TMZ Sports - Page 50

Antonio Brown is going off -- again -- blasting everyone from Ben Roethlisberger to the "racist" NFL and even knocking the XFL in the process.

It all started with AB trying to point out the NFL's inconsistency when it comes to the way different players are treated in the wake of negative allegations.

Brown alludes to his former Pittsburgh Steelers teammate, Anthony Chickillo -- who was arrested this year for allegedly attacking his girlfriend.

Chickillo (who is white) was placed on the Commissioner's Exempt List and missed 2 games -- but was allowed to rejoin the team once prosecutors decided to drop the case.

The NFL is still actively investigating -- and Chickillo could face discipline in the future, but for now he's active and playing ... and AB is upset.

"Guess all mighty @nfl can hold players out against there will no criminal charges pending nothing but A Caucasian player gets a domestic go to jail still out there playing targeted hate against us everywhere my peeps."

Of course, Brown hasn't played since Week 2 as the NFL investigates rape allegations made by his former trainer, Britney Taylor.

The flaw in Brown's comparison is AB is a free agent and teams can sign him if they want -- but so far, no one wants to take the risk.

During his Wednesday morning Twitter sesh, Brown also addressed Ben Roethlisberger -- retweeting two people who brought up Ben's sexual assault cases.

AB didn't comment specifically on Ben's legal issues but did engage one critic who wrote, "Ab a real loser. Big Ben made that bum. Soon as Ben was done with him he was out the league."

Brown replied, "Check his stats before I came n I was done with that loser long time ago."

Yeesh.

When another person suggested AB should join the XFL, the WR shot that down hard too.

"No way," Brown wrote ... "they run the media they set me up clowns."

Trash talk. Cuss words. Middle fingers.

Things got pretty intense between Dodgers star Joc Pederson and actor Nick Turturro during a Yankees vs. Dodgers game this year ... but good news -- THEY BURIED THE HATCHET!

Remember, Turturro -- a hardcore Yankees fan -- claims Pederson flipped him off from the field after smashing a home run in the 1st inning during an Aug. 25 game against NY ... and it went downhill from there.

The "NYPD Blue" star was sitting in the front row during the game and proceeded to heckle the crap out of Joc ... even making a video chronicling the situation saying Joc was officially on his "sh*t list."

But now ... A TWIST!

Turturro ran into Joc at Staples Center in L.A. on Tuesday -- where the Kings were playing the NY Rangers -- and the two stars were able to talk things out and make peace!

"I broke bread with Joc Pederson of all people tonight," Nick said ... "We're buddies again!"

They even posed for a pic together which Nick captioned, "Beef squashed.

Move over, Wilt ... there's a new member of the 100-point game club -- NBA star Jarrett Culver's older brother, J.J. Culver!!

The 6'5" senior out of Wayland Baptist scored the absurd figure in his NAIA game against Southwestern Adventist in Plainview, Texas on Tuesday ... logging 100 points in just 38 minutes.

The stat line is wild ... J.J. took 62 shots, including 33 3-pointers, and added 27 free throw attempts. He also had 5 steals, 2 blocks, nine rebounds and an assist!

The numbers were so crazy, his older brother -- who was the No. 6 overall pick of the Minnesota Timberwolves in last year's NBA draft -- said of the guard, "jj you a legend brother."

As for the game itself, J.J.'s squad obviously won ... beating the hell out of Southwestern Adventist, 124-60.

"Definitely a dream come true," J.J. said of the night. "I put in a lot of work for this. I love playing basketball and thanks everyone for the support."

J.J. -- who's just the second-ever NAIA player to hit the 100-point mark -- added, "Couldn’t have done it without my Coaches, Teammates, and Family."

Humble guy too!

The average starting salary for a college graduate is $50,000 ... so good news, Manny Pacquiao -- you're finally gonna make some money!

The 40-year-old boxing superstar just got his diploma from the University of Makati in the Philippines, joining more than 400 other graduates Wednesday at a massive ceremony in his home country.

Pac only announced his decision to attend Makati to try and earn a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science (Local Govt.) earlier this year ... so he clearly moved fast through the program!

Of course, Manny is a Senator in the Philippines -- so, guess it's good he's learning more about his field, right?

After the graduation, Manny issued a statement about his achievement ... saying, "It is never too late to dream bigger dreams. It is never too late to accomplish our dreams."

He added, "I am excited to receive my diploma and display it on the wall."

"Let this victory outside the boxing ring serve as an inspiration for people who are struggling to fight, to rise above adversity, to conquer and to embrace life and all its difficulties.

FYI, Manny has reportedly made around $500 million in his celebrated boxing career -- with a possible mega-rematch with Floyd Mayweather on the horizon.

Gerrit Cole just got PAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIDDDDDDD!!!

The superstar ace reportedly just signed a new 9-year, $324 MILLION contract with the New York Yankees ... making him the highest-paid pitcher EVER!!!

Cole was electric for the Houston Astros the past two years ... piling up 602 strikeouts in 412.2 innings, and he finished second in the AL Cy Young voting just a couple weeks ago.

He was the hottest free agent on the market this offseason ... with the Yanks, L.A. Angels and L.A. Dodgers reportedly falling all over themselves to ink the 29-year-old.

But, bidding ended Tuesday night ... 'cause Cole signed the biggest pitcher contract of all-time to move from Texas to New York.

In case you're wondering just how massive of a deal it is ... if Cole makes 33 starts for the Yankees this year like he did for the 'Stros last year -- he'll make more than $1 MIL PER OUTING!!!

As for Cole's agent, Scott Boras ... the dude is SWIMMING in cash this offseason -- he also repped Stephen Strasburg, who signed a $245 MILLION deal this week with the Nationals.

The one downside for Cole to all of this? The Yankees don't allow facial hair, so his beard will have to go in 2019.

One of Jussie Smollett's alleged "attackers" is on a roll -- shortly after starring in his first movie ... he's hanging out with one of the biggest celeb athletes in the world.

Abel Osundairo met up with Floyd Mayweather this weekend at the undefeated fighter's gym in Las Vegas ... then hit up his club later on for more face time with the boxing champ.

We broke the story ... Abel's been training with Floyd's renowned trainer, Nate "The Snake" Jones, in order to advance his own promising boxing career after winning a title in Chicago's Golden Gloves tourney in April -- a fight that wasn't staged!

We're told Abel's preparing to give it a shot at the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo -- representing his home nation, Nigeria -- and meeting with Money Mayweather should provide a ton of inspiration.

The Osundairo bro isn't just succeeding in boxing either ... he's on the up and up in the showbiz world too. We broke the story ... he landed the lead role in the low-budget film, "Friends Family & Lovers," directed and cowritten by the guy who also cowrote the Master P produced comedy "I Got the Hook-Up 2."

It didn't earn any Golden Globes noms or anything ... but still. Ever since being linked to Smollett's "hate crime" in Chicago on that bitter, cold night in January ... Abel's been heating up.

Can't say the same for Jussie.

Sorry, Patriots fans ... Rob Gronkowski is NEVER coming back -- so says Camille Kostek, who tells TMZ Sports straight-up, "He's done."

A Gronk return has been rumored almost since the day he announced his retirement this past spring ... and even after the NFL deadline passed for him to come back this year, people still think he might make a return next season.

But, when we got his smokin' hot GF out in NYC on Monday, she told us she doesn't understand why people think the ex-tight end is going to come back again.

"He's said like a hundred times that he's not coming back but everybody still asks. So, I don't know what to tell you any more!"

She added, "He's done."

As for his place in NFL history now that his career is officially over ... Camille tells us she has no doubts he's the G.O.A.T. when it comes to TEs!!!

Despite the Giants taking an L on Monday Night Football, Sterling Shepard tells TMZ Sports the game was extra special ... because he got to catch a pass from Eli Manning again!!

The 2-time Super Bowl champ was under center against the Eagles after his replacement, Daniel Jones, went down with an ankle injury last week ... throwing for 203 yards and 2 TDs.

4 of Eli's completions went to Shepard ... and the 26-year-old receiver tells us he didn't know if he'd share the field with his longtime teammate again.

"It was awesome," Sterling says. "I didn't really think I was gonna be able to get another pass from him. He played really good last night. I wish we could've come up with a win for him."

As for whether Eli should finish out the season when Danny Dimes gets back to 100%, Shepard tells us that's up in the air.

BTW -- Shepard was out in NYC buying Christmas gifts for the Harlem Children's Zone, so props to him for that!!

LL Cool J says Andy Ruiz broke the golden rule when it comes to STAYING successful -- he got comfortable.

If you know LL, you know he's a HUGE boxing fan (see: "Mama Said Knock You Out") ... and it's obvious he was disappointed to see Ruiz blow his run as heavyweight champ.

Ruiz told TMZ Sports he didn't take training camp seriously and "ate everything" -- which is why he showed up to the Anthony Joshua rematch 15 pounds heavier than their first fight.

"At the end of the day when you step in the ring you gotta be ready. And, if you’re not ready for whatever reason it doesn’t matter, you win or you lose," LL said ... "And he wasn’t ready."

"I got respect for [Ruiz]," the rap legend explained -- but he noted, "You can’t come into the ring 16 pounds heavier!"

LL knows a little something about sustained greatness -- he's been famous for almost 4 decades -- and he had a little advice for Ruiz moving forward.

"It’s the things you do in the valley that gets you to the peaks. And, it’s the things you do at the peaks that extend the peaks. Part of being great at anything is having the discipline to stay focused when you’re successful."

The female reporter who had her butt slapped by a man live on-air while she was covering a River Bridge Run in Georgia on Saturday is pursuing sexual battery charges ... TMZ Sports has learned.

According to a police report obtained by TMZ Sports, WSAV's Alex Bozarjian was reporting from the River Bridge Run in Savannah, Georgia when a runner named Tommy Callaway "approached from behind her and smacked her on the buttocks."

Bozarjian describes the incident as a "smack and grab" -- "advising that he also grabbed her buttocks in the same motion."

Bozarjian says she felt a "sharp sting" and it caused her to pause during the live broadcast -- which you can see in the video.

The 23-year-old -- who was later outraged by the actions, calling them on social media "violating" and "embarrassing" -- says Callaway reached out to her station a few hours later to try to apologize ... and offered to come to the station to do it in person.

Bozarjian says she has not spoken to Callaway -- but the phone calls and messages were relayed to her.

For his part, 43-year-old Callaway has lawyered up -- and his attorney issued this statement.

"While we regret the situation, Mr. Callaway did not act with any criminal intentions."

Jaelen Strong feels Odell Beckham's pain -- with the ex-Browns WR claiming the Cleveland training staff mishandled his own knee injury before he was cut in August.

25-year-old Strong missed the 2018 NFL season after suffering a torn ACL during his stint with the Jacksonville Jaguars ... but healed up and signed with the Browns in Feb. 2019.

Cleveland was expecting big things from the former Houston Texans 3rd round draft pick -- which is why many were surprised to see him get his walking papers during the preseason.

Now, Strong is sounding off about his time in Cleveland ... essentially accusing the team of ignoring his constant knee pain -- and working him so hard, his body nearly broke.

Strong is specifically pointing to the Browns preseason training regimen -- claiming the team ran an "unheard of" 30 straight padded practices ... which took a serious toll on the players.

"We played a full season in camp. The real season is here and they are already behind the 8 ball. Hamstring issues at DB? That’s just saying they’re being overworked!!!!"

As for Strong's case ... the WR claims team doctors knew his body was suffering from the intense camp -- "my knee swelled up day after day" -- but he was never offered a recovery day off.

"We get to week 3 of preseason and I can barely walk," Strong says ... "I was dead ... body legs etc."

The Browns ultimately cut Strong on August 27 after he performed poorly in a preseason game -- but notes, "the Browns knew why I looked and felt the way I felt after making play after play in camp for 30 straight padded practices."

The claims come days after Browns QB Baker Mayfield called out the Browns training staff for mishandling Odell Beckham's sports hernia injury, which he also suffered during the preseason.

Britt McHenry is calling FOX News a "sanctuary for sexual harassers" in a new lawsuit she's filed against the network and her former "Un-PC" cohost, Tyrus.

In the lawsuit, Britt says the only "zero tolerance" FOX News is demonstrating is for her ... the woman who's complained 4 times about sexual harassment -- an obvious jab at the network saying it doesn't allow any sexual harassment.

According to docs, obtained by TMZ, Britt claims the network refused to investigate some of her claims, shunned her, shut her out of company events and refused to allow her to appear as a guest on other FOX News shows.

She claims the retaliation is a result of her blowing the whistle on Tyrus -- a former pro wrestler -- who she claims crudely sexually harassed her in 2018 with text messages that included threats of a d**k pic, and comments about her butt and legs.

She also claims she complained to HR and management but instead of putting the kibosh on Tyrus, they retaliated against her and gave Tyrus his own show. In the suit, she says FOX never disciplined Tyrus because he showed investigators photos and texts of her cleavage and nearly bare breast.

The messages made it seem like Britt and Tyurs were both flirting with each other -- but she claims, in the suit, the pics and texts were doctored and not really her.

As we first reported ... Britt filed a sexual harassment complaint with New York State's Division of Human Rights.

In the suit, Britt says even after payouts of over $100 million in recent sexual harassment scandals, "Fox News remains a sanctuary for sexual harassers, coddling and enabling the men who abuse female employees."

We've reached out to FOX News and Tyrus ... so far no word back.

Too sick to work ... but not too sick to bowl?!

That's the situation with Jets star running back Le'Veon Bell who was ruled out of Sunday's game with the flu ... but was healthy enough to go BOWLING the night before.

Obviously, some people feel if Bell was good enough to hit the lanes Saturday night -- the guy who just signed a 4-year, $52 million contract should tough it out and strap on the pads.

NY Jets head coach Adam Gase was asked how he felt about the Bell situation during a press conference Tuesday ... and it's pretty obvious he's annoyed as hell.

Gase told reporters it's bad optics for Bell -- but he won't punish the guy because the team can't exactly quarantine him.

"What am I going to discipline him for?" Gase said. "I can't tell him you have to stay in your house."

"I'd rather him not be [bowling]," Gase said ... "I'd rather him be at home just getting better."

Gase also explained he didn't want Bell coming to the team hotel either -- "The locker room was still contagious."

Gase said he'll speak with Bell about the situation later ... but now he's got bigger problems -- the Jets are playing the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday and we're guessing all Jets fans will feel sick to their stomachs after that game.

Deontay Wilder just WENT OFF on Anthony Joshua -- saying he fought Andy Ruiz like a COWARD ... and says AJ will get "demolished" if they ever get in the ring together.

"He didn't want no engagement," Wilder said about the Ruiz fight ... "He was just scared."

"You got a 6-inch height advantage, you got an 8-inch reach advantage. Why is you running from the smaller guy?"

Wilder says Joshua's style was boring as hell -- "Punch, hold and grab like you scared of confrontation!"

"When you're dealing with Deontay Wilder ... I woulda came in and demolished him!"

AJ has said his plan is to eventually fight Wilder to unite the heavyweight belts, but Deontay says AJ is full of crap ... claiming Joshua wants absolutely NO SMOKE.

"He definitely don't want me, for sure. I live in his dreams, I'm his worst nightmare."

"A lot of people read into [Joshua's] bulls**t and we can understand and identify and we know it's bulls**t coming out of his mouth. We just don't have enough toilet paper to wipe it as it comes."

Bottom line ... Wilder says he's ready to destroy Joshua whenever AJ is willing to sign the contract -- but he ain't holding his breath.

In the meantime, Wilder is gearing up for his own rematch against Tyson Fury in what could be the best fight of 2020.

Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman Antwaun Woods was repeatedly told he had WAY TOO MUCH weed in his car during his arrest last week ... and it's all in new police video.

Woods was stopped in Frisco, Texas on Dec. 3 after cops say he was doing 77 MPH in a 60 zone ... and when officers say they smelled a strong odor of weed coming from his car, the NFL player was in big trouble.

Cops found 2 glass mason jars and a small gold cylinder container full of weed in his 2016 Cadillac Escalade ... and also discovered several pieces of drug paraphernalia.

The officers also say they noticed the 26-year-old had stuffed a small marijuana cigarette into a half-full water bottle during the stop.

In the video of the bust ... you can see an officer tells Woods straight-up, "So, listen, you've got too much marijuana, okay?"

That's when Woods tries to talk the officer out of putting him in cuffs ... saying, "Come on, bro, are you serious?"

Juice WRLD's death is another heart-breaking example of the drug epidemic in rap ... so says ex-NBA player Larry Sanders, who tells TMZ Sports he hopes people can learn from the tragedy.

TMZ broke the story ... the 21-year-old died on Sunday after suffering a seizure. Law enforcement sources say the "Robbery" rapper swallowed a bunch of Percs to hide them from the feds during a drug raid, which could have played a role in his death.

Of course, rappers like Mac Miller and Lil Peep have also died due to drug-related issues ... and Sanders says the glorification of drugs in rap culture is becoming a serious issue.

"I think these kids are starting young and it's getting embedded into the culture," Sanders says.

"It's an epidemic. Hopefully, the kids can learn from these horrible mistakes and make better choices, but it seems like the outcome's the same."

Of course, Sanders has been outspoken about his own battle with depression and anxiety ... and has become an advocate for mental health treatment in the hopes people can explore safer options than self-medicating.

"The conversation is what's gonna be important ... inspiring the youth to be brave enough to talk about how they feel."