TMZ Sports - Page 50

Johnny Manziel's Comeback SZN is just days from hitting the football field ... so naturally, the ex-Cleveland Browns QB stocked his clothing website with some fresh, new Spring League merch!!

FYI -- Johnny Football's been selling clothes on his website while working to get back into football. With the Spring League kicking off on March 28, Manziel added a few items -- including a #2 jersey -- for his fans following every step of his journey.

The jersey goes for $70 if you don't want it signed ... and an autographed version will set you back another $30.

Victor Cruz says the NY Giants' draft decision is "easy as pie" ... telling TMZ Sports there's only one name they should call with the 2nd pick -- Saquon Barkley!!

We spoke with the ex-G-Men star about which NFL prospect he thinks will be the best fit in the Big Apple ... and he says despite the QB-heavy draft class, NY's gotta go with the Penn State superstar.

If Ndamukong Suh signs with the Rams, L.A. could rival one of the most-feared defensive lines in NFL history ... this according to Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson.

TMZ Sports spoke with E.D. about the team's current recruitment of the 5-time Pro Bowler ... and he says adding Suh to an already-stacked d-line would be a "great fit" for the Rams.

FYI -- the Rams have orchestrated what are considered some of the most dominant defensive lines in the history of the game ... helping lead L.A. to 7-straight division titles in the '70s.

Dickerson says adding Suh to a line with Aaron Donald and Michael Brockers can return the Rams to the days of Jack Youngblood and Merlin Olsen.

Look away, Blue Devils fans -- Kenny Smith is basking in the glory of Duke's Elite 8 loss to Kansas ... and he ain't holdin' back!

"When UNC is out of it, my alma mater, it's like, 'Anybody but Duke.' So, I'm good right now," Kenny told TMZ Sports. "Anybody but Duke -- that's my motto."

You'd think Kenny would be more upset that his Tar Heels got bounced in the 2nd round ... but seems like Duke getting squeezed was just as sweet for The Jet.

Long before he was a $100-million NBA star, Giannis Antetokounmpo says he was just another kid peddling goods on the streets of Athens to help put food on the table.

The Greek Freak spoke candidly about his childhood in poverty Sunday on "60 Minutes" ... describing his daily grind before he found basketball.

"We used to sell glasses, watches, ... CDs, DVDs. I was the best (salesman)," Giannis said. "I didn't give up ... and I was cute, too. I was young."

Giannis' parents left Nigeria for a better life before he was born ... but he says life was tough for them growing up -- all living in the same room and often going hungry.

But Giannis says their struggle could never break his spirit -- and credits that mentality with becoming one of the top ballers in the NBA.

Ex-Cleveland Indians star Albert Belle was arrested for indecent exposure and DUI in Arizona on Saturday.

Belle -- a 5-time All-Star during his 12-year MLB career -- was arrested in Scottsdale and booked into Maricopa County Jail.

The ex-slugger was arrested for 2 counts of indecent exposure and 2 DUI counts.

The 51-year-old is listed as 6'2", 270 lbs in the jail database.

This isn't the first time Belle -- who was one of the most feared hitters in the game -- has been in trouble with the law.

He spent time in jail back in '06 after pleading guilty to stalking his ex-girlfriend.

Former WWE world champ Mark Henry ain't slammin' the door on his career in the ring ... saying there's still a chance he'd come back even though he's technically retired.

We spoke to The World's Strongest Man ahead of his WWE Hall of Fame induction at WrestleMania 34 in April ... and Mark told us he's too beat up to compete in the next year or two, at least.

But, could the right matchup lure him back inside the squared circle?

"If it was a perfect circumstance and something happened down the road, yeah," Henry told TMZ Sports.

Ain't the first time Mark's pulled the ol' switcheroo ... he had the entire WWE universe fooled with his infamous retirement speech back in 2013 ... before he flipped the script and body-slammed his rival, John Cena, straight through the mat!!

For his HOF induction, some fans figured Cena would get to do the honor ... but Mark says he actually has another BIG WWE superstar in mind (hint, hint).

Jerry Rice was all dressed up in his tux Saturday night, so he decided to make the evening super special by proposing to his fiancee for all to see!!!

Jerry got on stage at the DeBartolo Family Foundation all star charity gala and uttered the 4 magic words that changes lives. His girlfriend Latisha Pelayo became his fiancee with a simple head nod.

The proposal went down at the Waterside Marriott Hotel in Tampa, Florida and the audience ate it up.

The retired football great and "Dancing with the Stars" runner-up didn't break a sweat as he bent to the ground with ring in hand.

It will be 55-year-old Rice's second marriage and it's a long time in coming. They've been dating since 2008.

Congrats!!!

Johnny Manziel says he's 100% sure Zay Jones will totally bounce back from the bizarre, naked meltdown he had in L.A. earlier this week ... telling TMZ Sports he's sure because he knows the guy.

Jones and his brother, Caleb, were involved in a scary incident in L.A. Monday night, when video showed Zay trying to fight Caleb naked, then kicking out a 30th floor window, all while saying he wanted to meet Jesus.

We got Manziel leaving Delilah in L.A. with his wife, Bre Tiesi, and asked him if he thought Zay -- who plays for the Buffalo Bills -- would be okay.

"He'll be fine, brother. I know Zay, I know Caleb personally, he'll get it sorted out, he'll be fine."

Move over Kobe Bryant ... you're gonna have some company on the "NBA Players with an Academy Award" list ... because Whitney Cummings says Blake Griffin is a shoo-in to get one, too.

Cummings directed Blake in her new movie, "The Female Brain," and when we got her leaving the Improv in Hollywood, we had to know if she thought Griffin had the talent to get a gold guy.

"I think Blake Griffin will win an Oscar in his lifetime, for sure."

Important to note ... Cummings -- who is a big-time creative boss in addition to her stand-up comedy -- DIDN'T HESITATE when proclaiming this, so it's clear she 100% believes in Griffin's talent.

Hear that Kobe? He's coming for you.

Floyd Mayweather's budding MMA career is starting to get some support ... because now a combat sports expert is telling the world not to bet against Floyd being a force in the UFC one day.

We talked to Showtime boxing host Jim Gray on a rainy night in L.A., and when we brought up the idea of Floyd's 8-month transition into the Octagon ... Jim cautioned against writing Money off.

"Don't ever bet against Floyd Mayweather in anything, he's 50-0."

We get you Jim, but when you say ANYTHING, we're wondering WHERE IT STOPS?! Floyd in the NBA? Floyd in the NFL? Floyd as a figure skater in the next Winter Olympics? What can we rule out?

Johnny Manziel's had it with the controversy over his quest to return to the NFL being compared to Colin Kaepernick's situation, and he's speaking out in favor of Kaep ... and himself.

The former Browns QB says he's tired of the anger people have expressed because he's being looked at by NFL scouts while Kaep continues to get the cold shoulder ... because he's just trying to turn his life around.

However, Manziel heaps praise on Kaep, saying the former Niners QB is doing amazing things and changing lives, adding ... "His impact off the field from a societal standpoint is legendary and straight admirable."

Johnny says he agrees with what many in the sports world believe -- Colin's not in the league for reasons that aren't related to football ... but lays out several reasons why he should be.

"The guy took a team to the Super Bowl and continuously wreaked havoc on the NFC West and the league."

Manziel believes Kaepernick has a lot left in the tank, but his point is this -- he can't speak for what Kaepernick wants to do with his career ... he can only focus on his own comeback.

Shaq threw an insane party in Miami during Ultra Weekend ... and it culminated in an epic dance-off with none other than Gronk!

The tallest guy in the room hosted Shaq's Fun House party which was filled with celebs, including Diplo, A-Trak, Carnage, Steve Aoki and Von Miller.

You gotta check out the part where 7'1" Shaq puts 6'6' Gronk on his shoulders.

It was a crazy-ass party, with 3,000 in attendance. We are told that before the party Shaq had an early dinner at David Grutman's new restaurant Planta, where Gronk and Mark Wahlberg ate earlier in the week.

Floyd Mayweather says it'll take him 6-8 months to be an MMA star ... and according to UFC welterweight champ Tyron Woodley, that journey starts NEXT WEEK!!

The welterweight champ joined the guys on the TMZ Sports TV show (airs weeknights on FS1) ... and the conversation of course turned to Floyd's preparation for his new career.

It was Woodley who first broke the news Floyd was serious about training on "The Hollywood Beatdown" ... Mayweather then confirmed it when we got him out in L.A. ... and now it's time to get things poppin'.

"I think we're gonna start most of it next week. I think we're gonna start some of the strategy talks next week and we might get some sessions in as well."

With that being said ... T.W. breaks down exactly what they're gonna focus on.

"He does not have to go out there and start learning how to kick like Bruce Lee. He does not have to go out there and become a black belt over night."

Troy Aikman says he's all for his buddy Peyton Manning hoppin' into the FOX Sports broadcast booth ... and he's got a couple damn good reasons.

1 -- Broadcasting ... "It's a good life," Aikman says ... "It's afforded me all kinds of time with my family."

2 -- If Peyton joins the network and signs a deal worth $10 mil a year -- like has been reported -- that could mean a raise for the 3x Super Bowl champ.

So, when we saw Troy out in an L.A. rainstorm (weird, right?) ... we asked him about rumors of Peyton potentially joining FOX Sports as a broadcaster for Thursday Night Football.

"I think it'd be awesome. Peyton's a good friend."

About all those millions ... Aikman's all for Manning signing a fat deal.

"That means I'm worth a little more 'cause I'm doing more games than he is."

(FOX is broadcasting 11 TNF games ... while Troy calls a game every week of the season -- plus playoffs.)

Zlatan Ibrahimovic's move to the L.A. Galaxy is gonna have a MAJOR impact on soccer in the U.S. ... so says ex-Galaxy star Kyle Martino, who tells TMZ Sports Ibra's presence alone is gonna be a game changer.

Martino -- who was on the Galaxy when they signed some dude named David Beckham -- says despite being 36, Ibra's gonna be a "top-quality talent" for the MLS.

K.M. says even if fans don't like his "charming narcissism," they're gonna end up tuning in to watch him 'cause he's THAT good of a player.