TMZ Sports - Page 50

There are rules in the strip club -- no touching, no pictures and NO JACKING STRIPPER'S CELL PHONES ... but an NBA player has been accused of breaking Rule #3 ... TMZ Sports has learned.

The man in hot water is Orlando Magic player Maurice Harkless -- who's been named in a police report filed by an exotic dancer in San Francisco.

Law enforcement sources confirm ... the dancer claims 21-year-old Maurice came into the club late Sunday night -- but before he left early Monday morning, he swiped her cell phone and took it with him.

Sources connected to the situation tell us the stripper confronted the 6'9" player and tried to get the phone back ... to no avail.

We're told the San Francisco Police Department is now investigating the incident -- and there is surveillance footage that could crack the case.

We reached out to Harkless and his camp for comment -- so far, no word back.

5:03 PM PT -- A rep for Harkless just sent us a statement saying, "There must be a mistake in identity. Maurice Harkless was not involved in any situation that involved taking a cell phone or any property."

Michael Sam's former college teammate -- who's played with NFL stars like Aldon Smith and Sheldon Richardson -- says Sam is RIGHT ... his sexual orientation is the reason he's not in the league.

We spoke with Marvin Foster -- who played alongside Sam at Missouri -- and says Sam is one of the best players he's ever stepped on the field with.

"There's no way the Defensive Player of the Year in the SEC should be a free agent," Foster said.

TMZ Sports posted footage Wednesday showing Sam very strongly suggesting that he has the talent to play in the NFL -- but isn't on a roster because he's openly gay.

"The kid can play and I think he showed he can play," Foster added ... "He had three sacks in the pre-season. I don't know why they cut him."

But not everyone shares Foster's opinion -- we spoke with an active NFL lineman who tells us, "If Sam was killing he would be on a roster."

UFC honcho Dana White tells TMZ Sports he's definitely interested in having a conversation with CM Punk about fighting in the octagon ... now that Punk's no longer with the WWE.

White was at an event in NYC to celebrate the new UFC-Reebok partnership when he told us he likes Punk and knows he's a fan of MMA -- and would be open to having a conversation with the 36-year-old about joining the organization.

"I don't know if he can fight or anything like that ," White said ... "but sure, I wouldn't mind talking to CM Punk."

As for rumors about Brock Lesnar wanting to get back into MMA at the end of his contract with the WWE -- White says, "If and when his deal if up with them and he wants to fight, I'm, sure he'll call me."

The man who "boxed" Mickey Rourke in Russia is PISSED -- telling TMZ Sports the actor's people are STIFFING him out of $5,000 he was promised for the fight.

We spoke with 29-year-old Elliot Seymour who says he was supposed to be paid $15k to step in the ring with the 62-year-old actor ... but only got $10k.

Seymour says the whole situation was sketchy -- but insists he was NOT paid to take a dive.

"People can say whatever they want ... if you've never been in a fight before in your life, you have no idea what it feels like to get hit."

Despite the financial dispute, Seymour says he's down to fight Mickey again -- if Mickey wants a rematch.

Rourke's boxing manager tells TMZ ... Seymour only got $10,000 because that's the most he can carry through customs. He says Seymour will get the other $5,000 next week, saying, "I think the poor kid is just enjoying the attention a little too much and is beginning to talk to the press about anything just to get more attention."

It's one of the most famous Yankees rules ... NO BEARDS DURING THE SEASON!!!

But with star pitcher CC Sabathia, who's growing out his whiskers in the off-season, we had to ask the 34-year-old if he was planning to rage against the machine this year ... and fight to keep his face warmer when it's time to put on the pinstripes.

Don't worry Steinbrenners, Sabathia told us he's gonna play by the family rules ... even though he likes his new scruff.

Several Cleveland Browns superstars rallied around their teammate Joe Haden to help him open his new sneaker shop -- from Josh Gordon to Johnny Manziel ... and TMZ Sports has the pics.

As we previously reported, Haden opened "The Restock" in Cleveland last weekend ... a store that specializes in rare sneakers.

A bunch of the Browns showed up when Joe opened the doors ... including Josh Gordon, Donte Whitner and Andrew Hawkins. Cleveland Cavs star Tristan Thompson was also on hand.

And we're told the guys weren't just there to browse -- Josh picked up 3 pairs of Jordans ... so did Tristan Thompson. Hawkins ponied up for a pair of Balenciagas ... which ain't cheap.

Other Browns teammates donated signed jerseys to help decorate the store -- including Johnny Manziel, Brian Hoyer, Phil Taylor and more.

Former NFL quarterback Ryan Leaf was released from a Montana prison Wednesday ... more than two years after beginning his 5-year sentence for breaking into a home to steal Rx pills.

But Leaf isn't in the clear yet ... the #2 overall pick in the 1998 NFL Draft may still have to serve time in Texas stemming from ANOTHER prescription drug arrest.

Leaf has reportedly met with a parole officer in Montana while waiting for Texas to decide what to do with him.

Leaf has been arrested several times after his brief stint in the NFL -- and had worked as a QB coach at West Texas A&M until he was accused of burglarizing a player's home in 2008.

Remember when NY Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr. said the coolest moment in his life was when his hero LeBron James tweeted about his legendary 1-handed catch???

Well, last night ... OBJ got a new "coolest moment" in life -- when he met LeBron in person and they took a picture together!

As we previously reported, Beckham Jr. had called James his "favorite athlete" and talked about how much it meant when LeBron gave him props for that sick grab against the Cowboys.

The two finally met in person at dinner Wednesday night -- and you can by the look on Odell's face ... dude was stoked!!

In fact, James even posted about it ... writing, "Giving the game to my young king @iam_objxiii tonight at dinner! Keep going homie and #StriveForGreatness #RWTW."

Pretty cool, right?

Clippers star Matt Barnes says he LOVES the video of the overzealous 1-legged Nets fan who had be carried out of a recent game -- telling TMZ Sports he wants to buy him tickets the next time the Clips play!

The video went viral ... showing a very intense Nets fan being removed from Madison Square Garden during Tuesday night's match-up with the Knicks ... after reportedly screaming and yelling like a maniac while waving his prosthetic leg in the air during the game.

The fan was BANNED from MSG -- but last night in L.A., Barnes told us he LOVED the guy's passion -- and says he wants the guy to be a part of Clipper Nation.

"When we come to New York, I want him to be my guest to the next game," Barnes said ... "Next time we come out there I'm gonna buy him tickets."

He adds, "Come to the West Coast!"

Jameis Winston says the sexual encounter with his accuser back in 2012 was 100% consensual -- telling the judge he formally requested oral sex when they hooked up ... and she obliged.

Winston described his version of the events -- in great detail -- in a written statement to the judge in his student conduct code hearing at Florida State describing his version of the encounter in question.

Winston says he did NOT buy the woman a drink at the bar they were at before the sexual encounter -- and NEVER offered her any drugs.

But when they got back to Winston's dorm room, the QB says they immediately began hooking up.

"Almost immediately upon our arrival, (NAME REDACTED) and I went into my bedroom. We were standing facing each other, kissing and touching each other's bodies. I eventually asked (NAME REDACTED) if she would perform oral sex on me. She said that she would. The lights in my bedroom were on and (NAME REDACTED) willingly performed oral sex on me. While (NAME REDACTED) was performing oral sex, I was close enough to my dresser to reach over to it, open a drawer, and retrieve a condom."

Winston says he and the woman "also engaged in intense foreplay and heavy petting during the same period that she was performing oral sex. I was with her on the bed during foreplay and I may have ejaculated a small amount of semen onto her clothing."

Winston says things heated up and he grabbed a condom -- and she helped put it on.

Winston says there was "no doubt" the sex was consensual.

At some point during the encounter, Jameis says one of his roommates opened the door to his bedroom "as a prank" -- so she asked if they could go somewhere with more privacy.

Jameis says they went to the bathroom and began to have consensual sex a second time.

Eventually, Jameis says he dropped her off at her dorm ... and she gave him a hug goodbye.

Winston says the woman never said or did anything indicating she didn't want to hook up -- but says, "had she done so, I would have stopped immediately."

Winston concludes by taking a very aggressive shot at the accuser -- saying, "the only thing as vicious as rape is falsely accusing someone of rape."

He says the accuser "and her lawyers have falsely accused me, threatened to sue me, demanded $7,000,000 from me, engaged in a destructive media campaign against me, and manipulated this process to the point that my rights have and will continue to be severely compromised."

8:18 AM PT -- The accuser's attorney issued a statement saying, "After two years all we get is a written statement crafted by Mr. Winston's lawyers. Not impressed."

3:15 PM PT -- The hearing just ended. Jameis said nothing on his way out, but his attorney called the whole process a sham because he feels the accuser is merely trying to set up a civil lawsuit.

Florida State University quarterback Jameis Winston returned to the FSU campus moments ago for Day 2 in his Student Conduct Code hearing ... where several witnesses are expected to be called.

Winston arrived in a suit along with his lawyer -- unlike yesterday, Winston left the pocket square at home this time.

Among the witnesses expected to testify today -- the FSU police officer who first responded to Winston's accuser on Dec. 7, 2012 ... the night of the alleged sexual assault.

PAY ATTENTION FELLAS ... Super hot UFC superstar Ronda Rousey is about to give you some incredibly valuable information ... about what NOT to do if you ever wanna get with the champ.

Ronda was out at an event in NYC to celebrate the new UFC-Reebok partnership when TMZ Sports did men everywhere a favor ... asking Rousey what she looks for in a potential boy toy.

That's when Ronda revealed one of her biggest DEALBREAKERS.

Michael Sam believes he's not on a NFL roster because of the fact he's openly gay -- telling TMZ Sports he strongly believes he's got the talent to play in the league.

Sam was at LAX this morning when he was asked if he thinks NFL teams are shying away from him because of his sexual orientation ... or if it has to do with the level of talent he faced after college.

"I think I was the SEC Defensive Player of the Year last year ... so I don't think it had to do with talent."

Translation -- he believes he's on the outs because he's out.

Sam says he's still focused on getting back into the league ... and told us the chances of Oprah ever reviving the reality show that was in the works before the draft are slim to none.

Blake Griffin shared a photo of his "man cave" ... and now we have a ZILLION questions.

BG posted the photo Tuesday night with the caption, "Man cave night. 3 games on + several intense ping pong matches."

Where do we begin????

Apparently, LeBron and Drake didn't campaign hard enough ... because Johnny Manziel will NOT start for the Cleveland Browns this weekend ... so says Jay Glazer.

The "NFL on Fox" star says, "The Manziel Era is NOT beginning in Cleveland yet as Brian Hoyer has been informed he will start this weekend vs Indy."

LeBron had told the media his friend Manziel was "ready" to take over if called upon. And after his eyebrow-raising performance last week, it seemed Johnny time was gonna get the nod -- including Drake who flashed the money sign to support his BFF.

Guess he'll just have to wait.

Glazer adds, "Hoyer had widespread support inside the locker room. No brainer according to players in there."

Dr. Drew says he's very concerned about Ray and Janay Rice -- telling TMZ Sports it's "good" they're staying together ... but says they're in major denial about the magnitude of what happened.

Drew says the way Ray and Janay are chalking up the elevator attack to "one bad night" is bizarre -- and it "minimizes a very serious situation."

"For them to stay together is a good thing. But for them to sort of minimize it and be in such denial about the magnitude of what happened? I mean this is a violent attack. "