TMZ Sports - Page 50

One high-end real estate developer is going green ... building weed-friendly mansions for athletes, CEOs and celebs looking to harvest their own herb at home and take advantage of the plant's healing powers without ever having to get off the couch!

Ramtin Ray Nosrati of Huntington Estate Properties is building 5 marijuana mansions in Bel-Air and Westside, and each residence contains a cannabis conservatory ... it's basically a stoner's spin on a cigar room, specifically designed for blazing up and growing ganja.

The individual homes -- call them the houses that hemp built -- are being advertised to active and retired athletes who are interested in at-home, anti-inflammatory medicine for daily life ... because THC and CBD can do wonders for all the physical and mental stress that comes with being one of the world's elite ballers.

Check out the gallery ... the special cannabis room inside each home comes with its own dedicated harvester, who will work magic for 2 years cultivating, watering, fertilizing and harvesting crops and/or vegetables using organic hydroponics. In Los Angeles, you can grow up to 6 plants in your home. Sounds dank!

Khabib Nurmagomedov is a bigger star than Conor McGregor -- so says his manager -- and therefore deserves MORE MONEY than Conor ... which he why he wants at least $50 mil for his next fight.

We spoke with Ali Abdelaziz who argues Khabib has become a "global superstar" -- who's met with some of the most powerful leaders in the world.

Ali says Khabib's reach is bigger than ever -- and he wants UFC to come to the table with a paycheck that reflects how big of a star he's become.

"Come on, man! You have a guy meeting with Putin, [President of Turkey] Erdogan. And, the other guy selling liquor on the corner store. It's not even in the f**king same planet."

Ali says Khabib would consider a rematch with McGregor if the price is right -- but, this time, Conor will get an even worse beating.

"I really want to see [Conor] drink his own blood," Ali says ... "He talked a lot of sh*t. He didn't back it up. Embarrassed himself in front of his whole beautiful country of Ireland, his father, his mother, his wife."

A linebacker on the Rutgers football team was arrested Tuesday after cops say he conspired to murder some people.

Yeah.

The player at the center of the controversy is Izaia Bullock -- a 22-year-old redshirt junior, from New Jersey.

Officials say Bullock has been charged with 2 counts of 1st-degree murder, and 2 counts of 1st-degree conspiracy to commit murder.

The details surrounding the charges are sketchy at best -- officials say the targets were family members of an acquaintance. The targets were not injured.

Rutgers has already dismissed Bullock from the team -- which isn't too big of a hit for them since the guy has barely seen any action, and has really had no impact in any game.

Bullock is still in custody and will remain locked up until his initial court appearance, officials say.

Bullock was an All-County linebacker back in high school at Linden High School in Jersey and went on to play at Gattaca Prep -- a junior college in NJ.

Linda McMahon says she didn't make the call for the WWE to move forward with the Pay-Per-View event in Saudi Arabia on Friday ... saying she's no longer responsible for WWE's business moves.

Besides being married to WWE honcho Vince McMahon -- Linda also served as a high ranking executive in the organization from 1980 through 2009.

She's now part of the Trump administration -- serving as the head of the U.S. Small Business Administration, based in Washington D.C.

So, when we saw her out at Reagan Airport on Tuesday, we had to ask how she felt about WWE not canceling the 'Crown Jewel' event, despite pressure from politicians and other powerful people in the wake of the Jamal Khashoggi murder.

"If you wanna talk WWE, you're talking to the wrong McMahon," Linda told us.

When we pointed out that WWE is essentially a family-run business, she replied -- "I don't run it and I'm not responsible for it ... ya gotta talk to Vince."

Message received -- loud and clear!

How does Ben Stiller feel about Shaun White getting heat for an offensive Halloween costume based off his "Tropic Thunder" movie?

He's sorry. Still.

TMZ Sports broke the story ... White dressed up as Simple Jack -- a mentally disabled character who was constantly referred to as the r-word in the 2008 movie.

Back in 2008, several disability groups spoke out against the flick -- calling the Simple Jack character offensive and tasteless.

Now, with White trotting out the costume again, groups like the Special Olympics ripped Shaun for exploiting special needs for a cheap laugh.

White has since apologized -- and now Stiller is weighing in too.

"Tropic Thunder was boycotted 10 years ago when it came out, and I apologized then," Stiller said on social media.

"It was always meant to make fun of actors trying to do anything to win awards. I stand by my apology, the movie, Shaun White, And the great people and work of the Special Olympics.

The Boston Red Sox better head over to Best Buy immediately ... because a huge celebrity DJ says their post-game champagne celebration completely ruined his laptop ... and he wants another one.

The DJ's name is Dre Sinatra, a man who along with guys like DJ Franzen, absolutely RUN the club scene on the West Coast and in Vegas, and go out on tour with big acts like Ty Dolla $ign.

Sinatra -- a die-hard Dodgers fan -- happened to be in the booth the night the Red Sox celebrated their World Series victory at Nightengale Plaza in L.A., and says things got super wild...

Maybe too wild.

"They started spraying champagne, and like it gets on my laptop and one thing about me, I'm like a chill person but once you mess up my laptop it's like a whole different person."

Dre says he stopped the music and warned the players ... and, after that not only did the team send him 3 bottles and let him spray them back but they made another -- more important -- promise to buy him a BRAND NEW LAPTOP.

BTW, we're told the Sox players dropped a combined $300,000 during the party!!!

Despite the drenched hard drive, Dre says it's all love for the Sox -- as long as he gets a new computer -- but says the Boston love stops with the Red Sox.

It's the day before Halloween and Tom Brady still has NO IDEA what his costume's gonna be ... but TB12's keepin' calm in the pocket, 'cause he's leaving it all up to Gisele!!

ICYMI ... the superstar couple went viral with their avocado toast costume last year (which we pretty much assumed was Gisele's idea at the time).

But, Brady came clean during his weekly interview with "Kirk & Callahan" on WEEI about how much he contributed to the couple's outfit selection this year ... and it seems like the dude's been spending too much time in the film room to give much effort.

"I gotta check in with the missus. I don't know what she got," Brady says. "That hasn't been on my radar, unfortunately."

"She got something, so ... I'll ask her today."

Nothin' like a good ole 2-minute drill, Halloween edition, from Brady.

There's more ... Brady was asked about his upcoming match-up with Aaron Rodgers ... and Brady says he's been inspired by the Packers QB.

Cool candid moment between Kirk Cousins and Teddy Bridgewater on Sunday -- when the new Vikings QB told the old Vikings QB how they REALLY feel about him in Minnesota these days.

Teddy and the Saints were in Minnesota to play Kirk and the Vikings -- but after the game, Cousins tracked down Bridgewater and told him what the Vikings execs have been saying behind his back.

"Everyone here speaks really highly of you," Kirk said to Teddy ... "You left a good mark on the organization."

Yeah, they love him!

Of course, Bridgewater -- the Vikings' 2014 1st-round pick -- WAS the future of Minnesota ... before a gnarly knee injury nearly ended his football career in 2016.

Teddy fought to get back onto the field ... but wasn't able to start a game for Minnesota after the 2015 season and moved on to the Jets this offseason.

Bridgewater is now Drew Brees' backup after the Saints traded for him in the preseason ... and if you're listening to Cousins -- everyone in purple and gold couldn't be happier for him.

Ben Roethlisberger and his wife -- along with several Steelers players -- attended funeral services for two brothers killed in the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting on Tuesday ... in support of a close friend and former team staffer.

Cecil and David Rosenthal -- brothers to ex-Steelers community relations manager Michele Rosenthal -- were murdered when an anti-Semitic shooter opened fire inside the Tree of Life synagogue on Saturday.

Among the guests who attended the services at Rodef Shalom Congregation -- head coach Mike Tomlin, linebacker Ryan Shazier and Steelers legend Troy Polamalu attended the funeral.

The entire city seems to be rallying around the victims and their families. As we previously reported, the Pittsburgh Penguins will honor the victims with a special patch on their uniforms tonight.

12:09 PM PT -- A prison source tells us Bulger -- who is wheelchair bound -- was in general population Tuesday morning. We're told he was approached by 3 other inmates who wheeled him into a corner that could not be seen by surveillance cameras.

Our source says the inmates beat Bulger -- one used a lock in a sock as a weapon -- until he was unconscious. They also attempted to gouge his eyes out with some type of shiv, but were unsuccessful. Bulger fell to the ground covered in bruises and with several dents in his head.

As for the eyes, we've been doing some research -- back in the days of Murder Inc., (the 1940s gangsters, not the rappers) mobsters would gouge out the eyes of witnesses who talked to cops.

Whitey was an informant for the FBI starting back in 1975 -- so, this may have been a message from his killers to warn others about snitching.

11:43 AM PT -- A law enforcement source tells us Bulger's death is being treated as a suspected homicide.

11:15 AM PT -- TMZ has learned emergency dispatchers got a call from the prison for someone in cardiac arrest, and staffers at the facility were performing CPR. They also had a defibrillator on scene.

10:25 AM PT -- The Dept. of Justice says Bulger was found at 8:20 AM, and prison staff immediately attempted to resuscitate him. Bulger had just arrived at Hazelton on Monday.

James "Whitey" Bulger -- one of America's most notorious mobsters -- was found dead Tuesday in a federal prison where he had just been transferred ... TMZ has confirmed

Bulger was just moved to a new facility -- U.S. Penitentiary Hazelton in West Virginia, a maximum-security prison. Prison officials haven't released details, but say his body was found sometime after he was moved to the prison.

Bulger had been serving out his life sentence in a federal pen in Florida until last week, when he was transferred to one in Oklahoma City ... and then recently arrived in Hazelton. He was convicted in 2013 for a slew of crimes, including being linked to at least 11 murders.

The ex-crime boss was on the run for years and was one of the FBI's most wanted before being captured in Santa Monica in 2011.

Bulger's life story was documented in the 2015 flick, "Black Mass," where Johnny Depp played the ruthless Winter Hill Gang crime boss, and longtime FBI informant, who terrorized the Boston area for years.

On an episode of "Objectified" ... UFC honcho Dana White told Harvey Levin, Bulger was the reason he had to get the hell out of Boston.

Bulger was 89.

Von Miller says he's HURT by the Demaryius Thomas trade from the Broncos to the Texans ... saying in a lengthy goodbye letter, "I can’t believe this is real!"

Denver shipped D.T. and a 7th-round pick to Houston on Tuesday for 4th and 7th-round picks in return ... and Miller was so sad about it, he took to his social media page to vent.

"These last 8 years have been incredible," Von wrote ... "I love you bro. I’m hurt, no doubt. I can’t be too hurt because every chance I got to tell you I love you, did just that."

"From our time together off the field, to our time on it. You are a brother to me, and 'Blood couldn’t make us any closer' LOVE ETERNALLY!"

Of course ... Demaryius and Miller were back-to-back Broncos 1st-round picks in 2010 and 2011 -- and helped lead the team to a Super Bowl title in 2016 over the Panthers.

For their part ... the Broncos issued a goodbye to the wideout as well, saying, "Demaryius will always be a part of the Denver Broncos family."

11:38 AM PT -- New info directly from police ...

The Weehawken PD says Lauletta was driving a 2017 Jaguar in a "dangerous manner" around 8 AM.

When an officer tried to stop him, the QB "attempted to evade him, making an illegal turn and continuing towards Route 495, almost striking the officer."

Another officer then stopped Lauletta -- but the QB "refused various instructions to produce his driving credentials and exit his vehicle."

Lauletta was then arrested and charged with 3rd degree eluding police, obstructing administration of law, resisting arrest, reckless driving, disregarding an officer's directions, improper turn and failure to remain in a marked lane.

There's more ... cops say upon further investigation, they realized the 2017 Jaguar registered to the QB was involved in a similar incident the previous day.

Cops say a summons for the previous incident was sent by mail since the car left the scene.

Kyle Lauletta -- the NY Giants backup quarterback -- was arrested in New Jersey early Tuesday morning on his way to practice, law enforcement confirms to TMZ Sports.

The 23-year-old was pulled over in Weehawken -- and allegedly failed to obey a police officer's directions, according to NJ.com.

Lauletta reportedly came close to striking the officer with his car.

NY Giants head coach Pat Shurmur issued a statement saying, “We were made aware of the situation this morning, and we have been in contact with Kyle. We are still in the process of gathering information. This is obviously very disappointing.”

Lauletta is a rookie out of the University of Richmond. The Giants selected him in the 4th round of the 2018 Draft.

With the Giants playing like garbage this season, there has been a push for Shurmur to start Lauletta over Eli Manning when they face the 49ers on Nov. 12.

Story developing ...

The Pittsburgh Penguins will honor the victims and families of those affected by this weekend's Synagogue shooting by wearing a special "Stronger Than Hate" patch on their jerseys Tuesday night.

The team says it will also donate $50,000 to help victims -- and will give all proceeds from the evening's 50/50 raffle to the cause.

There's more ... each player -- from Sidney Crosby to Evgeni Malkin -- will sign their jerseys after the game against the New York Islanders and donate them to be auctioned off with proceeds helping the victims.

As we previously reported ... 11 people were murdered after an anti-Semitic shooter opened fire inside the Tree of Life synagogue on Saturday.

HOF'er Mark Henry says if he was John Cena, he'd absolutely wrestle in WWE's 'Crown Jewel' in Saudi Arabia -- despite journalist Jamal Khashoggi's murder -- 'cause it's his job to perform.

TMZ Sports talked to the WWE legend about the fallout from the company's decision to NOT cancel the event ... and Cena's reported refusal to participate.

"I wouldn't ever say that person is making the wrong decision. I'd say, that's not the decision that I'd make. I would stand by my guns and I would do what's good for business."

Bottom line, Henry -- host of Busted Open Radio -- says Cena and the other superstars committed to wrestle ... so they shouldn't let fans and the company down.

"I'm a firm believer in not leaving people out to dry," ... Henry says, "Our fans, they wanna see you. Give our fans what they want."

As far as not postponing or canceling "Crown Jewel" ... Mark says Vince McMahon is being unfairly criticized.

"The WWE is just 1 business. There's hundreds of thousands of businesses doing business internationally. Why pick on one?"

Henry says he's not currently scheduled to go to Saudi Arabia ... but if WWE asks, he's ready to hop on a plane.

Daniel Cormier says Brock Lesnar better not try to pull any cage-storming antics at UFC 230 ... because he ain't gonna be so nice this time around.

D.C. fights Derrick Lewis at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night -- and if Cormier wins, it sets up a possible superfight with Lesnar ... a fight they've been unofficially promoting for months.

Remember, after Cormier beat Stipe Miocic for the heavyweight title at UFC 226 back in July, Brock walked into the cage and shoved Daniel HARD -- and threatened to beat his ass if they ever fought.

"Brock Lesnar can come ringside," Daniel tells TMZ Sports ... "but he better not come in there because this time, it might be problem for him."

Might be tough for Brock considering he's headlining the "WWE Crown Jewel" event in Saudi Arabia on Friday night ... but it's theoretically possible for him to make it to MSG in time for D.C.'s fight.

As for Lewis, Cormier says he respects him as a fighter -- but at the end of the day, he's gonna beat Derrick's ass.

We also spoke with D.C. about a possible 3rd fight with Jon Jones and who he thinks Ben Askren should face when he makes his UFC debut.

It's official, John Cena will NOT be a part of WWE's 'Crown Jewel' pay-per-view event in Saudi Arabia this weekend ... with WWE writing in another wrestler to take his place.

Cena reportedly refused to go to Saudi Arabia because of the controversy surrounding the murder of former Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Turkey.

Several politicians and powerful business people called for WWE to postpone the show while investigators looked into the Saudi government's role in Khashoggi's killing, but the wrestling org. announced it would proceed with the event as planned.

WWE and Cena seemed to be at loggerheads -- so, on "Monday Night Raw," it was finally announced Cena was off the card and will be replaced in the WWE World Cup tournament by pro wrestling star Bobby Lashley.

Other stars scheduled to compete in the tourney include Seth Rollins, Kurt Angle, Dolph Ziggler, Jeff Hardy, The Miz, Rey Mysterio and Randy Orton.

Cena has not issued an official statement yet. 'Crown Jewel' will go down on Friday in Riyadh.

Cena has participated in a Saudi Arabia event in the past -- back in April, he wrestled Triple H and thanked the locals for their hospitality.