TMZ Sports - Page 50

The sale of Michael Jordan's insanely kick-ass Chicago mega mansion just took the most dramatic turn ever ... getting the Hollywood movie treatment in a full court press to finally get it sold.

Lamar Odom has a 'round the clock security team standing guard outside of his hospital room at Cedars-Sinai ... making sure the NBA star's privacy is protected at all times ... TMZ Sports has learned.

We're told the team wants to make sure Odom is comfortable and doesn't have to worry about anyone on the premises sneaking photos of Lamar in his hospital bed or sneaking out info of his medical records.

We're also told ... the hospital has limited the number of nurses, doctors and other medical staff who interact with Lamar ... because a smaller group of people means a smaller chance of a leak.

Robbie Lawler is no Vin Diesel -- 'cause even though Vin is getting his 7-year-old daughter into MMA right now ... the UFC superstar says his kid will have to wait 'til he's 8.

It's actually an interesting question among parents -- with MMA exploding as a sport, more kids want to get involved at a younger age.

But Robbie -- who began his martial arts training at age 9 -- says, "I'm gonna try to keep my son out of martial arts as long as possible."

"I want him to know his body a little more before he starts getting into martial arts."

Louisville madam Katina Powell didn't get the sympathy she wanted from the ladies on "The View" -- with Sherri Shepherd calling her "disgusting" and saying she refuses to buy the book.

Powell appeared on "The View" Friday morning and talked about how she pimped out women, including her own daughters, to have sex with U of L basketball players and recruits for money.

After the show, Shepherd went off ... saying, "My problem is you got a mother who's bringing [her] daughters in a room while [she's] having sex with basketball players."

"And [she's] talking about we should be concerned about what OUR kids are doing in college?!"

She continued, "What are you teaching your girls?! I think it's disgusting."

Shepherd's disgust is palpable ... check out the clip.

PURSE ATTACK!!!!!!

A grown ass male UFC fighter threw a designer purse at another grown ass male UFC fighter in Dublin yesterday ... nearly causing a war to break out ... and it's LOADED with backstory.

The purse thrower is Norman Parke -- who chucked the bag at his opponent Reza Madadi at the weigh ins for UFC Fight Night in Dublin.

And why the purse attack???

Turns out, Reza was convicted of robbing a Bottega Veneta store in Stockholm, Sweden -- swiping all sorts of purses in a caper that was caught on tape. He actually served 14 months in prison!

Enter Parke ... who obviously thinks the best way to mess with Reza's head is to bring up the past -- which explains the purse ... and judging by Reza's reaction, the strategy worked.

These two fight tomorrow night ... and if Reza wins, he'll actually be able to BUY his next purse with the prize money.

It seemed like a joke in the wake of the Lamar Odom incident -- but apparently, the option to "visit sick friend with Kobe Bryant" is a real thing in the NBA2K16 video game.

Of course, Bryant really did "visit sick friend" in Vegas last week when he raced to the hospital to be with his friend Lamar Odom.

So, when images from the NBA2K16 video games started making the round on social media -- many people thought it was just a joke in bad taste to mock the situation.

Turns out, it's real -- with a rep for the company behind the game telling TMZ Sports, "This is a real thing."

The rep says the outing with Kobe is an option in the "MyCareer" game mode where players can do a variety of things including visiting friends and attending events.

"This just happens to be very coincidental given recent events."

The Louisville basketball sex scandal investigation has forced Andre McGee -- a former UL staffer -- to quit his current coaching gig at another school ... TMZ Sports has learned.

McGee told the University of Missouri-Kansas City he would no longer be assistant coach of the basketball team because the University of Louisville probe was taking too much of his time.

McGee said, "The university deserves a full time assistant coach and I am not able to provide that to the basketball team while the false allegations are being investigated."

As we reported ... madam Katina Powell named McGee as the Louisville staffer who helped set up recruits with her prostitutes. McGee was a grad assistant at UL, who went on to become director of basketball operations. Powell went on "The View" on Friday, and claimed McGee told her UL head coach Rick Pitino knew about the players getting hookers.

Pitino recently called on McGee to step forward and tell the truth about the prostitution ring allegations.

HE'S BACK!!!

The UFC has lifted Jon Jones' suspension after his hit and run arrest in New Mexico and will allow him to return to the octagon effective immediately.

Jones was suspended for 6 months following the April arrest -- and was stripped of his light heavyweight title.

But now, UFC Chairman and CEO Lorenzo Fertitta says he's getting one more chance -- and he better not blow it.

"We've made it clear to Jon that this new opportunity to compete in UFC is a privilege and not a right, and that there are significant expectations we have regarding his conduct moving forward."

"We’re happy to read and see reports that he has embraced the terms of his plea agreement and is using this experience to grow and develop as a person."

Jones has also issued a statement saying he's grateful for the opportunity -- adding, "I am excited to show how much I've grown as a person outside of the octagon."

"It took me losing almost everything I had worked for to realize how much I had. I am blessed and humbled by the continued support of the MMA community and I can't thank my fans enough for their unwavering support through my ups and downs."

"This marks the beginning of a new chapter in my life and my career and let me assure you the best is yet to come."

Lamar Odom might be the swan song for prostitutes Monica Monroe and Ryder Cherry ... at least at the Love Ranch South, where they've been benched by Coach Hof.

The brothel's owner Dennis Hof tells us he put Monroe and Cherry on indefinite suspension after TMZ broke the story about their statement to police ... that Odom was "snorting" something -- possibly cocaine -- in the bathroom while they partied with him.

Hof says he's pissed for 2 reasons. First, the ladies know there's a strict no drugs policy at the Ranch -- and secondly, he says they failed to tell management about the "snorting."

He says both girls have been MIA since the Lamar incident -- they left the Ranch and won't respond to his phone calls.

10:48 AM PT -- Redskins coach Jay Gruden just commented on the situation -- saying, " [DeSean will] get to the bottom of it, as will the police, and we'll go from there."

9:17 AM PT -- We just spoke with DeSean's publicist Denise White who tells us ... "DeSean is getting ready to be a father for the first time. He's currently in Virginia practicing with the team."

"He had no knowledge of the incident until a phone call last evening. It's a legal matter. We're waiting for police to let us know more about the incident."

DeSean Jackson's L.A. home was the scene of a violent home invasion incident this week -- and at least one person inside got pistol-whipped ... TMZ Sports has learned.

It all went down Wednesday morning at Jackson's home in Tarzana, CA -- with law enforcement sources telling us 4 to 5 people stormed the home with guns.

Lamar Odom is not only getting love from his fans, he may just get a kidney.

A bunch of people have been contacting Lamar and Khloe on social media, responding to TMZ's story that Lamar's kidneys are shot and he may need a transplant.

Some people have gone as far as sending blood type info and contact numbers. For example, one guy wrote, "I dont just say stuff. If Lamar needs a kidney Im willing to donate."

Some fans are generous ... for a price. One guy wrote, "Lamar Odom needs a kidney. I will sell him one of mine for $25k." Another guy upped the ante, setting the price at $100k.

Ex-UFC fighter Lavar Johnson allegedly beat the crap out of his girlfriend -- bashing her face in with a closed fist around a dozen times ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Kenny Chesney broke from his country roots Thursday by spending the day in Malibu, paddle boarding and competing in a game of shirtless bocce ball.

The country star was hanging with some friends, including super surfer Laird Hamilton.

By the way ... Kenny's 47.

Darryl Strawberry says Khloe Kardashian's decision to call off the divorce from Lamar Odom didn't just save their marriage ... but maybe Lamar's life ... because LO desperately needs her love and support to get back on his feet.

Strawberry knows what he's talking about -- he not only battled drug addiction during the height of his MLB career (he's now sober) but also runs a treatment center for recovering addicts.

So, when we asked him about the Odom situation, he stressed that Khloe is CRUCIAL to his recovery.

"Lamar stands a much better chance with her by his side. When you stand and confront your problems as man and wife, it makes you stronger. It did for me."

"Most people aren't going to care, so many people walk away. But if they face all these things together I hope that with the help of God he can get his life back in order."

FYI -- Strawberry met his current wife Tracy at a Narcotics Anonymous convention in 2003 and they have since written a book called, "The Imperfect Marriage," to help people in broken relationships.

... you got to get the hell up outta here!

The Bears cut defensive lineman Jeremiah Ratliff on Thursday, but it sounds like things got really nasty 24 hours earlier when he got tossed out the door.

Ratliff, a veteran Pro Bowl player, got into a heated discussion with Bears GM Ryan Pace on Wednesday, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. The "animated exchange" reportedly went down AFTER team security was called to throw Ratliff's 6'4", 287 pound ass out of the team facility.

TMZ Sports spoke to several Bears sources who said they had no idea Ratliff had been cut ... so, seems like the argument went down well after the locker room cleared following Wednesday's practice.

Lamar Odom has undergone 2 emergency surgeries, and it has taken a toll on his mind ... TMZ has learned.

We're told the procedures involved chest issues, but we do not know if it's connected to his lungs or heart.

Our sources say the surgeries have put Lamar in "a fragile mental state." We're told he's emotional and at times, very upset.

We're told doctors have locked the doors on all visitors except Khloe while Lamar deals with the immediate physical and mental issues.