TMZ Sports - Page 50

"5 championships. 5 NYT bestsellers. The Mamba strikes again."

Vanessa Bryant is celebrating Kobe's newest accomplishment -- his latest book in the Wizenard Series, "Season One" is a NYT Bestseller.

The book was released last week ... and follows the journey of a young hooper named Reggie, who faces incredible obstacles on his way to becoming a basketball star.

"My husband @kobebryant would have been so proud to see his work continuing on with The #Wizenard Series: Season One." Vanessa said on Wednesday.

Of course, it was a bittersweet day when the newest book was released after Kobe's tragic death, with the author, Wesley King, saying he was "grateful to see the words live on."

Bryant's other projects, "The Mamba Mentality: How I Play," "Training Camp," "The Legacy And The Queen" and "Epoca: The Tree of Ecrof" are all also received the honor of being NYT Bestsellers.

It's a Passover miracle for Julian Edelman -- the NFL superstar will NOT be prosecuted for drunkenly jumping on a car in Bev Hills back in January, TMZ Sports has learned.

Remember, the former Super Bowl MVP was arrested on January 11 after cops saw the Patriots WR jumping on the hood of a car (we're told a Mercedes) around 9 pm.

Cops say the car was leaving a parking lot -- and had stopped for pedestrian traffic -- when Edelman "slid across the hood" like he was Starsky and Hutch!

According to police, Edelman reeked of booze (duh) and he was busted for vandalism.

He was at dinner earlier in the evening in Bev Hills at Cantina FRIDA, along with Paul Pierce and Danny Amendola.

But that's all over now ... cops say the owner of the vehicle told prosecutors he does NOT want Edelman charged with a crime because "he has been fully compensated for the repair costs to the vehicle."

In other words, Edelman cut the dude a fat ass check and now it's all gooooooood!!!

Tiger Woods is being sued by a fan who says he tried to take a selfie with the golf superstar ... but claims all he got was a big shove and some serious injuries.

A golf fan named Brian Borruso filed a lawsuit in Florida this week ... where he claims he was a spectator at the Valspar Gold tournament in Palm Harbor, FL in March 2018.

Borruso claims he was on the green at the 13th hole when Tiger hit a ball near where he was standing. As Woods approached his ball, Borruso says he saw the moment as an opportunity to get a selfie with Tiger.

However, as he tried to snap the shot, Borruso says Woods' caddie, Joe LaCava, stepped in and "intentionally shoved" him ... pushing him back into other spectators, and injuring him.

As a result, Borruso's lawsuit claims he "suffered injury and damages" including "bodily and mental injury," "disability, disfigurement, mental anguish, loss of capacity for the enjoyment of life, expenses of hospitalization, medical and nursing care and treatment, loss of ability to earn income, and aggravation of a previously existing condition."

Borruso says his injuries haven't gotten better ... and he is still feeling the effects of the alleged attack.

He never claims Tiger touched him, but cites USGA rules that state a golfer is responsible for his caddies actions ... and because of that, Woods should be held financially responsible.

As for why the fan took over 2 years to file the lawsuit ... his attorney says he waited to get a better understanding of just how serious his injuries were.

There's video of the alleged incident ... where LaCava is seemingly heard telling a fan to "back it up." LaCava is seen extending his arm as Tiger attempts to practice his swing ... but it's difficult to tell if Joe ever makes contact with anyone.

The first win of the 2020 NFL season goes to the Carolina Panthers social media team ... which RUTHELESSY destroyed the Atlanta Falcons' new uniforms in a Twitter exchange for the ages.

It's no secret ... the Falcons pretty much fumbled its new jersey reveal -- the threads leaked a week before the big scheduled debut, which forced the team to push everything up to Wednesday morning.

A lot of people wish the team hadn't gone through the trouble at all ... with the general consensus (on social media at least) being the jerseys SUCK and never should've seen the light of day.

To add insult to injury, the Falcons' NFC South rivals got in on the fun ... with the Panthers Twitter comparing the new look to the Mean Machine jerseys from "The Longest Yard" in a hilarious video.

Incredible work.

Of course, the Falcons tried to recover by using the famous Cam Newton quote he used after getting cut this past offseason ... even including his signature crazy font.

"#šhïñëTHRŪthëŠHÄDĒ," the Falcons' Twitter responded ... but the damage was already done.

Someone in the Panthers' social media dept. needs a raise ... 'cause seriously, the comparison is spot-on.

One of the first bats used in Lou Gehrig's Hall of Fame career has a new owner ... and the going price was a staggering $1 MILLION!!

Heritage Auctions tells TMZ Sports ... Gehrig first started using the bat during his college days at Columbia University -- and continued to use it with the Hartford Senators and earliest New York Yankees days.

The Hillerich & Bradsby stick features Gehrig's last name in block letters on the side of the bat ... as well as a message from the manufacturer, "40 oz., Lou Gehrig, 4-22-25."

The bat was NOT made on 04/22/25 ... we're told the date represents when Gehrig brought the bat back to the factory to have duplicates made.

“It was one of Gehrig’s favorite bats and one he likely used over several seasons," Chris Ivy of Heritage says. "I believe that it’s the most significant Gehrig bat in the hobby."

Of course, as TMZ Sports previously reported ... old bats that used to belong to legends sell for INSANE prices ... with Babe Ruth's 500th home run bat going for more than $1 million.

Final price tag for Gehrig's bat?? $1,025,000.

No word on who the lucky buyer is ... but they just got an AWESOME piece of sports history.

Jameis Winston is finally revealing how he feels about getting booted outta Tampa Bay for Tom Brady ... and he's actually taking the whole thing as a compliment.

"For you to get replaced by Tom Brady in a city that you love so much, I guess that's kudos to me," Winston said Wednesday morning on Fox News.

The QB was originally booked on the network to spread the word on the COVID-19 hotline he developed alongside Dr. Scott Kelley ... but naturally, the question HAD to be asked -- and Jameis handled it like a pro.

"One thing you can learn about me is my faith. I have tremendous faith in the Lord ... and one thing about Tom Brady is it's understood that he is the G.O.A.T," Winston said.

"But, at the end of the day, it's a competitive sport. We all in the business. So, I'm excited for whatever opportunity may hold."

After Winston was released, he thanked Tampa for his 5 seasons with the team and said it was "all love and respect."

Jameis doesn't tip his hand on where he could end up ... but he DID say what his goal is.

Khabib Nurmagomedov's manager ain't happy with Conor McGregor -- blasting him as a coronavirus hypocrite and a "jealous prostitute" after the Irishman criticized Khabib.

"It’s crazy because this guy has been telling people to stay home, don’t come outside, he’s donating millions of dollars, which now we know this sh*t is all fake," Ali Abdelaziz tells us.

Remember, Conor -- who made that emotional plea to Ireland to shelter in place -- accused Khabib of "chickening out" of his April 18 fight against Tony Ferguson.

"Khabib scurried out of the U.S. to home, and amid the crisis," McGregor said.

Well, that didn't sit well with Ali ... who WENT OFF on Conor to TMZ Sports.

"You’re telling everybody to stay home, now Khabib -- the government of Russia says he can’t travel, you’re going to call him a chicken?! [Conor] doesn’t matter."

He continued, "[Conor is not] #1, he’s not #2, he’s not #3. It’s Khabib, Justin, Tony. [Conor is] #4. He’s not even in the conversation right now. He’s just like a jealous prostitute, she’s got too old for her to make money."

Ali also issued this message to McGregor -- "Why don’t you even jump on a plane and come fight Tony Ferguson? I bet he understands that Tony Ferguson would beat his ass too. All those 3 guys would beat his ass. Justin, Tony and Khabib.”

There's more ... Ali also reps Justin Gaethje, who will be fighting Tony Ferguson instead of Khabib at UFC 249 and he told us how that deal came together "within an hour."

As for fighter safety, Ali says Justin and Tony -- and everyone involved UFC 249 -- is in good hands with the UFC.

"UFC for the last 20 years they set a standard about testing medical procedures. There’s never been a death or a serious injury to happen in the UFC."

What happens if something breaks in Tom Brady's new mansion in Tampa??

HE GETS DEREK JETER'S ASS TO COME FIX IT!!!

"I call and I bitch to him and he gets it fixed," Brady said. "So, he does what he's got to do."

Brady spoke all about being Jeter's newest tenant in Florida with Howard Stern on Wednesday morning ... and TB12 couldn't have been happier with his new landlord.

The Buccaneers QB says he turned to the Yankees legend on super-short notice to get him a proper place ... and he says Derek has more than delivered with his Tampa Bay pad.

In fact, Brady -- who says Jeter even left the place furnished for him -- said of the whole process, "It's nice to rent!"

"I would definitely say you get all of the benefits with none of the responsibility. So I'm totally cool with this."

Brady says the openness of the home is taking some getting used to ... back in Massachusetts, he says it was nearly impossible for fans to drive up to his door.

But, now, he claims boats pull up to his backyard and people are congregating outside on the streets.

"It's a little different," Brady said. But, the QB added, "Derek did a pretty good job of screening it."

As for monthly payments, Brady says he and Jeter had NO discussions of that ... claiming their reps got all the dollars and cents talked out before he moved in.

By the way, that monthly rent check is reportedly somewhere between $75,000-$100,000 ... which ain't much for Tom, who signed a 2-year, $50 MILLION deal with the Bucs.

Yeah, still great to be rich!