TMZ Sports - Page 50

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott just pledged $1 MILLION "to improve our police training and address systematic racism through education and advocacy."

The 26-year-old -- who's expected to sign a monster new contract soon -- explained why the current climate has motivated him to take action.

"As a black multiracial American, I am disgusted and unsettled," Prescott said.

"As our communities take action, protesting and fighting for the justice of George Floyd and every black life, I am with you!"

"I have viewed these protests and riots in our streets as a form of strength and an attempt to show we as black people have rights that aren’t being perceived as equally as our counterparts."

Prescott says he does not believe in looting or "that violence is the answer" ... but clearly believes things can change with proper education and training.

Prescott does not specify exactly where his donation will go -- but says he won't just be writing a check ... he'll be personally involved.

"I will take action and help! I will act alongside of all of you!"

"We will clean our streets in our communities not only of the looting and violence, but most importantly the racism, racial profiling, and hate!"

How does Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez feel about the NFL's Washington team participating in #BlackoutTuesday?

SHE THINKS IT'S RIDICULOUS!!!

As you probably saw, millions of people posted black squares on social media Tuesday to show solidarity with the protesters.

The Washington Redskins also took part -- and AOC called 'em out quick.

"Want to really stand for racial justice? Change your name."

Of course, there's a been a movement for YEARS to get Washington to change the name, but they've steadily resisted -- pointing to data they claim shows most Native Americans do NOT find the name offensive.

However, a recent poll conducted by UC Berkeley showed more than half of 1,000 Native Americas surveyed found the name offensive.

But, will the new protests finally convince the franchise to drop the moniker?

Amen Ogbongbemiga -- a superstar on Oklahoma State's football team -- says he tested positive for coronavirus ... this after he attended a protest in Tulsa, Okla.

The linebacker -- who was voted the Cowboys' defensive MVP in 2019 -- revealed the diagnosis Tuesday, shortly after several OSU players were tested this week.

Ogbongbemiga says he was careful while around others during the protest, claiming he was "well protective of myself" ... but he implored others to take precautions while out demonstrating in large groups.

"Please," the football player said, "if you are going to protest, take care of yourself and stay safe."

Ogbongbemiga will now have to quarantine in special on-campus housing at Oklahoma State -- according to reports -- and he'll be retested for the virus later this week.

Of course, Cowboys players are taking coronavirus tests in preparation for team workouts later this month ... as Big 12 officials are allowing teams to return starting June 15.

Two ex-Clemson players claimed a white assistant coach used the n-word during a 2017 Tigers practice ... and now, the guy has fessed up to using the racial slur -- and has issued an apology.

"Three years ago on the practice field, I made a grave mistake involving D.J. Greenlee," said Danny Pearman, a 55-year-old, white assistant head coach on Dabo Swinney's staff.

"I repeated a racial slur I overheard when trying to stop the word from being used on the practice field. What I overheard, I had no right to repeat."

Here's the backstory .. former Clemson player Kanyon Tuttle on Tuesday claimed Swinney "allowed a coach to call a player the N-word during practice with no repercussions."

Tuttle's allegations were somewhat backed by former Tigers tight end D.J. Greenlee, who explained the whole situation in an in-depth interview with The State.

Greenlee says he had missed a blocking assignment on a play ... and had a conversation with Pearman about it. Greenlee says when he broke it all down to his fellow teammate Milan Richard, he used the n-word himself.

“[Milan] was asking me what happened? ‘What’s coach getting on to you about?’” Greenlee said. “I was just like, ‘Man I got the [n-word] that came in my gap.’ I was talking to my teammate."

"That was all that was said. Then the next thing you know coach Pearman starts coming over there. He was repeating what I just said. He’s like, ‘[n-word] this, [n-word] that. The [n-word] wasn’t there.’”

Greenlee emphasized Pearman did NOT call him the n-word, but rather just repeated what he had said.

D.J. said he believes Swinney had a talk with the coach about the incident ... and he claims Pearman also later apologized for it.

For his part, Pearman added in his statement Tuesday, "I apologized to D.J. at the conclusion of practice, who then appropriately raised his concern to Coach Swinney."

"Coach and I met to discuss the incident, and he reiterated that my language was unacceptable. I later apologized again as well as expressed my sincere regret to our position group the following day."

Pearman continued, "I love the young men who choose to come to our university, and I would never do anything to intentionally hurt them. I sincerely apologize to D.J., his family, our team and our staff."

Logan Paul says his brother Jake Paul did NOT steal anything during a looting incident at a mall in Arizona -- but he's slamming his lil bro for being there in the first place.

"Jake didn't loot," Logan said while carrying a Black Lives Matter sign in L.A. on Tuesday with his girlfriend, Josie Canseco.

"Should he have been there? Absolutely f**cking not. But, my brother didn't steal anything."

The incident in question went down Saturday night at Fashion Square in Scottsdale, Arizona -- where looters went after tennis shoes and pretty much everything that wasn't nailed down.

Paul captured video of the craziness and says he was tear-gassed by cops who also pointed guns at him.

"I ain't doing sh*t bro," Paul said ... "Look at 'em. Pointing guns at me right now. Swear to God, no cap, that's tear gas, bro!"

"Rest In Peace George Floyd."

Henry Cejudo is DEAD SERIOUS about boxing Ryan Garcia ... and says there's already been talk about money and a location for the scrap.

TMZ Sports talked to 33-year-old Cejudo -- fresh off his UFC retirement -- and Triple C made it clear his ongoing beef with 21-year-old Garcia ain't just for the Gram ... he legit wants to box the undefeated pugilist.

"I really don't think [Ryan Garcia's] that good. I really don't, and I think with a proper team, the right game plan, I believe I can make him bend the knee in front of Oscar De La Hoya," Cejudo tells us.

"I feel like I have the tools, the power, the strength, the experience and we wanna make this happen."

But, this ain't just a pipe dream ... Cejudo says his team has already been in talks with promoters, and the cash and location are there to make this super fight a reality.

Henry says the fight could go down in Saudi Arabia ... adding, "We got the money guy that's willing to pay both of us. It's just up to little Ryan candy Garcia to sign that contract."

FYI -- Saudi Arabia is becoming a big player in the boxing world ... and even hosted 2019's blockbuster rematch, Anthony Joshua vs. Andy Ruiz II.

The trash talk didn't stop there ... Henry also sent a message to King Ry.

"Ryan Garcia, you absolutely make me sick man. I would make you bend the knee so quick, you have no idea. You can throw about 100 punches, but it only takes one of mine to make you bend the knee, so sign the contract baby!"

Remember, Garcia recently told us he too is serious about boxing Cejudo ... and is even interested in an MMA bout with the future Hall of Famer.

Sacramento Kings play-by-play announcer Grant Napear has stepped down from his TV role with the team ... after facing major backlash for tweeting "All Lives Matter."

Napear -- who has worked with the Kings since 1988 -- was initially placed on leave after a Twitter interaction with ex-Kings star DeMarcus Cousins, who asked his thoughts on the Black Lives Matter movement.

"All Lives Matter… Every Single One!" Napear answered ... to which Cousins replied, "Lol as expected."

Napear's comment caught the attention of fellow former King Matt Barnes, who added "Would expect nothing less from a closet racists [sic]."

Napear later apologized for his tweet, telling the Sacramento Bee, "I’m not as educated on BLM as I thought I was. I had no idea that when I said 'All Lives Matter' that it was counter to what BLM was trying to get across."

"I’m in pain," Napear continued. "I’m 60 years old and I still have a lot to learn."

But, Chris Webber -- who played for the Kings from 1998-2005 -- wasn't buying Napear's explanation, tweeting in support of the players' claims.

"Demarcus we know and have known who grant is. The team knows as well. I’ve told them many times. They’ve seen it. They know who he is."

Stephen Jackson just made a promise to George Floyd's family -- that he will step in and do everything he can to be a father figure for George's 6-year-old daughter.

"I'm gonna be there for her," Jackson said to Floyd's family Tuesday in Minneapolis. "I'm gonna walk her down the aisle. I'm gonna be there for her. I'm gonna be here to wipe your tears. I'm gonna be here for you and Gigi."

"Floyd might not be here but I'm here for her, I'm here to get justice."

"This sh*t has to stop."

Ex-NBA star Stephen Jackson is now putting pressure on his fellow pro athletes in the NFL, NBA and MLB to call out the people in the front offices ... claiming straight up, "They're not fighting for us!"

"It's time to hold our owners, GMs, Vice Presidents, everybody at the top accountable," Jackson said on social media.

"They want you to dance They want you to smile, promote, shoot, workout, represent the organization the right way, right? But they're not fighting for us! I don't hear none of them."

Jackson has been speaking out publicly -- and passionately -- ever since the killing of his longtime friend George Floyd ... demanding justice and action.

While he doesn't call anyone out by name -- it's clear Jackson feels the people at the top of the organizations are not doing enough to support the movement against police brutality, racism and social injustice.

"It's time to hold them accountable, bro. Hold ya'll [Team President]  accountable. Hold ya'll owner accountable because 9 out of 10 times, if they ain't speaking with us, then they against us."

"They love you bringing all that money in, but why they ain't speaking up when our kids get murdered or when our black men or black women getting murdered?"

"The time is now, bro. Can't play both sides."

The Dallas Cowboys will NOT be California dreamin' this year -- at least for training camp -- the NFL has ruled the team's gotta stay home in Texas for preseason workouts due to COVID-19.

Yes, COVID is still very much a thing!!!!

The league is expected to make the formal announcement Tuesday, according to reports ... with NFL officials clearly believing it's safer for teams to practice at their home facilities for training camps rather than travel.

It's a big bummer for the 'Boys ... they've jetted out to Oxnard, Calif. every year for at least part of their training camp practices for the last 8 seasons.

In fact, the team's spent time in Cali at some point for its training camp practices nearly every year since it's been in existence -- and had planned to come back this summer despite coronavirus concerns.

Of course, the 2020 rule won't just impact the Cowboys ... several teams in the league that have used off-campus facilities for their training camps in the past won't be allowed to this year as well.

The Bills, for example, will not be able to work out at St. John Fisher College in Rocester, N.Y. ... while the Steelers will not make their annual trip to Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Penn.

Too bad for Jerry Jones ... one of his favorite restaurants is Mr. Chow in Beverly Hills.

IT'S NOT SHOW FRIENDS, IT'S SHOW BUSINESS!!

That's how UFC star Gilbert Burns feels about his teammate Kamaru Usman -- telling TMZ Sports he wants to fight his pal for the title, ASAP.

Of course, 33-year-old Burns just defeated former champ Tyron Woodley on Saturday -- and he's now the #1 ranked welterweight contender.

And, since Usman is the reigning champ -- seems that fight is bound to happen.

The only issue ... Burns and Usman share a manager (Ali Abdelaziz) and train together. They're friends.

So, would you be willing to fight your buddy for a shot at the belt?

Burns says for him ... it's a no-brainer.

"I know his family. I know the guy a lot," Burns says ... "but I want to be the champion too."

"We're professionals. It's not going to be drama, I'm not gonna talk sh*t to the guy ... I just want to be the best and that's it."

Burns is currently on a 5-fight win streak -- with victories over stars like Woodley, Damien Maia and Gunnar Nelson.

Usman hasn't lost since 2013 -- most recently beating up Colby Covington at UFC 245 back in December.

Burns says money's no object -- he's reasonable -- and he's calling on Dana White to put it together.

"I'm available, I'm hungry. And I want to fight for the title next."

Eric Reid is blasting his ex-team over its "Black Lives Matter" post ... calling the 49ers hypocrites for sending the message just a few years after allegedly blackballing Colin Kaepernick.

"I think you meant Blackball Tuesday.." the former San Francisco safety wrote. "I digress."

Reid is clearly still incensed over the way he believes the Niners treated him and Kaepernick in the wake of their police brutality kneeling protests in 2016 and 2017.

Reid and Kap have long claimed the 49ers punted them for starting the movement ... and also say S.F. colluded with other teams to keep the two players out of the league afterward.

So, when the Niners posted a blacked-out image Tuesday with the message, "Black Lives Matter #BlackoutTuesday" ... Reid didn't hold back.

"Hypocrisy:," the 28-year-old wrote, "the practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one's own behavior does not conform; pretense."

Reid also went in on several other teams for their "#BlackoutTuesday" posts ... firing away at the Bears, Falcons, Cardinals and Texans.

Of course, all of this comes just a few days after Reid disagreed with former 49ers receiver Torrey Smith over the way 49ers CEO Jed York allegedly handled the kneeling controversy.

Smith claimed York "was willing to support in anyway possible" and also says York never told him NOT to kneel.

"He focused on helping," Smith said. "He has my respect forever."

But, Reid responded to Smith saying, "You speak based on your experience and I understand that. However, I can tell you that you never heard him say 'don’t kneel' because you never knelt. He begged me not to kneel."

The Weeknd just stepped up BIG for Colin Kaepernick -- shelling out $200,000 to the QB's campaign to cover legal costs for people who get arrested while protesting for George Floyd.

Just last week, Kaepernick's Know Your Rights Camp launched a "legal defense initiative" aiming to cover legal bills for the "freedom fighters" on the ground in Minnesota.

Kap says he's already put together a team of "top" defense attorneys to help out -- but they also asked for donations from outside supporters.

Well, Weeknd -- real name Abel Tesfaye -- has answered the call with a HUGE donation ... and Team Kap couldn't be happier.

"A HUGE thank you to @theweeknd for donating $200,000 to our Legal Defense Initiative to support Freedom Fighters on the ground!"

"This is amazing."

The donation to Kap's initiative is part of The Weekend's $500k contribution to several Black Lives Matter campaigns ... including the BLM Global Network and National Bail Out.

"Keep supporting our brothers and sisters out there risking everything to push for actual change for our black lives," Abel said when announcing his donation.

"Urging everyone with big pockets to give and give big and if you have less please give what you can even if it's a small amount."

76ers star Tobias Harris is calling for an elected official in Pennsylvania to resign for labeling Black Lives Matter as a "radical left-wing hate group."

The man behind the comment is Joe Gale -- a County Commissioner for Montgomery County, the 3rd largest county in PA.

The Board of Commissioners is a powerful group -- comprised of only 3 members and they control the legislative and executive functions for the entire county.

Fast forward to Monday ... when Gale issued a strong written statement slamming the protests in Philadelphia as an act of "urban domestic terror."

Gale says the people responsible are "radical left-wing hate groups like Black Lives Matter."

He continued, "This organization, in particular, screams racism not to expose bigotry and injustice, but to justify the lawless destruction of our cities and surrounding communities."

"Their objective is to unleash chaos and mayhem without consequence by falsely claiming they, in fact, are victims."

Now, 27-year-old Harris is lashing out at the statement ... saying, "I honestly can’t believe what I’m reading."

"Black Lives Matter a hate group?! This statement and your whole press release at that is disgusting to read. RESIGN!"

Rapper Meek Mill echoed Harris' statement, saying "True colors.... welcome to PA!"

Harris isn't alone in demanding Gale's removal from office ... there's already a change.org petition calling for him to step down.

Warning -- this is VERY hard to watch.

11-year-old skateboarding sensation Sky Brown was rushed to a California hospital Thursday after crashing to the ground during a ramp trick gone wrong.

Brown suffered skull fractures, a broken wrist, broken hand and a black eye ... but somehow, she's in amazing spirits about the whole thing and posted an update Monday from her hospital bed.

"I don’t usually post my falls or talk about them," Brown said ... "but this was my worst fall."

"And I just want everyone to know that its okay, don’t worry I'm okay."

"I'm just gonna get back up and push even harder."

Brown has been pushing to make England's skateboarding team when the sport makes its Olympic debut at the Tokyo Games in 2021.

Her father spoke with the media and described the incident -- saying "Sky landed head-first off a ramp on her hand."

"When she first came to hospital, everyone was fearful for her life."

Sky's dad noted she's "lucky to be alive" -- and "she remain positive and strong."

"The whole medical team is shocked to see her positivity."

Tony Hawk commented on Brown's post Monday -- saying, "Worst day ever. Hope your surgery went well today."

"They’ll Do ANYTHING for Clout!! Cardi and Offset tried to tell y’all."

That's LeBron James taking aim at two women who used the chaos in L.A. as photo opportunities ... and yeah, the King is BIG MAD over it all!!

Here's the deal ... rioters and looters wreaked havoc on stores and shops in Santa Monica all day and night Sunday -- and on Monday, two women showed up to take pics with the rubble.

While citizens aided in the rebuilding effort ... one woman faked the use of a power tool on storefront plywood and then bolted off.

"This lady stopped someone boarding up a store in Santa Monica so she could hold the drill for a picture, then drove away," one witness said of the scene. "Please don’t do this."

Another woman posed in front of a store that had been ransacked just hours earlier ... with a witness there saying, "This girl is making her boyfriend take a picture of her in front of a smashed T-Mobile. Oh my God!"

Both scenes were blasted HARD on social media ... with LeBron calling them out as clout chasers -- and P!nk lashing out at the fake power drill woman as well.

"What is wrong with these entitled a**holes?!" the "What About Us" singer said. "Who the f*ck are you and who are your parents you horrible person. How can anyone defend this???!!!"

For their part, the alleged women in both videos have yet to go public explaining their sides of the story.