TMZ Sports - Page 50

Here's Louisiana Congressman Cedric Richmond going all "Hit 'Em Up" on Donald Trump -- slamming POTUS as a bitter old man who's "irrelevant" when it comes to the NFL.

The diss session started when we asked the Chairman of the Black Caucus if Trump should consider it a victory that no players took a knee during the national anthem at the Super Bowl.

That set Richmond OFF.

Richmond says Trump's "not wanted" when it comes to the NFL -- and claims DT's bitterness toward the players is born out of the fact he was never able to buy an NFL team of his own.

Burn.

Kobe Bryant got the All-Star treatment at the Oscars lunch on Monday -- getting the prime front row seat for the official group photo ... despite the fact he towers over EVERYONE there!

He's in front of huge stars like Margot Robbie, Saoirse Ronan, Mary J. Blige, Kumail Nanjiani, Guillermo del Toro, Laura Dern ... EVEN MERYL FRICKIN' STREEP!

Then again, she's been in like 50 Oscars lunch photos ... so, maybe they wanted to switch it up.

The Mamba's been nominated for Best Animated Short for "Dear Basketball" -- and he's clearly enjoying everything that goes along with being a nominee ... including free lunch!

Derrick Ward's wife wants out ... filing court docs to separate from the ex-NFL running back after allegations he's been brutalizing her over the past year.

As we previously reported, Ward's wife Naomi got a restraining order against the former NY Giants running back last month claiming he's been physically abusive in front of their children -- shoving her, punching walls and breaking things.

Now, we've learned Naomi filed for divorce on Feb. 5 in Los Angeles seeking to separate. The assumption is that she'll eventually move to end the marriage once and for all.

We've reached out to Ward for comment -- so far, no word back.

Prince wouldn't be pissed at Justin Timberlake for using his image and voice during the Super Bowl halftime show, at least according to Prince's sister ... who wants JT's haters to back off.

Tyka Nelson tells TMZ ... she was pleasantly surprised by Timberlake's performance, and even enjoyed his controversial Prince tribute. She and the rest of Prince's family knew he was planning to sing, "I Would Die 4 U," but says they weren't aware he was doing the video projection.

As for the backlash -- Tyka says everyone has their own idea of what Prince would have wanted ... so, it's an impossible position for Justin.

Tyka added her brother was outspoken, but wasn't one to hold grudges ... referring to the old beef between Prince and JT's beef over "Sexy Back." As she put it, "He said what he said and kept it moving."

Of course, one of the things he said was he hated duets between living and deceased artists. He called it "demonic" ... which doesn't sound like he'd be all that forgiving.

For her part, Tyka ain't trippin' ... and neither is JT, apparently.

Here he is ... the tight end who threw a PERFECT touchdown strike to Nick Foles in the Super Bowl -- and now he's telling TMZ Sports what was going through his mind when he got the call.

Trey Burton said the Eagles had practiced the play called, "Philly Special" -- but he didn't expect the team to run it at such a crucial time in the game.

But when it happened, Burton -- a former college QB -- said he was READY and executed like a legend.

The best part ... Burton says he was 100% confident Foles would catch the pass because he's a freak athlete who's made some incredible grabs in practice during the season.

The Eagles are a football team from Philly.

The "Eagle" is a common name for gay bars all across the world.

So, when a bunch of straight Eagles fans went to Minnesota for the Super Bowl and saw a watering hole called the "Eagle Bolt Bar" ... they didn't realize they were hitting up one of the top gay bars in town!

The good news ... it didn't matter for some of the patrons who stuck around and had a great time, according to Star Tribune's Eric Roper.

"I can confirm a number of Eagles fans here at @eagleBoltbar were drawn by the name. Including a guy from Hamburg, Germany," Roper reported.

Good news ... if they stick around, they can hit "Gear Night" on Saturday -- where patrons are encouraged to wear their finest leather & chain outfits (dress code enforced).

Shannon Sharpe says it might be the beginning of the end for the Patriots dynasty ... 'cause recent statements by Robert Kraft prove there are real problems between him, Bill Belichick and Tom Brady.

Remember -- ESPN dropped a bombshell report last month alleging their relationships were fractured ... and in the lead-up to the Super Bowl, Kraft admitted to "tension" and needing to "get their egos checked in."

Shannon told TMZ Sports those words prove there's "a crack in the foundation" ... and the co-host of FS1's 'Undisputed' wouldn't put it past Belichick to leave the Pats over all the infighting.

Nick Foles has gotta be the happiest man on earth at the Happiest Place on Earth -- the Super Bowl MVP is getting the royal treatment in the Disney World parade!!

It's a tradition that's been going on for years -- the winners of the Big Game get to send someone (usually the MVP) to Orlando to be the Grand Marshal in a parade through Magic Kingdom with Mickey Mouse!!

Foles got the honors this time around, and it looks like he's lovin' every second of it.

No, Super Bowl LII was NOT Bill Belichick's final game in the NFL ... at least according to John Harbaugh who's convinced the Patriots coach is coming back.

With rumors swirling that Bill and Tom Brady could finally call it quits after the big game ... especially with 2 key assistant coaches likely leaving and Rob Gronkowski pondering retirement.

But Harbaugh -- the head coach of the Baltimore Ravens -- just ain't buyin' it ... telling TMZ Sports both Brady and Belichick are super tight and neither one is ready to live the civilian life just yet.

For the record, Belichick and Brady are adamant they're coming back next year.

The Philadelphia Eagles are champions of the NFL ... and now they got the championship bling to match!

On the heels of their huge Super Bowl win, WWE exec Triple H got a custom world heavyweight championship belt done up for the Eagles ... a gold-plated replica of the strap belonging to current WWE champ A.J. Styles.

"To quote Zach Ertz, you’re 'the World Champions' .... so you need a World Title! Congratulations," HHH said.

The belt looks awesome ... but it's worth noting that HHH -- a native of the Boston area -- also got one made for the Patriots last year.

Guess there are no hard feelings.

Oh no, J Lo ... WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!

Here's Jennifer Lopez trying to cheer up a sad bunch of Patriots fans after the Super Bowl by bringing out her ex-Yankee BF, Alex Rodriguez, on stage ... and it went exactly how you'd think it would.

From the moment A-Rod hit the stage, he was welcomed with a massive amount of boos from the crowd of probably-Red Sox fans. The couple tried some cute banter ... but the boos didn't stop.

Gotta admit ... it took major cojones for A-Rod to agree to join Lopez on stage. Then again, it's not like he had any other option.

Eventually J Lo gave up and went back to her music ... 'cause Sox fans don't forget.

NBA star Karl-Anthony Towns made a political statement at the Super Bowl -- making sure everyone knew he was rooting for the Eagles ... and Meek Mill.

KAT, flanked by his smokin' hot GF, came to the big game reppin' a "Free Meek Mill" Eagles jersey -- a public sign of support for the imprisoned Philly rapper (and unofficial team rapper).

He wasn't the only one -- NFL studs Todd Gurley and Melvin Ingram also came through U.S. Bank Stadium rockin' Meek ... while LeBron shouted out the #FreeMeek movement on social media.

Of course, Towns was also PUMPED on the outcome of the game ... yelling like a maniac and proudly proclaiming, "I ain't never been so happy!"

Honestly didn't see this one coming ... a FOX News reporter made a friendly Super Bowl bet with CNN's Jake Tapper -- and the REAL winner is a charity for military vets.

We spotted FOX News chief political anchor Bret Baier at LAX and asked about the politics that surrounded Super Bowl LII.

That's when Baier revealed that he was rooting for the Patriots and made a bet with Eagles fan Jake Tapper. Winner had to donate $250 to the charity of the other anchor's choice.

Baier said Tapper picked a charity to help homeless military vets -- Homes For Our Troops.

The Eagles locker room was turnt to the max after winning the Super Bowl last night ... bustin' out a bottle of Hennessy and blasting the Meek Mill bangers to cap off the big win!!

Check out the players lettin' loose with "big shots" of cognac and getting cozy with their shiny new Lombardi Trophy while Meek's "Dreams and Nightmares" -- the team's unofficial anthem -- got the entire room jumping.

Thankfully, Bryce Treggs and Marcus Johnson captured the madness ... even the PUNTER was gettin' wild.

There's more ... Malcolm Jenkins went top shelf -- taking pulls of Johnny Walker Blue Label right out of the bottle.

Robert Kraft -- who's brought 5 championships to New England -- was all apologies after the Super Bowl ... telling fans, "Sorry we disappointed you."

The Patriots owner took center stage at the official team after-party in Minnesota -- telling fans they had planned a shindig as if they were going to win the game ... complete with A-list entertainment that included Jennifer Lopez, Gucci Mane and Florida Georgia Line.

Obviously, the loss affected the mood ... and Kraft poured his heart out on stage.

"I'm really sorry we didn't close it out tonight," he said ... adding, "We're sorry we disappointed you. We feel bad."

Larry Nassar was just sentenced to an additional 40-125 YEARS in prison ... less than 2 weeks after a judge signed his "death warrant" with a 40-175 year term in a separate case.

This time, the disgraced ex-Team USA doctor was being charged for sexual assault crimes he committed at Twistars USA Gymnastics Club in Lansing, Michigan.

Last week, he heard impact statements from dozens of his victims ... and was nearly attacked by the father of 3 girls he abused.

Nassar issued an apology to his victims in court ... but the judge wasn't buying it, telling Larry -- "I am not convinced that you understand what you did was wrong. Clearly you are in denial. You don't get it."

FYI, Nassar was already sentenced to 60 years for child porn crimes ... bringing his minimum years behind bars to 140.