TMZ Sports - Page 50

The L.A. Clippers equipment staffer who was punched in the face by Blake Griffin during a fight in Toronto earlier this year is off the team -- and will NOT be back for the '16/'17 season ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Pre-game songs can be HUGE for a pro athlete.

So, when we saw The Black Keys drummer Patrick Carney (a HUGE Cavs fan) ... we asked if his band had one jam that would be perfect to pump up LeBron James.

Check out the clip ... then add the song to your playlist -- immediately.

Hoisted 100 feet in the air ... hitting speeds of 60 mph ... and SINKING THE SHOT?!??

That's exactly what Harlem Globetrotters star Bull Bullard did at the Wildwoods boardwalk in Jersey this week (they're in town to play a few games) ... and, of course, the whole thing was captured on video.

Bull and his crew set up a hoop below the SkyCoaster at Morey's Piers -- and then, BOOM!

Sources at the scene tell us it took Bull a couple of shots to figure out the physics -- but he adjusted VERY quickly ... 'cause that's what he does!

Rajon Rondo is pumped to have Dwayne Wade in Chicago -- not just on the court -- telling TMZ Sports he's super excited about teaming up with DW to mentor young black men in the community.

Don't get it twisted, Rondo says he's fired up about the Bulls' chances this year -- but says the guys really click when it comes to helping people.

Bravo honcho Andy Cohen is giving an extra "mazel" to the NBA Commish Adam Silver -- praising the guy for "having the balls" to move the All-Star game out of Charlotte over a local anti-LGBT law.

Bernie Ecclestone's family isn't taking any chances after the Formula One boss' mother-in-law was abducted in Brazil -- his daughters are now rollin' with a full security detail, TMZ Sports has learned.

Tamara and Petra Ecclestone took their kids out for a stroll in Beverly Hills Tuesday -- flanked by a team of at least 4 huge plain-clothed bodyguards (you can even see the earpieces).

The daughters were mum about the active ransom situation involving Aparecida Schunk -- the mother of Bernie's wife, Fabiana Flosi -- who was taken Friday night in Sao Paulo.

Retired life is going by fast for Kobe Bryant ... really fast ... like almost at a breakneck speed ... check out the Mamba TEARING IT UP whipping a sick Ferrari on a closed course.

Kobe was in Maranello, Italy for his Mamba Mentality European Tour when he took a little time to cherish one of the country's most prized exports ... the Ferrari.

Check out the video ... that yellow (close enough to gold right?) blur is Kobe SMASHING OUT in a Ferrari ... driving like a guy who isn't concerned with breaking anything for the first time in a while.

Ever wonder what rich guys talk about in private? Money. Jets. Jennifer Lopez.

At least, that's how it went down between Conor McGregor and Cristiano Ronaldo ... with the soccer superstar scoffing at Conor when he joked about overtaking him on the Forbes list.

Ronaldo was named the #1 highest paid athlete in 2016 by Forbes (estimated $88 mil) ... while Conor clocked in at #85 (estimated $22 mil).

The two talked about the subject when they came face-to-face at Conor's gym in Vegas over the weekend -- with Conor admitting his jealously over the fact CR7 has a private jet.

"I want to get a jet."

Ezekiel Elliott's not out of the woods yet ... because his accuser in the domestic violence case has gone to the city prosecutor -- which has launched a full investigation into her allegations.

We broke the story ... Elliott's ex-girlfriend told police the Dallas Cowboys running back struck her during an altercation in Ohio on Friday morning ... and had been physical with her earlier that week.

Four witnesses told cops they did NOT see Elliott lay a finger on the woman -- and cops say there was not enough evidence to make an arrest.

The accuser was told to follow up with the prosecutor's office if she wanted to move forward.

Well, now we know ... that's exactly what she did.

The city attorney's office confirms the accuser has already spoken with investigators and doesn't appear to want to drop the case anytime soon.

"We currently have an open investigation," a rep for the Columbus City Attorney tells TMZ Sports.

"We are collecting as much evidence as possible. Once the investigation is complete, our office will determine if there is sufficient evidence to establish probable cause. Basically, whether there is enough evidence to charge him or not."

Nate Diaz just gave the blow-by-blow on how Justin Bieber put an END to their famous celebrity beef back in March -- and the whole thing is pretty hilarious.

Of course, the two had gone back and forth on social media after the McGregor fight -- with Nate ultimately coming on the "TMZ Sports" show and saying, "F*** that fool."

As fate would have it, they came face-to-face in a Hollywood nightclub a few days later -- but Bieber's no dummy ... he immediately tried to bury the hatchet before things popped off.

You gotta hear Nate tell the story on "Conan" Tuesday night ... not only did they bro-hug it out, but they're boys now!

Keshia Knight Pulliam is positive Ed Hartwell is the father of her unborn child, and she's down to prove it to him.

Keshia was completely blindsided by the ex-NFL player's divorce petition earlier this week ... according to a source close to the former 'Cosby Show' star. We're told she's secure in the fact she's been 100% faithful to her husband of just 7 months, and has no idea why he'd assume otherwise.

Also, she has no objection to taking the paternity test he's requesting.

Keshia's pissed Ed ran to court to file divorce docs. We're told she firmly believes couples should work things out because that's what her parents have done to stay together for almost 40 years.

Aaron Rodgers says he has NOT watched his little bro, Jordan, compete on "The Bachelorette" -- but is clearly upset about the episode that put a spotlight on his family rift.

Denver Broncos safety Shiloh Keo was PISSED at the cops during his DUI arrest back in February -- calling the situation "bull****" and threatening to tell President Obama all about it during his Super Bowl visit at the White House.

As we previously reported, 28-year-old Keo was pulled over in Idaho on Feb. 13th for a busted taillight ... and during the stop, officers believed Shiloh was drunk.

Keo was put in the back of a squad car -- where he waited for more than an hour -- and decided to vent about the situation to the camera inside the vehicle. And boy, did he vent.

Not only does he call BS on the taillight situation -- but says, "Hey Obama, I can't wait to meet you bro."

"Tell you about this bull****. This is why we have riots throughout the country, cause of this bull****."

"You wanna know why s*** is f****d? This is bull****."

Keo also said he would bet his entire NFL salary that the allegations against him -- and the broken taillight -- "ain't the truth."

He later pled guilty to misdemeanor DUI -- and a screenshot from the cop's dash cam shows the light was really out.

So, he should probably get that check ready ...

UFC badass Valentina Shevchenko -- who beat up Holly Holm this weekend -- tells TMZ Sports she wants the belt ... BADLY ... and she's ready to go through Amanda Nunes or Ronda Rousey to get it.

FYI, Shevchenko lost to Nunes by unanimous decision back in March -- but Valentina says she's at the top of her game now ... and is champing at the bit to get the current UFC women's bantamweight champion back in the Octagon.

"I know it will be a very difficult fight for her," Shevchenko said ... "I want it. I want it very much."

She also pitches her case to UFC honcho Dana White about why she should get the rematch.

Brock Lesnar will NOT be disciplined by the WWE for his UFC 200 drug test failures ... and WILL perform at SummerSlam as planned ... TMZ Sports has learned.

TMZ Sports has obtained insane footage of ex-NFL quarterback Marcus Vick -- Michael Vick's brother -- literally running from cops during an incident back in April ... before being captured at gunpoint.