TMZ Sports - Page 50

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is already brainstorming ways to get the NBA back in business -- but says equipping his players with masks is NOT the answer.

"If a player thinks they need a mask in order to play, we're probably trying to play too early," Cuban said on "TMZ Live" ... "There's too much uncertainty."

"I think maybe players will discuss it, Maybe a player will try it and then they'll realize how difficult it is and it won't happen in an actual game."

Of course, Cuban was recently tapped by President Donald Trump to be an advisor on how to reopen sports in the U.S.

Cuban says he's excited about the opportunity -- and hopes he can work well with POTUS and other leaders to come up with a safe and sustainable solution.

He also talked about fan safety at future sporting events -- and told us some of his high-tech ideas to help fans stay protected against COVID-19 and other illnesses when they do allow spectators back in the buildings.

And, get this ... Cuban also says he's been experimenting with some quarantine-safe sports ideas in his home ... including BUBBLE SOCCER!! Remember, from "Shark Tank?!"

"We're gonna blow up some bubble soccer balls and let my son and my daughters and their friends each have one because it's social distancing by definition," Cuban says.

"They're gonna take 'em in the backyard and let 'em just beat the hell out of each other with these bubble balls. Maybe we'll have a bubble ball league!

"That will be the first sport to come back!"

WWE just announced a massive cost-saving plan in hopes to keep the company afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic ... which includes slashing top executive salaries and furloughing part of its staff.

Vince McMahon's company spelled out the plan to its investors -- saying they've had to do tighten up the wallet since the pandemic has had a significant impact on their business operations.

"Due to COVID-19 and current government mandated impacts on WWE and the media business generally, the Company went through an extensive evaluation of its operations over the past several weeks," WWE said.

"This analysis resulted in the implementation of various short-term cost reductions and cash flow improvement actions including:

• Reducing executive and board member compensation;
• Decreasing operating expenses;
• Cutting talent expenses, third party staffing and consulting;
• Deferring spend on the build out of the Company’s new headquarters for at least six months.

WWE says they also made the decision to "furlough a portion of its workforce effective immediately."

"The decision to furlough versus permanently reduce headcount reflects the fact that the Company currently believes the furlough will be temporary in nature."

WWE says the moves will help save the company roughly $4 MILLION per month -- "along with cash flow improvement of $140 million primarily from the deferral in spending on the Company’s new headquarters."

WWE assures its stockholders it has enough resources to continue operating -- with approximately $500 million in cash and credit.

"Management continues to believe the fundamentals of the Company’s business remain strong and that WWE is well positioned to take full advantage of the changing media landscape and increasing value of live sports rights over the longer term."

No word on which WWE staffers be part of the furlough.

Eight seniors in Florida caught the coronavirus from what they believe was their regularly scheduled poker games, and within weeks ... 3 of them were dead.

The tragic story comes out of South Florida, where 94-year-old Marcy Friedman, 84-year-old Beverly Glass and 86-year-old Fred Sands passed away recently after their entire group of poker pals came down with COVID-19.

BTW, Beverly and Fred were a couple, and they reportedly died in the same room -- he went first ... and she passed a few days later.

The survivors say they suspect their meet-ups are what triggered the mass infections, as one of them had a bad cough and was sniffling during their final poker game -- though no one thought much of it at the time. Their last game was just outside Miami on March 12.

Shortly afterward, all the other retirees tested positive for coronavirus, with several needing to be hospitalized, including the above-mentioned trio. Harriet Molko -- who survived despite spending nine days in the hospital herself -- says she thought she'd die.

The craziest part of the story -- first reported by the South Florida SunSentinel -- is that many of the retirees were apparently still hitting casinos before and after the group's final game.

The Cleveland Browns have hopped in a time machine and taken their jerseys back a few years ... debuting a new, yet familiar, look ... and the sales will help coronavirus relief!!!

The Brownies decided to scrap their attempt at modernizing their look -- and thank GOD they did -- ditching the big letters and awkward stripes from their 2015 redesign for a much more traditional feel.

Seriously, the new jerseys give major Tom Couch vibes ... and we're here for it.

Browns EVP made a statement on the change on Wednesday, saying "We wanted to get back to the roots of who the Browns are."

"We've heard it from our fans and from our players. We needed to get back to our roots."

Not only did the Browns get the threads right, the team is using the big reveal to help those fighting the COVID-19 pandemic ... by donating all net proceeds on the jersey sales to the team's "Hats Off To Our Heroes" Fund, which will aid healthcare professionals and first responders.

Great news, sports fans ... Dr. Anthony Fauci is throwing out a way to bring back sports in America -- and it seems feasible!

"There's a way of doing that [bringing sports back]," Fauci said during a Snapchat interview.

Here's the plan ...

"Nobody comes to the stadium. Put them in big hotels, wherever you want to play. Keep them very well surveilled ... have them tested like every week and make sure they don’t wind up infecting each other or their family and just let them play the season out."

On a personal note, Fauci says he would LOVE to get sports back again -- he's a big baseball fan who loves the Washington Nationals.

"People say, 'Well you cant play without spectators.' I think you'll probably get enough buy-in from people who are dying to see a baseball game, particularly me!"

MLB has floated an idea that seems similar to Fauci's plan -- moving the players to Arizona and having them play in empty stadiums there.

Tom Brady just offered up an INSANE package for COVID-19 relief efforts that includes his first-ever Buccaneers jersey ... and he's challenging Roger Goodell to one-up his donation!

TB12 on Wednesday officially joined the #AllIn movement -- a fundraiser started by 76ers partner Michael Rubin aimed at giving away amazing prizes in exchange for coronavirus donations -- and what Tom is offering up is pretty crazy.

The new Tampa Bay QB says the winner of his charity auction will score a trip to Florida for his first game as a Buccaneer and receive the FULL VIP treatment at Raymond James Stadium.

Tom also says the lucky auction winner will get his first Bucs jersey, his game-worn cleats from the day AND dinner with the GOAT after the game!!!

The starting bid for the once-in-a-lifetime experience? $50,000 -- and it seems like it's going up in a hurry!!

As for who Brady challenged to join him in the charity efforts ... he picked out his wife, Gisele, his buddy, Drake -- and, interestingly, NFL commish Goodell.

Of course, Brady and Goodell haven't had the best relationship over the years ... Roger famously suspended him FOUR GAMES back in 2015 for allegedly deflating footballs.

But, is this an olive branch from Tom??

Donald Trump is putting together a team of the most powerful people in U.S. sports to serve as advisors to get the country up and running again ... including Dana White, Adam Silver and even Vince McMahon!

POTUS says the team will help advise him on how to restart the economy and get pro sports going again in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We have to get sports back," Trump said at the White House ... "I'm tired of watching baseball games that are 14 years old."

Here are some of the names Trump mentioned ...

-- NBA Commish Adam Silver

-- NFL Commish Roger Goodell

-- NHL Commish Gary Bettman

-- MLB Commish Rob Manfred

-- Patriots owner Robert Kraft

-- Dallas Mavs owner Mark Cuban

-- UFC president Dana White

-- WWE owner Vince McMahon

-- Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones

He's also working with the top execs from the PGA, LPGA, NASCAR and MLS.

Philadelphia 76ers partner Michael Rubin has the likes of Kevin Hart, Meek Mill, Justin Bieber and Magic Johnson backing his amazing plan to raise money for COVID-19 relief.

Rubin launched the "All In Challenge" Tuesday -- it's a massive fundraiser to feed Americans affected by the coronavirus pandemic ... and it's offering once-in-a-lifetime fan experiences in hopes of raising tens of millions of dollars.

People who want to donate to a great cause can throw down as little as $10 to enter to win awesome prizes ... like a chance to be in Kevin's next movie or spend a day with Ryan Seacrest on ALL of his jobs!!!

Meanwhile, Meek is auctioning off his 2019 Rolls-Royce Phantom!!! Opening bid ... $200k. If ya wanna be a baller in the NBA -- it'll be back eventually -- Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is giving you a shot to suit up for a game. FOR REAL!!

And, for those big ballers, there's a bunch of auctions ... like a $50,000 opening bid to play H.O.R.S.E. with Magic and sit courtside at a Lakers game. NBD.

Scores of other actors, athletes, singers and celebs, in general, are getting involved -- it's a challenge, after all, so everyone's calling out their friends. Kevin's lookin' at you, Rock.

So, check out what Yo Gotti, Alex Rodriguez, Todd Gurley, Zach and Julie Ertz, Ben Simmons and many more are offering. It's all at allinchallenge.com.

Justin Bieber just joined too, and says he's gonna fly to the winner's home and sing, "One Less Lonely Girl."

Rubin says 100% of money raised will be donated to programs to feed the hungry, including ... Meals on Wheels, No Kid Hungry, World Central Kitchen, America's Food Fund and Feeding America.

Good luck and be on the lookout for way more celebs to join the fundraiser. Whatchu got Dwyane Wade???