TMZ Sports - Page 50

"Basketball Wives" star Evelyn Lozada says if her life were on the line and she could only call one of her exes to save her ... she'd call Chad Johnson in a heartbeat.

Shaunie O'Neal and Evelyn were on "Van Lathan's The Red Pill Podcast" when Lathan asked each lady which one of their famous exes they'd call if they were in a life-threatening situation and could only call one.

Shaunie went with Shaq (duh, they have a perfect post-marriage life) while Evelyn chose the Ex-NFL star.

"Chad. And not that I don't have faith in Carl, Carl would be there, but we're talking about if my life is on the line."

The Carl she's referring to is ex-MLB star Carl Crawford, who Lozada was engaged to and had a son with before they broke up last year.

As for Lozada, she was married to Ochocinco for a little over a month in 2012 before a highly publicized domestic violence incident led to divorce.

Evelyn said she's not at all overlooking that or saying it's not a big deal, but based on the question, it's Chad over Crawford and former NBA star Antoine Walker ... her other famous ex.

Don't laugh off Conor McGregor hitting the campaign trail -- 'cause one of the most powerful members of Ireland's government says the Notorious could totally run for office!

We got Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar out at SXSW in Austin ... and he told TMZ Sports it'd be crazy to rule out the UFC megastar parlaying his popularity into a political career -- something McGregor hinted at recently.

Varadkar knows about defying the odds -- dude was Ireland's first openly gay and ethnic minority PM when he was elected in 2017, not to mention the youngest one in the country's history.

Leo also just met Arnold Schwarzenegger (which we got on video) -- and said if The Governator could do it, why not Conor??

Get ready to throw away your Girl Scout cookies, normies ... 'cause Sylvester Stallone's out here muscling 100-POUND WEIGHTS in his private gym -- and crushin' it like Rocky in his prime!!

Hard to believe, but Sly's already 71 years old ... but that hasn't slowed down his workout routine, clearly.

Regular pull-ups (or chin-ups if you're a workout nut) ain't enough for the senior Italian Stallion ... so, he strapped the weight of a small human around his waist and LETARIP!!!

What's even more shocking ... Sly captioned the vid -- "Another easy workout! You’re only as old as you and your joints feel!"

Not as savage as the 1-armed pull-ups ... but pretty damn impressive.

1-handed MMA star Nick Newell says his uphill battle to make the UFC ain't unlike the one Ronda Rousey and other female badasses faced back in the day ... and he's making his case for the same outcome.

We spoke to Nick after his dominant comeback fight at LFA 35 over the weekend, and he doubled down on his pitch for a UFC fight -- telling us he's done more than enough to scrap inside the Octagon.

"I'm gonna win fights there," Newell told TMZ Sports. "I'm ready to start snappin' some necks and cashin' some checks."

But Nick, who's 14-1 after his latest win, didn't sound too confident he'd get the call -- comparing his situation to the era of women's MMA before Rousey broke through.

Of course, women are now bigger in the UFC than arguably any major pro sports org. -- so "Notorious" is hoping Dana White changes his tune.

Donald Trump will be rubbing elbows with his supporters in one of the ritziest gated communities in Southern California.

TMZ has learned the fundraiser will go down at the home of Ed Glazer, the owner of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He lives in the super exclusive Beverly Park community in Beverly Hills.

Our sources say it was first billed as a "victory party" but later changed to a fundraiser.

Glazer has commissioned a company to install tents for the occasion -- a 40x50, a 40x40 and a 10x15. There are 64 guests who are invited for the event which will be held sometime between 5 and 10 PM.

The price of admission ... minimum $35,000 per person, with a top price of $250,000.

Bad news for Kansas City Chiefs tight end Demetrius Harris ... dude just got sentenced to JAIL TIME after getting caught with more than an ounce of weed.

As we previously reported, Harris was pulled over in Missouri back in March 2017 and, during the stop, cops found more than 35 grams of marijuana in the car.

He was initially charged with felony possession -- but later struck a deal with prosecutors in which he pled guilty to a lesser possession charge (misdemeanor) and in exchange he got 2 days in jail.

A spokesperson for Bates County Circuit Court tells TMZ Sports Harris will not get credit for time served -- he must complete the 2-day sentence at a later date. No word on when he plans to turn himself in.

Harris was also sentenced to 80 hours of community service and 2 years probation and must complete an NFL drug program.

Once again ... all of this for WEEEEEEEEED.

Jose Altuve INSISTS he wasn't angrily staring through Donald Trump's soul at the White House on Monday -- he just has resting angry face.

The photo of Altuve went viral ... showing the Houston Astros star with the ultimate mean mug while standing behind Trump during the ceremony to honor the World Series champs.

But on Tuesday, Altuve spoke with reporters and insisted he was NOT trying to disrespect the President.

"The president was talking ... what do you want me to do?" Altuve said.

"I was just standing there listening. It was an honor to be there. If I didn't want to go, I just wouldn't go."

"I'm behind the president ... probably one of the most important guys in the world. I can't be laughing or doing stupid things while he's talking. I need to listen."

Guess not everyone's obsessed about teaming up with LeBron this offseason -- at least, not Danilo Gallinari.

We got the Clippers star up in the Bev Hills ... and asked him if he thought Bron might pull a fast one and ditch the Lakers for L.A.'s other hoops squad this summer.

Danilo wasn't so sure about that -- but when we asked if he'd even want the King ballin' with him on the Clips, Gallo didn't mince words.

"I like the teammates that I got now. I like the team that we got now."

Ex-Oakland Raiders cornerback Sean Smith was just remanded into custody to begin a 1-year jail sentence after pleading guilty to felony assault stemming from a 2017 attack in Pasadena.

As we previously reported, Smith beat the hell out of his sister's boyfriend in Old Town Pasadena on July 4 -- punching and stomping the man so badly, he suffered 5 facial fractures.

The victim required major reconstructive surgery including a metal plate under his right eye.

Smith initially pled not guilty, but eventually struck a deal with prosecutors in which he agreed to plead guilty to felony assault by means of force likely to create great bodily injury.

In exchange, Smith got 1 year in jail and 5 years probation. The judge also told Smith he's not allowed to own a gun -- for the rest of his life. He's also ordered to pay the victim restitution.

Smith was handcuffed and taken into custody right in the courtroom to begin his sentence. He already has 1 day of credit under his belt -- so only 364 more days to go.

One of the frontrunners to fight CM Punk is making his case for the big-money bout ... saying he'll make it an unforgettable scrap -- by knocking Punk the hell out!!

We spoke with MMA fighter/personality Mike "The Truth" Jackson after confirming Punk was taking a 2nd fight at UFC 225... and he dropped some real talk about why he should get to knuckle up the former WWE superstar.

"It's styles, it's personalities, it's somebody who's gonna sell the fight," Jackson told TMZ Sports. "Let's make money, Dana!"

As for the likelihood of Mike getting the call ... he says he's already chatted with a UFC matchmaker and Punk's coach, but "nothing is set in stone."

That said, they're both 0-1 and got wrecked by the same fighter in their UFC debuts (Mickey Gall) ... plus, we found video proof he can cut a promo!

How did Steph Curry get down for his dirty 30??

By pullin' up to his party in a frickin' YACHT ... and slamming a plate of ribs during a live E-40 set!!

And that's just a taste of what went down at Steph's oceanside shindig ... where the 2-time MVP and his Warriors bros rang in his birthday "Ballers" style.

A ton of lit song and dance went down Monday night in SF ... featuring Curry himself, who hopped onstage to lead a Rick James karaoke bro down!!

Of course, his teammates weren't gonna let him have all the fun -- right, KD, Draymond and Klay?

E-40 wasn't the only music artist in attendance -- Paramore's Hayley Williams was also in the house to serenade him with the happy bday song.

Steph looked happy as hell the whole night ... and we would be too with hundreds of millions in the bank at age 30.

Party on, Stephen.

Attorney Shawn Holley, a member of O.J. Simpson's "Dream Team" that got him acquitted of double murder, says she was disturbed by Simpson's interview with Judith Regan, but it doesn't necessarily mean he committed the crime.

Holley, who worked for Johnnie Cochran during the trial, was a key member of the defense team. She says O.J. isn't stupid, and the only way he would have agreed to such an interview is if he spoke hypothetically and assumed the character of the murderer. She says he was told to behave in a certain way during the interview and he did that.

She admits its super weird for O.J. to assume the character of the man who murdered his ex-wife.

Holley says, at the time she and Johnnie represented Simpson, they believed in his innocence. As for whether her view is now shaken ... well, watch what she says.

Bow Wow CAN'T BELIEVE he beat Lonzo Ball in a 3-point shooting contest -- even if he only won 1 game out of 3 -- bragging that he out-shot an NBA star without any training and a weed habit!

"It's the fact that I don't train, I smoke weed, and I make music, and I act. I don't got no time to be training. So the fact that I beat him one time means a lot."

Bow Wow (aka Shad Moss -- aka Calvin Cambridge from "Like Mike") was leaving Poppy in L.A. with his crew when we asked how the shooting contest with Lonzo happened in the first place.

"Lonzo Ball came to Atlanta (to play the Hawks). They blew us out and we got the word that Lonzo and the Lakers were in (a nearby nightclub) and I said, 'Yo, bring 'em to the studio.'"

Bow Wow has a full basketball court in the studio ... so when Zo showed up, they decided to have a best of 3 shooting contest.

"He won two games. I won one," Bow Wow bragged.

FYI, Lonzo Ball should have CRUSHED all three games ... and Bow Wow knows it.

But, Zo will have a shot at redemption -- Bow Wow says he has love and respect for Ball and would gladly offer a rematch.

So ... Zo -- you down?

CARS! WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CARS!!!

... 'Cause Caitlyn Jenner and NASCAR stud Kurt Busch spent some time checking out each other's hot rides in front of Nobu in Malibu Monday night and we've got the video!!

Caitlyn arrived in her $176k tricked out purple Porsche 911 GT3 RS (NICE!) ... and Kurt showed up in his $500,000 Ford GT supercar (REALLY NICE!).

Both Caitlyn and Kurt are car fanatics -- and were both impressed with each other's whips.

We're told Jenner and Busch know each other through mutual friends and Kurt has invited Caitlyn to some of his events.

The bigger question ... who would win in a race?

Caitlyn's Porsche can go from 0 to 60 in 3.1 SECONDS!

Kurt's Ford GT? 2.9 SECONDS!!!!!!

Ronda Rousey has essentially announced her retirement from MMA -- even though she won't officially say the words, "I'm retired."

It all went down on the 'Ellen' show (airs Tuesday) -- when Ellen asked Ronda if she'll ever go back to the UFC.

"I don't know," Ronda said ... "I think it's just as likely as me going back to another Olympics for judo."

FYI, Rousey won a bronze medal in judo in the 2008 Summer Olympics. She began her MMA fighting career in 2010. And let's face it, she ain't going back to judo.

"No one demanded a written resignation from me for judo and I don't really think the same thing is necessary for fighting."

"I'm just doing what I enjoy and WWE is what I enjoy right now."

This is gonna be music to J.J. Watt's and Deshaun Watson's ears ... one of the greatest running backs of all time tells TMZ Sports his "dream scenario" would be to sign with the Houston Texans!

With Adrian Peterson and the Arizona Cardinals officially parting ways, we spoke with AP about his NFL future ... specifically where he wants to play next.

"Obviously, being back home would be awesome," Peterson said ... "Houston has always been a team I've thought about."

Not only was Peterson born and raised in Palestine, Texas (about 150 miles from Houston) -- he also owns a famous 10,500 square foot mansion in the Houston area.

"Being back here at home where I work out every day. My family is here. My family is close. My mom is here. Being around her a little more during this time [in my life] would be even more a cherry on top."

Peterson says it doesn't hurt that the Texans are stacked on both sides of the ball.

"The defense is incredible, obviously. Good division to be in. Good young quarterback, receivers, Hopkins! It's a lot of talent there as well."

The hole for Houston seems to be the running back spot -- no one on the team rushed for more than 900 yards last year.

Your move, Texans ...