TMZ Sports - Page 50

Really crappy situation for ex-NFL punter Steve Weatherford ... his 2012 NY Giants Super Bowl ring has been STOLEN ... and now he's asking his fans to hawk eBay for the bling.

"Recently, a string of car break ins happened in my neighborhood; all in one night, 8 cars were broken into," Steve said on IG.

"I gave my ring to my wife the night before after speaking at an event, she put it in her purse, she left her ring her purse (in the car) and....⁣"

NOOOOO!!!

But the good part?? Steve has insurance ... so he went to the jewelry store and got a "replacement" ... which was a big-ass diamond for his wife!!

Obviously, a SB ring has sentimental value, so Weatherford's now asking Giants co-owner John Mara to help him out by giving Tiffany & Co. the green light to make him a new ring to give to his son one day.

The 37-year-old is asking people to hit him up if they see his SB XLVI ring on eBay ... and has a message for the potential culprit.

"Mr. Neighborhood Robber man, I hope you tried that ring on, I hope it brings favor to your life, the same way it has for other people the past 6.5 years I’ve had possession of it."

"It wasn’t my hand that won it, but I’d like your hand to wear it."

Talk about forgiveness.

Former NHL star Matthew Barnaby was arrested Thursday ... he allegedly choked a bouncer during a brawl at a bar -- and the mug shot he took afterward is pretty crazy.

Here's the deal ... cops say they responded to Nashville Crossroads bar in downtown Nashville, Tenn. after they received a call about an altercation with patrons.

Once officers arrived on scene ... they say witnesses told them 46-year-old Barnaby, his girlfriend and other bar-goers had gotten into a scrap, when Matthew began choking a bouncer.

Cops say they noticed "a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage" on Barnaby's breath when they went to talk to him and say he had watery eyes and slurred speech.

Cops add the bouncer wished to press charges against the former Dallas Stars winger for the alleged choking incident ... so they arrested Matthew.

Barnaby was booked and charged with assault and public intoxication. He has a court date to face the charges set for later this month.

Of course, Barnaby was no stranger to altercations in his NHL career ... he was in dozens of on-ice fights and is known as one of the league's best all-time enforcers.

This also isn't Barnaby's first brush with the law ... ESPN famously fired the hockey analyst after he was arrested for drunk driving in 2011.

The NBA is making Marcus Smart pay for blowing up on a ref Tuesday night -- hitting the Boston Celtics' star with a big 5-figure fine for "verbally abusing" an official.

The 25-year-old lost his cool after getting called for his 6th foul while contesting a Caris LeVert 3-pointer with 0.2 seconds left during Boston's loss to the Nets ... getting so heated, he had to be escorted off the court.

Smart -- who's no stranger to beefin' with officials -- gave the refs an earful after fouling out, pointing and yelling his frustrations over the call.

The NBA just handed down Smart's punishment for the freak-out -- fining Smart $35k for "confronting and verbally abusing the game officials." The NBA says Smart's history of going off on refs factored into the $35k figure.

As for the game itself, Tuesday was a disaster across the board for Boston -- Brooklyn's LeVert scored a career-high 51 while the Celtics gave up a whopping 51 points in the 4th quarter ALONE to seal the loss.

FYI -- Smart famously signed a $52 million deal back in 2018 (remember his epic rap song?) ... so really, just a drop in the bucket for the dude.

Dez Bryant says he's physically and mentally healthy to play in the NFL again -- insisting his time away from the game has helped ... but now he's ready to ball out again!

"I miss the game," Dez told BSO while sitting courtside at the Dallas Mavericks game Wednesday night ... "I did get injured but I'm not even worried about that."

"It was just more so up here [mentally] than anywhere and I got that in check and I'm just ready to put on a show."

31-year-old Dez hasn't played a snap in an NFL game since suiting up with the Dallas Cowboys in 2017. He later signed a deal with the New Orleans Saints but tore his Achilles during a workout before his first game.

Bryant has been training like a maniac ever since -- even working out with Super Bowl MVP  Patrick Mahomes, who sat near Bryant at Wednesday's game.

Dez says his comeback isn't really about proving the haters wrong -- but more about getting back to doing what he loves.

"I don't give up ... that's just who I am."

Crazy story in Australia ... cops say a man used a fishing rod FOR HOURS to steal a Versace necklace from a store last month -- and they say the whole thing was caught on video.

Detectives in Melbourne say on Feb. 24 ... a man rolled up to a storefront with a rod and reel at around 2 AM and began to work on trying to nab a pricey piece of jewelry off a mannequin.

Cops say for nearly 3 hours ... the guy was caught on video sticking the rod through a crack in the store window.

You can see in some footage of the alleged crime released by cops this week, the guy has some SERIOUS patience -- and it all begs the question ... WHERE THE HELL IS EVERYONE?!?!?!

Eventually ... authorities say the dude was able to land his catch and flee the scene -- and now, they're asking for help to identify him.

When we got comedian Brad Williams out in L.A. on Wednesday night and asked him about the burglary ... he says cops can't even be mad at the guy -- telling us the crime is ingenious.

But, Williams says the guy screwed up in one big way ... and his thievery advice for the dude going forward is pretty hilarious!!

Tottenham star Eric Dier nearly went full-on Ron Artest in a game Wednesday -- charging at a fan in the stands who was allegedly talking trash about the player and his family.

The wild scene all went down during the Tottenham vs. Norwich City game in England ... where Hotspur star Dier had allegedly heard about some insults hurled his brother's way in the stands.

You can see in footage of the altercation ... 26-year-old Dier jogged along the sideline, jumped over the railing and beelined over more than a dozen rows of chairs to get to the fan to police everything himself.

Fortunately for all parties ... Dier was intercepted by security and other spectators before he could get his hands on his target.

After Dier and the altercation had calmed down ... Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho told reporters he didn't necessarily blame Dier for his actions.

"I cannot run away from the question and I think Eric Dier did something that we professionals cannot but, in these circumstances, something that every one of us would do."

Mourinhio added, "When someone insults you and your family is there, and your family gets involved with the person that is insulting you, in this case your younger brother, I think Eric did what we professionals cannot but, I repeat, did what we professionals cannot do, but did something that probably we would do."

International soccer superstar Ronaldinho -- one of the most recognizable athletes in the world -- is under investigation in Paraguay after officials say he tried to use a fake passport.

We know what you're thinking -- why the hell would he do that?!

The 39-year-old had reportedly had his Brazilian and Spanish passports confiscated in July 2019 over unpaid taxes -- but he still wants to travel.

And while the former FIFA World Cup All-Star was in Paraguay with his brother to promote a new book, officials became suspicious of the passport he used to enter the country and searched the hotel where he was staying.

Paraguay's interior minister told ESPN Brazil Ronaldinho has NOT been arrested at this point -- but he is being investigated by police while investigators look into the matter.

The minister told the Associated Free Press the soccer star's case will go in front of the prosecutor's office early Thursday morning.

"I respect his sporting popularity but the law must also be respected. No matter who you are, the law still applies," Euclides Acevedo told the media.

Megan Thee Stallion will NOT be releasing new music this week, after all ... not if her label gets its way, and 1501 Certified Entertainment wants an emergency court hearing on the matter.

Label honcho Carl Crawford just filed a motion to dissolve the temporary restraining order Megan got earlier this week ... which allowed her to drop new music on Friday. However, the label says she had no right even taking them to court in the first place.

According to the docs, obtained by TMZ, Crawford says Megan's contract stipulates all disputes between her and the label must be handled in arbitration. Coincidentally, this is the very contract Megan complained was one-sided and unfair when she signed it as a naive 20-year-old.

He also claims Megan's guilty of booking several gigs without its approval -- but what really chaps Crawford's britches (it's a Texas case, after all) is her plan to release music on March 6.

In docs, 1501 Certified says she can't drop that music without its approval ... it's part of her contract. Even if she wants out of it, it remains in place for now, and Crawford says he's exercising his contractual right to control distribution of her music.

Crawford's also not buying Meg's claim that "disappointment of her fans" is a basis for getting a restraining order to release the music.

He's demanding a hearing today in Harris County, Texas ... so a judge can hear the label's side of the story before the music comes out on Friday. No word yet if that hearing will be granted.

Fantasy football nerds, take note ... Dalvin Cook tells TMZ Sports he's gunning for a MONSTER season in 2020!!!

"2,000 yards!" the Minnesota Vikings superstar told us out in NYC on Wednesday. "We could go like a 1,500 [rushing] and a 500 [receiving]. 1,500, 500. Or, 1,400, 600!"

Of course, Cook was awfully close to those numbers last season ... rushing for 1,135 yards and adding 519 more receiving -- and he did all of that in just 14 games.

But, Dalvin (and his pals who were with him on an NYC shopping trip this week) tells us he's living in the gym this off-season to try to top those numbers.

FYI, 2,000 all-purpose yards is a pretty insane number for backs ... only 3 dudes have done it the last two years -- Christian McCaffrey, Ezekiel Elliott and Saquon Barkley.

Yeah ... elite list, huh???

Couples that train together ... kick ass together???

That's clearly the case for Russell Wilson and his wifey, Ciara ... 'cause the two lovebirds got after it in a boxing workout Wednesday!!!

"Training with my lady," Wilson said of the sparring highlights. "We will whoop dat..."

Ciara and the Seattle Seahawks QB have been awfully cozy this off-season ... ever since the "Level Up" singer announced she was pregnant with the couple's second child together.

Remember, we got them out in West Hollywood on a date night just last month ... with Russ sporting a sweet hairdo and Ciara looking smitten.

But, the NFL superstar ditched the long locks for some boxing gloves this week ... and we gotta say, dude looked pretty good on the bag!

As for Ciara ... she kicked ass too!!

By the way, Russ said it wasn't all intensity during their sweat sesh ... saying, "Also, I think I may have let one go while swinging #GasMask"

Jimmy Garoppolo's teammate is going to bat for the San Francisco QB ... saying the Niners should NOT trade him for Tom Brady -- EVER!!!

"It's ludicrous," SF running back Jeff Wilson told Sports Illustrated this week. "[Garoppolo] just took us all the way to the Super Bowl, great season, 14 wins."

There's been growing buzz around the NFL that a TB12-for-Jimmy G swap could, in fact, go down ... and it does make some sense for both sides.

Remember, the Pats LOVED Garoppolo when he was in New England ... and reluctantly traded him to SF back in 2017 when it was clear Brady still had gas left in the tank.

As for the Niners, they were only a few key QB plays away from winning the Super Bowl last month ... and some think Brady could have made those easily.

But, Wilson says SF needs to give Garoppolo another chance to prove himself ... saying, "He's a great quarterback, he's been that way ever since he's been to San Fran."

The move would take some finessing from both sides to happen ... Brady would have to agree to a sign-and-trade deal with NE first and foremost, and the Niners would have to do some dancing with the salary cap.

But, free agency is set to begin later this month ... and crazier things have happened in the league.

Here's Tom Brady getting recruited HARD to sign with the Las Vegas Raiders during a phone call with his good friend and business partner, Dana White ... and the video is epic!!!

White and Brady are pretty good friends -- and Tom is a minority owner of the UFC (which is based in Vegas) -- and when they spoke on the phone Wednesday, Dana livestreamed the whole convo on IG!!

And the hard sell was ON!!!!

"Now listen, the question everybody wants to know," Dana said to Tom ... "I'm a Boston guy through and through, I want you to go with the Patriots. But, let me make my last pitch, Las Vegas would LOVE to have you here with the Raiders!"

"The stadium -- the facility is incredible. The training facility that they have outside of Vegas is unbelievable. It's a 45-minute flight from L.A. Your kids and your family could live there and you could fly back and forth. We want you to come to the Raiders!"

Of course, Brady ain't exactly gone from New England yet -- but White made it clear, he'd love to be neighbors with the guy in Nevada if he is done as a Patriot.

So, did the recruiting efforts work? Tom wouldn't say ... telling White, "I know it's been a lot of patience for me. And, obviously being where I've been for 20 years, it's been an amazing experience and I don't know what the future holds right now."

"I'm just trying to be patient through this process. It's my first time going through it. And, in the meantime, I'm going to spend a lot of time with my family over the next 10-to-12 days and we've got a little vacation planned which I'm looking forward to."

Wonder what Derek Carr is thinking right about now ...

Ex-NFL star Muhammad Wilkerson is in trouble again ... this time, he was arrested for DWI and drug possession.

A New Jersey State Police spokesperson tells TMZ Sports ... the former first-round pick was pulled over on March 2 at 2:45 AM in Paterson, N.J.

The spokesperson says Wilkerson was stopped for a routine traffic violation ... but authorities later arrested the 30-year-old and charged him with DWI, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Cops say the passenger in Wilkerson's car was also arrested and hit with charges of possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

The two were both released ... but are due in court soon to face the charges.

Of course, this ain't Wilkerson's first run-in with the law ... he was arrested back in June 2019  in New York for DWI as well.

Wilkerson -- who wasn't on an NFL roster last year -- was a star for the Jets after they took him with the 30th overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft ... recording 44.5 sacks in 7 seasons.

A famous pro wrestler FLIPPED OFF off a 7-year-old kid at a meet and greet in Chicago this weekend -- devastating the kid -- but it begs the question ... should the dad have known better?

Here's the deal ... Tom Gilmartin brought his son to meet AEW star MJF (AKA Maxwell Jacob Friedman) at the Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo.

MJF is famous for being a heel (that's wrestling speak for "bad guy") and part of his gimmick is being a jerk to kids. It's no secret. Everyone knows.

So, when Tom and his son came face to face with MJF, the wrestler busted out the single barrel salute right in the little guy's face ... par for the course for MJF.

You can see in the video the kid looks stunned -- and afterward, Tom raised the issue with AEW vice president Cody Rhodes.

"I tried to laugh it off knowing he’s just in character," Tom said ... "but it really upset him. I know that’s his gimmick but he’s only 7 & doesn’t understand."

Tom says his son is now being mocked online -- and wants AEW to keep talent in check when meeting kids at fan events.

Cody responded to Tom -- essentially saying he should have known what he was getting himself into.

"DISCLAIMER: If you have a meet/greet or inquire media wise for MJF, you'll get MJF," Rhodes said on Twitter.

"Talent have freedom of expression so please don't think anybody is going to act any different than they do on TV."

Rhodes then invited Tom to a future event and promised he'd give the family VIP treatment. Great move on Cody's part.

We reached out to MJF for comment and got back this 3-word statement -- "F**k them kids."

WARNING: THIS IS TERRIFYING!!

New York Islanders defenseman Johnny Boychuk was kicked in the face with a skate Tuesday night ... and the scene was scary as hell.

Boychuck was skating by his crease in the 3rd period of the Isles' game against the Canadians in Brooklyn ... when Habs winger Artturi Lehkonen lost his balance in front of him and kicked backward.

You can see in video of the incident ... the blade of Lehkonen's skate caught Boychuck flush in the face -- and he immediately crumpled in serious pain.

The cut was so bad ... Boychuk didn't even wait for trainers to get to him on the ice before he bolted off -- and after the game, Islanders coach Barry Trotz sounded VERY concerned for his 36-year-old D-man.

"No update on Johnny Boychuk," Trotz told reporters. "It's pretty scary obviously around the facial/eye area. He's being evaluated."

There is some positive news, however ... Johnny's older brother, David Boychuk, posted on Twitter, "A few extra zips but sounds like he should hire someone else to do his eyebrows from now on."

David added, "Really tough to see a loved one involved in a scary moment like tonight. Thankful for the big guy looking out for JB tonight."

As for the game ... the Islanders lost, 6-2 -- but team captain Anders Lee told reporters all he cared about was Johnny's health.

"I think that’s where all our minds are right now for sure."

Tough scene for a super-rich guy sitting courtside in Boston on Tuesday ... Kemba Walker drilled him in the chest with an errant pass -- SPILLING HIS BEER EVERYWHERE!!

It all started when the Celtics superstar was trying to make a sweet play in the lane against the Brooklyn Nets ... when he fired a bullet to his teammate for an easy layup.

The problem? Romeo Langford couldn't handle the hot potato ... and the ball went crashing right into some dude's beer!

Check out the aftermath of the cold one's explosion ... the suds went all over the man's suit -- and some shrapnel even got on the guy next to him!!

To their credit ... both guys took the spillage in stride, smiling and laughing about it.

Hopefully someone replaced the drink ... 'cause that stuff ain't cheap in the NBA.

As for the game, the Celts ended up losing 129 to 120.