TMZ Sports - Page 50

Michael Sam clearly wanted to make a statement when he proposed to his longtime BF -- 'cause the football player popped the question right in Vatican City.

Sam posted the pic ... which shows HE was the one who got down on one knee and popped the question to Vito Cammisano last week.

We're told Sam and Vito were inside St. Peter's Basilica at the time.

It's sort of an act of defiance ... considering the Catholic church is still anti-gay marriage.

Mazel!

The Packers D could have gold tracks across their asses Sunday, cause Marshawn Lynch is rockin' some SICK $1,000 all gold cleats for the NFC title game ... and TMZ Sports has the pics.

The cleats were hand made by shoe-customizing guru Solesbysir and feature 24K gold flake paint with a RIDICULOUS gold chrome plate at the bottom ... final value $1,100 bucks.

We're told Beast Mode had originally planned to rock the kicks on Super Sunday (confidence), but when he saw the finished product, he had to have them for the big game this Sunday.

Detroit Lions wide receiver Golden Tate says he DID NOT have sexual relations with Russell Wilson's wife ... despite rumors to the contrary ... and he claims the Seahawks QB knows it.

Of course, Wilson and his wife Ashton split up back in April -- and there were rumblings that it all had to do with an alleged affair involving one of Russell's Seattle Seahawks teammates.

Golden -- who played with Seattle at the time --signed with Detroit a short time later ... fueling the rumors.

But now Tate is denying everything in a statement posted on TheCauldron -- writing:

"I did not have an affair with Russell Wilson’s wife, nor did I have anything to do with his divorce."

"That is laughable for anyone who knows us. His ex-wife, Ashton, is still best friends with my girlfriend."

"Russell and I were good friends when I was in Seattle, on and off the field — he knows the rumors about me were unfounded, damaging to my reputation, and an attack on my character."

In fact, Golden's GF posted a pic with Ashton just 4 months ago (pic below).

As for Russell, the details surrounding the split were kept super quiet. Neither he nor Ashton have talked about why they broke up.

Manny Pacquiao has a message for Floyd Mayweather ... FIGHT ME ALREADY!

The PacMan was out in NYC with his crew this morning when we asked if there was anything he could say to Floyd ... what would it be?

His answer -- "Sign the contract."

Pacquiao and his team have already agreed to terms for a May 2nd fight with Mayweather at the MGM Grand in Vegas ... though Floyd has yet to sign off on his end of the deal.

Mayweather has not issued an official comment on where they stand -- but his lawyers have indicated there are still issues with the deal.

FYI -- if the two do strike a deal ... it's expected to be the highest grossing fight in the history of the sport ... with experts saying it could make more than $150 MILLION in pay-per-view revenue alone.

Donald Trump is taking himself out of the running to buy the Brooklyn Nets ... telling TMZ Sports he won't even consider making a bid for the NBA team now that they're up for sale.

Of course, Trump flirted with the idea of buying the Buffalo Bills last year ... and it seemed like the guy was pretty serious about adding a major professional sports team to his portfolio.

The New York/Boston rivalry just took an interesting turn -- with NY Giants co-owner Steve Tisch telling us he's rooting for Tom Brady to beat the Colts this weekend ... and eventually hoist the Lombardi Trophy.

Tisch was out at Craig's in L.A. last night -- when we asked if it's cool for NFL owners to root for another team after their own squad gets eliminated from the playoffs.

Steve says he's got some pretty good reasons for backing New England -- including the fact he's already beaten the Pats the last two times they faced 'em in the Big Game.

Another huge star is set to perform at the Super Bowl ... Idina Menzel has just announced she's on board ... and says she's honored to be following in the footsteps of legends like Whitney Houston.

The "Let It Go" singer just broke the news on Twitter ... saying:

"It was 1991 and I remember it well: Whitney sings the national anthem at the Super Bowl. Almost as glorious as her voice was her huge radiant smile. I am so humbled and honored to be asked this year."

Last year, the NFL gave the honor to opera singer Renee' Fleming ... who shocked gambler by knocking it out in 2 minutes and 3 seconds -- almost 20 seconds shorter than expected.

Kevin Nash's days in wrestling purgatory are OVER -- the WWE has reinstated the icon after officials dropped the charges in his Xmas Eve father-son brawl.

Vince McMahon's company had put Big Sexy's contract on ice once he was arrested for allegedly battering his 18-year-old son Tristen during a rumble in their Florida home.

But after investigators determined Nash wasn't the primary aggressor -- charges were dropped ... and now the WWE is welcoming the 55-year-old back with open arms.

"Now that Kevin Nash’s legal matter has been resolved with all charges being dropped, his 'legends' contract has been immediately reinstated," the WWE tells us.

But it seems Nash is still upset with the org. for putting him on time-out in the first place ... and earlier this week tweeted that he doesn't see himself returning to WWE programming.

L.A. Clippers President Doc Rivers says the NBA ain't Little League ... telling TMZ Sports his son Austin Rivers won't be treated ANY DIFFERENTLY now that he'll be joining his team.

FYI -- The Clippers acquired the 22-year-old in a 3-team trade that went through on Thursday.

Hours after the deal, we saw Doc leaving a power dinner with Donald Trump at Boa Steakhouse in West Hollywood and asked him if he was worried that the players thinking Austin will get special treatment because of their relationship.

Rivers is adamant he'll treat Austin just the same as everyone else -- not easier, not harder.

A father has never coached a son in the NBA before -- so the minute Austin takes the court, he'll be making history.

Pretty cool, right?

The man who became the custodian of O.J. Simpson's 1968 Heisman Trophy lugged it around the streets for years ... TMZ Sports has learned.

We've learned the person is in the crosshairs of the LAPD -- because he's the guy who called USC a while back inquiring about how much he could get for the trophy.

SC called the LAPD stat and forked over the guy's cell phone number -- and the LAPD went on the hunt.

We found the guy ... and he tells TMZ Sports he came into possession of the trophy in 1996, two years after it was stolen from Heritage Hall on the SC campus.

The man swears he's not the guy who broke the case and made off with the statue (we confirmed he was in jail at the time of the heist) but he did say he traded for it with a burgundy Honda Accord and $500 cash. And get this ... the guy he got it from had the Heisman buried in his backyard. Kind of a hint something was up.

After 17 years ... the man says he decided to return the Heisman -- for a reward. He took a photo of the trophy (seen above) to prove he's legit.

It may be a little more than coincidence that his change of heart happened right at the same time the LAPD got a search warrant that targeted him.

Bottom line -- cops nabbed the Heisman but they're still on the hunt for culprits.

Pre-menstruation = obliteration.

That's according to UFC hottie Paige VanZant who tells TMZ Sports there's a certain time of the month she's even more dangerous in the octagon than usual.

The 20-year-old prodigy was out in NYC and says fighters wanna be angry and aggressive when they get in the ring ... so why not harness the power of Mother Nature??

Check out the clip ... Paige also tells us one of her "musts" when it comes to dating ... and let's put it this way -- you better know how to use your hands.

The man who stabbed a former MLB player to death has been convicted of 2nd degree murder in a L.A. courtroom ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Rod Craig -- who played 4 seasons in the league back in the early '80s -- was living on the streets back in 2013 ... when he tried to stay at a homeless encampment but was turned away by other transients.

According to investigators, 55-year-old Craig tried to kick a dog as he left the encampment ... infuriating several people who chased after him and attacked ... with one of attackers stabbing Craig in the chest.

The next Thomas Edison could totally kick your ass ... 'cause NFL star Bernard Pollard tells TMZ Sports the counter-top organizer he invented last year totally BLEW UP in sales this holiday season.

Pollard, who won a Super Bowl with the Ravens in 2012 invented a bathroom counter-top organizer last year called the "Smart Sink Tray" that he says lets was inspired by the tiny sinks out in Baltimore.

"I first thought it up back in 2012 ... I'm a germaphobe and the counter space in Baltimore was so limited that I wanted something to expand it."

His Howie Mandelness has led to cold hard cash with Pollard telling us this holiday season business was BOOMING for the "Smart Sink Tray" -- with a sales spike of nearly 60%.

"It was really cool to see the orders come in. The east coast went crazy for it."

And Pollard says things are only looking up from here ... 'cause the tray has gotten so popular, it's drawn interest from hotels all over the country and outdoor retailer Camping World.

"We putting it your RV's."

Former NFL star Matt Light -- a 3-time Pro Bowler -- just finished up a charity event with special needs children in which he took them out hunting for deer ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Light is an avid hunter who strongly believes in the positive value of outdoor activities such as hunting, clay shooting and camping.

In this case, Matt and his friend Noah (who he met through The Light Foundation) got themselves a buck out in Alabama.

"All of the lessons I've learned in the outdoors have really proven well for me," Matt says ... "And I want to pass them along to kids like Noah."

Light says he believes the kids learn everything from teamwork to trust and respect on the hunting trips.

Here's MLB pitcher Brian Wilson -- sporting a "Big Lebowski" shirt -- hanging out at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino on Wednesday with Penn and Teller.

His father is one of the most famous pot-smokers on the planet ... but Snoop Dogg's football star son says he doesn't touch the sticky icky ... because his body is a smoke-free temple.

Cordell Broadus -- one of the top high school wide receivers in the country -- appeared on ESPN's new documentary series "Snoop & Son: A Dad's Dream" ... and addressed the green elephant in the room.

"I don't mess with that at all," Cordell said ... "If you're an athlete, you shouldn't cheat your body."

As for Snoop, the Doggfather says he goes out of his way to keep his weed habit away from Cordell ... saying, "I don't want him no where near it."