TMZ Sports - Page 50

Jerome Bettis has a message for Le'Veon Bell and the Pittsburgh Steelers -- "Neither one of you are as good by yourself as you are together."

Translation ... stop messing around and get a long-term deal done already.

Bell has been beefing with the Steelers for years -- demanding (and failing to get) a long-term contract. Instead, the team hit him with the franchise tag for the past 2 seasons.

Bell has threatened to hold out and even retire if the two sides don't get a long-term deal done -- and Bettis says it's in the best interest of BOTH sides to make something work.

"Le'Veon, you're not going to be as good going somewhere else because they're not going to have the offensive line, they're not going to have the quarterback, the receivers that they have in Pittsburgh."

"You have a full complement around you that allows you to be as great as you want to be."

As for the Steelers, Bettis says there's little risk in signing Bell to a long-term deal because he'll be able to produce at a high level for at least 5 more years.

By the way ... Bettis is competing in a golf tournament next week that features a Korbel champagne celebrity cork-shooting contest -- and you gotta hear why he thinks Steph Curry shouldn't be the favorite!!

Kelly Slater -- the most decorated pro surfer of all time -- says he's finally ready to retire from the pro surfing championship tour ... but not until he competes one last time!!!

"My basic plan is to get myself really healthy again, get ready for April, and next year be my last year on tour and just be done with it," Slater said during the 2018 Corona J-Bay Open.

In other words, the 46-year-old surf god will compete during the 2019 season -- and give it one last shot to win his 12th World Surf League Championship.

Slater's been nursing a broken foot -- which he calls "pretty minor on the scope of life" -- and says, as soon as he heals up, he'll be ready for his farewell tour.

Don't worry about Kelly's post-competition life ... the guy created his own artificial wave machine which some say will revolutionize the sport -- especially the way competitions are televised.

By the way, no one's even close to catching Slater when it comes to world titles -- the next guy on the list only has 5.

Chargers star rookie Derwin James just bought his mom the dopest "thanks for raising me" gift ever -- a big-ass house in Florida!!

"I don’t think there is anybody more deserving in the world then her," the ex-FSU safety posted on social media.

Unclear what city the house is in or how much it costs ... but the place looks super nice, complete with two stories and a bunch of palm trees in the yard.

Derwin becomes the latest NFL first-round pick to buy his folks a new home ... NY Giants stud Saquon Barkley dropped more than $400,000 on his mom and dad's new pad just last week!

DeAngelo Williams is coming back .... no, not to the NFL (at least not yet) ... to the squared circle!!

The former Steelers running back announced he's returning to Impact Wrestling July 12 after swearing he was retired just days after his debut last year.

"I said I'd never do this again, but I'm back in the ring!" Williams says in a video obtained by TMZ Sports.

Remember ... DeAngelo was an absolute star at Impact Wrestling's Slammiversary XV last July ... busting out backflips and showing off his ridiculous strength.

DW said he was hanging them up for good immediately after the bout ... but now, he's coming back to help former NFL player Moose train for the Impact World Championship at this year's Slammiversary on July 22!!

WWE Raw tag team champion Bray Wyatt suffered multiple injuries in a head-on car crash on Friday ... but tells TMZ Sports, "I'm gonna live through it because I can't die."

Wyatt -- real name Windham Lawrence Rotunda -- was in Tampa, Florida and on his way to the airport to leave for Raw WWE Live Events when he smashed into another vehicle.

Wyatt's car was totaled and he was treated at Tampa General Hospital. He's since been released.

We just spoke with Wyatt, who tells us he's in good spirits -- "I'm moving around."

WWE has also issued a statement saying, "Due to the injuries sustained, Wyatt did not compete at this weekend’s WWE Live Events and will not be present at tonight’s Raw."

Wyatt is from a legendary wrestling family -- his father Mike Rotunda is a former WWE superstar (he's famously known as the buffed out tax guy nicknamed I.R.S.).

Plan the parade ... with LeBron James in L.A., the Lakers are takin' down the Warriors and winning a ring ... so says 4x NBA champ John Salley.

Salley knows how to win -- he won 4 'ships with 3 different organizations -- and says LBJ's Lakers have the fire power to take down Steph Curry and Kevin Durant's Warriors ... and whoever the hell comes outta the East.

"It's destined to happen. It's gonna happen. Period."

How 'bout tix for the soon-to-be champs? J.S. says LBJ makes the Lakers the hottest ticket the town has ever seen ... hotter than when Kobe and Shaq did their thing ... hotter than Magic's Showtime Lakers.

LeBron James just touched down in Italy after sealing the deal on his new $154 MILLION contract ... and even his workout equipment is Laker colors.

Bron and his family were spotted Monday morning boarding a yacht in Positano -- a super fancy city on the Amalfi Coast where Magic Johnson usually spends part of his expensive summer family vacation.

In fact, Magic's wife, Cookie Johnson, just told us the family plans to rent out the same $700,000 per week yacht they vacationed on last summer with Sam Jackson ... and will sail to the same spots.

So ... does this mean Magic and LeBron will vacation together??? We'll see ...

LeBron's been doing a lot of traveling lately -- he was in Anguilla last week with the family (remember, he jumped off that cliff?) ... and then jetted back to Los Angeles to get the deal done with the Lakers.

And now that his contract is squared away ... it's back to vacation mode.

Ever seen a dude bury a basket from the roof of the Houston Astros' ballpark?? Well, now you have ...

Harlem Globetrotters star Thunder Law took to Minute Maid Park with a basketball and a hoop to help promote the Globetrotters' upcoming games in Texas this month ... and what happened next was pretty crazy.

Thunder took the pass from Stros mascot Orbit ... and sank the shot from WAAAAY up in the stadium's center field!!

The craziest part?? Thunder says the Astros woulda been PISSED if he missed the hoop and hit the pristine outfield grass -- so he had to do it in one take!!

Impressive, of course ... but did you know Thunder woulda needed to be on top of about SEVEN Minute Maid Parks to break the record for highest-ever made basket??

Check it out -- some dude hit a 660-footer a couple months ago!!

John Witherspoon doesn't care one bit that LeBron James is heading to the Lakers ... 'cause the actor thinks LBJ "holds the ball too long" -- and the Lakers will still be garbage with him!!

We got the "Friday" star out at LAX ... and when we asked about the King's new kingdom -- John went off.

"He ain't going to help them Lakers. He's going to help them do what? Lose the title?! ... Man, he holds the ball too long!"

John's most savage burn of the new Lake Show? That was reserved for Bron's new coach, Luke Walton.

"He wasn't nothing when he was playing! How's he going to tell them how to play when he wasn't nothing when he was playing??"

While celebs like Randy Jackson fight to get tickets to see LBJ at Staples ... we're pretty sure John's out when it comes to that bidding war.

Simply committing to the Lakers as one of the greatest basketball players of all time does NOT mean LeBron James is already an L.A. legend -- so says NBA star Clint Capela.

We got the Houston Rockets center leaving Il Pastaio in Bev Hills on Sunday and just had to ask ... should LBJ already be mentioned with Kobe, Magic and Shaq in Lakers' lore now?!

"A legend in L.A.? I mean, he's going to have to prove a little bit. At least a little something."

Interesting comments from Clint ... considering he's a restricted free agent who reportedly met with the Lakers about possibly signing an offer sheet just hours before the King's commitment.

Maybe not the best way to get Bron to make the Lakers shell out more cash for him ... but could there be some reverse psychology going on here from Clint?!

Bruce Maxwell -- the only MLB player who took a knee during the national anthem -- has been sentenced for that incident in which he allegedly pulled a gun on a Postmates driver ... and he won't be going to jail.

As we previously reported, Maxwell was arrested back in October after a female driver claimed Maxwell threatened her with a gun when she tried delivering his food to his Scottsdale home.

Maxwell was initially arrested for aggravated assault -- but, he cut a deal with prosecutors in which he agreed to plead guilty to disorderly conduct ... a lesser charge.

In exchange, Maxwell was sentenced to 2 years probation -- with a 6-month deferred sentence ... which means if he violates the terms of probation, he gets 6 months in jail.

As for Bruce, he's kept a very low profile since the arrest -- we have yet to hear from him.

We last saw Maxwell in police body cam footage -- when he was cussing out the arresting officers who responded to the gun call.

Well, that was quick.

LeBron James is no longer on the front page of the Cleveland Cavaliers online team shop -- and they're already slashing prices on his jerseys.

Don't worry, the new star getting the front-page treatment is Cavs rookie Collin Sexton -- you can buy his jersey for $110 (Kevin Love and J.R. Smith are also still on the front page).

But, now that LeBron's heading West ... the NBA's #2 selling jersey (behind Steph Curry) has been discounted from $110 to $66!

Gotta think people in Cleveland are still gonna buy LeBron jerseys though, right? Especially since the Cavs will 100% retire #23 at some point down the line.

Meanwhile, on the Lakers team store -- they're selling LeBron front and center!

Interested in some Bron purple and gold swag? An authentic #23 Lakers jersey will cost you $220!

If that's too rich for your blood, you can still find old-school Cedric Ceballos jerseys (#23) for WAYYYY cheaper!

Good luck!

Los Angeles Lakers star Kyle Kuzma can throw -- in fact, he was launching TD passes at a huge flag football game with NFL stars over the weekend ... and TMZ Sports has the footage.

The 6'9" power forward went under center at the Team Ross vs. Team Snoop charity game in Long Beach and did pretty well -- throwing strikes to NFL stars like Joe Mixon and John Ross.

Ultimately, Kyle's team lost after a crazy 4th quarter comeback by Team Snoop -- but it was fun as hell to watch and it all benefited the John Ross III Foundation, which helps provide educational opportunities to underprivileged kids.

Plus, the touchdown celebrations were pretty dope too -- with dancing and backflips ... and even some friendly trash talk.

VIOLENCE! VIOLENCE! VIOLENCE!

Milwaukee Bucks player Thon Maker threw FLYING KNEES AND KICKS in a crazy brawl during an international basketball game today ... and that was just the beginning!

Maker was playing for the Australian national team -- taking the Philippines -- when things got extremely chippy between the two squads.

Punches starting flying ... and so did Maker -- as the 7'1", 223 pounder took flight to try and land some shots.

One of the more devastating blows came from another NBA guy -- Andray Blatche -- who threw a crazy haymaker and knocked a guy onto the ground.

It could have been a lot worse if Blatche had hit the guy flush ...

It appears both Maker and Blatche got out of the fight without any serious injuries -- but can't say that for everyone.

Especially the dude who got hit with a flying jumping punch from one of the little guys ...

LeBron James just boosted the price of L.A. Lakers tickets in a HUGE way -- with rich stars like Randy Jackson admitting they would pay a bloody fortune to see Bron play at Staples Center.

"[I would pay] anything to see LeBron, dude ... one of the greatest players ever," the former "American Idol" judge just told us outside of Craig's in L.A. ... "I love him. I can't wait to see him."

By the way, season ticket prices on sites like StubHub have reportedly doubled since the announcement about LeBron ... with one buyer paying close to $200,000 for the upcoming season.

Also, Jackson said he'd love to work with LeBron if The King wants to get into music while he's in L.A. -- so, dude's got options.