TMZ Sports - Page 50

The NCAA is adding a twist to its annual "One Shining Moment" montage at the end of the Final Four tourney ... Ne-Yo will be doing a version this year -- but he's NOT bumping Luther.

Luther Vandross' version of the song has been mostly used since 2003 ... with 1 exception, in 2010 he was replaced for Jennifer Hudson. But people got pissed so they brought back Luther's version the next year.

Now, the NCAA has announced a new singer will be taking on the song ... Ne-Yo -- but warn he will NOT replace Luther on the main broadcast.

Instead, Ne-Yo's version will reportedly be featured on TNT and truTV -- while Luther's version will air on the main broadcast on TBS.

Su'a Cravens is about to be a wealthy man ... he's expected to be a top pick at the NFL Draft ... and he's already planned on how he'll spend his first paycheck -- on his mom.

Some draft analysts say the former USC linebacker could be a 1st round pick on April 28th ... but Cravens didn't seem to be letting the pressure get to him during a shopping trip in L.A. Thursday.

In fact, the guy told us he's already thinking about how to make money outside of football by using his (gasp) college education! Pretty cool, right?

So, what's Su'a gonna get his mom with all that cash he'll bring in??

The war between Odell Beckham Jr. and Josh Norman will NOT spiral out of control on the field again this season, or else ... so says Odell's boss, NY Giants co-owner Steve Tisch.

Both Beckham and Norman were punished by the league last year for going ballistic on each other during the heated Week 15 matchup between the Giants and the Panthers.

So, when we asked Tisch if tensions have cooled -- he told us, "I hope it's over. I hope when the season starts it's in Josh and Odell's past."

He then declared, "What happened on the field is NOT going to happen again this season ... I hope to any player in the league. "

Jon Jones must have built up some serious rage after being in jail for 3 days ... and hours after he was released, he took it all out on his mitt guy.

The UFC superstar -- who fights Daniel Cormier in less than a month -- wasted no time getting back in the gym ... and you can tell from the video, he's angry.

"Won't let nothing disturb my peace. Right back to work. Round five out of seven. Them Ramen noodles got me feeling right," Jones added in the caption.

Manny Pacquiao doesn't care that he was "banned" from the famous Grove shopping center in L.A. -- the boxer tells TMZ Sports ... I'M STILL GONNA GO ANYWAY!!!

He's killing it in the D-League ... but Jimmer Fredette might not stick around to see if the NBA calls him up again ... telling TMZ Sports he's considering taking his talents overseas.

27-year-old Fredette -- the 10th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft -- didn't blossom into a superstar right away ... and was sent down to the D-League to polish his skills.

Jimmer is flourishing with the NY Knicks D-League squad -- he was the MVP of the 2016 D-League All Star game.

So, when we saw him out in NYC Thursday we had to ask ... how much longer do you stick around waiting for the NBA? The answer ... might not be that long.

Brooke Hogan has a good idea about who should benefit most from her dad, Hulk Hogan's $140 million sex tape judgment.

We got Brooke at LAX Thursday, and she dropped some financial advice for the Hulkster ... if Gawker's appeal fails, and he ends up getting all that loot.

Watch Brooke's take ... even if she doesn't get any dough out of the deal, she's sure her father's court victory will benefit her in another, very valuable, way.

Dana White isn't pulling punches when it comes to Jon Jones -- telling TMZ Sports his decision to cuss out a police officer was just plain DUMB.

Just Matt being Matt ...

With all the D'Angelo Russell, Nick Young drama ... Barnes went to Instagram to remind everyone he still hates Derek Fisher.

He added the caption, "Folks got the game so ass backwards these days you don't know who to trust!"

It's been a rough year for Nick Young ... and not just because of the whole D'Angelo Russell, Iggy Azalea stuff.

The Lakers star just tweeted (and deleted) his gripes with '16 ... calling out fast food places, the Kyrie Irving, Kehlani drama ... and taking a parting shot at his teammate.

And to think, it's only March ...

Abby Wambach, Kobe Bryant and Peyton Manning all golfing together in a "greatest athletes on Earth" retirement game???

It could happen ... according to Abby.

The U.S. soccer legend was relaxing after swingin' away at a Pro-Am with Caitlyn Jenner Wednesday -- and told us she's all about golf these days.

The guy who caught -- and then sniffed -- Kobe Bryant's shooting sleeve after the Lakers vs. Jazz game this week says he's sorry he embarrassed Laker Nation and wants to "clear his name."

This is actually pretty hilarious ...

We got an email from Dorjbat Dorjmenchim with the subject line: "Guy who smelled Kobe's Sleeve" ... so naturally, we had to read it.

Inside was a letter explaining and sort of apologizing for ripping the sleeve away from another fan and inhaling the hell out of the scene live on television.

For the record, we asked Dorjbat what the sleeve smelled like -- "greatness and a little bit of sweat."

Here's the letter ...

There were tons of big stars at Craig's Thursday night -- Viola Davis, Paul Haggis, Nick Jonas -- but Kim Kardashian only stopped to talk to one person ... Saints head coach Sean Payton.

A TMZ staffer inside the restaurant saw the whole thing unfold ... Kim walked into the joint with her good friend Lil' Kim in tow -- "The entire restaurant stopped to look at them. People were in awe."

Kim noticed Payton sitting with 4 other dudes at a table in the middle of the restaurant -- and walked right past other stars (including Haggis) to say what up!

Payton got out of his seat and gave Kim a huge hug -- and congratulated her for a recent accomplishment. She was very appreciative.

Of course, the two go wayyy back ... they first met around 2007 when Kim was dating Reggie Bush who played for Payton's Saints.

Nearly 10 years later ... and with Bush out of the picture for both parties ... they clearly still like each other. Wonder if she's still a Saints fan?

This is pretty damn funny ... if you're not NBA star Festus Ezeli.

The Golden State Warriors star was targeted for a hilarious prank by some of his teammates, including Andre Iguodala and Klay Thompson ... who executed a plot to convince Festus he'd been cut from the team.

9:43 AM PT -- Jon's management team and legal counsel have issued a statement:

"Jon is focused on the fight, and we are focused on the traffic charges that were brought against him. We are confident that those charges will be dismissed because they are baseless."

"More importantly, however, Jon has done extremely well while he’s been under supervision. He has been sober for more than 6 months, and he has completed more than 100 hours of community service, working with those most at need in New Mexico: our youth."

Jon Jones has been punished in his probation violation case -- and while the UFC star is finally being released from jail, he will NOT be able to drive without permission from his probation officer.

Gloves are off ... Floyd Mayweather is hitting Adrien Broner where it hurts -- calling him a broke ass "snake" who's become a real life problem.

Mayweather called in to FightHype.com and went off on his former friend ... ripping him for everything from AB's legal issues to his boxing record to his bank account.

It's brutal ... especially the part where Mayweather says AB stands for "Always Broke."

"One of my cars cost more than he made in his whole career."

Yeah, but one of your cars cost more than MOST PEOPLE make in their career.