TMZ Sports - Page 50

Ex-NFL player James Hardy III's death has been ruled a suicide by officials in Indiana ... TMZ Sports has learned.

As we previously reported, Hardy -- who spent 4 years in the NFL with the Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens -- was found dead in a Fort Wayne river on June 7.

Officials said his family had reported him missing a week earlier and that it appeared his body had been in the water for several days.

The Allen County Coroner said the cause of death is "Asphyxia due to drowning."

A helicopter carrying Shane McMahon -- son of Vince -- crashed off the coast of Long Island Wednesday after the engine failed, but the WWE exec escaped unscathed.

FAA sources tell TMZ Sports the Robinson R-44 chopper -- with McMahon and a pilot onboard -- conducted an emergency landing after an the malfunction.

Shortly before ending up in the Atlantic, the chopper departed Westchester airport in NY.

We're told the pilot issued a mayday call prior to the crash landing. Once in the water, emergency crews responded and rescued the men.

McMahon, 47, is the Commissioner of "SmackDown LIVE."

The FAA is investigating the crash.

Snoop Dogg -- UFC broadcasting GOAT?

Here's video of Snoop going CRAZY for fighter Sean O'Malley on "Dana White's Tuesday Night Contender Series" ... after O'Malley 1-punch KOs his opponent.

Seriously ... Snoop absolutely loses his mind -- and it's amazing. His line right before the KO was epic too.

Dana rewarded S.O. with a UFC contract, but O'Malley's real prize came after the show ... when Snoop hooked him up with what looks like a victory blunt!!

FYI, this is only the 2nd episode of Dana's new Fight Pass series -- which features "Snoopcast" every week.

Can't wait for episode 3.

Jaguars star DE Dante Fowler was arrested for battery after allegedly roughing up a man Tuesday night in Florida ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Fowler -- the 3rd overall pick in the '15 draft -- was arrested by St. Petersburg PD around 8:30 PM after cops say he got into a fight at an apartment.

According to the police report, Fowler, 22, punched a guy and broke his glasses after a verbal argument in the parking lot of an apartment complex. The report also says Fowler grabbed a grocery bag carried by the alleged victim -- with newly purchased liquor -- and threw it into a nearby lake.

Cops say the victim didn't have any visible injuries. Cops also noted they don't believe DF was under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Fowler was arrested for 2 misdemeanors ... simple battery and criminal mischief.

D.F. was taken to Pinellas County Jail. He's since been released after posting $650 bond.

The Jaguars released a statement addressing the arrest ... saying they were aware of the situation, and have been in contact with Fowler.

FYI -- this isn't the first time Fowler's been involved in a violent situation. Last year he stood by and watched as his GF and baby mama beat the crap outta each other ... before finally intervening.

Terrell Owens says it's absolutely ridiculous for Mike Vick to suggest Colin Kaepernick should cut his afro to be more presentable to NFL teams ... telling TMZ Sports Kap's hairdo is completely irrelevant.

We filled T.O. in on Vick's comments on FS1's "Speak For Yourself" earlier this week -- when Vick said Kap's first step to finding a new team should be to cut his 'fro -- and Owens is clearly against the idea.

T.O. thinks there isn't one bit of truth to Vick's statements ... and says Kap's appearance is not the reason why he's currently unemployed.

Chris Christie made a helluva catch, snagging a foul ball at Tuesday's NY Mets game ... and the reaction was pretty much what you'd expect.

BOOOOOOOOOOO!!

But fans weren't the only ones lighting up the NJ Governor -- Christie also got zinged by the Fox Sports TV announcers for his infamous day of fun in the sun.

“Nice to see him get from the beach here to the ballpark," the play-by-play man said. His broadcast partner loved it.

It's been a rough month for Christie ... his big beach day also got blasted during his audition to host Mike Francesa's sports talk show.

But it's not the first time C.C.'s showed off his baseball skills ... we've seen him lookin' like Aaron Judge at a charity softball game a few years back.

NBA champ John Salley ain't buying into the rumors that LeBron James is unhappy with the Cavs ... but if the King decides to bail on Cleveland again, he's got the perfect destination in mind -- L.A.!!

We spoke with the ex-Laker about the news of LBJ's frustration with the Cavs' lack of off-season moves ... and, although Salley doesn't believe it, he still makes a pitch to get Bron to join the Purple & Gold in 2018.

It's been rumored that King James would end up in La La Land, especially since he owns a home in Brentwood ... and Salley says it would be an "unbelievable plan."

One of the greatest players in NFL history thinks Johnny Manziel WILL get another shot in the NFL ... Hall of Famer Anthony Munoz, who says America always gives second chances.

We got Munoz at LAX and asked him if the new Johnny Football has a chance to capture his old pigskin glory again, or if he's done too much to ever be taken seriously again.

When we say "new" we mean it ... Johnny has been keeping his nose extremely clean, working out, laying low, and hanging out with his brand new fiancee, Bre Tiesi.

Munoz says if that guy is here to stay, he thinks it's only a matter of time before some NFL GM gives Johnny a chance to redeem himself.

Good news Laker fans ... a new era of Showtime could be right around the corner, that's according to Magic Johnson's wife, Cookie, who says Lonzo Ball has what it takes to be the next Magic.

Lonzo's been KILLIN' it in the Summer League, serving notice to the entire basketball world that he's really, really, good.

Question is, just how good can he be?

Cookie thinks he can be as good as her All-Universe husband, and told us as much when we got her out in Beverly Hills.

We'd say it's unfair to put such Hall of Fame expectations on the kid, but for some reason we think he's used to it.

Terrell Owens is gettin' the cold shoulder from Ice Cube ... 'cause the ex-NFL superstar's plea to join the Big3 has been officially shut down by the league's founding father himself.

ICYMI -- We talked to T.O. last week about wanting to join ex-NBA hoopers like Allen Iverson, Chauncey Billups and Ricky Davis in Cube's new 3-on-3 league ... and he said he was 100% serious about joining in on the fun.



But Cube was quick to shut down the idea ... telling TMZ Sports T.O. ain't exempt from Rule #1 of the Big 3 -- ex-NBA players ONLY!!

So it looks like it's back to the celebrity games and the Drew League for T.O.'s hoop dreams.

Draymond Green is livin' it up like the world champion he is ... raging in Ibiza with international soccer superstar Neymar!!

Day Day and his boys -- including Dolphins DE Andre Branch -- have been in Spain this past week, and it's only right he hit up the Barcelona stud to show him around all the hot spots like Ushuaïa at Ibiza Beach Hotel.

In case ya didn't know, Draymond and Neymar are bros ... and the soccer stud even hit up the NBA Finals to watch Green beat up on the Cavs.

The partyin' is fresh off reports that Neymar has accepted Paris Saint-Germain's world-record $257 million transfer fee ... although FC Barcelona's honchos claim their star is going nowhere.

It's interesting ... 'cause Draymond has been rumored to be a HUGE PSG fan and has even been spotted wearing the French club's jersey several times. Sooooo ... maybe doing some recruiting?

Regardless, looked like one hell of a time.

Jerry Jones has spoken out following Ezekiel Elliott's alleged bar fight ... saying Zeke's got to do a better job dealing with the "rock star" lifestyle.

The Dallas Cowboys owner didn't address the incident ... but made it clear the superstar RB needs to be more careful cause the cameras are always rollin'.

"Because of his style and personality, it’s like a rock star wherever he goes in terms of attention,” Jones told reporters.

"Certainly Zeke is evolving and being subject to needing to learn how to deal with the media and social media the way it is today. ... We want to continue (to) educate ourselves as to how behavior, how it can be portrayed."

Basically, ya gotta watch every step you take.

FYI, the Dallas PD's still investigating the incident ... but hasn't named any suspects.

TMZ Sports obtained two videos of the victim from witnesses who told us Zeke threw a punch -- injuring another bar patron.

Michael Irvin just caught a HUGE break in his dream to become an MMA fighter ... 'cause UFC superstar Tyron Woodley says he's down to help kick-start the Hall of Famer's career in the cage!!

The 51-year-old told us last week that he's been training MMA and wants to take a real-deal fight ... but his wife's fears of injury have kept him from hittin' the mat.

We spoke to Woodley about Irvin's fightin' ambitions ... and the Chosen One says he's totally down to help the Cowboys legend out, saying he's gonna personally hit up #88 for some 1-on-1 training!!

The champ says he's had celebs and athletes like Wiz Khalifa and Devonta Freeman hit him up to work together on their MMA skills, and even hints he could start a fighting circuit for A-listers.

We also spoke to Woodley about his television special, 'In the Clinch,' airing on FS1 Tuesday night ... and T-Wood won't give out any spoilers, but says he's excited for fans to see how he evolved from a gangster to champion athlete.

Footage from the alleged Ezekiel Elliott incident has emerged showing the victim beaten, lying in a pool of blood ... before being carried out of a Dallas bar.

In the video obtained by TMZ Sports, the victim -- moments after the alleged altercation -- appears unable to stand under his own power.

The witness who took the video tells us they saw Elliott and the man arguing, and then saw Zeke punch the guy in the nose ... sending him to the floor of Clutch Bar.

The account syncs up with what other witnesses have told us.

Dallas PD are currently investigating the incident. They have not named any suspects.

Elliott's reps have only said their client was not arrested ... or charged with a crime.

Ex-boxing champ Jermain Taylor was arrested for allegedly biting and threatening to kill his girlfriend during an argument Tuesday morning ... TMZ Sports has confirmed.

Maumelle PD in Arkansas were called to Taylor's home around 2:40 AM for a domestic disturbance when Taylor's girlfriend, Ashley White, told cops that he bit her several times and broke her cell phone during an argument.

The GF claims Taylor bit her on the face and left arm while trying to escape the residence ... and says she had to pepper spray him before fleeing the home.

Taylor allegedly chased White out of the house and down the street while threatening to kill her. Once the girlfriend returned to the home, cops arrived on the scene.

Police say Taylor smelled of intoxicants at the time of his arrest.

Taylor's been charged with felony terroristic threatening and 2 misdemeanors -- battery and interference with emergency communication.

It's worth noting ... Taylor is currently on probation stemming from several incidents over the past few years, so there's a chance he'll end up behind bars again.

It's been kinda obvious for awhile, but now we know for sure -- Cristiano Ronaldo's hot model girlfriend is preggers!!

The soccer superstar confirmed the news in an interview with El Mundo Tuesday ... when he was asked if he was happy about his GF Georgina Rodriguez's pregnancy.

His answer: "Yes, very much."

Georgina's been sporting a baby bump for months, FYI.

It's gonna be kid #4 for Ronaldo ... who introduced his surrogate twin babies, Eva and Mateo, last month. CR7's also got a 7-year-old boy from a previous relationship.