TMZ Sports - Page 50

Call him old school ... but Shaquille O'Neal says when it comes to retiring Kobe Bryant's jersey, there's only one option ... his ORIGINAL number ... the ocho.

The debate has been raised in the Lakers front office -- since Kobe dominated in both #8 and #24 ... and team officials are still undecided about which number to hang in the rafters at Staples.

But Shaq says there's no decision -- ya gotta go with the original number. Then again, Shaq's probably biased -- since he won 3 rings with Kobe in his #8 days ... and never played with him as #24.

There's more to the clip ... Shaq also says he'd be down to have Kobe on "Inside the NBA" after the season.

Miami Marlins superstar Giancarlo Stanton says he's PUMPED about reports that Barry Bonds could join his team as a hitting coach ... saying he's a GENIUS who could really help the squad.

Stanton co-hosted "TMZ Sports" (tonight at midnight ET, 9 PM PT on FS1) -- when he told us Bonds could be just the person the team needs to take Miami's offense to the next level.

You gotta watch the show tonight ... Stanton is AWESOME and hilarious ... talking about everything from his first big purchase after his $325 MILLION contract to his post-MLB career plans.

Kobe Bryant could still have some basketball left in him after the NBA season -- 'cause we're told he's still a very strong contender to be on the Team USA hoops squad during the 2016 Olympics.

TMZ Sports spoke with Team USA rep Craig Miller who tell us ... Kobe is definitely being considered for the '16 roster.

"Kobe is one of 34 players in the U.S. Men's National team pool. The 12 players who will play for Team USA are selected from that pool."

Miller says the final decision will come down to Kobe's health and the overall composition of the team ... but it seems Bryant's got a pretty good shot.

"Kobe's been involved with the national team since 2007. It's not like he has to prove himself."

Miller stressed that they're not necessarily looking for the 12 best individual players -- but the best 12 players who would make the best overall team ... and clearly, they feel Bryant's experience could be very valuable.

In the end, Miller says the decision will ultimately be up to Team USA basketball director Jerry Colangelo and head coach Mike Krzyzewski.

He's been out of the NFL for 2 years ... but Braylon Edwards is CRUSHING IT in the gym -- turning himself into a monster ... and he insists he's 100% roid-free.

Edwards has basically been living in the gym and working out with a hardcore crew. He looks bigger than he ever was during his time in the league.

Unclear if the 32-year-old is training for a comeback (unlikely after 5 knee surgeries) or just enjoys getting his pump on ... but he insists he's au naturel.

"I don't take roids I work out everyday no exceptions no excuses."

Interesting celebrity foursome at the Knicks vs. 76ers game Wednesday night -- Chris Rock, Beastie Boys rapper Adam Horovitz, Ben Stiller and Jimmy Fallon.

Huge stars ... super successful ... and it got us thinking -- who's got the biggest bank account?

Chris Rock -- movies, syndicated TV show, stand-up ... dude's ballin'

Ad-Rock -- 33 huge years as hip-hop royalty

Ben Stiller -- movies, movies, movies, movies

Jimmy Fallon -- talk show money is no joke

Bottom line ... we don't really know who's got the most cash -- but if they combined forces, they could probably buy a team ... like the 76ers.

Ya play well, ya eat well ... that seems to be the motto with the New York Knicks -- 'cause Kristaps Porzingis just got invited to dinner at Carmelo Anthony's house.

Melo's actress wife LaLa -- star of "Unforgettable" -- was out in NYC when she told us Porzingis has been playing so well, he's "earned a spot at our dinner table."

FYI -- Porzingis has been playing out of his mind this season ... racking up 9 double-doubles in 19 games ... as a 20-year-old rookie.

In fact, the Latvian sensation is so impressive, Lala says Melo has even made the effort to learn some of Kristaps' native language. Interesting, since Kristaps once told TMZ Sports he didn't think ANYONE would wanna learn Latvian!

Funny how things change ...

With the Kobe Bryant goodbye tour in full swing -- the Atlanta Hawks just hooked up a pretty sick retirement gift ... they're naming a REAL black mamba after the Black Mamba.

With the Hawks playing the Lakers on Friday night, the squad announced it teamed up with Zoo Atlanta to pay tribute to Kobe by naming a real live snake "Kobe" after the NBA star.

The zoo even issued a statement saying ... "Mr. Bryant is a legend on the court, and the black mamba is a legend in the wild."

The bad news ... we're told the snake will NOT travel to the game because it's not allowed to travel.

Rick Ross says he's not just party pals with boxer Adrien Broner -- the two are getting ready to make some BIG business moves together ... and TMZ Sports has the inside scoop.

Ross appeared on "The Breakfast Club" with Charlamagne Tha God Thursday and said he's been VERY impressed by the boxer ... who recently started his own record label.

"Me and Broner, we actually having discussions," Ross told Charlamagne ... "I don't wanna let everything go yet. But me and Broner actually having discussions about doin' some things."

Our sources tell us ... the conversations have been focused around Broner's "About Billions" record label -- which has a stable of some up and coming rappers, including Young Butta.

We're told Ross likes what Broner brings to the table -- and are in talks about some kind of joint venture in the very near future.

Stay tuned ...

It's a battle of the QB babes!

Here's actress Olivia Munn and girlfriend to Packers quarterback Aaron Rogers in a sexy black swimsuit (left) ... and cheerleader Kelly Stafford and wifey to Lions quarterback Matt Stafford in a teeny yellow bikini (right).

What catches!

The question is ...

Tiger Woods says he STRONGLY regrets lying to his ex-wife about all the cheating back in the day -- but says they've moved past it ... and now Elin Nordegren is "one of my best friends."

The golfer opened up to Time Magazine ... saying if he could change anything about 2009 ... "it would be having a more open, honest relationship with my ex-wife."

Of course, Elin kicked Tiger to the curb that year after learning he had been banging an army of skeezers behind her back.

But now, Tiger says he's busted his ass ... and worked hard to rebuild his relationship with the mother of his 2 children.

"Having the relationship that I have now with her is fantastic. She’s one of my best friends. We’re able to pick up the phone, and we talk to each other all the time. We both know that the most important things in our lives are our kids. I wish I would have known that back then."

When asked if there was anything he would've done differently ... Woods said, "When it comes down to it, right down to it, it’s just having a more open, honest relationship with my ex-wife when we were married."

"Our frustrations would have come out if we had talked about it and been open and honest with each other. Which we are now, and it’s absolutely fantastic."

Woods says he's already spoken with his kids about why he and Elin are no longer together -- explaining, "Guys, the reason why we’re not in the same house, why we don’t live under the same roof, Mommy and Daddy, is because Daddy made some mistakes."

Floyd Mayweather says DRUGS are to blame for Oscar De La Hoya's recent attack on the boxer -- claiming Oscar must be screwed up in the head for picking such a public fight.

Mayweather appeared on DJ Whoo Kid's "The Whoolywood Shuffle" show and addressed De La Hoya's scathing letter to Floyd ... in which Oscar called him boring and said boxing is better off without him.

"I’m just saying the reason why he’s probably going after me it could be because of the drugs ... because of the jealously."

De La Hoya famously completed a stint in rehab in 2013 for drug and alcohol abuse -- and has admitted a problem with cocaine in the past.

But Mayweather clearly feels the drugs took a toll on Oscar -- insinuating that it messed with his brain so much, he clearly doesn't realize what he's doing.

Holly Robinson Peete -- wife of ex-NFL star Rodney Peete -- says she's struggling about whether or not to let her 13-year-old son play football ... telling TMZ Sports she's VERY concerned about head injuries.

It's an interesting position considering Rodney was a huge football star and played in the league for 16 years.

Plus, Holly says her son is good at the sport and has the body for it -- "he's got thighs like Bo Jackson."

But with concussion fears at an all time high -- Holly says she and Rodney are extremely hesitant to allow their kid to play ... and says it's an ongoing topic of debate in their home.

If Jesus Christ was an MMA fighter, Conor McGregor says he would "whoop his ass."

The UFC superstar was in L.A. gearing up for his big fight with Jose Aldo at UFC 194 on Dec. 12th -- when he told us he fears NO MAN ... alive or dead.

So, what about Jesus then? We asked, Conor answered.

Kobe did it. Shaq did it. Even Metta did it ... and now Jordan Clarkson says he may be the next Lakers player to drop a RAP ALBUM -- but there's a huuuuge catch.

Clarkson hit an L.A. club the other night to celebrate Julius Randle's birthday -- and on the way out, he told us he's kicking around the idea ... but ONLY after he wins an NBA title.

Good news for Clarkson -- he may have some time to work on the lyrics.

BTW, here's a video of Kobe rapping to jog your memory. Good times ...

Jahlil Okafor has been suspended for 2 games by the Philadelphia 76ers -- effective immediately -- in the wake of video showing the NBA star in multiple street fights in Boston.

TMZ Sports first posted footage of Okafor fighting on Thanksgiving Eve last week ... but the team allowed him to play the following game.

Now, after we posted a second video -- showing Okafor attacking another man -- the team has decided to take action.

The team issued a statement saying, "While we are disappointed with his recent actions, we have faith in him as a valued member of the Sixers."

"We will provide the necessary resources to support him on his journey and will do our part to help him succeed both on and off the court."

It's just a matter of time before the Philadelphia 76ers send Jahlil Okafor for the bench ... so says Kenny "The Jet" Smith who says he believes a suspension is coming over that Boston street fight.

The "Inside the NBA" host was at LAX -- and told us he expects the team to sit Okafor for at least a couple of games ... saying he most likely violated a code of contract clause in his contract.

Smith also dropped some knowledge to Okafor and other young NBA stars when it comes to dealing with late night hecklers.