TMZ Sports - Page 50

Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Julius Thomas is a tough guy -- but could he survive in the wild if was forced to go on that show "Naked & Afraid?"

The NFL stud says he THINKS he hang on the survivalist show for about 3 days -- but then he'd be toast.

FYI -- "Naked And Afraid" is basically a nude version of "Survivor" where contestants are dropped in the middle of nowhere and left to fend for themselves ... without a stitch of clothing on.

Check out the clip -- Julius doesn't seem to think that his NFL toughness would come into play out in the wilderness ... saying he'd be out of the competition before you can say "chaffed balls."

MOST BALLER DAY EVER!!!!!!!

Rob Gronkowski -- along with some of his New England Patriots teammates -- just hopped on a private jet after watching the Kentucky Derby ... and are now headed to Vegas for the fight!!

BALLER!!!!!!

The Derby was a major team outing -- even Tom Brady made the trip out to Louisville -- but it looks like the QB tapped out when Gronk and Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola decided to charter a jet to Sin City.

It's good to be rich.

11:45 AM PT -- Michelle just tweeted -- "After hearing my credential was pulled, I went home. Told this morning that HBO was able to get it re-approved late last night. That's it. All she wrote. I will now concentrate on Game 7. #GoSpursGo"

10:53 AM PT --Floyd's camp says the reporters are ALL WRONG -- claiming they were NEVER blocked from attending the fight.

Floyd's rep Kelly Swanson just went to Twitter and said, "No one including ME banned [Rachel Nichols] from covering the fight. She is already credentialed. #Facts"

"And [Michelle Beadle] isn't even on the pres list. She's credentialed through [HBO Boxing]. Yes credentialed. #Fact#2"

Swanson says both reporters still have their credentials.

ESPN reporter Michelle Beadle says she has been blocked from attending tonight's Mayweather v. Pacquiao fight ... and claims it's all because she ruffled some feathers in Mayweather's camp.

Floyd's camp hasn't explained why Beadle is blocked -- but it seems it has to do with the fact Michelle has been critical of Floyd and his history with domestic violence.

CNN reporter Rachel Nichols says she has also been blocked from the fight -- Nichols has suggested the ban has to do with the fact she pressed Mayweather on his violent past during an interview back in September.

We're reaching out to Mayweather's camp for an explanation, stay tuned.

If the 'look good, feel good, play good' adage is true ... Manny Pacquiao might be in trouble tonight ... 'cause TMZ Sports has the FIRST pictures of Floyd's fight night boxing gloves ... and they're SWEET.

Boxing brand Grant Worldwide's CEO Elvis Grant Phillips tells us his company hooked the champ up with 8 custom pairs of gloves. Mayweather picked his 3 favorite ... that he'll take to the MGM Grand.

We're told Floyd's torn between the Red/Blue/Silver and Gold/Red/Blue pairs ... it's a tough decision, 'cause he loves them both ... especially the metallic color schemes, which run $2,500-a-pair.

As far as Manny, no word yet on what his gloves look like ...

It was supposed to be the hottest ticket of the year ... but it's gone cold ... and now multiple investors who tried to flip tickets to Mayweather vs. Pacquiao tell TMZ Sports they're losing BIG MONEY.

As we previously reported, ringside seats hit the market for upwards of $80,000 ... and face value of the crappy seats originally went on sale for $1,500.

A bunch of high profile ticket brokers and investors bought up as many tickets as they could get -- thinking it was a sure bet ... since interest in the fight has been through the roof.

But it just ain't panning out -- with one broker blaming the high prices and the fact that tickets only went on sale 10 days before the fight -- and investors are losing their asses.

One company told us they initially bought 80 tickets ... but only moved 20 ... and now they're holding the bag on 60 high-priced stubs.

"It's an embarrassment. We lost a significant amount of money," one broker tells us.

Same story for another ticket broker -- who tells us things have gotten "desperate" and they're slashing prices like crazy.

While Manny and Floyd are knocking each other's heads off, millions of fans will be getting knocked on their asses ... from dat drank ... thanks to a host of drinking games that are taking the net by storm.

The games are catching fire on social media ... and although they vary in the rules and conditions of the swallowing of the booze, it's clear that everyone who participates WILL BE HAMMERED.

Here are the rules to one of the more popular games making the rounds at the moment:

-- If Justin comes out with a stupid grin on his face 1 shot.

-- Every time they show a celebrity in the crowd 1 shot.

-- If they mention Floyd's dad 2 shots.

-- If they mention Manny's politcal career 2 shots.

-- If they mention Mike Tyson dissing Floyd 3 shots.

-- If the winner DOESN'T thank God first 3 shots.

-- 4 shots for a punch below the belt.

-- 5 shots for a draw.

-- 5 shots if Pacman gets knocked out.

-- Finish the bottle if Mayweather gets knocked out.

Diddy wants to leave the fighting to the professionals this weekend in Las Vegas, so he's taking extra precautions to make sure he doesn't get into any trouble during his Mayweather/Pacquiao party.

The rap mogul is once again hosting a huge after-party for the fight at the Havana Room & Beach Club at the Tropicana -- but Diddy wants this fiesta to go smoother than his Super Bowl event ... where he got into a fight with a pissed off fan.

According to our sources, here's Diddy game plan:

-- his VIP section will be far away from normies (unlike SB weekend)
-- 20 extra security guards to watch over his VIP section
-- guards instructed to immediately toss anyone heckling Diddy

Mo money, less problems ... that's the goal, anyway.

Josh Groban is singing the National Anthem at the Kentucky Derby in a few hours -- but before he takes the mic ... he dropped an interesting fun fact about the race to TMZ Sports.

It's something you don't really think about unless you're tapped to perform ... but now that mentions it -- makes total sense.

The guys from "Pawn Stars" can spot a money making opportunity from a mile away -- which is why they believe a Mayweather LOSS would be HUGE for the city of Las Vegas in the long run.

Don't get it twisted ... Corey and Rick Harrison -- who were hangin' at the D Hotel -- told us they're rooting for the hometown guy, Floyd Mayweather ... but explain why Floyd taking the "L" would be MUCH BETTER for Sin City.

Horse racing is HUGE for the bourbon industry ... especially the Kentucky Derby ... so says Jim Beam which credits the race for a MAJOR boost in sales every single year.

A rep for the bourbon company says they see an average sales spike of around 20% during Derby season ... adding, "When the weather is at its prime, the team has seen spikes up to 30%."

"This year, the weather has been good."

The Beam reps say the sales spike isn't just in KY -- people all over the country are throwing Derby parties -- "and they're drinking bourbon, they're drinking Mint Juleps."

Boxing champ Adrien Broner was handcuffed and detained by cops in Las Vegas Thursday night, but not arrested ... and his people say it's all because an "a**hole security guard" didn't like the way he was dressed.

People in Adrien's camp tell TMZ Sports ... the 3-time world champ and 7 members of his posse went to Tao nightclub in the Venetian and plunked down $11k for a table. They say the host took the money and let them in, so they took the escalator up to the club and then things went south.

They say a security guard stopped them and said they had to leave because they weren't dressed properly, claiming their jeans and shoes were a deal breaker. Adrien got pissed and said it was hip-hop night and Fabolous was performing, so they were not only dressed appropriately but others were wearing the same thing.

The guard wasn't moved and ordered them to leave. Adrien refused so the guard called the cops.

Police came, cuffed Adrien and took him to a room. His people say police held the boxer for 20 minutes, let him go and then Adrien and his crew left the hotel.

Check out the video ... you hear Adrien say, "They're mad 'cause I'm rich" ... something that seems to be a theme when Broner meets cops.

Broner was arrested in Ohio back in January for DUI. The boxer humblebragged to the arresting officer he was "blessed" because he made more than $100 million in his career. He pled not guilty and the case is pending.

So far no comment from Tao.

So what's the first thing Manny Pacquiao does after making weight for his big fight?

Scarfs a pack of Butterfinger cups.

Bart Simpson would be proud.

Wes Welker's horse just got thiiiiiis close to winning his first pre-Kentucky Derby race at Churchill Downs ... finishing in 2nd ... for the 2nd year in a row.

As we previously reported, Welker re-entered his horse "Undrafted" to compete in the Twin Spires Turf Sprint Stakes ... the same pre-Kentucky Derby race he competed in last year.

But for the 2nd straight year, Undrafted couldn't quite reach the winner's circle ... getting edged out at the finish line ... to take 2nd place.

The good news ... 2nd place still gets paid -- and it all went down in front of Welker's old Patriots teammates including Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski.

Hey, could be worse.

Wanna bet if Justin Bieber will WEAR A HAT during his walkout with Floyd Mayweather??

Well, now you can ... because betting websites are seriously TAKING ACTION on the pop star in some crazy new prop bets for the fight..

We spoke with the people over at BetOnline.ag who tell us Bieber is a hot topic when it comes to prop bets ... which is why they're taking action on the guy. For example:

Will Bieber wear sunglasses during the walkout?
Yes -380 No +260.

Translation -- it's so likely he'll rock shades, you have to bet $380 to win $100.

There's more ...

Will 50 Cent walk out with Mayweather?
Yes +185 No -275

Jamie Foxx's National Anthem time
Over 94 seconds -120
Under 94 seconds -120

Filipino National Anthem time
Over 76 seconds -120
Under 76 seconds -120

It sounds ridiculous, but prop bets are HUGE during major sporting events!

Colin Kaepernick has a new enemy -- L.A. Clippers star Matt Barnes ... who just fired a shot at the QB on social media ... and sources tell us the animosity is very real.

Barnes went on Instagram to congratulate Arik Armstead on being drafted by the SF 49ers last night ... and wrote, "Congrats to my young boy #ErikArmstead [sic] proud of you fam. Ur QB a hoe tho!!"

Clearly, the message was directed at Colin.

Multiple sources close to Matt tell us the beef with Kaepernick goes back several years -- and stems from a situation where Matt felt "disrespected" by Colin.

As one source extremely close to Barnes puts it -- "Matt hates his guts."

He stole their shellfish ... but Jameis Winston is now officially sponsored by Publix (by way of the Tampa Bay Bucs) ... and the market says they're all about BURYING THE HATCHET.

In fact, it was 1 year ago this week that Winston was busted stealing crab legs ... and as fate would have it, Publix happens to be the official supermarket sponsor of the Bucs.

So, how do store officials feel about teaming up with a guy who jacked their seafood?

"We support our hometown team. We welcome Jameis Winston to the Bucs. We don't hold any grudge against him."

A rep for Publix adds, "We've moved forward, we're past this. We hope Jameis has done the same, and is moving forward."

"Part of our affiliation with the team is to do the right thing for the community. If Jameis has an idea that would make the community better, [we'd] gladly hear out his proposal."