TMZ Sports - Page 50

A company that sells stock in professional athletes claims Chicago Bears WR Kendall Wright is a bad investment ... because he's allegedly screwing the company out of a ton of cash.

Wright is being sued by Fantex, Inc. -- which has made headlines for making deals with professional athletes so they could sell "shares" to fans who believe the athletes are destined for big paydays.

For example, Fantex would pay athletes a signing bonus and in exchange they could get a piece of the athlete's future income on and off the field. Stock holders would participate in the profits.

Fantex reportedly signed a deal with Wright back in 2015 -- offering him $3.125 mil for 10% of his future earnings. Since then, Wright reportedly made $7.3 mil with the Titans in 2016 and and $4 mil with the Bears in 2017.

He'll probably sign another big contract in 2018.

But the problem, according to Fantex, is Wright stopped paying the company their cut in March 2017 and now owes them $288k in back payments plus interest ... totaling $312,715.25.

Fantex says it's tried to contact Wright for the money, but he's basically blown them off.

Rod Carew says he feels like a "superman" with his new heart and kidney ... telling TMZ Sports he's only getting stronger since suffering a major health scare 2 years ago.

ICYMI -- Carew experienced a massive heart attack back in 2015. Just months later, he received a heart transplant from Baltimore Ravens tight end Konrad Reuland ... who died from a brain aneurysm when he was 29.

Carew -- who was a part of the '18 Rose Bowl Parade -- says he's forever grateful he received Reuland's organs and has kept in touch with his family ever since.

The 72-year-old -- who once made 18 straight All-Star games -- jokes that he's feeling better than ever ... and would LOVE to make a comeback after being away from the majors for 32 years!!

BONUS: We asked Carew who he thinks is the next Rod Carew ... and you gotta check out his answer.

What did Tua Tagovailoa's championship game heroics mean to the people of Hawaii?

UFC champ Max Holloway -- one of Hawaii's biggest sports stars -- told us it was "HUGE" ... and says the 'Bama QB should expect the VIP treatment when he comes home.

"Hawaii has a lot of pride," Max told TMZ Sports. "A parade is probably gonna happen down here and it’s gonna be insane."

But Max says the best is yet to come for Tua -- and even compared him to an NFL legend!

Speaking of 'Bama heroes, we also talked to Eryk Anders -- a linebacker-turned-UFC fighter who sealed the 2009 title game for the Tide -- and he couldn't say enough good things about Nick Saban AND Kirby Smart!!

One of baseball's most dangerous power hitters ain't done swinging for the fences just yet ... 'cause 38-year-old Ryan Howard tells TMZ Sports he's gunning to return to the MLB this season!!

We spoke with the 2006 National League MVP about his future in baseball ... and the 3-time All-Star makes it very clear he's not ready to walk away just yet.

"I'm still active, so we'll see what happens. Right now, we're kinda in the belly of the beast," Howard says.

Howard blew up early in his career ... leading the league in homers 2 different seasons. He spent most of last season bouncing around the minor leagues, but wants to put any retirement talk to rest:

The Ball bros (mostly LaMelo) had some sick hoops to kick off their pro careers in Lithuania ... but there was some ugliness, too -- and we cut up the video for all you Ball fans/haters out there.

Young Melo probably had the plays of the game -- a dope, no-look dish on a fast break and a Kobe-esque up-and-under reverse (see that, Lakers??). But LM also got sloppy with the rock and missed all his 3-balls.

LiAngelo got the start and looked sluggish out the gates ... but recovered to outscore his little bro, 19 to 10.

Of course, LaVar was watching in the stands -- and lost his mind whenever anything good happened.

Oh, and over 100,000 FANS tuned in. BBB's clearly doing something right.

Dallas Cowboys WR Cole Beasley ... can rap.

The 28-year-old slot receiver just dropped the first single from his new album. It's called "80 Stings" and Cole hits on everything from Dak Prescott's throwing ability to his professional relationship with Jerry Jones.

He also addresses the fact he's a white rapper -- and how nobody expected him to have real rap skills.

"Who knew, huh? White dude rappin' too tough."

Spoiler: He's pretty good.

Beasley is dead serious about hip-hop and even started his own record company, ColdNation Records, to put his music out.

Some of the lyrics from the track ...

"Can’t snap a necklace up off me, cuz I don’t have one. Spent that on college funds for both my sons ... but that’s 4 accounts I’m accounting for. Another 2 that’s yet to come, yes I have enough."

Tom Brady says he "loved" Jimmy Garoppolo -- and absolutely did NOT strongarm the Patriots into trading him to the 49ers because he felt Jimmy was a threat.

TB12 went off about the allegations during an interview with WEEI's "Kirk & Callahan" -- essentially calling BS on the ESPN article that described a major rift in the Patriots organization.

When asked specifically if his fitness guru/business associate, Alex Guerrero, refused to treat Garoppolo and even locked him out of Brady's training facility, Tom responded, "It is so far from the truth that I know."

He also shot down several other points from the article -- including having a fractured relationship with Bill Belichick and being pissed over not winning a team award.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr says it's a damn shame LaVar Ball has gotten as big as the Kardashians ... and he's taking aim at everyone who's let that happen.

"Somewhere, I guess in Lithuania, LaVar Ball is laughing at all of us," Kerr told reporters before the Warriors game on Monday.

"People are eating out of his hands for no apparent reason, other than he's become like the Kardashian of the NBA or something."

Steve added that everything LaVar spouts -- including saying the Lakers don't wanna play for his former assistant, Luke Walton -- is "complete nonsense" ... and ain't worthy of media coverage.

Guessing LaVar's gonna have something to say about this ... remember, he told TMZ Sports he HATES when the Balls are compared to the Kardashian clan.

'Bama QB Tua Tagovailoa is an overnight celebrity -- and the proof? He's already getting love from one of the hottest singers in the world, 5th Harmony's Dinah Jane.

After his National Championship heroics, Dinah reached out to Tua -- who's Polynesian just like she is -- to tweet some love in the QB's direction.

"Wow!!!! The turnover was crazy to watch 😱😱 had everybody’s jaw dropped! congrats @Tuaamann_ way to come through with the win man !!! Love seeing polys on the rise ✊🏽 leggooo xx"

Not a bad way to start your Tuesday morning!

He's also getting love from stars like UFC champ Max Holloway and ex-'Bama running back Mark Ingram.

Get used to it pal.

Alabama running back Bo Scarbrough is adamant he did NOT fire an F-bomb directed toward President Trump before the college football national championship.

Instead, Scarbrough claims he said, "F**k Georgia."

And if you listen to the video ... sounds like he's telling the truth.

A Sporting News reporter inside the tunnel at Mercerdes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta released the video and claimed Bo said, "F**k Trump."

With Trump in attendance at the game, it made sense.

But Bo claims the reporter simply misheard him -- saying, "If y’all really listen I said Georgia smh about y’all people in this world."

How did Nick Saban celebrate his 6th National Championship? PARTY IN THE BAMA LOCKER ROOM!

The man who launched the legend of Tua Tagovailoa rallied up his team in following the 26-23 victory over Georgia on Monday and led a spirited rendition of the Bama fight song.

It's a pretty awesome sight ... even if Saban's been through it before.

For some reason, Terrell Owens was with the team and soaked up the awesome moments. See -- he finally knows what it's like to be in a winning locker room!

It wasn't just Alabama that came up big Monday night ... Drake won a HUGE bet with rap superstar Quavo -- we're talking STACKS ON STACKS ON STACKS!

Here's the situation ... Drake was at a college football national championship party with 2 Chainz -- but all eyes were on 6God because he made a huge bet with Quavo, who's a big Georgia guy.

When Bama won the game, Drake went nuts -- calling Quavo on the phone to rub it in.

"I need all my chips, Quavo!! I need my chips with the Huncho Jack DIP my boy!"

He threw around stacks of $100 bills to brag. Meanwhile, Quavo was at the game (he was on the sideline!). No word on the exact amount, but let's get serious ... it's more about bragging rights than money -- both these dudes are loaded.

Hollywood can forgive Tonya Harding if they want ... but Johnny Weir says that's NEVER gonna happen with him and the rest of the figure skating community.

We spoke with Weir the day after Harding got a shout-out at the Golden Globes ... and he told us why the inspiration for "I, Tonya" doesn't deserve a pass.

"She did a horrible, horrible thing," Johnny told TMZ Sports. "She's a pariah in our sport and she shouldn't be forgiven for basically, possibly having the opportunity of ruining somebody's life."

Of course, Weir's referring to the 1994 scandal where Harding's ex-husband hired a goon to attack rival Nancy Kerrigan before the Olympics.

Harding was subsequently blacklisted from ice skating -- and Weir says it should stay that way.

On a lighter note, Johnny told us Team USA looks great this year -- and name-dropped the one American skater we all gotta watch at the Games!

Tonya Harding kneecapped Piers Morgan, or at least her interview with him ... abruptly cutting it short when he called her out for acting like she was the victim, and not Nancy Kerrigan.

Tonya was on "Good Morning Britain," and clearly expecting a softball convo about "I, Tonya." But after she gushed, "My movie is going to help so many people" .... Piers had enough, and the trainwreck began.

He very directly stated Nancy was the only one who had a dream, along with her kneecap, shattered -- and it totally caught Tonya off guard.

7:15 PM PT -- Alabama RB Bo Scarbrough definitely wasn't in Trump's corner Monday night. He was heard yelling, "F*** Trump," before kickoff.

President Trump was met with a LOT of noise at the college football National Championship game on Monday ... and from what we heard on the broadcast, it sounded mostly positive. There were some boos, too.

Trump waved to the crowd and had a big smile on his face at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta -- flanked by military personnel. He stayed on the field through the National Anthem.

Remember, both Alabama and Georgia were Trump states in the 2016 election.

One other thing ... Kendrick Lamar is set to perform for the halftime show. It'll be interesting to see if the rapper -- who's a huge Trump critic -- says anything to ruffle feathers.

Wiz Khalifa, T.I. and Josh Smith have some shiny new hardware after an award ceremony where the nominees have way more impact on the public than your average Golden Globe winner.

The rappers and former NBA star attended the Developing Options Awards Banquet ... a Southern California event rolled out by its foundation's CEO, Eugene "Big U" Henley.

Wiz took home the "Epic Man of the Year Award" for his multiple donations -- totaling up to $100k -- to drive the foundation. T.I. scored the "University Iron Man" award for donating to Crenshaw High School's new football field.

Smith got the "Baller-Shot Caller" award for hooking up Snoop Dogg's youth football league and Crenshaw High's football team with new uniforms.

Nipsey Hussle ("Business Cluster Leadership") spearheaded educational classes and, along with rapper Trinidad James ("First Class"), spent thousands of dollars on clothes and shoes to outfit more than 400 inner city kids.

Congrats!!!