TMZ Sports - Page 50

CM Punk could choose ANY opponent for his UFC debut ... but it almost certainly won't be the Green Power Ranger -- not based on CM's reaction to the guy's name, anyway.

The former WWE champ was in NYC Thursday when he told our photog how training is going for his first bout in the Octagon. His new UFC contract was announced earlier this month.

CM wouldn't name names yet as far as his first opponent -- looks like he's enjoying the speculation. But you gotta see his reaction when we bring up Jason David Frank -- a former Power Ranger who's been calling out Punk. He's clearly not impressed.

Go go ... go to sleep.

Hey, Justin Verlander ... SUCK IT UP -- that's what Uber is telling the Detroit Tigers ace after he bitched to the world about holiday price surges -- and threatened to jump to the competition.

Verlander fired the first salvo with his Instagram post ... "@Uber I used to love you and now your ridiculous surge charges are causing me to take my talents elsewhere. #lyft."

Now, Uber is responding, telling Verlander ... "Surge pricing encourages drivers to get on the road when demand is high. As soon as things even out, pricing will lower." In other words: too bad, so sad.

They didn't even mention the fact JV is it he middle of a 7-year, $180 million contract -- and is probably the last person who should be complaining about a little extra coinage.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. only made his run to the restroom after other people in his crew did ... and Floyd believes he only got singled out because he is Floyd Mayweather Jr.

As TMZ first reported, Floyd got into it with a woman -- to the point where she called police -- after she tried to stop him from using a restroom Wednesday night at Saks Fifth Avenue in New York City. The woman claimed Floyd called her a bitch, but ultimately police did nothing.

According to our sources, Floyd didn't think it was a big deal when he used the restroom ... because he wasn't the first one to use it -- other people went in before him.

We're told Floyd believes the woman only gave him a hard time because he's famous ... and if anyone had a terrible attitude during their exchange ... it was her.

Our sources say Floyd was shocked that the woman called the cops over the whole thing, especially considering he walked out with about 10 bags worth of stuff.

Ray Rice is back in the good graces of many Baltimore Ravens fans ... who flocked to him last night during a Christmas charity event.

Ray and Janay Rice went to a Toys for Tots drive organized by his ex-teammate Torrey Smith -- and no one shied away from Ray as he walked around the event. In fact, he and Janay posed for several pictures with people during his first public appearance since his suspension was overturned.

Organizers say this is the 3rd consecutive year that Rice has pitched in with the charity.

He told a reporter for WJZ ... "I just made a horrible mistake in my life but you know, if they truly believe in second chances - they would forgive me "

We've said it before -- comebacks happen all the time.

NBA star Roy Hibbert possesses a specific set of skills -- beyond hooping, that is -- and pretty soon he might be unbeatable ... as long as he keeps playing in Indiana.

The Pacers stud was outside Craig's in West Hollywood when we asked ... what's a city kid like himself do for fun in the heartland? Roy doesn't hesitate -- telling us there's not much to do except get super sharp at a particular video game. As he puts it ... his game is "pretty nice!"

Roy also gets a little nostalgic in this clip about his ex-teammate Lance Stephenson -- who bolted for the Hornets.

A woman in NYC tried to stop Floyd Mayweather Jr. from going #1 ... then dialed 911 to complain the boxing champ got aggressive with her -- but we've learned she's got zero case.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ Sports the barely alleged atrocity went down inside Saks Fifth Ave in NYC Wednesday night where Floyd was doing some holiday shopping. We're told he decided to go to the bathroom, but because there was a private event on that floor of the store -- a woman blocked him from entering the restroom.

Let's face it ... Floyd's quicker than the average bathroom attendant -- and was able to dip past the woman to get inside and get some relief.

According to our sources ... the woman immediately called cops to report Floyd for "calling her a bitch." Police took down a harassment report, but since the alleged offense didn't happen in front of an officer ... she's SOL. Case closed.

Babe Ruth's game-worn baseball cap from a 1934 barnstorming trip to Japan just hauled in an amazing $303,277 in an auction ... TMZ Sports has learned.

No, it's not gold-leafed or anything, but it did sit on the Babe's skull while he did some diplomatic work for the U.S. He was part of an American all-star team sent to Japan in 1934 to play 18 exhibition games.

The games were supposed to ease rising tensions between the U.S. and Japan, but failed. See WWII.

We're told the ball cap remained with the Ruth family until 30 years ago ... then changed hands twice ... before landing on the block this morning at Grey Flannel Auctions.

Another sports legend fetched big dollars too -- an original pair of Jordan's ... just not Air Jordans.
The CONVERSE shoes MJ wore during his '81-'82 season at UNC went to the top bidder for $33,378!

We're told the winning bidders on both items want to remain anonymous.

Ashton Kutcher's first move after wrapping "Two and a Half Men" could be becoming a world champion in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, if he wants it -- no joke -- according to his famous trainer.

Rigan Machado tells TMZ Sports he heard all the haters after Ashton earned his purple belt earlier this year. Detractors thought it was just a case of Hollywood favoritism, but Machado says Kutcher is a serious terror on the mats.

Rigan says Kutcher is the best celeb he's ever trained -- which doesn't seem like a high bar -- but he adds ... Ashton could beat some pros ... "because his background is in [high school] wrestling he learns so fast."

Machado has a big Jiu-Jitsu event scheduled for January ... and says he's invited Kutcher "to come and compete if he wants to, if he decides to compete he will do will good."

One of the NHL teams hit by the mumps outbreak is north of the border right now ... potentially exposing opponents to the virus -- but Canadian health officials are pretty damn laid back about the risk.

As we previously reported -- players from the Anaheim Ducks, Pittsburgh Penguins, Minnesota Wild, NY Rangers, and NJ Devils ... have come down with mumps in recent weeks. The Ducks played Tuesday night in Toronto ... and are taking on the Montreal Canadiens Wednesday night.

TMZ Sports spoke to the Montreal Dept. of Public Health, and shockingly ... officials say they haven't reached out to their hometown team, or any visiting teams to discuss preventing the spread of the virus.

Health officials in Winnipeg -- where the Jets are getting ready for a road trip to play the Wild -- gave us a similar response.

Mumps -- a painful swelling of the salivary glands -- spreads fairly easily from coughing, sneezing or kissing ... and enters the body through the eyes, nose, or mouth.

Former baseball star Brad Halsey was clean and sober when he fell more than 100 feet to his death in a remote area of Texas ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Halsey died on Halloween from blunt force trauma ... according to the docs we obtained. Sheriff's deputies in Halsey's hometown of New Braunsfels, TX say he either jumped or fell off the cliff which was on private property.

The autopsy report says Halsey's body was screened for a slew of drugs, including ... opiates, cocaine, oxycodone, barbiturates, amphetamines, marijuana, benzodiazepines ... and many more -- but pathologists found nothing. Same result for alcohol.

J. Cole is as slick on the field as he is on the mic -- TMZ Sports got video of the rapper tearing up the gridiron during a pick-up football game at Louisiana State University.

Cole is on tour, and during a stop in Louisiana yesterday he took to social media to organize an impromptu game by tweeting ... "Baton Rouge, I'm at LSU playing football and basketball for a minute. Pull up."

Plenty of people did just that -- watch the video ... J's mostly known for his skills on the bball court, but now we know the kid's got turf talent too.

The San Francisco 49ers are done dealing with Ray McDonald and police reports -- they've cut him from the team on the heels of him being named a suspect in a rape investigation.

General Manger Trent Baalke just held a news conference, saying the decision to drop McDonald was not solely based on the latest investigation, but instead it was due to a "pattern of poor decision making."

Baalke said a "plan was put in place" with Ray and the alleged rape case went "against that plan."
He didn't elaborate but it sounded like the team had warned McDonald -- after the alleged domestic violence incident with his fiancee in August -- to keep his nose clean, or else.

He added this was a team decision, and had nothing to do with the league.

Baalke said he was "extremely disappointed" ... but stressed it wasn't about guilt or innocence, and McDonald deserved to have his day in court.

Andre Drummond has taken his shoe game to a new level ... because the Detroit Pistons star rocked the flashiest Timberlands we've ever seen.

Drummond was leaving Greystone Manor this week in L.A. when and we asked the obvious question -- what's up with the red bedazzled Timbs?

Turns out they go for $450 a pop and Drummond isn't the only celeb to wear them -- HUGE stars from Future to August Alsina have rocked the kicks.

There's no place like home ...

12:10 PM PT -- San Jose PD says Ray is officially a suspect in the rape investigation -- and the alleged victim said she was "possibly sexually assaulted" on Monday.

49ers star Ray McDonald was served with a search warrant by police officers investigating a rape allegation.

San Jose PD went to McDonald's home Tuesday after talking to a woman who was getting treatment at a hospital for a possible sexual assault. Whatever the woman told police ... their investigation led them to McDonald's home.

Police have not named the Niners defensive lineman a suspect in the alleged rape ... and it's unclear what, if any evidence they found in his house.

Cuba Gooding Jr. is already stepping into OJ Simpson's Bruno Magli's ... and he's made up his mind about whether the Juice is guilty of murder.

Outside the Paley Center in NYC ... Cuba told us he's excited about playing Simpson in Ryan Murphy's miniseries “American Crime Story: The People v. OJ Simpson." But to really nail the role, Cuba says he has to go all in -- which raises the million dollar question.

Watch the video -- Cuba gives us an answer. It's cryptic, but telling.

Michael Vick still loves playing football video games, but NOT as himself -- instead he told us he prefers to "play with a passer" ... who goes by the name of Tom Brady!

Vick was in New York on Tuesday donating Nike sneakers to the Boys and Girls Club of Harlem. With Christmas right around the corner ... he revealed his favorite holiday memory is getting his first Nintendo.

And that's when the Madden issue ... or rather, the Brady issue comes up. Considering the NY Jets play Brady and the Pats this week -- his comment might piss of loyal Jets fans. But honestly ... Jets fans, players, and coaches have more to worry about.: 3 and 11, dude.

As for his future with Gang Green -- Vick says he's not sure about next season. Hey, someone's gotta backup Brady.