TMZ Sports - Page 50

Legendary ESPN anchor Stuart Scott has died at the age of 49 ... after a long battle with cancer.

The network made the announcement Sunday morning.

Scott joined ESPN in '93 as the host of "SportsNight" ... and eventually became a staple on "SportsCenter." He became a national superstar using catchphrases like "Boo-yah," "Call him butter, he's on a roll" and "Cooler than the other side of the pillow."

In July, Scott received the Jimmy V Perseverance Award at the ESPYs ... and opened up about his battle with cancer.

"When you die, it does not mean that you lose to cancer. You beat cancer by how you live, why you live, and in the manner in which you live."

President Obama released a statement about Scott's passing ... saying, “I will miss Stuart Scott. Twenty years ago, Stu helped usher in a new way to talk about our favorite teams and the day’s best plays. For much of those twenty years, public service and campaigns have kept me from my family – but wherever I went, I could flip on the TV and Stu and his colleagues on ‘SportsCenter’ were there.”

Scott is survived by two daughters -- and at the ESPYs, said being a dad is the best thing he was ever able to do.

"Taelor and Sydni, I love you guys more than I will ever be able to express. You two are my heartbeat. I am standing here on this stage tonight because of you."

Scott was a fighter all the way 'til the end -- and had been doing intense MMA training in between cancer treatments. Scott's sensei told TMZ Sports Scott REFUSED to let anyone take it easy on him in the ring and was known around the training facility as a "battle horse."

Baron Davis -- former NBA star-turned-Hollywood producer -- just completed his very first project ... and it's all set to be released in just a few months ... TMZ Sports has learned.

As we previously reported, Davis has been focused on a career in Hollywood for a while -- and now we've learned he's producing and directing a documentary about the legendary Drew League.

FYI -- The Drew League is one of the most legendary basketball leagues in the country ... it's based in L.A. and huge NBA stars like LeBron, Kobe and Kevin Durant often drop by to compete.

But it's not just basketball players -- guys like Terrell Owens, Matt Leinart and The Game are regulars as well.

We're told Davis' project has been in the works since 2011. Baron is funding the bulk of the project himself ... sources say there is a major celebrity who also kicked in.

We're also told the doc is set to be released during the NBA All-Star Weekend in February.

Stay tuned ...

"Modern Family" star Ty Burrell isn't just a HUUGE Oregon fan -- he's also personal friends with UO head coach Mark Helfrich ... and the two bro'd out moments after the Ducks won the Rose Bowl.

TMZ Sports has the footage showing Ty congratulating Mark while the victory fireworks were still going off in the background ... with Ty promising to head to Texas next week to support the team in the National Championship game.

It's been a while since Shaq got in the studio and laid down a rap -- but now, the daughter of an NBA owner tells TMZ Hollywood Sports she's confident she can convince the Big Fella to come out of retirement for one last verse.

Anjali World -- daughter of Sacramento Kings owner Vivek Ranadive -- appeared on "TMZ Hollywood Sports" (Mon-Fri on Reelz) and told us Shaq has been like a mentor to her in her pursuit of a singing career.

"Me and Shaq are hella-cool. He's actually really supportive of my music," Anjali said ... "when I was first starting out he gave me a lot of advice."

So, when we asked if there was a chance she could talk Shaq -- who also happens to be a part-owner of the Kings -- into dropping a verse on an upcoming single, Anjali says she'll have to talk to him about it ... but is VERY confident she could make it happen.

FYI -- it's been 22 years since Shaq's rap debut on "What's Up Doc? (Can We Rock) ... which sold more than 500,000 copies.

College football star Brock Hekking takes life with grilled onions and special sauce ... 'cause the former Nevada DE just signed one of the biggest deals of his existence -- at his local In-N-Out.

Brock is expected to be selected in April's NFL Draft ... at least according to Octogon sports ... a huge sports agency that reps some of the biggest stars in the world including Michael Phelps and Steph Curry.

So, when Octogon approached him to sign a contract with the agency ... Hekking -- who became nationally recognized for his sweet mullet -- wanted to make the event special and personal.

Which brings us to the In-N-Out burger joint in Vacaville, CA ... Brock's hometown.

"I went every day after high school. It's where I dreamed of becoming a ball player ... so I thought it would be best to [sign my contract] there."

Here's the question ... what do you order to go with one of the most important documents of your life?

TMZ Sports has figured out where the "No Means No" chant came from after the Rose Bowl ... and it actually started at a comedy show the Oregon team attended in L.A. just a few days before the big game.

Here's what we know ... Oregon was at the iconic Improv comedy club Monday for a show featuring Brad Williams -- a pretty famous comic who's been on Kimmel, Leno and "Mind of Mencia."

When Williams told the "no means no" joke -- which was actually written for him by his friend (and FSU alum) Jenn Sterger -- it got HUGE laughs.

Brad says he's stoked that the players liked the joke ... but says maybe busting it out at the game wasn't the best idea.

"I still think the joke is funny ... it's hilarious ... but the thing with jokes is there's always a time and place. And maybe that wasn't the time and the place."

As for Oregon saying the players will be disciplined over the stunt, Williams says he hopes the school goes easy on 'em.

If you thought the Oregon Ducks could move on the field ... wait'll you see what they can do in the locker room!

After laying a legendary Rose Bowl beatdown on Jameis Winston and the Florida State Seminoles, a bunch of Ducks players threw an impromptu dance party last night in Pasedena ... and TMZ Sports has the video.

Among the moves -- one Duck broke out the Schmoney Dance ... another performed some Beyonce ... it's pretty good stuff.

Jim Harbaugh had a strong fan base in own locker room ... with a bunch of S.F. 49ers players telling TMZ Sports they loved their former coach ... and explaining why he'll be sorely missed.

Carlos Hyde (RB), Marcus Cromartie (DB), Marcus Martin (C) and Kenneth Acker (CB) were all out at The Grove in L.A for lunch ... when we asked if there were any hard feeling toward Harbaugh, who just left S.F. for the top job at the University of Michigan.

"Harbaugh was a good coach," Cromartie said.

Martin agreed ... saying, "We was thankful for Coach Harbaugh. He did a lot of good things for us."

But the best part of the video ... check out their reaction when we ask how they feel about Johnny Manziel.

The Paul Pierce era in Boston is now officially over -- because the former Celtics star has finally sold off his massive 2-story mansion ... but he took a pretty nasty hit on the way out.

Pierce bought the 7,631 square foot pad back in 2003 for $2.4 million ... but after he was shipped out of Boston to the Brooklyn Nets in 2013 -- Pierce put the home on the market for $2.6 mil hoping to turn a profit.

Things didn't go as planned.

TMZ Sports has learned ... after more than a year on the market, Paul finally found a buyer. But he only got $2.25 mil for the 5 bedroom, 6 bathroom spot ... $150k less than he paid for it.

10:25 PM PT -- Oregon head coach Mark Helfrich issued a statement saying he will punish the players who participated in the chant.

"We are aware of the inappropriate behavior in the postgame," Helfrich said ... "This is not what our program stands for, and the student-athletes will be disciplined internally."

As if beating the living crap out of him wasn't enough, a bunch of Oregon football players taunted Jameis Winston after the Rose Bowl ... by chanting "no means no" while giving the FSU tomahawk chop.

The players -- who included #36 Kani Benoit and #86 Torrodney Prevot -- were celebrating the ass-whooping when they decided to go in on Winston over his rape case.

FYI -- Winston was never charged with the crime and was cleared in an FSU code of conduct hearing.

Stay classy.

Jose Canseco says his New Year's resolution is pretty simple ... DON'T BLOW OFF ANOTHER FINGER!!!

The former MLB superstar was out in Hollywood last night with a special guest ... Leila Knight ... and they had some pretty big news -- they're officially back together and the engagement is back on.

Of course, the two had a NASTY public breakup back in November -- with Leila calling 911 after an especially bad argument. The two then ripped each other on social media.

But last night, the two said they kissed ad made up ... and are still destined for the alter.

To say 2014 was a rough year for Janay Rice is an extreme understatement ... which is probably why she ushered in the new year with a dance party.

Janay -- along with about a dozen other ladies -- recreated Beyonce's "7/11" last night ... while sporting some "Happy New Year" gear.

Earlier in the night, Janay spent some time with her husband Ray Rice and their daughter ... posting a family photo along with the caption, "Happy New Year from my family to yours."

Doc Rivers is calling BS on reports that his Clippers players don't get along -- telling TMZ Sports, "We all love each other."

Questions have surrounded the Clip squad after a report from an NBA insider that the team -- comprised of stars like Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan and Chris Paul -- simply "don't like each other."

But last night in L.A., Rivers shot down the report -- telling our guy there's no bad blood in the organization.

The woman who claims she was sexually assaulted by Darren Sanders -- Director of Security for the Baltimore Ravens -- has a rap sheet which includes allegations she lied to obtain prescription drugs ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Here's what we know ... the woman has been arrested at least 3 times since 1999 ... all three incidents involve drugs.

But the most relevant to the Ravens' case is a 2006 plea deal -- in which she pled guilty to possession of a forged prescription.

It's possible Sanders could use her criminal record to attack her credibility ... especially since there's a case where she was convicted of fraud.