TMZ Sports - Page 50

Michael Jordan was SO insanely famous in Chicago during his Bulls days -- he couldn't even shop for groceries without being mobbed.

So, the guy would pay staffers to keep the store open JUST FOR HIM so he could cruise the aisles alone in peace!

Pretty baller, right!?

Jordan's former Bulls teammate Brad Sellers explained to The Undefeated ...

"You saw MJ doing laundry in the first few episodes [of ESPN's 'The Last Dance'] and that was him back then, the country side of him, just living like a regular dude."

“But, he just got bigger and bigger in basketball and to a point where he couldn’t go out. I remember saying to him one day, ‘Hey, M ... how do you eat?'"

"He told me he would call Jewel-Osco [a supermarket chain based in Chicago] about 15 minutes before they closed, and let them know he was coming in. They would stay open later to let him shop."

Sellers says MJ would break off staffers with a fat ass tip for their troubles.

So, MJ got his own version of "Supermarket Sweep" and the workers got some extra bread and the chance to see the most famous dude in Chi-Town?

The New Jersey Devils are doing something angelic for the heroes fighting the coronavirus ... by donating 10,000 game tickets for the frontline employees working non-stop to help the community.

The team announced the gesture Wednesday ... saying the big haul of tix will go toward RWJBarnabas healthcare workers who have been battling in hospitals and other facilities in New Jersey over the past few weeks.

"Each passing day we are filled with more gratitude for frontline healthcare workers who continue to dedicate themselves to help the residents of New Jersey," Devils President Jake Reynolds said in a statement.

The move adds to the Devils' continued generosity throughout the pandemic ... the team also sent 7,000 pairs of gloves, 10,000 hand sanitizer units and soap, sprays, wipes, and other cleaning supplies to the NJ health system earlier this spring.

On top of that ... Devils co-owners Josh Harris and David Blitzer have made several 6-figure donations to help the city of Newark feed those in the community during the pandemic.

Tennessee State running back Jordan Bell is recovering after doctors amputated part of his left leg following a motorcycle crash ... and he's already got his sites set on playing football again!

20-year-old Bell was riding his red 2017 Suzuki GSX-R1000 in Nashville on April 4 -- when he hit a pothole, lost control and was thrown from the bike into a concrete wall.

Several bystanders rushed to help -- and emergency responders were called to the scene to treat the severe injuries, including broken bones and severed nerves.

Unfortunately, Bell's left leg was so damaged in the crash, doctors decided it was in his best interest to amputate below the knee.

Now, the running back is recovering at home -- which SUCKS even more because of the COVID-19 pandemic -- which is why his teammates organized a social distancing visit to show their support.

Several players and coaches (wearing masks) brought signs and balloons to Bell's home on April 29 -- and you can see in the pics, Bell was clearly moved by the gesture.

Bell is currently undergoing physical therapy and will be fitted for a prosthetic so he can walk again.

But, get this ... according to family members, one of Jordan's goals is to "eventually play football again."

Hey, with his work ethic and attitude, anything's possible!

Meanwhile, Bell's family has started a GoFundMe to raise money for the medical bills -- and the fundraiser was already approved by the NCAA.

If Mike Tyson is serious about a comeback ... $1 MILLION has already been put on the table for an exhibition match in Australia -- with a promoter wanting Iron Mike to fight a former rugby star!

Australian boxing matchmaker Brian Amatruda says he's already reached out to Tyson's camp with the offer ... and sees pro-rugby-players-turned-boxers Barry Hall, Paul Gallen and Sonny Bill Williams as potential opponents.

"He might be 53 years old but he's still a huge name," Amatruda told The Daily Mail this week, "and any of those blokes Hall, Gallen or Sonny Bill would jump at the chance to get into the ring with him."

Amatruda says the event would be MASSIVE -- and while he admits the charity fight couldn't take place until the coronavirus pandemic clears up, he says THOUSANDS would flock to see it go down.

"I'd hold it at Melbourne Arena where we'd get over 10,000 or even Princes Park where they got 30,000 for Jeff Fenech versus Azumah Nelson," Amatruda said.

"It would be enormous," he added. "Not just a fight, it would be an event."

Of course, it remains to be seen if Tyson is even serious about a return to the ring.

The boxing legend posted a clip of him recently terrorizing mitts in a scary training sesh and did tell rapper T.I. he's interested in taking some exhibition fights to raise money for charities.

But, Tyson also famously told Joe Rogan just last year he stopped training because he didn't want to turn into a version of himself that he was trying to forget.

If Mike is down and chooses to pass on the Australia match ... Shawn Porter tells TMZ Sports he wouldn't mind seeing Tyson return for a rematch with Evander Holyfield!

Ex-Jacksonville Jaguars star Telvin Smith is fighting back in his underage sex case -- pleading NOT GUILTY to all charges, court record show.

The 29-year-old linebacker is accused of two sexual encounters with an underage girl back in 2019. Florida officials claim they have a mountain of evidence -- including DNA and text messages -- to prove his guilt.

TMZ Sports has confirmed ... Smith's lawyer sent in the not guilty plea in the mail last week ... waiving his arraignment and right to be present at all pretrial conferences.

Smith allegedly met the underage girl at her work in Duval County, FL days before their first sexual encounter at his home. Officials claim the accuser's coworker made it clear to Smith she was underage.

Officials say Smith and the minor had sex again in his Cadillac Escalade a month later.

As we previously reported ... the girl claims Smith pressured her into taking a $100 bill after the encounter, which she used to buy emergency contraception.

In November, investigators executed a search warrant and seized Smith's Escalade to collect DNA evidence. Officials insinuate in court docs, DNA collected in the car matches the alleged victim.

Unlawful sex with a minor is a Felony 2 ... which means Smith is facing multiple years behind bars if convicted.

Charles Barkley says he's still VERY sad about his broken friendship with ex-BFF Michael Jordan ... but he's down to bury the hatchet if MJ would just give him a call.

"The guy was like a brother to me for, shoot, 20-something years," Barkley said Tuesday on ESPN radio's "Waddle and Silvy" show. "At least 20-something years."

"And I do, I feel sadness. But, to me, he's still the greatest basketball player ever. I wish him nothing but the best. But, there's nothing I can do about it, brother."

Barkley says MJ cut off their friendship back in 2012 when Sir Charles criticized basketball's G.O.A.T. for being a crappy owner of the Charlotte Hornets.

"I'm pretty sure I said, 'As much as I love Michael, until he stops hiring them kiss-asses, and his best friends, he's never going to be successful as a general manager,'" Barkley said.

FYI -- Jordan HASN'T exactly been the greatest owner ever ... the team's seen the postseason just two times since he became the majority owner in 2010.

Sir Charles says he felt like it was his duty as a broadcaster to be honest about Michael's failures ... and even says he thought that's why he and Jordan had such a good relationship to begin with.

"Part of my job [as an analyst] is, because I can't go on TV and say, 'Another general manager sucks' and then just because Michael's like a brother to me say, 'He's doing a fantastic job,'" Barkley says. "That would be disingenuous."

Barkley has previously said he won't apologize to MJ for doing his job.

The former Phoenix Suns superstar says it's all actually really sad ... but says the ball is in Jordan's court when it comes to mending the bridge.

Taco expert Danny Trejo is going OFF on Adam Jones for slathering his Cinco De Mayo treats in ketchup ... telling TMZ Sports that's THE WORST condiment a person can add to a taco!!

"You can do taco-anything," Trejo says, "but not ketchup!"

Jones -- a 5-time MLB All-Star -- posted a pic of his ground beef-ketchup delight on Tuesday ... celebrating the fifth of May while defending his choices for taco toppings.

"It’s my plate," Jones said. "I eat them how I want to. Ain’t a specific way. So gracias."

But, the owner of Trejo's Tacos -- a SUPER-popular taco joint in L.A. -- tells us Jones is dead wrong for putting Heinz anywhere near the tortillas!!

"The reality is that you can put anything on a taco," Trejo says, "but ketchup goes on a hot dog!"

In fact, Trejo says he's so appalled by the move ... if he saw the food crime go down in real life -- he'd buy the person's dinner just to make sure no ketchup touched the tacos!!

Germany's famous Bundesliga -- one of the top soccer leagues in the world -- will resume play before the end of the month, officials say.

League officials reportedly met with top German government leaders -- including German Chancellor Angela Merkel -- to ask for the play to resume and their request was granted.

Bundesliga -- which features top players like Thomas Muller and Mario Gotze -- has been cleared to restart as early as May 15. The league is expected to announce an official restart date on Thursday.

The league -- comprised of 36 teams -- had shut down in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Still unclear what kind kind of medical screening will be instituted when the league gets up and running ... but fans will NOT be allowed to attend the games.

Most teams in the league -- including world-famous teams like Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund -- only have around 9 matches left on their regular season schedule.

Germany has been praised for its handling of coronavirus. So far, there have been about 150,000 recorded cases and around 6,300 deaths.

"Frankly, I think the Olympics are in doubt next year."

That's U.S. soccer superstar Megan Rapinoe getting very real about the postponed summer games ... saying she's having a hard time seeing how the event goes on even in 2021.

"The more I think about it logistically," Rapinoe says, "just bringing everybody together like that with the absence of drug therapies or anything like that just seems difficult."

Of course, the Olympics were previously set to kick off in just a few weeks ... but the coronavirus pandemic forced officials to bump the competition to next summer.

International Olympics Committee spokespeople seem confident the event will go on then without a hitch ... but Rapinoe told CNN's David Axelrod on "The Axe Files" podcast this week she's skeptical.

"I guess we'll see," Rapinoe says. "I don't want to be in the prediction business, but we'll see."

A cancellation or even another postponement of the Olympics would likely spell the end of Rapinoe's time as an Olympian ... she's 34 years old now and retirement is on the horizon.

If it is ultimately the end ... Megan had a hell of a run, winning a gold medal for the U.S. back in 2012.

Tennis superstar Roger Federer is helping families in Africa affected by COVID-19 ... with his Foundation using $1 MIL to buy food for kids who can't get to school.

"As a humanitarian response, the Roger Federer Foundation has granted [$1 million] to provide nutritious meals for 64,000 vulnerable young children and their families through our partners in Africa while schools are closed."

Just like in the U.S., there are families who count on the schools to provide breakfast and lunch for kids on a daily basis. With coronavirus forcing schools to close, Federer wants to make sure no kids go hungry during the pandemic.

Federer launched his foundation back in 2004 to help underprivileged families in Africa and Switzerland (where his parents are from) get access to quality education.

According to the RFF website, "the foundation has provided $52 million to education initiatives in more than 7,000 primary schools and pre-schools."

"This has benefited around 1.5 million children with a better education."

Federer has said he's motivated to help in Africa because he used the visit his mother's home country as a child and witnessed the poverty firsthand.

"He wanted to use his success as a way to give back."

UFC star Justin Gaethje says he's PRAYING for a bloodbath main event with Tony Ferguson ... claiming he wants Tony to break his nose because he needs it fixed anyway!

Yo, Gaethje is a SAVAGE!!

Of course, Justin and Tony will throw down at UFC 249 on Saturday -- in what Justin calls "the biggest fight of my life."

And, man -- Justin is ready for war!!!!

"Tony’s used to people being scared of him. I’m not scared," Gaethje tells TMZ Sports.

"I hope he breaks my nose. I’ve been waiting to get it fixed. It hasn’t been right for like 12 years, so I’ve been waiting for a long time for someone to break my nose, so maybe he’ll plant an elbow on there."

"I might regret asking for that 'cause it’s a painful injury, but I do need to get it fixed."

Justin says when it comes to engaging with Ferguson, "I’m not scared to get hit. I’m not scared to get sliced up, knocked out, that comes with the territory and I’m content with all those situations."

So, how does Justin see the fight going?

"I’m 100% confident in my ability to put him to sleep."

"Tony has a brain. I just got to make it shake and then the natural course of the body takes place and he goes to sleep."

Patrick Ewing says some scumbag actually broke into his home and STOLE his 1992 Olympic gold medal -- the one from the Dream Team -- but he never talked the burglary ... until now!!

“My house got broken into in New York at one point and they stole my medals," Ewing said Tuesday on "The Dan Patrick Show."

FYI, Ewing won TWO gold medals in his career -- representing Team USA in 1984 and 1992.

Patrick didn't reveal the date of the burglary -- but says the crooks made out with both gold medals AND the 1984 NCAA Championship ring he won during his run at Georgetown.

But, don't worry ...  this story has a happy ending on two fronts.

First, Ewing said sometime after the break-in, he placed a call to Jerry Colangelo -- who runs USA Basketball -- and he was able to get replacement medals!

And, as for the college championship ring ... "somebody tried to sell it on eBay and I was able to get that back."

So, someone out there has an original gold medal from the greatest Olympic basketball team ever assembled.

Yeah, it's probably worth a fortune -- but it's STOLEN PROPERTY!

Fired NASCAR driver Kyle Larson is returning to the racetrack in a World of Outlaws event on Friday ... 3 weeks after getting the boot for saying the n-word.

27-year-old Larson was kicked off the Chip Ganassi Racing team and lost a bunch of sponsors -- including McDonald's and Credit One Bank -- after using the racial slur during an iRacing event last month.

NASCAR suspended Larson and required him to take sensitivity training before returning to competition ... and in the meantime, he's getting his fix by racing in the W.O.O. event at Knoxville Raceway in Iowa.

According to Racer reporter Kelly Crandall, Larson DID complete a sensitivity course to be able to compete in the dirt track race ... which will also feature ex-NASCAR driver Kasey Kahne.

FYI, World of Outlaws is NOT affiliated with NASCAR.

Larson has apologized for using the word .. saying, "I made a mistake and said the word that should never ever be said and there's no excuse for that."

"I wasn't raised that way and it's just an awful thing to say. I feel very sorry for my family, my friends, my partners, the NASCAR community and especially the African-American community."

Larsen is half-Japanese and has talked about how the NASCAR Driver for Diversity program helped him get to the big show.