TMZ Sports - Page 50

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan wasn't just a legendary wrestling manager -- he was also INCREDIBLE when it came to throwin' down in the squared circle ... so says Triple H.

The WWE executive tells TMZ Sports most people don't know about Heenan's wrestling skills -- "He was one of the best in-ring performers there was. He just chose not to do it."

And why not?

"He wanted to be a manager. That's what he wanted to do."

Heenan was obviously damn good at the managing thing -- rising to legendary status managing stars like Andre the Giant, Ravishing Rick Rude, Mr. Perfect and more in his storied career.

Triple H also says one of his favorite Heenan moments was his 2004 WWE Hall of Fame induction speech -- which Bobby performed without a single scripted note.

R.I.P.

Soccer superstar Wayne Rooney has apologized for driving drunk during a Sept. 1 incident -- after officials say he was more than THREE TIMES the legal limit.

As we previously reported, the English soccer legend was pulled over in Cheshire, England in the early morning on Sept. 1 while driving a VW Beetle with a female passenger.

The 31-year-old Everton striker appeared in court Monday morning and pled guilty to drunk driving, according to the BBC.

The judge told Rooney, "You placed yourself and other road users at risk as a result of your poor judgement that night."

"I accept your remorse is genuine and that you are aware of the adverse affects the events of that night have had, not least on your family."

Rooney was sentenced to a 2-year driving ban and has 12 months to complete 100 hours of community service.

After the hearing, Rooney issued a statement saying, "I want publicly to apologise for my unforgiveable lack of judgement in driving while over the legal limit. It was completely wrong."

"I have already said sorry to my family, my manager and chairman and everyone at Everton FC."

"Now I want to apologise to all the fans and everyone else who has followed and supported me throughout my career."

Daniel Cormier WANTS TO FIGHT JON JONES ... for a third time.

D.C. joined the guys on TMZ Sports (weeknights on FS1) ... when he was asked if he'd ever want another crack at J.J. in the Octagon (whenever Bones is allowed to fight) ... despite everything that went down.

"That's the craziest thing about the whole situation. Competitively, he's beaten me twice. So yeah, of course. People think I'm insane for it."

There is a catch.

D.C. says there can't be any cheatin' ... the playing field has to be level.

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan -- a former wrestler, manager, announcer and WWE Hall of Famer -- has died ... according to WWE.

Fellow WWE commentator Jim Ross tweeted out the news first Sunday, saying "The news of Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan's passing today gutted me. I loved our time together. No one ever did it better than the Wease."

Ric Flair also tweeted out his condolences, noting that Heenan was one of the greatest managers, announcers and performers in the wrestling game.

Bobby came up as a pro wrestler and manager through the '60s and '70s in the World Wrestling Association, American Wrestling Association and later the World Wrestling Federation. He managed stars like Angelo Poffo, Guy Mitchell, the Valiant Brothers, Nick Bockwinkel, Jesse Ventura and Andre the Giant.

He went on to become a well-known wrestling commentator through the '80s, '90s and 2000s. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2004.

Bobby had battled throat cancer for more than a decade after announcing his diagnosis in 2002. Talent agent Gilbert Boyes tells TMZ that Bobby's wife told him recently Bobby would not be able to make public appearances any longer.

He was 73.

RIP

O.J. Simpson's salivating over getting back into the swing of things after prison ... and yes, that includes golf. LOTS of golf.

O.J.'s lawyer, Malcolm LaVergne, tells TMZ ... Juice, for starters, has narrowed down around 5 potential residences of where he might live in Florida following his prison release. He'll have to submit a parole plan on exactly where he'll live, so he's still mulling it over.

As for who owns the homes ... not his 2 kids. LaVergne says there's no rift between O.J. and his children, but he doesn't want to impose and draw unwanted attention to them. So the people who own the homes, LaVergne says, are "wealthy and supportive friends."

One pad might be out the window because LaVergne tells us it got hit hard by Hurricane Irma.

Once settled, we're told O.J. plans to get back into shape so he can golf as often as he wants. As LaVergne put it, the man loves to golf but wants to lay low. Good luck with that.

One of the greatest receivers in Cincinnati Bengals history says it's time for Andy Dalton to step up and play like an elite quarterback ... or he's gonna get benched.

TMZ Sports spoke with T.J. Houshmandzadeh about the Bengals' 0-2 start to the season ... and he says Dalton's miscues are a big reason why they're still hunting for their first win.

T.J. says there are no more excuses now that Cincy fired its offensive coordinator, Ken Zampese ... and says all the pressure's on Dalton to succeed.

Seasons change, but Johnny Manziel's future wife, Bre Tiesi, doesn't change (out of her bikini) ... 'cause she's still killin' the 'gram with super hot, nearly-naked photos, even though it's nearly Fall.

We were just casually browsing Bre's social media when we noticed she's gone on a bikini barrage the last couple weeks, and we thought the fair thing to do was to bring it to you guys.

Nick Cannon is on the front lines of protests in St. Louis ... and he's doing it in a Colin Kaepernick jersey.

Nick was spotted taking to the streets Saturday with hundreds of others to protest the acquittal a white police officer who was charged with first degree murder of a black motorist, Anthony Lamar Smith, following a high speed chase in 2011. He was rockin' his usual headgear ... and a black Kaep jersey.

The comedian isn't one to shy away from these sorts of demonstrations ... he's been seen at many BLM events, and was even hittin' the streets last year in Cleveland. It's also no surprise he's sporting Kaep here ... the QB has become the poster child of social justice as of late.

As we reported ... Ed Sheeran and U2 had to cancel their weekend concerts in St. Louis due to safety concerns stemming from the protests.

Colin Kaepernick's plight in the NFL has seeped into the upper echelons of hip-hop ... 'cause Jay-Z dedicated 1 of his most racially charged songs to the QB during a live show.

Jay was performing his new hit, "The Story of O.J.," Friday night in NYC, when he gave a shout out to Kaep and said the performance was for him ... and the late activist Dick Gregory, who died last month.

He also said ... "I want to dedicate this song to anyone that was held back and you overcame whatever it was."

A ton of big-name celebs are gonna be in the house for Canelo Alvarez vs. Gennady Golvkin at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas ... and TMZ Sports knows some of the stars planning to attend.

Here's a partial guest list:

-- Chris Brown

-- LL Cool J

-- Michael Strahan

-- George Lopez

-- Mike Tyson

-- Michael Pena

-- Nate Diaz

-- JB Smoove

-- Maverick Carter

-- Mario Lopez

Mario's wife, Courtney, is set to sing the Star-Spangled Banner ... while international singing star, Lucero, will sing the Mexican national anthem.

Of course, Oscar De La Hoya -- Canelo's promoter -- will also be in attendance.

Al Sharpton is calling out Floyd Mayweather ... saying his recent comments on the way "real men" treat women are total CRAP ... and giving Money a little lesson on how to treat the ladies.

Floyd made the comments recently on "Hollywood Unlocked" when he said that Donald Trump's infamous "locker-room talk" (you've heard it) was just an example of how guys really talk.

It wasn't just that though, Floyd seemed to double down, and talked about touching women in a way that disgusted a lot of people.

We got Sharpton at LAX ... and when we asked his thoughts on Floyd's take, he gave Mayweather an old fashioned lesson in respect for women.

Listen up, Floyd.

Serena Williams's baby is just weeks old, but she's already making a name for herself.

Serena posted this pic of Alexis with a onesie that is more like a mantra for what is going to be her life.

Alexis is wasting no time becoming famous. Check out her new Instagram page, with more than 21,000 followers.

The baby's dad, Alexis Ohanian, is pictured with his daughter ... or at least his arm is.

We've been on the hunt trying to figure out if a famous kid of one sex has ever been named after his or her parent of the other sex, but so far we've come up dry.

ESPN host Michelle Beadle scoffed at the idea anyone owes Donald Trump an apology ... especially Jemele Hill.

Michelle was on her way to work in L.A., where she co-hosts SportsNation on ESPN, and she sure seems squarely on the side of Jemele, who called Trump a white supremacist on her twitter account.

Trump is demanding an apology for "untruth" but Michelle is clearly unmoved.

Canelo vs. GGG ain't just the Super Bowl of boxing ... it's "BIGGER THAN THE SUPER BOWL" itself -- so says Sugar Ray Leonard.

We got the legendary boxer at LAX ... and Sugar was as hyped as we've ever seen him for a fight -- putting Saturday's scrap above The Big Game.

"It's exciting, man! This is what boxing needs," SRL told TMZ Sports.

If Conor McGregor ever wants to get off his yacht and fight a real 170-pounder -- UFC rising star 'Platinum' Mike Perry says he's ALL ABOUT that action.

In fact ... when we asked Platinum about his dream fight, the knockout artist unleashed one of the most epic Conor call-outs ever.

"I'll fight McGregor in Ireland, wassup?! In Dublin, wassup?! Quote me on that," Perry told TMZ Sports.

"You'll do f**kin' nothin' you f**kin' prick! Once I put these hands on you boy, I'll strangle you in two seconds."

Mike wasn't done there ... taunting the Irishman's heritage and saying he'd become "the new king of Dublin" after he KO's Conor, hops the cage and crowd surfs through the stadium.

When Floyd Mayweather says Donald Trump's "locker-room talk" is A-OK, no one should listen ... CAUSE HE'S ILLITERATE -- this according to "Shameless" star Cameron Monaghan.

We got Cam leaving Catch ... and the actor came at Floyd for claiming Trump's "grab them by the p***y" comment was how "real men speak."

"He's a great boxer, but he can't read! Don't listen to that guy, it's ridiculous."

Cam says real men have respect ... and would never talk like that.

FYI, Floyd's got video proof that he CAN read -- but the kid's got a point.