TMZ Sports - Page 50

When in Seattle ... check out the LEGAL recreational weed shops -- that's what Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott did before preparing to play the Seahawks.

The 21-year-old rookie hit up the Herban Legends weed shop in Belltown -- a 5 minute drive from the Space Needle -- where he checked out some of the merchandise Thursday afternoon.

For the record ... our sources tell us they did NOT see Elliott make any sort of a purchase -- and we're told it's VERY common for tourists to just browse the weed shops while visiting town.

Elliott didn't seem like he was hiding or embarrassed to be there -- and even posed for pics with fans outside the shop.

Despite the fact it's legal in Seattle, weed is still outlawed in the NFL -- and players who test positive for marijuana could be suspended.

Ryan Lochte has just been formally charged in Brazil with filing a false police report stemming from the August 14th gas station incident ... and faces jail time if convicted.

Brazilian officials have already summoned the swimmer to Rio for a hearing on the incident -- but sources close to Lochte say there's no way in hell he'll go.

The charge is not an extraditable offense ... meaning he can't be forced to Brazil by American courts.

If convicted of filing a false police report, Lochte could face up to 6 months in jail. The likelihood is ... Lochte's lawyers will negotiate a fine similar to the one Jimmy Feigen paid -- $11k -- to charity, and the case will go away.

There could be a HUGE new star in the world of women's MMA -- because the U.S. Olympian who just won the gold medal in wrestling says she's open to the idea of getting in the cage.

We spoke with Helen Maroulis -- the 24-year-old phenom who dominated the world at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio -- and asked her straight up if MMA is in her future.

Maroulis made it clear wrestling is her main priority and first love ... but says a transition to MMA is definitely a possibility down the road.

The best part of the video ... Maroulis says she'll 100% return to the Olympics in 2020 to defend her title.

What's it like to have Jay Z drop your name on a track????

Josh Norman would know ... he got a shout-out from Jigga on DJ Khaled's "I Got the Keys" -- and he tells TMZ Sports he's humbled by it.

The Washington Redskins superstar was practicing with the team Thursday -- when we asked if he thought the name-drop would make him an even bigger target on the field.

Check out the clip ... Norman essentially says the whole thing is an honor and he's got mad respect for Jay.

Ryan Lochte's endorsement comeback is underway ... he just signed a brand new deal with a throat drop company ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Lochte will team up with the Pine Brothers throat lozenge company, a rep confirms -- to be the face of a campaign that promotes the drops as "Forgiving On Your Throat."

Lochte will appear in print ads and a commercial.

Pine Bros. CEO Rider McDowell says, "We all make mistakes, but they're rarely given front-page scrutiny. He’s a great guy who has done incredible work with charities. I’m confident that Pine Bros. fans will support our decision to give Ryan a second chance."

We're guessing the campaign will include some comical references to Lochte's Brazil drama -- you know, since he's asking the public to forgive him for that whole thing.

Ryan Lochte will NOT be returning to Brazil -- despite the fact officials in Rio have reportedly summoned the swimmer to testify in front of the country's Justice Department ... sources tell TMZ Sports.

The University of Oregon just officially opened up its brand new $19 MILLION state-of-the-art Marcus Mariota Sports Performance Center ... and it's AWESOME!!!!

We're talkin' 30,000 square feet of futuristic top-of-the-line sports technology ... primarily funded by Nike co-founder Phil Knight and his wife, Penny.

You gotta check out the video ... it looks like something out of a sci-fi movie -- especially the special resting area ... complete with 5 "sleep pods" where athletes can rest between practices or meetings or maybe even classes??

There's a motion capture camera area to analyze movements ... a boxing ring ... even the laundry area has been upgraded to allow staff to wash 500 POUNDS of laundry at one time.

Undefeated boxing prodigy Jose Benavidez Jr. -- who's 25-0 as a pro -- was shot while out on a walk in Arizona early Tuesday morning ... but we're told he's expected to survive.

FYI, the 24-year-old Top Rank fighter is a rising star in the sport -- and recently chalked up a high profile victory over Francisco Santana on the undercard of the Crawford vs. Postol fight in Vegas.

Sources tell us ... Benavidez was out walking one of his pets near his home in Phoenix when he was approached by an unknown man who pulled out a gun and shot him in the leg.

The Phoenix PD confirms the shooting and says the victim was transported to a nearby hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

However, one source with knowledge of the situation tells us Jose's injuries pose a serious threat to his boxing career.

So far, no arrests have been made.

Story developing ...

Jennifer Lopez broke up with Casper Smart because he snubbed her by passing on a fancy Hamptons charity event in favor of hanging with his boyz at UFC 202 ... TMZ has learned.

Sources connected with the former couple tell us ... J Lo told Casper it was super important for him to accompany her to Ron Perelman's Hamptons fundraiser Saturday night benefiting the Apollo Theater.

Casper wasn't having it, because he desperately wanted to watch the Conor McGregor/Nate Diaz fight in Vegas with his friends.

Casper had a great time in Vegas, hanging with Kanye and UFC announcer Bruce Buffer.

J Lo, we're told, was enraged and ended the relationship ... no discussion -- simply, we're done.

Here's the funny thing ... Casper was telling people at the fight he was going to NYC Sunday to meet up with Jennifer, who was there filming a show. He had no idea being a no-show Saturday would end things.

Our sources add this ... J Lo and Casper have "broken up" several times before and gotten back together, and they say they would not be surprised at all if it happens again.

J Lo doesn't look like she's too broken up about it at the moment, though ... she was still in New York this morning looking perky as ever.

Gotta hand out props when props are due ... and Maurice Jones-Drew and Ike Taylor deserve some for getting as far as they did on the "Team Ninja Warrior" course.

The ex-NFL stars hit up Universal Studios Hollywood yesterday and put their skills to the test ... and it was all caught on video.

Look, they weren't exactly Kacy Catanzaro out there ... but they managed to navigate a few of the obstacles -- which (if you watch the show) is a lot further than a lot of people get!

Fellas, watch the video below ... study ... try again.

Peyton Manning's got one HUGE obstacle to overcome if he wants to slay at the "Comedy Central Roast" of Rob Lowe -- but Jeff Ross says the QB is already showing serious promise.

"Athletes are funny, but they don't always take a joke well," Ross told us at The Comedy Store in L.A.

"They're usually very sensitive."

FYI, several athletes have been featured on 'Roasts' in the past -- including Warren Sapp, Mike Tyson and Shaq.

The good news for Manning ... Ross says Peyton has already proved he has thick skin -- and expects nothing less than hilarity when #18 takes the stage.

Here's Drake taking some time away from destroying Meek Mill's life to display some athletic skill ... hitting a half-court shot WHILE LAYING ON HIS BACK.

We're assuming it went down in Atlanta because Drake is on tour there ... and the court clearly says "Atlanta" in the Hawks font (we're detectives) ... but the main point is CHECK OUT THE SHOT.

Drake drains it calmly then mugs for the camera while walking away like he just won game 7 of the NBA finals ... and we gotta say it's pretty cool.

When Usain Bolt was getting his swerve on in a London nightclub this weekend, rapper Post Malone was RIGHT THERE partying alongside him ... and tells TMZ Sports, "It was awesome!"

Bolt has been on a tear with the ladies this past week -- despite the fact he's got a GF back home in Jamaica -- and Post saw the legend in action at Cirque le Soir club on Monday night.

"He's a ladies man," Malone said.

"Fastest man in the world ... even if the cops were chasing him, he could escape ... [if they were chasing him] in a vehicle. He fast as hell so he can do whatever he wants to do."

Malone -- the guy behind the hit "White Iverson" -- says he may FINALLY meet the NBA inspiration for his song ... but it's gonna be halfway around the world!

Check out the clip.

Not everyone on Team USA was thrilled with the super swanky floating hotel the squad stayed on in Rio ... DeMar DeRozan says he HATED the digs ... and would've rather shacked up in the Olympic village.

In case you forgot ... Team USA basketball stayed on board a RIDICULOUS cruise ship called the Silver Cloud in Brazil ... which featured a pool, gym, cigar lounge AND bar.

We got the newly crowned gold medalist out in L.A. and asked him a question normies all over the world want the answer to ... what was it like to live in that incredible floating mansion on the sea?

Check out the clip -- DeMar gives a typical rich guy answer ... claiming -- for good reason -- that the posh accommodations weren't all they were cracked up to be.

Hope Solo has just been benched by Team USA soccer for SIX MONTHS -- for trashing Team Sweden as a "bunch of cowards" after they beat the U.S. in an Olympic match earlier this month.

Attention, hot British actor Alex Roe -- GABBY DOUGLAS WANTS A PIECE!!!

For those unfamiliar, Roe's the super handsome 26-year-old star of that movie, "The 5th Wave" ... and Gabby likey.

In fact, when we saw the U.S. Olympic legend in NYC -- not only did she tell us she wants to work with the guy in front of the camera ... but she wants a crack at dat ass too!

Don't be stupid, Roe ... these kinds of opportunities don't come knocking down your door every day!!!!