TMZ Sports - Page 50

Ex-NFL head coach Denny Green died Friday morning at the age of 67, his friend confirmed to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Green reportedly died from cardiac arrest.

Green coached in the NFL from 1992 to 2006 ... famously leading the Minnesota Vikings to a 15-1 record in 1998.

He later went on to coach the Arizona Cardinals -- and, after losing a game to the Bears, gave one of the most famous post-game comments in Monday Night Football History.

"The Bears are who we THOUGHT they were! That's why we took the damn field! Now if you want to crown them, then crown their ass! But they are who we thought they were! And we let 'em off the hook!"

3 coaches who worked under Green went on to become head coaches in the NFL -- Tony Dungy, Mike Tice and Brian Billick.

AZ Cardinals president Michael Bidwell issued a statement saying, "All of us at the Cardinals are incredibly saddened by the news of Dennis Green's passing."

"Coach Green will rightly be remembered as a true innovator, leader and pioneer among football coaches. We express our deepest sympathy to his family and his many friends."

Muhammad Ali's legacy ... is in Flavor Flav's hands -- 'cause the rap legend tells TMZ Sports he's managing Muhammad's grandson's boxing career!

Flav was out in Bev Hills with TV pitchman Ron Popeil -- when he told us all about his 15-year-old prodigy Nico Ali Walsh ... a rising star in the sport (check out video below, he's in white trunks).

"The boy is good," Flav tells us ... "That's all I gotta tell you, he's good. Come see the fight."

Flav says Nico's fighting in L.A. on July 30th.

Flav's also a huge fan of Nico's brother, Biaggio -- a big-time high school football star and model ... who also happens to be Flav's godson.

Calvin Harris works out like a real-life pro athlete ... so says Minnesota Vikings safety Antone Exum, who says the DJ blew him away during a Thursday gym sesh.

Doug Christie has to submit to routine testicle checks ... given by his wife ... who believes she can tell if he's being faithful by checking the size and texture of his man-berries.

Seriously.

Doug's wife, Jackie Christie, appeared on "Raq Rants" -- where the "Basketball Wives LA" star explained why she believes the nut check is legit.

Jackie admits there could be flaws in her system (like cold hands) ... but says follow up squeeze sessions will help with accuracy.

The NBA is officially saying goodbye to North Carolina ... the 2017 All-Star Game will be moved to a state more friendly to the LGBT community.

The catalyst for the decision ... the North Carolina law that requires people to use bathrooms that correspond with their birth gender. The move to repeal the law failed.

The game -- which was originally scheduled for February 19, 2017 at Timer Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte -- will now be moved to another city ... as yet undetermined.

An NBA official says, "We do not believe we can successfully host our All-Star festivities in Charlotte in the climate created by HB2."

Here's the body cam footage from the moment Indianapolis Colts running back Robert Turbin was popped for weed in Utah earlier this month ... when cops say they found a "rolled joint type thing."

The footage begins after the 26-year-old was pulled over for running a stop sign around 11:20 PM on July 8th ... and cops inform Turbin they are going to search the car because they smelled weed.

The officer later informs Turbin of "a rolled joint-type thing that was found in the center console."

Turbin was not arrested -- instead, he was simply given a citation and was ordered to appear in court later this month.

Aaron Hernandez just made his first court appearance with his new lawyer, Jose Baez ... the same guy who got Casey Anthony off for murder.

TMZ Sports broke the story ... the ex-NFL star met with Baez and officially retained him as his attorney last month to represent him in his double murder trial.

Hernandez is accused of gunning down two people in a drive-by shooting in 2012. Of course, he was previously convicted for the 2013 murder of Odin Lloyd.

Ray Rice says ... if an NFL team signs him this year, he'd donate every single game check to charity.

The former running back told USA Today's Tom Pelissero he would specifically give to organizations with programs focusing on education and prevention of domestic violence.

"All the scrutiny that I’ve got, it was deserved, because domestic violence is a horrible thing," Rice said.

"Me donating my salary is something that’ll be from the heart for me. I only want to play football so I can end it the right way for my kids and for the people that really believed in me."

"I’m not saying I’d be [donating the salary] to get on the field, but it’s something that will show where my heart is. My heart is about finishing the right way and helping people along the way."

If the 29-year-old was signed, his minimum salary as a 7th year vet would be $885,000.

One year -- to the day -- that Shaq and Scottie Pippen were blasting each other in a surprisingly aggressive cyber-fight ... the two have buried the hatchet ... and Pippen posted a pic to prove it.

Remember, the two got into it bad last year -- with Shaq essentially telling Scottie that he rode Michael Jordan's coattails during the Bulls championship run back in the '90s.

Pippen responded by insulting Shaq's shooting ability -- so Shaq called him a "bum," a woman and the "Mase" to MJ's "Puffy."

But time apparently heals all wounds ... 'cause the two ran into each other in Vegas -- and were all smiles.

The K.C. Royals got some real talk from President Obama Thursday -- who gave 'em all sorts of props for winning the World Series ... but told 'em their nicknaming skills are pretty weak.

The Royals got to visit 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. as personal guests of POTUS -- and Obama did his usual thing ... roasting the team with some friendly zingers.

Among the topics ... nicknames, hashtags and Fetty Wap.

Seal really REALLY likes Novak Djokovic -- like, a lot -- and when he found out the tennis star was at his concert in Spain, he gushed over ND ... and then dedicated "Kiss From a Rose" to him.

"There is so much a man can tell you, so much he can say ..."

Check out the clip ...

It's been a year and half since Cristiano Ronaldo and bikini model Irina Shayk broke up -- but they're each doing okay ... with Shayk chillin' with Bradley Cooper in Italy and CR7 partying with Eva Longoria in Spain.

Irina and Bradley have been together since April 2015 -- though they haven't spoken publicly about their relationship.

Ronaldo, on the other hand, hasn't settled down at all -- and has been spotted out with all sorts of different ladies since the big split.

He's currently in Ibiza -- where he ran into Eva Longoria.

But the real love of Ronaldo's life ... himself ... the dude takes more selfies than Paris Hilton -- and recently busted out the selfie stick to get the perfect angle on his yacht.

Enjoy the eye candy.

Here's video of Jason Pierre-Paul doing something with 3 fingers that you couldn't possibly do with all five ... pumping a 120 dumbell with the hand he blew up in that fireworks disaster.

It's super impressive ... JPP -- ever in training mode -- breezes through his set like it's nothing, almost making you forget he lost a couple fingers in the accident ... fingers you'd think he needs to lift heavy.

He obviously doesn't ... leading us to our next question.

Kobe Bryant's letter to his 17-year-old self was all about advising him how to handle his money -- warning him how massive wealth can screw up relationships.

So, what would Matt Barnes say to his 17-year-old self?

We asked him outside Penthouse nightclub in L.A. Wednesday night -- and his answer was interesting considering the situations he's been involved in over the past year.

Odell Beckham Jr. says there was NEVER anything romantic with Khloe Kardashian -- but the flirty pictures of the two nearly destroyed a relationship with ANOTHER woman he was seeing.

The NY Giants superstar talked about the Kardashian encounter with GQ -- scoffing at rumors the two were "dating" ... and explaining that they were just talking during a party at Drake's house.

"We were in the kitchen of the house, where there was only 15 people. It’s just kind of like … ‘dating?’ I just met this person. This is maybe the second conversation we’ve had."

It was the second time the two had been spotted hanging out in a matter of days -- they were spotted at a Vegas club together before that.

Odell says the incident caused some drama with another woman in his life -- 'cause he had some 'splainin' to do after the pics came out.

"Things go like that and then some other girl that I may have been talking to hears about it, and now it’s more drama, more commotion in my life. And I’m sitting here trying to explain my situation to somebody, and it’s not even a situation."

BTW, Khloe also shot down the dating rumors -- saying it was just innocent flirting.

Retired porn star Lisa Ann is seriously PISSED at anyone who thinks she laid a hand (or anything else) on Ray Rice ... saying anyone who actually thinks she did needs to "get a life."

This all started when Lisa posted a pretty innocent picture of her and Ray at a charity basketball game over the weekend ... leading some to speculate if something was going on with the very married ex-NFLer.

We got Lisa out in NYC and she LET LOOSE on the haters ... saying she's been getting bullied nonstop since the picture went up ... and calling out those who think she bangs everyone she meets.

You gotta listen to her go ... it's pretty freakin' impressive.