TMZ Sports - Page 50

People who graduate from Stanford CAN'T be "thugs" ... so says LeBron James, who just defended Richard Sherman by throwing around his academic accomplishments.

James just tweeted, "I don't know one 'thug' that graduated from Stanford and also working on their Masters! Dont judge a book by its cover.'

LeBron is clearly reacting to the onslaught of Sherman critics who labelled Sherman as a "thug" after his epic NFC championship rant.

We got awesome video of Carmelo Anthony partying his ass off -- dancing, singing, -- even though he and the NY Knicks have NOTHING to celebrate this season. Was 'Melo just blowing off steam, or thinking about his future?

Plus, Vince Young is now a hall of fame debtor -- filing for bankruptcy after blowing tons of cash on a laundry list of luxury items ... and also Cheesecake Factory. LOTS of Cheesecake Factory!

Dan Marino was in a bind last night ... stuck at a fancy L.A. restaurant without a ride home ... so he did what any famous person in his position would do -- he asked our TMZ photog for a lift.

The "Ace Ventura" star was outside Angelini Osteria -- without a limo or a chauffeured black car -- and was trying to figure out how he was going to get back to his hotel ... when he decided to hit up our guy.

While our photog offered up his luxurious Prius, Marino ultimately decided to flag down a cab instead.

Justin Bieber is under fire from a WWE superstar ... who's blasting the pop star for putting LIVES IN DANGER when he decided to drag race through the streets of Miami.

Torrie Wilson -- aka Alex Rodriguez's girlfriend -- went off on the singer on Twitter this morning ... saying, "I guess Justin Bieber didn’t ever hear how Nick Hogan’s drag racing stint in Miami ended. Thank God everyone is ok."

A former NY Giants running back is coming out swinging at the NFL -- telling TMZ Sports, "The NFL doesn't care about former players."

We spoke with Derrick Ward -- who played for the Giants from 2004 to 2008 (followed by a few seasons with the Bucs and Texans) ... and it's clear, the 33-year-old has a serious axe to grind with the league.

"I’ve come to realize after you're retired and done with football, the NFL doesn’t care about former players." Ward says.

Derrick -- who's now a full-time screen writer -- continued, "Once you leave the league, it's a wrap -- no support physically, mentally, financially, etc."

We noted several programs the NFL has in place, including the NFL pension plan -- but Ward says the programs suck across the board.

"Yes, there's a pension. You have to play 3 years and you can't touch it until you're 55. Guess what the average NFL life span is? 53.5 years (according to a recent Harvard study). Most likely 80 percent of NFL players will never see that money."

Here it is ... the exact moment we had to break the terrible news to St. Louis Rams wide receiver Austin Pettis ... that The Wanted have officially broken up.

So sad.

Pettis -- who was out in Beverly Hills with celebrity stylist Vick Michel -- tried to play it off like he wasn't affected by the demise of the boy band ... but c'mon, THAT'S A BIG DEAL!!

The 24-year-old DID admit he was an 'NSYNC fan back in the day -- but says the musical breakup that cut him the deepest wasn't a boy band at all ... but rather 3 independent ladies.

Check out the clip -- it's pretty hilarious.

Brandon Jacobs HATES his old 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh -- claiming the guy is nothing but a "bitch" who unfairly punished the running back during his short stint in San Fran.

Jacobs -- who won 2 Super Bowls with the Giants before spending 1 crappy season in SF -- just UNLEASHED on Harbaugh on the Boomer and Carton radio show:

"Going to the 49ers when I could have stayed in New York .. It didn't work out for me," Jacobs said.

"I wasn't liked ... I thought I was held hostage because of the previous year (when the Giants knocked the 49ers out of the playoffs).

"But, it is what it is. I got two rings and Harbaugh ... you know he's a bitch ... so it doesn't matter."

Oh, now IT'S ON -- the baddest chick in women's football just heard 'Bama star Kenyan Drake's statements about girls being too dumb to follow the sport ... and now she's ready to teach him a lesson ... by DESTROYING his sexist ass on the gridiron.

In case you missed it -- the Crimson Tide's sophomore running back pissed some people off this week ... tweeting, "most girls like basketball more than football bc they can follow it alot easier."

And now Ogom Chijindu -- who's a BEAST in the girls-only Legends Football League -- is calling him out, saying "he just must have had too many hits to the head ... he might be suffering from a concussion."

There's only one way to settle this ... Ogom tells us she's challenging Kenyan to an all out skills competition, "maybe I could help you on your side steps, your jabs ... maybe we can race in the 40."

Check out the clip ... hell hath no fury.

Newsflash: Tim Tebow is still jacked ... and TMZ Sports has photos of the teamless wannabe QB showing off his divine physique Wednesday during a shirtless workout at USC.

As we previously reported, Tebow has become a regular on the Trojan campus -- often running drills with high profile QB coaches.

Even though he's not currently signed to a pro squad -- and recently took a job as an analyst for ESPN -- it appears Tebow is refusing to give up on his NFL dream.

Carmelo Anthony isn't letting the Knicks' crappy season COMPLETELY destroy his spirits -- the scoring machine backed it up like LeBron's hairline at a party this weekend ... and TMZ Sports has video.

The clip was shot at Melo's 10th anniversary bash with the Jordan brand at Terminal 23 in NYC -- he takes the stage with the jazz band and lets loose. It's a pretty rare look at Carmelo when he's not stone-faced on the court.

In addition to playing host on stage, we're told Melo also kicked it with some cigars and champagne. Two days later, the Knicks chalked up a loss to the Nets.

Good news for the tennis superstar with the giant crush on Justin Bieber -- TMZ Sports has learned JB saw the video where she shouted him out at the Australian Open ... and plans on reaching out, ASAP.

As we previously reported, 19-year-old Eugenie Bouchard professed her love for the pop star after winning a match at the open saying Bieber's her dream date and adding, "Justin if you're watching ... heyyyy."

Sources connected to the singer tell us ... the footage got all the way to Justin himself, and he was so flattered, he's telling friends he wants to get in touch with Eugenie as soon as he can.

Bieber has been a little preoccupied lately ... making it rain at one of the biggest strip clubs in Miami.

But you know Bieber, he'll always make time for a fan ... especially when she's hot.

Suck it up Northeast, and learn a lesson from Andy Samberg ... who made the most of the massive storm which dropped at least a foot of snow in NYC.

The "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" star strapped on a pair of skis and cruised right down city streets.

That's how you handle a snowstorm ... like a boss.

Dodgers superstar Yasiel Puig is digging in for a fight stemming from his December arrest in Florida -- the one with the pink shorts -- 'cause TMZ Sports has learned he plead NOT GUILTY to reckless driving.

We first published the footage showing the 23-year-old being RIPPED by a Highway Patrol officer who claims Puig was pushing 110mph with his MOM in the car.

At the time of the arrest, the officer told Puig he could've KILLED HIS MOTHER ... and that he has no respect for her life.

Puig was charged with reckless driving and speeding -- now, we know the MLB star plead not guilty to the reckless charge.

If convicted on the reckless charge, Puig faces up to 90 days in jail.

As for the speeding, Puig's due in court to deal with that charge in April.

Skittles are SO IMPORTANT to Marshawn Lynch's health, the Seattle Seahawks keep the candy with the team's MEDICAL SUPPLIES ... so says Marshawn.

The "Beast Mode" running back was doing an interview for a Japanese TV show when he explained that he originally began chewing Skittles during football games because they were effective at settling his upset stomach.

That's when Lynch explained that the candy has become so important to his success ... the Seahawks team trainers have decided to keep a reserve stash with the medical stuff.

"It's almost like we use it because we know it helps my stomach, so we put it with the rest of the medicine. So, it's right next to the Advil, the lip balm, the tape, it's next to all that."

The 1st ever NFL Pro Bowl DRAFT went down yesterday ... and former Oakland Raiders QB Rich Gannon HATED IT!!!!!

It was a bold move by the NFL ... the league let Jerry Rice and Deion Sanders pick the two squads that will face off in Hawaii this weekend. Sanders had the 1st pick and selected Lions stud Ndamukong Suh.

But while Prime Time and Jerry seemed to be enjoying themselves, Gannon wasn't feeling the vibe ... tweeting, "This new Pro Bowl format is a joke! No wonder players are staying home."

For the record, the Pro Bowl has never really been relevant ... and some people think the draft could give the game the boost it needs to survive.

... but probably not.

With the U.S. and Russian military on high alert for terror attacks at the Winter Olympics in Sochi, two U.S. athletes tell TMZ Sports they're NOT worried about their own safety ... but they ARE concerned about the fans.

There have been several reports that Russian officials are on the hunt for two female "black widow" suspects, who are planning to carry out suicide attacks during the games.

But Team USA bobsledder Cory Butner (above left) and curling star Jeff Isaacson (above right) say they're confident Olympic security will keep the athletes "100% safe."

"I feel 100% safe as an athlete," Isaacson says ... "[Olympic Village] is going to be the safest place in the world."

But he acknowledges, "I'd be extra cautious if I was a spectator."

Butner echoed Isaacson's sentiments ... "I feel confident in our safety as athlete ... I do have concerns for my family coming to watch. I just pray that they are safe"

Despite the concern, Butner says his family told him to focus on his race and "not worry."