TMZ Sports - Page 50

Ex-Seahawks star Walter Thurmond III is trading his football helmet for a movie producers chair … telling TMZ Sports he’s already involved in 3 feature films and a documentary.

Thurmond -- who's only 28 -- retired last week after 6 very successful, but injury-plagued seasons in the NFL ... leaving many fans shocked.

"I am completely done with professional football," Thurmond tells us, "It's time for me to pursue other passions."

Those passions ... producing and directing movies. Among the projects ... a music documentary (about Eddie Levert of the O'Jays) and a feature horror film.

Thurmond's not exactly new to the industry, saying, "I've dabbled in film since 2011," but is now 100% committed to the craft ... "The pedal is to the metal in the film space."

So, who lands the lead roles in Walter's dream cast?

Dave Chappelle ... "It'd be a dream to work with one of my comedic hero's."

"I also think working with Peter Berg would be a great opportunity."

If Odell Beckham Jr. is climbing Khloe Kardashian's mountain of booty, he has a pass to do so ... 'cause his team's owner, Steve Tisch, says he has zero problems with the hookup.

We got Tisch out in BH and asked if he had issues with rumors that Khloe and Odell are playing full contact ... rumors started after we broke some racy pics of the two hanging out at Drake's house.

Check out the clip -- Steve is totally unmoved by the so-called "Kardashian Kurse" that supposedly affects the men they date ... saying he trusts Odell immensely both on the field and off.

49ers WR Torrey Smith made his triumphant return to Maryland last night -- but not for the Ravens ... dude was cleaning house at a pro wrestling show!!

Torrey hit up the MCW event in Joppa, MD -- and got ringside to help out his friends Damien Sandow and Colt Cabana take on The Kings.

At one point, Smith got physical with manager Justin Schiegel -- with a shove slam to the ground ... followed up by some good ol' fashioned stomps.

He even let his 2-year-old son Torrey Jr. get in on the action -- it's pretty great.

Listen up you degenerate gamblers ... Bob Baffert, one of the greatest horse trainers of all time, is gonna give you an iron-clad LOCK to win big money at the Belmont Stakes Saturday.

We got Baffert -- a guy whose horses have won nearly $250 MILLION in prize money -- out at LAX and asked him who he thought the smart money was on in Saturday's Belmont Stakes.

Bob answers the question ... and because he happens to NOT have a horse running in the race ... you have to imagine he's answering with his head and not his heart.

The man who sued Adrien Broner for beating him up and robbing him outside of a bowling alley has suddenly dropped the lawsuit ... TMZ Sports has learned.

According to docs filed in Cincinnati ... the man is dismissing the suit he brought against Broner, claiming the boxing great beat the crap of him and stole more than $12k. The whole altercation was allegedly over a bowling bet gone bad.

It's unclear why the alleged victim's had a change of heart, but Broner doesn't care much. His lawyer tells us he's "moving forward" ... and added he couldn't comment on the possibility that a settlement deal had been struck.

Broner's still facing criminal charges -- including felonious assault and aggravated robbery -- for the alleged incident. The trial is set to begin next month.

Mark Cuban might've just gotten his northern California privileges revoked for good ... 'cause the Mavs boss just publicly proclaimed he's throwing his support behind the Cavs in the NBA finals.

San Diego Chargers linebacker Melvin Ingram just dropped $22,000 on a RIDICULOUS custom grill ... complete with 700 DIAMONDS ... and TMZ Sports has the pictures.

In addition to the 6.88 carats of flawless, handcrafted diamonds ... there's also 14 carats of white gold.

We talked to Zahir Jooma -- owner of Icebox Diamonds & Watches in Atlanta -- who tells us Melvin LOVED the piece so much he told him he'd "never take it off."

Grill > Mouthpiece

That smoke show of a Warriors fan who gave Steph Curry the sex face during game 2 of the NBA Finals is back -- and she's sitting IN FRONT of Steph's wife.

Yes, Instagram model Roni Rose has found herself courtside in Cleveland for game 4, while Ayesha Curry is almost directly behind her ... 2 rows back.

This creates an issue for Steph: How the hell can he look up at Ayesha AND keep Rose out of his line of sight at the same damn time??

More problematic for the NBA MVP -- Rose is sitting right behind the Warriors bench.

Focus, Curry. Focus.

Lamar Odom's still got love for his old Lakers running mates -- and he just did something with one of 'em he hasn't done since before he nearly died in the brothel.

LO was hanging with Trevor Ariza Thursday night at the Copa America game between Mexico and Jamaica. Late Friday afternoon, Lamar posted a pic of them at the Rose Bowl match ... which marked his return to social media.

Odom's last Instagram post was 35 weeks ago -- just days before he overdosed.

Muhammad Ali's memorial service was punctuated by emotional and humorous stories about his life ... as told by his family and famous friends.

Billy Crystal was a close friend and told the packed arena in Louisville about the first time they met ... and how Ali reacted to Crystal's impression of him.

Many, many others spoke during the nearly 4-hour long ceremony. A scruffy Crystal joked, "I was clean shaven when this started."

Ali's widow, Lonnie ... 3 of his daughters ... Sen. Orrin Hatch and Bryant Gumbel also shared their memories.

President Bill Clinton delivered the final eulogy of the memorial, talking about the one thing Ali never got enough credit for -- his intelligence.

Sylvester Stallone's training and weight loss show, "Strong" was jacked from the mind of a personal trainer ... according to the suit the guy just filed.

Robert Fletcher says he created a show called "America's Next Great Trainer" and shopped it around Hollywood in 2014. He says he sent his pitch materials to Stallone's publicist, and also to agents at William Morris Endeavor ... which reps Stallone.

Fletcher thinks it's no coincidence that in early 2016 he started hearing about "Strong" -- the NBC show that lists Sly as one of its executive producers.

"Strong" features male and female trainers competing in various physical challenges -- and in his suit, Fletcher says that's almost a carbon copy of his show idea.

He says it's also fishy that one of the "Strong" trainers is a guy named Todd Durkin. Fletcher says Durkin was attached to 'ANGT' ... but went radio silent in 2015.

He's suing Stallone, NBC, Durkin and other "Strong" producers for at least $7 mil.

UFC badass Ronda Rousey's secret is out ... she's a big softy at heart.

Check out the book Rousey was carrying Thursday as she left Glendale Fighting Club. It's Jojo Moyes' wildly popular romantic novel "Me Before You," which was made into a major chick flick that came out last week.

Yup ... sometimes fighters need a good cry too.

Tony Romo signed a $108 million contract with the Cowboys a while ago ... and it's clear what he DIDN'T spend any of it on ... neck bling ... 'cause the QB got seriously out-iced in Texas Thursday night.

Romo was hanging out with Dez Bryant & 2 Chainz at a party for Dirk Nowitki's Heroes Foundation charity when he posed for this one-of-these-things-is-not-like-the-other picture.

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Nelson Agholor is under police investigation in Philly after being accused of sexually assaulting a stripper at a gentleman's club Thursday afternoon.

According to the Philadelphia Magazine ... Agholor -- a 23-year-old former 1st rd. draft pick from USC -- is accused of raping a 27-year-old exotic dancer at a club near the Eagles practice facility.

The Philadelphia PD said, "On June 9, 2016, police were informed of an incident that occurred at the Cheerleader's Gentleman's Club around 3pm in which a 27-year-old female dancer alleged that she was sexually assaulted by a member of the Eagles. At this time our Special Victims Unit is actively investigating this incident."

A rep for Eagles told us, "We are aware of a police investigation involving Nelson Agholor. The organization has been in contact with Nelson and with the proper authorities in Philadelphia."

We reached out to Agholor's agent ... so far, no word back.

Lawrence Taylor had a bloody gash in the back of his head after the alleged domestic violence incident that lead to his wife's arrest.

Kevin Hart has some sound and effective advice for Justin Bieber and all other vertically challenged males who find themselves on the receiving end of a punch.

We got the 5'4" actor in NYC Thursday and he has 2 surefire ways to thwart an attack by large men.