TMZ Sports - Page 50

Former NFL star Greg Hardy is finally getting support from someone in the MMA community ... and it comes from one of the best trainers in the business ... Kenny Johnson.

Kenny's trained stars like B.J. Penn, Jose Aldo and Anderson Silva. So when TMZ Sports ran into him at Black House MMA Gym ... we asked if he'd be interested in bringing Hardy on board.

"I would not judge the past of a man if he's trying to better his present."

KJ went on to say, "With him wanting to make the transition over to MMA ... hey man, Black House, we're open. Call me ... we'll train."

This comes just days after Jay Glazer and Luke Rockhold bashed the troubled former Pro Bowler ... saying there's no room for Hardy in the sport.

Johnson clearly disagrees.

"A lot of people are being real harsh on the guy. They're choosing to focus on the past of a man, rather than the future."

Check out the clip.

The National Football League is opening their fat pocketbook ... and DONATING $300,000 to help people from the U.S. to Haiti who were affected by Hurricane Matthew.

Matthew devastated the Caribbean ... before slamming the Southeast U.S. As a result of the storm, over 1,000 people died in Haiti ... and 22 lives were lost in North Carolina.

The NFL says $200k will be split between the Salvation Army, UNICEF and the American Red Cross. The rest will go toward repairing youth football fields in the Southeast that were torn up by the storm.

And it's not just the league that's helping ... as we previously reported, Redskins star Pierre Garcon used team owner Daniel Snyder's jet to bring medical supplies to Haiti.

Antonio Brown is continuing his tribute to fallen sports heroes with a pair of dope custom cleats honoring the late Kimbo Slice and Jose Fernandez this week.

After wearing Arnold Palmer and Muhammad Ali themed cleats, we're told AB wanted to do something special this week when the Steelers play his hometown Miami Dolphins.

Brown hit up longtime friend Corey Pane ... his go-to guy for customized cleats. Pane says "these are really important to him," given AB's strong Miami roots (Kimbo and Jose were staples in the MIA community).

We're told AB plans to wear the cleats for pre-game warm-ups. Considering his recent history of getting fined for cleats, it's unlikely he'll wear them during the game.

Floyd Mayweather is coming to the rescue of his ex-enemy Adrien Broner ... taking the boxing star into his home after Adrien's Internet suicide scare ... TMZ Sports has learned.

It's safe to say there wasn't a dry spot in the Dodgers' locker room Thursday night ... as L.A. celebrated its NLDS-clinching win with a TON of beer, champagne and Josh Reddick in an American flag Speedo!!

The Dodgers scored 4 runs in the 7th inning of Game 5 of the NLDS to beat the Washington Nationals 4-3 ... and the boys went all out with their post game party.

Check out the pics ... these guys definitely know how to turn up.

Next up, the red hot Cubs, so we're assuming they got it all out of their system and are ready to get back to work.

UFC superstar Luke Rockhold is BLASTING Greg Hardy and anyone considering training the ex-NFL star ... saying, "it's crazy to think that someone would actually train this guy."

Rockhold joined the "TMZ Sports" TV show ... when he was asked about Hardy's plan to hang up his cleats and fight mixed martial arts.

Luke absolutely goes in on Hardy ... calling the domestic violence accusations against him "beyond anything of what a normal human is capable of."

FYI -- Hardy was convicted of domestic violence in '14 ... before the guilty verdict was dismissed after the accuser stopped cooperating with authorities.

Check out the clip ... it's clear Rockhold vehemently feels Hardy has no place in MMA.

If it looks like the Pittsburgh Steelers defense has baggage ... it's because Cam Heyward just hooked everyone up with $15,000 in Couture backpacks ... TMZ Sports has learned.

To show his love to his defensive unit, Heyward hit up Prime Society Boutique and locked down 31 personalized Crown Collection backpacks, which run about $500 a pop.

Plus, he also hooked up the guys with toiletry bags and elevation masks (training first!) ... and we're told it was all because he just wanted to show the guys he appreciates 'em.

It also helps that Cam signed a 6 year, $60 million contract last year!

Former U.S. Olympian Jamie Nieto is kicking rehab's ass ... walking with only a walker just 5 1/2 months after sustaining a life-threatening back injury.

As we previously reported, Nieto -- a world class high jumper -- landed on his head while training ... and suffered severe damage to his back. He was unable to move and required emergency surgery.

TMZ Sports spoke with Nieto's manager, Paul Doyle, who tells us he's "getting better physically "and is able to stand and walk with only a walker.

"He's had tons of friends visiting him and helping out. A friend from Sweden even flew in to see him. It's been amazing."

Derrick Rose's friend took the stand and recounted details from the night of the alleged rape, and explained why Rose's memory of the incident wasn't as clear as his.

Ryan Allen -- who's also a defendant in the case -- told the court graphic details about the night ... including the lighting in the bedroom, kissing the accuser, using lube and a condom and the accuser's pink vibrator. Allen testified the sex was consensual and that the accuser was completely sober.

Rose and Allen have been pals since childhood. The accuser claims they and Randall Hampton broke into her home and gang raped her.

Allen testified he flushed his condom after the sex ... unlike Rose who said he took his with him when they left the apartment. The accuser's attorney asked Allen why he didn't do the same, and he said, "Derrick's condom is a little more desired than my condom."

Translation: Derrick's semen is way more desirable than Allen's. Only one is an NBA superstar.

When the accuser's attorney asked why Allen remembers the night more clearly than Rose ... he said, "People don't know how hard it is to be an NBA player. Derrick had a lot going on with family and basketball." He then bro'd out with Allen, saying ..."I appreciate you pooh."

Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan -- the president of TNA Wrestling -- is having a nasty falling out with his boss ... suing the wrestling company and filing for a restraining order against the owner.

Antonio Brown's good friend, Verne Troyer, is LASHING OUT at the NFL over the fines AB's been hit with for his cleats and his endzone celebrations ... saying the punishment is a bunch of "bulls***."

Troyer isn't just a Steelers superfan -- but he's tight with Brown and was his VIP guest at a game earlier this season.

So, when we asked about the NFL cracking down on Brown's customized cleats (which have featured AB's kids and tributes to greats like Muhammad Ali) ... the "Austin Powers" star went off.

#Mojo

Michael Phelps does the DMV the same way he swims -- FAST.

The Olympic legend hit up the Dept. of Motor Vehicles in Arizona on Thursday -- and unlike most people, this dude was in and out in a flash.

People who happened to be at the office tell us Phelps was whisked around like a VIP -- with an employee escort who quickly got him in front of the camera and out of the building as soon as possible.

As for why Phelps was there -- not really sure ... but since he recently bought a brand new home in the area, it's possible he was just getting his official AZ license.

Fun fact -- AZ licenses are good until the driver is 65 years old ... so, see ya back in 2050?

One of Adrien Broner's good friends, Peter "Kid Chocolate" Quillin, has a heartfelt message he wants to send to the embattled boxer -- God is real and he can help you.

Kid Chocolate -- one of the top middleweight boxers in the world -- says he was worried about Broner when he saw the disturbing suicidal messages on social media Wednesday.

The boxer says he hasn't reached out to Broner yet because he knows his family comes first -- but wanted to send this message.

"If he do get to see this at any time, God is real and the spiritual battle is real," Kid Chocolate said ... Don’t ever forget that."

"Your kids is important and you got a lot of reasons to live."

UFC champ Amanda Nunes is GUARANTEEING VICTORY over Ronda Rousey -- telling TMZ Sports there's a "200% chance" she wins the fight.

We just spoke with the reigning bantamweight queen who says she's extremely grateful to Ronda for taking the fight -- but wants her to know ... she's about to get destroyed.

"This is the moment I've been waiting for," Nunes said.

"I've been training for Ronda Rousey since my first fight in UFC."

Nunes says she knows every single thing that Rousey will throw at her when they face off at UFC 207 on Dec. 30th ... and when it comes to judo, Amanda says she's the superior talent.

You've heard it a million times before -- athletes who make a FORTUNE only to blow it on dumb (awesome) stuff like cars, booze, clothes and strip clubs (looking at you, Antoine Walker).

Enter Andrei Kirilenko -- who made more than $100 MILLION during his 15-year run in the NBA -- and now he's got some advice for the young bucks on how NOT to follow in Antoine's broke footsteps.

Jessica Simpson almost ruined Tony Romo's NFL career -- but he saved himself when he dumped her and ended their "tumultuous relationship" back in 2009 ... so says Skip Bayless.