TMZ Sports - Page 50

Antonio Brown got himself one helluva birthday present this year ... copping an insane diamond chain made with A KILO OF GOLD ... and it's got an awesome meaning behind it.

TMZ Sports has learned ... the Steelers superstar hit up Gabriel the Jeweler -- the go-to guy for pretty much every NFLer -- for the piece featuring his logo made of 100 handpicked VS2 diamonds.

But if you look closely ... AB's fiancee and children's names are featured along the outside of the plate ... a special request Brown made to show love for his family.

Gabe tells us Brown -- whose birthday was July 10 -- was totally stoked with the results and has been rockin' it everywhere.

And, we know what you're wondering ... we're told the piece is worth around $200K!!

Sage Northcutt tipped the scale at 170 lbs. on Friday ... but he'll be a helluva lot heavier in the future -- as in, the size of a 206+ lb. heavyweight -- 'cause that's where Super Sage says he'll eventually fight.

TMZ Sports talked to the UFC star before his co-main event fight against Zak Ottow at Saturday's UFC Fight Night 133 -- a fight in the 170 lb. welterweight division.

That's a step up for the 22-year-old -- who's been fightin' at 155 lbs. -- but it ain't the final destination.

"Personally I think I might end up fighting heavyweight in the future," Sage tell us.

"I can just see myself keep growing. I'll be 24, 25, growing 2, 3, 4 more inches, and putting on a lot of muscle. I can absolutely see it."

It's likely your team didn't advance to the final match of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Moscow ... but it's not a total loss (unless you were rooting for USA, then you totally lost).There were plenty of winners from around the world in the crowds of the soccer stadiums to help you feel like your country still scored!

Give our gallery of hot World Cup fans a try, and see the sexiest soccer supporters who traveled the globe to get in on the epic spectator sport!

You're looking at a living, breathing SHOE GOD -- Tinker Hatfield -- Nike's famous designer who created some of the most iconic Air Jordan shoes EVER!

But Tinker also created a stinker ... an Air Jordan shoe that he wishes he never made -- the Jordan 15.

You gotta hear Hatfield explain why he wishes he could take it back and throw it away ... the story is really interesting. Did you know he modeled the tongue of the shoe after Michael Jordan's actual tongue?

On the flip side, Tinker says his Jordan 11s are his proudest creation -- but tells TMZ Sports it's a shoe that was thiiiis close to being scrapped ... if not for MJ himself bringing it back to life.

BONUS -- we ALSO asked Hatfield what to expect with LeBron James' first signature shoe as a Laker ... and it's gonna get fans hype.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope says he's thinking of ways to welcome LeBron James to the Lakers -- and says a dinner with the rest of his teammates is definitely on the table.

The funny part ... Bron's been in town for about a week now and hasn't broken bread with his Purple and Gold squad yet (that we know about) ... but he had made time for Hollywood stars like Al Pacino, Leonardo DiCaprio and Khloe Kardashian.

NBA player Tyler Ulis was attacked and beat up by 2 guys in an apartment elevator fight in 2017 ... until his friend, Devin Booker, came to the rescue ... and TMZ Sports has the footage.

It all went down in Tempe, AZ on May 26 while Ulis was still playing for the Phoenix Suns. We're told Tyler was trying to hold the elevator for his friends when another group of guys tried to get on.

When Tyler continued to hold it ... they took offense and a scuffle broke out. One guy grabbed Tyler while another man put him in a headlock. The fight spilled out of the elevator and into the hallway.

A short time later, Ulis' friends -- including Suns superstar Booker -- took the elevator to the scene of the fight and found the men who attacked Ulis. Another fight broke out, Ulis threw punches.

Booker -- who covered his face with a bandana -- does not appear to hit anyone.

Eventually, the 2 groups get down to the lobby ... where another man from Ulis' crew (wearing a black shirt) chases their adversaries out of the building and punches one of the guys in the face.

You can see Booker chasing after the other men into the street.

We're told police were called to the scene, but ultimately no arrests were made.

Kellen Winslow Jr. has been released from jail and will begin house arrest -- after posting bail in his rape case ... TMZ Sports has learned.

The ex-NFL star was released from Vista Detention Facility in San Diego on Friday -- one day after the judge in the case set bail at $2 million.

Per the terms of his release, Winslow will be on house arrest and must wear a GPS device at all times.

Winslow was initially arrested on suspicion of raping 2 women in the San Diego area earlier this year. Prosecutors say he also broke into a mobile home park on 2 separate occasions with the intent to rape elderly women.

Y'all really thought Blake Griffin's fun in the sun was over when he got shipped to Detroit?!

Well, you were VERY wrong ... and these pics of the Pistons superstar's girlfriend in a skimpy white bikini is all the proof you need.

Of course, BG's special lady friend is Francesca Aiello, who founded Frankies Bikinis ... so, this is kind of her job. Man, she's good at it.

The new couple hit Miami Beach on Friday morning ... both showing a LOT of skin and gettin' all romantic in the water -- almost like that scene from "Dirty Dancing."

Ex-NFL star Thomas Jones says he's off Papa John's pizza for life -- not only because of the n-word scandal ... but also 'cause he thinks their pies taste like ass.

"Never in my life [will I buy Papa John's pizza again]," Jones told us in NYC ... "I never ate Papa John's anyway. It tasted like -- I don't know if I was eating the box or the pizza."

"It was terrible," he added.

Of course, there's been a huge backlash against the company ever since reports surfaced that founder John Schnatter used the n-word on a company conference call.

The pizza company is scrubbing John's image from all marketing materials, Schnatter has stepped down as chairman ... and the University of Louisville is removing "Papa John's" from the stadium name.

"I'm glad he resigned, fired ... whatever," Jones says. "I could care less what happens to him."

By the way, Jones says he's fully moved on from his football career and is now focusing on taking over Hollywood as an actor and producer.

Hey fellas, wanna make Tinashe laugh? Well, all you gotta do is remind her that 6'10" NBA star Ben Simmons is so scared of her that he's hiring extra security, because she thinks that's REALLY funny.

We broke the story ... sources close to Ben say he believes Tinashe is despondent about their breakup, and popping up at Hollywood nightspots he hits with new GF Kendall Jenner.

Tinashe was out at Delilah Thursday night (Ben was not inside ... that we know of) when we asked her what she thinks about his concerns and, with the laughs he got, our guy might as well have been Dave Chappelle.

What did the 5 fingers say to David Arquette's face? SLAPPITY SLAP SLAP!!!

The 46-year-old movie star took several open-hand slaps to the face on the red carpet at the 350 Days premiere in Hollywood on Thursday ... when he was ambushed by pro wrestler RJ City.

The two -- who happen to be facing off at a wrestling match on July 15 -- started jawing at each other on the red carpet ... but things turned physical and RJ let them hands fly!

The "fight" was quickly broken up and City was escorted off the carpet.

Afterward, Arquette told us he's been training his ass off to demolish City on Sunday -- even traveling to Tijuana, Mexico to train with luchadores.

Steph Curry can't even let his guard down in the offseason ... 'cause the dude's getting challenged WHEREVER he goes -- even on the golf course!!

Curry was participating in the practice round at the American Century Championship celebrity golf tournament at Edgewood Tahoe on Thursday ... when his own caddie grabbed a basketball and put the NBA superstar in a blender!!

Curry's reaction is hilarious ... the dude even reenacts his infamous mouthpiece toss from the 2016 NBA Finals!!

(Obviously, Curry was in on the joke ... but, it's still really funny)

BTW -- there's a TON of athletes competing in the tourney Friday -- from Sean Payton to Jared Goff to Vince Carter. But, they didn't get crossed up by their caddies.

It wasn't all L's for Curry ... he did win the Korbel champagne poppin' contest!

Ever wonder who Jerry Rice thinks is the greatest football player that ever lived?

"I'm the f*cking best football player of all time!" the ex-49ers receiver says.

Well, there you have it.

The San Francisco legend was out in Lake Tahoe on Thursday night for the annual American Century Championship golf tournament ... when an onstage convo with Charles Barkley turned into a scene straight out of a WWE ring.

In a video captured by NBC Sports Bay Area ... Jerry listed off all his accolades to Chuck (they're pretty good) ... and explained to him rather emphatically he's the GOAT.

Then, he dropped the mic ... stormed off the stage to "All I Do Is Win" -- and then the crowd broke out in a "Jerry, Jerry, Jerry!" chant.

If LeBron James is looking to cast people in his upcoming movie ... look no further than Karl-Anthony Towns!!

We got the Minnesota Timberwolves superstar out in Hollywood with his smokin' hot girlfriend, Kawahine Andrade ... wearing the exact same designer hoodie Bron rocked Wednesday night.

FYI, the hoodie is made by a company called Rhude -- which sells the sweatshirts for around $500!

So, with their fashion sense lining up, we asked KAT if he wants some on-camera work with LeBron's production company.

"Tell him to call me," Towns said ... "We can make it happen!"

He's not the only star hoping to team up with James -- Common says he'd love to hook up with LeBron for a project.

How's this for a collaboration ... LaVar Ball and LeBron James on a big Hollywood project together?

LaVar tells TMZ Sports ... don't rule it out.

The Big Baller was at his JBA league event in Ontario, CA where we asked if LaVar had plans to get in on all of the Hollywood power meetings LeBron has been taking in Los Angeles.

Lonzo's dad told us a meeting with Bron ain't a priority ... right now ... but he's excited about the possibility of teaming up with King James down the line.

"In Hollywood, anything's possible," LaVar says ... "We hook up together maybe become something more powerful. But it's all good!"

We also asked LaVar about Lonzo's health surrounding his knee injury -- and he assured us, "Lonzo's getting better and better."

Nick Diaz just went scorched Earth on the UFC and some its biggest stars -- including Brock Lesnar who Nick rips as a cheater with a "dick chest" tattoo.

Diaz began his rant in the middle of the night -- going off on people crowning Daniel Cormier as the "baddest man on the planet."

"I’ll fight for any title at Any weight," Nick said on an angry IG post ... "UFC wants to make bs wwf fights with guys that fight like sh*t and put on an act."

He then ripped Cormier's upcoming fight with Lesnar -- saying, "[Dana White] should give me this fight instead of dick chest Brock Lesnars cheating ass #dontbescaredhomie."

"Nothing personal I love Dc but I don’t like what he does-constantly embarrassed for him and the sport."