TMZ Sports - Page 50

TMZ Sports has obtained VIDEO of Jameis Winston's teammate telling investigators that the FSU star's accuser was LYING about rape ... and the footage is compelling.

Ronald Darby, who claims he was in the apartment at the time of the alleged rape, spoke with cops last month to recount his side of the story ... and it's clear he doesn't believe Jameis did anything wrong.

"She wanted to have sex. Jameis isn't gonna take fighters, he don't have to do that."

At one point, Ronald turns to his attorney and says, "That girl lying. I don't know why she lied."

On the other hand, the woman who initially called 911 on behalf of the accuser also spoke with investigators and said the accuser was frantic on the night of the incident.

She also claims the accuser was initially afraid to tell her parents about the incident because she was afraid they would be mad at her for boozing underage.

Ultimately, the State Attorney decided NOT to file charges against Jameis, citing lack of evidence.

Alex Rodriguez' expensive publicist is sneakily trying to torpedo MLB's case to suspend A-Rod over his alleged steroid usage ... so says MLB ... and now the league wants the court to hold the publicist in contempt.

MLB just filed legal docs in A-Rod's ongoing appeal of his 211-game suspension for using banned substances, claiming the Yankees star's publicist is refusing to fly from L.A. to New York to testify in the case ... despite a subpoena ordering him to do so.

According to the docs, Michael Sitrick doesn't want to fly 2,400 miles because it would be "overly burdensome and unfair" ... even though Sitrick's PR company has an office there.

Sitrick's people have offered to make him available via video chat, but MLB is demanding he appear in person.

A judge has since ruled that Sitrick MUST comply with the subpoena ... so Sitrick has filed an appeal of his own in federal court, asking to be excused from flying to NYC. Now, MLB wants a judge to hold Sitrick in contempt and fine him for every day he refuses to show up.

The arbitrator in A-Rod's appeal must make a decision ASAP -- whether to uphold, overturn, or reduce his suspension -- but MLB officials think Sitrick is trying to run down the clock ... in order to force the arbitrator to make a ruling without his testimony.

Although Sitrick said he'd appear by video chat ... ya gotta think he knew MLB lawyers would never accept that -- so he gets to look like the good guy, while effectively stalling.

Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan benched Robert Griffin III because HE WANTS TO GET FIRED ... this according to the ultimate NFL insider Jay Glazer.

Shanahan is set to make $7 MILLION next year ... and Glazer says if the team gives Mike the ax, they're gonna have to pay him.

Which is why Jay, who was leaving the gym in Bev Hills yesterday, was so adamant that Mike is doing everything in his power to force the Redskins front office to fire his ass ... starting with sending RG3 to the bench.

The math is simple -- millions of dollars for doing absolutely nothing.

But Jay says Mike's gotta be careful, because there's still a chance the plan could backfire.

Florida State QB Jameis Winston's alleged rape victim claimed she had been struck in the head before the assault occurred ... and she could barely remember what happened -- this according to the 911 call placed minutes after the 2012 incident.

The alleged victim's friend placed the 911 call at 3:28 AM on December 7, 2012 -- roughly 30 minutes after the alleged rape -- informing dispatch the girl was "very shaken up" following her encounter with an unidentified man she had met at a local bar (Winston).

The caller sounds distressed, saying her friend's memory of the incident is extremely spotty due to black outs. The caller says her friend does remember waking up in the man's room, but not much before or after that.

When asked if the victim needs an ambulance, her friend says no ... but claims the girl had been hit in the head prior to being raped.

NFL legend Jim Brown -- one of the most outspoken leaders in the civil rights movement -- says Kobe Bryant not only betrayed Shaq, but African-American men in general ... and it all stems from the rape investigation in Colorado.

Brown appeared on the Arsenio Hall show and went right after Kobe -- saying, "He threw Shaq under the bus" ... referring to when Kobe told investigators Shaq would pay up to $1 million to women to keep them quiet about "situations like this" back in 2003.

Shaq patched things up with Kobe publicly, but Brown is clearly still upset by the situation -- essentially telling Arsenio that it's hard enough for a black man in America, without having to worry about being dimed out by another black man.

Judging by the giddy smiles on their faces, you'd never guess this photo of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Mario Chalmers with Justin Timberlake was taken RIGHT AFTER the Heat lost to the Pacers.

Turns out, JT was in Indiana for a concert and sat courtside at the Heat vs. Pacers game last night. After the game, he met up with some of the players who instantly forgot how terrible they played that night.

In fact, Wade Instagram'd about it ... "Tough road loss but a cool surprise after ... Hanging out with the man himself ... JT ... If yall know me this is my guy."

FYI -- the Heat shot a pathetic 42.9 percent from the field last night ... and only hit 4 of 21 from the 3-point range.

Michael Jordan is no CHUMP on the golf course ... in fact, he actually DEFEATED one of the greatest golfers of all time, Fred Couples ... so says Fred himself.

TMZ Sports spoke with the former Masters champ at LAX yesterday, where he told us about the upset on on the links ... explaining, "He's got skills."

Couples didn't say when he lost to MJ, but said His Airness excels in a ton of different arenas -- "winning, gambling, beating me."

An L.A. Clippers fan is suing the team .. claiming the NBA squad is responsible for SPAMMING his cell phone ... and now he wants them to pay up, to the tune of $5 MILLION.

The guy behind the lawsuit is Ari Friedman -- who claims he went to a game at Staples Center and participated in one of those arena games where you can send a text message to the team that could get posted on the stadium scoreboard. (Sidenote: Who does that???)

In a lawsuit, obtained by TMZ Sports, Ari claims the team assured fans they would not share cell phone information or send return text messages ... but alas, Ari claims the Clips broke that promise

After the game, Ari says he got hit with text message spam which traced back to the Clippers. He's pissed because incoming text messages can cost several cents in charges.

Now, Ari's filed a class action lawsuit demanding $5 million from the team for his troubles.

Tim Tebow's brother got himself a DUI in Denver back when Tim was Mr. Everything with the Broncos -- but the charge was miraculously dropped to just speeding. Seem like a case of celeb justice?

Plus, Manny Pacquiao just blew away Jay Z's 99 problems -- 'cause he's got 18 MILLION of 'em with the IRS! How the hell does someone as successful as Manny fall so far into debt??

And Jadeveon Clowney's ridiculous speeding ticket -- 110 in a 70 mph zone -- could cost him way more than just a fine. Will NFL teams see it as a sign of future troubles?

Peter Tebow's driver's license was suspended for ONE YEAR after his 2011 DUI arrest ... all because he refused to submit to sobriety tests, TMZ Sports has learned.

We broke the story ... Tim Tebow's older brother was popped in Denver after cops say he was speeding through town at 1:43 AM after taking pain pills. Cop also say he reeked of booze.

Peter refused to take a field sobriety test AND a blood alcohol test at the scene -- and now, prosecutors tell TMZ Sports ... Peter was punished as a result.

We're told ... Peter's driver's license was suspended for one year -- which is standard operating procedure for anyone who refuses to submit to booze tests during a DUI arrest.

As we previously reported ... Peter was initially charged with DUI and reckless driving -- but the DUI was eventually tossed and the reckless driving was kicked down to a speeding ticket.

So, why did Peter catch such a huge break??? We spoke with John Hower -- one of the prosecutors in the Arapahoe County District Attorney's Office -- who tells us, "I did not believe that he was driving under the influence and didn't feel it was appropriate to move forward with it."

Hower also pointed out Tebow had no criminal history and a clean driving record.

The police officer who pulled over college football superstar Jadeveon Clowney this weekend was SHOCKED when he saw who was behind the wheel -- radioing dispatch in disbelief, "I got Clowney."

As we reported, Clowney was pulled over by SC State Highway Patrol Saturday night for allegedly going 110 in a 70MPH zone.

Manny Pacquiao has 18 MILLION new tax problems ... in addition to his $50 million tax fight in the Philippines ... and this time, it's Uncle Sam that's trying to force Manny to pay up.

TMZ Sports has obtained official documents which show the IRS claims Manny stiffed the government out of federal income taxes from 2006 to 2010 ... totaling $18,313,668.79 in debt.

Here's the yearly breakdown:

2006 -- $1,160,324.30
2007 -- $2,035,992.50
2008 -- $2,862,437.11
2009 -- $8,022,915.87
2010 -- $4,231,999.01

Interesting note -- Manny had 3 big fights in 2008, including a match against Oscar De La Hoya in which MP reportedly banked $15-$30 million in guaranteed cash.

In 2009, Manny famously fought Ricky Hatton and earned a $12 million purse.

Manny's U.S. tax problems come on the heels of a nasty tax war in his home country, The Philippines ... where the govt. claims he evaded paying $50 million in taxes in 2008 and 2009 stemming from fights that took place in the United States.

Philippines officials have frozen the bank accounts Manny has in the country ... and even placed a lien on one of his most expensive properties, located in Manila.

We reached out to Manny's camp -- so far no word back.

Barry Switzer is blasting the BCS Selection Committee -- claiming it's NOT QUALIFIED to pick the 4 college football playoff teams next year ... and he's singling out Condoleezza Rice.

The ex-Oklahoma coach -- who won 3 national championships with the school -- went on "Drive Time Sports" the other day and ripped the people who chose the committee members ... saying they screwed up by picking "celebrity personalities" ... instead not authentic football experts.

That's when Switzer put Rice in his crosshairs -- "If we were talkin' about Iran or foreign policy, I'd have more respect for what she has to say than she has to tell me about a football team, I'll tell you that."

He's still too injured to play, but L.A. Dodgers star Matt Kemp refused to let his busted ankle keep him from the Jay Z show last night ... and TMZ Sports has the footage.

Kemp -- who had major surgery on his left ankle back in October -- was limping into the show at Staples Center in L.A. in a full walking boot.

Despite the medical brace, Kemp actually looked like he had a little pep in his step.

Joe Smith -- the #1 overall NBA Draft pick in 1995 -- tells TMZ Sports he's 100% confident his former teammate Kobe Bryant will return to form after his injury ... unlike a certain Redskins QB we all know.

Smith was leaving Supperclub in L.A. with his girlfriend last night when he explained why the Black Mamba will overcome his bad achilles and return to greatness.

That's when Joe's GF stepped in and fired this shot -- "Let's hope [Kobe's] not an RG3 ... a disappointment."

Tim Tebow's older brother Peter performed a MIRACLE back in 2011 ... 'cause the guy was arrested for DUI, and his goose was seemingly cooked, but he somehow escaped with just a speeding ticket ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Here's what we know ... Peter Tebow was pulled over in Denver, CO at 1:43 AM on June 10, 2011 after cops say he was blazing through town -- going 90 MPH in a 45 while straddling two lanes of traffic.

When the cop approached the vehicle, he "observed that [Tebow's] eyes were bloodshot and watery, his speech was slurred and mumbled and his pupils were enlarged."

The officer asked Peter if he was on any medication, to which he replied ... "Yeah, I had some Percocet earlier. I had 2 pills in the morning and the afternoon."

He later stated, "I had 2 pills a couple hours ago."

In the report, the cop says he also smelled booze on Peter's breath ... but Peter refused to take both a road sobriety test AND a blood alcohol test.

Peter, who was 26 at the time, was eventually arrested and hauled to a nearby station where he was booked. He was later charged with reckless driving and DUI.

Now, here's where things get interesting ...

Despite the details from the arrest, Peter CAUGHT A HUUUUGE BREAK FROM THE COURT -- the DUI was dismissed outright and the reckless driving charge was reduced to a simple speeding ticket for going 20-24 mph over the limit.

His punishment -- $276 in fines (not including attorney's fees).

Fun Fact -- Peter's bro Tim was playing for the Denver Broncos at the time ... and Peter was reportedly living with him while attending seminary school.

We tried reaching out to Peter for comment -- nothing back yet.