TMZ Sports - Page 50

WHY!?!?!?!?!

Phoenix Suns guard Elfrid Payton looks like a completely different person now ... 'cause the dude just chopped off his signature hairdo ... and we really don't know what to do anymore.

The NBA baller might be most known for his Weeknd-esque hairstyle ... but that didn't stop him for following in the R&B singer's footsteps and parting ways with the beloved locks.

FYI -- the 24-year-old's barber teased last month that he might've done the deed ... and now we have confirmation that it wasn't a late April Fool's joke.

While we're mourning the loss of the locks ... Suns fans are probably rejoicing ... 'cause there have been several instances where his 'do got in the way of his game ... and many people have wanted him to get a new look for years.

Now we wait to see if it makes a real difference on the court ... or if it was all for naught.

But seriously ... pour one out for Elfrid's hair.

Here's Odell Beckham pushing 315 lbs on the bench press -- impressive -- but the question is -- how much did that shirtless trainer dude help him out?

The NY Giants wide out was clearly impressed with himself -- enough to post the footage on social media -- but it got us wondering, is that a "true" rep ... or was topless guy being a little too hands on with the spot?

Either way, Beckham's come a long way from his horrific bench performance at the 2014 NFL Combine ... where he only put up a measly 7 reps of 225.

For comparison, 2 of the top WRs in the 2018 Draft -- Calvin Ridley and D.J. Moore -- pushed 15 reps at the Combine.

John Cena's very public campaign to win back Nikki Bella is working, but she's still not ready to seal the deal with the wrestling/movie star.

Nikki tells TMZ, John's public hand-wringing -- including posting a photo of John Cusack holding the boombox over his head in the film "Say Anything" -- has convinced her his change of heart about wanting kids wasn't hollow. She says, "I believe 100% he wants kids. It makes me want to run back and jump into his arms."

She says she believes he's now sincere that he wants children ... which was the deal breaker that caused her to break up with him. Until this week, Nikki believed she had forced John to say what she wanted to hear so she'd take a walk down the aisle.

Here's the problem ... Nikki says it's kind of been like a Pandora's Box. The conflict over children has raised issues in her head about the relationship. She says, "I care about him and love him a lot," but now she has to do some serious thinking about the turn in their relationship and feel if it's still right.

She says she's really hurt by the buzz that the whole conflict -- and even the relationship -- is fake to goose ratings for her reality show and John's career. She says, "A lot of people get married for publicity. I'm not like those reality show people. I don't want to be hesitant. I want to do what my heart says."

Nikki says she has no idea what she'd say if John comes face-to-face with her and begs her to marry him. She says, "I'm a girl who lives in the moment and I honestly don't know what I'd say."

Yankees legend David Wells ain't exactly thrilled with the whole Robinson Cano scandal ... telling TMZ Sports he's disappointed over Cano's 80-game suspension.

Cano was popped for taking a banned substance -- though he INSISTS it was a prescribed medication and NOT a performance enhancing drug.

But, not everyone is buying Cano's excuse ... considering the substance he took can be used as a masking agent for PEDs.

So, when we saw Wells in NYC, we asked if he was disappointed.

"Of course," he said ... noting, "I'm glad I'm not playing anymore."

We asked to explain his comment ... "Because 5 innings is a quality start."

He's definitely throwing shade at the new generation of MLB players -- essentially calling them soft.

We also asked about the Yanks vs. Red Sox rivalry ... Wells says it's good, but not like it used to be.

"Now they hug when they have a fight!"

Dwyane Wade's trying to get that Hollywood money ... telling TMZ Sports he's trying to do a movie with his wife, Gabrielle Union!!

The Miami Heat star and Gabby hit up Craig's in West Hollywood on Thursday night -- and you gotta check out the paparazzi crush that waited out front for 'em ... it was almost like a Hollywood red carpet.

So, naturally we asked Wade if he's got any interest in following his wife into the movie business.

"I'm trying to get [a movie]," Wade said ... "but she won't put me on!"

He continued, "I'm trying to do a love movie. Like something romantic."

We did some digging ... Wade's got SOME acting experience -- remember that cameo on Disney Channel's "Austin & Ally" ... we do!

Brad Stevens might be the best young coach in the NBA ... but is he on the level of Bill Belichick?

He's certainly on the way ... according to Celtics and Patriots superfan Mark Wahlberg ... who told us "that's a very, very good comparison."

TMZ Sports saw Wahlberg in L.A. ... and asked if the Celts head coach was "the new Belichick of Boston."

(Yeah, we know Boston is a part of New England -- but you get the point.)

It's high praise for a guy who's only been on the job for a few years ... considering B.B. has 5 'chips and is believed by some to be the best damn football coach ever.

But, Mark says there is still 1 thing Stevens has left to do.

The Philadelphia Eagles have officially been invited to the White House to celebrate their Super Bowl win ... and now the question is -- who's gonna show up?

The folks at 1600 Penn. announced the invite Thursday afternoon, saying "President Trump looks forward to welcoming the Philadelphia Eagles to the White House on June 5th to celebrate their Super Bowl LII win.”

The Eagles seemed to accept the invite saying ... they're "working through the logistics of a trip to Washington DC, including a visit to the White House, on June 5th."

Here's the thing ... several prominent players have made it VERY clear they have no interest in meeting up with Trump ... including Torrey Smith, Chris Long, Malcolm Jenkins and Dannell Ellerbe.

FYI -- the last team to be so outspoken about Trump -- the Golden State Warriors -- had their White House invite pulled after Stephen Curry opposed the visit.

So, while the whole team might visit the nation's capital next month ... there probably won't be perfect attendance when the players head over to Trump's crib.

Terrell Owens LOVES him some him ... even in retirement!!

Now that the NFL legend is FINALLY getting into the Hall of Fame this year ... T.O. got to get a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the bronze bust that'll live forever in Canton.

The 6-time Pro Bowler flew to Utah on Thursday to get the ball rolling on the project ... and in true T.O. fashion, he seemed to enjoy looking at the dozens of reference pics of himself pinned on the board.

As for the bust creator himself, Blair Buswell ... he's legit. He's made over 80 busts for the NFL HOF -- and told Owens he's also doing Randy Moss' and Ray Lewis' this year.

From one Oriole to another ... MLB star Adam Jones just bought Cal Ripken Jr.'s insane $12.5 million Maryland estate!!

As we previously reported ... Ripken's been trying to part ways with the 24-acre estate since 2016 -- initially asking for $12.5 mil before knocking it down to $9.75 milli back in April 2017.

The Hall of Famer found a buyer in the current Baltimore slugger ... and according to Seth Rosenthal of The Athletic, Jones -- a real estate enthusiast -- couldn't pass up the sweet deal.

Jones' new crib comes with 6 bedrooms, 15 bathrooms, a home theater, 10-person spa, private hiking trails, pool, baseball field, indoor basketball court, full gym and a private fishing pond!!

While the final selling price has not been made available, the 32-year-old has made nearly $100 million during his long career ... so yeah, just a drop in the bucket for Jones.

CAN YOU DIG IT?!?!?!

Shaquille O'Neal is ready to move out of his incredible 3-acre Orlando mega-mansion ... and it could all be yours if you've got $28 MILLION floating around.

Shaq's pad is famous and awesome ... 31,000 square feet with 12 bedrooms and a buttload of bathrooms.

Not to mention ... a legendary "Shaq Center" athletic facility that is made up of a custom 6,000 square foot basketball court (with bleachers) ... where the NBA star once put Harvey Levin on his ass!!

The estate also boasts the "Shaq-apulco" outdoor area ... complete with a 95-foot long swimming pool and a rock waterfall, according to The Wall Street Journal. Obviously, he's got a hot tub, swim-up bar, walk-in humidor and wine cellar too.

Our sources say these days Shaq's spending most of his time in Atlanta and L.A. -- where he also has Shaq-sized mansions -- so it just didn't make sense to keep the massive Orlando mansion. We're told he plans to buy a smaller place in Tampa, where his mom lives, because that's become home base for the family.

The Orlando crib famously appeared on an episode of "Tanked" -- where Shaq got a custom Shaq Diesel fish tank installed in the home. No word if that stays with buyer or not.

Shaq bought the property in 1993 for $3.95 mil -- but he's done millions of dollars in custom upgrades and expansion.

Usain Bolt decided to go BIG for his restaurant opening in Jamaica this week ... bringing in a big ass statue of himself -- made mostly of real bolts.

Turns out, the Olympic legend is a budding restaurant mogul -- he just opened his 3rd Tracks & Records eatery in Jamaica ... and he's got 15 more spots opening up in the U.K.

So, to celebrate the grand opening of his Montego Bay joint Wednesday night, he threw a massive party ... with the grand unveiling of the famous "Bolt of Bolts" statue.

The artist -- German musician Vita Diedel Kloever -- created the piece back in 2012 ... and said it took FOUR MONTHS to put together.

He installed it at the restaurant late last month.

A female football player got straight BODY SLAMMED during a crazy brawl at an LFL game ... where so many punches were thrown, we stopped keeping count.

It all went down during a May 5 showdown between the Austin Acoustic and the Atlanta Steam -- when ATL's Amber Clark continued to rough up Austin's Kendria Robinson after the whistle.

Robinson started the shoving ... and that's when Clark's teammate, Alfye Gore, stepped in.

The fists began to fly ... and, at one point, it looked like Robinson was trying to fight 3 WOMEN at the same time!!!

Ultimately, the refs got control ... and Austin ended up winning the game 18-14.

Draymond Green is a SMART businessman ... because records show he's moved to lock up the rights to "Hampton 5" -- the nickname for the Golden State Warriors starting lineup.

The Dubs got the nickname last year when Steph Curry, Draymond Green, Andre Iguodala and Klay Thompson flew out to the Hamptons to recruit Kevin Durant to the squad.

Since he joined, the "Hampton 5" has been murdering everyone ... winning the championship last season and making a run in the playoffs right now.

We noticed someone had filed for the "Hampton 5" trademark in 2017 and a deeper dive revealed the man behind the application is Money 23 Green Enterprises ... aka Draymond.

The application was to use the trademark for everything from sports drinks to gym bags, cell phone cases, headphones, comic books, athletic wear and educational tools.

Get this ... he even wanted the rights to use the trademark for a celebrity gossip website, just in case he feels like going all Harvey Levin.

Another legal victory for NY Jets wide receiver Robby Anderson ... who just beat the charges in his cop fighting case after other officers said they didn't see Anderson do ANYTHING wrong.

Anderson was arrested and charged with resisting an officer with violence when he allegedly got physical with a cop at the Rolling Loud Festival in Florida on May 7, 2017.

Officials say Anderson had backstage passes for the event -- but was denied access -- and a verbal altercation had broken out.

When cops arrived, Captain Ortiz claims Anderson was combative and pushed him ... and arrested him.

Anderson disputed the allegation and subpoenaed several officers involved in the incident -- and none of them could corroborate Capt. Ortiz's claim.

In fact, officials say Capt. Ortiz failed to appear for TWO scheduled depositions in the case ... leaving prosecutors with no choice but to drop the charges against Anderson.

Here's a lesson in fandom straight from two of the biggest hip-hop stars in the world ... Lil Wayne & Travis Scott.

Both men attended the Warriors vs. Rockets game in Houston Wednesday night ... a game in which the Rockets completely dominated the Warriors, blowing KD and Steph out by over 20 points.

Travis Scott is from Houston, and you can tell because, even in a game where the Rockets never really had a chance of losing ... the dude is fanning it up, looking nervous the entire time.

Lil Wayne, on the other hand, is from New Orleans ... making him a proud Lakers fan (we don't know why) so his mug during the game is all smiles, no worries.

Chill out, Travis ... you guys won. Now you just gotta go get 1 at Oracle.

KSI has a REAL shot to beat Logan Paul's ass in the boxing match everyone's talking about ... because he's black ... so says YouTube megastar Vitaly Zdorovetskiy.

Yeah, he really said that.

Was he joking? Maybe ... Vitaly's "thing" is edgy jokes and pranks ... and his humor has helped build 10 MILLION subscribers on YouTube.

So, when we saw him at Hyde in L.A., we had to ask about the KSI vs. Logan Paul showdown ... which is going down for real in Manchester, England on August 25.

Vitaly says he's putting his money on Logan ... but added, "KSI's black so he has a chance."

Sidenote ... Vitaly TRIED to book a fight with KSI before Logan did ... and even called him out back in February. KSI decided to ultimately sign a deal with Logan.

But keep an eye on this guy ... it's possible he could fight KSI (or another social media star) sometime in the future.