TMZ Sports - Page 50

WWE superstar David Otunga took a break from his full time wrestling gig to return to his previous career -- attorney-at-law -- and much like his "Monday Night Raw" matches ... crushed the competition.

TMZ found out Otunga returned to court Thursday morning to represent a man who believes he was wrongfully terminated and denied unemployment benefits. Otunga tells us he was repping the man in his appeal to the NY State Department of Labor.

The proceedings took place before an administrative judge who heard witness testimony and arguments from both sides.

Otunga -- who graduated from Harvard Law School before wrestling -- told us he "smoked the witness during cross examination." The judge agreed ... Otunga's client won the appeal and will now get unemployment benefits.

Otunga says he enjoys keeping his legal skills sharp, and adds ... "If the outcome of the case is any indication of how I'll do in the Royal Rumble this weekend, then it looks like I'll be the winner."

By the way, Otunga didn't do it for the cash -- he took the case, pro bono ... By the way he's engaged to Jennifer Hudson.

There's a reason L.A. Clippers star Chris Paul got a sick deal on his giant Bel Air mansion -- according to Avril Lavigne's ex-husband Deryck Whibley ... the place has a bad ghost problem.

TMZ broke the story ... Avril sold Chris the 8-bedroom palace for $8.5 million -- one million less than her original listing price.

But according to Whibley -- who used to live in the house with Avril -- the discount was no coincidence ... telling us, the mansion is "haunted."

Celebs piling into Super Bowl XLVI (46 to non-Romans) luxury suites better bring their own grub if they want fancy finger foods ... because TMZ has learned this year's stadium menu is loaded with home-style comforts.

While the Giants and Patriots do battle at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis -- Centerplate catering will dish up some Midwest favorites:

-- Braised Buffalo Short Ribs featuring natural buffalo in a classic French braise
-- Heartland Farm Table platter with local veggie selections
-- Chef designed Chicken Pot Pie

Basically ... sushi lovers stay home.

However, average joes in run-of-the-mill super expensive SB seats can get Indianapolis Shrimp Cocktails ... which we're told is legendary -- despite Indy being landlocked.

Oh, and there's a sweet consolation for the NFL teams that didn't make it to the big game. All team owners get a giant jar of mixed M&Ms in their team's colors.

John Elway is proving he'll go to any length to make the Denver Broncos better ... 'cause the Hall of Famer was spotted on a recruiting trip today ... flying coach!!!

Of course, Elway -- along with Broncos coach John Fox -- didn't have a choice. They were flying the low cost Greyhound of the skies ... Southwest Airlines.

A team rep tells TMZ ... Fox and Elway, VP of Football Operations, were scouting college prospects at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, AL -- and hopped the only available connection from New Orleans to Denver.

NFL superstar Ray Lewis admits he fathered an 11-year-old boy in Florida ... and he's totally willing to provide support -- with one caveat ... he doesn't want the baby mama to get her hands on the money.

According to court documents filed in Florida, Lewis has an ongoing paternity case over his son with a woman named Sharnika Kelly. In court papers, Lewis acknowledges being the father, but the issue of support is slightly more contentious ...

According to the docs, Lewis is hesitant to fork over money to Kelly because he says she has an outstanding judgment against her in a civil case ... totaling over $1,000,000.

In the docs, Lewis says he has "grave concerns about the Mother's character" and feels she'll siphon off money meant for his son ... either to pay off her debt or support her other child ... not Ray's.

Lewis is asking the court to establish a guardianship for his son to manage any support Lewis eventually pays.

Lewis and Kelly had a hearing scheduled for last month, but Lewis had to reschedule because he had a game in San Diego. The judge has yet to rule on his request.

Don't count on buying a ticket to Joe Paterno's funeral on eBay -- because the auction site just pulled ALL Paterno funeral ticket listings, claiming the tickets violate one of the website's policies.

A rep for eBay tells TMZ they don't "allow the sale of tickets to events in which all tickets are free to the public."

The rep adds, "In accordance with the policy, eBay will not allow the sale of tickets to Joe Paterno's memorial service."

Multiple tickets flooded the auction site this morning after they were made available -- for free -- to the Penn State community.

The bids for the tickets POURED IN. One auction for a pair of passes even reached $99,509 before eBay pulled it.

Paterno's memorial service is scheduled for this Thursday at Penn State's 16,000-seat
basketball arena.

If you were surprised to hear Kristin Cavallari was pregnant with Jay Cutler's baby, you're not the only one -- the couple themselves were shocked by the news ... TMZ has learned.

Jay and Kristin announced yesterday they were with child -- following a crazy few months where they broke off their engagement, only to announce it was back on.

Sources close to the couple tell TMZ, K&Jay had discussed the possibility of kids -- but planned to start cranking 'em out in a few years ... not any time soon.

But shocking as it was, we're told they're thrilled with the news ... renewing their commitment more than ever to making their relationship work.

If Jay wasn't locked down before, he sure is now.

Carolina Panthers stud Cam Newton celebrated the end of his kick-ass rookie season with a sick party with rappers Common and Young Jeezy ... and TMZ has the pics.

Cam and Jeezy rolled into Club Reign in Atlanta Friday night for the party hosted by Common ... who, according to sources, got $20K for the gig!

Even though it's the off-season ... we're told Cam was partying in mid-season form -- he and Common tipped back bottled water all night.

San Francisco 49ers return man Kyle Williams might be the most hated man in the Bay Area today -- and now his family is stepping up to defend him after a barrage of nasty threats from angry Niners fans.

Williams' two monumental turnovers contributed heavily to yesterday's loss to the Giants -- and his stepmother, Jessica, tells TMZ no one feels worse about the game than the family ... saying they are "devastated."

For those who don't know, Kyle's family is a big deal in sports -- his dad is Kenny Williams ... GM for the Chicago White Sox.

Jessica also referenced the wave of angry tweets aimed at her son, saying ... "We also know there are some people who have singled Kyle out, but there are many, many more that support him. We will rally around Kyle and keep him strong!"

Jessica added, "Kyle is a great athlete and we're looking forward to an outstanding season next year!" If you missed it, here's how this season ended -- Niners fans ... look away.

Just one day after announcing her pregnancy, a freshly knocked up Kristin Cavallari ventured out in the L.A. rain this morning -- grinning with pride over the embryonic cells rapidly splitting in her uterus.

25-year-old Kristin and her 28-year-old baby daddy Jay Cutler broke off their engagement in July -- but rekindled things shortly after in November ... with a vengeance, apparently.

Billy Cundiff -- the Baltimore Ravens' kicker who botched the kick that could have kept the team's Super Bowl dream alive -- was distracted before his field goal attempt ... to the point that coaches were yelling at him.

Two players on the team have spoken with TMZ -- one of whom says he witnessed the confrontation and another who did not witness it but says it is being widely discussed among Ravens players.

Our sources say ... immediately before Cundiff attempted the game-tying FG, he was doing what he was supposed to do -- practicing kicking on the sidelines. But as the Ravens marched down the field, Cundiff was unaware that his time to kick was looming.

It's S.O.P. for kickers to walk toward the field when the time approaches for them to kick -- ready to run into the game.

According to our sources, coaches repeatedly called for Cundiff -- at least 6 times -- to no avail -- he wasn't responding. We're told the coaches became "furious" because Cundiff wasn't ready to go.

Our sources say players and coaches are saying Cundiff was distracted ... not paying attention and not ready to immediately execute a kick.

Deion Sanders has had enough of his awkward living situation -- sharing a home with the woman he's divorcing -- and now he's asking a judge to force his estranged wife Pilar to move out.

According to docs filed in Texas last week, Deion believes the home is his separate property and that Pilar "should be ordered to vacate the residence."

Deion believes the divorce should be governed by the prenup. As we previously reported, Pilar wants that prenup thrown out because she feels she was duped into signing it. But Deion says Pilar knew exactly what she was signing, and even consulted with lawyers beforehand.

Deion also wants the court to sanction Pilar for violating the rules of conduct for people getting divorced in Collin County ... which state both parties cannot:

-- Disturb the peace of the children
-- Make disparaging remarks about the other or their family
-- Talk about the divorce in front of the kids

Vanessa Bryant has become the Holy Grail for "Basketball Wives" producers ... and TMZ has learned, the people behind the VH1 show are prepping to make her an offer she can't refuse.

Multiple sources close to the production tell us, producers are putting together "an extremely lucrative pitch for Vanessa" ... for her to become a recurring character.

As one source put it, “Vanessa has more than enough storyline and would bring the show to another level.”

As for the timing -- we're told producers never dreamed of approaching Vanessa while she was married to Kobe ... and our sources say Vanessa would NOT have been receptive.

Budget constraints were also an issue when the show was in its infant stages -- because producers knew Vanessa would be very expensive -- but now that BW's one of the highest rated shows on the network, producers have lots more to spend on talent.

If Vanessa accepts, we're told producers would instantly make her a LEAD on the LA edition of the show.

"American Idol" judge Steven Tyler is finding himself on the other end of the criticism this afternoon ... he's being mercilessly attacked for his rendition of the National Anthem today.

Tyler, in a glittery New England Patriots scarf, sung "The Star Spangled Banner" before today's Raven/Patriots AFC Championship game.

Popular sports site Bleacher Report posted the video under the headline, "Watch Steven Tyler Butcher the National Anthem." Jason Whitlock, columnist for FOXsports.com, tweeted, "Steven Tyler far more obscene than Janet Jackson's t*tty."

To us, he sounded exactly like you'd expect Steven Tyler to. But we ask you ...

Margie Phelps, daughter of Pastor Fred Phelps, announced on Twitter today the Westboro Baptist Church would be picketing the funeral of former Penn State football coach Joe Paterno.

Paterno passed away earlier today from lung cancer. He was 85.

Last October, Westboro announced they would picket the funeral of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. They also picketed the funeral of Michael Jackson.

The church is known for their extreme views against homosexuality. Based on other tweets (see below), Paterno's involvement in the Jerry Sandusky sexual abuse scandal is what drew their attention.