TMZ Sports - Page 50

Jerry Rice says there's no debate in his mind ... Eli Manning doesn't belong in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

"When I’m judging a player, I’m looking what he brings to the table. And, what I see with Eli Manning, there’s not consistency.”

The NFL's best-ever WR simply doesn't think Manning's good enough -- especially when compared to a true HOF quarterback like Drew Brees.

"I would think that Drew Brees is going to be a shoo-in," Rice said on the "Joe, Lo & Dibs" show on 95.7 The Game earlier this week.

"Eli? There’s a chance of him getting in, but I’m not going to say he’s a true Hall of Famer.”

Of course, the debate has REALLY heated up over the last two years -- given how terrible Eli has looked at the end of an up-and-down career.

On one hand ... dude does have two Super Bowl rings on his resume -- but on the other ... he's thrown 234 career picks and owns just a 113-110 all-time, win-loss record.

Some say the 2 'ships trump everything ... but not Jerry.

Draymond Green says his heated argument with Kevin Durant -- one in which he repeatedly called K.D. a "b*tch" -- is only gonna make the Warriors better ... saying, "Good luck with us now!"

ICYMI ... the Golden State stars got into it at the end of a loss to the Clippers on Monday -- with Durant upset at Green in the huddle for a late-game turnover.

Green fired back harshly ... callin' Durant a "b*tch" multiple times -- and reportedly even letting the argument spill into the post-game locker room.

Green was eventually suspended one game -- and fined $120,000 -- for the altercation ... but told reporters Thursday the fight ain't gonna end the Warriors' dynasty.

"If this only makes Kevin, myself and the rest of my teammates stronger, that's what it's going to do," Green says.

In fact ... Draymond promised an EVEN BETTER version of the Dubs now.

"If you think you saw something before, good luck with us now. We not going to crumble off of an argument. We going to move forward."

That might be true for THIS season ... but Klay Thompson AND K.D. are free agents this summer -- and even Draymond couldn't guarantee their future with the team after that.

Conor McGregor would like to apologize ... to absolutely f**kin' nobody all you whiskey drinkers who have been dyin' to get their hands on his Proper 12 whiskey ... saying he's sorry for the worldwide shortage.

Proper No. 12 tells TMZ Sports they've "sold more cases in less than one month than many whiskey brands sell in a full year" ... amounting to hundreds of thousands of bottles sold.

The crazy sales have led to a shortage of the product -- great for Conor's bank account -- but bad news for fans tryin' to get their paws on a bottle.

"I don’t usually see reason to apologise but in this case I want to take this chance to apologise to absolutely everyone for our out-of-stock situation."

Conor says he's personally making sure the company is ramping up production.

"I was at the distillery last week and we have plans in place to be back in stock in Ireland and the United States in early December and onward."

Floyd Mayweather says the Tokyo fight that was on and then off ... is back on -- and he's telling TMZ Sports exactly how it's gonna go down.

Remember, Floyd was supposed to fight 20-year-old kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa on New Year's Eve ... but recently backed out ... saying promoters misled him about the scale and nature of the bout.

We talked to Floyd Wednesday night as he left Peter Marco jewelry in Beverly Hills ... and he told us the fight is very much alive.

"We're gonna make it happen."

Question is ... is it boxing, kickboxing or MMA?

"Rules? It's gonna be a little boxing exhibition. No kicking," Floyd told us ... "I'm moving around with the guy for 9 minutes, and of course it's gonna be the highest paid exhibition ever."

Bottom line ... the money's just too good to pass up, as long as the fight goes down on Floyd's terms.

If Bryce Harper's stomach is making the call ... the Cubs, White Sox, Mets and Yankees have a CLEAR advantage in signing him, 'cause he says NYC and Chicago have the best food.

In case you've been living under a rock ... Harper is poised to sign the richest free-agent deal OF ALL TIME -- some say up to $400 million -- but he's given no clear indication on where he's going.

We got Harper Thursday night at LAX ... and threw some questions out at him trying to crack the case, and while he was noncommittal on some, when it came to FOOD he definitely has some cities in mind.

"Favorite food? Probably Chicago. They got great food. I like this place called Steak 48, it's really good. Deep dish of course. Anywhere in New York of course you know you can always go out there and eat good food. That's huge for us."

We should also say ... while there are two teams in NY, Bryce complimented our camera guy's Mets cap and gave props to Jacob deGrom winning the Cy Young Award.

FYI -- Word on the street is that the Philadelphia Phillies are in the driver's seat to get Harper, but we didn't hear him mention Cheesesteaks anywhere in this entire clip.

How can Cam Newton top a huge Thanksgiving dinner for 800 kids??

MORE KIDS!!

The Carolina Panthers superstar is one-upping his own holiday tradition this year ... buying a bunch of turkey dinners for 1,200 underprivileged children AND their families!!

It's all part of the 7th annual "Cam's Thanksgiving Jam"... a fun time full of games, music, face painting and balloon artists.

Cam will be there to personally serve the kids in attendance ... so we're sure there will be some dancing goin' on.

And, if that's not good enough for you -- Cam's giving everyone a take-home turkey dinner too!!

Josh Hader's rough past few months just got a whole lot better ... the Brewers pitcher proposed to his longtime GF -- and she said yes!!

The 24-year-old flame-throwing reliever came under fire back in July when racist and homophobic tweets from 7 years ago surfaced ... forcing the MLB All-Star to apologize vehemently.

Things didn't get much better for the Milwaukee lefty in the fall ... 'cause his team got bounced in Game 7 of the ALCS by the Dodgers.

But ... finally, Hader got some good news Wednesday -- Maria Macias agreed to marry him!!

"Today I asked the woman of my dreams to marry me!" Josh said ... "She said yes!"

The two met when Josh was playing for the Astros' minor league team, The Hooks, three years ago ... and Maria worked for the team in marketing.

Maria says (ironically enough) it was a successful Twitter DM slide that started it all.

BTW ... the two just got an adorable puppy together a few days ago -- proving Hader's 2019 is looking a helluva lot brighter than this past year.

Khloe Kardashian and Tristan Thompson are NOT broken up or on the rocks, contrary to reports -- but they could very well be breaking up a turkey wishbone very soon ... TMZ has learned.

Sources tell us ... rumors that Khloe and TT have split or are no longer talking in the wake of his cheating scandal are simply false -- they're still together and going strong.

We're told the reason Khloe hasn't been in Cleveland lately is that she's filming a new season of 'KUWTK.' Meanwhile, he's in the middle of his NBA season with the Cavs. Our sources say Khloe was supposed to fly out to Cleveland last week, but stayed in L.A. on account of the fires that were ravaging hers and surrounding communities.

And besides, would a couple on the verge of a split be spending time together on Thanksgiving? Probably not ... which is exactly what we're told Khloe's doing for the holiday. Sources say Khloe's going to Cleveland next week to be with Tristan and baby True as a family.

As we reported ... Khloe was at Tristan's game in Cleveland a couple weeks ago cheering him on. Her visit must've left some magic behind, 'cause Tristan's been on a tear lately. He racked up 21 rebounds in the Cavs' win over Charlotte Tuesday night.

Cisco Adler is down with Carey Hart's warning to looters ... you steal, you get shot.

We got the Grammy-nominated musician Wednesday night leaving Staples Center after the Lakers game, and the longtime Malibu resident told us it was a much-needed break from the heartache people in his town have been feeling since the fires ravaged the area.

Cisco was comfortable with the warning Carey Hart and Co. delivered ... that they are more than willing to take the law into their own hands if someone tries to take advantage of the evacuations by looting.

J.R. Smith just copped a sweet deal in his cell phone throwing incident back in July ... TMZ Sports has learned, and if he stays outta trouble for 6 months ... he's totally in the clear.

ICYMI -- Swish allegedly took a fan's cell phone and threw it into a construction site ... after the guy tried to snap a pic of the Cleveland Cavs star outside of The Park, an NYC hot spot.

Smith -- who appeared before a judge in a Manhattan courtroom Thursday morning with attorney Alex Spiro -- had his case adjourned in contemplation of dismissal.

Plain talk -- as long as he buys the fan a new cell phone ($600) AND doesn't screw up ... the case will be dismissed.

The coach who witnessed his player eat a VICIOUS cheap shot elbow tells TMZ Sports he couldn't be happier his team did NOTHING in retaliation.

The video's insane ... Fitchburg State was playing Nichols College (both D-III teams) Tuesday night in Massachusetts ... when FSU's star Kewan Platt intentionally elbowed Nate Tenaglia ... sending him to the deck.

A lot of people wondered where the hell Nate's teammates were ... and why didn't they step up and return the favor?

Nichols head coach Scott Faucher knows why ... he's got a squad full of smart dudes.

"We have older guys that have been through it. They understand what a retaliation might mean, in terms of consequences and things like that. So, their focus is on the next play."

Coach says he trusts Fitchburg to handle the situation ... and they did -- indefinitely suspending Platt from the basketball team and the university's campus.

As for Nate ... he somehow managed to eat the elbow and live to shoot another 3.

11/15 -- Platt has broken his silence and apologized for the incident ...

"What I did is totally unacceptable and not justified in any way. I got frustrated and lost control over my behavior. I know these words cannot undo my wrongdoings. In the future I promise to make better choices.

"I’m not only apologizing to Nate Tenaglia but also to my teammates, the coaching staff, the University and the whole basketball community."

10:07 AM PT -- Fitchburg State has suspended Platt and barred him from campus for an unspecified amount of time.

"The Fitchburg State community is appalled by the conduct displayed during Tuesday night’s home basketball game."

"His behavior is antithetical to our community values and good sportsmanship. Fitchburg State does not tolerate behavior that violates those standards. The case is being reviewed at the student conduct level for consideration of further sanctions."

9:57 AM PT -- We spoke with the athletic director at Nichols College ... who says Tenaglia was able to return to the game and is doing fine ... and says the Fitchburg State athletic director called him to apologize for the incident and will hand down punishment accordingly.

This could be the dirtiest play in sports history ... a scumbag college basketball player straight-up elbowing an opponent in the FACE after shooting a 3-pointer ... and the video will piss you off.

This all went down on Tuesday night ... when Division III teams Fitchburg State and Nichols were playing in Massachusetts.

The guy who throws the 'bow is Fitchburg junior guard Kewan Platt ... ironically enough, he's a criminal justice major.

The man on the receiving end of the punch is Nichols guard Nate Tenaglia.

People are RAGING about the video on social media ... and Michael Rapaport is calling for Platt to be arrested.

Platt was called for a flagrant foul ... and Fitchburg ended up losing the game.

We've reached out to Fitchburg State, Nichols and the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Commission for comment ... so far, no word back.

Aaron Rodgers and Danica Patrick are a happy, loving couple these days ... and they can thank Jim Carrey for that -- so says the ex-NASCAR driver herself.

Danica was delivering a motivational speech in North Dakota on Wednesday ... and afterward, she fielded some questions about her relationship with the Packers star QB.

One of the questions ... what was Aaron Rodgers' first line that got you to (eventually) go on a date with him?

That's when D.P. said the future Hall of Famer went straight to the "Dumb and Dumber" quote well to catch her attention.

"He was at the bar, puttin' out the vibe -- 'Dumb and Dumber,' you know?" Danica says.

"And, I remember he was doing movie lines! And, people that love movie lines, LOVE movie lines. So, I think we had a dialogue in movie lines, and I was like, 'This guy is really funny!'"

Danica says that all went down at the ESPYs back in 2012 ... and it helped lay the foundation for their future relationship, 'cause they kept in touch until they got serious about a year ago.

As for the actual first date ... Danica wasn't spillin' many beans there, but did say, "We were cooped up. We were cooped up. We weren't out in public."

In other words .... touchdown, Rodgers?!?!

Chuck Liddell is keeping tabs on his Calabasas home while training for his huge fight with Tito Ortiz ... telling TMZ Sports his house is still standing amid the Southern California wildfires.

"The Iceman" was training at Kings MMA in WeHo leading up to the November 24 fight when we asked about his neighborhood being affected by the massive fires.

Celebs like Miley Cyrus, Liam Hemsworth and Gerard Butler have lost their homes during the tragedy ... and thousands have been forced to evacuate -- including Liddell.

The good news, though -- his home is safe for now ... and he's been getting daily picture updates while spending his time focusing on Tito.

Le'Veon Bell's locker turned into a garage sale on Wednesday ... with his Pittsburgh Steelers teammates savagely raiding his things after he bailed on the season.

Bell no-showed for the league-imposed deadline on Tuesday ... which ended his 2018 season before it even started.

Players quickly found the silver lining of the situation after practice ... taking all his Jordan brand cleats and team gear.

Oh ... and a mixtape labeled "Le'Veon Bell #1," according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.

"Appreciate the cleats, my guy," Bud Dupree said while takin' his new Js.

It's probably all in good fun ... the Stillers are 6-2-1 and James Conner is straight-up COOKIN' on the gridiron. So, it doesn't seem like there's any bad blood over there.

WWE Superstar Becky Lynch just ripped Ronda Rousey ... saying the depression she had after losing to Holly Holm in 2015 proves she's a weak-minded person.

ICYMI ... Rousey and Lynch have been feuding for weeks ... and were set to fight this weekend at WWE's "Survivor Series" to settle things.

But, Lynch had to pull out of the tilt after suffering a "broken face" on Monday's RAW ... which pissed Rousey off.

"I’m really sorry to hear The Millennial Man will not be showing up for her legally arranged ass whooping on November 18th at the Staples Center," Rousey wrote in a lengthy post on her Instagram.

Lynch responded shortly after ... and didn't hold back, saying, "When I got my face broke I got up, owned you THEN showed up the next day looking to fight some more."

"When you got your face broke you hid for a year under your blankie. Your mind is as weak as your jaw, & I’m going to move heaven & earth to come destroy them both."

Of course, she's referencing TMZ Sports' video from '15 ... where Ronda covered her face with a pillow after returning from the Holm fight.

We know ... storylines are scripted -- but this one feels personal.

Rousey has called the post-Holm fight period the lowest point of her life ... saying she had suicidal thoughts after the loss.

Unclear when the Lynch-Rousey match will be rescheduled for ... but one thing is clear -- there's some pretty bad blood between these two.