TMZ Sports - Page 50

Dikembe Mutombo says he's gonna show the world just how honored he is to receive the Craig Sager Strong Award ... by actually wearing the crazy Craig Sager-inspired jacket given to the winner.

It was just announced that Mutombo would be the recipient of the 2018 award ... which is given to individuals who display courage, compassion and grace to their fellow man.

We got Mutombo at LAX and asked if he planned to actually wear the jacket, which is a replica of the crazy multicolored joints Sager liked to rock when he was a reporter (NBA coach Monty Williams won last year), and Dikembe said YES.

"I already bought the shoes to go with it!"

BTW ... if you thought Dikembe was done being a real-life superhero, he's not -- telling our guy he's planning on building a school in the Congo to honor the memory of his father, in addition to the hospital he's built for his mother.

Yeah, do more.

If you thought LiAngelo Ball's dunk sesh at the Lakers practice facility was impressive ... wait 'til you see Zion Williamson's "hold my drink" response Tuesday.

The Duke commit -- clearly reacting to 'Gelo 'cause of the "dead legs" caption he shared -- nearly took down a rim trying to top the middle Ball brother's performance.

The first dunk: A self-lob, behind-the-back jam.

The second dunk: Another self-lob, left-handed hammer.

'Gelo's clearly got ups ... but yeah, we're givin' Zion the nod here.

A high school football star who takes CBD oil to control his seizures is willing to switch to another medication if it will clear the way to play for a top NCAA school ... his father tells TMZ Sports.

C.J. Harris says he was told his invitation to join the Auburn football team as a defensive back was rescinded -- and now there are conflicting reports about whether it was due to his CBD medication or his underlying medical condition, epilepsy.

We spoke with C.J.'s father who wouldn't clarify the reason Auburn pulled the offer -- but told us C.J.'s medication will not be a problem if any other program is interested in his son.

"He wants to play," Curtis Harris tells TMZ Sports ... "He's gotta find a way and he’s willing to find something that doesn’t have the THC in it.”

"We don’t want to look back and say we didn’t try, but C.J.’s health is most important."

FYI, C.J. has said the CBD oil -- which contains THC -- helps keep his seizures at bay and he hasn't had an episode since January 2017.

There are reports that the CBD oil was not the reason Auburn pulled the invitation -- instead sources told Auburn Undercover's Brandon Marcello the Auburn medical staff had concerns clearing a person with epilepsy to play full-contact football at the NCAA level.

Fitness model Jen Selter has taken her divine derriere to Greece where she posed up in a tiny bikini -- and, praise the booty gods, TMZ Sports has the pics.

Selter has been traveling all over the world lately -- modeling, working out and taking in the sights ... but she found some time in Mykonos to enjoy the beach in a crystal-studded thong bikini.

Fun Fact: there are 4 nude beaches on the island.

Not Fun Fact: Jen Selter didn't go to any of those.

TMZ Sports has obtained Nick Diaz's mug shot from his alleged cocaine fueled attack on a woman in Las Vegas ... and he doesn't look too happy.

The mug shot was taken at Clark County Detention Center near Las Vegas after the UFC star was arrested for felony domestic battery by strangulation -- as well as misdemeanor domestic battery.

According to multiple law enforcement sources, the alleged victim told cops Nick had been using cocaine recently and it turned him violent. On the night of the alleged incident, the woman claims Nick threw her to the ground and choked her.

Police were called and found the alleged victim with red marks around her neck and eyes -- as well as an injured hip.

UFC superstar Cris Cyborg is a new woman -- she completed a court ordered anger management course stemming from her battery case with another UFC fighter ... and now she's in the clear!

TMZ Sports has learned ... Cyborg had cut a plea deal with prosecutors stemming from a May 2017 altercation with UFC fighter Angela Magana at a fighter retreat in Vegas.

Cyborg had been cited for battery for allegedly punching Magana in the face -- and faced up to 6 months in jail.

She initially pled not guilty --- but later accepted a deal in which she agreed to complete an "impulse control program" and stay out of trouble for 6 months.

Had she failed to hold up her end of the bargain, the judge could have locked her up for 45 days.

Fortunately, it won't come to that ... court records show Cyborg completed all of the terms, so the charge has been dismissed and the case is now closed.

If you're wondering what an impulse control program is ... it "teaches offenders to be accountable for their actions and provides participants with positive alternatives to inappropriate and impulsive behavior."

Here's LiAngelo Ball putting on a dunk show ... something we know he can do ... but it's where he's doing it that's interesting -- 'cause the kid is throwing down at the Lakers practice facility.

'Gelo is working hard to get into the NBA ... and told TMZ Sports he had interest from teams when we got him and his dad, LaVar, out at LAX last week.

So, when it comes to the new footage of 'Gelo at the Lakers gym, we're wondering ... did 'Gelo slide in with his big bro, Lonzo, or is the team taking a real look at the middle Ball brother, making LaVar's dream of a Ball-filled Lakers roster closer to being a reality?

Jim Carrey thinks the NFL and Donald Trump are the real "Dumb and Dumber" ... and he's attacking BOTH of 'em for the alleged blackballing of Colin Kaepernick.

"NFL -- who exploits players for 3yrs then abandons them to a lifetime of pain -- sided with a draft-dodging racist who uses fake patriotism to squash peaceful protest," Carrey posted on Twitter.

Carrey then sorta called on companies that do business with the NFL to boycott the league.

"Corporations shld rethink sponsoring moral cowardice before we start asking: whose side is Nationwide really on?"

And in true Jim Carrey style ... he included a painting to illustrate his point in which he included several NFL sponsors such as Gatorade, Ford and Gillette.

It's not the first time Carrey has gone after Trump -- in fact, he rips POTUS all the time. But, it seems to be the first time he's gone after the NFL.

Ex-WWE superstar Enzo Amore says he's laser-focused on a Hollywood comeback after beating rape allegations ... and says he's been recording music at Kanye West's studio in L.A.

Amore held a massive event in NYC on Monday to promote his new rap single, "Phoenix" -- in which he attacks his rape accuser by calling her a "Lyin’ ass hoe" and stating, "I ain't Bill Cosby, bitch."

As we previously reported, WWE fired Amore in the wake of the allegations back in January. Recently, prosecutors announced Amore would NOT be charged due to lack of evidence.

Amore is crediting his fans for helping his legal case -- claiming the Enzo Army "stalked" his accuser and found information about her that helped discredit her.

"My fans were lawyers," Amore told Adam Glyn ... "I don't even know why I hired a lawyer in the first place."

Now, Amore says he wants to return to the spotlight with a vengeance -- "I've been working with a lot of people out in Hollywood on writing scripts, screenplays, directing, producing and making music."

Wayne Rooney is taking in some last minute R&R before signing with D.C. United ... chillin' on a yacht in Barbados with his wife and kids ... without a care in the world.

The 32-year-old is thiiiis close to inking his deal to become the latest European superstar to jump to MLS in the U.S. ... even though some critics think he's washed up.

The skeptics ain't bothering Rooney though ... who was busy floating away on an inflatable raft on Monday.

As we previously reported, Rooney flew into D.C. last week to meet with D.C. United team officials to finalize his deal ... though it doesn't appear he's put pen to paper just yet.

So, the Golden State Warriors celebrated their Western Conf. Championship Monday night by bumping Usher on the team jet.

Funny, since Usher happens to be a minority owner of the Cleveland Cavs ... and it's almost like Nick Young and company were trying to send a friendly message -- "We're coming!"

While passing around the trophy, Swaggy P took over music duties -- and busted out Usher's greatest slow jams hits ... from "Nice & Slow" to "U Remind Me" and even "Burn."

Most of the players were diggin' it -- singing along and even dancing.

Serge Ibaka has a plan to stop the yearly butt kicking his Toronto Raptors get from the Cavs -- don't worry about LeBron, worry about ourselves.

For the last 3 years straight, Bron's Cavs have bounced the Raptors from the playoffs -- the last 2 years were a clean 4-0 sweep.

So, when we saw Serge at LAX, we asked what he plans to do to stop the LeBron domination.

"It's not about LeBron, it's about us," Ibaka said ... "We have to learn from this playoffs and work hard this summer and get ready."

That said, Ibaka tells us James is nothing short of "amazing" -- and said the 33-year-old legend isn't just an inspiration to future NBA stars ... but to current ones as well.

Is it weird to root for your sister's ex-boyfriend?

That's what Kylie Jenner did Monday night -- sitting courtside at the Houston Rockets playoff game ... cheering on James Harden.

Kylie was at the Houston Toyota Center with her boyfriend, Travis Scott -- who's from the area and happens to be a huge Rockets fan.

In the end, Harden and the Rockets lost to the Golden State Warriors 101-92 -- who now advance to the NBA Finals to take on Cleveland ... where Khloe's current boyfriend plays.

Kylie and Travis weren't the only big stars at the game ... rap superstars Lil Wayne and E-40 were there too.

LaVar Ball doesn't care one damn bit that Lonzo Ball won't be Rookie of the Year, telling TMZ Sports 'Zo's NBA freshman season was still a resounding success.

If you remember, LaVar predicted Lonzo would win the award before the season started, but even though Ball had a decent season with the Lakers, 'Zo wasn't named a finalist for ROY.

We got the Big Baller at LAX ... and wanted to know what he thought about one of his predictions not panning out, and you guessed it ... he couldn't care less.

"Who cares?! Who cares about Rookie of the Year?! Who cares about Rookie of the Year?! Ain't no missed prediction. They all going to the NBA."

As a matter of fact, it seems LaVar has had a TOTAL change of heart ... because now he doesn't even think the award matters AT ALL.

"I don't care who Rookie of the Year is. I don't care who's Rookie of the Year. Rookie of the Year don't mean nothing."

The finalists for the meaningless award are Ben Simmons, Donovan Mitchell, and Jayson Tatum.

How does 76ers stud Ben Simmons feel about rumors LeBron James could join him in Philadelphia next season? Seems pretty into it to us!!

Unless you've been living under a rock, you know there's speculation LeBron will bounce from Cleveland next season -- even if he leads them in the Finals to another championship -- and there's a lot of talk he could end up in Philly or L.A.

So TMZ Sports asked Simmons at LAX if he thinks he could coexist with King James in the City of Brotherly Love.

"There's only one way to find out, man," the Sixers star coyly tells us.

John Salley can't understand the criticism over Dennis Rodman's trip to North Korea, because he believes his former teammate is in no small part responsible for what could be an historic summit.

We got John Sunday at LAX, and he was clear ... he says Rodman's 2014 trip showed a human side of Kim which he says eventually caused a diplomatic sea change.

John and Dennis are longtime buds ... they played together 30 years ago on the Pistons.

On the other hand, John thinks Dennis should now defer on the diplomatic front to the powers that be.