TMZ Sports - Page 50

DON'T EVER GIVE DRUNK DRIVERS A PASS ... that's the message M.A.D.D. has for Rod Stewart after the singer defended Wayne Rooney after his DUI arrest.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving unloaded on Stewart over comments he made to TMZ Sports ... in which Rod asked the public to forgive the soccer superstar because "we all make mistakes."

"MADD is appalled the music icon Rod Stewart referred to drunk driving as a mistake," the org. said in a statement.

"While we are relieved that Rooney’s alleged drunk driving killed or injured no one, excuses should never be made for anyone who makes the choice to endanger lives in this manner."

"Drunk driving is a 100% preventable choice, 100% of the time. To say anything to the contrary diminishes the seriousness of the crime and is a smack in the face to drunk driving victims everywhere."

For the record, Rooney was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving early Friday morning but hasn't been convicted.

No ruling yet ... but it's close.

The NFL Player's Association has said the arbitrator overseeing Ezekiel Elliott's appeal of his 6-game suspension was trying to issue his decision by end of business day on Tuesday -- but so far, nothing yet.

The operative word in that sentence is "trying" -- we're told the arbitrator has a lot of material to comb through and wants to be thorough ... he doesn't want to rush out a decision.

Meanwhile, Ezekiel appeared in a courtroom in Sherman, Texas where he filed documents in federal court asking for a restraining order against the NFL, barring the league from enforcing punishment stemming from the domestic violence investigation.

Hurricane Harvey is thankfully calming down ... but J.J. Watt's relief fund for Houston is still goin' strong -- pushing past the $20 MILLION mark on Tuesday.

J.J.'s crowdfunding campaign started off with a $200K goal a little over a week ago ... and quickly ran up into the multi-millions with big-name celebs like Miley Cyrus ($500K), Drake ($200K) and Chris Paul ($75K) leading the way.

In case you're wondering how things are going ... Watt shared an update on social media after breaking $20 mil -- saying, "It has truly been an incredible spectacle to watch."

Kirk Cousins says there's a good reason he turned down a multi-year deal with the Redskins ... God told him to, saying it was in the Lord's plan for him be on a 1-year contract.

Cousins reportedly turned down a multi-year deal that would've paid him $53 million guaranteed ($72 overall) with the Redskins this past off-season -- instead electing to ink a 1-year deal and see where it goes.

People wondered ... Why bro, WHY?

Kirk was at the Liberty University Convocation last week and went into what made him walk away from the big cash, and it's all about the man upstairs.

Ryen Russillo says he deserved the weeklong suspension he got from ESPN following his drunk arrest in Wyoming -- admitting he embarrassed himself and the network.

The ESPN host returned to his TV/Radio show on ESPNews on Tuesday and started by essentially owning up to boozing too hard that night and passing out in the wrong hotel room.

As we previously reported, the owner of the room where Russillo passed out called cops. When they arrived, cops say Russillo reeked of booze. He was arrested for criminal entry.

"The thing about screwing up is it can be hard when it's just you. But that's actually what's made this easy, is that it's only my fault. I have no one else to blame," Russillo says.

Tilman Fertitta tells TMZ Sports he's absolutely STOKED about buying the Houston Rockets -- explaining it's been a lifelong dream ... and he wants to bring Beyonce into the fold.

We spoke with the "Billion Dollar Buyer" star moments after it was announced he bought the NBA team for $2.2 BILLION ... and he told us he'll work his ass off to make Houston proud.

As far as Beyonce -- who was in the running to buy the team -- Tilman praises her as a wonderful ambassador for Houston and hopes she'll join his team "in some capacity."

"It would be great to have her involved in any way."

FYI, Fertitta has made a fortune in the restaurant business -- he owns Catch, Mastro's, Bubba Gump and the Rainforest Cafe spots -- and says he can't wait to come to L.A. to beat the Lakers and the Clippers.

It's almost like no one cares that Conor McGregor LOST to Floyd Mayweather -- at least judging by new video of the UFC star partying in Spain.

Conor got the VIP treatment at the Ocean Club in Ibiza -- where he was turning up with his girlfriend/baby mama Dee Devlin after a friend's wedding.

Props to Conor for shaking hands with everyone who approached him -- couldn't have been a nicer guy to all his fans ... even the dude wearing an old-school Pau Gasol throwback Lakers jersey.

Yeah, they still have those!

Meanwhile Floyd's still in Vegas where he hit a $100,000 jackpot on a video poker machine Monday night ... 'cause he really needs more money.

Eric Dickerson is convinced Ezekiel Elliott is innocent -- and says the NFL overstepped by punishing the Dallas Cowboys star after prosecutors declined to press charges in his domestic violence case.

The NFL Hall of Famer didn't mince words at the Malibu Chili Cook-Off this weekend when talking about the situation to TMZ Sports -- "I think they shoulda stayed out of it. The NFL should have stayed out of it."

Dickerson says if Zeke DID physically abuse his girlfriend, the punishment is still too harsh -- he feels a 3-game suspension would have been more appropriate.

But the bigger issue ... Dickerson says he doesn't think Zeke committed a crime or did ANYTHING warranting a punishment.

Newly acquired Cavs player Jeff Green says he's hip to Isaiah Thomas' hip -- telling TMZ Sports he's convinced IT's good to go ... because Isaiah says so.

Green says he's excited for Thomas to come to Cleveland -- not just so they can beat Golden State, but he needs a buddy to tour the city with. Can't go on those giant buses alone, right?!

As for Green's prediction for the season, Jeff says putting Isaiah in the Wine and Gold will put them in a prime spot to win the Larry O.

"That's the plan. That's why they made the trade, right?"

Friend? Enemy? Whatever -- Nikki Bella has one message for Ronda Rousey ... get your ass in the ring!

The WWE superstar was finishing up a shopping spree at The Grove in L.A. when we asked about rumors Ronda could be joining Vince McMahon's family biz.

"I'd love to fight against her ... or with her!"

Bella says she's not sure if Ronda will actually sign a deal -- but she hopes so!

Just last week, WWE honcho, Triple H, told ESPN he knows Ronda's interested and would love to give her the opportunity.

Beyonce's hopes of buying the Houston Rockets just got pushed to the left ... to the left -- instead, the team will be sold to billionaire restaurateur Tilman Fertitta.

Fertitta will fork over a check to current owner Leslie Alexander for $2.2 BILLION, this according to ESPN.

Alexander bought the team for $85 mil in 1993 ... so, not a bad investment for that guy!

Fertitta is COUSINS with Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta, the guys who made billions from the UFC -- but he was NOT an investor in that business.

Tilman is reportedly worth $3.1 billion, so says Forbes ... and stars in the CNBC reality show "Billion Dollar Buyer" -- where he buys blossoming companies.

Beyonce was rumored to be in the mix to buy the Rockets as part of an investment group -- but lost out ... despite support from her mother, who even posted a pic of B in a Rockets jersey over the weekend.

Justin Bieber was visibly shaken by news that his pal Lil Wayne had to be hospitalized -- and also broke some news himself ... saying he's got no beef with Floyd Mayweather.

Justin was leaving Mastro's Steakhouse in Bev Hills when our photog let him know Weezy had suffered multiple seizures in Chicago over the weekend. You can hear it in his voice ... Justin had no idea.

Then the convo turned to his other famous friend, and Justin explained what really went down between himself and Mayweather. He claims it was just about "setting boundaries."

The NFL has filed 2 scathing new legal documents -- seeking to block Ezekiel Elliott and the NFL Player's Association from challenging the league's 6 game suspension ... and ripping the RB along the way.

The 1st document, filed in federal court in Texas, the NFL asks the judge to reject the NFLPA's request to throw out whatever punishment the arbitrator hands out to the Cowboys star.

Since the arbitrator hasn't ruled yet, the NFL says in the court docs, "the NFLPA lacks standing to vacate a hypothetical award." The league calls the NFLPA's motion an "utter waste of judicial resources."

In the 2nd document, also filed in federal court in Texas, the NFL is again essentially trying to block the imposition of the arbitrator's ruling.

This time, the NFL fires back against Elliott's claim that he has suffered "reputational harm" from the league's investigation and punishment.

"To the extent Elliott has suffered reputational harm, that harm is due to his own actions, including the well-publicized actions that led [the accuser] to call the Columbus Police Dept."

The league continued, "The NFLPA's concerns about reputational harm ring especially hollow given the avalanche of publicity the NFLPA engendered by filing the damning details of Elliott's misconduct on a public document."

The federal court judge has yet to rule. Ditto for the arbitrator overseeing Elliott's appeal.

Don't villanize Wayne Rooney after his drunk driving arrest -- he's a good dude -- so says Rod Stewart.

The British rock legend -- who's a HUUUGE soccer fan -- was leaving Catch in L.A. over the weekend when we asked about the biggest football news in the U.K. ... Rooney's DUI arrest in England.

"He's been a great English football [player] and we all make mistakes," Stewart said ... "And he's still a great guy. A great influence on all the youngsters."

Rooney was busted early Friday morning when he was pulled over in a VW Beetle and failed a breathalyzer.

WOOOOOOO!!

Ronda Rousey just cut her first pro-wrestling promo in years -- strongly hinting at a future with the WWE -- and it pits her against a trio of HUGE superstars including Ric Flair's daughter.

Rousey, along with MMA training partners Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir, were in a backstage skit with former WWE champs Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch and Bayley ... where Ronda challenged the rival group to get down.

"You name the time, you name the place," Rousey said. "We're waiting to hear from you."

The story practically writes itself ... Ronda's other BFF, Shayna Baszler, is wrestling in WWE's Mae Young Classic tourney ... and their crew has been calling themselves the Four Horsewomen since they met on "TUF Season 18."

Ric Flair was part of the legendary Four Horsemen of pro wrestling ... and you can bet Charlotte's character ain't gonna be happy with Rousey swagger-jackin' her dad.

We reached out to WWE to see if Ronda's new career is officially on ... so far, no word back.

There's more to that Jay Cutler butt pic than meets the (brown) eye ... so says Kristin Cavallari!

Turns out, the famous Jay Butt-ler pic was taken during an outing to a nude beach during a romantic trip to Mexico back in March.

Cavallari told the story to our friends at TooFab ... saying they got caught up in the moment and figured, "When in Rome ..."

KC says she still can't believe the Miami Dolphins QB let her post the photo on social media!

TooFab also asked how the family felt about Jay's new 1-year contract with the Fins and if he plans on playing next year!