TMZ Sports - Page 50

Adrian Peterson turned himself over to authorities early Saturday morning on child abuse charges ... faintly smiling for his mug shot.

Peterson was booked in Houston just after 1 AM and released a half hour later.

The football star is accused of beating his 4-year-old son with a tree branch ... hitting him so hard it left welts and caused him to bleed.

Peterson actually admitted to cops he gave his son "a whooping" and says it's the same treatment he got as a kid. Peterson's lawyer adds that his client "deeply regrets the unintentional injury."

The Vikings have deactivated Peterson for Sunday's game.

Mo'Nique just joined an even smaller club than than the Academy Award winners group she already belongs to ... people who want to give Ray Rice a second chance.

The "Precious" star was on "Good Day L.A." on FOX 11 this week and when asked about the Rice situation, showed a tidal wave of support for Rice -- more than any other big star has so far.

"A lot of people are saying get rid of him ... in our worst moments we would want empathy."

UFC badass Lyoto Machida is about to get to the bottom of a mystery -- a bottom mystery -- 'cause the pro face breaker just told TMZ Sports why women in his native Brazil have such nice ... assets.

Machida was out in Beverly Hills with his smokin' hot wife when our camera guy asked the question that women all over the world want to know -- how do Brazilian chicks get their mystical booty powers???

Check the video -- Machida gives our camera guy two reasons Brazilian chicks are so bootylicious.

UFC superstar Nick Diaz was arrested for DUI in California last week -- and cops say to make matters worse, he attempted to "destroy evidence" by trying to make himself puke.

We've learned ... Diaz was pulled over around 2AM on Sept. 6th in Lodi, CA for a routine traffic violation -- and during the stop, cops say they noticed Diaz appeared to be wasted.

Diaz was taken to a nearby jail -- where cops say he went to the bathroom and attempted to make himself vomit in what seems like an effort to get the booze out of his system.

For the record, cops say Diaz was unable to pull his own trigger -- and never actually barfed.

He was eventually hit with 4 charges -- misdemeanor DUI, driving on a suspended license, obstructing a police investigation and destroying evidence.

Diaz -- who's supposed to fight Anderson Silva in January -- was eventually released on his own recognizance.

The UFC issued a statement saying they are aware of the situation and are gathering the facts.

4:12 PM PT -- According to the police report, Peterson allegedly sent text messages to the child's mother saying he "felt bad" because he struck the kid in the testicles.

"Got him in the nuts once I noticed. But I felt so bad, n I'm all tearing that butt up when needed!" the text said.

Peterson allegedly sent a follow up text saying, "Never do I go overboard! But all my kids will know, hey daddy has he biggest heart but don't play no games when it comes to acting right."

4:10 PM PT -- According to the police report, the child told authorities he had also been hit by a belt and there were "a lot of belts in daddy's closet."

The child also said AP had put leaves in his mouth when he was being struck and that his pants were down.

3:50 PM PT -- The Vikings have deactivated Peterson for Sunday's game.

3:34 PM PT -- Peterson has issued a statement through his lawyer saying, "The charged conduct involves using a switch to spank his son."

"This indictment follows Adrian's full cooperation with authorities who have been looking into this matter. Adrian is a loving father who used his judgement as a parent to discipline his son."

"He used the same kind of discipline with his child that he experienced as a child growing up in East Texas. Adrian has never hidden from what happened."

"He has cooperated fully with authorities and voluntarily testified before the grand jury for several hours."

"Adrian will address the charges with the same respect and responsiveness he has brought to this inquiry from its beginning. It is important to remember that Adrian never intended to harm his son and deeply regrets the unintentional injury."

3:00 PM PT -- The police report on the case includes photos of cuts on the boy's thigh and hands. He also had bruises on his lower back and buttocks, and according to the report ... Peterson admitted punishing him.

One law enforcement source tells TMZ ... Peterson decided to discipline his son by grabbing a branch from a tree -- and then whipping the child on his bare skin. We're told several of the wounds were bleeding when the child went back to his mother.

2:31 PM PT -- The Vikings have issued a statement saying ... "The Vikings are in the process of gathering information regarding the legal situation involving Adrian Peterson."

"At this time, we will defer further questions to Adrian’s attorney Rusty Hardin."

Minnesota Vikings superstar Adrian Peterson has been indicted for child abuse in North Montgomery County, TX ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Sources connected to Peterson tell us ... the alleged victim is a male child from Minnesota who was visiting Adrian back in May at AP's home in Texas.

We're told the child returned home to his mother in Minn. who noticed injuries and took the child to a doctor. A short time later, the doctor contacted authorities in Texas to report Adrian.

Child Protective Services confirms it is working on a case involving Peterson. Multiple sources tell us the alleged victim is a 4-year-old boy.

Peterson was indicted in Montgomery County for reckless or negligent injury to a child, this according to MyFOX Houston 26.

Peterson missed Vikings team practice yesterday -- though the team explained it as a "veteran's day." Peterson did attend practice today and was said to be laughing and joking on the field.

Earlier today, Peterson posted a message on Twitter -- though it's unclear if it's related to the case.

"People understand that if you are on God's course and suppose to have that position and man decides to remove you know that God will remove everyone to place you rightfully! You matter!"

"Its your season! Weapons may form but won’t prosper! God has you covered don’t stress or worry!"

Story developing ...

The woman who sued former L.A. Lakers player Devin Ebanks for sexual assault is DROPPING her lawsuit against the ex-NBA'er ... TMZ Sports has learned.

We broke the story ... Ebanks -- a 2nd round pick in the 2010 Draft -- was sued by a woman who filed the lawsuit anonymously back in 2012 claiming he raped her after partying at a Hollywood nightclub together.

The woman filed a report with the LAPD, which then conducted a rape investigation -- but the L.A. County D.A. refused to file charges against Ebanks due to lack of evidence.

She later filed a lawsuit against Ebanks -- but now, the woman -- who refers to herself as "Jane Doe" in the suit -- filed new court docs asking the judge to dismiss the case entirely.

Of course, it won't officially be dismissed until the judge signs off -- but for all intents and purposes, the case is over.

Nick Young's toddler CAN BALL, SON!!!!

Swaggy and Lil Swaggy hit up an arcade together recently -- where the toddler posted up at an "NBA Hoop Troop" game ... and sank SIX SHOTS IN A ROW!!!

Thankfully, Young captured the highlights on video and posted it on his Instagram page for all the NCAA scouts.

Toni Braxton says she believes in "standing by your man" ... but when it comes to Ray Rice, it's clear the singer thinks Janay Palmer should make an exception.

Toni and her sister Towanda were leaving Mr. Chow in Bev Hills last night when she told us how she sympathizes for Janay for having to deal with her situation in the public eye ... but strongly implies that she should leave her NFL husband.

Al Sharpton tells TMZ Sports ... he's been a part of discussions with NBA Commish Adam Silver on how to handle the situation with racist Atlanta Hawks owner Bruce Levenson.

Sharpton -- who previously sat down with Adam Silver in the middle of the Donald Sterling crisis -- tells us, "In the discussions we've been having with the Commissioner, they said they were gonna vet everyone out [before allowing a sale of the team]."

The Rev says, "We challenge the NBA Commissioner Silver and others to not just go from one billionaire to another without opening up the diversity of ownership in the NBA."

"We only have one team. Michael Jordan owned by a black [Charlotte Bobcats] ... yet look at the percentage of players that are black."

Everyone loves football ... even the Amish ... who often BREAK their no-electricity rule to catch NFL games on Sundays -- so says "Breaking Amish" star Kate Stoltz.

Stoltz -- who grew up Amish before leaving the farm to become a Maxim model -- was out at Fashion Week in New York City last night when she told us that football is definitely worth the risk.

"We sneak our televisions and we watch football ... like every single week we watch football."

Ronda Rousey says ... the Ray Rice story would've had a MUCH, MUCH different ending if she was in the elevator with the NFL star.

The UFC champ was at LAX Thursday when she was asked what would have happened if she was in Janay Palmer's shoes on that fateful night in an Atlantic City casino.

Ronda's answer -- well, ya gotta watch the video.

Former Olympic track star Oscar Pistorius was found guilty of culpable homicide Friday morning by a judge in South Africa, and was also found guilty of one other weapons charge.

Sentencing for Pistorius is still weeks away. There is no minimum sentence for culpable homicide under South African law and the typical maximum sentence is 15 years, with the average sentence being about 5-8 years.

Pistorius was found not guilty on two of the three weapons charges he was facing. He was only found guilty of the charge involving a shooting at a restaurant. That charge has a maximum sentence of five years.

Pistorius admitted to shooting and killing his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, on Valentine's Day of 2013 … but maintained he thought she was an intruder.

One major NFL sponsor tells TMZ Sports ... they are "frustrated" with Roger Goodell -- and will keep a close eye on the investigation to determine whether or not to end its relationship with the NFL.

A key member of the company -- who would not let us use his or his company's name, but trust us ... it's as big as it gets -- tells us, "It's one thing after another [with Goodell]" ... noting the company is particularly "frustrated" with Goodell's "inconsistent policies."

We're told the company has had several internal meetings to discuss its relationship with the league -- but it's NOT at the point of pulling money right now.

"We're concerned with the unknown right now. Where is [the Goodell saga] going next?"

Former wrestler Sean O'Haire had a nasty alcohol addiction he couldn't kick ... even though the WWE went to lengths to help him get clean -- including providing him years of treatment.

Sources close to the situation tell us O'Haire went to WWE-sponsored rehab six times in the past 6 years ... including once earlier this year. After he left, we're told the wrestling company made multiple attempts to get in touch with O'Haire -- but he was M.I.A.

CBS has pulled the plug on the musical opening of tonight's "Thursday Night Football" -- and it's very clear it's because they don't want to feature Rihanna in the midst of the Ray Rice scandal.

The opening features Rihanna performing a version of "Run This Town" -- while Don Cheadle introduces the teams and dramatically asks who will "run this town" when the game is over.

But with the Ray Rice scandal in full swing, it's clear CBS didn't want to feature another celebrity who was involved in a high-profile domestic violence incident.

CBS Sports Chairman Sean McManus says, "We thought journalistically and from a tone standpoint, we needed to have the appropriate tone coverage."

The musical opening will be replaced by a discussion of Roger Goodell's recent comments about the Ray Rice incident.