TMZ Sports - Page 50

Just when you thought Odell Beckham Jr.'s 2018 could not get ANY better ... super hot Instagram model Lindsey Pelas has invited OBJ to one of the most wondrous, mystical places in the world ... her DMs.

Little backstory ... Lindsey is from Baton Rouge, Louisiana and went to LSU at the same time Odell did ... even though she says they never met while they were on campus (what were you thinking Beckham?!).

We got Pelas in L.A. and asked if she's looking for a reunion with her fellow Tiger now that he has the richest NFL WR contract of all time ($95 million) ... and she said all DMs are OPEN ... but she won't send one first.

"I think ... I should be on the receiving end ... I might catch it."

Odell, we know you're not a QB ... but might be time to throw, bro.

Brandon Marshall vs. Brandon Marshall -- who wins???

According to Brandon Marshall, it's gonna be Brandon Marshall.

Here's the deal ... the two NFL studs with the same name will actually be going up against each other on Sunday when the Broncos take on the Seahawks -- so, we got Brandon Marshall to weigh in.

The Broncos linebacker, that is.

"I'm hoping that they throw the ball to him and I can run down the field and get him one time," Brandon tells us.

Of course, the OTHER Brandon Marshall ain't too shabby -- a 6-time Pro Bowl wide receiver who signed with Seattle during the offseason.

By the way, the two finally met in person for the first time earlier this year ... and they appeared to hit it off!!

Clearly, that doesn't mean Brandon ain't still trying to prove a point Sunday.

So, who's the better Brandon Marshall?

Jimmy Garoppolo's only started five games for the 49ers, but that's all Ron Jaworski's needed to see -- 'cause he's telling TMZ Sports the S.F. QB "absolutely" can be a Hall of Famer!!

"When I see a Garoppolo," Jaws says, "I see a guy that the sky is the limit."

The ex-Eagles QB tells us he loves the way Jimmy plays with his mind, arm and legs ... and says he's basically a cross between TWO Niners legends.

"You've got a Joe Montana, Steve Young kind of guy in San Francisco right now, and that's going to be the pillar of that football team for a good decade," Jaworski says.

FYI ... Jimmy's only thrown 272 passes in his five-year NFL career and only has 12 passing touchdowns.

Sooo ... too early for the lofty praise?? Maybe ... but we know of at least one person who probably agrees with Ron ...

Jameel Cook -- a FB on the '02 Super Bowl-winning Tampa Bay Bucs -- has been charged with allegedly stealing more than $100K meant for injured NFL players and is facing 10 years in prison.

According to the Harris County D.A.'s Office in Texas -- 39-year-old Cook filed 30 bogus claims between March 2016 and September 2017.

The account Cook allegedly stole from was the Gene Upshaw NFL Player Plan -- set up to benefit former players.

The D.A. says Cook submitted the claims and was reimbursed money he claimed to have paid out-of-pocket on medical bills.

Officials say the claims were B.S. ... and after an investigation, charged Cook with Securing the Execution of Documents by Deception -- a 3rd degree felony.

He's facing up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

4:07 PM PT -- Karl-Anthony Towns -- Mac's close friend -- just showed up at Miller's home. He stayed for a few minutes before leaving.

Towns -- who said he broke down when he heard the news -- tweeted ... "Not only were you my favorite artist, you was one of my closest friends. The love we had was genuine and the moments we shared were filled with nothing but positivity and laughter. I love you man and I’m sure as hell gonna miss you."

The death of Mac Miller has hit the sports world hard -- with several notable athletes who were fans of his music paying tribute to the rapper Friday.

Steelers superstar Le'Veon Bell -- who had a strong connection with the Pittsburgh native -- tweeted, "NOOO! I do not wanna believe my brother is dead! I cannot take this anymore, life is too short...I just know you’re now in a better place now than this place we call Earth @MacMiller ...I love you bro, and will miss youu 😭"

Another Pennsylvania product -- legendary corner Darrelle Revis -- shared a heartfelt message underneath an old photo of the two, saying, "My heart just dropped when I heard the news about my brother Mac Miller. Our last conversation we had I told you I would come to one of your shows but I never mentioned which one because it was going to be a surprise."

"9 years ago I saw a young man with a gift that would change the world with his voice. I saw a young man who was talented as anybody in the rap game and he was 17 years of age at the time. I remember rushing back home in the off-season to spend time in the studio to be around a creative genius."

"You inspired so many people across the world as an MC from the 412 and one thing I can say is I was here to watch you become a Legend from the very start of your career. To the rap game and to PITTSBURGH we lost a real one but his music will live on forever!!! #kids #longlivemacmiller"

NBA stud Jabari Parker also reflected on how Mac Miller impacted his life with an old photo of the two in L.A., saying, "DAMN MAC. I’m hurt. And the crazy thing is, I don’t even take pictures with my hero’s because the memory is more important than the canvas."

"But this particular day I had to. This day I wasn’t even suppose to be there. But as soon as my boy told me your whereabouts, I rushed over to holla at you. 'Huge fan MAC'. Always will be your fan. RIP brother, one of the greatest to do it!"

Cardinals rookie Christian Kirk gave his thoughts on Twitter, writing, "another talent gone way too soon" and Cowboys WR Cole Beasley -- who also raps -- said, "Mac Miller being gone is hurtin me right now."

Even UFC boss Dana White paid tribute to the musician, posting a photo of Mac Miller and writing, "WOW!!!! Very sad..... RIP."

NBA stud Deron Williams was once offered a real-deal fight with Greg Hardy ... and wanna guess what his response was??

Yeah, it was a firm HELL NO.

Deron is actually a pretty legit MMA fighter ... dude has a serious wrestling background and he even co-owns Fortis MMA in Dallas where 3 fighters on the UFC 228 card train.

In fact ... UFC heavyweight Rashad Coulter -- who works out with Williams -- tells TMZ Sports, "He's a good wrestler and has fast hands."

But, when word of those skills got around to the Legacy Fighting Alliance -- where Hardy used to scrap -- they asked if Deron wanted to fight Greg ... D-Will's response was a swift no.

"Are they crazy right now!?" Williams says.

"Greg Hardy has to cut weight to make 265. You think I'm getting in there with that animal!?"

Williams tells us there is one scenario where he might step into the Octagon for real -- albeit not against Hardy -- saying he'd be down to fight one day for charity.

As for his basketball future ... Williams sure seems like he's done with the NBA -- although he ain't officially closing that door yet.

You knew Burt Reynolds was a badass ... but did you know he once lit up Brian Bosworth for NOT hitting him hard enough?!?!

It's true ... Bill Romanowski tells TMZ Sports the late Burt once got so mad that The Boz wasn't going all out for a movie scene -- HE CHUCKED A FOOTBALL AT HIS HEAD!!

It all went down on the set of "The Longest Yard" (the 2005 one) ... where Romo tells us the then 69-year-old Reynolds had to beg one of the best linebackers in college football history to run him over for the movie's crucial scene.

"He's got to go in the game, pick up a fumble, run around the left side of the offense and jump into the endzone," Romanowski says of Burt.

"And, guess who has to tackle him? Brian Bosworth!"

You gotta hear Romo tell the tale from here ... so watch the video now.

As for the end result?? It came out great -- like everything Burt Reynolds did.

Pamela Anderson broke things off with her soccer star boyfriend just days after he proposed the idea of marriage to her ... TMZ has learned.

Sources connected to Anderson tell TMZ she's called it quits with Adil Rami after dating the World Cup champ for over a year. We're told he gave her a Cartier ring after winning the soccer tournament as a precursor to a proposal ... and recently talked about popping the question, but Pam said no.

Pam's still in France after moving out of the home the couple shared.

Pam and Adil's relationship seemed to be healthy when he met Pam's mom in July, but apparently that wasn't enough to get them through the summer.

As for the ring ... our sources say Pam's given that to her oldest son, Brandon.

UFC champ Tyron Woodley says he LOVES that Nike signed Colin Kaepernick -- because it's inspiring and brave ... and he strongly believes the QB is continuing the legacy of Muhammad Ali.

"When Muhammad Ali died, I think [Kaepernick] took the torch."

Tyron says Kaep could have easily taken his NFL money and shut up somewhere -- ignoring the glaring issues when it comes to police brutality against minorities ... but he did the courageous thing and spoke out.

... just like Ali.

There's a lot more on this episode of 'The Hollywood Beatdown' -- including Tyron's weight cut for his UFC 228 fight against Darren Till.

Tyron tells us everything about all of his last minute preparations -- including final meals and what music he listens to right before walking into the Octagon.

It's great stuff.

12:21 PM PT -- The Wichita PD tells TMZ Sports ... they got a call around 1 AM on Friday morning about a "rape in progress."

Cops responded to an apartment complex and found a 28-year-old woman "who had minor facial injuries, and reported being sexually assaulted by Randle."

"Through the investigation Randle was arrested and booked into the Sedgwick County Jail. The investigation is ongoing and will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office."

Ex-Dallas Cowboys running back Joseph Randle was arrested for rape in Kansas early Friday morning ... TMZ Sports has learned.

The details surrounding the arrest are unclear -- but jail records in Sedgwick County, KS show the 26-year-old was booked for rape at 3:43 AM on Sept. 7.

According to his booking sheet, he's being held without bond at a local detention center. He's listed at 6'1" and 215 lbs.

Randle has been in trouble with the law before -- he was arrested 6 times in 17 months including an incident in which he stole underwear and cologne from a department store while he was still playing for the Cowboys.

Since then, he was arrested at a casino, busted at his ex-girlfriend's home, and allegedly ripped a TV off the wall in jail.

Back in June, he was sentenced to 5 years probation for an incident in which he tried to run over people with his car after losing at a drinking game at a party.

He had been bouncing between jail and mental health facilities after that incident -- but the court ultimately declared him mentally competent to receive his punishment for the crime.

Randle was a 5th round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft -- and was named the starting RB for the Cowboys during the 2015 season, but was waived by the team later that season.

Karl Malone and ex-NBA star Brian Grant were enemies on the court ... but when BG was diagnosed with Parkinson's, the HOFer came up big ... helpin' his old rival AND raising $100k for charity.

Grant -- a 6'9" PF who was a beast on defense and the boards -- played 12 seasons in the NBA for the Kings, Trail Blazers, Heat, Lakers, and Suns ... before retiring in 2006.

Approximately 2 years later -- when he was only 36 years old -- Grant was diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson's ... sending him into a depression.

Grant says once the diagnosis became public ... Malone reached out and offered his help.

Malone and Grant put together a dope Alaskan fishing trip and auctioned it off ... raising $107k to help combat Parkinson's.

Grant says not only did that cash help people ... but hangin' with Malone -- his idol -- was super therapeutic for him during a dark time in his life.

BG's still fighting the disease ... and working with the Parkinson's Foundation to help spread awareness and raise money.

Beto O'Rourke -- the congressman who went viral defending NFL kneelers -- says he's totally fine with people boycotting Nike ... because it's another form of nonviolent protest.

Beto is currently in a very tight senate race in Texas against incumbent Ted Cruz -- and his speech on the NFL protesters has become a major issue between the two candidates.

So, when we saw O'Rourke in D.C. on Friday -- we had to ask about the outrage over Nike's new ad featuring Colin Kaepernick ... which inspired some people to burn their shoes and cut Swooshes out of their socks.

"I think it's fine for people to do that," O'Rourke tells TMZ Sports ... "I think that's a peaceful, nonviolent way to protest a decision that you disagree with, which again comes back to the genius of this country and our democracy."

Barack Obama just made some very interesting comments to people who want to protest the way black people are being treated by the criminal justice system ... and it seems it may have been influenced by Colin Kaepernick.

"If you are really concerned about how the criminal justice system treats African-Americans ... the best way to protest is to vote," Obama said Friday in a speech at the Univ. of Illinois.

We should note he never mentioned Kaepernick by name -- or even referenced the NFL or kneeling.

But Colin has famously told the media that he didn't participate in the 2016 election -- saying, "You know, I think it would be hypocritical of me to vote."

"I said from the beginning I was against oppression, I was against the system of oppression. I'm not going to show support for that system. And to me, the oppressor isn't going to allow you to vote your way out of your oppression."

Fast-forward to Obama ... who drilled down on the importance of voting.

"[Don't just vote] for senators and representatives -- but for mayors and sheriffs and state legislators."

The Florida State University football team will pay tribute to one of their own -- Burt Reynolds -- by wearing special helmet decals this weekend honoring the late actor.

Reynolds played halfback at FSU back in the '50s -- and was a proud supporter of the Seminoles football team over the years.

The 82-year-old actor died Thursday after suffering a heart attack -- and when FSU takes the field on Saturday against the Samford Bulldogs in Tallahassee ... they'll all be sporting some sort of BW-inspired decal near the legendary arrowhead.

Reynolds was a scholarship athlete at FSU -- and in his 1st season with the Noles, ran for 134 yards and 2 touchdowns on 16 carries.

He was supposed to blow up his next season -- but a couple of knee injuries (along with a bad car accident) slowed him down.

The younger brother of L.A. Dodgers legend Tommy Lasorda died Thursday night in a major car accident involving a police vehicle.

Officials confirm 83-year-old Joseph Lasorda tried to make a left turn in front of a Boca Raton Police Dept. SUV patrol vehicle around 8:30 PM ... and was T-boned by the cop car.

Lasorda was transported to a nearby hospital where he was later pronounced dead. The officer driving the police vehicle was hospitalized for minor injuries and is expected to be okay.

Officials are investigating the incident.

Joseph is survived by his wife Gaetana, 2 children and a grandchild.