TMZ Sports - Page 50

Metta World Peace is hoping his new gig as a high school women's basketball coach can help him achieve his ultimate goal ... coaching in the NBA ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Peace recently accepted a job as an assistant coach at Palisades High School in Southern California -- and head coach Torino Johnson tells us Metta is dead serious about the job.

In fact, Johnson says Metta first called him up to ask about working with the team YEARS AGO ... when Metta's daughter was playing for the squad.

Johnson says he didn't think Peace was serious at first -- but Metta stayed on him and followed up with an email expressing a very real interest in wanting to work the sidelines.

The two sat down and talked it out -- and Johnson says he was convinced Metta is the real deal ... saying, "He knows so much about the game."

As far as his ultimate goal, Johnson says Metta is gunning for the pros ... and he's got the basketball IQ to get there.

WWE legend Pat Patterson just revealed that he's been living in the closet for the past 50 years -- and has finally decided to go public about that fact he's a gay man.

The 73-year-old dropped the news on the finale of WWE Network's "Legends' House" ... saying, "For once in my life I'm going to be me now."

Patterson -- who's a WWE exec -- explained that he's been keeping the secret out of the public eye for 5 decades ... and had a partner for roughly 40 years, but he passed away after suffering a heart attack.

Patterson has been Vince McMahon's right hand man for decades ... he also was the company's first Intercontinental champion and helped create the "Royal Rumble."

OK, married fellas, it's officially time to step your game up ... 'cause NFL star Joe Haden just dominated the 2014 wedding anniversary season -- dropping crazy money on a SICK ride for his wife.

The Cleveland Browns superstar posted a picture to his Instagram of his wife Sarah (smokin' hot. Good work Joe) ... posing next to a pristine white Bentley GT Continental (price tag nearly 200,000 dollars) with the caption:

"I'm the worst at keeping surprises a serecet! So happy one year anniversary @sarah_haden I love u with all my heart enjoy the wheels baby!!! #bentleyGT"

Sarah was apparently pleased, cause she posted not one but TWO pictures of the car ... including one that revealed their anniversary is actually in couple of weeks, but Joe just couldn't wait to destroy the bell curve for husbands all over America.

A 100-year-old Babe Ruth baseball bat is about to hit the auction block ... after a Massachusetts family discovered the historic Louisville Slugger in their basement ... and it could rake in $500k.

Officials at Goldin Auctions tell TMZ Sports ... an antique hunter (also known as a "picker") asked the family if he could go through their old belongings ... and discovered a collection of what appeared to be old game-used bats from Red Sox players -- including the Sultan of Swat.

Goldin Auctions tells us ... the bats were authenticated through an independent firm -- that confirmed the Ruth bat was used sometime between 1916 and 1918.

Among the clues ... G.A. says the bat's size and weight match up with the ones he used at the time ... plus, the word "RUTH" is imprinted on the barrel.

The auction house says the bat also includes cleat imprints on the barrel "as Ruth always banged out his spikes on his bats' barrel."

Officials at Goldin Auctions -- which is putting the item up for bid on June 16th -- says it's expecting the bat to sell somewhere in the $350k to $500k range.

There have been rumors about the Bulls, the Lakers and the Heat -- but Carmelo Anthony tells TMZ Sports nothing is "legit" until a contract is SIGNED, SEALED AND DELIVERED.

'Melo was leaving Mastro's Steakhouse in Beverly Hills last night when we asked about the latest rumor making the round -- that LeBron, Wade and Bosh would all take pay cuts to get him to Miami.

"I ain't hear about that one," a smiling Anthony said ... "That's a new one."

The legal system-abusing prankster who filed an insane lawsuit against Johnny Manziel has apparently struck again -- and this time, his target is Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban.

TMZ Sports has learned ... Cuban was sued in District Court in Northern Texas by someone claiming to be Lisa Lazzari ... the sister of former "Shark Tank" entrepreneur Lani Lazzari (owner of Simple Sugars body care company).

Big men drive BIG TRUCKS ... at least Tyson Chandler does -- and TMZ Sports has footage of the 7'1" NBA star hittin' the road in a tricked out "baby monster truck."

The New York Knicks center was out in Calabasas this week in what appears to be a lifted 2010 Ford F350 Super Duty … a car that just DOMINATES on the road.

Chandler says he likes the truck because at his size, he fits pretty comfortably in it -- and only goes off-roading in his diesel vehicle "if a car gets in my way."

FYI -- maintaining that truck ain't cheap, the tank holds 38 gallons of diesel gas ... which currently runs $3.99 per gallon in Calabasas ... so, you're talkin' a cool $150 per tank.

In this video ... Kevin Love is hilarious.

Does he tell kids that video games are more important than school? Yes.

Does he awkwardly try to deflect when a child grills him about his NBA future? Yes.

Is this clip gonna make you love Kevin Love even more than you already did? Yes.

It all went down at the E3 video game convention when some kid reporters approached Kev to ask questions about Skylanders -- a super popular video game that's big with kids.

Team Costa Rica and Team Mexico are getting screwed ... by not being able to get screwed during the World Cup ... so says Reggie Miller who tells us the "no sex" rules are stupid.

Miller -- one of the most clutch athletes of all-time -- says he doesn't understand why World Cup teams forbid their players from banging during the tourney ... saying, "If you're a trained athlete, I think you're gonna focus no matter what."

He adds, "It's mind over matter, isn't it?"

The President of Costa Rica knows ... if his team is gonna win the World Cup, it's gonna take a miracle -- which could explain why he's already mentally prepared himself for the worst.

Luis Guillermo Solis was out in D.C. today -- while his team preps to play Uruguay, Italy and England -- and he admitted things aren't looking up when it comes to advancing to the next round.

"I mean, it's gonna be difficult ... it's a difficult group ... but we'll do our best."

Translation -- at least we MADE the World Cup.

Dolphin hunters beware ... ex-WWE superstar Brodus Clay has big plans following his release from the company today -- he's headed for Japan to protect dolphins from being captured and killed.

Brodus says he booked a trip to Japan for this summer and plans to protest dolphin hunting. He's been passionate about the cause ever since seeing the Oscar winning documentary, "The Cove".

The Funkasaurus tells us he's bummed about losing his job -- WWE cut a total of 9 wrestlers today -- but he's excited to do some other things -- like acting and writing a book.

Brodus says he's open to any wrestling opportunities he might get in Japan -- but his main focus is "bringing awareness to the cause" of the dolphins.

When Michael Jordan surprised an elementary school in North Carolina this week -- the kids went WILD ... but they weren't quite sure who he was!

The whole story is sweet ... MJ rolled through Hornet's Nest Elementary and visited with teachers, students and staff -- and Principal Victoria Hicks tells us the place went crazy for the NBA star!

But the best part was the reaction of the students -- "It's funny because the students weren't born when Michael played basketball," Hicks says. And they asked some great questions.

-- "One kid asked if he still played. He said he was retired. They said, 'Retired? What's retired?'"

-- "Another student asked, 'How old are you now?' Are you 70?'"

-- "Something else that I thought was funny was that some of the kids were mistakenly calling him 'Michael Jackson!"

Michael's reaction? Hicks says he was smiling and laughing the entire time.

"I walked with Michael for 90 minutes. We went into 4 classrooms. I kept thanking him but he said it was his pleasure."

1:02 P.M. PT -- Kaepernick just tweeted his response, "As I said from day one, I would never do the things that were made up about me. I'm glad this issue is resolved. It's time for football."

Colin Kaepernick will NOT be hit with any charges stemming from a sexual assault investigation in Miami, authorities say ... after officials determined there was NO credible evidence he did anything wrong.

The Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office has announced ... after a thorough investigation, the San Francisco 49ers QB is "exceptionally cleared."

According to official documents obtained by TMZ Sports, prosecutors determined, "There is no evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that any crime was committed against the complaintant."

L.A is overflowing with bandwagon L.A. Kings fans -- and Cuba Gooding Jr. tells TMZ Sports ... IT PISSES HIM THE HELL OFF!!!!

Cuba was out in NYC yesterday -- where he was starting a "Let's Go Rangers" chant (he claims they're his 2nd favorite team) ... when the actor went off on all the shameless "fans" who jumped on the Kings' bandwagon during the team's playoff run.

He calls 'em brutal ... he drops an F-bomb ... and then he posed for pics with fans who bombarded him with catchphrases from "Jerry Maguire."

He told Erin Andrews he's the "best corner in the game" ... and now, Terrell Owens says Richard Sherman is 100% RIGHT -- despite objections from multiple NFL stars.

T.O. was out in Hollywood last night when he told us straight up ... the head of the Legion of Boom is "the best in the business!"

Sherman's been called out by several players -- including Patrick Peterson and LeGarrette Blount -- who acknowledge Sherman's talent, but insist he's NOT the best CB in the league.

But ya gotta respect T.O.'s opinion -- dude played in the league for 15 years ... so when it comes to ranking quality DB's, it's hard to argue with him.