TMZ Sports - Page 50

Ron Artest is a shameless self-promoter -- because over the last month, he had an L.A. newspaper print FOUR items about his new name ... and it could change the way he's identified forever.

Long story short -- anyone looking to officially change their name in the State of California has to get a public declaration of the name change PRINTED in a local newspaper 4 times -- once a week, 4 weeks in a row.

On July 19th, Ron's LAST declaration to become Metta World Peace was published in the L.A. Daily Commerce -- but the name change won't become official until August 26th ... when a judge is scheduled to sign the order.

Which means you have approximately four weeks to sell your Ron Artest jerseys.

The long, strange journey of NFL star Plaxico Burress has come full circle -- the wide receiver has signed to play for the New York Jets.

Plax's deal is reportedly for one year at $3.017 million ... and is fully guaranteed.

Burress served 20 months in prison on gun charges after he famously shot himself in the leg at a New York City nightclub. He was released on June 6.

He previously played for the Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Giants, where he caught the game-winning touchdown in Super Bowl XLII.

• Plaxico Burress Released From Prison
• Another Plaxico Burress Mug Shot ...
• Rev. Al -- Plaxico's Sentence 'Unusually Harsh'

Dallas Mavericks star Shawn Marion isn't taking any chances with the NBA lockout -- in fact, he just turned down "Dancing with the Stars" ... to make sure he's free to practice with his team this fall.

Sources close to Shawn tell TMZ, "Dancing" sent him an official offer to appear on the show, but the NBA champ wants to make sure he's 100% available in case the lockout ends early ... so it's a no go.

"Dancing" would end in November and NBA season usually starts in October -- which could put Marion in a difficult position if the upcoming season isn't put on ice.

Kristin Cavallari threw on a small black dress and hit up a hotspot last night she KNEW she'd get photographed at ... STK in Hollywood.

Chad Ochocinco is whole again -- because Aaron Hernandez relinquished his number 85 ... FOR FREE.

Ocho (seen above at practice yesterday) was willing to fork over some bucks for the number, but Hernandez did him a solid as a "welcome to the team" gesture. Hernandez told reporters, "Chad Ochocinco came to the team and he’s a great player and I had a chance to get my college number back and he obviously wanted 85, and it wasn’t a problem."

Chad Ochocinco is fired up about moving to New England now that he's a member of the Patriots ... but he's not exactly ready to make a long term commitment when it comes to buying a place.

Sources close to the wide receiver tell TMZ ... Chad plans to rent a townhouse for now and wants to see how this year goes with the Patriots before he plunks down a chunk of change on anything substantial.

According to our sources, Chad doesn't need anything too fancy and would rather spend his time traveling back to Florida to see his fiancée, Evelyn Lozada.

Dennis Rodman couldn't contain himself during his 50th birthday bash in Ft. Lauderdale -- jumping on stage, grabbing the mic, and belting out a shockingly good rendition of Pearl Jam's "Alive" ... and TMZ has the footage.

Former WWE wrestler Shad Gaspard -- the guy who was PINNED DOWN by 3 officers in Ohio after allegedly JAYWALKING back in March -- will not be prosecuted for resisting arrest ... TMZ has learned.

We broke the story ... part of the arrest was captured on tape ... and Shad -- a very large African American gentleman -- can be heard screaming, "Why am I being arrested? Because I'm big and I'm black?"

Gaspard was charged for resisting arrest -- but according to documents filed in Franklin County Municipal Court this week, the charge has finally been DROPPED. However, he was hit with one lesser charge of obstructing official business and had to pay a fine.

TMZ spoke to Gaspard who tells us he no longer plans to file a lawsuit against the Columbus PD over the arrest ... explaining, "I feel that everything has run its course the proper way, and it’s best I move on from this in a positive light."

He adds, "My only regret is that this incident even happened and I hope that the good police officers in Columbus aren’t judged by the actions of a few bad ones."

More Today in TMZ History

File this under: Things you NEVER say to your fiancee.

Kris Humphries was lumbering around L.A. yesterday when he was asked -- IN FRONT OF Kim Kardashian -- if he was with "the most beautiful girl in world" ... and HE SAID, gasp, NO!

Travis Pastrana's devastating bone-breaking crash at the X Games last night was a COMPLETE shock to us -- because just hours before the wreck, Travis told TMZ he had been practicing the trick for 5 years!

Travis busted out the move -- which he dubbed the "TP Roll" -- during the "Best Trick" competition at X Games 17 in L.A. .. when he lost control on the landing and broke his right foot and ankle in the crash.

Even worse -- Travis was supposed to make his debut as a NASCAR driver this weekend -- but now those plans have been put on hold.

Sucks.

He's been traded to a new team ... but Chad Ochocinco DOES NOT want a new jersey number -- and sources close to the NFL star tell TMZ .. he's willing to do WHATEVER IT TAKES to sport #85 for the New England Patriots this season.

Problem is .... the number currently belongs to Patriots STUD tight end Aaron Hernandez -- who rocked #85 in 2010 ... when he DOMINATED all season long.

We're told Ochocinco -- who CHANGED HIS LAST NAME to match his jersey number a few years ago -- wants to PAY Hernandez to give up the digits ... and sources say Chad feels "no number is too high."

Former All-Pro running back Larry Johnson is accused of beating the living daylights out of a man ... who later allegedly told police, "This ni**er is going down" -- referring to Johnson.

In a civil lawsuit, filed last week, the alleged victim -- John Phillip Graney -- claims he was leaving a Miami Beach party in May when Johnson punched, tackled, and kicked him ... leaving Graney "beaten and brutalized."

Miami Beach police responded, and according to the official report ... Graney told an officer, "This ni**er is going down. He needs to learn a lesson, it's going to cost this prick."

TMZ obtained photos of Graney's alleged battle scars ... and according to the suit he suffered cuts to his face and ear, bruised chest and knees ... 3 herniated discs, and a torn rotator cuff.

Graney claims the whole fight was unprovoked. As for using the n-word ... his attorney Jonathan Davidoff says Graney is not a racist and "does not recall making those statements."

Jalen Rose has some powerful friends -- including the Mayor of Detroit -- who wrote up a very personal letter to the judge in Jalen's DUI case to show the NBA star is remorseful and deserves mercy.

TMZ has obtained a copy of the letter written by Mayor Dave Bing -- a former Detroit Pistons star who is considered one of the greatest 50 NBA players of all time.

In the document, sent to the court before Jalen's sentence was handed out, Bing says, "I have known Jalen since the day he was born."

He adds, "I can assure you that Jalen fully comprehends the danger he posed on March 11. Jalen has assured me, but more importantly, he has assured himself, that this will never happen again."

Bing concludes, "I fully believe Jalen was truthful to me when he stated: 'I will never drink and drive again or ever be in any other court for any violation of the law."

Unfortunately for Jalen, Bing's letter -- and other letters written to the judge from friends of Rose -- weren't effective enough ... and the judge ordered him to serve 20 days in jail.

U.S. Olympic skier Jeret "Speedy" Peterson called 911 moments before he committed suicide Monday ... and while fighting back tears, the 29-year-old told the operator, "I'm going to kill myself."

Peterson then gave his location to the operator and said, "I want police to come get the body." He then hung up the phone.

Cops in Summit County, Utah responded to the spot where Peterson said he would be ... and found the skier's body "obviously deceased from what appeared to be a gunshot wound to the head."

According to the police report, obtained by TMZ, Peterson left a suicide note ... but cops are not releasing it to the public.

Former New York Yankees pitcher Hideki Irabu was found dead yesterday in his California home -- and law enforcement sources tell TMZ, it appears he committed suicide by hanging himself. We're told a friend found him.

L.A. County Coroner is still trying to locate next of kin.

Hideki played for the Yankees, Expos, and Rangers -- last pitching in the big leagues in 2002. He won World Series rings with the Yanks in 1998 and 1999.

Irabu was 42.

Story developing ...

Jalen Rose just can't seem to get a break -- the former NBA star was slapped with a speeding ticket in Michigan last night ... the same day he was sentenced to 20 days in jail for his March drunk driving crash.

Rose was popped shortly before 9pm in the Detroit suburb of Clawson -- for going 46 mph in a 25 mph zone.