TMZ Sports - Page 50

It's official ... Dustin Johnson is OUT of the Masters.

The PGA superstar says he injured his back Wednesday falling down stairs at the house he's staying at near Augusta ... but tried to soldier through the pain Thursday morning.

Johnson is the #1 ranked player in the world and was the heavy favorite to win the tournament.

Johnson took some warm-up shots at the driving range -- but cut it short. He was seen holding his back in pain afterwards.

He even went to the 1st hole and tried to go -- but decided to throw in the towel.

Forget the luxury cars and flashy jewelry ... NFL prospect Nazair Jones says there's only one BIG purchase he wants to make when he goes pro -- a new house for his family!!

Jones' story is incredible. The ex-North Carolina defensive end lost feeling in his legs at age 15 and was diagnosed with the rare complex regional pain syndrome ... forcing him to slowly learn how to walk again.

After years of hospital visits and physical therapy, Jones' condition improved enough to return to the football field and play 3 seasons at UNC before deciding to go pro to provide for his family ... and his first goal is getting them out of the projects in North Carolina.

Dustin Johnson is taking some cuts -- hoping he can fight through the pain and play at The Masters Thursday.

The 32-year-old says he injured his back Wednesday falling down stairs at the home he's staying at in Augusta and was unsure if he was going to have to withdraw from the tournament.

Johnson hit the range this morning and took some swings before cutting the session short and holding his back.

But a short time later, he grabbed his clubs and went back to the practice range. He clearly looks uncomfortable, but will try to tough it out.

Rob Gronkowski is no Eminem ... but he tried.

The NFL star ht up DJ Whoo Kid's "Whoolywood Shuffle" show with his WWE superstar pal, Mojo Rawley -- and decided to bust out a few freestyle bars over Biggie Smalls' "Hypnoitze" beat.

He rapped about Super Bowl rings. He rapped about chicks. He rapped about doorbells.

At the end, Gronk bragged that he wasn't bad for a "big ass white boy."

You be the judge.

Linda McMahon was in the hot seat during a hearing in D.C. on Wednesday ... when a Republican congressman called her out and demanded answers ... about John Cena's engagement.

The congressman pushing the issue is Rod Blum of Iowa -- who used his 45 seconds of floor time ask Linda about the big story from WrestleMania 33 ... Cena's proposal to Nikki Bella.

The question got some chuckles in the room ... but one person who wasn't havin' it was Linda.

The head of the Small Business Administration smiled ... but shut Blum down with the efficiency of a patented John Cena STFU.

An Arizona Cardinals football player freaked out after he lost his hat in a bar -- and decided it would be a good idea to berate police over it. He got arrested.

The player is Marquis Bundy -- a 22-year-old wide receiver who was partying at International Boutique Nightclub in Scottsdale on Saturday morning when his "praying hands" cap went missing.

Bundy allegedly went off on club security -- claiming someone had stolen the hat. Security took him to a back alley to cool off and that's when cops arrived.

According to the police report, obtained by TMZ Sports, Bundy turned his anger to police -- berating officers who were trying to help out.

Cops say Bundy's friends were BEGGING the NFL player to walk away and leave ... but he refused. The friends even tried to physically rip Bundy away from the cops ... but he wouldn't go.

After several warnings, cops finally arrested Bundy for disorderly conduct and failure to obey an officer. Cops say he was super drunk at the time.

How do NFL players feel about Marshawn Lynch possibly coming back to the league? If Jaguars star Marcedes Lewis' reaction is any indication they are freakin' STOKED!

We got Lewis out at Warwick in L.A. and asked his thoughts on Marshawn's rumored return -- it's been reported he met with the Raiders recently -- and he made it clear ... he's all for it.

In fact, Lewis says he thinks Lynch could play for just about any NFL team he wants, and thinks it's actually a better league with Beast Mode pushing that rock down the field.

Tom Brady had David Blaine over for dinner Wednesday and it was a healthy, carb-free meal -- GLASS!!

Greg Hardy ain't giving up on his football dreams after all -- the ex-NFL star reported to camp Wednesday for The Spring League ... a developmental league kicking off in April.

TMZ Sports has photos showing the ex-Carolina Panthers defensive end filling out his official paperwork and registering on the computer at league offices in West Virginia.

We're told Hardy -- along with other players -- received a training schedule, sleeping arrangements and practice/game dates.

Other players committed to the league include Kellen Winslow and Brandon Browner. Both are also checked in and hoping to use the league as a springboard to launch them back into the NFL.

Opening day is April 15. Stay tuned ...

Frank Thomas says one of the best moments of his entire life is the time he got a phone call from President Obama on his cell phone ... right before he was inducted into the Hall of Fame!

Tiki Barber is welcoming Tony Romo to the CBS Sports team with open arms ... telling TMZ Sports he's confident the recently retired QB will crush it as the new lead NFL analyst.

Barber famously left the NFL in his prime to pursue a broadcasting career and now has a morning show on CBS Sports radio. Barber says Romo will have to learn quick and shares some solid advice.

Ex-MMA star Jason "Mayhem" Miller just pled GUILTY to fighting cops on THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS ... and somehow won't spend another day behind bars.

The 36-year-old fighter was arrested 3 times over the years for getting violent with law enforcement officers -- including an incident where he grappled with FOUR cops who tried to arrest him at a restaurant.

Another time, Miller threw a ceramic tile at cops and threatened to attack them with a metal pole.

He was hit with a slew of charges for the incidents -- but Wednesday afternoon, he appeared in an Orange County, CA courtroom and pled guilty to 13 of 'em including:

- 2 counts of resisting arrest (felonies)
- 2 counts of assault with a weapon on a peace officer (felonies)
- 1 count of resisting an executive officer (felony)
- 3 counts of resisting a peace officer (misdemeanor)
- 1 count of false imprisonment (misdemeanor)
- 2 counts of vandalism (misdemeanor)
- 2 counts of battery (misdemeanor)

Marshawn Lynch already has some strong allies on the Oakland Raiders -- including the team's best lineman, Donald Penn, who tells TMZ Sports he's all about bringing Beast Mode to the squad.

"I hope the Raiders do get Marshawn," Penn told us Tuesday night in L.A. ... "That's my dog!"

Seems everything's cool between Patrick Ewing and John Thompson -- despite the fact he's replacing JT's son as the new head coach at Georgetown ... because they hugged it out moments ago.

Ewing was on the Georgetown University campus when he ran into his old college coach (they won a national title together in 1984) -- and they embraced.

Of course, Ewing is taking over the program from John's son, John Thompson III -- and people were wondering how it would affect their relationship.

The guy who led the FBI to the stolen Tom Brady Super Bowl jerseys says he TRIED to give the tip to the NFL security team ... BUT THEY BLEW HIM OFF!!!!

We spoke with Dylan Wagner -- the 19-year-old sports memorabilia collector who was innocently doing business with Mauricio Ortega when he realized the guy was in possession of stolen property.

Wagner tells TMZ Sports ... when he got the photo proof Ortega had the goods, he went to the NFL, the Patriots and the Houston P.D. ... but no one took him seriously.

Eventually, Wagner says he went to his friend -- who happens to be a special agent at the ATF -- and that guy helped escalate the situation to the FBI.

By the way, Wagner also says he tried to buy the Brady jersey from Ortega -- but Mauricio got cold feet and insisted it was a "great fake."

Wagner says he hasn't heard from the NFL or the Patriots yet -- but would love to meet Tom Brady one day ... who happens to be his hero.

Atlanta Hawks player Thabo Sefolosha has struck a settlement with the 5 NYPD officers involved in his violent 2015 arrest outside of an NYC nightclub ... TMZ Sports has learned.

The terms of the settlement are confidential. A judge has officially dismissed the lawsuit as a result of the settlement.

We spoke with Thabo's attorney Alex Spiro who tells us, "We are glad this matter is resolved."

Sefolosha suffered a broken fibula and ligament damage when he and then-teammate Pero Antic were taken into custody outside 1 OAK on April 8 ... after another NBA player had been stabbed in a separate incident.

Sefolosha was initially charged with obstructing justice, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest -- but he took the case to trial and was eventually exonerated.

In his suit, Sefolosha accused the NYPD officers of false arrest, excessive force, malicious prosecution and false imprisonment.

He also claims the incident was a "racial matter" -- and according to ESPN, he specifically referenced his African descent and the hoodie he was wearing that night.