TMZ Sports - Page 50

Clyde Drexler says the BIG3 league is packed with at least 12 dudes who have a real shot at NBA glory in 2018 ... telling TMZ Sports he expects his league to launch those guys back to The Association.

Drexler just took over as the commish of Ice Cube's 3-on-3 league and says he's been blown away by guys like Amare Stoudemire, DeShawn Stevenson and Andre Owens.

Ice Cube has previously said he hopes the BIG3 will be a pipeline for players to get back in the NBA -- and so far, the plan has worked ... with Xavier Silas signing a contract with the Boston Celtics after an impressive stint in the BIG3.

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Roberto Osuna has been suspended for 75 GAMES without pay by MLB for violating the league's domestic violence policy stemming from a May 8 incident.

Osuna was arrested for assault in Toronto after allegedly roughing up his girlfriend -- but officials have been tight-lipped about the details surrounding the incident.

MLB launched its own investigation and concluded 23-year-old Osuna -- a 2017 All-Star -- violated the league's Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy.

The 75-game suspension is retroactive to May 8 -- he has not played in a game since the incident.

He'll be eligible to return on August 4. He'll miss out on roughly $2.7 million in salary -- $35k per game.

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred says, "My office has completed its investigation into the allegation that Roberto Osuna violated Major League Baseball’s Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy on May 8, 2018."

"Having reviewed all of the available evidence, I have concluded that Mr. Osuna violated the Policy and should be subject to discipline in the form of an unpaid suspension that will expire on August 4th."

Osuna says he will not appeal the suspension.

Pistons power forward Eric Moreland doesn't see a problem with LiAngelo Ball not getting picked in Thursday's NBA Draft ... telling TMZ Sports, if Gelo works hard enough -- it won't even matter!!

See, Moreland went undrafted himself back in 2014 ... and he turned out alright -- latching on with the Sacramento Kings for a couple seasons before playing 67 games in Detroit last year.

So, for Eric ... he could care less what happened to the middle Ball bro this week.

"It's OK, he'll come back," Moreland told us.

"I didn't get drafted, you know? He'll be there. He'll be fine."

The Carolina Panthers just fulfilled a badass little girl's wish ... and they might have found the team's future linebacker in the process.

And, we're only kinda kidding.

13-year-old Kyleigh -- who's battling a severe endocrine disorder -- worked with Make-a-Wish Foundation to not only MEET the Panthers, but train with them as well ... and she crushed it.

Superstar linebacker Thomas Davis hooked Kyleigh up with a helmet, jersey, gloves and team uni ... and let her rip into one of Carolina's OTA practices.

Turns out, she's pretty damn good.

"Kyleigh hit harder than Cap! Kyleigh hit harder than Cap!" Davis said, referring to DB Captain Munnerlyn.

Kyleigh's a legit athlete ... having won two wrestling championships ... and T.D. says the Panthers can learn as much from her as she can learn from them.

Kobe Bryant's ex-teammate is going to bat for the future NBA Hall of Famer ... with Matt Barnes telling TMZ Sports Kobe will end up in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences someway, somehow.

Remember, Bryant was just denied entry into the exclusive club, despite winning the Academy Award for Best Animated Short for "Dear Basketball."

Barnes was at an Athletes vs. Cancer event at Skybar on Thursday where he told us Kobe's bounced back from far worse Ls in his career ... and he expects to see the same thing with the Academy membership.

"They're gonna make it tough on him, but I know he's a hard worker," Barnes told us ... "One way or another, he'll end up in there."

Former Dallas Cowboys running back Joseph Randle has been sentenced to probation for striking people with his car at a party in 2016 ... and will finally be released from jail.

The 26-year-old has been bouncing between jail and mental health facilities ever since the incident -- but, last week, the court declared him mentally competent to receive his punishment.

As we previously reported, Randle was found guilty of aggravated battery, criminal threats and aggravated burglary after prosecutors say he ran over partygoers after getting kicked out of a party following a loss at a beer pong game.

Randle appeared in a Kansas courtroom early Friday morning where he was sentenced to a 5-year probation and $3,000 in fines.

The judge will also consider cutting 2 years off the probation sentence if Randle keeps his nose clean.

It's a good result for him -- considering Randle was facing up to 10 years in prison.

Logan Paul is adding EVEN MORE fuel to his rivalry with KSI ahead of their monster August fight ... saying straight-up the YouTube star is "my bitch!!"

Paul was out shopping on Rodeo Drive and was asked if he was ready to take on KSI in their upcoming superfight in England.

And, as has been the case at a nightclub ... on the streets of West Hollywood ... and at their news conference ... Paul took another shot at the social media superstar.

"He's my bitch -- of course."

A group of fans that had gathered to see Paul loved the comment ... and started a "Screw KSI!" chant -- which Logan just had to film.

A.J. Green says he's not mad at Julio Jones for holding out in his contract dispute with the ATL Falcons -- telling TMZ Sports, "He gotta do what he gotta do, man."

The Bengals superstar WR was out shopping in Bev Hills -- and explained that when it comes to getting paid at the pro level, you gotta strike while ya can.

"The NFL stands for 'Not For Long,' so you gotta get it while it lasts."

Green knows what he's talking about -- he signed a 4-year $60 MILLION contract extension in 2015.

But, if things don't work out for Julio in ATL, Green says he's down to share some of the pass-catching workload in Cinci.

A former Houston Texans cheerleader has lawyered up -- with Gloria Allred -- to sue the team after claiming she was treated like a bad sorority pledge ... all because she was considered "skinny fat."

The woman -- Angelina Rosa -- says the Houston Texans cheerleading staffers cornered her before a 2017 game and forcibly duct taped parts of her body to make her body appear tighter.

The woman claims the entire experience was "painful" and humiliating, and now she's out for legal revenge.

"I stand here today to make sure no other girl or woman has to endure the same humiliation."

Rosa claims she was so emotionally scarred, she developed an eating disorder.

Brazilian soccer superstar Neymar got so pissed off the pitch Friday, he cussed out some of his opponents -- insulting their mothers -- and it was broadcast for the world to see.

Neymar and Brazil were taking on Costa Rica in a World Cup Group E game in Russia -- it was very chippy and Neymar was getting VERY frustrated.

So, when a Costa Rica guy appeared to flop -- again -- Neymar let him have it ... calling the dude a "puta" and muttering something about the guy's "madre."

Translation -- the insult is akin to someone calling your mother a whore or a bitch ... you get it.

Soccer players talking trash is nothing new -- but Neymar is one of the biggest, most famous players on the planet ... it would be like watching LeBron cuss out an opponent during the NBA Finals.

Tom Brady is TRASH when it comes to singing U2 songs -- and the video proof is pretty great!

TB12 and his wife, Gisele, hit up the U2 concert at TD Garden in Boston on Thursday -- apparently they're big fans -- and shouted along with the songs at the top of their lungs.

It's so bad, it's good.

You can hear Brady screech along with hits like "Vertigo" and "Pride (In The Name of Love)" -- and, when it comes to his singing voice, he's more Trevor Siemian than Tom Brady.

Gisele didn't seem to mind -- you can see her rocking out in the background, having a blast.

Ben Simmons is pulling a Khloe Kardashian -- getting back together with his significant other after she sucked face with another person!

Just weeks after Kendall Jenner was spotted making out with Anwar Hadid, she seems to be fully back with the 6'10" Simmons ... because the 2 partied in Hollywood on Thursday until 2 in the morning!!

Check out this video of the couple (?) leaving Hyde nightclub on the Sunset Strip right around closing time and driving off in the same SUV.

One thing we also noticed ... 21-year-old Ben gave a stiff-arm to the rose lady who was hoping the NBA star would reach into his pockets to impress Kendall after the club.

How much dough would you cough up to own a piece of the biggest boneheaded play of 2018??

For one fan, the magic number is a whoppin' $23,548!! ... 'cause that's what J.R. Smith's NBA Finals Game 1 jersey sold for Thursday night ... TMZ Sports has learned.

ICYMI -- the bidding started at $620 ... but things started heating up on the final day of bidding, with the number reaching around $11k ... then DOUBLING before the auction closed.

To put things in perspective, LeBron James' Game 1 threads -- which he wore during his historic 51-point performance -- fetched $100,322 ... but that was probably bought for different reasons.

LaVar Ball has heard the trade rumors involving Lonzo Ball going to the Spurs ... and has a message for the Lakers:

"If they wanna trade him, trade him. It'll be the worst move they ever made."

LaVar went off at his JBA season opener on Thursday afternoon -- when we asked about the rumblings that Magic Johnson could ship Lonzo to San Antonio to get Kawhi Leonard.

"If they wanna trade him, trade him. If they don't wanna trade him, keep him. He's gonna do his thing. I'm not worried about no trades.

LaVar says he's still 100% confident all 3 of his boys will eventually play on the same NBA team, despite the fact LiAngelo wasn't drafted on Thursday.

"He'll come in the back door as a free agent," LaVar explained.

Ex-Seattle Seahawks star Brandon Browner was arrested and convicted in a domestic battery case stemming from a May incident ... TMZ Sports has learned.

According to court docs, Browner was arrested in L.A. County on May 6, 2018 for battery and child endangerment. Details surrounding the incident are unclear.

But records show Browner pled no contest to the charges and was sentenced to probation.

Here's where things go from bad to worse ... sometime after the conviction, the court found Browner had violated his probation from a previous case -- and ordered him to serve 60 days in jail.

He was released after just 2 days due to overcrowding.

A rep for the L.A. Sheriff's Dept. tells us, "Anyone sentenced to 180 days or less for a non serious offense is immediately released due to continuing overcrowding."

It's just the latest in a string of legal issues for the former Pro Bowl cornerback who's been arrested several times ever since his career ended back in 2015.

LiAngelo Ball -- who strongly believes he'll be drafted by an NBA team -- is NOT currently at an NBA Draft party. Instead, he's at a big event for his dad's new basketball league.

The former UCLA/Lithuanian league player was courtside at LaVar's JBA season opener at Citizen's Business Bank Arena in Ontario, CA.

Remember, 'Gelo previously told us he was getting strong interest from NBA teams -- which may be the case -- but there's no draft fanfare like there was for Lonzo last year ... when he was selected as the second overall pic in the 2017 NBA Draft.

Speaking of Lonzo, he was also at the JBA event, along with his pregnant GF, Denise Garcia.

As for LaVar ... there's plenty of support at the JBA opener from close friends and family members -- but, to be honest, the arena is pretty empty.