Hines Ward Busted for DUI
Hines Ward -- star wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers and reigning "Dancing With the Stars" champion -- was arrested this morning for driving under the influence of alcohol ... TMZ has learned.
According to DeKalb police, Ward was stopped about 2:30 AM on Buford Highway after an officer spotted his Aston Martin failing to maintain lane and hitting a curb.Ward reportedly failed a field sobriety test and refused to take a breathalyzer test.
He posted $1,000 bond and was released.
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NFL Star's Dogs Kills Neighbor's Dog
Four dogs belonging to Arizona Cardinals linebacker Joey Porter reportedly killed a dog belonging to one of his neighbor's ... this according to a local report.
The incident went down on July 2, says the Bakersfield Californian, and a local animal control spokesperson told the paper Porter was cited for not having the dogs on a leash.
The spokesperson said the dogs appeared to be half mastiff, half pit bull -- and that Porter appeared upset about what happened and apologized to the neighbor.
In 2006, Porter's dogs (though unclear if it's the same ones) reportedly got loose from his home in Pennsylvania and killed a miniature horse on a nearby farm.
World-Record Powerlifter -- The $25,000 Accusation
He holds the record for a 715-pound bench press, but badass powerlifter Scot Mendelson hasn't been pulling his own weight -- at least according to his landlord, who claims Scot owes him over $25,000.
According to the lawsuit, filed recently in L.A. County Superior Court, Scot rented out space for a gym in L.A. last year -- called Xert -- but failed to pay portions of the rent from January 2011 to June, including taxes and fees ... totaling $25,651.07.
Scot's landlord claims he gave the muscleman 3 days notice last month -- to pay up or get the hell out -- but Scot hasn't budged ... and STILL owes the full sum.
Now, the landlord claims Scot's unlawfully squatting on the property -- and he wants him to pay the piper, stat ... plus $325 for each day Scot continues to occupy the property.
UPDATE: A rep for Mendelson tells TMZ he forked over $4,000 for June's rent and that he and the landlord worked out a deal -- if Mendelson moves out by the end of the month, the landlord will drop the suit.
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Tony Parker INSANE $5,000 Jet Pack Ride
Rich people have the BEST toys ... like NBA star Tony Parker ... who dropped $5k in St. Tropez today to strap on a water-propelled jet pack and ROCKET himself across the Mediterranean Sea.
Parker paid €3,500 (roughly $5,025) ... to rent something called a JetLev -- which uses ocean water to propel the rider into the air ... as if he/she were flying on a jet pack.
We're told Parker spent several hours on the water ... and also spent some time hanging out on a really expensive yacht ... because he's rich ... and that's what rich people do.
Fun Fact: Today would have marked Tony and Eva's 4th wedding anniversary.
Celebrity Stunts
Dodgers Bankruptcy -- Calling All Pissed-Off Fans!
Nothing unites L.A. Dodgers fans like their abiding hate for Frank McCourt -- and now, they're filing MULTIPLE seething letters in his bankruptcy case ... demanding the judge give Frank the boot.
A Dodgers fan named Greg MacDonald opened the floodgates recently, submitting a passionate anti-McCourt letter to the court ... the first fan letter in the McCourt bankruptcy file -- but FOUR more letters have since entered the fray, and each one LAMBASTS the current franchise owner.
One fan writes, Frank McCourt's behavior "is an outrage and is an embarrassment to all of MLB, its owners, players, and fans."
Another writes, Frank's ownership "has been a huge black eye on our city and the team we love the most."
It's unlikely Judge Kevin Gross will weigh the letters in his decision-making -- but if it keeps going like this ... they might be hard to ignore.
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'Tiger' Sues PGA Tour -- I Was Unfairly Ejected!!!
A grown ass man shows up to a PGA tournament in a bright orange "Tiger" suit in the hopes of cheering on his hero Tiger Woods ... but according to a new lawsuit, something went terribly wrong.
The SUPERFAN -- Jason Goodwin (pictured above) -- claims he got "pre-permission" to wear his spirited costume to the TPC Boston tournament in 2010 ... but once he arrived to the course, one of the golfers flipped out.
Goodwin, who says he had a valid ticket for the event, claims security escorted him off the course after the 1st hole ... because Tiger's playing partner, Angel Cabrera, complained the tiger suit was "too bright and bothersome."
Goodwin filed a small claims lawsuit against the PGA in Boston, insisting his civil rights were "infringed upon" -- and he wants $7150 to make things right.
Goodwin tells TMZ ... he chose the amount because it's the most he's allowed to sue for in small claims court ... adding, "I want to make the point that you can't tell people what to wear."
Calls to the PGA have not been returned.
Crazy Costumes
Shaq RECORDS As Staples PLUCKED from Giant Leg
Former NBAer Shaquille O'Neal had a bunch of surgical staples YANKED from his massive leg today ... and, of course, he recorded the painfully gross ordeal for all to see.
Shaq recently went under the knife to repair his injured right Achilles tendon -- and, from the looks of the footage, the surgery required doctors to open a FOOT-LONG gash to get the job done.
But this morning, Shaq -- with girlfriend Nikki "Hoopz" Alexander by his side -- rolled back to the doctor's office ... and had the staples removed.
It's pretty gross ... but you should probably watch it anyway.
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Cowboys' Star Scores! Ex GF Gives Back 76K Ring
Dallas Cowboys star Roy Williams just made a $76,000 reception -- snagging the engagement ring he sued beauty queen Brooke Daniels to get back ... TMZ has learned.
Williams recently filed the lawsuit against Brooke -- a former Miss Texas USA he dated for about a year -- but her mom tells TMZ the ring was returned to Williams' attorney yesterday near Houston.
According to the suit, Williams MAILED the ring and a recorded marriage proposal to Brooke back in February ... just before Valentine's Day.
Brooke wasn't impressed. Williams says she shot him down, they broke up ... and she promised to return the ring. The Cowboys WR sued because he hadn't gotten it back yet.
All's well that ends.
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NFL Star STRADDLES Giant Alligator What a Croc!
Arizona Cardinals defensive juggernaut Darnell Dockett dropped down into a death-defying 3-point stance last weekend -- directly over a LIVE alligator -- and we're told, he paid $225 for the privilege.
Since he can't practice with his team ... because of the stupid lockout ... Dockett was hanging out at a place called Holiday Park in the Florida everglades.
We're told Dockett took a private tour and airboat ride ... and then stuck around for the gator show ... total cost -- $225.
Afterward, Dockett tweeted that he purchased one of the gators ... but a rep from the park tells us Darnell MUST have been joking, because the animals are all rescues and they're not for sale.
And for good measure, the rep also told us Darnell was "super friendly" during the visit ... and "nice as anything."
Critters
Dodgers Bankruptcy -- EVERYONE'S In The Act!
Frank McCourt has a new adversary in his L.A. Dodgers bankruptcy case ... a pissed off FAN named Greg MacDonald. who wrote a passionate anti-McCourt letter to the judge that has now been filed with the court!!!!
MacDonald tells TMZ that as a "very concerned Dodgers fan" ... he simply wanted to express his opinion to the judge ... that McCourt is a "snake-oil salesman" who should be stripped of ownership.
MacDonald says he addressed the letter to the judge and popped it in the mail on June 29 ... and somehow, it was entered into the court file ... which means it will be forever memorialized in court records.
Doubtful the judge will consider the letter, but he may come to the same conclusions.
More LA Dodgers
Wrestling Legend Scott Hall -- The Mug Shot
Former wrestling superstar Scott Hall -- aka Razor Ramon -- checked himself in to a Florida jail today to begin his 10-day sentence stemming from a drunken arrest in 2010 ... TMZ has learned.
52-year-old Hall was ordered to serve ten days behind bars after he was found guilty of resisting arrest at a Florida bar back in May 2010. Hall had allegedly been drunkenly screaming at patrons.
Hall's rep tells TMZ the wrestler will be staying in the medical unit of Seminole County Jail because of his "bad health."
Hall has already been credited with time served ... and should be out of the slammer in eight days.
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Kobayashi INHALES 69 Hot Dogs -- The VIDEO!
Takeru Kobayashi DESTROYED 69 hot dogs in 10 minutes yesterday ... smashing his own world record in an UNOFFICIAL speed eating display ... and igniting a HUGE controversy in the process!
TMZ obtained footage of Kobayashi's UNBELIEVABLE feat ... which he accomplished on a Manhattan rooftop ... miles from the OFFICIAL Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Championship at Coney Island. TK wasn't allowed to compete at the Coney Island eat-off because he wouldn't sign a contract with Major League Eating.
So, in protest ... Kobayashi did his own thing. Of course, Joey Chestnut won the Nathan's title with 62 dogs ... but Kobayashi put down 69!!!!!!
Chestnut later remarked, "It wasn't a competition ... It was no different than what I do at practice on my own and I'm able to break a record at my house."
So, we gotta ask ...
Chow Down
WWE Star Hurls Homophobic Slur At Fan
WWE bad guy CM Punk was caught on camera screaming "You homo!" at a fan during a verbal altercation in Australia today ... this as the WWE has said repeatedly they are trying to curb homophobic slurs.
The wrestling organization works directly with GLAAD and even produced a series of anti-bullying commercials following incidents involving announcer Michael Cole and wrestler John Cena.
Calls to GLAAD were not returned.
UPDATE: A rep for the WWE tells TMZ, "WWE does not condone this type of language or bias and we reinforce that with our talent who are independent contractors."
UPDATE 2: CM apologized via Twitter, saying, "...I'm embarrassed. I own up to being a total douche in this situation and I offer a sincere apology to anybody I hurt with careless words."
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Reggie Bush Continues to Hang with Kim-alike GF
Reggie Bush still only has eyes for girls who look like Kim Kardashian -- as he was spotted out once again with hottie Melissa Molinaro at Playhouse in Hollywood Friday night.
It's okay if you have a type ... if that type is smokin' hot.
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NBA Star Joe Johnson -- DIAMOND-Studded Karaoke
Most people don't dress up for Karaoke ... but the Atlanta Hawks' $119 million man Joe Johnson rocked a diamond watch the size of a fist when he grabbed the mic in Little Rock Tuesday night.
29-year-old Johnson hit Willy D's Rock 'n Roll bar in Little Rock, Arkansas ... and busted out a rendition of Jodeci's "Come and Talk to Me" in front of a crowded room ... and it wasn't that bad!
According to sources at the bar, Joe ran up a $125 tab on drinks for his friends and a few shots of Patron for himself.
And as far as tips are concerned -- sources at the bar wouldn't specify, but tell us, "He always takes really good care of us. He's a very generous customer."
Karaoke Time
Locked Out NFL Stars Best Beach Football Ever!
The NFL lockout affects players, coaches and broadcasters alike -- so guys like Tony Romo, Sean Payton and Troy Aikman satisfied their football jones this weekend by playing on the beach in Florida.
The guys are all connected through the Dallas Cowboys -- Romo still plays for them, Payton used to be the offensive coordinator (now coaches the New Orleans Saints), and Troy Aikman played his entire Hall of Fame career in the Big D.
Other participants included Cowboys tight end Jason Witten and former 'Boys linebacker Bobby Carpenter.
And perhaps most importantly ... Romo's hot new wife Candice Crawford was among the spectators.