TMZ Sports - Page 50

TMZ Sports might've unearthed 1 of the biggest shockers in NFL friendship history ... 'cause Ricky Williams told us he and Mike Ditka will always be bros!!!

You remember the trade ... Ditka gave up 8 PICKS to draft Ricky to the Saints back in '99 -- but NOLA bombed and Da Coach got canned.

But Williams says he and Ditka -- differences aside -- are "homies for life" ... 'cause Mike's one of the few guys he can always turn to.

"I remember when I played for him ... he said, 'If you can count on 1 hand how many people you have as close friends, then you’re doing OK.' And that's been advice I've held close to my heart all these years."

If you're not into the warm and fuzzy stuff, Ricky also weighed in on the insane Aqib Talib vs. Michael Crabtree brawl ... and his reaction was kinda surprising.

Astros pitcher Dallas Keuchel has proof that a good time can cost you ... he tells TMZ Sports that the walking boot on his foot is a result of the raucous Astros victory parade.

We got DK leaving Catch LA and asked him what's with the new footwear, since we weren't aware of any injuries he got during the World Series.

That's when Keuchel told us ... he actually hurt his paw after he slipped during the festivities celebrating the Astros first ever MLB championship.

Chuck Liddell says Chael Sonnen's claim that he turned down multiple offers to fight him is complete and utter BS ... and he ain't gonna let it slide.

"I've never been offered a fight with him," Chuck told TMZ Sports. "Never. No one's offered me anything to fight him. Not even a bad deal that I didn't take."

The Iceman says Chael's just up to his old tricks -- churning out fake news -- and he's got a solution to shut him up once and for all.

"He knows where I train at. Come on down! We'll see what he can do."

Probably ain't gonna happen since Sonnen's signed up to fight Rampage Jackson in January ... but it definitely looks like Liddell's prepping for somebody.

Felice Herrig literally beat the crap outta her opponent last time she fought inside the Octagon -- and says she's totally cool with getting down and dirty again this Saturday at UFC 218.

Seriously.

"Actually I wouldn't mind if (Cortney Casey) sh*t on me because if the ref sees it, it's an automatic TKO," Felice told TMZ Sports. "TKO via poop stoppage ... I'd love that."

Don't get it twisted -- Herrig doesn't wanna be known for her poop-inducing abilities ... but if they get her the W (which is technically the rule), why not let ish happen, right??

#EmbraceTheGrime

Jay-Z was on Meek Mill's home turf Friday night and showed rousing support for the "Free Meek" movement.

Hova played the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia as part of his 4:44 tour, and played Meek's song, "Dreams and Nightmares."

Jay ended up leading the crowd as everyone joined in.

Before the concert a bunch of celebs, including Trey Songz, Yo Gotti, Philadelphia 76ers stars Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons hit up the D'USSE VIP Lounge ... all wearing or holding Stand With Meek Mill hoodies, courtesy of 76ers owner Michael Rubin.

Wanna know how LaVar Ball feels about Byron Scott telling him to stay in his lane??

Well you're in luck ... 'cause TMZ Sports got the BBB boss out around Chino Hills earlier this week, and he went SCORCHED EARTH on the ex-Lakers coach.

It was so good, we're giving you the full play-by-play:

"Yeah I got words for Byron Scott: Shut the hell up and do what you do! Leave me alone."

"He ain't doin' nothing else. Tell him if he want his name in the news, tell him go do something! You ain't gotta talk about Ball to get your name in the news."

"But then again, yes you do. Cause ain't nobody talk about Byron Scott doin' nothing."

Dang ... looks like Donald Trump's actually been getting off easy.

Robert Horry's off the hook for getting into a fistfight with another coach at his kid's basketball tournament ... no charges will be brought against him.

We broke the story ... Horry was being investigated for battery by the LAPD for an altercation with the man at the Nike 3ON3 tournament at L.A. Live in August. In the video of the incident, Horry was seen getting shoved by the opposing coach and then going after him.

According to L.A. City Attorney ... the case was reviewed and rejected because prosecutors didn't think they had enough to convict the former NBA star.

As we reported ... the coach said Horry initiated the violent encounter and he only shoved him first to protect himself. Horry told a different story ... saying the coach struck first and he had to defend himself.

Looks like the law sided with Big Shot Rob.

Arianny Celeste says she can slay the mic just like Selena Gomez -- and if you want proof, all ya gotta do is peep her new track!!

TMZ Sports caught up with the UFC's baddest Octagon Girl -- who's been killin' it in the recording studio -- and asked who she compares herself to as a singer.

Arianny shot high ... telling us she thinks of herself as a Selena-Tove Lo hybrid.

But don't take her word for it ... Celeste says her new single, "Zoo," can do all the talking. (We watched it. She's right.)

BTW, Selena, if you're out there ... Arianny says she's down for a collab!!

You really gonna say no to this action??

One of the best polo players on the planet says a big name Hollywood star could've made a living off the sport ... telling TMZ Sports Tommy Lee Jones is no joke on the pitch!!

We spoke with the David Beckham of polo at LAX about the best celeb player ... and without hesitation, Nacho Figueras says TLJ is hands-down at the top of the list.

Matt Bomer is praising Magic Johnson for his fight against HIV & AIDS, telling TMZ Sports the Hall of Fame basketball player was "incredibly brave" in taking on the disease.

Today is World AIDS day and Bomer is a huge activist, so when we got him at LAX we wanted to know his thoughts on some of the figures who are helping to win the war.

That's when Matt brought Magic's name up, telling us public figures like Johnson were and are key to defeating AIDS, because they put a face to the disease, and that's key to humanizing it.

Of course Magic did that on a day in 1991, when he told the entire world he'd contracted HIV, and went on to spend a huge chunk of his life helping the world conquer it.

FSU quarterback Deondre Francois says Jimbo Fisher didn't do him the courtesy of giving a heads up before bailing for the Texas A&M coaching job ... and he's clearly pissed.

Jimbo resigned from his job in Tallahassee on Friday to accept a 10-year, $75 MILLION fully guaranteed deal with the Aggies, according to reports.

The redshirt sophomore -- who suffered a season-ending knee injury back in September -- sent out a subtweet directed at his former coach ... saying "No call, no text, you could of said something ..."

Current NFL star Deshaun Watson noticed the tweet and gave a word of advice to the young baller.

UFC champ Max Holloway's taking a page outta The Book of Drizzy Saturday night at UFC 218 -- saying he's goin' back to back against featherweight GOAT Jose Aldo.

"Be like Drake," Max told TMZ Sports. "I'ma put it on him ... I'm comin' for your head."

Don't get it twisted -- Holloway's got crazy respect for Aldo ... and says he's still got a long ways to go before he matches the greatest 145-pounder of all time.

That said, the young king ain't lackin' for confidence against Jose (his last victim), Frankie Edgar (his original opponent) or anyone else that's in his warpath.

"When you're the baddest man on the planet ... anybody, anywhere, anytime, man."

Ex-NBA star Kermit Washington is finally admitting he spent hundreds of thousands of dollars in charitable donations on himself ... pleading guilty to 3 felonies in federal court.

TMZ Sports broke the story ... Washington -- a former All-Star -- was arrested in May 2016, and accused of orchestrating a fraudulent scheme where he took a large amount of money intended to help Africans in need.

Washington initially pled not guilty, but changed his tune this week ... pleading guilty to aggravated identity theft and 2 counts of filing false income tax returns.

As part of the deal, the US Attorney has agreed to not pursue more than 8 years in prison (KW was initially facing 45 years) ... though the sentence is ultimately up to the judge.

Somehow Odell Beckham Jr. can even make an injury look cool ... 'cause the N.Y. Giants superstar is turning a negative into a positive by sporting a custom Supreme design on his walking boot!!

Beckham -- who suffered a season-ending ankle injury earlier this season -- showed off the Supreme x Louis Vuitton pattern Friday morning ... and we gotta admit, it's pretty dope.

We know OBJ's a huge fan of the brand collaboration, 'cause we've spotted him out wearing a similar look in basketball jersey form in July.

The older brother of soccer mega-star Lionel Messi is a wanted man in Argentina after cops discovered a gun in his blood-soaked boat ... according to reports.

Matias Messi allegedly told a security guard at the Fighiera fishing club that he cut his face by colliding with a sandbar ... but after police discovered a .380 handgun inside Matias' motorboat, they tried (and failed) to track him down for questioning.

The Messi family is pissed over all the accusations -- issuing a statement today saying Matias was NOT carrying a gun on the boat ... and has been MIA because he's at the hospital prepping for surgery.

If the gun is found to be Matias' ... he could be in serious trouble. Back in 2008, he was arrested for carrying a loaded firearm without a permit ... and in 2015, he was detained for again failing to provide documentation for his gun.

Here's the aftermath of J.J. Watt's season-ending leg surgery ... and if you're not a fan of cringe-worthy scars, you're gonna wanna look away.

The Houston Texans superstar shared a video of his rehab progress on Friday after going down with a fractured tibial plateau in his left leg early in October ... showing his first steps without crutches or a brace.

While the walking is a great sign for Watt's improving health, the scar on his left leg is something serious.

BTW ... despite being sidelined, Watt's been continuing to put in work for Hurricane Harvey relief, and was able to finally check out some of the rebuilding in person on Thursday.