TMZ Sports - Page 50

The plot thickens in the story of ex-New England Patriots player Brian Holloway ... who went ballistic after his New York home was trashed by a horde of rowdy, drunken teen vandals. Turns out the house was already in disrepair and in FORECLOSURE, and his neighbors smell a rat.

TMZ has learned ... Holloway owes a whopping $1,006,348.80 on the house ... it appears he was delinquent on paying his mortgage and the bank then demanded payment of the entire balance.

Brian hasn't lived in the home for a long time -- he's in Florida -- and neighbors tell us they thought the house was abandoned. In fact, before the blow-out bash, neighbors say kids staged a number of parties in the house -- which has no furniture.

Neighbors think the kids who Brian is now attacking are getting a bad rap. They say there was already plenty of damage to the home before the party in question -- broken doors and damaged floors. And ... there was plenty of preexisting graffiti covering the walls.

Some neighbors are suspicious of Brian's motive in requesting financial help to pay for repairs on his PayPal account. They think he's trying to create sympathy so money floods in and he can save his house.

As for Brian ... he tells TMZ there was some preexisting damage, but the 300 hooligans really trashed his crib. He also says he's been trying to renegotiate with the bank for 2 years.

The undefeated Chicago Bears take on the winless Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 3 -- and if this seems like an easy game to pick ... you're probably right.

Honestly, we didn't want to strain Harv after he evened his record at 1-1 last week.

Charles: So, Bears and Steelers ... Jay Cutler and Ben Roethlisberger -- who ya got?
Harvey: Most people think of Cutler and Roethlisberger ... but I think of my days at the University of Chicago, and the famous Pittsburgh Platter (Google it, if you dare).

Charles: Dear God.
Harvey: And because of that -- although law school was painful -- I gotta go with Chicago.

Charles: What's your take on Cutler's improved play?
Harvey: He kinda acted like a little bitch when he got him walking around L.A. after he left that game with an injury, but I think he's butched it up well.

Charles: Steelers have been sucking. What's the deal?
Harvey: Lotta people think it's karma with Roethlisberger ... I think it's fried food.

Charles: Didn't realize you were checking him out that closely.
Harvey: Just a casual glance.

Randy Johnson -- one of the legendary players from the team -- tells TMZ ... Hiroshi's death has left a major void in the video game world.

The Big Unit -- who broke a slew of records on Yamauchi's watch -- tells us he was friends with HY back in the day ... but won't be attending the funeral in Japan since its for family and people super close to him.

Randy adds, “Mr Yamauchi was a great man who changed the world with his mind and spirit. He will be greatly missed."

Another fun fact: Yamauchi never attended one Mariners game ... go figure.

Shades of Tim Tebow on the campus of Florida State -- where someone is making major coin off t-shirts depicting FSU QB Jameis Winston as Jesus Christ, and the university is trying to shut it down ... TMZ has learned.

If you hadn't heard ... Winston's become a Heisman frontrunner, scoring 6 TDs in just 2 games (that's a lot) -- and an enterprising FSU fan decided to cash in.

The fan, who wants to remain anonymous, tells us he sold 100 of his "Chosen One" shirts for $20 a pop last weekend. $2,000 ain't too shabby for a few hours work.

But a high-ranking source inside FSU's Athletic Department tells us they've fired off a cease and desist letter to the fan ... out of concern sale of the shirts could get Winston and FSU in trouble.

We're told the NCAA could punish FSU if it feels the school isn't doing enough to prevent someone from profiting off a player's image -- a right which is reserved for NCAA universities.

The other issue, according to our source, is a lot of people on the Tallahassee campus just think the shirts are sacrilegious.

For his part, the fan says he'll be hawking the tees again during today's home game.

Trent Richardson's back on the trading block, or at least his jerseys are -- the Cleveland Browns are running a free exchange program for pissed off fans ... TMZ has learned.

Ever since the Browns shocked the NFL by trading their star running back to the Colts ... Cleveland fans have been almost as heated as they were when some guy named LeBron left town.

Now the Browns team shop is throwing the Dawg Pound a bone. A rep tells us fans can exchange T-Rich jerseys purchased within the last 30 days -- or get a full refund.

The team's going even further to make good -- we're told ANY jersey purchased in the last 30 days can be exchanged ... but only for another Browns jersey.

6:03 PM PDT: Smith has been released from jail. The 49ers expect Smith to play on Sunday.

San Francisco 49ers linebacker Aldon Smith is on the defensive again -- legally ... he's been busted for DUI and pot possession.

Smith was popped after he crashed his pickup truck around 7 AM. He wasn't hurt ... but the breathalyzer almost was.

The 49ers say they're on top of it. San Francisco plays the Colts on Sunday ... Smith's status for the game is in doubt.

The All Pro linebacker works as a receiver off the field -- receiver of legal charges.

- Arrested in Miami last year for DUI -- later reduced to reckless driving.
- Stabbed during a party at his house in June 2012.
- Named in a lawsuit by a man who claims he was shot at Smith's house during a party.

Former middleweight boxing champ Kelly Pavlik was arrested today after allegedly stiffing a cab driver in Ohio -- and the police report is HILARIOUS.

The cabbie called cops immediately after Kelly allegedly bailed on his fare early Wednesday morning in Canfield, and when police arrived at the scene ... the cabbie told officers he had been "ripped off by that drunk f*** Kelly Pavlik."

According to the cabbie, he had picked Kelly up at a nearby bar and driven him home -- resulting in a $25 fare -- but Kelly didn't feel like paying, telling him, "F*** you guys. I'm not paying you. Go f*** yourselves." Pavlik then disappeared into his house.

Pavlik was eventually arrested today for failing to show up to court to answer to the cabbie's complaint.

For Pavlik's part, he reportedly said he refused to pay because the cabbie was driving like a lunatic and he feared for his safety.

A former star player for the New England Patriots has been threatened with a lawsuit by delusional parents who claim he's ruined the lives of their kids by exposing a drug/alcohol fueled party at his home.

Brian Holloway tells TMZ, "I blew way past furious" when he discovered several hundred teenagers broke into his vacation home outside Albany, NY over Labor Day weekend.

The kids started tweeting and Instagramming madly inside, posting photos of what looked like a scene out of "Animal House."

Holloway went ballistic, created a website -- helpmesave300 -- and started posting pictures of the damage, as well as the tweets from some of the partygoers -- and those tweets ID'd the kids.

Holloway tells TMZ ... he's been told by the Sheriff's Dept. some of the parents are furious because their poor kids have now been exposed. Some bitch that it will hurt their chances of getting into college. Others whine their poor kiddies are being harassed at school. And they actually have the audacity to threaten a lawsuit.

Holloway says there was plenty of evidence of drugs at the party, including crack and meth. And, of course, a river of alcohol.

He says it's gonna cost $20 - $40k to repair the damage.

NBA star DeAndre Liggins just surrendered after being charged with beating his girlfriend and throwing an Xbox at her.

Liggins allegedly ran into the bedroom he shared with his GF in Oklahoma City ... then grabbed her by the hair, pulling her out of the bed. Then, for bad measure, he allegedly punched her 11 to 12 times and then hurled an Xbox and a box fan at her head -- striking her. He then allegedly held her at bay.

What's worse ... the fight went down right in front of their 2-year-old son.

Liggins has been charged with 7 criminal offenses, including domestic assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and kidnapping.

No offense to Cleveland, but Trent Richardson is in a better place now ... and the Browns probably did him a huge favor when they unloaded their star player -- this according to another former first round draft pick, Eddie George.

Eddie says the Browns' decision to trade away Richardson -- their first round pick from a year ago -- was "shocking to me. They went up and got him, and now they're reneging on the draft pick."

But Eddie adds ... Trent should be excited 'cause, well ... he's playing with a winner now.

"They might have done him a favor actually. Sending him with Andrew Luck ... I think he's in a good situation there."

It never ends ... Dwyane Wade's ex-wife is poking the hornet's nest again -- this time demanding the right to publicly bash the NBA star.

Dwyane and Siovaughn Funches wrapped up their bitter six-year divorce in July, after Wade agreed to provide a generous financial settlement. As part of the deal Funches agreed to a gag order, prohibiting her from talking smack about their relationship.

But Funches has now filed legal docs challenging the settlement, claiming she never agreed to several terms -- including the gag order.

She wants a judge to nullify the agreement, which would force Wade back to the bargaining table.

As for the gag order, Funches says ... if Wade is free to bash her in his book , she should have the same right to bash him. A judge has yet to rule on her request.

LeBron James was the biggest tourist attraction in Rome -- which figures, since he's an internationally known NBA superstar, right? Or maybe it's because he's a giant Black guy.

No one would actually think that! Okay ... ONE person thinks that.

Miami Heat star Chris Andersen -- aka Birdman -- has been cleared in a criminal investigation allegedly involving an underage girl on the Internet ... a year after the Feds raided his Colorado home.

The Internet Crimes Against Children task force searched Andersen's home looking for some link between him and an underage girl in California, with whom Andersen had allegedly carried on an illicit relationship both online and in person. But it turns out, it was all an elaborate "catfishing" scheme.

According to police, Andersen was actually set up by a 29-year-old woman in rural Canada named Shelly Lynn Chartier -- who posed as a real girl in California while communicating with Andersen. In turn, Chartier then used Andersen's image to communicate with the actual girl in California.

The ruse was so convincing that the California girl -- who was of legal age -- flew out to Colorado to meet Andersen. The two made contact, but the relationship didn't progress from there.

That's when Chartier allegedly threatened Andersen with extortion, making claims the California girl was actually underage. Chartier was arrested in January. Andersen will NOT be charged with a crime.

A rep for the Miami Heat said, "We are not surprised this is the end result. We are happy for Chris and glad this unfortunate incident is behind him."

Pop quiz: LeBron James or temples built for kings -- which would you photograph? Yeah, LBJ wins every time ... at least in Rome.

Newlywed LeBron and his wife are honeymooning over in Rome and yesterday while he was busy taking pics in front of the Altare della Patria -- all the tourists were busy snapping pics of the NBA champ.

At only 6'8" ... King James towers over the nearly 100-year-old monument to King Victor Emmanuel II (yes, we looked it up.)

For his part ... LBJ was clearly impressed by the landmark. So much so, he busted out some dance moves. Go 'Bron! Go 'Bron!!

Houston Rockets guard and famed beard enthusiast James Harden is VERY protective of his legendary facial hair -- but the NBA star tells TMZ he'd ONLY consider shaving his crumb catcher if it raises money for charity.

But not just ANY charity ... Harden says it "depends on which charity."

And EVEN IF he finds the right charity, Harden tells TMZ the razoring of the face fuzz would have to raise more than $80,000!!!

FYI -- Harden has been sporting a beard since 2008 ... and the last time we saw him without his scruff, it just didn't look right.

Former heavyweight boxing champ Ken Norton -- who had 3 classic fights with Muhammad Ali -- died today in Las Vegas ...according to his son.

Norton had been in failing health for several years after a series of strokes.

Norton defeated Ali -- breaking his jaw in the process -- during their first non-title fight in 1973. They faced each other in the ring two more times ... with Ali winning both.

Their last battle was the 1976 classic held in Yankee Stadium (below).

Norton was awarded the WBC Heavyweight title in 1978, when reigning champ Leon Spinks refused to give Norton -- the top contender -- a shot at the belt.

However, Norton lost to Larry Holmes a few months later ... in his first defense of the belt.

His boxing career began while he was serving in the U.S. Marine Corps in the mid to late 60s -- and he was a 3 time heavyweight champ in the Corps.

Norton's son said his dad was in hospice when he died today. He was 70 years old.