TMZ Sports - Page 50

If you want a "selfie" at the Kentucky Derby, ya better leave your selfie stick at home -- because Churchill Downs has officially BANNED everyone's favorite phone accessory.

It's a pretty big moment for professional sports -- since selfie sticks are super popular right now ... and seem to have a presence at major events all over the world ... from concerts to Super Bowl media day.

As for why Churchill Downs banned the item, reps say the move was in the best interest of both the fans and the horses ... this according to The Courier-Journal.

Brandy's still dishin' out the hits -- only this time, it's in a boxing ring ... 'cause the singer's working on getting her Mayweather on with her good friend Angela Simmons.

Brandy and Rev. Run's daughter strapped on the leather and worked out at Supreme Team Boxing in NYC -- where they've been doing some hardcore pugilist training for a while.

Coach Nelson at the training center tells us the ladies have some real talent -- "If they're really serious about it, they could compete at the amateur level. Especially Angela."

Duke superstar Jahlil Okafor is the greatest player to EVER come out of Chicago ... better than D-Wade, D-Rose, Kevin Garnett and Isiah Thomas ... so says J.O.'s father, Chukwudi Okafor.

Those others are no chumps -- some of the greatest players in the history of basketball ... but Chukwudi tells TMZ Sports his son belongs at the TOP of the list of Chi-town's finest.

"My son's absolutely the most decorated player ever from the city."

J. Okafor -- who's only 19 -- is already an NCAA Champion, 1st team All-American, 3x FIBA Gold Medalist, and has been the MVP of almost every game he's ever played.

"Not many people can say that," Chukwudi tells us, "actually, not one other person can say that."

A few bonus thoughts from Chukwudi Okafor:

On his son's college legacy: "He should go down as a legend at Duke. He brought them a banner."

On which NBA team should draft his son: "We really have no control over where he ends up, but I'll say this, I love New York and L.A."

Don't all guys sit around the house like this???

Here's soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo ... striking a very spread eagle-ish pose to promote his new CR7 underwear line.

According to the press release, Ronaldo's new undies are supposed to be super soft thanks to "superfine microfiber" material.

Here's international supermodel Irina Shayk ... showing off her INSANE physique during a beach trip in Cancun, Mexico.

The 29-year-old's bikini top battled heroically to stay in position as Irina splashed around in the surf ... and while there were several close calls ... it ultimately emerged victorious.

Of course, Shayk recently broke things off with her longtime soccer superstar boyfriend Cristiano Ronaldo -- who's gotta be kicking himself right now ... or banging someone else.

Undefeated boxing champ Danny "Swift" Garcia will have a MAJOR advantage when he steps in the ring this weekend ... AN EXTRA TOE!!!

This video is awesome!!! Garcia was out in NYC -- where he's gearing up for his big PBC main event bout with Lamont Peterson on Saturday -- when he revealed Piggy #6 on his right foot.

"That's why I'm never off balance and I've never been down," Garcia says.

Danny says he used to be embarrassed about the toe situation when he was a kid -- but now, he's learned to LOVE his extra digit ... and says he's super proud of his bonus metatarsals.

Bruce Jenner has been a super athlete all his life, and that won't change when he becomes a woman.

Sources close to Bruce tell TMZ his routines -- which involve multiple sports -- will be unaffected. Bruce is a staple at his golf country club, where the members love him, and he will stay active at the club.

Bruce is heavy into paddleboarding in Malibu -- something he does with his sons -- and that will continue.

We're told Bruce will keep up his passion for racing cars recreationally with his kids. Ditto flying helicopters, both model and real.

Here's video of Blake Griffin leaving Warwick nightclub in Hollywood Wednesday night ... with a smokin' hot mystery lady.

No idea who she is ... are they dating? Are they friends? Casual banging pals? We're workin' on it.

Either way, Blake proved an NBA star can still have a good time at a nightclub without getting stabbed or arrested at the end of the night.

Indiana Pacers player Chris Copeland is reportedly being treated in the ICU of an NYC hospital -- after doctors determined his stab wounds included damage to his diaphragm.

Copeland was attacked after leaving 1Oak nightclub early Wednesday morning -- now multiple media outlets are reporting that doctors expect Chris to be in the ICU for 2 or 3 days.

According to ESPN's Josina Anderson, doctors are also concerned about the wound to Copeland's elbow -- and wanted to "clear the wound" because it might be susceptible to infection.

As we previously reported, the suspect in the stabbing -- a 22-year-old Shezoy Bleary -- was taken into custody following the attack.

Add one more person to the list of people who think UFC Women's champ Ronda Rousey could beat a man ... 'cause fellow fighter Joe Schilling says the pint-size punisher would totally kick HIS ass.

Joe was out in L.A. getting ready for his upcoming scrap at Bellator 136 on Spike-TV Friday when we asked if he thought he could take out Ronda (who's nearly 50 pounds lighter) in a real-life battle of the sexes.

"I think if I fought Ronda Rousey she'd probably Judo throw and submit me at some point."

Schilling says he ain't just spitballin' either ... he says he knows Rousey personally and she's definitely "the real deal."

He also says Rousey is the sexiest fighter in the world ... which could be why that armbar doesn't look so bad to him.

Tony Hawk's got the name recognition, but in the skate world -- it's his son, Riley who's getting all the props ... according to Tony himself.

Turns out it’s all about the vert versus the street, dude! And if that's confusing -- our super pumped skate guru ... is here to break it down.

The Indiana Pacers are rallying around their injured player Chris Copeland ... with teammate Luis Scola telling TMZ Sports they're gonna try to get a "W" to honor him tonight.

The Pacers are in NYC to take on the NY Knicks at Madison Square Garden -- and before Scola hit the arena, he hit Starbucks for a quick pick-me-up ... where we asked about Copeland.

Scola says he hasn't spoken with Chris since he was stabbed outside a nightclub around 4AM -- but says the team is definitely thinking about him.

Two Atlanta Hawks basketball players claim allegations they got in the way of a police investigation at the scene of an NYC stabbing are UNTRUE ... and they vow to fight the charges in court.

As we previously reported, Thabo Sefolosha and Pero Antic were arrested near 1Oak nightclub after Indiana Pacers player Chris Copeland was stabbed in an early morning attack.

Cops say Pero and Thabo obstructed police from investigating the crime scene -- and were acting disorderly when asked to get out of the way. Cops also say Thabo resisted arrest and it took several officers to take him into custody.

But now, the players have issued a joint statement calling BS on the NYPD ... saying, "We will contest these charges and look forward to communicating the facts of the situation at the appropriate time."

They continued, "As members of the Atlanta Hawks, we hold ourselves to a high standard and take our roles as professionals very seriously."

Kevin Smith -- former Detroit Lions running back -- was arrested on the campus of UCF earlier today ... after cops say he fled the scene of a car accident and then disobeyed a police officer.

According to campus police, the 28-year-old was walking to class (apparently he's back in school) ... when he was approached by a University of Central Florida officer who was investigating a car wreck that occurred over the weekend.

Cops say Smith was involved in the accident and was driving with a suspended license at the time. Officials also believe Smith left the scene without providing information.

Fast forward to Wednesday ... when a UCF police officer tried to issue a citation to Smith -- but he refused to cooperate.

Instead, cops say Smith blew off the officer and continued to walk to class.

That's when the officer decided to "seize" Smith -- and arrested him. He was taken to a nearby jail where, in addition to refusing to sign the citation, he was also charged with resisting arrest.

Odell Beckham Jr. already dominates on football fields, soccer pitches, and basketball courts -- and now he's making the ocean his bitch, too ... by mounting a flyboard down in Miami.

The NY Giants star tackled the extreme water sport on Tuesday -- and as you'd probably expect -- he's already a pro. Paul Stoeppelwerth from Indy Flight Academy tells us ... OBJ got up and running on the flyboard on his first try.

If you haven't seen one of these things ... they're freakin' awesome -- kinda like a wakeboard that uses hydro-powered jets to hover up to 50 feet above the water! We're told most people take several minutes just to get upright ... but, of course, most people aren't Odell.

Stoeppelwerth says OBJ's "lower body is like a trunk, all the muscle memory from his football regimen definitely helps."

Former NFL speedster Willie Gault just made the boldest claim in the history of TMZ Sports ... 'cause he says his character was the king of "Tecmo Bowl" ... and NOT Bo Jackson.

Willie was out at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach (he's kind of a speed freak) when our camera guy went full video game nerd ... and Willie threw down the gauntlet on Bo's 8-bit avatar.

FYI -- The unstoppability of Jackson's "Tecmo Bowl" is legendary ... right up there with the code to "Contra" and the secret to beating Mike Tyson in "Punch Out!" (when he blinks hit him).

Check out the clip -- Willie proudly states that his digital doppleganger was actually the "king" of "Tecmo Bowl" although he hasn't played the game in years

Look at Bo below ... and judge the level of sacrilege for yourself.