TMZ Sports - Page 50

Buffalo Bills QB EJ Manuel is no dummy ... telling TMZ Sports he's a BIG FAN of his new boss Rex Ryan -- the man who will ultimately decide if he starts ... or gets replaced.

Of course, there have been rumblings that Ryan could make a move with the QB spot this off-season ... possibly reuniting with his old NY Jets QB Mark Sanchez to start ahead of Manuel.

But at LAX Thursday, EJ didn't seem concerned at all -- in fact, Manuel says he and Rex are getting along great ... saying, "That's my man!"

He also signed off on Rex's new Bills-themed truck and Ryan's Buffalo-inspired tattoo.

Just one month after he swore off singing forever, Manny Pacquiao has pulled a Jay Z -- UNRETIRING from music ... to record a brand new song the Floyd Mayweather fight!

Manny hit the studio recently (according GMA News in the Philippines) and laid down the tracks for "Lalaban Ako Para sa Pilipino" ... which we're told translates to "I Fight for Filipinos."

Our Filipino translators tell us Manny recorded to song specifically for his entrance music for the May 2nd superfight in Vegas.

It's an interesting move ... since Manny appeared on "TMZ Hollywood Sports" last month and told us he stopped singing forever because, "I love music ... but I don't think music loves me."

#ChangeOfHeart

Team USA swimmer Ryan Lochte crossed an item off his bucket list Thursday night ... after spending the night partying at the legendary Playboy Mansion!

Lochte hit up Hugh Hefner's place with fellow U.S. swimmers Conor Dwyer and Cullen Jones ... who was out celebrating his 31st birthday.

No word if the guys had any luck with the ladies who frequent the property ... but at least they got in the door ... and that should count for something, right?

Jon Stewart wanted a piece ... HE GOT THE PIECE!!!!

WWE superstar Seth Rollins hijacked Stewart's "Moment of Zen" on "The Daily Show" Thursday night ... in response to the smack talk video that Stewart recently made.

But Rollins didn't just talk the talk ... he then snuck up behind Jon and put him in a HEADLOCK!!!

It was pretty hilarious ... and fulfilled the promise Rollins made on "TMZ Hollywood Sports" ... when he said he'd whoop Jon's ass for running his mouth earlier this month.

And apparently the drama will continue ... with Jon promising to face off with Rollins on next week's "Monday Night Raw!!!!"

It sucks to be released ... no doubt ... but Reggie Bush tells TMZ Sports he's not giving up on the NFL just because he got cut by the Detroit Lions.

Just 24 hours after the Lions announced the move, Bush was out at Madeo in Beverly Hills ... in a pretty good mood for a guy who just lost his job.

But when we asked if it was time to throw in the towel on his football career, Bush was clear that ain't gonna happen.

It's not the craziest question ... considering Bush is about to turn 30 ... the same age as former Lions running back Barry Sanders when he decided to hang 'em up.

Donald Trump already has supporters for his 2016 White House run ... including Terrell Owens -- who tells us ... if Trump's hiring a staff, HE WANTS A JOB!

The "Celeb Apprentice" star appeared on "TMZ Hollywood Sports" on Reelz .. and told the gang he thinks his former boss definitely has presidential qualities ... but wants to hear more about his plans for the country.

"I think he's a great negotiator, this guy is very business savvy," T.O. said .. adding, "There's gonna be a lot of hot topics that he's gonna be prepared for and really can he deliver on his promises?"

5-Hour Energy DOES NOT give you power to capture the hacky sack world record, according to the current title holder ... who's suing the company for making it look like someone took his belt.

Ted Martin -- the hacky Guinness World Record holder since '97 -- filed a handwritten lawsuit over a 2013 commercial that shows a pitchman accomplishing a bunch of outlandish things after shooting a bottle of 5-Hour Energy.

Among the achievements -- mastering "origami while beating the record for hacky sack." In his suit, Ted says that line is "literally false" ... and he wants the company to pay up for lying. Plus, he wants an injunction to stop the ad from ever airing again.

Who knows if he'll win in court, but dude's a legend with the footbag. He hacky'ed more than 8 HOURS straight to earn his world record -- racking up 63,326 kicks!!

Michael Sam's decision to join "Dancing with the Stars" does NOT mean he's throwing in the towel on his NFL career ... so says his friend Jason Collins who says he can't wait to watch the guy kill it in the ballroom.

Sam's been taking heat from critics who say the decision to join "DWTS" shows he's more concerned about being a celebrity than playing in the NFL.

But Collins -- who famously came out as the NBA's first openly gay player in 2013 -- says the haters are wrong ... and he's got proof to back up his argument.

Dez Bryant's mom says she's buried the hatchet with her son over the 2012 domestic violence incident and loves him very much -- but says she's convinced someone is trying to use Dez's past to sabotage his NFL future.

TMZ Sports spoke with a rep for Angela Bryant ... who tells us, "Ever since the 2012 incident, they have worked out their issues and they've got a lot of love for each other."

As we previously reported, Dez was arrested for allegedly assaulting his mom during an argument in her Texas home ... though the charge was eventually dismissed.

"Angela and her son have a great relationship and whoever is behind this is using [Dez's past in an] attempt to assassinate Dez's character."

The rep says Dez and his mother have been speaking regularly about the current situation -- and, "They believe it is no coincidence that this is happening around the time that [Dez's] contract is up for renewal."

Angela's rep says she believes ... "It comes down to someone trying to interfere with Dez getting his contract extended from the Cowboys."

Wrestling legend Rey Mysterio is done working for the WWE ... TMZ has learned his contract expired Thursday, and both sides have decided to part ways.

A rep for WWE tells us, "Rey Mysterio is no longer under contract with WWE."

Rey appeared in a video for a rival wrestling company in Mexico last summer ... and launched his #FreeRey campaign to get released from his WWE contract.

Well, Rey's free now ... but not because of his campaign. To be clear ... we're told his contract just expired ... he was NOT let out of his deal.

Sources close to Rey tell us he's excited to start working again because he's 100% healthy. Producers at MLW radio -- a wrestling podcast -- say they'll be doing a live interview with Rey ... taking place the weekend of WrestleMania 31.

Rick Ross says he still wants to be Tha Boss of the Miami Dolphins ... telling TMZ Sports he "can't wait" for team officials to invite him to become a minority owner.

As we previously reported, Ross met with the Dolphins last year -- and said he was willing and able to buy a piece of the team ... just like Serena Williams, Gloria Estefan and others.

But the hold up is the Dolphins ... who ultimately decide which rich people they'll "invite" into the ownership group and when to invite them.

So, when we saw Ross out in NYC Wednesday night, we had to ask if he was still into the idea ... or if all of the waiting had turned him off.

Check out the clip ... it's clear Ross is willing to be patient to get what he wants.

Dez Bryant's mom sat in front of a camera and told cops the NFL star roughed her up, threatened her and ripped her shirt during a 2012 incident in Texas ... and TMZ Sports has the interview video.

Dez was arrested for assault following the incident ... but the charge was eventually dropped when Dez cut a deal with prosecutors -- which required the NFL star to stay out of trouble for the following year (he did).

But in the video, Bryant's mother Angela describes a heated exchange between herself and Dez -- which started when Dez "was trying to fight my brother."

Angela says she tried to stop Dez -- and warned him that he was going to get in trouble with the Dallas Cowboys -- but she claims he only got angrier and turned the rage on her.

After allegedly grabbing her, smacking her with his baseball cap and tearing her shirt ... Angela says Dez "started talking about how he's going to knock me out."

Angela says she wanted to contact Jerry Jones to discuss the incident -- so he could help Bryant moving forward.

The cop at the scene said he didn't see any blood or bruising on Angela -- but pics were taken for police records.

We reached out to Dez and Angela for comment -- no word back from either side.

Hope Solo still has some MAJOR support in the soccer community ... with ex-Team USA legend Alexi Lalas claiming she can still be dominant ... as long as she learns to Uber.

Lalas -- who's now the top soccer analyst at Fox Sports -- was out in NYC ... when we asked if Solo can recover from her 30-day suspension that stemmed from her husband's DUI last month.

We broke the story ... Solo's hubby was driving the Team USA van at the time ... and during the stop, Solo played the "Don't you know who I am?" card with the arresting officers.

So, how does Lalas feel about the situation? -- "She's the best goalkeeper in the world. She is going to help the U.S. team win a World Cup this summer."

"New Girl" star Lamorne Morris is sick of Bulls fans dissing Derrick Rose for getting injured (again) ... telling TMZ Sports even a gimpy Derrick is still the Bulls best baller since MJ.

Morris was out at Warwick nightclub in L.A. Wednesday night when we asked the Chicago native and huge Bulls fan about the Windy City's reaction to D-Rose's latest injury setback.

It's been pretty bad for Derrick since it was announced he'd have to have ANOTHER knee surgery, with memes, tweets, and IG posts all slamming the injury prone superstar.

Check out the clip -- Morris goes off on anyone taking Rose to task, reminding Bulls fans just how much the team sucked after Jordan left, and saying the city is lucky to have him.

MMA fighter Josh Neer's gym beatdown was NOT a violation of Iowa Athletic Commission rules ... and therefore he will not be disciplined for his role in the fight ... TMZ Sports has learned.

As we previously reported ... the IAC launched an investigation into Neer (who's 36-14 in pro fights) to see if he broke any Commission rules when he decided to fight Patrick Martin earlier this week.

But according to IAC honcho Joe Walsh ... Neer is clean -- telling TMZ Sports, "We've determined that we don't have anything in our rules that covers incidents that take place in a gym."

Walsh adds, "Because of that, there will be no further investigation. We've closed the case."

Aaron Hernandez was in one helluva good mood in the hours before Odin Lloyd was murdered ... dancing on his way into a local gas station ... and it was all captured on video.

The video was shot around 2AM on June 17, 2013 ... about 90 minutes before officials say Lloyd was murdered.

Prosecutors believe the video plays a key role in the timeline ... connecting Hernandez with the car that Lloyd got into a short time later ... the same car that was seen driving into the secluded area where Lloyd's body was found later that day.