TMZ Sports - Page 50

Talk about one helluva surprise!!!

The NAACP didn't get a heads-up about Michael Jordan's $1 million donation -- they learned about it Monday, at the same time everyone else did ... and they couldn't be happier!

"Today, the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. was thrilled to learn that Michael Jordan will be making a $1 million grant," the org. said in a statement to TMZ Sports.

In fact, the NAACP's Legal Defense Fund president, Sherrilyn Ifill, says, "We are grateful for this support, which will allow us to deepen our engagement on the issue of policing reform at this critical time in our country.”

Jordan went public about the donation this morning in an article for The Undefeated.

We also spoke with a rep for the other group that got a mil from MJ -- the International Association of Chiefs of Police -- who says they were notified "very late last night."

More trouble for ex-NBA player Glen Rice Jr. -- the 25-year-old was arrested for robbery Monday morning in Georgia ... less than a year after he was shot in a bizarre gunfight at T.I.'s restaurant.

Here's what we know ... Rice was booked at 6:37 AM this morning for felony robbery, aggravated battery and possession of marijuana. He has since been released from custody.

The details surrounding the incident are unclear -- we're working on it.

By the way, Rice just completed a pre-trial intervention program stemming from the 2015 shooting incident.

As we previously reported, Rice was arrested -- after he was shot in the leg -- when cops say he was carrying 240 grams of weed and a bunch of cash. He was charged with weed and gun possession.

Unclear if this new arrest will affect that case.

NBA player DeJuan Blair -- who played for the Washington Wizards last season -- was cited for misdemeanor battery against a woman at a Vegas club this weekend ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Las Vegas Metro PD has confirmed ... officers were called to Drai's nightclub at The Cromwell around 1 AM Sunday morning to respond to a report of a man who allegedly got physical with a woman.

The alleged victim told police ... she was arguing with Blair over the line into the club when he picked her up and tossed her off to the side. The woman was pissed and retaliated by striking him back -- before calling for help.

Sources tell us ... when cops arrived they checked security video and decided there was enough evidence to issue a citation to Blair for misdemeanor battery. He was NOT arrested.

However, cops tell TMZ Sports Blair was also issued a "trespassing warning" from the property and told to leave immediately.

People close to Blair tell TMZ Sports he's adamant he did not throw the woman -- as one source put it, "He simply moved her out of the way when he was trying to get by her. Nothing more."

TMZ Sports has obtained footage from the night Buffalo Bills rookie running back Jonathan Williams was arrested for drunk driving ... and at one point he begs the officer for mercy because he just got drafted.

Williams -- who was selected in the 5th round of the 2016 Draft -- was pulled over on July 14th in Arkansas.

The cop clearly suspects Williams is drunk and gives him various field sobriety tests including "walk the line" -- Williams bombed that.

Despite the fact he copped to drinking a 40 ounce before getting behind the wheel, Williams refused a breathalyzer and was placed under arrest.

Once in the backseat of the cop car, a desperate Williams tries to explain his situation -- saying he was with a woman who was WAY more drunk than he was ... and he tried to do the noble thing by driving so she wouldn't have to.

Williams tells the cop he doesn't want the officer to jeopardize his integrity -- but then drops the whole, "I just got drafted" line ... and says, "I'm really not trying to be in any type of trouble."

Aldon Smith says it's NOT him in a Periscope video that appears to show the embattled NFL star smoking a blunt.

The video surfaced over the weekend -- and while you NEVER see the man's face in the footage -- you can hear a voice that sounds like Smith ... talking about a "fire up session."

At one point in the video, you hear the man's voice say, "They don't know it's me. It's not like I put 'Aldon Smith.'"

Also, important to note, Smith has appeared on other videos posted by the same Periscope user.

The NFL has confirmed it's investigating the video.

But moments ago, Smith finally spoke out on Twitter -- saying, "Good try, not me."

Michael Jordan says he's "deeply troubled by the deaths of African-Americans at the hands of law enforcement" ... and is donating $2 MILLION to try to make a difference.

The NBA legend penned a statement for The Undefeated ... saying he's also angered by the "cowardly and hateful targeting and killing of police officers."

MJ says he can no longer stay silent -- and is using his money to make a statement.

"I am making contributions of $1 million each to two organizations -- the International Association of Chiefs of Police’s newly established Institute for Community-Police Relations and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund."

"Although I know these contributions alone are not enough to solve the problem, I hope the resources will help both organizations make a positive difference."

Days after meeting with Roger Goodell about reinstatement to the NFL ... Josh Gordon spent the weekend kickin' it with his old teammate, Johnny Manziel.

The two played with puppies at what appears to be Manziel's pad -- a place with a ping-pong table, video games and people hangin' out on the couch.

We're told Johnny has been training and is still focused on an NFL comeback. Sources connected to Gordon tell us he's also been working out like a maniac.

Let's hope for both their sakes they both stayed sober that night.

Peyton Manning was NOT pumped full of HGH -- or any other PED -- while recovering from neck surgery in 2011 ... so says the NFL.

The NFL launched an investigation into Manning after a man in an Al Jazeera America documentary claimed he supplied PEDs to various NFL players ... including Peyton.

Manning had denied the allegation -- but the NFL launched an investigation anyway back in January ... "led by the NFL’s security and legal teams with support from expert consultants and other professionals."

The NFL says ... "The Mannings were fully cooperative with the investigation and provided both interviews and access to all records sought by the investigators."

The conclusion -- "the NFL found no credible evidence that Peyton Manning was provided with or used HGH or other substances prohibited by the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances."

Another New England Patriots star ... dating ANOTHER smokin' hot supermodel.

This time, it's wide receiver Julian Edelman and Victoria's Secret Angel Adriana Lima.

Two titans of sport ... not one single chest hair.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Conor McGregor came face-to-face in Vegas this weekend ... and immediately took their shirts off.

Talk about a power audience ... Cristiano Ronaldo AND Kim Kardashian were front and center at the J Lo concert in Vegas over the weekend -- dancing their faces off!!!

Somehow, the super famous celebs managed to score some pretty sweet seats -- front and center -- and danced the entire show.

Kim K. was hanging with her BFF Larsa Pippen -- while Ronaldo was with his man crew, nursing a beverage the entire show. Calvin Harris was also at the show.

BTW, Ronaldo had his own private security guard watching over his VIP area -- but he did give the green light to some fans to come over and take some pics.

He's already a UFC Hall of Famer ... but B.J. Penn could have been EVEN BETTER ... so says Dana White, who tells us the guy had the talent be one of the greatest MMA fighters of all time.

We spotted White in NYC -- and asked if there was a fighter who had insane raw talent ... but didn't have the drive to reach their full potential.

"B.J. Penn," White said ... "B.J. Penn probably should have been one of the best ever ... to ever live ... to ever do it. B.J. was so talented."

"I think B.J. in his own words would go back and do things differently if he could."

B.J. was 28-10-2 in his MMA career -- but couldn't figure out a way to beat guys like Frankie Edgar (lost 3 times) and Georges St-Pierre (lost twice).

Cheer up, St. Louis Rams fans ... your ex-running back, Todd Gurley, says there's actually one thing he's gonna miss about your city ... even though he can still get it in L.A.

Gurley was out at LAX when our camera guy decided to flip the script on him ... instead of asking what he LOVES about L.A., we wanted to know what he's gonna MISS about St. Louis.

Check out the clip -- he throws out a delicious answer, but there's only one problem ... what he said he's gonna miss, he admits he can get here.

The Dallas Cowboys team bus was involved in a fatal two vehicle crash Sunday afternoon in Arizona ... leaving 4 people dead.

Officials confirmed the Cowboys bus and a van collided on U.S. Highway 93 in Western Arizona. No Cowboys players were on the bus at the time of the crash. No one on the bus -- the team mascot, and other personnel -- were seriously injured.

The Arizona Dept. of Public Safety confirmed to TMZ Sports that 4 passengers in the van died.

WNBA superstar Tamika Catchings is severely disappointed in her league for its reaction to players supporting the Black Lives Matter movement, and thinks something needs to change quickly.

She's broken her nose NINE TIMES ... but WWE legend Tammy Sytch says she smells opportunity -- and now she's begging the people at "Botched" to help fix her sniffer.