TMZ Sports - Page 50

"The nausea and vomiting came back until I left the field, and I tried everything I could to get back for my teammates but just wasn't able to do it."

That's Philadelphia Eagles star Brandon Brooks talking about how an anxiety attack forced him out of a key game against the Seahawks on Sunday ... and the offensive lineman says the whole situation sucked.

"I woke up, and did my typical routine of morning vomiting," Brooks said. "It didn't go away like it normally does."

30-year-old Brooks -- who has openly battled anxiety issues for years -- says he was able to get the nausea to calm down once he got to the stadium ... but when the game started, he couldn't control it.

Brooks was forced to leave in the 1st quarter ... and he did not return. The Eagles lost 17-9.

It was the first time the 6-foot-5, 346-pound guard has been forced out of a game because anxiety issues since 2016 -- when he missed two contests as a member of the Houston Texans.

"Listen, this is a real-life issue," Eagles coach Doug Pederson said on 94WIP on Monday. "This is not a football issue with Brandon. This is a real-life issue that he has come out and publicly acknowledged and kind of shared his story a few years back."

Pederson added, "It's something that he's dealing with each and every day of his life. You never really know what triggers it. We’re here to support him, we love him."

Brooks -- who's made back-to-back Pro Bowls and is arguably the best guard in the league -- said he suffered a "setback" ... but made it clear he's not ashamed of his battle with anxiety.

"I've had this under control for a couple of years, and had a setback yesterday," Brooks said. "The only thing I'm upset about is that when my team needed me, I wasn't able to be out there with and for them."

It's unclear if the Eagles expect the star OL to make it back for their game against the Dolphins on Sunday.

NFL linebacker Jake Ryan says an injury insurance company is trying to weasel its way out of paying him MILLIONS after a 2018 ACL tear ... and it's all in a lawsuit obtained by TMZ Sports.

27-year-old Ryan was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the 4th round of the '15 NFL Draft -- and went on to become a solid NFL player.

In fact, Ryan says he was expecting to sign a massive contract around the 2018 season, the final year of his rookie deal ... and bought injury insurance through Lloyds of London in case he got hurt.

In his suit, Ryan says the coverage package he bought would pay up to $5 mil in "loss of value" coverage in the extent his earnings over the next 4 years were less than $24 mil ($6 mil a year).

Ryan claims he had a deal in place by July 25, 2018 and even got documentation in the mail on July 28 -- but then tore his ACL in training camp on July 30, 2018.

Ryan claims the injury ruined his chances of a massive new contract and reportedly had to settle for a measly 2-year, $7.5 mil contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2019.

He was expecting Lloyds to kick in what they promised -- but claims the insurance company reneged on their obligations, insisting the deal wasn't officially done by the time he tore his knee.

In fact, in his the suit, Ryan admits he didn't fork over the $150k initial payment until the day after his knee injury -- though he claims the deal was already in place anyway.

Now, there's a war over MILLIONS -- and it seems it's all going to boil down to timing.

The Rock and his new 'Jumanji' costar, Danny DeVito, did their best Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson south of the border -- but, truthfully, it's hard to say if it's an ad or for real.

Case in point ... Dwayne Johnson's video from Sunday -- he and Danny elaborately ducked in on someone's wedding down in Cabo San Lucas and crooned to the crowd. It's sooo well-produced ... like a short film or something ... it feels like it was staged.

However, the pics of their wedding crashing cameo seem pretty candid ... so maybe it wasn't a stunt, and did in fact happen spontaneously.

Check it out ... DD and DJ were celebrating their recently completed week full of interviews promoting 'Jumanji.' It appears they heard the wedding party going down nearby, and decided to crash. Yep, just like it was written in a movie script.

Then comes what looks to be the real-life moment when they pop into the ceremony through the back kitchen with a mic in hand, and they belt out Nat King Cole's "Unforgettable." The wedding guests couldn't get enough and ate it up.

The 2 actors had some kind words for the happy couple afterward and took some pics with the whole wedding party.

Julia Crabbe's family wants to know why Montae Nicholson did NOT call 911 when she was dying of a drug overdose -- and they went to FedEx Field on Sunday to get answers.

TMZ Sports broke the story ... cops say Nicholson dropped Crabbe off at a Virginia hospital on Nov. 13 and left the scene, despite the fact she appeared dead on arrival.

Officials have NOT accused Nicholson of any criminal wrongdoing, but Crabbe's family is clearly PISSED at the NFL player ... and they want answers.

"In her time of need, no one decided to call 911," Crabbe's aunt, Shirley Kirkland, told FOX 5 in D.C. ... "If they just would've called 911, she may have had a chance at life."

Several members of the family wore shirts with messages directed at Crabbe including -- "#JusticeForJulia" and "#35NeverCalled911."

Of course, #35 is Nicholson's jersey number.

As for the investigation, officials believe 21-year-old Crabbe had been at Nicholson's home in the hours before she died.

Cops obtained a search warrant and found several concerning items at Nicholson's home including marijuana, prescription pills and foil with residue.

Crabbe's father told FOX 5 his daughter had been dating Nicholson for several months before she died ... and he's upset Nicholson hasn't contacted the family since her passing.

Nick Young got HEATED during a rec league championship game on Wednesday -- where he had to be held back during an on-court altercation ... and eventually forfeited the game.

The former Lakers star was hoopin' at the 1st Place Sports Complex in Chatsworth, CA Wednesday for the league championship ... and they were killin' it until things went south.

We're told Nick's team was up 14 in the 2nd half when an argument broke out over a foul call and things escalated quickly.

Some words were said and Nick got angry -- to the point where his teammates had to hold him back from a possible fight.

Eventually, we're told Nick and his team just grabbed their stuff and left the gym without finishing the game ... which was later ruled a forfeit and the title was given to the opposing team.

Michael Strahan and his ex-wife hired someone to help them work through their conflicts so they can parent better together ... but now they're squabbling about that.

According to legal docs -- obtained by TMZ -- the NFL Hall of Famer and talk show host reached an agreement with his ex, Jean Muggli Strahan, in February to use a parenting coordinator ... and he'd cover 90 percent of the bill.

Michael claims she's abusing the arrangement by engaging in a "pattern of conduct designed to increase unnecessarily the involvement of the PC and to significantly increase the fees charged by the PC."

For example ... Michael says Jean threw a wrench in their plan for their teenage twin daughters -- Sophia and Isabella -- to attend a school in North Carolina, so the PC had to step in and tell her to stick to what they already agreed on.

Michael says another example is Jean being uncooperative in scheduling his visitation with their girls, which again required the PC to intervene. According to the docs ... the PC informed them she would simply have to make the visitation schedule for them because the situation had become "time-consuming, full of conflict, and unrealistic."

There's more -- Michael claims Jean accused the PC of working as his assistant and siding with him because he pays 90 percent, something Michael now wants to rectify.

According to him, the PC recommends the parents pay a 50-50 split to prevent this issue ... but Jean has declined that arrangement.

Michael now wants the court to step in and make them go halfsies ... especially since he believes Jean is not acting in good faith to minimize the use of the coordinator.

Derrick Rose. Dwyane Wade. Candace Parker. Anthony Davis. Which baller from Chicago is the BEST to come outta the Windy City???

Well, there's no one better to ask than Chicago native and Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas ... who's settling the debate with TMZ Sports once and for all.

Of course, there has been a lot of talk about the rich hoops history in Chi-Town after AD declared it "the Mecca of basketball."

We spoke with Zeke about the long list of basketball greats to come out of his hometown ... and asked who ranks at the top of the list -- AND IT AIN'T ISIAH THOMAS!!!

"No one has won more and been as successful as Dwyane Wade. I mean, we all honor him, we love him. Right now, he's the winner."

Thomas says he doesn't mind handing the title over to D-Wade .. saying, "All of us from Chicago, we're all winners. We're all champions. But, Dwyane Wade has a very special place in all our hearts."

How is Dalvin Cook celebrating his crazy breakout season???

BY COPPIN' AN INSANE DIAMOND PENDANT, BABY!!!

The Minnesota Vikings superstar -- who's in the middle of a crazy year with nearly 1,500 yards from scrimmage and 11 TDs -- hit up Luxe Jewelers in Atlanta to have a piece done to commemorate his awesome 2019.

TMZ Sports has learned Dalvin specifically wanted a pendant of him in a chef hat -- his nickname, after all, is "The Chef" -- and the jeweler, Ali G, delivered.

We're told the drip has a stunning 1600 diamonds that weigh 14 carats.

As for the iced out Cuban link chain that holds the pendant, we're told it has 2400 diamonds that weigh 25 carats!!!

Cook also did some more jewelry shoppin' while he was getting the chain done ... we're told he bought a Rolex and a baguette bracelet to go along with the insane piece.

The Harvard-Yale college football game that's underway in New Haven is currently on hold because a bunch of students stormed the field to protest climate change.

It appears the protest got underway between the second and third quarters of the game, as swarms of people strolled out from the bleachers and elsewhere with signs that read, "NOBODY WINS: YALE & HARVARD ARE COMPLICIT IN CLIMATE INJUSTICE."

It appears students from both universities are sitting in together, and it quickly snowballed into a mass demonstration, with more than a quarter of the gridiron taken up by bodies.

What's interesting is the fact that ESPNU -- where the game is being broadcast -- has turned the cameras away from the ruckus on the field. Right now, the network has switched over to a completely different game ... obviously, they don't wanna air any of that noise.

As for what's gonna happen next ... it looks like cops are getting involved. Reports on the ground say that arrests are being made -- but, frankly, it might take a while. There looks to be at least 100 different heads out there, most of whom seem pretty down to go to jail.

The deans of both schools are also on the pitch, apparently attempting to talk to the students. Their beef seems to be with endowment money that students seem to think is being invested in the fossil fuel industry ... they want their schools to divest.

Looks like the NFL isn't letting the Steelers' quarterback, Mason Rudolph, off the hook in the fallout from the fight he was involved in with Browns player Myles Garrett.

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, a source is saying that Rudolph has been hit with a $50,000 fine for his role in the brawl from last Thursday. Reportedly, other players will be and already have been fined -- including some who left the bench at the time.

It doesn't sound like Rudolph will be suspended though -- based on Rapoport's early reporting, it appears he's just getting knocked financially. BTW, he signed a 4-year contract with the team last year for $3.9 million ... so this is like a slap on the wrist.

It's interesting that these punishments are being handed down so late, considering the Rudolph-Garrett fiasco has been the talk of pro-sports for about a week now. At first, people thought Rudolph would get through this unscathed -- but clearly, that didn't happen.

Of course, Garrett was suspended indefinitely, which he appealed ... but the NFL's penalty was ultimately upheld.

Funny enough, tons of people -- including prominent members of the media -- made note of Rudolph seemingly escalating things on the football field when he was aggressively taken down by Garrett on a last-second play to end the game. Many have said he purposely put his cleat into Garrett's groin and then went after him when he got his helmet taken off.

Adding insult to injury, Garrett came out just this past week to claim Rudolph hurled a racial slur at him, which prompted him to swing the helmet. Rudolph denied that, and the NFL also publicly said it found no evidence of any such slur in their investigation.

Makes ya wonder if the league caved to public pressure and doled out this late punishment to make things look a little more even now that everyone's spoken their piece on it.

Here's LeBron James tearing such a ferocious fart in an Oklahoma City parking lot ... it made Chris Matthews' coffee mug blush.

There's a story here ...

LeBron and Chris Paul were leaving Mohagany Prime Steakhouse in Oklahoma City on Thursday night (one day before the Lakers played the Thunder) ... when a couple of young fans spotted the stars in the parking lot.

The fans shouted out to the NBA superstars hoping to get an autograph (they were shut down) ... but they got something better.

Bron -- wearing sweatpants -- stopped in his tracks, lifted his left leg, and blasted out an ass honk so loud, you could hear it across the parking lot.

Notice, if you will, the increase in volume and intensity as he tries to clear it out before getting inside his waiting SUV.

Not only did the fans crack up laughing (because farts are hilarious) but you can hear the guys in the car give Bron some crap for trailing it into the car.

C'mon bro ... don't hotbox the ride!!!

Of course, LeBron's farts have made news before -- when he stink bombed the Cleveland Cavs bench wayyy back in the day.

Floyd Mayweather doesn't want to be a 1-and-done in 2020 -- our sources tell us he's targeting TWO fights next year ... one against a pro-boxer and another against a UFC star.

Nothing is set in stone yet ... it's all being worked out and the situation is very fluid. But, for now, we're being told one name that's being seriously considered is Manny Pacquiao.

Floyd has been interested in a rematch for years and he feels the time is right -- especially with Manny being healthy and coming off a great victory over Keith Thurman.

It's also worth noting that Manny is no longer repped by Bob Arum and is now a part of Al Haymon's promotion. Hayman famously works closely with Mayweather.

As for the UFC component, we're told Floyd wants another boxing match with a UFC star, preferably someone who has impressed with stand-up striking skills.

Floyd has already teased a UFC crossover after hanging with Dana White at the Clippers game on Nov. 20 ... unclear if they spoke about potential opponents.

Conor McGregor has expressed interest in a rematch and has spelled out why he thinks he will be successful a second time around.

Floyd also called out Khabib in 2018 -- but he's notorious for his ground game ... so based on what we're being told, he's not the priority.

As for dates, we're told Floyd wants to fight in May and again in Sept. -- and he's even thrown out the possibility of fighting at the new Raiders stadium in Las Vegas.

Again, it's all very fluid and could change with the wind ... but for now, we're told this is the starting point.

Boxing superstar Deontay Wilder says there's a damn good reason he rocks that HUMONGOUS gold chain before a fight ... it's so heavy, it beefs up his neck muscles!

... And, yeah, he's DEAD SERIOUS!

"It's so heavy on my neck, it's like training," Wilder tells TMZ Sports ... "It's almost like wearing a weighted vest."

Wilder says the chain is worth more than $100,000 -- and since he's gearing up to fight Luis Ortiz on Saturday night, he decided to break out the big boy jewelry to get his neck right.

"Even when I'm laying down, it's training! It's so heavy!"

There's more ... the undefeated heavyweight champ also says he's dropped tens of thousands of dollars on his fight costume for the ring walk.

In the past, Wilder has busted out expensive, ornate masks ... and says he's spending the money to it BIGGER THAN EVER for Saturday's fight on FOX Sports Pay-Per-View.

"If you're gonna pay your money, I want it to be a whole event!"

Of course, the fight's gonna be pretty good too if it's anything like the first time Wilder and Ortiz fought back in 2018 ... when they beat the living hell out of each other for 10 straight rounds before Wilder finished Luis.

Lennox Lewis ain't been the heavyweight champ in 16 years ... but the boxing legend tells TMZ Sports he could step into a ring right now and beat up some the best fighters in the world.

We were talking to the 3x heavyweight champion and boxing Hall of Famer about Deontay Wilder (Lewis' calling DW's fight vs. Luis Ortiz Saturday night) ... when the British star hit us with a doozy, saying his 54-year-old body could STILL whoop-ass in the ring.

"Even right now, I'd give a lot of guys a run for their money right now," Lewis says.

"I've still got that heavyweight focus, heavyweight mind. I dissect fights. I know what is needed of the other person to be successful, so I know what I'd have to do to be successful against these guys."

Lennox -- whose last bout was a win against Vitali Klitschko in June 2003 -- knows fighting current day heavyweight stars wouldn't be a cakewalk.

"It wouldn't be easy. I'll tell you that right now. These guys are bigger, stronger, but as far as boxing talent, they're still learning. even for me, when I retired, I was still learning. You never stop learning as a champion."

We also asked ... how would prime Lennox Lewis fight current day Deontay Wilder? (They've got 72 KO's combined — so both guys have crazyyy power.)

"Make sure I don't get hit and hit him before he hits me," Lennox tells us.

"We knock out people. So, anytime we launch our right hands, it ain't coming back. So, if we hit each other at the same time we both go."

#DoubleKO

DeMarcus Cousins just caught a huge break in his harassment case ... the NBA star's charges have been dropped, TMZ Sports has confirmed.

We broke the story ... the Lakers center's ex-girlfriend, Cristy West, told police she recorded a phone call with Cousins in which he threatened to "put a bullet in your f**king head" if she wouldn't let their 7-year-old child attend his wedding.

Cousins was facing a domestic violence charge -- 3rd-degree misdemeanor for harassing communications -- which carries a maximum sentence of 1 year behind bars.

Cousins was slated to have his arraignment Friday -- but the case was dropped and won't be moving forward.

One source close to DeMarcus tells us, "It was a just and fair outcome."

Unclear exactly why the case was dropped but it's not unheard of for prosecutors to bail on a case like this if the victim stops cooperating with authorities.

Despite the court situation, the NBA is still investigating on their own and could mete out punishment if they deem necessary.

"It's a starvation joke, not a race joke."

That's wrestling announcer Jim Cornette trying to justify the "fried chicken" comment he made during an episode of "NWA Power" earlier this week ... and yeah, yikes.

If you missed it, Cornette tried to describe a wrestler's toughness by saying, "He’s the only man I’ve ever known that can strap a bucket of fried chicken on his back and ride a motor scooter across Ethiopia."

The comment was immediately hit with outrage, with people calling the remark racist ... and even wrestling legend Mark Henry told us he found the statement to be completely out of line.

But, Cornette went on his podcast, "Jim Cornette Experience," on Friday to try to explain himself ... and said he was surprised people thought he was being racist.

"It's a starvation joke, not a race joke," Cornette said. "Whether it's a good joke or a bad joke, it was a joke that has been told on TBS, USA Network, broadcast television stations across America over a variety of locations for the past 30 years."

Cornette added, "I’m not that sorry, 'cause it was a joke. And, if you don’t like the joke, that’s fine and I’d even apologize for a bad joke. But, this goddamn feedback was above and beyond the offense. And, I didn’t mean it in any racist way, for f**k's sake."

Cornette also addressed the "fried chicken" aspect of the comments ... saying he only used that for the food item in the joke because "A bucket of chicken sounds funnier. It's a funnier visual than a f**king plate of sushi."

Doesn't seem the NWA was laughing either way ... they said Cornette's comments were "both offensive and do not meet the high standards of decency and good faith of the National Wrestling Alliance."

In that same statement, the wrestling league announced Cornette had resigned from the company.