TMZ Sports - Page 50

Fired Baylor head football coach Art Briles has broken his silence after getting the ax ... admitting he has "certainly made mistakes" during his coaching career ... and wishes he could get a do-over.

Briles -- along with several athletic dept. staffers -- was terminated in the wake of an investigation that proved Baylor was protecting football players in the wake of sexual assault allegations and in some cases retaliating against female students who dared to come forward.

Now, Briles has issues a statement ... and while he didn't specifically address the allegations -- he acknowledged he made mistakes during his coaching career.

"After 38 years of coaching, I have certainly made mistakes and, in hindsight, I would have done certain things differently. I always strive to be a better coach, a better father and husband, and a better person."

Briles says the report detailing the investigation into Baylor "has not been shared with me directly, despite my full cooperation with the investigation."

Briles also cryptically teases that he didn't know the full extent of the scandal:

"I can only assume that the report, which is not independent, supports the conclusions that the Board has already drawn. I hope to share with you what I was aware of as soon as I can so Baylor Nation can begin the healing process."

The takeaway is that Briles will say he was NOT the primary enabler. Still, he ends his statement by praising Baylor.

Two of the biggest superstars in the world came face-to-face in NYC Wednesday ... when Brazilian soccer phenom Neymar met with Michael Jordan ... and decided to show off his (not terrible) hoop skills.

6:23 AM PT -- We just spoke with Valentina Shevchenko who says she will NOT back out of UFC on FOX 20 ... telling us straight up, "I will fight Holly."

When asked about her health, she told us, "I am feeling good. No injuries. Just a few days was a very big stress to me. I’m just starting to feel better now.”

UFC honcho Dana White says he's not sure if Valentina Shevchenko will still fight Holly Holm in July -- after V.S. dodged bullets in a bloody shootout in Peru ... calling the incident "madness."

As we previously reported ... Shevchenko and her trainer were eating at a chicken restaurant when 3 masked gunmen barged in and began robbing the place.

Shevchenko's trainer pulled out a gun and began firing -- killing one of the robbers ... but he suffered a gunshot to the stomach in the process. Shevchenko escaped unharmed. Her trainer is being hospitalized and is expected to survive.

Wednesday night, White told us he's unsure if Shevchenko will fight Holm at UFC on Fox 20 in July -- but seemed to understand if she decides to pull out.

"When things like that happen, it puts you in touch with your mortality," White said.

Meantime, Shevchenko has issued a statement of her own -- calling her trainer a hero ... whose quick actions saved her life and the lives of the other patrons.

Be careful Kevin Durant ... there's a 4'11" Hollywood star who says if you bolt Oklahoma City in free agency ... she'll KICK THE EVER-LOVING CRAP OUT OF YOU.

Minnesota Timberwolves stud Karl-Anthony Towns says he's giving away his NBA Rookie Of The Year Trophy ... and TMZ Sports has the scoop on the deserving group that's gonna hold onto his hardware.

KAT was leaving Craig's in West Hollywood when we congratulated him on taking the award home ... then asked the obvious question ... where you gonna keep it?

Here's a hint ... it's going to the people who LITERALLY made him who he is.

Here's Sports Illustrated swimsuit model Nina Agdal writhing around in a tiny bikini.

Another huge blow to the Baylor football program -- a top high school QB has decommitted from the school ... after head coach Art Briles got the chop.

Kellen Mond -- a top rated duel threat QB from Florida -- had previously committed to attend Baylor after his senior season in 2017.

But moments ago, he announced that the deal is off ... saying, "After further discussion with my family, I have made the decision to decommit from Baylor University."

"When I committed last summer, the primary basis was due to having the leadership of Art Briles and Kendall Briles as a great football foundation."

"Although this decision has been difficult, I would like to sincerely thank the TREMENDOUS Baylor fans and community for their support during this recruitment process."

Khloe Kardashian has apparently broken her silence on the Odell Beckham situation -- posting tweets that seem to indicate the two aren't an item ... they were just boozy flirting at Drake's party.

Spanish Math Question: What's Ocho minus Cinco?

Answer: The size (in inches) of Chad Ochocinco's member ... so says Chad Ochocinco.

Here's San Jose Sharks' Brent Burns sporting his hi-grade hockey beard (left) and his alternate team captain Joe Thornton with his crimson crumb catcher (right) on the ice as they pursue the Stanley Cup against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

They may be teammates in the rink ... but they clearly have a growing feud.

The question is ...

1:52 PM PST -- Shortest beef ever?

We just spoke with Pete who says he was "obviously joking" and that he LOVES Shaq. In fact, the two hung out at the Justin Bieber roast last year.

He adds, "Plus, I would never offend a man that large."

Shaq versus ... Pete Davidson from "Saturday Night Live"?

Yep.

The comedian apparently HATED Shaq's undercover driver video he made for Lyft -- 'cause after we posted it on TMZ Sports, Pete swatted the clip down as "f***ing lame."

Pete posted his review on Instagram -- and, while he didn't mention Shaq by name, it was obvious what he was referring to.

"Hey you know what would be hilarious guys? If a really famous person went undercover as an Uber driver. Isn't that so hilarious and crazy!! UGH SO F***ING LAME."

So far, no word from Shaq ... but he usually isn't one to back down from a celebrity feud.

Wrestling legend Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka was ruled mentally incompetent by a Pennsylvania judge -- and therefore will NOT stand trial for the 1983 murder of his ex-girlfriend.

Just last year, the 73-year-old was charged with the murder of Nancy Argentino -- who died following an alleged altercation with Snuka in her hotel room before a wrestling match in 1983.

Snuka's legal team argued that he suffers from early onset dementia. His wife took the stand and claimed his mind is essentially gone -- saying he can't pick his car out of a parking lot and will randomly fry chicken at 2 AM.

The judge ultimately bought the argument -- and also said she did not believe Snuka was smart enough to fake being mentally incompetent.

The ruling is huge for Snuka -- because defendants have a right to understand what's going on so they can participate in their defense. So, if someone is not mentally fit to stand trial, they can not be convicted of a crime.

His mid-range jumper might need work ... but NBA prospect Ben Simmons is showing he's got the all important kick-the-ball-in-from-deep-three game down ... by making an INSANE trick shot on video.

Prepare to be amazed ... Simmons -- who's the consensus #1 pick in the upcoming draft -- kicks the damn ball in soccer style from DEEP three point range, then has the appropriate freak out session.

Mike Singletary tells TMZ Sports ... he's "absolutely" interested in the head coaching job at Baylor University ... and has even had some casual conversations with the powers that be.

We spoke to the NFL legend (and ex-49ers head coach) moments ago ... who says he's still passionate about his alma mater -- and strongly believes it can rise from the ashes.

“I believe in Baylor," Singletary says ... "I believe in the school. Right now they just have to put the right leadership in place. Baylor can do great things.”

And with Singletary's name being floated around as a possible candidate for head coach -- we asked straight up if he'd consider taking the job.

"Absolutely," Singletary said ... noting that his son, John, is a freshman at Baylor and a walk-on football player. He thinks it would be cool for the two to be a part of the same team.

Singletary says he's had "very casual conversations" with Baylor honchos about the job -- but not an official interview.

So, can Baylor really bounce back from the biggest scandal in its history?

Forget the Olympics, the Zika virus has already infiltrated MLB -- with Detroit Tigers pitcher Francisco Rodriguez saying he contracted the virus in Venezuela during the offseason.

The 34-year-old revealed his health status to ESPN -- saying his symptoms started off almost like a common cold ... but quickly escalated.

"It wasn't a cold. A cold, you have a sneeze, have a headache, take a couple Tylenol and you're done. You don't have a cold for two weeks, you don't have a bodyache for two weeks, you don't have headaches, throwing up, weaknesses for two weeks."

Rodriguez says he was bedridden for 2 weeks while he fought off the mosquito-borne virus -- which some experts say can cause severe birth defects and neurological issues in adults.

He also says it took him roughly 2 months before he started to feel normal again -- and notes that he was never considered contagious.

As for Olympic athletes worried about catching Zika in Brazil -- Rodriguez says the concern is real.

He spent 7 seasons in the NFL, but now, ex-Minnesota Vikings defensive end Ray Edwards is thriving in a different sport -- BOXING ... where he's already racked up an impressive 10-0 record.

The 31-year-old has been fighting as a heavyweight ever since he left the NFL in 2012 -- since, you know, he's massive ... 6'5", 268 lbs.

But Ray's new career ain't some hobby -- he's sparred with heavyweight champ Deontay Wilder and says he has his sights set on a a real deal title fight. He even has some opponents in mind.