TMZ Sports - Page 50

Plaxico Burress pled guilty to tax evasion in New Jersey Monday -- but will NOT spend one second behind bars ... TMZ Sports has learned.

As we previously reported, officials in Mercer County, NJ charged the ex-NFL star with two tax crimes for failing to pay $48k in state taxes ... each count carried a maximum 5 year prison sentence under NJ's new ultra-strict tax laws.

But Plax's rep tells TMZ Sports ... Burress struck a plea deal with prosecutors in which he agreed to plead guilty and in exchange he'll serve no jail time.

Instead, Plaxico will do community service and pay penalties -- in addition to repaying the money he initially owed. In fact, we're told Plax has already paid off his financial debt.

Burress' rep tells us the whole thing was a giant misunderstanding -- explaining Plax screwed up when initially tried to pay his taxes online.

"He messed up. He knew he messed up. Everyone cooperated, and Plaxico paid the fine," Plax's rep says.

Boxing superstar Shannon Briggs is calling out the heavyweight champ -- saying Deontay Wilder is a lying "COWARD" who's smearing his good name ... 'cause he's secretly scared out of his mind.

Briggs appeared on "TMZ Sports" on FS1 (Monday @ 9PM PT, 12AM ET) -- to respond to Wilder's insinuation that Briggs couldn't pass a drug test if the two agreed to fight in January.

Briggs RIPPED Wilder apart -- and then called B.S. on Wilder's other claim that he's asking for too much money ... telling us he'll fight Wilder FOR FREE!!!!

Ya gotta watch the clip ... and the entire segment on FS1 tonight ... dude's PISSED and guaranteeing he'd K.O. Wilder in one round if they do step into the ring together next month.

Ronda Rousey says she's still "really f**king sad" about her loss to Holly Holm -- and says her mouth is so messed up from the beating, she still can't eat an apple.

The UFC legend is finally breaking her silence about the shocking defeat at UFC 193 -- and told ESPN (via People) that her teeth are still very unstable from all of the shots she took to the mouth.

When asked specifically about when she'll fight again, Ronda said ... "It might be three to six months before I can eat an apple, let alone take an impact."

UFC honcho Dana White says when Ronda can get back in the octagon, she'll definitely rematch with Holm.

As we previously reported, Rousey got medical attention in the hours after the fight -- and White says her busted lip already "looks awesome" after undergoing surgery.

Brett Favre finished 2nd again ... not to the Denver Broncos or New Orleans Saints ... but to his wife Deanna, who absolutely CRUSHED Favre in a Florida triathlon ... beating him by nearly TEN MINUTES.

Brett and Deanna competed in the Key West Sprint Triathlon in Key West, FL this past weekend and although Brett did okay for his second time out (#1 in his category on the bike) he was no match for the Mrs.

Brett turned in a time of 1:35:12 while Deanna popped by him with a final of 1:26:35 ... a pure punishing no matter how you slice it.

To be fair ... Deanna is an experienced triathlete and Favre is a noob but still ... it's easy to see who wears the tights in this family.

Clothes make the man ... and in Lawrence Phillips' case ... he hopes they make him look NOT GUILTY -- which is why he's begging the judge to let him wear civilian clothes at his murder trial.

Phillips is accused of killing his cell mate at Kern County State Prison back in April -- and he's expected to stand trial in 2016.

Now, TMZ Sports has learned the ex-NFL running back has filed new court docs asking the judge to allow him to wear civilian clothes to court during his trial instead of a prison uniform -- because he believes it will help him get a fair trial.

The long and short of it ... Phillips believes he'll be presumed guilty if he's already wearing stripes.

The fact he was already serving time for assault with a deadly weapon probably doesn't help his cause.

Steve Sarkisian has sued USC -- claiming they did him dirty by firing him as the head coach of the football team instead of getting him help for his alcoholism -- and he wants more than $30 MILLION ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Dwight Howard BALLED OUT Sunday night ... partying HARD at a massive Houston mansion to celebrate his 30th bday ... with huge stars like T.I., Bun B, Lil Boosie, Jay and Jas Prince and more.

It all went out at the Chateau Cocomar -- a MASSIVE mansion-style venue in H-town -- where a bunch of D12's closest friends and teammates (including James Harden and ex-NFL star Vince Young) turned all the way up into the early hours.

Some of the highlights: The whole thing was Great Gatsby themed ... James Harden danced his face off with Dwight ... and Lil Boosie and T.I. performed and killed it.

Plus, the dance floor had a big Superman logo on it.

In the end, Howard had a pretty good weekend ... plus, the Rockets won again on Saturday night.

Don't stick a fork in the NY Giants just yet -- because co-owner Steve Tisch says he still has HOPE the G-Men can make the playoffs ... and he's even dishing out advice to his coach Tom Coughlin.

Tisch says the team needs to WIN OUT after losing to the Jets Sunday night -- beating the Dolphins, Panthers, Vikings and Eagles -- but he's confident he's got the players and the staff to pull it off.

In fact, Tisch told our photog exactly what Coughlin needs to do in order to get the Ws he needs.

At least one Lakers player is hot these days ... even though he's dead ... 'cause George Mikan's rookie card just sold for more than $400,000!!!!!

A rare Mikan 1948 Bowman rookie -- the ONLY one ever graded gem mint 10 by PSA -- was snatched up at the SCP Auctions' Fall Premiere auction for $430,664.

The craziest part ... the same card was bought back in 2009 for $225k ... so clearly, Mikan was one hell of an investment.

As for the buyer -- the auction house hasn't revealed the person's name.

He's set to fight in January -- though no opponent has been selected -- but WBC heavyweight champ Deontay Wilder says he's got his sights set on Shannon Briggs ... if Briggs can prove he's not on 'roids.

Wilder was SUPPOSED to fight Vyacheslav "Czar" Glazkov at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Jan. 16th -- but Glazkov backed out and took another fight ... leaving Wilder without an opponent.

The solution?

"The only person I feel will save this show is Shannon Briggs," Wilder tells TMZ Sports.

Briggs is not only a former 2-time heavyweight champ ... but famously chased Wladimir Klitschko around the world for years trying to Clubber Lang him into a title shot.

Wilder says Briggs would be the perfect opponent -- but has 2 concerns ... cash and drug testing.

"Will he accept the money that we're offering him?" Wilder says ... "Shannon feels he's bigger than he really is ... which he's not."

Wilder's also not convinced Briggs is totally clean ... despite the 44-year-old insisting he's au naturel.

It might be the most passionate, poetic job offer ever -- the letter an Italian basketball team sent to Kobe Bryant ... begging him to play for them after he leaves the NBA ... and it's friggin' beautiful.

The team behind the offer is Viola Reggio Calabria -- the team where Kobe's dad, Joe "Jellybean" Bryant, dominated back in 1986-87 ... once scoring 69 points in one game.

The team got word that Kobe has been kicking around the idea of playing overseas -- and reached out through an open letter to the Mamba ... which included a picture of him wearing a Viola shirt back when he was 8 years old.

"The picture shows an eight-year old boy, proud to wear the jersey with the words Viola Reggio Calabria. Unbeknownst back then, he was destined to great things. That eight-year-old boy was you, Kobe."

There's more ...

"Dear child of Reggio Calabria, fantastic Kobe, on this most beautiful stretch of land that is full of affection for you we close our eyes and dream."

"There will always be a home for you at this great club on the Straits of Messina. Our dream might be too big but maybe it is the same dream you unknowingly had as that 8-year-old boy in the picture."

"We want you to come home, to wear our colours, to represent our city, just as your father did before you. There is a black and orange family waiting for you, with the same name on the back: 'Bryant.'"

"A warm hug, dear Kobe, our great basketball legend."

It's no guarantee ... but Barry Bonds' new job as the hitting coach for the Miami Marlins is a "good start" in his quest for Cooperstown ... so says Marlins superstar Giancarlo Stanton.

Bonds hasn't made the cut for the Hall of Fame in his 3 years of eligibility ... due to allegations he juiced during his 22 year MLB career.

But Stanton -- who signed a $325 MILLION contract with the Marlins last year -- clearly thinks it's a good move for both Bonds and baseball ... he recently told "TMZ Sports" he thinks he can add a TON of value to the team as a coach.

Magic Johnson is a behemoth of a man, with really nice toenails.

Holly Holm got a huge welcome from her hometown of Albuquerque, New Mexico ... with an all out parade and tribute to the new UFC Women's champ.

Thousands of Abq locals packed the streets Sunday to honor Holm with a procession that included floats with the mayor, city officials and of course, the champ herself riding on a trolley.

After the parade, fans packed the city square where Holm spoke to the crowd.

You'll remember, she delivered a knock out kick to the previously undefeated Ronda Rousey Nov. 15.

It's pretty cool being #1.

File this one under: Is it too late to become a boxer?

Adrien Broner doesn't have to ask that question ... 'cause the WBA lightweight champion is showing us all the upside of getting socked in the face for a living ... you can afford $750k jewelry for your trouble.

We spoke to Joe Avianne from Avianne & Co. jewelers in NYC and he told us Broner came to him wanting a 1-of-1 for his wrist ... basically something no one will ever have again.

Joe went to work for AB ... dreaming up a yellow stoned blinged out monstrosity with over 100 karats worth of diamonds in the bracelet that ended up setting the champ back 3 quarters of a mil.

NY Giants RB Rashad Jennings might be trading his cleats for dancing shoes ... saying his dream of cuttin' a rug on "Dancing With The Stars" is nearly a reality .... 'cause he's talking to producers!!!

The last time we talked with Rashad we asked if he'd ever be down to get down on 'DWTS' after his playing days were over ... not only did he say yes, but said it's something he's always wanted to do.

So when we got him out at Gotham Comedy club in the Big Apple we had to know ... has he heard anything?

Check out the clip -- Rashad says he's been in contact with the honchos over at 'DWTS' and is confident he'll be the next big NFL star to jitterbug, waltz, and samba on TV.

See ... dreams do come true.