TMZ Sports - Page 50

Chicago Bears legend Jim McMahon says medical marijuana has been a "godsend" -- and has helped him get off the prescription pills he's been using to treat pain from his football career.

McMahon told the Chicago Tribune that he had been taking 100 Percocet pills a month to treat pain for his shoulders, neck and arms ... but switched over to weed when medical pot was approved in AZ (where he lives) in 2010.

"[The pills] were doing more harm than good," said Jim ... who also suffers from early onset dementia, headaches and depression.

University of Missouri QB Maty Mauk has been cut from the football team for his behavior in recent weeks ... but not specifically because of a video that appeared to show him snorting a line of coke.

Mizzou coach Barry Odom issued a statement saying, "I met with Maty Mauk this morning and informed him of my decision to permanently dismiss him from the football program."

"After gathering information and speaking with a number of individuals this week, it is clear Maty has failed to live up to those expectations by violating team rules in recent weeks."

"As for the video appearing on social media this week, it is concerning, but we believe it is from a long time ago. However, Maty’s failure to live up to expectations in recent weeks was the reason for this decision."

As for the final straw -- still unclear exactly what Coach Odom was referring to.

Anaheim Ducks player Clayton Stoner has pled guilty to hunting without a license when he killed a grizzly bear in British Columbia in 2013 ... and has been banned from hunting for 3 years.

Stoner was originally accused of making false statements to wildlife officials in order to scam his way into getting a license ... though he denied ever lying.

The issue at hand ... hunting licenses are only given to people who spend at least 6 months out of the year in British Columbia. Stoner says he mistakenly believed he qualified.

The judge bought Stoner's story. In the end, 4 charges were dropped -- including knowingly making a false statement to obtain a hunting license, hunting out of season and unlawfully possessing dead wildlife.

There's a reason Cam Newton celebrates the way he does -- black culture -- and there's not a damn thing wrong with that ... so says ex-NFL Pro Bowler Shaun Phillips.

The former SD Chargers defensive end says Cam is a "model citizen" and shouldn't be criticized for dabbin' it up after a good play.

In fact, he compares Cam's celebration habits to Tom Brady -- who celebrates like a white guy (our words, not his).

Laila Ali vs. Snooki??? Yep.

The cast of the new 'Celebrity Apprentice' has just been announced -- and it's packed with star athletes who will battle it out for Arnold Schwarzenegger's approval ... including 2 ex-NFL players.

Among the jocks ... Ricky Williams, Eric Dickerson, Laila Ali, Lisa Leslie and ex-MMA star Chael Sonnen.

The athletes will compete against reality stars like Snooki, Kyle Richards and Porsha Williams ... singers like Vince Neil and comics like Jon Lovitz.

Arnold will reportedly be joined by celeb advisers including Tyra Banks, Jessica Alba, Warren Buffett ... and Clippers owner Steve Ballmer.

The family of a 19 year old USC Berkeley soccer player who died in March claims he was illegally served booze at a USC frat party hours before his death ... this according to a lawsuit obtained by TMZ Sports.

The freshman soccer player, Eloi Vasquez, was killed as he tried to run across the 10 freeway sometime after 2 in the morning on March 28th ... and now his family is pointing the finger at the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity.

In the lawsuit, Vasquez's family says he was allowed into a party at the TKE house even though he had no I.D. -- but the people at the door knew he was likely under 21.

Still, the family claims he was not only served a ton of booze -- but the frat and other party organizers failed to take care of Vasquez when it was obvious he was hammered and unable to care for himself.

Vasquez reportedly left the party around 1:30 AM and somehow got to the 10 freeway -- where he was struck by a car and killed.

The family is suing the entire student executive board of TKE -- from the president to the social chair and even the treasurer -- along with USC and others they believe had a role in the party.

The Clippers would be stupid to trade away Blake Griffin after the fight in Toronto ... 'cause they won't win a chip without him ... so says his former teammate Glen "Big Baby" Davis.

Big Baby says he hasn't spoken with Griffin personally yet (and jokingly speculates on what the fight could've been about) ... but the important thing is the end, where Davis says he thinks the team will come out STRONGER after the incident.

"You need to shave" -- Adrien Broner to stripper.

Some people would call it rude ... others might say he's considerate ... either way, the boxer was dishing out grooming advice to strippers at the booty club the other night and TMZ Sports has the footage.

Broner and his crew hit up Blue Flame in Atlanta where he threw out $10,000 in cash -- but everything came to a grinding halt when he noticed one of the ladies had a flashback to the '80s below the belt.

So, why is Broner so anti-fuzz? Might have something to do with a story he told back in 2013.

Wrestling superfan Wale is back in the fold with the WWE after almost 2 years of feeling "blackballed" ... and celebrated backstage at "Monday Night Raw."

The rapper got to hang out and take pics with Triple H, The Rock and even Vince McMahon during the Miami event this week -- a huge shift in his relationship with the WWE.

Wale used to attend pro wrestling events all the time, but in the past he's told TMZ Sports he's felt frozen out since he fought with a heckling WWE fan. He says the cold war started to end when he recently got chummy with some WWE higher-ups.

Fast forward to Monday when Wale finally scored backstage access, and now he's aiming even higher -- "I actually want to work there and I don't know if [Vince and Triple H] heard about good Wale or bad Wale. Or if they even know what a Wale is."

For the record, a WWE rep says there was never any official ban ... but clearly things have changed a lot since 2014.

Former boxing champ Kelly Pavlik has been formally charged with assault -- for his role in an alleged pellet gun attack that was captured on video and posted on TMZ Sports.

As we previously reported, the alleged victim claims he was working on a pond at Pavlik's Ohio home in August when the boxer grabbed a 22-caliber pellet gun and opened fire on him.

If convicted, Pavlik faces up to 180 days in jail.

In the video, you can hear the man scream for Kelly to stop ... but despite his pleas, someone fires a weapon ... and you hear the man yell, "Kelly ... Ow! You son of a bitch. It went right through my arm."

"You just shot me in the arm ... dude I got blood."

The camera then pans over and you see Kelly holding a pellet gun.

It doesn't matter if he got punched in the face, the Clippers need to FIRE the equipment guy for his role in the Blake Griffin fight, stat ... so says ex-NFL star Ricky Williams.

Long story short ... Ricky says the equipment guy needs to know his role with the team -- and that's to not put himself in a situation where the star player wants to beat his face in!

Blake Griffin -- along with at least one teammate and the team's equipment assistant -- had been drinking in the hours leading up to the fight in Toronto ... multiple witnesses tell TMZ Sports.

According to several witnesses, Griffin and the equipment manager were seen fighting outside of Sotto Sotto restaurant in Toronto on January 23rd.

Before the fight, witnesses say Griffin's crew was spotted at Coco Lezzone -- across the street from Sotto Sotto -- where the group ordered a couple rounds of drinks.

We're told the guys left Coco and went to Sotto ... where they spent roughly 2 hours before witnesses saw the men fighting in the street.

Clippers president Doc Rivers has said he does NOT believe alcohol was a factor -- though he did point out the guys are old enough to drink ... and drinking alone is not a crime.

We spoke with a rep for the Toronto PD who tells us there is no record of an incident involving Griffin -- however, "It is highly possible that police were in the area at the time and may have dropped in. In Toronto it is very likely and possible."

As we previously reported, cops say there is no investigation into Griffin -- and won't be unless someone files a formal complaint, which has not happened.

When reached for comment, a rep for Sotto Sotto had no comment.

We also spoke with the Clippers and reached out to Blake's rep -- but they have all declined comment as well.

Landon Donovan's soccer days might be over but his daddy days are just beginning ... 'cause the futbol legend just announced the birth of a brand new baby boy!

Donovan and wife Hannah Bartell announced the birth via Donovan's Instagram account with a picture of the newborn tyke and a heartfelt caption.

"I've been fortunate to achieve a lot of wonderful things in my life but nothing comes close to being a father. Welcome to the world Talon Bartell Donovan."

Funny candid moment with Rudy Tomjanovich.

The former Rockets and Lakers head coach was at Staples Center Tuesday night for the game ... when asked a question everyone's trying to figure out -- how do you beat the Warriors?

His answer's pretty funny.

We also asked if he thinks the Warriors can win 73 games this season ... eclipsing the 95-96 Bulls.

Derek Jeter's supermodel fiancee is calling pure BS on the legendary gift basket story -- saying she never got one from #2 ... and calls the rumors nothing more than a "stupid story."

Hannah Davis joined Shan & RJ on 105.3 The Fan (KRLD-FM/Dallas) -- when they asked about the rumored Jeter gift basket ... the parting gift DJ allegedly gave to women after he banged them.

Two things ...

First, Steve Harvey has a SMOKIN' HOT 19-year-old step-daughter.

Second, she's officially dating soccer superstar Memphis Depay.

Lori Harvey and the Manchester United star took the official first step of going public with their relationship Wednesday ... each posting romantic coupley pics of themselves on Instagram!

FYI, 21-year-old Depay's got some serious cash -- the dude reportedly signed a $40 MILLION contract with Manchester United last year.

Depay was connected to Chris Brown's ex GF Karrueche Tran for a while -- but that's clearly over and this one is on the upswing!