TMZ Sports - Page 50

Bombshell from ESPN ... longtime president John Skipper has suddenly resigned -- and says it's to focus on a secret battle with "substance addiction."

"Today I have resigned from my duties as President of ESPN," 61-year-old Skipper said in a statement.

"I have struggled for many years with a substance addiction. I have decided that the most important thing I can do right now is to take care of my problem."

"I have disclosed that decision to the company, and we mutually agreed that it was appropriate that I resign. I will always appreciate the human understanding and warmth that Bob displayed here and always.

"I come to this public disclosure with embarrassment, trepidation and a feeling of having let others I care about down.

"As I deal with this issue and what it means to me and my family, I ask for appropriate privacy and a little understanding.

"To my colleagues at ESPN, it has been a privilege. I take great pride in your accomplishments and have complete confidence in your collective ability to continue ESPN's success."

It's the big question every Carolina Panthers fan is asking -- will the drama surrounding owner Jerry Richardson affect the players on the field?

Who better to ask than a former NFL star who played 10 seasons in the league -- including 1 year with the Dallas Cowboys?

So, when we saw Marcellus Wiley at Compton City Hall giving out toys to kids (salute!) we had to know ... is the Panthers' season doomed, despite their 10-4 record?

UCLA basketball is still drawing big stars in the crowd -- even without the Ball family -- with Caitlyn Jenner sitting courtside while the Bruins took on the Cincinnati Bearcats.

Jenner sat courtside with her publicist and longtime friend, Alan Nierob -- a UCLA grad who's a big shot on campus (he's on the board of visitors).

Unfortunately for Cait and Alan, the Bruins lost -- perhaps because all 3 players from the infamous China shoplifting fiasco are still not on the court.

As you know ... LiAngelo Ball ain't ever coming back -- he's off to Lithuania ... but his picture is still on the UCLA basketball tickets.

Awkward!!

Roughly 18 months after calling it quits ... Iggy Azalea and Nick Young came face-to-face at Craig's in L.A. on Sunday -- and it was definitely NOT sunshine and rainbows.

Swaggy (who plays for the Warriors) is in town to play the Lakers -- and stopped by his old stomping grounds for dinner. Just so happens, Iggy had arrived a few hours before and was still inside.

The two were only inside the restaurant together for a short while -- but afterward, Young broke it down for us ... and told us things are cordial.

In fact, he even gave us ADVICE on how to act when you run into your ex ... and it ain't half bad!

But, Iggy clearly didn't feel the same way -- because when a reporter claimed the two were on a "dinner date," Iggy unloaded on Twitter.

"Ryan Smith @ TheDailyMail i hope all your christmas gifts contain boxes of dried up chips of dog sh*t for trying to imply i would EVER, EVER have a dinner date with my ex who created a full human behind my back."

Remember, they broke up when it came out that Nick knocked up his ex-GF.

Iggy added, "The unfortunate thing about LA is there are not that many places people eat. You can be in the middle of one of the most important dinner meetings of your life; and randomly your ex and all his friends walk in the same place."

If you can't beat 'em, join em?!

Colin Kaepernick is now throwing his hat in the ring to be the next owner of the Carolina Panthers!

The embattled QB was seemingly inspired by Diddy's efforts to buy the team from alleged terrible person Jerry Richardson ... and tweeted at the rap mogul moments ago.

"I want in on the ownership group! Let’s make it happen!"

Diddy has been on a media blitz -- explaining why he'd make the perfect NFL owner. He also said he wants to sign Colin.

Some experts believe the team could sell for more than $2 BILLION.

Hope you guys saved up!

Justin Bieber took his smooth moves to a new height -- or maybe low -- while playing a pickup game of hockey.

Justin was repping his OG home team ... rocking a Toronto Maple Leafs jersey Sunday at an L.A. rink. The Biebs doesn't shy away from contact during these games -- he plays almost every week -- and this time he went down.

Hard to make out if he got checked, but somehow JB ended up on his ass. Rather than whining about a penalty ... he flipped over and banged out some push-ups.

Listen up, LiAngelo and LaMelo Ball -- in case you're having any second thoughts about Lithuania ... we found a team for y'all that tours the whole damn globe!

That's right -- we got Cheese and Jet of the Harlem Globetrotters out in NYC ... and they told TMZ Sports they'd be totally down to bring in the Ball bros.

"If it doesn't work out, come to the Globetrotters! Or come here first -- forget Lithuania!" Cheese said.

Dope offer for BBB ... but also kinda funny considering their teammate, Hoops, told us big bro Lonzo ain't exactly Globetrotter material.

Master P says his dream of being an NBA coach nearly came true with the New Orleans Pelicans ... telling TMZ Sports he was actually up for a job on the NBA team's coaching staff this year.

P sat down with us to talk about his coaching debut later this month in the Global Mixed Gender Basketball league he owns ... but also told us he almost got a shot at the big time.

"I feel like I could help the New Orleans team this year. You know I was up for that job last year as an assistant coach?!"

P didn't tell us exactly what kept him from getting the gig, but he did say it was ultimately the Pelicans loss, because he truly believes he could've made them a winner.

"I would've turned that team around." Later adding, "That should be a championship team right now."

7:05 PM PT -- Diddy is weighing in on the Panthers' sale ... and it sounds like he wants to throw his hat in the ring as the next owner.

Well that was fast -- Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson says he's putting the team up for sale at the end of the season ... the same day the NFL said it's investigating him.

Richardson released a statement Sunday saying he was planning to sell the Panthers franchise to new ownership, but wouldn't start the process 'til the very last game.

As we reported ... the Panthers launched an investigation into their owner this week for alleged misconduct in the workplace, including reported cash settlements for at least 4 employees.

According to Sports Illustrated, the misconduct centered around alleged sexual harassment and the use of a racial slur. The NFL also announced Sunday that it was taking over the Panthers' original probe ... which appears to have forced Richardson's hand.

Gotta say ... this reminds us a lot of when TMZ Sports revealed racist comments made by former Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling ... who sold the team after news of his scandal broke.

A French soccer player went full-on blackface for an '80s costume party ... and quickly apologized for thinking it was okay.

Antoine Griezmann -- a star striker for Spain's Atletico Madrid --- posted a photo and video of himself Sunday in a full-body blackface costume of an NBA All-Star player, 'fro and all.

As you might imagine, the backlash was fast and furious ... and he eventually took down the controversial posts. He also apologized in his native tongue on Twitter, which translates to something like ... "I admit this is awkward on my part. If I hurt some people, I apologize."

Bow wow wow yippee yo yippie yay -- LaVar Ball got his soon-to-be Lithuania bound sons some new playmates ... 3 Rottweiller puppies.

TMZ Sports got video of Lavar, LiAngelo, LaMelo and leaving Petco in Chino Hills, CA as they toted out the puppies. They didn't get the puppies in the store, but they were stocking up like crazy for 'em.

We're told they got bedding, treats, food and toys -- all puppy essentials. LaVar told people in the store he'd just gotten the Rotties because he has a big backyard that needs patrolling ... plus, his kids wanted 'em. Santa Ball delivers!

The big question is if they'll be headed to Lithuania with LiAngelo and LaMelo. No word on that or names for the dogs.

Claudia Jordan's taking a serious shot at Ben Roethlisberger before his Steelers take on her Patriots this Sunday ... pointing to past sexual assault allegations against the QB.

"Steelers, your quarterback is very questionable. He should be in jail," Claudia told TMZ Sports outside Delilah in L.A.

Remember -- Big Ben was accused of sexual assault by two separate women in 2008 and 2010 ... but no criminal charges were brought against him in either case.

But, the former 'Real Housewives of Atlanta' star clearly ain't buying Roethlisberger's innocence.

LaVar Ball picking a Lithuanian league for LiAngelo and LaMelo had a lot of people scratching their heads ... but not Swae Lee, who says the Big Baller's makin' money moves!

"I think wherever the bag is calling, you gotta chase the bag," the Rae Sremmurd rapper told TMZ Sports outside Poppy in L.A.. "It could be Columbia, it could be Venezuela, it could be Australia -- wherever the bag is calling."

Swae ain't wrong, in theory ... but BBB claims it ain't about cash -- with Gelo and Melo reportedly pocketing no more than $500 per game.

Offset's showering of luxurious birthday gifts didn't stop with his fiancee buying him a Rolls ... he's also dripping in ice inspired by The Nature Boy.

The Migos rapper got the new chain from the CEO of his label, Pierre "Pee" Thomas. If Pee's name sounds familiar, it's because he also blinged out Gucci Mane and his wife at their wedding.

We're told the Naitch jewelry -- made by Wafi Lalani at Jewelry Unlimited in ATL -- is made up of 27 carats on the chain and 25 on the pendant.

At a cost of $70,000, it's enough to make anyone yell, WOOOOO!!!

This is why it's awesome to be in the NFL.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers star Vernon Hargreaves' rumored GF ... a woman so hot we, here at TMZ Sports, feel there should be a charge to read this post (there might be soon -- thanks, FCC).

The woman is IG model Kaitlyn Patrise, and there have been multiple reports that her and Vernon are getting cozy ever since she was spotted in the booth of a Bucs game.

Dean Cain is giving Roger Goodell a Kryptonian kick right in the ass ... telling TMZ Sports the commish's PHAT new contract is money horribly spent, cause Goddell SUCKS at his job.

Roger is now SWIMMING in money ... with the owners agreeing to extend his contract 5 years to the tune of a whopping $200 million.

Cain ripped into the new deal when we got him at LAX ... saying Goodell has mismanaged huge issues like Ray Rice, Tom Brady, and Ezekiel Elliott, making the big money a big mistake.

Dean's not the only one BTW ... Jerry Jones is leading a faction of owners in open rebellion against Goodell, mostly due to a perceived failure to gain control of the kneeling protests by players.