TMZ Sports - Page 50

Ray Allen is worth between $200 and $300 MILLION DOLLARS ... and even though it's "not smart" for the guy to play high-stakes blackjack, Ray can afford it ... so says Kenny "The Jet" Smith.

The "NBA on TNT" analyst was leaving LAX yesterday when we asked him about Allen's $10k-per-hand blackjack run in Vegas over the weekend ... a run that didn't turn out well for Ray.

"It's not smart, but it's like $100 to him," Kenny said ... "He's got enough money to probably fund the hotel."

Then, after estimating Ray's ENORMOUS net worth, Kenny dropped some serious wisdom:

"A guy who can play $10k-a-hand in blackjack, I'm not worried about him ... it's the guy who's got ten dollars and loses ... that's the guy I'm worried about."

#true.

RESPECT YOUR ELDERS ... 'cause 75-year-old Skip Bertman -- former LSU baseball coach -- has been ID'd as the mystery man who fought off three home invaders inside his Louisiana house ... cops say.

Oh, and all three suspects have now been arrested.

As we previously reported, the attempted burglary was thwarted early Saturday morning when they were violently confronted by a resident.

Now, cops say ... the suspects are all teenagers -- an 18-year-old and two 16-year-olds -- and Bertman brought the ruckus when he heard them inside the home.

According to officials, the teens entered the home through an unlocked bathroom window ... before running into Bertman -- who took on the punks and actually tried to DETAIN one of the men.

They eventually ran away like cowards (after grabbing some cash and some of Skip's championship rings) ... but cops located the suspects and took 'em all into custody. The 18-year-old was sent to a nearby prison and the 16-year-olds are in juvi.

He CRUSHED it at the NBA Celebrity All-Star game ... so it's no wonder Secretary of Education Arne Duncan says President Obama always takes him on his team during White House pick-up games.

If you missed the game ... Duncan was a STUD -- chalking up 20 points, 11 rebounds and 6 assists during his MVP performance.

When he arrived back in D.C. on Monday, Duncan hadn't let the success get to his head -- and gave props to Kevin Hart (who initially won the award based on the fan vote, but gave it Duncan because he deserved it).

He also praised Obama as a "good teammate."

For the record, Duncan played college ball at Harvard before spending some time in a pro league in Australia.

Bottom line -- dude can ball.

So ... Danica Patrick's exposed nipple is hanging out on a Sports Illustrated website.

The racy pic of the NASCAR driver is featured in a "Throwback Thursday" photo gallery on S.I.'s "Swim Daily" website ... which features a "selfie" style photo shoot of Danica from 2008.

We called S.I. to find out if it was a mistake ... or one of those intentional "nipples are artsy" sort of things ... but so far, we haven't heard back.

WWE star Paul Heyman says he doesn't miss the iconic ponytail he chopped off his head last month ... telling TMZ Sports he finally realized his "power" didn't stem from his greasy lock of love.

A freshly-shorn Heyman was cruising Hollywood Friday night with supermodel Ellie Gonsalves ... when he explained how he came to grips with the self-scalping.

The wrestling villain -- who happens to be Brock Lesnar's business adviser in real life -- also told us why the ex-UFC champ won't be making any trips to L.A. in the near future.

Kenyon Martin doesn't just think those special sleeved NBA jerseys are ugly ... he thinks they're emasculating -- telling TMZ Sports they belong in the WNBA!

The New York Knicks star was leaving Greystone Manor this weekend ... when we asked how he felt about the sleeved unis NBA teams had to wear during the Christmas Day games.

"I think they're WNBA jerseys," Martin said.

"I had to go with it, it's the job, you got to wear the company uniform ... so, it is what it is."

He adds, "It's all about money at the end of the day ... do I agree with it? No. Do I understand it? Yeah."

File This Under: "Questionable Decision Making" ... but the Jamaican Bobsled Team competed over the weekend wearing helmets that looked like watermelons.

Of course, in the U.S. ... there's a well-known stereotype about black people and watermelon -- but in fact, it's not really a "thing" in Jamaica.

Still, a little weird to see a team consisting entirely of black people wearing helmets that look like watermelon.

Turns out not every NBA player smokes weed ... so says Oklahoma City Thunder big man Serge Ibaka ... who tells TMZ Sports he's never lit up once.

The 6'10" shot blocker was leaving AV nightclub in Hollywood this weekend ... when we asked him if he thought the NBA would ever ease up on players using marijuana.

Serge's response: "I don't know ... I've never used it so I don't know."

A burglary at the home of legendary LSU baseball coach Skip Bertman was thwarted Saturday morning when someone in the house FOUGHT OFF the intruder ... cops say.

According to the Baton Rouge PD, cops were called to Bertman's pad around 4:40 AM ... after someone broke into the 75-year-old's home through a window.

Here's where things get crazy ... officials say the intruder was confronted by an unidentified male in the house ... who FOUGHT OFF THE BAD GUY!!!

Cops say the intruder eventually fled the home with a couple of small items and some cash ... but still, the guy had to leave with the shame of getting his ass kicked.

Police told TheAdvocate.com they believe the victim was targeted. Cops have not said if Bertman is the guy who brawled with the intruder ... or if he was even at the house at the time of the incident.

NBA All-Star weekend is like Christmas morning for strippers ... and the cash is already starting to rain down. So, who gets more out of basketball's huge event ... players, fans, or strippers?

Johnny Manziel is still livin' the dream -- hitting the Hollywood club scene ... AGAIN ... after a day of partying like a champion.

We know Manziel got off to an early start on Sunday -- kickin' his night off at a bar in Hermosa Beach.

But after that, Manziel moved the party to West Hollywood ... where the Heisman winner and a bunch of his friends rolled into Greystone Manor nightclub like he owned the place.

We're told Johnny Football had a blast inside the club -- and at one point, he threw up the ol' "Hook 'em Horns" sign.

Eventually, Manziel and his party crew left the place ... but unlike last time, he wasn't flanked by two smokin' hot chicks.

Hey, can't win 'em all.

Bode Miller says he's NOT upset with reporter Christin Cooper ... after she pushed him so hard about the skier's dead brother during a post-race interview yesterday, he broke down in tears.

Instead, it appears Bode is placing the blame on Christin's bosses at NBC.

The interview took place moments after Bode placed 3rd in the Men's Alpine Super G event in Sochi -- when Cooper kept asking questions about Bode's bro Chilly, who passed away recently from a seizure.

Bode broke down and cried -- ending the interview ... and almost instantly, the cyber-backlash began against Cooper.

But last night, Bode went to Twitter and wrote, "I appreciate everyone sticking up for me. Please be gentle w christin cooper, it was crazy emotional and not all her fault. #heatofthemoment."

He continued, "My emotions were very raw, she asked the questions that every interviewer would have, pushing is part of it, she wasn't trying to cause pain."

Here's where it gets interesting ... 'cause a short time later, he re-posted a tweet from a fan who wrote, "Bode. It wasn't her fault. It was the fault of @NBCOlympics producers. She was being told what to ask."

Subtle, but clearly he signs off on the fan's opinion.

Julianne caught some So. Cal. rays with Washington Capitals center Brooks Laich. With photogs in plain sight they clearly wanted to make a statement as they walked with her teeny tiny dogs.

It's not like Ryan Seacrest will be heartbroken. He's moved on with another hot chick, who apparently is cool that he sees other people as well. In other words, don't feel sorry for him.

Ray Allen was LIGHTING UP a blackjack table in Vegas over the weekend ... dropping $10k per hand at the Bellagio ... and TMZ Sports has the pics.

The Miami Heat superstar decided to try his luck with the cards on Saturday night ... and posted up at a $1,000 minimum table in the exclusive Club Prive high-rollers lounge.

You can check out his stack (don't worry, it's OK to look) ... it appears Ray was gambling with somewhere between 30 and 40 yellow chips ($1,000-a-pop).

Our casino sources who were there during the gambling run tell us Ray -- who once signed an $80 MILLION contract -- didn't have a great showing at the table ... and walked away empty handed.

Hopefully, he stayed long enough to get his free drink.

We reached out to Ray's camp for comment -- so far, no word back ... but you know somewhere, Charles Barkley is smilin'.

Pitchers are gonna think twice before throwing inside on Shane Victorino next season ... 'cause TMZ Sports has learned, the Red Sox star is on a HARDCORE mixed martial arts training binge.

"The Flyin' Hawaiin" is getting into fighting shape with "UFC Fit" -- same MMA workout routine that helped UFC super stars like Johnny Hendricks and Thiago Alves get JACKED before fights.

Shane tells us, "As an athlete, I’ve taken part in a lot of training programs ... and UFC Fit takes things to a whole new level.”

Don Gold -- one of the honchos at the program -- tells us women's UFC star Ronda Rousey uses the system too ... "Mike Dolce and the UFC Fit team just recently trained Ronda for her UFC title defense and got her in the absolute best shape of her career."

Bottom line ... watch out for Shane when the benches clear next year.

Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice and his fiancee were arrested in NJ on Saturday morning after cops say they STRUCK EACH OTHER inside an Atlantic City casino ... TMZ Sports has learned.

The Atlantic City PD tells us officers responded to a domestic dispute the Revel Casino at 2:51 AM involving Ray and his fiancee Janay A. Palmer.

Cops say ... "After reviewing surveillance footage it appeared both parties were involved in a physical altercation. The complaint summons indicates that both Rich and Palmer struck each other with their hands."

Both Ray and Janay refused medical attention -- and no injuries were reported by either party.

They were transported to a nearby police station where they were booked for Simple Assault-Domestic Violence. They were both released on a summons to appear in court.