TMZ Sports - Page 50

Golf star Bill Haas was completely disoriented when he called 911 following a fatal car crash involving the Ferrari he was a passenger in during the wreck.

TMZ obtained audio of the call Haas made immediately following last week's crash in Pacific Palisades, CA. The 71-year-old driver of the Ferrari was killed. The crash also involved Luke Wilson's car, although he was not injured.

In the audio, you can hear Haas say he's just been involved in a terrible head-on collision and the driver is trapped.

Derek Jeter is vowing to use his experience playing after the 9/11 attacks to help Florida fans cope with the massacre that left 17 people dead in the Parkland school shooting.

Jeter was in Ft. Lauderdale at a Chamber of Commerce meeting when Evan Golden -- a TV producer who graduated from Stoneman Douglas in '99 -- asked for advice on handling the tragedy.

Jeter and the Yankees -- and the sport of baseball -- are credited with playing a big part in returning a sense of normalcy to life following the 2001 attack.

"Sports has that great ability to bring people together. The fan base in New York really rallied around us on September 11th," Jeter says.

"Those horrific events that happened last week, nothing will change that. We can learn from it. Hopefully over time we find something to cheer for."

When an audience member yelled out, "Hopefully the Marlins will do it here" ... Jeter's response?

The Jets are desperate for Kirk Cousins, and everyone knows it ... so the QB should make 'em get on their hands and knees -- so says former Jets LB Hugh Douglas.

"If I'm Kirk Cousins, I'm gonna ask them to show me how bad do you really want me," Douglas told TMZ Sports out in Atlanta.

"Gimme all the money. I want a bologna sandwich at my locker every morning -- that's how bad you want me."

FYI, Kirk's still technically on the Redskins ... but even he knows he's as good as gone after the Alex Smith trade.

Hugh explains why Gang Green's gotta pounce ... and it's got everything to do with Baker Mayfield and the NFL draft's other QBs.

Mark Cuban was just fined $600k by the NBA for openly admitting to tanking ... less than 24 hours after a bombshell report was released exposing "predatory sexual behavior" in the Mavs' workplace.

"Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has been fined $600,000 for public statements detrimental to the NBA," the league said in a statement.

Cuban made his tanking comments on Dr. J's podcast earlier this week, saying -- "I'm probably not supposed to say this, but I just had dinner with a bunch of our guys the other night ... and I said, 'Look, losing is our best option.'"

The fine's chump change for a billionaire like Cuban ... but the timing couldn't be worse.

Sports Illustrated published an article Tuesday night alleging crude sexual harassment on the part of former Mavs president and CEO Terdema Ussery. The article also claims a former writer for the Mavs' website kept his job despite committing multiple acts of domestic assault.

Jemele Hill says her opinion of Donald Trump has NOT changed -- she still believes he's a white supremacist ... but she probably wouldn't ever tweet that again.

The ESPN star appeared on "The View" on Wednesday and was asked about the tweet that led to her suspension back in October.

"I still stand by what I said," Hill told Meghan McCain ... adding, "I don't think his supporters are white supremacists."

However, Hill says Trump is surrounded by people with similar beliefs -- including Steve Bannon and others who have "played footsie" with white supremacists.

Hill also said if she had to do it over again, she wouldn't have tweeted -- instead she would have gone to ESPN and asked to write a column so she could have explained her position in greater detail.

We spoke with Hill after the show and she told us ESPN has given her the green light to talk about "issues that intersect with race sports culture and politics" in her new role with ESPN's website, the Undefeated.

And since she's a pop culture fanatic, we also asked Hill about comic books and the new "House Party" remake!

Chuck Liddell says he's got legit evidence his health ain't an issue, so if Tito Ortiz wants it like he claims, he can absolutely get it!!

The Iceman fired back at Ortiz when we got him out in Calabasas, telling TMZ Sports he'd be "shocked" if UFC doctors didn't clear him for an Octagon return ... to smash Tito for the 3rd time in his career.

Chuck's proof -- he recently set out to scale a 20,000-FOOT mountain for a YouTube Red special ... and the 48-year-old says their docs gave him a clean bill of health for the grueling climb.

Guessing their medical tests are a little different ... but Chuck told us the UFC's cleared fighters in way worse shape than him, anyway.

So, Liddell says he's praying Tito puts pen to paper ... but explains why he has real doubts Ortiz will do it.

One of Mark Cuban's "Shark Tank" business partners says the billionaire always acted like a consummate pro with her ... and she'd be SHOCKED if he really did know about the horrible things happening with the Dallas Mavs.

We spoke with Raven Thomas who got Mark to invest in her gourmet food business -- The Painted Pretzel -- during a 2012 episode of "Shark Tank."

Thomas had nothing but positive things to say about her 6-year work relationship with Cuban -- and says he's always been a respectful partner and honorable business owner.

In fact, Thomas says she was "shocked" by the allegations that the Mavs' front office was a nightmare for women ... saying, "I would be surprised, shocked if he had any knowledge of this and didn't do anything about it."

Thomas says she's also spoken with other people who work with Mark and has not heard anything negative about their experiences.

Wanna own a home with its own baseball field, indoor basketball court, full gym ... and a private fishing pond?!!?

Good news -- Cal Ripken Jr. is putting his incredible Maryland home on the auction block ... which means it could all be yours if you've got roughly $10 million to spend!

Ripken initially put the 24-acre estate on the market for $12.5 mil back in 2016 -- but the price was just too damn high ... so Cal chopped the asking price down to $9.75 mil back in April 2017.

Still, no takers -- but Cal's motivated to sell ... so he's bringing the home to auction with no reserve on May 12.

Here are the highlights ... the home is roughly 22,000 square feet and has 6 bedrooms, 15 bathrooms, a home theater, 10-person spa, private hiking trails, pool and a kitchen that can fit 100 people!

Rick Pitino is not the cheating monster he's being made out to be in the media ... he's actually a REALLY good dude who STILL takes care of his former players ... so says one ex-Louisville hoops star.

We spoke with Luke Hancock -- who was the Final Four "most outstanding player" during the 2013 national championship run ... and he's going to bat for his coach in a big way.

"I feel honored to have been a Louisville Cardinal," Hancock says ... telling TMZ Sports the allegations surrounding Pitino's basketball program do not reflect the man he truly is.

In fact, Hancock says Pitino personally took care of him when his father was gravely ill and he still looks to Rick as a "father figure."

Of course, the NCAA moved to vacate Louisville's national championship and dozens of wins after finding that officials in the U of L program were organizing sex parties for recruits and players.

But Luke says the NCAA will never be able to erase the fact that their team was one of the best ever -- and he's still got the rings to prove it!

Metta World Peace says he's got 10 new brothers and sisters after "Celebrity Big Brother" -- including Omarosa, who ain't a villain like she's portrayed on TV.

"To me, Omarosa, she's just a nice lady, a big sister that I really love," World Peace told TMZ Sports the day after being eliminated from the show.

Metta also told us he got even closer to his boy, Chuck Liddell, through boxing (and chess!) ... and says he knows the REAL reason the UFC Hall of Famer was the 1st cast member to get the boot.

MWP explains that he was ultimately happy to get the axe, too, 'cause it was too hard being away from his real fam.

"I was crying more than I ever cried in my life."

Feb 21. 9:06 AM PT -- The San Francisco Giants released a statement saying Cepeda was hospitalized due to a "cardiac incident" ... and is in critical condition.

7:45 AM PT -- Cepeda "suffered a severe blow to the skull" after falling in the parking lot of his gym on Monday ... Orlando's family friend, Minor League Dodgers coach Paco Figueroa, told Puerto Rican newspaper El Nuevo Dia.

Baseball Hall of Famer Orlando Cepeda, 80, was rushed to a Bay Area hospital on Monday night ... according to an SF Giants team official who spoke with one of Cepeda's family members.

The official had no information on Cepeda's current condition or the reason he was hospitalized.

Orlando's last public appearance was at AT&T Park in January ... when he joined Willie McCovey and other former Giants teammates for Mac's 80th birthday party.

Cepeda is one of the greatest players in Giants history, making 7 All-Star teams (6 with SF) and winning NL MVP in 1967 with the Cardinals. He also played for the Braves, A's, Red Sox and Royals.

He became the 2nd Puerto Rican player to make the Hall in '99, joining Roberto Clemente.

Stop us if you've heard this one before ...

Floyd Mayweather hit up a crazy expensive restaurant sporting a crazy expensive watch -- and couldn't wait to show off his jewelry on camera!

This time, Floyd -- surrounded by his TMT bodyguards -- was in the mood for fancy Chinese food at Mr Chow in Bev Hills ... and on the way out it, he let his blinged-out wrist do the talking.

As we've previously reported, Mayweather has an insane watch collection -- including a $2 MILLION diamond-covered timepiece ... which he showed off back in 2016.

He also bought a $1.1 million diamond-covered Hublot watch during a shopping spree at a mall in Dubai back in 2015. It's one of the most expensive watches in the world.

No word if the watch he rocked on Tuesday is brand new or an old favorite -- but one thing's for sure ... it's expensive.

Mark Cuban says he's already begun firing and suspending Dallas Mavericks front office employees over a Sports Illustrated article that paints the company as a nightmare place for female employees.

The article came out late Tuesday and contains quotes from several current and former female employees who say they experienced sexual harassment and "predatory sexual behavior" while working with the Mavs.

Among the allegations in the article ... former Mavericks president and CEO Terdema Ussery allegedly told one female employee, "You're going to get gang-banged, aren't you?"

When the woman told Ussery she was actually going to the movies with friends he replied, "No, you're definitely getting gang-banged." Terdema has denied the allegations.

Another claim from the article ... a former Mavs website writer committed multiple acts of domestic assault, including against a female employee he was dating.

Both employees -- Ussery and the writer are no longer with the team.

Cuban has essentially said he didn't know about the alleged incidents -- claiming he would speak with his head of human resources and was assured he didn't have a problem in the Mavs organization.

When he learned of the incidents via the Sports Illustrated reporters, Cuban says he immediately took action -- hiring an independent law firm to investigate and a 3rd party company to handle harassment complaints.

Cuban says he's also fired his head of H.R.

"I want to deal with this issue," Cuban told SI ... adding, "There's a problem in the Mavericks organization and we've got to fix it."

Miley Cyrus elevated Shaun White to Almighty status (holy hell ... check out that candle!!!). Just some of the perks of winning a gold medal.

Miley hung out with the Flying Tomato a week after he brought home gold for crushing the halfpipe event in Pyeongchang, South Korea. Dude landed back-to-back 1440s on his final run to help the U.S. clinch its 100th all-time gold medal at the Winter Olympics.

NFL superstar Aldon Smith is begging a judge to drastically reduce his child support obligations immediately ... claiming he can't keep up the high payments while suspended by the league.

28-year-old Smith hasn't played a snap in the NFL since 2015 -- when he was suspended for a hit and run arrest in which cops say he was also drunk. Smith says he's currently awaiting reinstatement.

The issue ... back in 2013, Smith was ordered to pay $9,007 per month in child support to his baby mama for their now 5-year-old son.

He has since fallen behind almost $79,000 in payments -- and he's concerned it's only going to get worse unless the judge cuts him a break.

Smith says, at the time the child support amount was determined, he was making $3 million per year ($250k per month) ... so he could easily afford the payments. But things have changed ...

"I have had no income since November 2015," Smith states in court docs obtained by TMZ Sports ... "I have done my best to stay current, but without an income I have fallen behind."

One source connected to the case tell TMZ Sports ... Smith is full of crap and continues to live a lavish lifestyle while blowing off child support.

Kevin Hart says he's got a foolproof plan to avoid picking up the check at epic dinners like the one he had with Eddie Murphy and Dave Chappelle -- and he also revealed who DID pay.

We got Kev Tuesday leaving the gym in Encino, and had to ask about the all-star comedy summit he attended Monday night at Mastro's Steakhouse -- Eddie, Dave, Chris Rock, Chris Tucker ... and Usher and Dwyane Wade, too.

Kevin explained why the boss move is offering to pick up the check before anyone else does -- and it's not because you WANT to pay. It's a good tip. Pun fully intended.

But best of all ... he told us which comedy legend threw down his Black Card (we're guessing) to cover the meal. We got most of the crew right after the meal, when they were all in great spirits, and now we know why -- the person who paid was NOT with them.