TMZ Sports - Page 50

Michael Jordan finally found the player to make his Charlotte Hornets contenders again -- only problem is he's not even 5 feet tall ... and he's a grade-schooler.

We don't know who the kid is, but looks to be about 7 or 8 years old and he's one helluva sharpshooter. During MJ's Flight School basketball camp ... the kid looked like HE was the one teaching!

Watch ... with MJ rebounding for him, the kid drains shot after shot from all over the court. You can tell ... even the G.O.A.T. is impressed.

Football great Frank Gifford died suddenly Sunday morning ... according to a statement from his wife Kathie Lee and their kids.

Gifford's family says he passed away of natural causes at their Connecticut home. He was 84.

Gifford was an NFL Hall of Famer with the NY Giants ... and also a famous broadcaster for "Monday Night Football" from 1971-1997.

He married Kathie Lee in 1986 and they had 2 children -- Cody and Cassidy ... who is now an actress, and had her first starring role this summer in "The Gallows."

Frank had 3 other children (and 5 grandkids) from his first marriage.

Ronda Rousey's only looking for a 'yes' man when it comes to dating -- at least that's what her ex-bf Brendan Schaub claimed while opening up about his days dating Ronda.

Turns out Andre Berto does have a shot at beating Floyd Mayweather Jr. -- IF he's willing to forgive Sylvester Stallone for saying Floyd would have to drop dead in the ring to lose the title bout.

When we got Sly in downtown L.A. ... he was totally apologetic about the comment he made last week -- telling us, he was "just joking" and Berto is actually a "great fighter."

As for Berto firing back that 'Rocky' was no longer his favorite movie boxer -- pretty sure he was kidding too -- Stallone made a plea for Andre to get himself a little "Rocky magic" before the fight.

Jamaal Charles isn't just dominating fantasy football -- he's now a beast in the iced-out custom jewelry department too ... after dropping $200k on RIDICULOUS chains, pendants and watches.

The Chiefs stud rolled into King Johnny's Custom Jewelry in Houston last week to pick up his new bling ... designed by Ice Man Nick. Ice's brother Zo tells TMZ Sports ... Jamaal requested pieces no one else would have, and they delievered ... big time!

For instance ... JC got a chain made out of a half kilo of gold, covered with more than 100 carats worth of diamonds. The custom touch? How 'bout a giant "5.0" pendant to remind FF geeks everywhere Jamaal's averaged at least 5 yards per carry for the last 3 seasons! That alone set him back $100k.

Zo says Jamaal also got a 10 oz. platinum bar with diamonds -- and a diamond encrusted Rolex Yacht Master II.

Tony Gonzalez has a message for any hoops stars thinking they can make it on the gridiron -- don't try it bro -- 'cause you can't take a hit.

Tony was at LAX when we showed him video of Chris Paul running patterns against Magic guard Elfrid Payton, and asked if they'd have a shot in the NFL. TG should know ... he was a beast in football and basketball back at Cal Berkeley.

His assessment -- stick to pick and rolls, CP3 ... because even if you do haul in a pass ... "You still have to get hit when you come across the middle."

Check it out ... the future Hall of Famer talked even more trash on NBA stars' lack of toughness -- but adds there are a few ballers who MIGHT make the cut. Might.

Michelle Beadle has Ronda Rousey's back in her heated war of words with Floyd Mayweather Jr. -- and says, ironically, the boxing champ can't handle a fight ... when he's not in a ring.

Ronda Rousey is not the greatest female fighter on the planet, and never will be until she steps into the Octagon against Cris 'Cyborg' Venancio ... according to a former MMA champ.

Atlanta Hawks forward Mike Scott took a felony bullet during a recorded interrogation -- admitting all the drugs cops found in his car were his ... so his kid brother wouldn't get in trouble.

TMZ Sports obtained the video of Banks County Sheriff's deputies questioning Scott about the July 30 traffic stop. As we reported, Scott's 20-year-old bro, Antonn, was driving when deputies pulled him over for speeding. They eventually found more than an ounce of weed and 10 grams of Molly in the vehicle.

In the video, a slumped over Scott explains why Antonn didn't immediately pull over -- cops chased him for 2 miles -- and he's oddly calm as he takes full responsibility for the stash of drugs. Scott 's biggest concern was whether his arrest would be "a public thing." The deputy gave him a reality check ... gently.

Nacho Figueras may be the poster boy for sexy polo players ... but the international sport is chock-full of dapper dudes sporting the white pants.

Check out some of the best looking bros to ever whack their balls around the field.

Michael Sam is now the first openly gay player in a pro football game -- he suited up Friday evening and just got his first game action for the Montreal Alouettes.

18 months after he was drafted by the Rams -- Sam lined up at defensive end Friday evening for Montreal's game against Ottawa. He didn't start, but entered the game with about 5 minutes to go in the first quarter.

It's been a long road -- Sam was cut by the Rams and the Cowboys, and believed he never got a fair shake in the NFL because he announced he was gay right before the draft.

As TMZ Sports previously reported ... Sam left Montreal's training camp and returned to the States for "personal reasons" in June. He rejoined the squad a few weeks later, and he's been held out of the first 5 games.

Tony Stewart could have avoided striking and killing Kevin Ward Jr. but instead chose to terrorize Ward by driving recklessly... so claims Ward's parents, who have filed a wrongful death suit.

The parents say Stewart had complete disregard for Kevin's life a year ago when his race car struck and killed the 20-year-old.

The lawsuit claims Stewart gunned his 700 HP car as he drove by Ward. Stewart's car slid and struck Ward with the rear tire, hurling him 25 feet. The suit claims Stewart gunned the engine to "terrorize" Ward.

There were rumors of beef between the two, which fueled speculation Stewart intentionally plowed into Ward with his car when he ran onto the track ... something he denies.

Stewart was cleared of criminal charges. Authorities also say Ward was high on weed when he got out of his car.

Ward's family still believes the death was avoidable and they want to take it to a civil jury.

Reps for Stewart have no comment.

Aldon Smith wouldn't have spent a night in jail or gotten kicked off the 49ers, if he'd simply been able to park his car.

Santa Clara PD say the now ex-Niner smashed into a parked car on Thursday evening ... while attempting to park his vehicle. He allegedly doubled down by hitting the car again with his door.

Cops say he left the scene without leaving a note or any identification -- but when he returned to the scene, police made contact. Officers believed he was drunk, and gave him a field sobriety test. Clearly, he didn't do well.

LeBron James' sneaker line started off on the wrong foot ... and now we know just HOW WRONG.

This pic of the early version of the LeBron 1s just surfaced, proving Nike stuck to that old adage -- if at first you screw it up royally ... get back to freakin' work!

The red version is the shoe that was eventually rolled out right after King James was drafted #1 by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003.

Aldon Smith got into a scrap with 49ers star Colin Kaepernick earlier this week ... which may have been fueled by ongoing rumors about Smith's ex-girlfriend and the QB.

Multiple Niner locker room sources tell TMZ Sports ... Aldon and Colin had an altercation on the field during a practice on Tuesday, and "players had to pull them apart." It's interesting because there's been a lot of Internet buzz Smith's ex-gf is now with Kaep.

Smith and Hot 97 host Nessa broke up in recent months, and even though she and Kaep have not been photographed together ... rumors they're together have persisted. Our sources say it wasn't clear if Smith and Kaep exchanged any words before the fight broke out ... or if Nessa's name ever came up.

D'Angelo Russell's dad DID NOT chug a bottle of codeine as cops approached his vehicle during a traffic stop ... that's his story at least -- TMZ Sports has learned he pled not guilty to 4 charges in court ... including a felony.

Antonio Russell was pulled over in a Maserati last week. Police say aside from downing a Fuji water bottle full of codeine (tampering with evidence) ... he also had weed and more codeine in the car.

D'Angelo's dad just appeared in a Louisville court to enter his plea on the following charges:

- Possession of a controlled substance
- Tampering with physical evidence
- Possession of marijuana
- Failure to wear seat belt