TMZ Sports - Page 50

Ray Rice is no dummy ... telling TMZ Sports he's GOING BACK TO COLLEGE so he can finally get his degree.

The Baltimore Ravens running back was out in NYC last night when he revealed that he recently enrolled in online classes at Rutgers University in an effort to lock up his diploma.

The 27-year-old admits he's still a long way from donning the cap and gown ... but says he's determined to finish what he started back in 2005.

We've learned ... Rice is currently taking 4 courses:

-- Intro to Logic
-- Public Speaking
-- Employment Law
-- Diversity at work

Like a commuter trying to cross the George Washington Bridge, Chris Christie's attempt at comedy last night came to a grinding halt at the Roast of Boomer Esiason in NYC.

The Gov. took the stage at the legendary Friars Club to roast the former NFL star and quickly learned the first lesson of comedy -- don't do it unless you're actually funny.

Among the lowlights ...

-- "When I was approached about doing to this event, I said yes right away. I said listen, 'I''ll do anything for Super Bowl winning quarterback Boomer Esiason' ... and then i said, ya know, he didnt win that game did he? That was Joe Montana that won that game." [Boomer looks at his watch].

-- "Look at this dais ... I mean Robert Wuhl, seriously? I mean at this point, Robert will show up for anything."

-- "I mean I've seen bigger stars after bumping my head."

-- "What happened? Were Screech and the dog from Frasier busy today?"

And the Joke de la Resistance ... Christie PRETENDED like he was going to announce his candidacy for President of the United States ... but then, CURVEBALL!!!

"NFL Today" host James Brown says George Zimmerman would never agree to fight him ... insinuating Zimmerman would be too scared.

We got James last night in NYC ... and asked him if he'd be willing to fight GZ ... who's offered to take on any opponent -- black or otherwise -- in a celebrity boxing match.

NYPD rocked Super Bowl week with a huge bust of a drug and hooker ring. Are thousands of tourists looking to party gonna have to change their plans? You gotta hear what NFL stars are saying.

Plus, Coach Mike Ditka knows a lot about football ... and, as it turns out, love! Or so he thinks. Would you take dating tips from the Bears legend?

With a federal investigation underway into allegations the Oakland Raiders grossly underpaid their cheerleaders ... the Raiderettes are finally getting a shot at a fair income .... thanks to Penthouse.

TMZ Sports has learned ... the legendary nudie mag has reached out to the squad in the hopes of hiring some of the women for a "tasteful pictorial in the magazine."

As we previously reported, one of the Raiderettes has already filed a lawsuit against the team claiming she made less than $5-per-hour ... way less than the state mandated minimum wage. And the U.S. Dept. of Labor is investigating the team.

Sources connected to the situation tell us ... Penthouse is prepared to make a "significant offer" to the women if they're interested in showing a little skin. We're told the mag isn't pushing for full nudity.

In a letter sent to the team squad, Penthouse says ... "You can even wear your silver and black ... or not."

So far, unclear if any of the Raiderettes are game.

The winner of Super Bowl XLVIII is NOT allowed to party with champagne ... or beer ... or any other form of alcohol ... so says the NFL.

TMZ Sports has learned ... unlike the MLB (or any other major sport), the NFL has a very strict policy against booze in the locker room ... which means, NO POPPIN' BOTTLES!!

A rep for the league tells us ... the rule goes all the way back to the 1960s and the NFL has decided to continue to enforce it because it's "not the right image" for the league.

Former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Farrior just bought one SICK place to spend his retirement years ... a $3.8 million mansion in Houston, TMZ Sports has learned.

Sources tell us ... 39-year-old Farrior -- who made at least $35 million during his 14-year NFL career -- locked up a 10,332 square foot palace right next to a golf course.

The mansion comes with 6 bedrooms, 8 baths, an enormous wine cellar, game room, study ... and (of course) an awesome built-in movie theater.

There's also a sweet outdoor loggia -- which is an open air facade of the house that features its own fireplaces (one of four on the property).

It's good to be rich.

Good news for Seahawks and Broncos fans planning on lighting up a super bowl of ganja this Sunday ... 'cause TMZ Sports has learned, pot stores are now selling CUSTOMIZED WEED for the big game.

Medical marijuana dispensaries in Denver and Seattle -- the only two cities in the country where you can toke up recreationally -- are actually selling Super Bowl themed pot.

You can smoke "Richard Sherman OG" from Rain City Medical in Seattle -- which will also be passing out Seahawks colored weed-infused popcorn to munch on during the game.

Meanwhile, Kind Meds dispensary in Denver is featuring a "Big Bad Broncos" strain ... "Agent Orange Kush" ... and even "Bruised Seahawks" -- so Broncos fans can literally smoke the opposition.

And for the stoners who aren't into Bruno Mars ... both stores are offering half-price specials at half-time -- in case anyone needs to stock up during the game.

Joe Buck is getting ready to call Super Bowl XLVIII ... and if there are any strange noises or odors in the announcing booth this weekend -- don't blame him ... blame Troy Aikman.

Unless Al Roker's in the area. Then it's definitely Al.

The Oakland Raiders are now the target of a federal investigation into allegations the team pays its cheerleading squad members FAR LESS THAN MINIMUM WAGE.

The U.S. Dept. of Labor has confirmed it's looking into the team ... just days after a Raiderette named Lacy T. filed a lawsuit saying she gets paid less than $5-an-hour to shake her pom-poms.

A rep for the Labor Dept. says it's looking into the "entire cheerleading squad" ... and not just the claims made by Lacy.

In her lawsuit, Lacy claimed each Raiderette only makes $1,250 per season -- and job requires not only working all 10 home games, but attending rehearsals, charity events, fan events and posing for a swimsuit calendar.

UFC prez Dana White tells TMZ Sports ... Brock Lesnar wants to RETURN to the Octogon ... and White says he'd LOVE to have him back.

Dana was in NYC today getting ready for UFC's Super Saturday ... and told us Brock's still bummed his fighting career ended short due to injury ... and says "he'd like to take another run" in the UFC.

The former UFC heavyweight champ left the world of MMA in 2011 ... after a string of losses that he chalked up to his battle with a potentially life threatening case of diverticulitis (a digestive disease).

Adrian Peterson was like a living, breathing genie last night ... 'cause when his "n-word" DJ Whoo Kid asked for a red velvet cake, AP made it his personal mission to deliver the baked goods.

Whoo Kid made the plea for his favorite cake on TMZ just a few days ago ... saying he'd wave his $10,000 fee if a Super Bowl MVP asked him to DJ his party and provided his favorite dessert.

Whoo Kid said if anyone could make that happen, "I'll be your n-word for the night."

Clearly, Adrian got the message ... because he rounded up an RV cake with the message, "n-word we made it" ... and presented it to the DJ at W.i.P. nightclub in NYC last night.

Now, technically, Adrian isn't a Super Bowl MVP ... but he IS an NFL regular season MVP.

So ... does that count?

The high-end, coke-fueled prostitution ring that was just busted on the high heels of Super Bowl weekend was comprised of a small army of Asian hookers ... who take credit cards.

NY officials say the prostitutes had their eyes set on Seahawks and Broncos fans who were coming in for the game.

Officials say the ring made millions, with the help of pimps who fronted phony businesses to funnel the sex profits. The businesses included wig shops, a beauty supply store and a limo company.

Johns were paying up to $10K a night for hookers and blow. The customers would do drugs and become impaired ... and the girls would then figure out ways of fleecing them by charging even more.

All of the women nailed -- in what NYPD calls Operation Shade of Beige -- are Asian, and used Korean code words to mask the drug deal. One code name for coke -- Soojaebi ... a Korean noodle and vegetable soup.

Mmmm Mmmm bad.

Kevin Jonas -- in an effort to find new ways to make a buck -- has a baronial way of making a quick killing ... renting out his sprawling New Jersey manor and throwing in Super Bowl tickets.

Kevin's crib is 36 minutes from the stadium so ... for the convenience and the amenities he wants $20K a night. He's throwing in 4 tickets to the big game.

Of course ... WHERE you sit in MetLife Stadium is critical. Kevin says the seats are good ... but he's not specific.

Jonas won't be spending the weekend at a shelter. He and his wife have a new house close by.

Richard Sherman's epic post-game rant DOESN'T HOLD A CANDLE to Bart Scott's legendary "Can't Wait" interview back in 2011 ... so says the former New York Jets linebacker himself.

Scott was hanging out with NY Giants kicker Steve Weatherford at Jay Glazer's Super Bowl party at Pranna in NYC ... when they told us why Scott is the undisputed post-game screaming champion.

If you remember, Scott WENT OFF after the Jets beat the Patriots in a crazy playoff game ... and Bart UNLEASHED, trashing his critics and the Patriots defense ... before capping it off with what became his catchphrase.

Seriously, Bart even trademarked the phrase "Can't Wait."

Your move, Sherman.

Fear not NFL fans -- the giant prostitution sting in NYC will NOT ruin Super Bowl week ... so says Carolina Panthers running back DeAngelo Williams.

As we previously reported, cops in the Big Apple just busted a dozen hookers who had allegedly been advertising their "services" all over town ... a huge blow to people hoping to bang whores during the big weekend.

But Williams has a message to those who will affected by the sudden ho shortage -- it's ok, you'll get through it.