TMZ Sports - Page 50

If Floyd Mayweather's serious about stepping inside the Octagon -- there's a UFC champion, not named Conor McGregor, who says he'll (respectfully) kick his ass!

We spoke with T.J. Dillashaw after Dana White said he was "talking to Floyd" about a UFC deal ... and the bantamweight champ threw down the gauntlet on Mayweather.

"Floyd, bring it," T.J. said to TMZ Sports. "Let’s find out what real fighting’s all about."

But as much as Dillashaw would "love" to welcome TBE to MMA ... he's not giving Floyd a chance in hell of surviving.

"Not against me, that's for sure ... he's toast."

Tristan Thompson's Kardashian spawn ain't just gonna make him more famous ... it could damn well make him a better basketball player -- so says NBA vet Jim Jackson.

We got J-Jax at Cafe Gratitude in L.A. ... and he told us why knockin' up Khloe might translate to a fiercer Tristan on the hardwood.

"Having a child always settles you down a little bit," Jackson told TMZ Sports. "Maybe a kid settles him down and gives him more focus."

Seems like Jim isn't buying into the Kardashian curse -- basically saying TT should be good as long as he keeps handling business for the Cavs.

John Salley says Magic Johnson called him the day after the NBA legend's 1991 earth-shattering HIV announcement ... to ask if Isiah Thomas had been privately dissing him for contracting the disease.

Johnson and Thomas ended their decades-old feud this week with a teary-eyed reconciliation -- part of a sit-down interview between the two men.

Salley played with Zeke on the Bad Boy Pistons team of the 80's, and when we reached out to him to ask him about the hatchet burying, he gave us some insight into why things were so bad in the first place.

"I know how tough it was. The morning after Magic announced I was on the phone with him, and he asked me, 'Did Isiah say such and such?'"

The fact Johnson was so concerned with Thomas' reaction to his illness shows how fractured their relationship was -- and why it took nearly 30 years to repair things.

Salley went on to say he's glad Magic and Isiah have patched things up -- and the fact that Johnson apologized for the way he treated Zeke really makes a difference.

"I'm the biggest Magic Johnson fan ever ... and now even more."

Darryl Strawberry says his sex addiction was so bad during his MLB days ... he would take chicks into the clubhouse and nail 'em between innings.

The ex-NY Mets star opened up to Dr. Oz (the full interview airs Thursday) and said he used to get away with it because teammates would cover for him when he would go MIA.

"It was pretty crazy," Strawberry says ... "I would go between innings, and stuff like that and run back and have a little party going on."

Strawberry has since sought treatment for his addictions and says he's a changed man -- noting that his old behavior is "not good for anyone."

LaVar Ball says his new amateur hoops league is gonna crush the competition ... and he's got a loud, pointed message for anyone doubting his ability to run the show.

"The (Junior Basketball Association) is a heck of a league! Gonna be one of the most exciting ever!"

"And for all you haters out there -- keep doin' what you been doin' -- NOTHING!" LaVar said in a video posted to social media.

The Big Baller Brand honcho says the JBA – a league recruiting top amateur players like his son, LaMelo -- is ahead of the curve ... and finally paying young players "what they're worth" ($3k-$10k per month, reportedly).

LaVar also seems to take a shot at FS1's Jason Whitlock ... which is kinda confusing since Whitlock basically went to bat for Ball on Wednesday.

Christmas came early for A-Rod ... 'cause the ex-MLB superstar just unwrapped his brand new PRIVATE JET -- and it's awesome!

We're told Alex Rodriguez got rid of his old LearJet 60 a while ago ... and decided to upgrade with a Gulfstream IV.

According to people familiar with the planes, Alex's new jet has DOUBLE the flight mileage capacity as the old jet ... which means it's better for international travel.

And get this ... the jet seats up to 14 people -- perfect for Jennifer Lopez and her kids!

The new Gulfstream was delivered to Alex in Florida on Wednesday with his A-Rod Corp. company logo painted on the tail ... just in time for the holidays!

Venus Williams insisted to lawyers the traffic light was "always" green as she drove across the intersection where she had the fatal car accident -- but that doesn't match up with what she told police on the scene.

TMZ Sports obtained a portion of Venus' recorded deposition in the wrongful death lawsuit filed against her by Jerome Barson's family. During the depo, taken Nov. 9, Venus repeatedly says she only saw a green light. If true ... it would mean the Barsons, traveling perpendicular to Venus, had run a red light when they t-boned Venus.

The potential problem for Venus is that's not how witnesses remember it, and it's not even how Venus remembered it while talking to Palm Beach Gardens PD. Body cam footage shows her saying, "As I was going to start again, I saw that the light was turning red." The exchange begins at 40 seconds.

If Venus saw the light turning red, that would mean the Barsons did have a green light as they proceeded through the intersection. In fact, according to the police investigation, witnesses said the Barsons DID have a green.

As we reported, the police cleared Venus of any criminal wrongdoing in the accident -- saying neither party was to blame.

Meanwhile, the wrongful death suit is moving forward and likely headed for court where a jury will have to decide if Venus was negligent as she crossed the intersection.

Diddy has another big supporter in his corner in his quest for NFL ownership -- with Al Sharpton saying the business mogul could fix a BUNCH of the league's PR problems.

"He would be the perfect mixture of business acumen and pizzazz," Sharpton said -- pointing to Diddy's success in music and fashion.

Sharpton also thinks Colin Kaepernick deserves a place at the owner's table -- saying his knowledge as a "football scholar" would pair perfectly with Diddy.

Demetrious Johnson thinks Floyd Mayweather would be EASY WORK in the octagon -- telling TMZ Sports he'd obliterate the boxing superstar if the two clashed in the UFC.

After Dana White confirmed he was talking with Floyd about a "UFC deal" ... DJ immediately threw his name in the mix as a possible first opponent.

In fact, Mighty Mouse joined the guys on the "TMZ Sports" TV show (airs weeknights on FS1) and broke down exactly how he'd punish the 40-year-old.

If you found out someone you loved was doing drugs -- and you knew you could stop it -- would you grab a hammer and try to rescue that person???

That's the story behind the arrest of Tim Donaghy -- the ex-NBA ref who went to prison for betting on NBA games that he officiated.

Donaghy was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for allegedly threatening a man with a hammer ... but he told police the only reason he was even in that situation was to save his daughter.

According to the police report, Tim believed his daughter was doing drugs with a friend at a nearby home -- so he grabbed a hammer and went to get her.

While Tim was arguing with his daughter outside the home, he was confronted by another man -- the father of his daughter's friend.

The man claims Tim brandished the hammer and threatened to use it, if he came any closer.

Police were called and Tim was arrested for aggravated assault.

Donaghy's attorney tells TMZ Sports his client did NOT assault anyone -- and didn't threaten anyone -- he only had the hammer for protection. Tim insists he was just trying to be a good dad.

Khloe Kardashian is finally going public with the baby news you heard here first.

Khloe posted a shot of her belly with her and Tristan Thompson's hands wrapped around it. She says, "I know we've been keeping this quiet but we wanted to enjoy this between our family and close friends as long as we could privately."

We broke the news back in September that she and Tristan were expecting their first child together.

As for those bands on Khloe's left ring finger -- don't get too excited.

She wears 'em all the time -- has been for more than a year now. Despite some reports Tristan and Khloe secretly got married ... we're told no dice! They're not husband and wife yet.

Baby steps, people.

Venus Williams is not at fault for her fatal car accident, but neither is the driver of the other vehicle ... according to the police investigation.

Palm Beach Gardens PD released their findings on Wednesday and said no charges will be filed in the case. Cops say neither Venus nor the Barsons -- the couple in the car that t-boned Venus -- violated the other's right of way.

TMZ Sports got the video which shows exactly what went down in the June 9 car wreck.

Venus told police on the scene she was "caught in the middle" of the intersection because a 3rd vehicle had turned in front of her as the light was turning. You can see that car at about 17 seconds in our video ... the police say it was a Nissan Altima and they spoke to the driver.

They concluded the Altima driver DID violate Venus' right of way. However, police also aren't blaming the Altima driver for the wreck.

The Barsons drove through the intersection when the light turned green and smashed into Venus. Jerome Barson later died from his injuries.

Getting traded can be tough ... but don't feel bad for MLB star Evan Longoria -- 'cause his smokin' hot, Playboy model wife is coming with him to San Francisco!

Meet Jaime Edmondson ... January 2010 Playmate of the Month and better half of the other famous Longoria, a 3-time All-Star with the Tampa Bay Rays.

Jaime's resumé might be even more impressive -- she's also a 2-time "The Amazing Race" competitor, former Miami Dolphins cheerleader and police officer AND current full-time mom to 4-year-old Elle ... her and Longo's first kid.

The Giants just got a lot better -- and so did their WAGs club.

Here's Floyd Mayweather shooting down a potential UFC fight ... while at the same time leaving the door open.

Yeah, we know ... it's confusing -- but the takeaway is that Floyd wants everyone to know he has NOT signed a deal with Dana White.

After White told ESPN he's "talking to Floyd" about a potential MMA deal -- Floyd spoke with FightHype and said, "I'm not doing it."

But in the same breath ... he also bragged about how much money he could make with the UFC and added, "We just don't know what the future holds for Floyd Mayweather."

Remember, Floyd RETIRED before the Conor McGregor boxing match and swore he was done fighting forever ... only to go back on his word to take the fight.

If Floyd Mayweather is serious about taking a UFC fight, he's already got a WORLD CHAMP offering to train him -- Tyron Woodley!

"Let me know when you need me to slide through -- we'll get you trained, get you ready," Tyron said on "The Hollywood Beatdown."

Tyron and Floyd are friends -- and during the show (full ep drops Friday on the TMZ Sports YouTube channel) Woodley says he REALLY hopes Mayweather's first UFC opponent is Conor McGregor.

"Conor is the only option for him," Woodley says ... noting McGregor is "really a stand-up fighter" and doesn't pose as big of a threat as other UFC stars who specialize in wrestling or jiu-jitsu.

Tyron says he's excited for his pal -- and wants to walk him into the Octagon once the ink is dry on the contract!

Make sure to catch Tyron EVERY WEEK on "The Hollywood Beatdown."

Post Malone says Ezekiel Elliott was totally shafted by the NFL's handling of his suspension ... but says it's all water under the bridge now, 'cause the Cowboys will still win the Super Bowl!!

TMZ Sports spoke with Posty about Zeke's on-again-off-again suspension and appeal process ... and he says the league should've made its decision and stuck with it instead of treating him like "a cat with a yarn ball."