felony). He remained in custody until today.

According to the warrant, a female under the age of 16 accused LTJ of forcibly performing oral sex on her (legally referred to as "sodomy" in this case). Another underage girl also accused LTJ of having sex with her multiple times last year.

If convicted of either child molestation or sodomy, LTJ faces 25 years to life in prison. The statutory rape charge carries a sentence of 1 to 20 years.

LTJ's lawyer tells us, "Mr. Taylor has some serious challenges that lay ahead of him and we are focusing on those challenges. This is a tough case, no winners here."