TMZ Sports - Page 50

Joe Paterno -- the legendary former football coach at Penn State University -- died this morning at the age of 85 ... this according to his family.

His family released a statement that reads, "He died as he lived. He fought hard until the end, stayed positive, thought only of others and constantly reminded everyone of how blessed his life had been. His ambitions were far reaching, but he never believed he had to leave this Happy Valley to achieve them. He was a man devoted to his family, his university, his players and his community."

The front page of the website for the Penn State athletic department was updated with simply a picture of Paterno (see below).

Jerry Sandusky, the longtime assistant coach facing sexual abuse allegations that led to Paterno's dismissal at Penn State, called his death a sad day ... and Paterno "had the courage to practice what he preached" about toughness, hard work and clean competition.

In November 2011, his son Scott announced Paterno had a treatable form of lung cancer.

JoePa, as he was known, holds the record for most victories by a Division I football coach with 409.

Plaxico Burress just can't win in 2012 -- not only did his heavily-hyped New Yorks Jets fail to make the playoffs, but he just lost a lawsuit which will have him writing a check for six figures.

A woman by the name of Alise Smith filed a lawsuit in Florida back in 2008, claiming Plax rear-ended her with his Mercedes-Benz back in May 2008 ... before his infamous gun incident. Plax did not have insurance at the time.

Smith alleged she suffered neck and back injuries and sued him for medical bills, lost wages and damages. The jury ruled in her favor and earlier this month the judge awarded her $125,000, plus interest.

Another big break up for Kris Humphries ... TMZ has learned the former Mr. Kardashian is separating with his high profile publicity team after 73 days of holy matrimony ... exactly one day longer than his marriage.

Sources tell us ... Humphries and Anderson Group Public Relations have decided to end their professional relationship ... due to a major disagreement over a long-term strategy for Kris' off-the-court career.

The two sides first came together around the time Kim Kardashian pulled the plug on the marriage -- after 72 days -- and Kris felt he needed for some advice on how to handle his image through the tough times.

But after the crisis, Kris and AGPR simply did not see eye-to-eye on a post-Kim game plan. We're told AGPR was unhappy with the outcome of Kris' appearance on "Good Morning America" last month.

During the "GMA" appearance, Kris brushed off questions about Kim ... and instead, focused on baking desserts during a cooking segment with his mother.

According to our sources, Kris has already taken on a new PR firm in NYC and wants to focus solely on basketball.

We're told the relationship with AGPR ended on reasonably good terms ... and both sides REALLY want to stay friends.

Joe Paterno, the legendary former coach at Penn State University, has suffered health complications and is in serious condition ... this according to a rep for the Paterno family.

The spokesperson released a statement, saying in part, "Over the last few days Joe Paterno has experienced further health complications. His doctors have now characterized his status as serious."

His son Jay tweeted, "I appreciate the support & prayers. Joe is continuing to fight."

Another son, Scott, responded to a report that JoePa had passed, tweeting, "Dad is alive but in serious condition. We continue to ask for your prayers and privacy during this time."

Onward State, a student-run newspaper on campus, reported Saturday he had been taken off his respirator. The Citizens Voice, a newspaper in nearby Wilkes-Barre, PA, reported Paterno's wife Sue summoned close friends and longtime staff members to State College hospital.

Paterno was the coach at Penn State for 46 years, until he was famously fired by the school last November following the sexual abuse allegations against his former assistant coach, Jerry Sandusky.

It looks like Ben Roethlisberger has bought his way out of a sticky legal situation ... by settling a lawsuit filed by a woman who claims the Pittsburgh Steelers QB forced her to have sex with him in 2008.

Lawyers for Roethlisberger and his accuser -- Andrea McNulty -- announced the two sides have reached an agreement which ends the lawsuit.

McNulty -- who worked at the Harrah's Hotel in Lake Tahoe at the time of the alleged incident -- had claimed Ben invited her into his penthouse suite to fix a broken TV ... and then raped her.

In her suit, McNulty claimed Ben became "stern," after the alleged rape ... kicked her out of the room and told her, "If anyone asks you, you fixed my television. You fixed my television. Now go!"

Ben adamantly denied all the allegations.

McNulty's lawyer also confirms they have dropped their case against multiple Harrah's employees McNulty had accused of covering up the alleged sexual assault.

It's not every day that Tim Tebow agrees to hang out with a bunch of chicks who can put their legs behind their back ... but hey, Vegas is a special place.

The Denver Broncos QB went behind the scenes at Cirque du Soleil's "O" this week ... posing for pictures with some of the incredible flexible performers after taking in a show at the Bellagio.

As we previously reported, Tim was only in town for a few hours for a Nike photoshoot ... and stayed away from all of the usual Vegas temptations -- gambling, partying, buffets.

Kobe Bryant's wife Vanessa is the big winner in their divorce property settlement ... TMZ has learned.

Sources connected to the couple and with direct knowledge of the situation tell TMZ ... the property settlement agreement is signed, sealed and delivered -- a done deal.

Vanessa is walking away with $75 million, which we're told represents close to half of their total assets, estimated at around $150 million.

TMZ previously reported several transfers of property earlier this year between Kobe and Vanessa. It turns out, based on the property settlement, Vanessa scored a clean sweep, snagging ALL THREE of the former couple's mansions in the Newport Beach area.

Vanessa gets the estate the couple was living in, the estate her mom is living in, and she gets the new estate that had been under construction for 2 years and was just completed. We were told Kobe was moving into the new estate, but that's not true. It's Vanessa's crib, lock stock and barrel.

Vanessa just scored 3 ... where it counts.

• Kobe Bryant Divorce -- He's Hoping to Reconcile... For the Sake of the Kids
• Kobe Bryant Divorce -- Alleged Mistress, Jessica Burciaga ... It Ain't Me!
• Vanessa Bryant's Ex-Step Dad -- She's Just Like Her Gold-Digging Mother

Los Angeles Clippers star Chris Paul is planning to stay in town a while ... 'cause he's about to drop $8.5 MILLION on a sick Bel Air mansion that he's buying from Avril Lavigne ... TMZ has learned.

Sources tell us ... Paul fell in love with the 12,184 square foot place, which Avril originally listed for $9.5 mil and decided he had to make a move.

The mansion -- located in a hoity-toity private community called Bel Air Crest -- includes 8 bedrooms and 10.5 bathrooms, a wine cellar, 10-car garage, gym, sauna and a covered outdoor living room.

We're told the real estate agents who engineered the deal are Jade Mills and Zach Quittman from Coldwell Banker in Beverly Hills who reps Avril, and, Ikem Chukumerije from SportsRelocation.com, who reps Chris.

Before Avril moved in ... Travis Barker lived in the place with his ex Shanna Moakler ... and it was even featured on their MTV reality show "Meet the Barkers."

NHL superstar Taylor Hall is lucky to be alive after an ice skate ripped his skull open -- and his team just tweeted the first photo of the nasty ... NASTY aftermath.

The Edmonton Oilers star forward suffered a Frankenstein-like gash Tuesday night when he fell during warmups, and collided with a teammate who couldn't avoid slamming his skate on Hall's head. He needed 30 stitches to stop the bleeding!

Hall -- who's been out of the lineup since the injury -- was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident. NHL players are required to wear helmets during games, but not warmups.

The Oilers are now advising their players to wear helmets -- while other teams are making it mandatory.

Freestyle skiing legend Sarah Burke -- a 4-time X Games gold medal winner -- died today from injuries sustained during a recent skiing accident.

The 29-year-old Canadian crashed hard during a training session at the Park City Mountain Resort superpipe in Utah on January 10.

According to reports, Burke went into cardiac arrest shortly after the accident -- but was resuscitated and airlifted to a nearby hospital ... where she underwent major surgery to repair a tear in a major artery.

But Sarah's injuries proved to be too severe and she was placed on life support. Sarah's publicist confirms she died today, surrounded by her family and loved ones.

What happens in Vegas ... was pretty tame for Tim Tebow yesterday.

The Denver Broncos quarterback was spotted strolling through the Bellagio hotel last night along with his brother and a friend ... after catching a performance of the Cirque du Soleil show, "O."

We spoke to Tebow's rep ... who told us Tim was in town for a Nike photo shoot ... and was only in Vegas for the day.

We're told Tebow didn't gamble, didn't party, and definitely didn't attend the big AVN porn convention that happens to be going on down the street.

We asked how Tebow's ribs and lungs were feeling after the beating he took at the hands of the New England Patriots last weekend -- and his rep told us, "He's doing good ... taking his time to relax and rehab. He's been rehabbing non-stop."

We asked how Tebow would be spending his first free weekend in months ... and the rep told us, "He's looking forward to going to church."

Deion Sanders is firing back at his estranged wife Pilar, claiming her recent accusations -- that he's a narcissistic serial cheater -- are just a "shady" attempt to extort more money from the NFL star.

Deion's attorney, Jody Johnson, tells TMZ -- "The actions of Ms. Sanders and her attorney are nothing more than an attempt to avoid a legally binding contract that she no longer likes, by falsely assassinating the character of Mr. Sanders in an effort to extort additional money from Mr. Sanders."

The contract she's referring to ... the couple's prenup -- which Pilar wants the judge to toss out ... so she can make a grab for the lion's share of Deion's estate.

Pilar claims she was forced to sign the prenup under duress, but Deion says that's BS -- according to his lawyer, "Mr. Sanders committed to a generous financial agreement with his wife when they both voluntarily signed a premarital agreement."

Deion claims it didn't end there either, he also showered her with money and gifts before and during their marriage.

As for Pilar's attacks on Deion's parenting skills -- his lawyer claims, "Anyone who knows Mr. Sanders and observes him on a daily basis knows that he is a committed, ever-present father."

The lawyer adds, "Mr. Sanders will not be intimidated by these shady tactics and remains committed to resolve this matter in a court of law as quickly and amicably as possible."

Pilar Sanders just filed EXPLOSIVE new court documents in her divorce from Deion Sanders -- claiming the NFL star is a narcissistic "bully" who cheated on her with multiple people.

In the docs, obtained by TMZ, Pilar states her husband of 12 years "has been guilty of unkind, uncaring, insensitive, cruel and unusual treatment of [Pilar] ... as well as physical, mental and emotional abuse of [Pilar] and the parties' children."

Pilar says the divorce should be granted on grounds of "mental, emotional and physical abandonment."

Pilar adds, "[Deion] committed numerous acts of adultery ... on numerous occasions throughout the marriage." Just to be clear, she adds, "[Deion] voluntarily had sexual intercourse with others who were not his spouse."

It gets nastier ... she adds, "[Deion] is a bully" ... who "suffers from a narcissistic personality disorder, needs a full psychological evaluation."

In the docs, filed today in Texas, Pilar claims Deion also needs a parenting coach to teach him how to be a better father.

Now, on to the money -- Pilar claims the judge should throw out their prenup ... and award Pilar a lion's share of the estate ... because she feels she was duped into signing the deal while under duress.

In the docs, Pilar requests sole legal custody of the couple's three mutual children ... claiming Deion is a bad, absentee father.

Pilar is also asking for exclusive access to the couple's mega-mansion in Texas ... meaning she wants Deion to finally pack his stuff and get out.

TMZ broke the story ... Deion filed for divorce first back in December ... and later said he was on good terms with Pilar.

Lamar Odom returned to the Staples Center last night to play the Lakers ... for the first time since he was traded away to the Dallas Mavericks ... and was welcomed by the L.A. fans with a standing ovation.

With his Kardashian wife in the stands ... the crowd erupted when Lamar came out on the court ... even Jack Nicholson got out of his seat to show his respect for the former Lakers star.

Odom dropped 10 points ... but it wasn't enough to propel the Mavs to victory ... 'cause the Lake Show took the victory 73 to 70.

Funny thing is ... Odom was traded away so quickly last month, the Lakers haven't had time to remove his image from the tickets.