TMZ Sports - Page 50

Al Sharpton is very skeptical of EA's statement on why it removed Colin Kaepernick's name from the Madden 19 soundtrack ... telling TMZ Sports, "I'm questioning their intentions."

The creators of football's top-selling game issued an apology after it was discovered they scrubbed the Kaep reference from YG's song "Big Bank" ... and blamed the whole ordeal on a licensing issue.

Sharpton ain't ready to buy any of that ... explaining to us their actions sound more like evidence of NFL collusion than an honest mistake.

"It clearly looks like it is an agreement among the owners," Al says.

"They keep [Kaepernick] isolated -- they keep him off the field. And I think that is something that is un-American."

WWE legend Mick Foley says he couldn't be more proud of his good friend Kane for becoming the next mayor of Knox County, Tennessee ... saying, "I think he'll do a great job!"

Foley campaigned for Kane -- real name Glenn Jacobs -- touting his friend's longtime interest in politics and the fact he's a super smart dude in real life.

So, when Kane won the election this week, Foley wanted to assure the people of Knox County they're getting a winner!

"He's a very wise man and caring person, and I think he'll do a great job in Knox County."

Reigning NBA Most Valuable Player James Harden understands what Batman, Superman, Spider-Man, and Darkwing Duck have already proved ... that if you're gonna be a hero, you gotta have some theme music.

We got Harden cruising the streets of Hollywood yesterday (in a car fit for a superhero) and asked him what his theme music is when he pulls up to L.A. clubs to stunt.

In true superhero fashion, Harden says very little (okay, maybe Deadpool is different), but rolls down his window for our guy and blares his answer as he pulls off into the Los Angeles sunset.

In case you were wondering, the song is "Petrafyde" by NinaN9ne and 8ig Hungry ... which is a jam fit for a hero to be sure.

BTW -- we didn't make up the rules for heroes and their theme music ... Keenen Ivory Wayans did.

Nate Diaz tells TMZ Sports he's considering dropping out of UFC 230 over a serious dispute with the UFC ... telling us he'll only fight if he "feels like it."

Diaz stormed out of the UFC media event on Friday while Dana White announced the Conor McGregor comeback fight against Khabib Nurmagomedov ... and we got him outside.

Nate claims he's been ineligible to fight due to a legal dispute with his former manager. As we previously reported, The Ballengee Group sued Diaz, claiming he never paid them their cut for negotiating his deal for the McGregor fight at UFC 202.

This seems to be the case Diaz is referring to.

Diaz is upset, claiming White has been "bad-mouthing" him by saying he's turned down multiple fight offers over the past 2 years. Nate insists he's "never turned down a fight in my life."

Diaz says he finally settled his lawsuit last month and can fight again -- which is why he agreed to fight Dustin Poirier at UFC 230 in November.

But, something at the media event rubbed Diaz the wrong way and now he tells TMZ Sports ... the UFC "better start acting right and start over-promoting [me] instead of under promoting."

There's more ... we also asked Nate who he's got in the Conor vs. Khabib match -- and he replied, "I whipped one's ass and I slapped the f*ck out of the other one so they're both my little bitches."

Diaz then told us about an incident in which he smacked Khabib in the face in front of "all his Russian friends" and they "didn't do sh*t."

Here's how 36-year-old Tyron Woodley feels about fighting 25-year-old Darren Till:

"I'm 10 years older than this dude. I've got underwear his age!"

The UFC welterweight champ took some time away from training camp to shoot this week's episode of 'The Hollywood Beatdown' ... where he told us how he's gearing up to defend his belt at UFC 228.

"Man, I'm ready to f*** Darren Till up, man. I'm not gonna bulls**t."

There's a lot more ... Woodley also tells us why he's not mad at Cody Garbrandt for using the n-bomb on his Twitter page and why he can't hate on Nate Diaz.

Make sure to watch all the way to the end of the clip when Tyron tells us how he stays motivated and focused in the gym ... it'll get you fired up!!!

Newly released text messages from Zach Smith's ex-wife appear to show the ex-Ohio State assistant coach apologizing for strangling her during a trip to the Dominican Republic in 2015.

Courtney Smith released the messages to college football reporter Brett McMurphy -- who says the conversation was referencing a trip to Punta Cana in March 2015.

"Think back to the cheating the lies and picking me up by my neck and strangling me in Punta Cana and at our place in April," Courtney texted to Zach ... "The abuse got worse bc u couldnt stand me catching u in ur lies."

Zach replied, "I know!" and "I'm so so sorry!"

Fired Ohio State assistant coach Zach Smith just broke his silence on his alleged domestic violence ... saying he NEVER beat his ex-wife.

Zach went on 105.7 The Zone to tell his side of the story ... and says while he was in a "volatile" and "toxic" relationship, he "never committed domestic abuse against her."

As for the photos Zach's ex-wife, Courtney Smith, released showing bruises on her body from the alleged abuse ... Zach said he may have caused them while "defensively restraining her" when situations "got out of hand" ... but insists he never struck her.

Smith also says PLENTY of people at Ohio State knew of the accusations back in 2015 ... saying it was OSU athletic director Gene Smith himself that actually informed him of the claims.

Smith went on to say he doesn't believe he deserved to be fired last month ... and thinks he was only terminated so the team wouldn't have to answer questions about him and the incident.

No one is more plugged in to the NBA scene than Matt Barnes -- so, naturally, he's got all the inside scoop on the Draymond Green vs. Tristan Thompson incident and he's finally talking about it.

Barnes appeared on "Lunchtime with Roggin and Rodney" on AM 570 LA Sports and told the guys he's already spoken with his ex-Warriors teammate, Draymond, about the altercation and says the media got it all wrong.

"He was never actually hit and he actually tried to make peace through people that wanted him to squash it," Barnes says.

It had been reported that Tristan sucker punched Draymond when they met up at an ESPYs after-party at Delilah nightclub ... but Barnes says that's simply not true.

TMZ Sports had spoken to multiple witnesses who told us the guys actually made peace afterward and are on much better terms now.

Dana White says it's 100% on ... Conor McGregor vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov is set for Oct. 6 at UFC 229 in Las Vegas!!!

It'll undoubtedly be the biggest fight of the year for the UFC -- Conor's first fight back in the Octagon since his boxing match with Floyd Mayweather.

The last time Conor fought for the UFC was back in 2016 when he avenged his loss against Nate Diaz.

Urban Meyer admits he knew about the 2015 Zach Smith domestic violence incident -- but lied to the media when asked about it on BIG10 Media Day last month.

But the catch ... Meyer says he followed proper protocol behind the scenes and elevated the incident to "proper channels."

The Ohio State football coach spelled it out in a statement saying ...

"Here is the truth: While at the University of Florida, and now at The Ohio State University, I have always followed proper reporting protocols and procedures when I have learned of an incident involving a student-athlete, coach or member of our staff by elevating the issues to the proper channels. And, I did so regarding the Zach Smith incident in 2015."

"I take that responsibility very seriously and any suggestions to the contrary is simply false."

He added, "My words, whether in a reply to a reporter's question or in addressing a personnel issue, must be clear, compassionate and most of all, completely accurate. Unfortunately, at Big Ten Media Days on July 24th, I failed on may of these fronts."

"My intention was not to say anything inaccurate or misleading. However, I was not adequately prepared to discuss these sensitive personnel issues with the media, and I apologize for the way I handled those questions."

As we previously reported, Zach Smith was fired as the WR coach at Ohio State last month when domestic violence allegations went public.

No, Blake Griffin is NOT paying $258k per month in child support -- he's only paying a fraction of that ... TMZ Sports has learned.

As we previously reported, the $258k figure that's being reported is wrong -- but sources tell us the NBA star is still cutting a significant check to Brynn Cameron, the mother of his 2 kids.

The number, we're told, is $32,000 per month ... which adds up to $384,000 per year.

It's no sweat for Blake, who recently signed a 5-year, $171 million contract.

Minnesota Vikings safety Andrew Sendejo seems to be on the same page as Donald Trump -- wearing a hat to training camp with the message, "Make Football Violent Again."

Not only is it a take off Trump's "Make America Great Again" slogan -- but it's also one of Donald's key gripes against the league.

Remember, just last year POTUS said refs are "ruining the game" by penalizing players for making "beautiful tackles."

But, back to Sendejo -- one of the league's hardest hitters -- who happened to wear the hat on the heels of the Ravens-Bears preseason opener ... where several guys were hit with flags for seemingly innocuous tackles.

Remember ... Sendejo was suspended one game in 2017 for hitting Ravens wideout Mike Wallace in the head with his shoulder while trying to make a hard tackle ... and he wasn't happy about that then.

Now ... the league is promising to crack down even harder on hits to the head -- and Andrew is making his thoughts on that matter loud and clear.

Birthday boy Tom Brady got roughed up at Patriots practice on Friday ... but it wasn't a 300-lb. lineman pouncing on him -- it was his gorgeous wife, Gisele!!

TB12's 41st birthday turned into an all-out party in Foxborough ... complete with a massive #12 cake, cards, balloon Brady and cutout goat ... but the best present had to be Gisele and their kids' surprise appearance towards the end of drills.

Brady looks completely caught off-guard about the adorable attack ... which eventually turns into kissing and slight butt-tapping.

Jerry Jones' son was a passenger in a head-on car crash in Malibu late Wednesday night after a fancy dinner with his famous father and L.A. Rams owner Stan Kroenke ... witnesses tell TMZ Sports.

Jerry Jones Jr. -- the Executive V.P. of the Cowboys -- had left Nobu sushi restaurant on Pacific Coast Highway around 11 PM when his sprinter van slammed into another vehicle.

Both vehicles sustained significant damage -- but, based on photos and videos from the scene, it appears Jones walked away without an injury.

Witnesses say Jones Jr. walked off the van and comforted the driver -- who appeared shaken up.

Cops and emergency responders eventually arrived to the scene. Our law enforcement sources say neither drugs nor alcohol appeared to have been a factor. Just an innocent traffic accident.

We've reached out to the Cowboys multiple times for comment. So far, no word back.

L.A. Chargers rookie safety Derwin James is finally talking about the night he was robbed at gunpoint in Hollywood -- saying, "I wouldn't wish that upon anybody."

TMZ Sports broke the story ... the 22-year-old (a 1st round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft) was leaving an Italian restaurant on June 23 when he was approached by two men who demanded his jewelry.

The assailants snatched a chain from Derwin's neck and stole his Rolex -- and then slashed the tires on his Rolls-Royce before fleeing the scene.

On Thursday, James told the media ... "I wouldn't wish that upon anybody. It happened. It was just one of those things that you never expect to happen to you, but it happened and I'm just happy to be out here playing football."

Got a gambling problem? Wanna make a few bucks wagering on UFC?

Well, here's UFC Hall of Famer Urijah Faber spelling out why he thinks Conor McGregor will walk away with the W if/when he faces Khabib Nurmagomedov in October.

Backstory ... Faber accurately predicted Nate Diaz to beat Conor when they fought for the first time back in March 2016.

In fact, Urijah says he ALMOST fought Conor at UFC 196 -- but McGregor chose to take on Diaz at UFC 196 instead.