TMZ Sports - Page 50

He's essentially being called a liar by Adrian Peterson, but NFL exec Troy Vincent says he's gonna keep praying for the NFL star ... during their heated legal war over AP's suspension.

Long story short ... Peterson says he has an audio recording of a phone call in which Vincent (acting on behalf of the NFL) promised that the league would only discipline AP based on the old, weak pre-Ray Rice player conduct policy.

Instead, Peterson says he got much harsher discipline -- he was suspended without pay by the NFL until at least April 2015. Peterson's team says the ban is completely unfair and conflicts with what he was told by Vincent.

Peterson is appealing the ban -- and the proceedings began yesterday ... but Vincent was in Washington D.C. at a hearing on domestic violence in pro sports.

On his way out, TMZ Sports asked Vincent about the AP situation -- and he told us, "I just pray for Adrian. I'm just gonna keep praying for him."

Troy has been ordered to testify at the Peterson hearing tomorrow.

There's a reason you've never seen an official Charles Barkley twitter handle ... or Instagram ... or Vine ... because Sir Charles tells us, "I don't want to talk to those idiots."

Barkley says he is 100% AGAINST joining any social media platform ... explaining, "I don't feel the need to talk to every idiot in America."

The "Inside the NBA" star was in NYC when he made the proclamation ... after we asked about criticism he'd been taking for his recent comments on Ferguson ... when he said the people who were looting are "not real black people, those are scumbags."

St. Louis Rams safety Rodney McLeod tell TMZ Sports the majority of the Rams had no idea 5 players were planning on doing the "Hands Up" tribute before Sunday's game ... but says he respects 'em for doing it.

"Nobody knew about it," McLeod says ... noting that it seemed like something the wide receivers worked out the plan amongst themselves in the moments before they ran out of the tunnel.

"It speaks to the character of those guys to stand up and do that in front of the country."

So how did the tribute go over in the locker room? "No tension at all," McLeod says ... "[the other players on the team] realized [the wide receivers] didn't mean any harm."

McLeod says the team has remained tight in the days following the incident -- "It's one of the strongest locker rooms I have ever been in. Our whole team is tight. Our locker room is even tighter."

Time for "TALES FROM A PORN STAR" ... starring porn legend Mary Carey.

Today's topic -- Which pro athlete would make the best adult movie star?

Mary -- an expert in the subject (she's starred in more than 100 films and was recently inducted into the AVN Porn Hall of Fame) -- says only one name comes to mind ... NBA star Dwight Howard.

And why is she so confident? Well, Mary has one great, big, giant, gargantuan reason ...

Tom Brady says his days of raging around Hollywood with pop stars are OVER -- claiming he refused to hit the town with his teammates (and Justin Bieber) last night because he just wanted to SLEEP!!!

The 37-year-old QB called in to WEEI’s “Dennis and Callahan” on Tuesday -- and told the guys the days of partying on a Monday night "have come and gone in my life."

As you know ... Rob Gronkowski -- along with Jonas Gray (RB), Shane Vereen (RB), Akeem Ayers (LB) and Darius Fleming (LB) -- hung out with the L.A. Clippers last night ... with 25-year-old Gronk eventually hitting the Hollywood clubs.

"Those guys should go out and have fun," Brady said ... "They're young guys."

UPDATE 3:00 PM PT -- The hearing has ended and Winston has left. His attorney told reporters as they left the whole situation was "a nightmare." According to ESPN, two of Winston's teammates, Chris Casher and Ronald Darby, refused to testify.

Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston has arrived to the FSU campus for his Student Conduct Code hearing ... where he will face off with the woman who accused him of sexual assault.

The hearing is taking place before a former Florida Supreme Court chief justice -- and if Winston is found in violation of the Student Conduct Code stemming the alleged sexual assault in 2012, he could be expelled from the school.

Winston arrived to campus with his attorney David Cornwell. The accuser has also arrived to the hearing with her legal team.

Winston's attorney told the media the QB intends to "end this process today" ... adding, "Jameis will tell the truth and we are confident that Justice Harding, when he hears her multiple lies and Jameis' truth, will find as every other entity has to this point, that she is lying."

The accuser's attorney also issued a statement ... saying, "Neither Jameis Winston nor his lawyer can stop what is coming."

Winston was not charged with a crime following a criminal investigation into the incident -- with the FL State attorney general citing a lack of evidence.

The Los Angeles Kings were hit with a $100,000 fine by the NHL for letting suspended defenseman Slava Voynov practice with the team, one day after he pled not guilty to domestic violence charges.

According to a statement released by the NHL, the Kings violated the terms of Voynov's suspension by allowing him to skate Tuesday during a club practice. The statement read, "Such activity is in direct contravention of the terms of the suspension ... which permit Mr. Voynov to use club facilities and work with team personnel, but prohibit his participation in any team-related functions or activities."

We reached out to the team for comment on the fine ... so far, no word back.

As TMZ Sports previously reported, the 24-year-old was arrested on October 20 after allegedly beating up his wife -- causing injuries to her eyebrow, cheek and neck.

Ever wanted to know what the inside of Tony Hawk's thigh looks like? Well, now you can 'cause he RIPPED HIS LEG OPEN during a crazy skate accident in New Orleans.

The details surrounding the accident are unclear -- but here's what we know ... THERE WAS A GIANT BLOODY HOLE IN TONY'S LEG!!!!!

The good news ... he's been stitched up and even gave the ol' thumbs up sign to the camera.

He also tweeted, "Living the dream! (but today kinda sucked)"

The Ohio State University wrestling team has decided to pay tribute to former teammate Kosta Karageorge by putting his initials on their singlets next season ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Karageorge's body was found near the OSU campus on Sunday -- and officials says it appears he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The 22-year-old wrestler and football player had a history of concussions.

We spoke with Ohio State University wrestler Josh Fox who tells us Kosta was beloved by his teammates -- which is why they've decided to put "KK" on their singlets to honor him next season.

"He was the kind of guy that if you were in a brawl, he would be the last one standing because he refused to quit or give up," Fox says.

Well, this will end well ... Webbie is CALLING OUT 50 Cent in a new song, saying if Fif doesn't cough up the million bucks they bet on a boxing match earlier this year ... Webbie's gonna come take it.

We broke the story ... Webbie claims he and 50 made a not-so-friendly ONE MILLION DOLLAR wager on the Terrence Crawford vs. Yuriorkis Gamboa fight back in June.

Crawford -- Webbie's BFF -- ko'd Gamboa, who is managed by 50. But when it was time to pay up, Webbie says 5-0 was a no show.

Now its seems Webbie has had enough of 50's Aaron Rodgers routine, and is lashing against the G Unit general in a new song called "What I Been Thru."

During the track Webbie attacks 50, calling him a "b*tch" and adding "You owe me a million, don't make me come get it, I'm telling you I'm serious."

He then invites 50 to engage in an adult activity involving his genitals.

As for 50, he's not usually one to back down from a feud -- just ask Floyd Mayweather -- so, keep a close eye on this one.

NHL legend Gordie Howe has suffered a major stroke ... and is currently being treated in the intensive care unit at a hospital in Lubbock, TX ... this according to his son.

The 86-year-old Hall of Famer has been experiencing ministrokes for the past several months ... and had been recovering from a more serious stroke he suffered on October 26th.

Howe had regained movement in his right side and seemed to be doing better when this latest stroke occurred.

How's children told the Detroit Free Press they were traveling to TX to be with their father.

Nothing heals the pain of a loss like a $3,000 bottle of cognac ... just ask the Pittsburgh Steelers linebackers who busted out TWO bottles of Louis XIII at a Pittsburgh casino last night.

James Harrison, along with the rest of the LB crew, hit up Andrew's Steak and Seafood Restaurant at the Rivers Casino ... where they poured the cognac into fancy glasses engraved with their names.

Louis XIII is some of the most expensive cognac in the world -- right now, BevMo is selling the stuff for $3,000 per bottle (if you're a ClubBev member).

Seems the guys polished off the booze ... at least judging by the way they were singing and goofing around at the end of the meal.

Expensive hangovers ... still hurt.

Al Sharpton says he "respects and admires" the St. Louis Rams players who did the "Hands Up" tribute to Mike Brown before Sunday's game ... and is calling on ALL ATHLETES to follow their lead.

"I think that they have a right to do it and it was much appreciated," Sharpton told us.

Of course, the Rams have come under fire from the St. Louis Police Officers Association -- which demanded an apology ... saying the players ignored "mountains of evidence" in the case and offended cops around the country.

Drake wants Johnny Manziel to start in Cleveland this weekend.

How do we know? He told us ... with his hands.

The rapper was leaving Hakkasan restaurant in Beverly Hills Monday when we asked about the QB controversy in Cleveland -- Manziel or Hoyer?

Drake flashed the money sign. Duh.

Of course, Cleveland Browns head coach Mike Pettine says he won't announce the starters until later this week ... but it feels like Manziel's got the edge ... especially with LeBron telling the media he's "ready to go."

The L.A. Clippers locker room was the place to be last night ... when a bunch of HUGE stars kicked it with the team after their victory -- including Justin Bieber and Rob Gronkowski!!!

Rob -- along with New England Patriots teammates Jonas Gray (RB), Shane Vereen (RB), Akeem Ayers (LB) and Darius Fleming (LB) -- were invited into the locker room by Doc Rivers after the Clips beat up on the Minnesota Timberwolves at Staples Center.

"We have a lot of Cowboys fans, I showed them what a football team looks like," Rivers told ESPN's Arash Markazi.

As for Bieber, he's friends with a bunch of guys on the team ... including DeAndre Jordan and Chris Paul ... and was spotted having a deep convo with Blake Griffin at Blake's locker.