TMZ Sports - Page 50

He's 55-years-old ... but Jose Canseco ain't afraid to get into a dude's face when he feels disrespected -- and that's exactly what happened at Top Golf in Vegas.

Jose was swinging away with friends when a random man at the range came over to him and used his finger to signal Canseco to come out of his Swing Suite so they could talk.

Canseco felt the move was SUPER OFFENSIVE -- and proceeded to chew the guy out ... on camera.

"Wasn’t sure if he was trying to 'pick me up' or get an autograph," Canseco said about the encounter.

"If you see me in public, DO NOT call me over with a finger like I’m your small child in trouble or a chick at the bar!"

"If you see me in public and want a photo, an autograph, or just too meet me, you come over to me. I’m more than willing to and enjoy meeting you guys."

"You show me respect & I will show you respect. It’s really that simple."

For his part, the other man stayed cool, calm and collected when confronted by the former MLB superstar ... and even told Jose it was "nice" to meet him.

Hey, maybe Jose is sensitive about the finger wag ... since he accidentally shot off his own finger in a gun cleaning accident back in 2014.

The first big breakup of 2020 has gone down -- YouTube stars Jake Paul and Tana Mongeau have split less than 6 months after getting fake married.

Both Jake and Tana announced they're calling it quits -- at least for now -- on social media ... claiming they were sitting next to each other as they typed their captions.

Jake says ... "we're literally laughing at how crazy and stupid the past couple months have been and cracking jokes at how silly this all seems."

Tana echoed the sentiment, adding that it's "weird as f**k" and confirming the 2 are taking a break to focus on their own lives.

They also both claim that since they tied the knot back in July, Tana's getting Jake's Lamborghini in the split ... but he's keeping their dog, Thor.

"My parents taught me to help out wherever I can, so this is my way of helping out."

LaMelo Ball is reaching into his pockets to aid Australia wildfire victims ... pledging to donate one month of his National Basketball League salary to people in the region who need it.

Of course, Australia is home to the youngest Ball brother these days ... he signed on to play in the NBL this season before he enters the NBA Draft later this year.

As for how much 1 month's salary is for the 18-year-old, the NBL is reportedly paying him around $70,000 this season ... so it's a pretty good chunk of change for LaVar's kid.

Australia can certainly use the cash ... at least 17 people have been killed by fires that have raged since October, and at least 17 more people are still missing.

More than 1,000 homes and businesses have reportedly been destroyed by the blazes... and there are fears things could get worse before they get better.

"It’s sad to see what is happening on the South Coast of Australia," Ball said Thursday. "People have lost their homes and everything they own. My parents taught me to help out wherever I can, so this is my way of helping out."

Sorry everyone, the tale of Eli Manning's secret network of "beer guys" who hooked him up on every road trip is simply BS ... so says Eli's ex-teammate, Rashad Jennings.

Jennings would know ... he was the Giants' starting running back from 2014 to 2016 and says he sat with Eli on the team bus during road trips.

So, when we saw RJ out in NYC this week, we had to ask about the claim made by ex-Giants kicker Lawrence Tynes that Eli "always drank beer on the team bus."

Tynes told ESPN ... Manning would find someone on the road to buy him beer, which he would share with some veterans while they discussed the game on the ride to the airport.

"It was unbelievable," Tynes said ... "He had a guy in every f**king stadium in the league to get him that beer."

But, Jennings says that just didn't happen during his 3-year run with the Giants -- telling TMZ Sports straight-up, "That's not a true story."

"You can't listen to everything that comes out of people's [mouths]," Jennings says ... "Especially when it's by pen."

"Did he have a beer guy at every single [stadium]? I don't know. I can tell that he wasn't on the plane or in the bus after every game because I sat beside him."

Jennings says he wouldn't have a problem with the story -- if it were true -- explaining that he likes the idea of Manning kicking back some brews with the boys. But, Jennings says that just didn't happen.

Jennings even made a joke that he wished Eli handed out gluten-free beer -- because Rashad keeps a strict gluten-free diet.

There is one possible explanation ... Tynes and Jennings never played on the same team. Tynes kicked for the Giants from 2007 to 2012. Is it possible Manning DID have a beer guy but stopped the tradition before 2014???

Isaac Bruce is a Hall of Fame finalist ... again ... making the Final 15 for modern-era players and it just so happens we spoke with the WR recently about why he belongs in Canton.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame just released the 2020 Finalist list ... which includes stars like Troy Polamalu, Edgerrin James, Zach Thomas, John Lynch, Torry Holt, Reggie Wayne, LeRoy Butler, Steve Atwater, Richard Seymour, Bryant Young, Alan Faneca, Tony Boselli, Steve Hutchinson and Sam Mills.

As for Bruce, the ex-Rams superstar was a finalist in 2019 as well ... but didn't make the final HoF cut.

We just spoke with Isaac in October and he was candid about how badly he wants to be enshrined ... telling us he thinks his numbers are as competitive as any WR who ever played.

FYI, Bruce has a 16-YEAR career in the pros ... with 1,024 receptions (13th all-time), 15,208 receiving yards (5th all-time) and 91 TDs (12th all-time).

NOT BAD AT ALL!

The son of the woman who created "Weeds" and "Orange Is the New Black" tragically died after crashing into a sign on the ski slopes ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... Charlie Noxon was skiing down the intermediate run in Park City when he came upon a fork. We're told Noxon had two choices -- left or right. Our sources say Noxon was unable to successfully navigate the move and instead slammed into a direction sign.

We're told Noxon was wearing a helmet at the time of the collision. Our sources say there were no witnesses and no surveillance video. Our law enforcement sources say they based their findings on where the body was found. Noxon was skiing alone at the time of the accident. His family was ahead of him on the ski run.

NBA fans LOVE Tacko Fall ... 'cause despite the 7'6" center only logging 3 games this season -- THEY WANNA SEE HIM IN THE ALL-STAR GAME!!!

The Association announced its top vote-getters so far for the annual classic ... and Fall currently sits at No. 6 in the Eastern Conference frontcourt standings with 110,269 votes.

It's an impressive number, considering Timberwolves superstar Karl Anthony-Towns has just 173,129 votes over on the Western Conference side.

Of course, it's hilarious because Fall has only played MINUTES this season -- he hasn't spent too much time on the Celtics' active roster because of mediocre play and a concussion he suffered for being too tall (seriously, that story is wild).

But, all the love is a testament to how much people really dig Fall -- who's been an Internet sensation for his giant size ever since he killed it in college at UCF.

Fall ain't the only quirky name on the NBA's fan vote list ... Lakers bench player Alex Caruso also notched nearly 100,000 votes, mostly because he's a hilarious internet meme too!!

As for if the NBA will actually let the guys play in the game despite not really doing much in this season ... don't count on it -- the fan vote only makes up 50 percent of the total voting players need to make the game.

Ex-Bengals head coach Sam Wyche -- who led Cincinnati to the Super Bowl in 1989 -- has died at age 74, the team announced Thursday.

Wyche -- who also played QB for the Bengals back in the day -- was battling melanoma and reportedly went into hospice in Pickens, South Carolina on December 30.

"Sam was a wonderful guy," Bengals president Mike Brown said in a statement. "We got to know him as both a player and a coach. As our coach, he had great success and took us to the Super Bowl."

"He was friends with everyone here, both during his tenure as head coach and afterwards. We not only liked him, we admired him as a man."

"He had a great generosity of spirit and lived his life trying to help others."

Of course, Wyche also famously gave a powerful speech to Bengals fans throwing debris on the field back in 1989 ... saying, "You don't live in Cleveland, you live in Cincinnati."

Wyche played professionally from 1968-76 ... and went on to coach the Bengals from 1984-1991. He's the second-winningest coach in franchise history.

New York Yankees pitcher Domingo German was just hit with an 81-game suspension ... this after the MLB concluded its investigation into allegations he committed domestic violence.

German was placed on administrative leave back in September after Major League Baseball was notified the 27-year-old had allegedly been involved in an altercation with his significant other.

Details of the allegations are unclear -- no police report was ever filed -- but what is known is the MLB clearly found the accusations to be credible.

"Having reviewed all of the available evidence," commissioner Rob Manfred said Thursday, "I have concluded that Mr. German violated our Policy and that discipline is appropriate."

According to the MLB, German will NOT appeal the punishment ... and has agreed to make a contribution to "Sanctuary for Families" -- a New York-area charity helping victims of domestic violence -- in addition to serving the ban.

Per multiple reports, the 81-game suspension is one of the most aggressive penalties EVER levied against an MLB player for dom. violence.

The suspension is retroactive ... meaning since German missed 18 games for the alleged incident in 2019, he'll only be required to sit the first 63 games of next season.

"Domestic violence — in any form — is a gravely serious matter that affects every segment of our society," the Yankees said in a statement. "Major League Baseball has taken the lead in our industry to make domestic violence awareness and prevention a priority, and we will continue to back those efforts."

"We are encouraged by Domingo’s acceptance of his discipline, and we sincerely hope this indicates a commitment to making a meaningful and positive change in his personal conduct."

International soccer superstar Franck Ribery is ringing in the new year in style ... by rockin' a sick, new Rolex from his wife ... and it's got a price tag of a whoppin' $120k!!

TMZ Sports has learned ... the French baller has been talking for a while about getting a nice timepiece ... so his wife, Wahiba, decided to hook her hubby up with the one-of-a-kind Rolly!!

We're told Wahiba hit up Franck's longtime friend, Gabriel the Jeweler, to come up with the fancy Sky Dweller ... which features 35 carats of VVS diamonds.

On top of that, Gabriel hooked it up with Franck's jersey number right below the Rolex crown!!

We're told this is the only watch of its kind ... and is worth a total of $120,000!!!

A Chinese Basketball Association coach slapped the hell out of a heckler during a game Wednesday after the man allegedly screamed at the coach's wife ... and video of the incident is wild.

During the Jiangsu Dragons' tilt with the Liaoning Flying Leopards in Nanjing on New Year's Day, a fan was clearly causing a scene from his courtside seat.

Cameras caught the guy making a gesture toward one of the players ... and later, they appeared to show the man screaming toward a woman believed to be Dragons coach Memi Becirovic's wife.

You can see in the clip, Becirovic didn't handle the situation very well at all ... 'cause at some point during the 3rd quarter, he straight-up walked up to the fan and slapped him in the face!!

The fan fell backward ... and both parties needed to be restrained. Eventually, both the coach and the man were ejected from the game.

It's unclear if Becirovic will face further punishment from the CBA over the altercation.

Bill Belichick was asked straight-up if he had given any thought to Saturday being possibly his last game EVER with Tom Brady -- and ya gotta watch the way he handles the question.

Of course, The Hoodie didn't give any bombshell answer -- it was the usual Belichick deflection -- but it's interesting to see him faced with the reality this weekend could be the end of the Patriots' dynasty.

Belichick and Brady have been dominating the NFL ever since TB12 took the Pats' starting QB reins in 2001 ... but at 42 years old, there's a lot of speculation Tom won't be under center for New England next season.

As for Bill, he's 67 years old and hasn't exactly guaranteed he'll return to Foxboro in 2020 either.

So, a reporter asked the coach bluntly Thursday if he had given any thought to Saturday's game against the Tennessee Titans being the Brady-Belichick finale.

Belichick's response? "Yeah, we're focused on the Titans. That's really -- that's all I'm focused on. So, do everything we can to get ready to go and play the best game we can play Saturday night."

If playoff history's an indicator, the Patriots will likely roll through Tennessee -- and there will be more Belichick and Brady playoff games coming.

The Oregon Ducks were smellin' roses -- AND cigar smoke -- after the team's huge 1-point win over Wisconsin on Wednesday ... whippin' out the stogies for an epic locker room celly!!

Justin Herbert and co. partied like crazy after the 28-27 Rose Bowl thriller ... and some of the guys came prepared with some fine cigars.

Players like Dru Mathis and Samuelu Poutasi captured the awesome moment after the game ... when their teammates took glorious puffs that would make Rick Ross jealous.

As for the game, Herbert led the way with 3 TDs and looked like a damn stud. So, yeah, he deserves to celebrate.

Worth noting -- some of the dudes on this team aren't 21, so they better enjoy the stogies while they can before that new Tobacco 21 law goes into effect later this year!!

Who's a good public urinator?!? You are, yes you are!!!

Ruff day for the lads at Sheffield United ... who were getting ready for their big Premier League showdown with Liverpool on Thursday when a dog ran onto the field at Stanley Park and peed all over a practice cone!

At first, the players seemed a bit confused as to why the dog was there -- but when the 4-legged fan lifted his leg and opened fire, you can hear the whole team crack up laughing.

Funny moment ... but now, they've gotta focus quick -- Liverpool is #1 in the Premier League. They're 18-0-1 on the season so far and look unstoppable.

Meanwhile, Sheffield United is in 8th place ... they're 7-5-8 this season, but they've won 3 out of their last 5.

Best boyfriend EVER?!?!?

Deshaun Watson took some time off from preparing for the Buffalo Bills on Wednesday to celebrate his smokin' hot model GF's birthday ... and we gotta say, dude is MVP caliber on AND off the field!!

The Houston Texans superstar hit up a fancy dinner with Jilly Anais -- a legendary Instagram model -- and he brought diamonds and a custom Louis Vuitton box for the occasion.

Seems Jilly, who turned 24 this week, loved the gifts ... 'cause she couldn't stop showin' them off -- and the two even exchanged L-bombs afterward! AWWWW!!!

Of course, it's a massive week for Watson ... the 24-year-old QB is set to play in his second-ever NFL playoff game this weekend -- so Jilly MUST be pretty special to the guy!

And, if ya watch the clips ... it ain't hard to get a read on that -- 'cause pics of Watson and Jilly were laid out all over the birthday table!!

As for the rest of the party ... backup QB AJ McCarron's wife, Katherine Webb, was there -- and she posted video of Watson and Jilly kissing, saying "We love you!"

It's time to start rooting for Nick Kyrgios ... because the Australian tennis star has pledged to donate $200 for every ACE he lands to help wildfire relief efforts in his home country.

"I’m kicking off the support for those affected by the fires," the 24-year-old announced ... "I’ll be donating $200 per ace that I hit across all the events I play this summer."

It's a big deal considering Kyrgios smashed 597 aces in 2019 ... so if he matches that total, we're talking around $120k.

At least 17 people (8 in the past week) have been killed in the Australia fires -- which have been burning since October -- with at least 17 more people missing.

More than 1,000 homes and buildings have been destroyed so far and officials are concerned things could get even WORSE in the coming days.

Several Aussie tennis stars have already been inspired by Nick's gesture -- and are following suit with ace-based donations.

Alex de Minaur said, "I like this I will go $250 per ace, just because I don’t think I’ll be hitting as many aces as you mate."