TMZ Sports - Page 50

1:08 PM PT -- Kaepernick's lawyer, Mark Geragos, says his client was NOT officially invited to the meeting by team or league officials, but is "open to future participation on these important discussions."

Colin Kaepernick was invited to NFL headquarters to talk about social issues with team owners ... but decided not to show up to the meeting, Malcolm Jenkins told the media on Tuesday.

Several players sat down with owners in Manhattan today to discuss ways to promote positive change ... and both sides agreed it was a step in the right direction, but there's more work to do.

"Those conversations will continue. That dialogue will continue," Jenkins said.

"As players, we'll continue to do the work in our communities. We feel like that's the most American thing to do is to use your platform to influence with the stage that we have."

Sean Avery got a sweet deal in his drug possession and criminal mischief case ... and if he keeps his nose clean ... it'll be off his record.

Back in September '15, Avery -- who played 10 seasons in the NHL -- was arrested in Southampton Village, NY after allegedly throwing rocks at speeding cars. Cops said they also found prescription pain medication on him.

The ex-NHL star was arrested and charged with criminal mischief and 2 counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance -- all misdemeanors.

Avery -- who was facing jail time -- caught a break ... accepting a deal that will see the charges dismissed if he can go 45 days without getting in trouble, according to Southhampton PD.

A Dodgers World Series would be a HUGE win for the entire country -- so says longtime L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

Not that he's biased or anything.

We got Mayor V -- who was in office from '05 to '13 -- out at Craig's ... and dude was straight beaming over his Boys in Blue -- declaring them America's team and saying this is absolutely their year.

"It would be great for the city of Los Angeles. It's great for America. Everybody loves the Dodgers," Antonio told TMZ Sports.

Don't know about that ... but we do know one celeb who's on the bandwagon.

LeBron James says he used the n-word vandalism incident at his Brentwood home to warn his children about racism ... revealing he turned the hate crime into a teachable moment.

We broke the story ... a racial slur was spray-painted on the front gate of LeBron's L.A. home on May 31.

In an interview with GQ, LBJ discussed the incident that happened in "one of the best f***ing neighborhoods in America" ... saying, "True colors will show, and it showed for me during the playoffs."

James says he talked to his children about what happened, and made an effort to turn the situation into a positive. He says ... "I let them know this is what it is, this is how it's going to be. When it's time for y'all to fly, you'll have to understand that."

"When y'all go out in public and y'all start driving or y'all start moving around, be respectful to cops, as much as you can. When you get pulled over, call your mom or dad, put it on speakerphone, and put your phone underneath the seat. But be respectful the whole time."

There's a lot more to the feature ... Bron talks about his future in Cleveland, whether he'd consider running for president, and the Cavs owner Dan Gilbert's infamous letter.

Marcelo Huertas had a rough run with the L.A. Lakers ... and now he's clapping back at his former team and the NBA for how they coddle their superstars.

"In the NBA, players are babies ... everyone is afraid of dealing with the athletes," Huertas told Brazilian hoops blog Bala na Cesta.

"That's not a thing in Europe. If you step over the line, you're punished athletically, financially, you're thrown out, suspended, whatever the hell. That doesn't exist in the NBA. I would see things and say, 'There's no way this is possible."'

Marcelo -- a Euroleague veteran -- says his 2 seasons with the Lakers were pretty tough on him emotionally ... claiming he put in a TON of hard work, even mentoring his younger point guard competition, just to ride the pine.

"Everything you can imagine, I would do it. If it had been in Europe I would've played."

FYI, Huertas averaged 15 minutes -- and 4 points a game -- in L.A. He's back playing in Spain now.

Colin Kaepernick ain't exactly hurtin' for cash, but the Packers should absolutely show him the money -- so says Wu-Tang rapper Raekwon.

We got the huge Packers fan at LAX ... and asked him about the prospect of Kaep replacing Rodgers while the star QB heals up.

"That'd be dope," Raekwon told TMZ Sports. "Kaepernick can hold the fort down ... as a starter."

The emcee gets why Kaep hasn't been picked up yet -- "it's a serious situation for the NFL" -- but at the same time, says he's got mad respect for his movement.

Whether he gets paid or not, Raekwon told us Kaep should be good -- 'cause he's made PLENTY of money playin' for the 49ers.

Venus Williams has gone radio silent with attorneys trying to question her about the fatal car accident she had in Florida ... so now the matter's going to the judge.

According to docs, obtained by TMZ Sports, attorneys for the estate of Jerome Barson say the tennis superstar refuses to respond to their request to set a deposition date. They say they've contacted Venus' legal team numerous times since July ... but still can't get an answer.

Barson is the man who died from injuries suffered in the June collision. We broke the story ... Venus now says a third unidentified driver, who made a left in front of her, is really to blame for the accident.

Kyrie Irving could have some serious issues when he returns to Ohio ... so says Bone Thugs-N-Harmony's Wish Bone, who thinks Irving's DEAD WRONG to say Cleveland's not a sports city.

ICYMI -- K.I. struck a chord with Cavs fans for saying he was finally playing in a "a real, live sports city" after his trade to Boston ... which was taken as throwing shade at his old city.

Wish Bone -- a huge Cavs supporter from Cleveland -- says Irving's no longer welcome in northeast Ohio ... and hints he'll have to keep his head on a swivel if he tries to walk the streets of Cleveland again.

Ex-Packers star Jermichael Finley says Colin Kaepernick is NOT the answer to the Green Bay Packers QB problem, but knows a guy who could be ... Brett Favre.

Finley used to be one of Aaron Rodgers' top targets ... so we got him to weigh in on who should take the job now that A-Rod might be (most likely is) done for the season.

Jermichael straight up blew up the Kaepernick option, saying there's no way it's possible, because cheesehead land is just too conservative to embrace the controversial QB.

"That would never happen in the state of Wisconsin," Finley told TMZ Sports.

But when we brought up Brett, Finley's eyes lit up, and he told us the 48-year-old gunslinger is actually the perfect guy to step in and steady the ship.

"He looks really good, he knows the playbook, he knows the city. I think Brett would be a better fit then Colin Kaepernick. Brett Farve is the best decision for the Packers."

FYI, we talked to Brett earlier this year, and he told us he definitely feels like he could still play, but has no interest in taking NFL hits again.

Gregg Popovich is absolutely fed up with President Trump ... calling POTUS a "pathological liar" and "soulless coward" for comments he made while talking about the deadly ambush in Niger.

Here's the deal ... Trump has been criticized for not publicly addressing the 4 U.S. soldiers who were killed in an ambush in Niger on October 4.

Today, POTUS defended himself while calling out former presidents ... claiming he is more caring with families of fallen soldiers.

Popovich -- whose never held back when it comes to Trump -- RIPPED into 45 in a conversation with The Nation about his swipe at Barack Obama and George W. Bush ... and everything else.

"This man in the Oval Office is a soulless coward who thinks that he can only become large by belittling others," Pop said.

"This has of course been a common practice of his, but to do it in this manner -- and to lie about how previous Presidents responded to the deaths of soldiers -- is as low as it gets."

One of the Olympians who iconically raised his fist at the 1968 games says Colin Kaepernick will not play in the NFL again, but adds ... it won't impact his legacy.

John Carlos -- who, along with Tommie Smith, made the most memorable Olympic demonstration -- says Kaep's now waded into social justice territory ... not only by kneeling, but by filing his grievance against the NFL for collusion.

John says it's likely Colin put the last nail in the coffin of his NFL career by attacking the league so directly. Not that there's anything wrong with that -- according to John, Kaepernick now has a duty to right the wrongs he feels were done. For himself and others.

Fun fact: Today marks the 49th anniversary of John and Tommie's powerful gesture.

Aaron Rodgers means more to his team than any other football player in the NFL ... and that includes the arguable G.O.A.T. QB, Tom Brady ... so says former Packers WR Greg Jennings.

We asked Jennings -- a 2x Pro Bowler who was teammates with Rodgers -- turned Fox Sports analyst how crippling the loss of A.R. is to the 4-2 Packers.

"He means more to his team than any other player in this league."

More than 5x Super Bowl champ Tom Brady?

"Absolutely."

There's 1 ray of hope for Green Bay ... if Rodgers' broken collarbone heals up and he gets back on the field this season, Jennings believes the Packers gunslinger can still lead 'em to the Super Bowl.

The Atlanta Hawks announced Dennis Schroder will be disciplined for his "unacceptable" September 29 arrest ... but the team has vowed to support the NBA star throughout the ongoing investigation.

Schroder was arrested for battery outside an Atlanta hookah bar last month after he and his friends got into a physical altercation with a man. According to cops, Schroder initiated the fight.

"That behavior is unacceptable, will not be tolerated by the Hawks organization, and will result in discipline for Dennis at the appropriate time once the matter has been more fully developed through the law enforcement process and otherwise," Hawks GM Travis Schlenk says.

Jewel's rodeo champ ex-hubby, Ty Murray, is gettin' back on the horse ... when it comes to love and marriage.

Ty and FOX Sports reporter Paige Duke tied the knot September 30 at the Quarry at Carrigan Farms in North Carolina. They had the place decked out to be every cowboy/girl's dream.

Sources close to the couple tell TMZ ... Ty and Paige handed out homemade apple butter and personalized tobacco bottles as party favors to their 200 or so guests. Best of all, Ty and Jewel's son, Kase, was dad's best man.

And how's this for a real cowboy? Ty's wedding band was made out of elk antler and metal from his father's wedding ring. Paige went more traditional ... with a Cathy Waterman designed diamond ring.

Rick Pitino has officially been FIRED by UL ... less than 3 weeks after he was put on unpaid administrative leave over his suspected involvement in the NCAA bribery scandal.

The University of Louisville Athletic Association today voted to fire Pitino -- a Hall of Famer who coached the school's basketball teams since 2001 -- for "just cause."

As we previously reported, UL prez Greg Postel fired off a letter to Pitino last month ... saying the school believed evidence from the FBI investigation incriminated the coach.

For his part, Pitino and his lawyers have vehemently denied any wrongdoing ... and vowed "a bare-knuckle fight" ... if they were to fire him.

D.L. Hughley says there's someone America hates MORE than O.J. Simpson, and that man is Colin Kaepernick ... who Hughley thinks is getting the major shaft from NFL owners, and the American public.

As we previously reported, Kaep is gearing up to file a grievance against the NFL, alleging collusion by the NFL owners to keep him out of the league following his national anthem protest.

We got Hughley at LAX, and he told our guy he agrees 100% the NFL honchos are blackballing Colin -- and he has a reason.

"If Kaepernick had gotten an opportunity to try out for a squad and not made it, then this whole thing wouldn't have merit." Later adding, "If he's incapable of playing how come they've never let him prove it on the field?"

D.L. wasn't finished, saying in his opinion Kaep is one of the three most hated black men in America along with Obama and the aforementioned double murderer. But in his opinion, Colin has it worse.