TMZ Sports - Page 50

The NCAA took advantage of superstars like Cam Newton and Johnny Manziel ... and in exchange, tarnished their legacies ... this according to former UNC basketball star Rashad McCants.

McCants -- who previously accused UNC of academic fraud by saying the school would give athletes high grades in classes they never attended -- was out in L.A. today ... just after the NCAA announced it was reopening the investigation into the university.

Rashad told us he's sick of the NCAA -- because it forces student-athletes to live by an unfair code ... in which they're promised an education instead of compensation ... but the education is bogus.

Rashad -- who claims UNC arranged for tutors to write his college papers -- said, "Why is there no education on my part when my years were there and I didn't receive any money?"

As for Manziel and Newton -- both were investigated by the NCAA for allegedly taking money during their college careers ... though the investigations into both players came up empty.

Still, McCants says ... it doesn't matter -- they should've been ALLOWED to take money because the NCAA is a "farm system" and it needs to treat the players accordingly.

WWE Diva Emma is a real life heel ... arrested for stealing an iPad case from a Walmart.

Emma was busted in Hartford Monday night after Walmart security spotted her swiping a red iHome 'Slim Swivel' iPad Mini case ... on sale for $21.14.

Cops tell TMZ ... Emma was charged with misdemeanor larceny in the 6th degree ... who knew there were that many degrees?

The legal system in Hartford is lightning quick -- she's already been to court and was sentenced to one day of community service.

WWE RAW was at the XL Center in Hartford as the crime went down.

Emma's lawyer chalks it up to an innocent mistake, saying she just forgot to pay while trying to navigate the self-checkout machine.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. says his love for Justin Bieber is unconditional ... after the singer came to the rescue of his children.

Floyd was coming out of a West Hollywood liquor store Monday night and could not stop gushing about his good friend's act of kindness the day before ... when 3 of Mayweather's kids got in a bad car crash.

TMZ broke the story ... Mayweather was on the BET Awards red carpet when he got word his kids were in a car wreck. Floyd happened to be talking to Justin on the phone ... and Biebs raced to the scene to comfort the kids.

The boxing champ is taking some heat for not leaving the red carpet and rushing to the aid of his brood.

Dennis Rodman is SUPER EXCITED to watch USA vs. Belgium ... in fact, he's so amped for the big game, he made a WWE-style pump-up video ... and TMZ Sports has the footage.

Just watch ... and remember this key piece of Rodman advice:

"UNITED WE STAND ... PROBIDED WE FALL."

Every champion needs a rival ... even in competitive hot dog eating ... and that's why Joey Chestnut tells TMZ Sports he misses bellying up next to Kobayashi.

Chestnut is in NYC gearing up for the biggest day of his year -- the Nathan's 4th of July Hot Dog Eating contest in Coney Island -- and "Jaws" says he's expecting nothing but sweet sweet victory.

Let's be honest ... he'll probably win by a landslide again because he really hasn't been challenged since Kobayashi left Major League Eating and stopped competing in the July 4th spectacular.

"I miss competing against him," Chestnut says ... "He's a great competitor."

Joey says he wishes Kobayashi would drop his beef with MLE and figure out a way to return to the big leagues ... but the guy still refuses to sign a contract.

Joey suggests Kobayashi is just being a sore loser -- sounds like Jaws is calling him out!!!

Aldon Smith will NOT be hit with criminal charges for making a false bomb threat at LAX back in April ... officials tell TMZ Sports.

We broke the story ... the SF 49ers superstar was arrested for allegedly making the threat while "belligerent and uncooperative" right after a TSA screening at a security gate.

Now, the L.A. City Attorney's Office tells us they have reviewed the matter and "will not be filing criminal charges in the incident."

Instead, the City Attorney's Office says it will set a "City Attorney Office Hearing" later this month to address the matter.

FYI -- a City Attorney Office hearing "is administered by members of the City Attorney's office in lieu of a criminal filing. Involved parties are scheduled to attend and give their account of the incident. The individuals are then admonished about the applicable laws and given suggestions on how to avoid similar incidents in the future."

Translation -- Smith will get scolded by officials ... and will then be sent on his way.

If Smith does anything stupid in the future, the City Attorney's Office says it reserves the right to file charges up to one year following the incident.

Mike Tyson is FIRED UP to watch Team USA take on Belgium -- in fact, he's so pumped, he made a pep talk video ... telling the squad we're going to take those Belgians, take their chocolate and ... well ... watch.

Tyson appeared on a bit for Fox Sports 1 -- and in between chants of "USA! USA! USA!" ... made the following prediction:

"We’re going to take them Belgium guys, and take a bunch of chocolate, and stuff it up ..."

He stopped himself before describing exactly where the chocolate would be stuffed.

Both were seen sippin' on drinks -- Wayne was seen checking out some of the bikini-clad partiers.

People who are boycotting Belgian beer in support of Team USA soccer are only screwing themselves out of an opportunity to DRINK GOOD BEER ... so says Samuel Adams founder Jim Koch.

Of course, with Team USA's big match against Belgium just hours away -- some Americans are 86'ing all things Belgium from their lives ... waffles, chocolate, Jean-Claude Van Damme, etc.

But Koch tells TMZ Sports ... the beer shouldn't suffer.

"We hear some people are boycotting their favorite Belgian beers (like Stella) in support of Team USA," Koch says ... "I can’t say I agree with beer boycotts because then you’re giving up your right to drink your favorite beer!"

"For me, I’ll be cheering on Team USA with a Samuel Adams Boston Lager, my favorite. If you really want to show patriotism, I say boycott Brussels sprouts or Belgian waffles."

Johnny Manziel had his first taste of a Justin Bieber party last night ... and it ended after cops were called to the crib ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Manziel was hanging with Floyd Mayweather, Tyrese, Tyga, Chantel Jeffries and others at Bieb's pad in Beverly Hills ... when Beverly Hills PD was called to the condo complex early Tuesday morning by someone complaining about loud music.

We're told cops responded to the home and they spoke with someone at the residence -- not Bieber -- and the gang complied and cranked the tunes down.

But a short time later, cops went BACK to the pad after someone complained about the packs of young girls (Beliebers) who were screaming and making noise in front of Justin's crib.

It's not the first time cops have been to JB's home -- police were there recently to deal with similar fan issues. FYI -- Justin's only been in the home a couple of weeks.

Bet the neighbors love it.

They say he OWNED the court when the Bulls played in Chicago Stadium ... but TMZ Sports has learned Michael Jordan only owns a PIECE of the court ... and it's displayed in his Florida mansion.

We've obtained pics of the authentic center court section from Chicago Stadium -- that Michael was allowed to keep when the Bulls moved from Chicago Stadium in 1994.

Sources close to Michael tell us ... MJ had the court section installed into his 28,000 square foot home in Jupiter, FL -- which he moved into back in 2013.

We spoke to the Bulls who confirmed, "Michael does have a piece of the court with the Bulls logo."

The rep added, "Years ago when the Bulls went from Chicago Stadium to the United Center, Michael took the center court portion of the court."

Unclear if he paid for it ... but we're guessing it was gift for ... you know ... the championships.

Pretty bad ass, right?!

Ex-NFL quarterback Kevin Kolb was arrested for boating while intoxicated in Texas this weekend ... and spent nearly 12 hours in jail.

Law enforcement tells TMZ Sports ... the 29-year-old former Philadelphia Eagles QB was popped early Saturday morning in Willacy County, TX by Parks & Wildlife officials and was thrown in a cell at 2:44 AM.

Kolb was released at 1:11 PM after posting $3k bond.

Kolb didn't play an NFL game last season -- despite the fact he was on the Buffalo Bills roster -- after suffering a season-ending concussion during a pre-season game.

The L.A. City Fire Dept. isn't laughing at the L.A. Dodgers hot foot prank -- telling TMZ Sports playing with fire is NOT a joke ... it's dangerous.

The "hot foot" all went down at Dodgers Stadium over the weekend -- when pitcher Josh Beckett snuck a lit cigarette wrapped in matches on the back of teammate Scott Van Slyke's cleat.

The whole thing made national news -- but Captain Jaime Moore from the L.A. City Fire Dept. tells us, "These guys are supposed to be role models and playing with fire is not a joke."

Capt. Moore says the F.D. is more than happy to offer a stop, drop and roll course to the team ... in case it ever happens again.

We also spoke with Tom Olshanski -- the Director of External Affairs for the United States Fire Administration (a division of FEMA) who tells us, "We work tirelessly to warn people of the dangers of fire and to see it celebrated by professional athletes, on TV and in front of kids, is frustrating."

He adds, "Any sort of fire play like that is incredibly dangerous. Look at the recovery from even minor burn injuries."

The lesson, he says, is the same one we were all taught as kids -- "'Don't play with matches."

During the bit, Vick said he was game to talk to "callers" -- who all turned out to be crazy characters who harassed him about everything from dog-fighting to his QB battle with Geno Smith.

Vick kept his composure during the "prank" -- and later vowed revenge on Tommy ... right after plugging the comedy show. Unclear if Vick was in on the prank from the beginning, but it doesn't really matter -- it was still funny.

Detroit Lions TE Joseph Fauria can say bye, bye, bye to his old touchdown dances ... 'cause he's got a brand new set of moves now -- courtesy of former 'N SYNC member Lance Bass.

Fauria -- who famously busted out all sorts of boy-bandish style celebrations during his rookie season -- was set to showcase some of his new moves during a bit for Fox Sports 1 ... when Bass showed up to show him a new trick or two.

Check out the video, Lance lays out some classic 'N Sync choreography ... and Joseph hilariously does his best to keep up ... but it's obvious Lance is the expert in the dance dept.

Next up? Blocking Ndamukong Suh in practice ... good luck Bass.