TMZ Sports - Page 50

Former Final Four most valuable player Ed O'Bannon says LaVar Ball's Junior Basketball Association is the answer for a whole host of high school hoopers, who simply don't give a crap about college.

LaVar announced the league a little while back in December, touting it as an alternative for standout prep players who have graduated from high school, but don't want to go to college.

O'Bannon is a longtime critic of the NCAA, having filed a landmark antitrust lawsuit against them back in 2014, and says he's working with LaVar on the league, because he wants players to have options.

"It's an option. Some athletes want to go to college. Some athletes want their education right away, some athletes like to go to class, but some don't.

O'Bannon actually even calls out the name of a guy who's the poster child for NOT wanting to go to school -- Ben Simmons -- saying he's the perfect example of a dude who just wanted his check.

NFL star Devonta Freeman says the New England Patriots would be the PERFECT place for Johnny Manziel to restart his pro career ... saying Bill Belichick and Co. can help him turn things around.

We spoke with the Pro Bowler about Johnny's Comeback SZN campaign ... and D.F. says "the sky's the limit" for the troubled QB ... and he thinks finding home in Foxborough would be a great football move.

Freeman says he's not surprised by the reported interest 'cause he knows how Belichick operates ... and he thinks that's the kinda atmosphere that should be surrounding Johnny.

Here's Joanna Krupa declaring her allegiance to Poland's #1 UFC star, Joanna Jedrzejczyk ... and using some questionable vernacular along the way.

We got Krupa -- who moved from Poland to the U.S. when she was 5 -- in the Bev Hills ... where 'The Real Housewives' star told us she was a huge fan of her same-name sister.

"I love her. She’s Polish, of course I support her!" Krupa told TMZ Sports.

But when we asked if JJ could beat Rose Namajunas in their UFC title rematch ... that's when things got a little dicey.

"She can do it, she’s a Pol**k. Pol**k’s rule!"

"We're driven ... especially if you come from a communist country you have that in your blood."

FYI, the P-word ain't really the most P.C. term ... and Poland hasn't technically been communist in 3 decades.

Ex-NFL player Cullen Jenkins says the pain he went through during his career forced him to rely on prescription pills and alcohol to feel better ... but tells TMZ Sports he's finally found a healthier alternative -- CBD.

FYI -- cannabidiol (CBD) is one of the 113 active cannabinoids identified in cannabis, but doesn't have any psychoactive effects like recreational weed.

Jenkins -- who played 13 seasons in the NFL -- says towards the end of his career, he had to take 4 Advil and 2 Tylenol before every practice ... but thanks to his family introducing him to Fresh Farms CBD, he says he's pill-free and much happier.

Anthony Davis' famous unibrow is now broken in two ... unless this is a slightly early April Fool's joke.

The NBA star, aka "The Brow," posted a vid of himself shaving off the middle section of his moniker, but the footage is a little sketchy.

The camera cuts away from the NOLA Pelicans forward and you don't see him actually shave off the brow. When it cuts back the unibrow is no more.

Davis had been hyping the shave for a few days now. He put a poll on Twitter asking fans whether he should shave it or not. It was a close call but 51% gave it a thumb's up.

JuJu Smith-Schuster may be one of the best rookies in the NFL, but that's not enough to get him into a fancy restaurant when he's rockin' sweats, so our photog came to the rescue ... for a price.

JuJu hit up Mastro's in Bev Hills Friday night, but the doorman gave him a 10 yard penalty for violating the dress code. The Steelers wide receiver thought he could walk down the street and buy some fancy duds, but the stores were all closed.

Enter Dan the man ... who offers JuJu a trade ... Dan's pants -- which he guarantees are non-sharted -- for the sweats. But Dan's no fool, and he offers up a deal that could score JuJu a butter cake.

Hulk Hogan says it's ALL wrestlers he owes an apology to for his past use of the N-word ... telling TMZ Sports it shouldn't just be the black guys he has to say sorry to.

We got Hulk out at LAX, and wanted to get his thoughts on WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry saying that before Hogan is reinstated in the WWE, he needs to apologize to the African-American performers.

Mark's point was that Hogan has specifically offended these men and women, and he should specifically address them before he gets to come back.

Hogan definitely agrees amends have to be made, but says he actually needs to do it across the board.

"I totally agree with him, not to the black wrestlers, to all the wrestlers. What I said was way out of line and I'm forever sorry for that."

Becky G turned 21 on March 2nd, so who woulda thunk a simple night out on the town with her hot soccer boyfriend would turn into an awesome, belated surprise birthday party ... but it did.

The singer/actress was carried into Candela restaurant in L.A. Friday night by boyfriend Sebastian Lletget, who plays for the L.A. Galaxy.

She clearly didn't know what was up, but check out what happens inside. We're not sure why the party went down almost a month after her birthday, but it may be because her boyfriend was on crutches because of a soccer injury and could carry her into the party. Just a thought.

Sometimes things are worth waiting for.

One more thing ... they make an insanely hot couple.

Odell Beckham Jr. wants to be the highest paid player in the NFL ... and Wale says he deserves EVERY DAMN PENNY, telling TMZ Sports the Giants superstar is long overdue for a HUGE pay day.

We spoke with the Redskins fan leaving the Big Beluga at 92.3/96.7 The Beat in ATL about OBJ's contract drama ... and despite playing for the NFC East rival, Wale praises Odell and says his impact alone is worth coughing up the dough.

Wale says OBJ deserves "unprecedented" numbers in his new deal ... and explains that his dominance is rare in today's NFL.

Elias Theodorou just made history as the first UFC fighter to work as a "ring boy" ... and after killin' it in his debut, says he's got HUGE plans for the concept!!

We spoke to Elias after last weekend's fight card for Invicta FC (an all-women's MMA promotion) ... where he strutted around the cage like the dude version of Arianny Celeste.

The middleweight stud told us he had such a good time, he's gonna reach out to other UFC guys to form a "Ring Boys of MMA" crew.

Elias says he'll start with t-shirts and a sexy bros calendar ... and one of his first big ideas -- "There's an opportunity to start another conversation that 'big is beautiful' and have some heavyweights on this," Theodorou told TMZ Sports.

"How about Mr. Derrick Lewis for July?"

ET's also dipping into the Hollywood scene as he gears up for his next UFC scrap in May ... and get this -- it sounds like he's bringing "Street Fighter" back!!!

Wanna know what it's like to ride Shaq like a damn roller coaster?!

Wonder no more, normies -- 'cause we got Steve Aoki at LAX, and he recounted the harrowing experience of hoppin' on the Diesel's shoulders at his private Ultra party!!!

The main takeaway -- "I was like, 'Holy s**t, it's really high up there,'" Aoki told TMZ Sports.

FYI, the 7'1'' NBA legend was handing out free rides at the 1st ever Shaq's Fun House over the weekend ... which had a ton of celebs on deck including Aoki and Rob Gronkowski -- who also climbed aboard the Big Aristotle.

Quavo says he's gonna show out in his celebrity flag football game this weekend ... and once that's done, he's gunnin' for the Atlanta Falcons' starting QB job!!

Or, in his words -- "I'm coming to put Matty Ice on ice."

You might've heard ... Falcons star Vic Beasley was so blown away by Quavo's high-school QB highlight reel, he nominated Huncho to take over for Matt Ryan under center.

The Migos rap star is accepting the challenge, and told the guys on the "TMZ Sports" TV show (airs weeknights on FS1) he's gonna show out at his charity game vs. Team Julio Jones to show he's worthy of the shot.

"Soon as the tryout comin', I'm comin'."

Giancarlo Stanton had a MONSTER Yankees debut -- SMASHING 2 home runs -- and TMZ Sports talked to NYY's legendary radio announcer, John Sterling ... about his polarizing Stanton HR call.

Sterling -- who's announced every Yankees game since 1989 (almost 5,000 in a row) -- is known for his over the top home run calls. One's like ...

"An A-Bomb! From A-Rod!" (Alex Rodriguez)

"He's Judge and jury, and this is judgment day!" (Aaron Judge)

So, when the ball left Stanton's bat ... and John belted out "Giancarlo, non si può stoparlo! It is a Stantonian home run" ... there was mixed reaction.

Why Italian? What's it even mean?

Tony Ferguson respects Khabib Nurmagomedov as an athlete ... but says the 1 area he falls short is "mental toughness," and he's gonna expose that next weekend at UFC 223.

We spoke with the UFC interim lightweight champ in the lead-up to their long-awaited title fight ... and Tony told us Khabib's already shown his true colors by botching his weight cut days before they were scheduled to fight at UFC 209.

Ferguson says Nurmagomedov "took food off my kid's table" by getting that fight scrapped ... and he ain't letting that slide.

Damian Lillard's half brother is hospitalized after being shot multiple times in Oregon last night ... and cops believe he was the victim of a targeted attack.

Cops in Clackamas County say Jahrell Lillard, 20, was gunned down by 2 men in a parking lot around 9 PM last night. According to witnesses, 5 to 10 shots were fired. Officials believe JL was the victim of a targeted attack.

After he was hit, Lillard was able to escape ... and run into a Macy's Home Store before police say he collapsed just inside the store entrance.

The shooters fled the scene.

Lillard was transported to a local hospital. His condition is unknown.

Here's more proof that Von Miller is the NFL's Steve Irwin ... landing a HUGE hammerhead shark after a wild tussle with the beast of the deep!

It all went down off the shores of Miami Beach ... where the Denver Broncos star and his bros set sail on a sport fishing trip, 'cause why the hell not?

The crew caught a bunch of cool fishies ... but none could compare to their 9-AND-A-HALF-FOOT shark which, according to the boat captain, was the biggest hammerhead he's seen all season.

FYI, the guys made sure to throw it back in the water after bro'in out on their find.

Remember -- this is a dude that wrastled a live gator just a couple months back ... and we got a feeling he's only gonna keep upping the ante.