TMZ Sports - Page 50

Scottie Pippen made a triumphant return to the world of sports last night -- racing a goldfish at a bar in Kentucky ... and TMZ Sports has learned he did pretty well ... for a rookie.

The Chicago Bulls legend walked into Two Keys Tavern in Lexington on Tuesday (the only night of the week the bar holds goldfish races) ... and asked if he could get in on the action.

The GM of the bar tells us ... Scottie selected a fish, which he named "Pippen Champion" -- and entered it into the NCAA-style tournament.

We're told Scottie's fish actually WON it's first race -- and he advanced to Round 2 ... but "Pippen Champion" couldn't hang with the advanced group and got dominated in it's second race.

The GM tells us Scottie couldn't have been nicer -- and took tons of pics with fans. He was also with music honcho World Wide Wes.

As for the winner -- we're told the fish that was crowned champion last night was named, "Slippery When Wet" ... and it's owner took home a $50 gift card for Two Keys Tavern swag.

Congrats!

6/18/14 -- 8:24 AM -- Jones says the hit man allegations are complete B.S. -- and insists he's got a great relationship with his agent.

The former NFL star just issued a statement saying the accuser -- a distant relative -- "has filed a false police report" ... and that he "absolutely denies" all allegations.

Jones says he plans on taking legal action of his own against Theodore -- and says the guy has "recently been attempting to extort money" from him and his family.

As far as the allegation that he tried to hire a hit man to take out his agent, Jones says the two have a "wonderful relationship" and the notion that he wants him dead is completely false.

A former Dallas Cowboys linebacker has been named the primary suspect in a police investigation in Cleveland after allegedly trying to hire a hit man to take out his agent ... this according to a police report obtained by TMZ Sports.

The man at the center of the case is Robert Jones -- a 1st round pick in the '92 NFL Draft who went on to become a Pro Bowler who won 3 Super Bowls with the Cowboys.

According to the document, a 47-year-old man named Theodore told police that Jones approached him and tried to hire Theo to take out Jones' agent.

Theo told cops he refused -- and Jones (who's also 47-years-old) -- responded by saying he is a "gangster" and he would make Theodore "disappear."

Theodore told cops he's afraid and fears for his personal safety because he believes Jones will make good on his threat.

So far, Jones has NOT been arrested or charged with a crime. We reached out to Jones several times for comment -- so far, no word back.

Only one person can save Team Portugal from World Cup humiliation -- Irina Shayk ... so says male supermodel Tyson Beckford who says the power lies squarely ... in her crotch.

Beckford -- a huge Portugal fan -- was out watching futbol at Serafina restaurant in NYC yesterday when he tried to explain why Cristiano Ronaldo crapped the bed during Game 1 against Germany.

"It's either the World Cup jitters ... or he's just too sexy to be playing!"

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has announced it will be CANCELLING six federal trademark registrations for the name "Washington Redskins" ... after ruling the name is disparaging to Native Americans.

FYI -- trademark law prevents people from registering trademarks that "may disparage" individuals or groups.

But don't go printing and selling your bootleg Redskins merch just yet -- the team will probably appeal ... and will maintain exclusive rights to the trademark until a federal court makes a ruling.

So ... Memo Ochoa?? Team Mexico's brick wall of a goalie? Yeah, hombre's got a hot GF.

Rumors be damned, LeBron James is COMING BACK to the Miami Heat ... so says Florida Senator Marco Rubio.

Of course, James has said he won't make any decisions about his future with the team until after he takes a vacation with his family ... but Rubio says it point blank -- "LeBron's coming back."

However, Rubio says the real mystery is surrounding Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh -- and whether they have a future in Miami.

"It's just a question of money ... how do you fit another 8 or 9 quality players if all your money is tied up in 3 people?"

In an effort to shake their World Cup blues, the guys from Team England decided to gang up on their team masseuse for a birthday prank ... involving some bondage action and an ice bath ... and it was all caught on video.

Daniel Sturridge, Joe Hart, Glenn Johnson and others decided to tie up team masseuse Paul Smalls at their practice facility in Brazil today to "honor" the guy on his 50th birthday.

Once he was roped up, they carried Smalls over to an ice bath ... and dunked him into some freezing cold water.

Nice to see the team in good spirits after their 1st game loss to Italy.

Shaquille O'Neal's upcoming DJ gig at a Vegas nightclub isn't a joke -- the NBA star has been secretly training in the art of the turntable for years ... TMZ Sports has learned.

We spoke with DJ Irie -- the team DJ for the Miami Heat (who's also appeared with Shaq on "Inside the NBA") and he tells us Shaq has been practicing in private since his playing days.

"When Shaq was in Miami he actually made a studio in his house," Irie says ... "We'd go there and make beats and do mashups. He was very much into DJ'ing. We actually made 3-4 mixtapes."

"We had a preseason game in Puerto Rico one year and I was there DJ'ing a party. Shaq came up to the booth and said 'Let me get on.' The first song he played was 'Move B**ch' by Ludacris. He rocked me!"

Irie says Shaq has a "natural feeling" for DJ'ing ... but says if he had to offer one piece of advice for his gig at the Chateau in Vegas on June 27th, it would be, "Keep a healthy balance of showmanship and playing great music."

She's at it again ... Mexico's number 1 fan 2013 Playboy Playmate of the Year Raquel Pomplun -- once again vowing to go wild on video every time Mexico scores a goal.

Pomplun -- who was raised in Tijuana -- blew up on the 'net last week by live-cheering Mexico's game against Cameroon ... and clearly, she's more than happy to do it again for today's match against Brazil.

She's already uploaded a pre-game pump up video to show off her team spirit.

Hopefully, Mexico pulls through on their end.

The end is near for Paul Pierce ... so says the Brooklyn Nets superstar himself who tells TMZ Sports he's only got 1 or 2 years left before his NBA run is over.

Pierce was out in Calabasas this morning picking up a few cases of water -- and explained that he was trying to stay hydrated after a killer morning workout.

When asked why he was already puttin' in work ... even though the season JUST ended ... Pierce dropped this nugget on us:

"It's a long grind. It's a long grind dawg ... I only got 1 or 2 years left in me."

You can't keep NFL players from celebrating after a TD ... so says NFL legend Terrell Davis, who tells TMZ Sports the players will have to find loopholes to avoid the dreaded celebration flag.

The Denver Broncos legend -- who famously used the Mile High Salute when he scored -- was at LAX this weekend when he told us ... just because the NFL is cracking down, doesn't mean we've seen the end of the 6-point celebration.

And one of the men leading the charge to get around the rules, according to TD, is one of the best players in the league.

They say you're not supposed to dip your pen in the company ink ... and Jacksonville Jaguars star Marcedes Lewis says the same rule applies to NFL players -- don't date cheerleaders!!!

Lewis was out at Boa Steakhouse in L.A. a few days ago when we asked if there are any special rules about cavorting with the ladies from the cheer squad.

That's when Lewis broke it down for us -- "That's not cool ... it's all bad news."

"You just don't do that," Lewis explained ... "especially not your own cheerleaders."

In related news, here's a video of the Jags cheerleaders on a lingerie photo shoot ...

He's been an MC ... he's been an MVP ... and now, Shaq Diesel is gonna be a nightclub DJ -- and he's already booked his first gig in Sin City ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Shaq is all set to take over the wheels of steel at Chateau Nightclub at the Paris Hotel on June 27th.

Despite the fact it's his first nightclub DJ job, the club insists "Shaq will win over club-goers as he spins the hottest beats well into the late night hours."

Shaq first started experimenting with the turntables back in "Inside the NBA" last year -- but was literally kicked out of the booth by DJ Irie.

Dude's got 10 days to perfect his skills -- NO PRESSURE!!!

Another vagina mystery solved ... yes, it HURTS when chicks get kicked in the lady junk during an MMA fight ... so says UFC badass Miesha Tate.

Tate -- who was out promoting the new EA Sports UFC video game -- admits the pain of getting cracked in the hoo ha doesn't compare with a shot to male genitals, but it hurts nonetheless.

File Under: "Only In Alaska" ... where a baseball game in Juneau was delayed on Sunday because a FRIGGIN' BEAR WAS ROAMING THE OUTFIELD!!!!

It all went down at an American Legion game -- when people couldn't help but notice the GIANT BEAR chillin' just outside of the outfield gate.

The players on the field were surprisingly calm considering the situation -- and you can hear people in the crowd laughing like it's no big deal.