TMZ Sports - Page 50

Pats' owner Robert Kraft was chattin' with TMZ Sports and hanging with fans hours before ESPN published a report about alleged issues with Tom Brady and Bill Belichick ... but Kraft didn't seem worried.

In fact, he was smiling and letting a hotel valet take pics with his Super Bowl ring at Chateau Marmont on the Sunset Strip ... and endorsing Steph Curry and Diddy as future NFL owners.

Of course, over in Bristol, ESPN was finalizing a report alleging a fractured relationship between Brady, Belichick and Kraft ... and questioning if the legendary dynasty has reached "the beginning of the end."

As for the report, ESPN essentially says the 3 are having major disagreements over Tom Brady's personal trainer, Belichick's coaching style and the future of the Patriots franchise.

Kraft obviously knew the report was coming ... but didn't seem fazed one bit.

Jesse Williams is better at playing doctor than he is at soccer, because he could barely keep up in a pickup game with a bunch of Brazilian kids half his size.

The "Grey's Anatomy" star is down in Rio and Thursday he decided to hit up a favela to try his feet at the beautiful game. It was awesome ... for the locals. You gotta see the moves the little guys dropped on Jesse ... putting the ball between his legs at least twice. Nutmeg!

He eventually had to go shirtless as he worked up a sweat ... so, there's something for Jesse's fans!

No shame in losing to these kids, though. For all we know, he was playing the next Neymar.

Terrell Owens' old quarterback says it's about damn time he gets his gold jacket ... saying the controversial receiver is more than deserving to get in the Hall of Fame this year.

TMZ Sports spoke with Jeff Garcia -- who played 5 seasons with T.O. on the 49ers -- and while it wasn't always smooth sailin' between the guys, Garcia says the off-field drama should NOT keep Owens out of Canton.

"With what he was able to accomplish statistically, being a top 5, top 2 guy in many categories. Stop beating around it, the guy deserves to be in the Hall of Fame. Put him in the Hall of Fame."

Critics have labeled T.O. as a QB killer and bad teammate ... and that's been the knock against him making the Hall. So, Garcia having his back is a big deal.

Owens -- who didn't get enough votes the last 2 years -- finds out if 3rd time's a charm on February 3 ... the day before the Super Bowl.

Serena Williams has withdrawn from the Australian Open ... saying she's not quite ready to compete on a tournament level after recently giving birth.

Serena posted the message to her Snapchat Thursday, saying ... "After performing in my first match after giving birth I realized that although I am super close I'm not where I personally want to be."

She adds ... "My coach and team always said 'Only go to tournaments when you are prepared to go all the way.'" Serena defeated her sister, Venus, in the Australian Open last year.

The new mom competed in a tennis match just last month -- her first since giving birth to a baby girl in September. It was an exhibition match against Latvian player Jelena Ostapenko at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi.

As for the Australian Open ... she says she looks forward to coming back and competing another time.

Cris Cyborg says she's 100% down to annihilate Amanda Nunes when the time is right ... but tells TMZ Sports it ain't gonna happen anytime soon.

Earlier today, UFC honcho Dana White said Amanda is itching to scrap with Cris ... adding that it's "the fight to make."

But when we spoke with Cyborg, she pumped the brakes on the super fight -- "I want beat her, I want kick her ass, but I need to focus on my division."

Cyborg (the champ at 145 lbs.) told us she wants to fight the "best girls" who've been climbing the ladder at featherweight ... and Amanda (the champ at 135 lbs.) has been fighting at bantamweight her entire UFC career.

So, Nunes can get it ... but not right now.

Cyborg also told us whether or not she forgives the photog who called her a "dude," and if she's satisfied with the UFC's punishment.

Jean-Claude Van Damme was an emotional wreck after accidentally kicking UFC star Cody Garbrandt in the mouth during an MMA training session ... so says Urijah Faber, who was there!

It all went down back in November -- when JCVD flew up to NorCal to give some leg striking lessons to the fighters at Team Alpha Male.

Faber says Van Damme accidentally kicked Cody in the teeth -- and Cody was PISSED. Van Damme "dropped down and got real emotional" and desperately tried to apologize to the former champ.

Faber explains how the two guys eventually smoothed things over -- and the whole interview will be featured Thursday night on the "TMZ Sports" TV show on FS1.

Don't miss it!

With President Trump attending the National Championship game, we asked rap superstar Quavo if he had advice for Georgia players who might consider taking a knee ... a la Colin Kaepenick.

"My message to the players is to focus on winning this national championship game," the Migos rapper said on the "TMZ Sports" TV show (airs tonight on FS1).

"Don't worry about nothing else. Just focus on winning."

FYI, Quavo is a HUUUUUGE Georgia Bulldogs fan -- and was even on the field with the team when they beat Oklahoma in the Rose Bowl. He'll be in the stands on Monday, too.

"[The Georgia players] been practicing. They've been working hard this whole season. They've been working hard from game 1 all the way now."

"You shouldn't get to the national championship and worry about [demonstrating]. You should be going straight in and worrying about football."

Gabi Garcia says she's got a damn good reason for missing weight in Japan ... she literally could've killed herself if she kept droppin' sweat.

"I decide not cut weight because I feeling like I almost died," said Gabi -- who insists she did NOT miss weight by 27 pounds, but rather 17.

The Brazilian MMA star told TMZ Sports about the scary events leading up to her weigh-in debacle ... saying her vision went dark once she started shedding pounds, which told her it was time to call it quits.

In a social media post, Garcia also said she suffered from gnarly headaches and bloody noses anytime she trained.

Still, Gabi feels terrible for having to scrap her fight with Shinobu Kandori ... and told us she's gonna learn from this and come back stronger.

"I accept this fight. It's my fault."

Charles Barkley is getting some love from the man he helped get elected, Alabama senator Doug Jones.

DJ was out in D.C. on Thursday when he shouted out Barkley with a great big, "Thank You."

Of course, Barkley was one of Jones' biggest and most influential supporters in his race against Roy Moore. Many people credit Barkley with helping get black voters to the polls, giving Jones the boost he needed.

We asked if Barkley has a future in politics -- and it sounds like Sir Chuck already has a supporter!

One more thing ... with Alabama playing the national championship game against Georgia on Monday, we asked if Jones would go to the game ... and what would happen if he saw Donald Trump there.

Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling legend Mt. Fiji -- real name Emily Dole -- has passed away after battling serious health problems for years. She was 60.

Fiji was one of the biggest stars in G.L.O.W. during its run from 1986 to 1992 ... never losing a single match. Fiji was so popular, she was invited on 'Regis and Kathie Lee,' 'Donahue' and "Card Sharks."

She also inspired the character Machu Picchu on the popular Netflix scripted series, "G.L.O.W."

Fiji's friend, Patricia Summerland (aka Sunny The California Girl), broke the news on social media Wednesday ... saying, "Rip Emily Dole! WE LOST OUR GLOW SISTER THIS MORNING. We are very sad that she passed away."

"She was the CHAMP IN THE RING. Fly high Mountain Fiji."

[h/t ProWrestlingSheet]

The Ball fam is officially ballin' out in Lithuania.

A day after getting MOBBED by photogs at the airport ... LiAngelo and LaMelo are tearin' it up at a private hoops sesh on BC Vytautas' home court -- with LaVar on commentary!!

Gelo's throwin' down 1-handed hammers, Melo's making it rain from deep ... and dad's hyping 'em up like the dude from the AND1 mixtapes.

If you're wondering where their teammates are -- this doesn't look like an official practice ... just the guys gettin' in some extra work.

Bonus: the Big Baller’s already trying to speak Lithuanian! Trying to ...

Wanna get a seat higher than the nosebleeds for the Super Bowl?? Now's your chance ... 'cause Ricky Williams is hosting his very own weed party for the big game!!

The ex-NFL superstar-turned-ganja advocate is hosting the highly anticipated event in February ... and instead of making it a BYOB party, Ricky's inviting guests to BYOW -- Bring Your Own Weed!!

The exact location of the party is still TBA ... but it'll be going down somewhere in the Hollywood Hills.

Is Orlando Scandrick done in Dallas??

We tried asking the 10-year Cowboys vet when we got him out at E. Baldi in Beverly Hills ... and he definitely wasn't saying no.

FYI, the stud CB was placed on the IR with a back injury before the Cowboys' season finale. Orlando told TMZ Sports that move "didn't really mean anything," but at the same time, it's clear he's keeping his options open.

"I just wanna play football," Scandrick said.

Feel better, O ... we're sure Draya Michele will get you back in shape.

Don't try this at home, kids ... you won't get in the club.

But dress codes don't seem to matter for Odell Beckham -- who rocked shorts to one of the hottest nightspots in Hollywood on Thursday ... and still got the V.I.P. treatment.

The NY Giants superstar hit up Warwick in West Hollywood -- sporting shorts and a sweatshirt ... and witnesses tell us he slipped in the backdoor of the place.

Inside the club, the place was packed with big sports stars -- including Von Miller and OKC Thunder players.

Michael Jordan's oldest son is engaged ... and he popped the question with a diamond ring the size of a knuckle!!

29-year-old Jeffrey Jordan recently proposed to his longtime GF, Radina Aneva ... and she said, "Yes!"

Aneva works in the film industry in Los Angeles. Jordan is a former college basketball player, the oldest of MJ's 5 kids and goes by the nickname, "Heir Jordan."

No word on when the wedding will go down, but the two are definitely in planning mode.

Congrats!

The daughter of former Washington Redskins owner Jack Kent Cooke allegedly yelled at a woman, "Hurry up, Jew" ... and then bashed her son with a purse.

She was arrested ... and there's video of the crazy aftermath.

The woman who wound up in cuffs is 29-year-old Jacqueline Kent Cooke -- her dad owned the NFL team from '61 to '97. He also owned the Lakers from '65 to '79. The family is rich as hell.

Fast-forward to New Year's Eve when Cooke allegedly got pissed off while waiting for her coat at Caravaggio restaurant in Manhattan ... and yelled at the 77-year-old woman in front of her, "Hurry up, Jew. I got places to be."

The situation escalated and the woman's son -- 52-year-old Matthew Haberkorn told the NY Daily News he followed Cooke and her boyfriend outside to confront them about the comments.

That's when Cooke allegedly struck Haberkorn with her glass purse -- causing 2 lacerations on his head.

The video begins right after the alleged purse strike ... you can hear Matthew say, "She just f*cking hit me!"

Cooke responds, "You called me a f*cking bitch. You called me a c*nt."

Matthew fired back, "You called me a f*cking Jew.”

Cooke then tries to tackle him to the ground. She fails. Cooke's boyfriend yells out, "What are you doing? You're throwing a woman on the floor."

Matthew responds, "I didn't f*cking touch her."