TMZ Sports - Page 50

Not everyone has the clutch gene -- and MLB playoffs legend Curt Schilling says that includes Clayton Kershaw, who exposed himself in this year's World Series.

We spoke to Curt about big-game pitching after the Dodgers' W.S. collapse ... and he didn't sugarcoat what separates guys like him from the Kershaws of the world -- Hall of Fame talents that don't show up when the lights are brightest.

"You have to want to be in a situation where everything's on you," Schill told TMZ Sports.

"And if you can't accept that -- if you can't accept the demand for perfection -- you're gonna lose."

We also asked Curt about the rumors of him hitting up new Phillies manager Gabe Kapler about an assistant coaching gig ... and he told us what's really going on.

Jose Canseco is sick and tired of bad calls screwing up the game he loves ... and says the time is now for MLB to kick its umpires to the curb.

Canseco tells TMZ Sports he's a HUGE fan of instant replay-- loves it -- and he's all for expanding on it.

But the MLB legend ain't stoppin' there -- telling us the technology exists to dump umps completely.

"They should have the robotic strike zone ... the human factor should be taken out," Jose told us at his smokin' hot daughter Josie's 21st bday bash at Poppy in West Hollywood.

"Keep the umps as far as possible away from the game. That way it can't be corrupt."

Great ... now here are some photos of Josie -- Jose's finest career accomplishment.

Tom Brady? Russell Wilson?

Nah ... the NFL's 2017 MVP trophy belongs to Eagles QB Carson Wentz -- so says last-name bro Pete Wentz.

We got the other celeb Wentz fresh off a trip to Philly -- and the Fall Out Boy bassist told TMZ Sports his honorary cousin is a cut above all the league's superstar signal-callers.

Is Pete a little biased? Probably ... but with the Eagles at 7-1 after trashin' the 49ers, ain't a better place to be than the Wentz Wagon!!

Bob McNair's "inmates" comments could serve as free agent repellent ... scaring off top NFL players who simply don't want to play for the Houston Texans owner ... so says Kenny Smith.

The former Rockets star is a legend in Houston and says McNair's comments at a recent NFL owner's meeting -- where he said, "Can't have the inmates running the prison" -- didn't fall on deaf ears.

"It will be difficult to attract great free agents," Smith says ... noting that McNair has to "really make a big stance" to prove he's not the racially insensitive jerk some of his own players think he is.

Remember, DeAndre Hopkins was so pissed at McNair he walked out of Texans practice -- so, who's gonna willingly join a team with so much internal drama?

It's been an incredible week for Kate Upton and MLB star Justin Verlander -- first he wins a World Series ring with the Houston Astros ... then they both get rings at their amazing Italian wedding.

The famous supermodel and pitcher were both beaming after saying their "I dos" Saturday at an old church at the Rosewood Castiglion Del Bosco resort in Italy. The wedding party looked pretty small -- close friends and family.

Tyron Woodley just gave TMZ Sports a solid UFC 217 preview, but the bigger news ... he wants the next crack at whoever wins the main event!!!

We got T-Wood outside Madison Square Garden and asked him to weigh in on Saturday night's card ... and he doesn't disappoint. Check it out -- Woodley thinks one fighter is going to absolutely crush it and gives us a prediction on the fight everyone will be talking about.

Oh, and he says he's more than ready to throw down next with the winner of Michael Bisping vs. recently un-retired Georges St-Pierre ... and we're all about that.

Yu Darvish is opening up on his World Series nightmare -- telling TMZ Sports he feels terrible for blowing his big moment.

"Dodger fans ... they expect we won the World Series. I couldn't do it. I still feel sorry," Darvish told us out in Beverly Grove.

Darvish -- who couldn't have been nicer to our photog -- says he gave everything he had to try and win ... but just came up short. Sucks, but Darvish told us he's soldiering on.

The big question -- will Darvish (a free agent) re-sign with L.A.??

We asked ... and he definitely didn't rule it out.

BONUS: We also got Joe Buck -- who called the game for FOX -- and he told us why L.A. fans should back off that ledge ... it's gonna be okay.

UFC honcho Dana White ain't exactly slamming the door shut on Greg Hardy -- telling TMZ Sports there IS a chance the ex-NFL star could fight in the octagon one day ... despite his issues in the past.

Hardy was found guilty of domestic violence by a judge in 2014 -- but the conviction was thrown out when he appealed in 2015 to have the case go in front of a jury ... and his accuser stopped cooperating with prosecutors.

He later signed with the Dallas Cowboys -- but after a less than stellar season, they cut ties and he wasn't able to catch on with another NFL team.

Hardy pivoted to MMA and has been training with American Top Team. His first amateur fight is Nov. 4 -- and he told TMZ Sports his ultimate goal is to become a UFC champ.

So, when we saw Dana out in NYC ... we asked if he would ever consider working with Hardy and he didn't exactly say no.

Daniel Cormier wants ANOTHER crack at Jon Jones -- and he's calling for mercy when it comes to JJ's suspension so he can get another shot at his rival before he's too old.

Cormier is 38 -- and that's why he hopes USADA doesn't hit Jones with the maximum 4-year suspension for testing positive for 'roids at UFC 214.

"I would love for him to get another 1-year suspension -- then we can fight again."

At least one voting block is already behind Mark Cuban's possible 2020 presidential bid -- his players ... with Mavs vet, Devin Harris, telling TMZ Sports a Cuban country might not be a bad idea.

Cuban hasn't officially thrown his hat into the ring yet, but appeared on "OBJECTified" and told Harvey Levin he's considering challenging Donald Trump as a republican next go-around.

Harris has spent much of his 13-year NBA career playing under Cuban, and when we got him out at Warwick in L.A. earlier this week, we had to ask if he's down with M.C. taking his talents to D.C.

Devin doesn't exactly stump for Cuban, but does ask a question that some Americans will no doubt agree with (and others won't of course).

"Can he do any worse?"

Tennis star Novak Djokovic and his coach Andre Agassi -- a legend himself -- had a lunch meeting Friday ... and it looks like Agassi brought a gift for the new dad of 2.

Novak and Andre were spotted together Friday in Beverly Hills in casual digs with their hands full. What's interesting though is what Agassi's carrying -- a Square Panda Phonics and reading game for kids.

Djokovic and his wife, Jelena, just had their second child -- a baby girl -- in September ... so it's gotta be for her right?

As for the coaching ... the Djoker hired Agassi in May to help him repair his form and worked with him for 2 months before an elbow injury knocked him out of Wimbledon. He's reportedly planning for a comeback in January at the Australian Open.

The 2 tennis greats together begs the question -- if you run into them on the street and only have time for one autograph ... who do you ask?

Ex-NBA stars Earl "The Pearl" Monroe and Henry Bibby claim they got "conned" into joining a new basketball league ... only to get screwed out of thousands of dollars.

Both guys are suing the Champions League -- a 5-on-5 full court league comprised mainly of retired NBA players and coaches.

Monroe and Bibby claim they were promised serious cash to join -- but the money never came.

According to the suit, obtained by TMZ Sports, Monroe accepted a job as Sr. VP and GM of the Gotham Ballers -- and was supposed to get $110k ... but he only got $30k instead.

Bibby says he was supposed to get $60k for coaching the Phoenix Desert Cats -- but never got a cent.

The guys say they were offered stock to make up for the cash -- but they think the whole league is a Ponzi scheme and want their cash, asap.

Add two very important members of the Seattle Seahawks to the group of people who will be deposed in the Colin Kaepernick collusion case.

TMZ Sports has learned Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll and owner Paul Allen will join a long list of NFL honchos who will be deposed and asked to turn over all cell phone records and emails relating to Kaep's case against the league.

So far, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, Patriots owner Bob Kraft and Texans owner Bob McNair are also on the list ... according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

It was widely reported Colin and the Seahawks had a positive meeting over the summer but the Seahawks never made a formal offer.

After the meeting, Carroll told reporters he didn't sign Kaep because he considered Colin a "starter in this league" and he wanted to give the guy a chance to sign with a team where he had a real chance to play.

UFC champ Tyron Woodley is taking Conor McGregor to task for using the homophobic F-word 3 times at a recent UFC event ... saying he's sick of everyone giving Conor a pass for repeatedly using offensive language.

"How many passes do we give this dude?" Tyron said on his new show, "The Hollywood Beatdown." "You need to have a bit more of a social conscious when you're saying things."

McGregor has apologized for using the gay slur -- and says he's a supporter of the LGBT community -- but saying "sorry" just ain't cuttin' it with Tyron.

Woodley pointed to Conor's remarks from earlier this year -- when he told Floyd Mayweather to "dance for me, boy" TWICE -- that he felt were racist in nature.

T-Wood also goes after Michael Bisping -- vowing to tear his "UFC Tonight" colleague's head off in the octagon for all the crap he's been talking.

Ezekiel Elliott says he's willing to fight his domestic violence suspension for as LONG AS IT TAKES TO CLEAR HIS NAME ... because, "I'm not an abuser."

The Dallas Cowboys running back just explained why he's so insistent on fighting the NFL instead of serving his 6-game suspension in a strong locker statement, according to ESPN's Josina Anderson.

"This is bigger than a suspension. It's bigger than football. It's them trying to make me something I'm not. I'm not an abuser. That's not who I am."

He continued, "This is my name and this is my reputation. That's something that I have to live with beyond football so, everyday is worth fighting for."

Deshaun Watson has broken his silence on his devastating season-ending knee injury -- saying he knows it's all part of God's plan.

The Houston Texans rookie QB phenom tore his ACL during Thursday's team practice -- which SUUUUUCKKKKS for football fans ... especially in Houston.

"They say you never miss it until it's gone and even though it's not gone for long, I already miss it," Watson wrote.

"Yesterday I felt like I let my teammates, my fans and my family down. However, as a child of God, I understand that everything happens for a reason. He DON’T make mistakes!"

Watson thanked all his fans, teammates and other pro athletes who reached out and offered support -- saying, "I am humbled and can only say thank you from the depths of my heart."

"I promise that I will continue to work diligently so that this team can one day bring a championship to Houston, and when I return, I will be better, stronger and more focused than ever before! Now the grind begins."