TMZ Sports - Page 50

Jeff Gordon says Bubba Wallace isn't just important to NASCAR for being the first Black full-time driver at the top level in 46 years ... he's also a LEGIT badass behind the wheel.

Wallace will drive the legendary No. 43 car for Richard Petty Motorsports next season -- a tremendous honor ... since that's The King's car.

Gordon says it's important to acknowledge the historical significance of having a black driver in the full-time circuit -- but says the real focus should be on what he can do on the track.

Jeff also explains why he thinks there aren't more black drivers in the sport -- and how Wallace can help change that moving forward.

The family of ex-MLB pitcher Roy Halladay insist he was an extremely responsible pilot ... despite witness claims he was hot-dogging before the crash.

"Just as he was known for his work ethic in baseball, [Roy] was also widely respected by those who knew him in the aviation community for his hard work, attention to detail and dedication to safety while flying," the family said in a statement.

TMZ Sports spoke with multiple witnesses who say Roy's plane was making extreme and unusual changes in altitude while flying over the Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday before the fatal crash.

One witness described it as "aggressive flying."

But Roy's family says that just doesn't sound like Roy.

"Since retiring from baseball, [Roy] has been actively studying, accumulating the required flight hours and obtaining multiple pilot certifications and licenses."

"He treated his passion for aviation with the same joy and enthusiasm as he did his love for baseball."

The Halladay family says they are "heartbroken" -- and will remember him for his success as a major league pitcher, an amazing father, loving husband and loyal friend.

The family also says they will hold a "celebration of life" for Roy on Tuesday in Florida and the service will be open to the public.

Pacman Jones says he's lucky to be alive -- after power lines fell down Thursday in the middle of the highway near the Bengals practice facility causing multiple cars to crash ... including his.

"I’m driving, these power lines just fall down out of nowhere bruh, in the middle of the highway. Almost got killed," the Cincinnati Bengals star said on video from the scene.

"I’m just so happy I’m alright man. If I wouldn’t have came across man I might be dead."

Jones showed damage to his black Dodge Durango -- but says he's not worried about that ... he's happy he wasn't hurt.

Former Patriots star Willie McGinest has some real talk for O.J. Simpson after he got drunkenly booted from a Vegas hotel ... SIT DOWN, SON!

"He should just sit his ass down somewhere. Stay out the way," Willie told TMZ Sports.

FYI, the Juice got way too loose Wednesday night at the Cosmo -- getting escorted out by hotel security before being slapped with a permanent ban.

McGinest says it should be an easy formula for his fellow USC football alum to follow ...

Legendary swimmer Diana Nyad -- who's shared her story of sexual assault for years -- says it's time to accept there are MILLIONS of victims, and start taking a closer look at the perpetrators.

Diana tells TMZ the rash of sexual abuse claims since the Harvey Weinstein scandal broke should be a wake up call for society to stop living in denial. She calls it an epidemic, and says much like the response to mass shootings ... people express shock, then do nothing to fix the problem.

Diana says she was repeatedly sexually assaulted by her swim coach, starting when she was 14.

Ezekiel Elliott's 6-game suspension is back on ... after the NFL superstar's motion for an emergency injunction pending appeal was denied by the U.S. 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals.

A 3-judge panel determined Zeke's legal team didn't meet the requisite standard ... which means he'll officially begin serving his suspension against the Atlanta Falcons this weekend.

The NFL Players Association can still appeal (again) to the full 2nd Circuit Court ... which would be heard on an expedited schedule.

Mike Tyson got KO'd in Chile -- authorities there denied him entry and ordered him back to the U.S. of A.

Authorities say the former heavyweight boxing champ didn't meet the requirements for entry Thursday because of his rap sheet. The country's equivalent of the FBI posted this pic showing Tyson flanked by 2 detectives.

O.J. Simpson was booted from the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Las Vegas Wednesday night after allegedly getting wasted and then being extremely unruly.

Simpson had been frequenting bars at the hotel since his release from prison. Hotel staff tells TMZ ... at around midnight last night, Simpson was drunk and became disruptive at the Clique bar. We're told Simpson was angry at hotel staff and glasses broke at the bar.

Check out the pic below of Simpson strolling through the hotel Wednesday night.

Georges St-Pierre says a superfight vs. Conor McGregor is possible ... but not until after he fights Robert Whitaker.

Fresh off his victory at UFC 217, GSP joined the guys on the "TMZ Sports" TV show (airs tonight on FS1) and talked about his fighting future.

Earlier this week, Dana White told us he wouldn't rule out a St-Pierre and McGregor superfight -- saying Conor is down to fight anyone.

Now, with GSP saying he's up for it too, it seems it's all about making the money work.

Conor McGregor's chances of fighting in the UFC this year just got exponentially higher ... 'cause is he really gonna let down a ridiculously attractive fan who wants him back inside the Octagon??

We got Octagon girl Brittney Palmer out in L.A. -- and, turns out, she loves Conor just like the rest of us.

Brittney told TMZ Sports she doesn't know when he's gonna come back ... but she hopes it's soon -- "please come back!"

Palmer also told us she's super down for McGregor vs. GSP -- and even said she'd talk to Dana White to try and make it happen.

Bonus: Brittney's a double-threat -- painting original works for BIG money -- and told us all about a huge art show she's putting on at Art Basel.

Here's a disgusting video of a lowlife jockey socking a horse in the stomach before a race in Australia, and we're warning you, it's pretty tough to watch.

It went down in Port Lincoln, Australia when jockey Dylan Caboche got aggravated with his horse, pre-race dismounted and put a right uppercut to the animal's midsection.

What's worse it that you can see the scumbag Caboche was still holding his jockey whip in his hand, making the punch actually more of a jab with the end of the piece of equipment.

Caboche received a 2-week suspension for his actions, and while his horse Reneldasgirl seemed to be okay, but it's amazing that this type of animal abuse didn't warrant a more stiff penalty.

Disgusting.

The day of questioning has arrived for Venus Williams ... the tennis star is about to sit for her deposition in the lawsuit stemming from that fatal car crash back in June.

As we previously reported, the family of Jerome Barson sued Venus -- claiming she's to blame for blocking an intersection and causing Jerome's car to T-bone her in a crash that killed Jerome.

So, what happens today? Barson's lawyers will undoubtedly grill Venus about her driving decisions on that fateful day and try to paint her as negligent.

Venus will most likely fight back and continue to lay the blame on a third unidentified driver who she has claimed cut in front of her -- forcing her car to linger in the intersection.

Jim Brown ain't ready to give up on the Cleveland Browns just yet ... 'cause the NFL legend tells TMZ Sports he "absolutely" believes the Brownies can get at least one win this season.

We spoke with the Hall of Famer outside Il Pastaio in Bev. Hills about the 0-8 Browns ... and while it might seem impossible to Cleveland fans, J.B. has faith the team will turn things around.

While Brown didn't have much to say about the team fumbling on the potential AJ McCarron trade ... he assured us "the Browns are doing the best they can."

Greg Hardy's got a message for Dana White on the heels of his 32-second KO debut -- "keep an eye on me" ... "'cause you're gonna want me in the UFC eventually."

"I'm here to prove whatever I need to prove," Hardy told TMZ Sports.

"I'm trying to work on being the best me that I can be -- being the best athlete, being the best complete fighter, being the best person."

Pretty good pitch for the embattled ex-NFL star -- who Dana says is gonna have to conduct himself like a pro in and out of the cage before he gets a UFC opportunity.

Hardy told us he's up for the task -- and already has a timeline set for his next fight!!

Colin Kaepernick dug his own football grave ... so says Warren Moon, who tells TMZ Sports he doesn't think teams will go near Kaep after he filed a grievance against NFL owners.

We spoke with the Hall of Famer and Houston legend about Kaep's status with the league ... and he questioned whether the controversial QB actually wanted to play this season.

"If he was gonna file a lawsuit, he maybe should've waited 'til this season was over if he did want to play this year," Moon says, "because it was almost like, does he really wanna play if he's gonna go and sue the league and then also try to get signed by a football team ... the 2 just don't seem to mix."

We also asked about Bob McNair referring to players as "inmates" ... and from his experience with the Texans owner, Moon believes his comments were misunderstood.

There are two ways to read this quick video response from Michael B. Jordan that TMZ Sports shot outside Craig's in L.A. when we asked him about rumors UFC's Sage Northcutt is up for the role of Ivan Drago's son in "Creed 2."

"I don't even know who that is," Michael said.

Maybe he doesn't. Sage isn't a household name (yet). Maybe MBJ was just trying to drive his ridiculously nice car into the L.A. night, probably to visit some beautiful actress and eat fresh grapes.

Or maybe he knows exactly who Sage is and that he's up for the role -- and played the age-old "I don't who that is" game because he wants to give no props to the man whose fictional dad killed his fictional dad.

Maybe MBJ wants the revenge America deserves on Drago's unholy spawn so badly that he can't even begin to come to terms with the all-encompassing rage he feels when the name "Drago" is uttered.

It's probably the first one, honestly, but dear God we wish it was the second.

To hell with you, Drago. #RIPApolloCreed.