TMZ Sports - Page 50

Ryan Lochte's a "loving" and "caring" person ... people just don't realize it, YET.

TMZ Sports talked to Lochte at LAX Tuesday ... when we asked if his upcoming appearance on "Dancing With the Stars" would help repair his image.

(In case ya missed it ... dude's got a little bit of a PR problem.)

Lochte's answer is really interesting. It's clear he believes he's totally misunderstood.

We also asked Ryan about his skills on the dance floor ... and whether his work in the pool gives him an edge in the ballroom.

Simone Biles is the greatest gymnast in the world ... but even she couldn't avoid taking a spill because of those damn high heels.

Chill out, Cowboys fans ... 'cause rookie backup QB Dak Prescott will have NO PROBLEM filling in for injured star Tony Romo, despite his inexperience ... his old H.S. coach says.

TMZ Sports spoke with Rodney Guin -- Prescott's football coach at Haughton High in Louisiana -- who says the rest of the world might be shocked by D.P.'s play ... but he ain't.

FYI -- Prescott's played at a RIDICULOUS level through the first 3 preseason games ... racking up 7 TDs (5 passing, 2 rushing) and 0 INTs on more than 500 total yards.

“Dak always prided himself in being ready to play," Guin told us. "He was the most prepared guy on the team ... he was a leader in practice, he earned the respect of all the older players and I can see him doing that on a professional level."

“I’m not really surprised by his great start. I always knew he would be successful, but it is impressive to see him play so well so early.”

In other words, maybe all hope isn't lost for Cowboys fans ...

Rodney Harrison is FULL OF CRAP when he says he didn't know Colin Kaepernick was mixed race ... so say NFL Pro Bowlers Brendon Ayanbadejo & Robert Smith ... who ain't buying Harrison's excuse.

Robert and Brendon came on the "TMZ Sports" TV show and talked about Harrison's comments on Kaepernick, and the apology in which Rodney said he had no clue Kaepernick was mixed.

The two stars ... both mixed themselves ... totally called BS on Harrison's excuse with Robert saying "I'm not buying that" and Brendon going even further saying Harrison's explanation was an "escape plan."

Baylor sophomore receiver Ishmael Zamora has been handed a 3 game suspension, community service, and counseling after an animal abuse incident in June ... TMZ Sports has learned.

"Our football program does not condone this behavior by anyone," Baylor interim Head Coach Jim Grobe said. "We are deeply saddened by it and have worked together with the University to hold Ishmael accountable for his actions."

Along with the suspension, Zamora "must undergo counseling and must relinquish the dog to an animal-friendly home," according to a statement released by Baylor.

A gruesome video showing the incident surfaced on the internet earlier this month, sparking outrage from animal rights group PETA.

"We have received communications about this incident from many passionate individuals over the past 10 days, and I am aware of their concerns," Grobe said.

"Our goal is for this discipline to be educational and restorative, and I believe that we have taken corrective measures to help Ishmael learn from his actions and better understand the behavior we demand of all students at the University."

Ishmael accepts the punishment, and vows that the incident "will never, ever, happen again."

Rodney Harrison WILL NOT BE DISCIPLINED for his controversial comments about Colin Kaepernick ... a rep for NBC Sports tells TMZ Sports.

Harrison made the shocking comments during a radio interview Tuesday morning saying, "I'm a black man and Colin Kaepernick ... he's not black."

Harrison later apologized and backtracked ... explaining he "never even knew [Kaepernick] was mixed."

Still, many anticipated Rodney would be punished by NBC ... or even FIRED for his comments.

Minister Louis Farrakhan says he -- and the entire Nation Of Islam -- are 100% behind Colin Kaepernick ... praising the QB's American flag protest as a "courageous stand."

Farrakhan released a statement via his Facebook page in which he thanked Kaep for taking a stand, and lauded his courage in the face of intense criticism.

"Courage is one of the great characteristics of great men and women. And at the root of courage is love for the principle that is bigger than our lives, bigger than our nation ... This nation would not be what it is had there not been men and women who were willing to suffer to bring about meaningful change that moved a people, a nation and a world toward the realization of some eternal principle."

Farrakhan went on to pledge his unyielding support ... and even took a shot at the National Anthem itself.

"I stand with you. We in the Nation of Islam stand with you. And I’m asking all right thinking Black people, Brown people, and White people to stand with you to force the change that Mr. Trump and Mrs. Clinton are talking; but it will never happen until the people are sick and tired of injustice and summon the courage to stand to make a difference."

"Your stand has unearthed things about Francis Scott Key and the writing of the lyrics of the Star-Spangled Banner, that would make any person of right thinking and right mind cringe at what was in the mind of the man that wrote the words of the Star-Spangled Banner."

TMZ Sports has obtained video from Tim Tebow's MLB workout at USC Tuesday morning ... showing the ex-QB sprinting, catching fly balls, showcasing his arm ... and BLASTING A HOME RUN!!

According FS1's Skip Bayless, there are reps from 27 pro teams at the workout.

Tebow took hacks against 2 righty pitchers ... launching a home run over the right center field fence, into the parking garage ... according to a source at the scene.

Nick Young is begging his friend and neighbor Chris Brown ... PACK YOUR STUFF AND MOVE ALREADY ... 'cause you're ruining the neighborhood.

Young currently lives right near Brown's valley home in Tarzana, CA -- which was surrounded by the SWAT team and police helicopters Tuesday morning after Brown allegedly threatened a woman with a gun.

"Chris Brown, you gotta move," Young says with choppers still flying overhead ... "Go on, get away from here!"

Young says Brown is essentially "making the block hot" -- attracting way too much police attention and he's worried the trouble is going to spill over his way.

"There's really only two of us [black people] over here ... at this rate you gonna make it one."

Rodney Harrison is in full backtrack mode -- apologizing for saying Colin Kaepernick is NOT a black person ... saying, "I never even knew he was mixed."

Harrison's explanation seems almost IMPOSSIBLE to believe -- considering Kaepernick's story is pretty well-known and Rodney has been a co-host on "Football Night in America" since 2009.

That being said, here's what Rodney posted on Twitter:

"I never intended to offend anyone, I was trying to speak about my experiences as a African American. I apologize to anyone that I offended, wasn't meant to be hurtful to anyone. God bless."

"Last point I want people to know. I never even knew he was mixed."

10:37 AM PT -- Harrison just issued a statement on Twitter saying, "I apologize to anyone that I offended, wasn't meant to be hurtful to anyone. God bless."

However, we spoke with him on the phone and he didn't back down -- essentially saying the comments he made on the radio show were his real feelings and he stood by them.

Colin Kaepernick is not a TRUE black man ... because he's mixed race ... so says ex-NFL star Rodney Harrison.

The former Patriots safety went on SportsTalk 790 in Houston -- and not only blasted Kaepernick for his National Anthem protest, but says he doesn't REALLY understand the plight of black Americans because his birth mother is white.

"I'll tell you this," Harrison said ... "I'm a black man and Colin Kaepernick ... he's NOT BLACK."

"He cannot understand what I face and what other black men and black people face on a every single [day] basis."

Check out the audio ... Harrison essentially says there's a scale that measures blackness ... and Kaep doesn't measure up.

CM Punk says he's not worried about embarrassing himself during his UFC debut ... because he once crapped himself during a WWE match ... so, how much worse could it be??

The 37-year-old is gearing up for his MMA debut at UFC 203 on Sept. 10th ... and was asked if he's nervous.

"It's funny because you can ask yourself, 'What happens if I lose? What happens if I get embarrassed in front of the world?'"

"And then you think to yourself, 'Well, you s**t yourself on national television before so how bad can it go? How bad could it really be?'"

FYI, the incident Punk's talking about went down in 2013 -- when Punk gave WWE fans a little more than they bargained for during a bout with Dean Ambrose.

Hey, at least he won the match ...

[H/T MMAJunkie]

Teyana Taylor's killer body is not only a tasty treat ... it's filled with them.

We caught the "Fade" dancer leaving Ace of Diamonds where you'd think she showed the girls there how to get down. But check out the vid ... instead we learn she's got a major sweet tooth.

And get this ... her fiance, NBA star Iman Shumpert, has his own plans after watching her in Kanye's vid.

Decorated army vet Noah Galloway -- who also impressed on "Dancing with the Stars" -- says Colin Kaepernick needs to consider the black soldiers who died fighting under the American flag.

Galloway is clearly unhappy with Kaep's National Anthem protest -- telling TMZ Sports, "Let's not serve outrage."

MEGATRON IS BACK ... kinda ... 'cause Calvin Johnson is competing again, wearing his tights again, but this time as a new contestant on "Dancing With the Stars."

ABC just announced the new cast to the world ... making it official that Johnson will be following in the fancy footsteps of gridiron greats like Hines Ward, Emmitt Smith, and Jerry Rice.

Johnson shocked the football world when he retired earlier this year at 30 ... but never fear Detroit fans, you can watch him once again going head to head against Vanilla Ice & Ryan Lochte.

The O'Neal reign in the NBA ain't even close to being over -- with Shaq telling TMZ Sports BOTH of his sons are bound for the league.

You've heard about 16-year-old Shareef O'Neal for a while ... he's one of the top high school players in the country. But Shaq says his other son -- 13-year-old Shaqir O'Neal has legit skills as well.

There's more ... Shaq says he's also super impressed with 14-year-old Jaxon Williams -- son of ex-NBA star Jason Williams (aka White Chocolate).

The kids were all mixin' it up on Shaq's personal court recently -- and you can they're all insanely talented.