TMZ Sports - Page 50

J.J. Watt's Hurricane Harvey relief fund is still goin' hard -- blitzing past $30 MILLION as Houston begins its long road to recovery.

After breaking $20 million on Tuesday, a couple HUGE donations came through for J.J. -- $5 mil from billionaire businessman Charles Butt and $1 mil from Jimmy Fallon and "The Tonight Show."

Fallon joins a long list of A-listers that have given big to Watt's fund -- including Miley Cyrus, Drake and Ellen DeGenerous.

Jimmy personally thanked the Houston Texans superstar on his show ... before giving the stage to a choir group from H-Town.

Awesome stuff.

Big win for Ezekiel Elliott -- who was just granted a preliminary injunction from a federal judge in Texas ... which blocks the NFL from imposing his 6-game suspension ... at least for now.

What does it mean -- Zeke will likely play the entire NFL season without missing a single game.

The NFL Player's Association had filed the lawsuit on behalf of Elliott, claiming the Dallas Cowboys star did not get a fair hearing in front of the arbitrator in his appeal of the domestic violence punishment.

The judge agreed ... saying there was a "cloud of fundamental unfairness" in the proceedings. The judge didn't think it was fair for Elliott to be punished with that cloud looming.

The judge points out two "gross errors" in the arbitration -- which were the decision to not include the accuser, Tiffany Thompson, and NFL commish, Roger Goodell, as witnesses.

So, what happens next?

The NFL will likely file an emergency motion challenging the court's ruling. The chances the NFL wins that are slim.

Elliott and the NFLPA now have the green light to continue the legal fight to have the 6-game suspension voided altogether ... which is their ultimate goal.

That process could entail a huge, lengthy trial that could take months and months -- and until the case is settled and a judge rules on the validity of the suspension once and for all, Zeke gets to play.

Demi Lovato's on a mission to help with Hurricane Harvey relief efforts, and while volunteering at the Houston Food Bank she ran into Kevin Hart and NBA superstar Chris Paul.

We're told Demi donated 50,000 bottles of water to the food bank after hearing about price-gouging in the area -- and she set up a fundraising initiative with the food bank after donating $50k of her own dough.

Chris and Kevin were helping unload trucks and serve food. We're told the trio randomly bumped into each other and snapped a quick pic.

Craig Carton is adamant he's not the scumbag con artist he's being made out to be -- claiming he's an innocent victim who was set up by a group of very bad people.

Carton was arrested by the FBI this week and accused of running a multi-million dollar concert ticket scam to pay back millions of dollars in debts to various casinos.

But a rep for the sports radio star says he's NOT A BAD GUY -- the feds simply have a "gross misunderstanding of what happened."

A rep for Carton didn't provide too many details about his defense -- but would only say he's not going down without a fight.

“The government’s allegations against Craig Carton demonstrate a gross misunderstanding of what happened."

"Craig is a victim who was deceived, manipulated and used by individuals seeking to gather assets for their own fraudulent schemes."

Ex-K.C. Chiefs superstar Larry Johnson says Kareem Hunt could end up being the best running back in franchise history ... telling TMZ Sports the sky's the limit for the budding rookie.

We spoke with the 2-time Pro Bowler about Hunt's breakout 246-yard, 3 TD performance against the Patriots on Thursday ... and L.J. says the kid is destined for legendary status ... as long as the team stays together.

"I just hope that the business side of Kansas City doesn't screw it up for him."

Johnson says it "brings a tears to (his) eyes" to see Hunt performing so well in his old #27 jersey ... and says he's a serious contender for Rookie of the Year.

Nick Young says he taught JaVale McGee everything he knows about the card game Bourre ... which might be a problem since it was THAT game that ignited the biggest gun standoff in NBA history.

Here's the deal ... Kevin Durant recently praised JaVale's Bourre card game skills during an interview with Bill Simmons.

So, when we saw Swaggy P -- one of JaVale's old Washington Wizards teammates -- we asked for his take.

That's when Young bragged that he taught JaVale the game back when J.M. was a rookie -- and intentionally taught him the WRONG way to play so he'd lose. Funny.

The only problem is that it was an infamous game of Bourre on a Wizards team jet back in 2009 between JaVale, Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton that led to the gun showdown.

As Gilbert has previously explained, JaVale won a particularly contested hand -- a hand Javaris was pissed about because he thought it was a misdeal. He blamed Gilbert and things escalated from there.

Young jokes that when it comes to card games, JaVale just has that "Shaqtin' a Fool" karma.

Lonzo Ball's has finally released his first rap single -- and it's a 2-and-a-half minute tribute to his 16-year-old brother, Melo.

It's called "Melo Ball 1" -- portions of the song were used in the first promo spot for LaMelo Ball's new $395 shoes ... but now, the Lakers star has dropped the entire track.

He brags about how his family's "ready for war," how Melo is the youngest person on the planet to have his own signature shoe ... and how it's all part of his father's genius vision.

Here are some of the lyrics ...

"See my lil brother, he just doin' him. You can check the ‘gram, he got a million fans. Got his brothers, he don’t need no friends. He swagged out, he a walking gem."

"On the ball, that's just what it is. I'm a king, lil bro a prince. Throwin' racks and you throwin' fits. How you hatin' and you bangin' this?"

"Melo Ball 1, youngest in the game. Only 16 in the Lam' and he switchin' lanes."

By the way, Zo has another brother ... LiAngelo ... just in case he forgot.

UFC contender Ray Borg told TMZ Sports he felt "fantastic" -- and was in the best shape of his life -- just 24 hours before backing out of his UFC 215 fight against Demetrious Johnson.

Borg pulled out of Saturday's main event on Thursday after coming down with a viral illness. The UFC issued a statement saying he was "deemed unfit to compete by the UFC medical team."

But one day before the cancellation, Borg appeared to be feeling great -- telling us, "I feel fantastic man, weight's good, feeling sharp. Best shape I've ever been in my life."

He added, "I feel really good about this whole entire camp and this fight in general."

A trade to the New Orleans Saints may have saved Jon Dorenbos' life -- because the longsnapper just learned he has a very serious heart condition that was discovered during a team physical.

Dorenbos -- who dominated as a magician on "America's Got Talent" -- was traded from the Philadelphia Eagles to the Saints back in August and had to undergo a medical exam as part of the deal.

Saints coach Sean Payton just told the media ... doctors discovered the 2-time Pro Bowl player had an aortic aneurysm that will require immediate heart surgery.

Payton says, "It's a pretty serious condition."

Dorenbos is 37 years old -- and the news could signal the end of his NFL career -- but who cares as long as he gets healthy.

#GetWellSoon

Mike Vick has a message for his friend, Calvin Pryor -- if you wanna stay in the league, STOP FIGHTING!

Vick and Pryor played together on the NY Jets in 2014 -- and Vick says he's his "little homie" -- so we had to ask about the fight that led to Pryor getting the axe in Cleveland.

MV7 says game week can turn players a little more agro than usual -- but he's gotta temper the temper if he wants to stay employed ... and Vick knows that from experience.

"We take conduct serious, and the coaches I always played for always stressed that," Vick says. "Not under Andy Reid, or Rex Ryan, or Mike Tomlin, or Jim Mora or Dan Reeves."

Talk about timing ... just days after Ezekiel Elliott had his 6-game suspension upheld, the NFL has circled back to Josh Brown -- banning the admitted domestic abuser 6 more games.

The veteran kicker sat out 1 game in 2016 ... after a lengthy investigation ultimately led to his release from the NY Giants.

The big difference from Zeke -- Brown has accepted his punishment, the NFL told Adam Schefter.

"We reopened the investigation based on new info ... concluded there was a violation of our personal conduct policy and imposed 6-game suspension which he accepted without appeal," the league said.

"Timing has nothing to do with Zeke ... made no sense to hold this until Zeke was complete.”

Brown -- who's currently UNEMPLOYED -- maintains that he never hit his wife ... after being arrested in May 2015 on suspicion of domestic assault. Charges were never filed.

As for Elliott ... the Dallas Cowboys superstar is hoping to hear from a U.S. District Court judge today in Texas. The RB -- who is slated to play in Week 1 -- is seeking a temporary restraining order so he can keep suiting up.

Big fan of Kareem Hunt's insane debut on Thursday? Thank the Dallas Cowboys ... so says Michael Irvin.

The Playmaker was clearly impressed with the rookie RB after the Chiefs put the smackdown on Tom Brady and the Patriots ... telling TMZ Sports the dude WENT OFF!

So, how do the Cowboys fit in?

"What you will see now is more guys getting opportunities because of what the young guys like Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott did," Irvin explained.

LeBron James added another job to his resume -- RUNWAY MODEL.

The NBA superstar hit the catwalk for the Kith Fashion Show at the Classic Car Club during NY Fashion Week on Thursday ... and killed it.

Bron was showing off his Nike LeBron 15 kicks -- while working the runway like a champ.

Scottie Pippen also walked the same show -- rocking a tracksuit and a modernized version of his of his old Nike Air Pippens.

Carmelo Anthony and Russell Westbrook were reportedly in the crowd. Those guys LOVE fashion.

One of Floyd Mayweather's giant TMT members roughed up a fan as the boxer left a famous chicken joint in Hollywood -- and now police are involved ... TMZ Sports has learned.

It all went down outside the legendary Roscoe's House of Chicken and Waffles on Wednesday evening -- where Floyd and his massive TMT entourage had dinner around 8 PM.

On his way out, Floyd was approached by a 20-year-old man in a white shirt and glasses who asked Floyd and his crew if he could take a quick photo.

That's when one of Floyd's guys -- a big dude in a red shirt -- rushed to the fan, grabbed him by the neck and slammed him against a wall.

(FYI, that same TMT entourage member was with Floyd during a shopping trip in Bev Hills earlier in the day and was sure acting like a member of the security team).

After the video ends, we're told Floyd's crew put the boxer in the car and bolted.

The man -- who claims he was also punched in the face -- filed a police report and told cops he suffered injuries to his head, neck and mouth.

We spoke to the victim who says he is (was) a HUGE Floyd fan and just wanted a pic -- he wasn't trying to start any trouble.

Sources connected to Floyd's camp tell us the man in the red shirt is "not on the payroll" -- he's just with the entourage.

Adrien Broner has some career advice for Conor McGregor -- don't EVER try boxing again!

We got AB at 1 OAK in L.A. ... and the superstar boxer didn't mince words when it came to the idea of Conor hoppin' back into the ring.

"If he want this work, I’ma f**k him up," Broner told TMZ Sports. "But other than that, I want him to stay away from this sh*t."

Adrien says McGregor should go back to where he belongs -- the UFC -- cause a young hitter like him would do way more damage than Floyd Mayweather.

The former 4-weight champ wasn't done there ... telling us boxers could conquer MMA better than Conor did boxing, "cause we fight better than them."

AB did have one other idea for the Irishman -- just call it quits!!

After banking $100 MIL ... why not party forever?

Lil Wayne's back grinding in the recording studio -- despite doctor's orders to cool out -- and he has an All-Star guest with him.

Damian Lillard was hanging with Weezy Thursday at a studio we believe to be in Los Angeles. Lillard captioned the pic "#Confirmed" ... letting fans know the rumors are true, they're doing a track together. This is also the first time we've seen Wayne since his hospitalization earlier this week.

TMZ broke the story ... Wayne suffered multiple seizures Sunday in Chicago. Doctors released him Tuesday, but recommended he chill at home for at least 2 weeks.

So much for that. He and the Portland Trail Blazers superstar clearly had work to do.

That's pretty much what mega-producer Scott Storch said when he posted his own shot with Wayne.