TMZ Sports - Page 50

Four-time gold medalist Michael Johnson suffered a "mini stroke" last week, but says he's already made great progress and expects a full recovery.

Johnson shared the news Saturday, saying ... "Last week I rather surprisingly suffered what's known as a Transient Ischemic Attack or mini stroke. The good news is I'm back at home with my family, cleared of any heart issues and have already made great progress on my road to a full recovery."

Michael added that these mini strokes can seemingly affect anyone, "even the once fastest man in the world!" He also says he'll be posting updates on his recovery often and is using his situation to help raise stroke awareness.

Johnson thrilled the world at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, where he literally ran away with the Gold in the 200m and 400m ... setting records in both. Many considered his 200m run proof that he was the fastest man alive.

Boston Celtics guard Jabari Bird is behind bars after being arrested for reportedly assaulting, strangling and kidnapping someone.

Cops say it was a domestic incident, but were not more specific.

Law enforcement says Bird is undergoing psych evaluation in a Boston-area hospital.

Cops say Bird is "currently being guarded" at a Boston-area hospital. The victim is being treated at another hospital.

Although details are scarce, the Celtics are clearly concerned, issuing a statement ... "We are aware of the incident involving Jabari Bird and are taking it very seriously. We are actively gathering information and will reserve further comment at this time."

Bird, who was drafted last year, will appear in court Monday, where he will be officially charged.

Chad Ochocinco's first go-around with the MLS didn't go so well ... but he's got a new plan to make the futbol league -- telling TMZ Sports he's coming back as a keeper!!

And, yeah, he says he's "dead ass" serious.

Remember ... Chad once tried out for Sporting Kansas City during the NFL lockout in 2011 -- and actually got in a reserve game ... but the MLS told him "thanks, but no thanks" afterward.

Now ... Chad's telling us he's got a new way to revive that soccer dream ... getting set to return to the pitch as a goalie for David Beckham's Miami club -- which kicks off its inaugural season in 2020.

"I really think I can be exceptional at goalie with the proper training for the next two years," Chad says.

"So, when Beckham has his team, I'm going to go try out for goalie. Period."

It makes sense ... dude is a freak athlete who caught everything that came his way as an NFL wideout for 11 seasons -- so why not?!

Dale Earnhardt Jr. just got REAL candid about his relationship with his wife -- admitting they were crashing and burning in a big way ... until they started going to couples therapy.

"Every day was like grinding gears,” Earnhardt said about his relationship with Amy Reimann ... "Just a lot of tension and disagreement and misunderstanding."

Dale and Amy started dating back in 2009 -- and got married in 2016 -- but it wasn't always sunshine and rainbows.

"There were great times -- and then there were days when we would both sort of withdraw and get frustrated with each other and not communicate and hold grudges and, 'I'm gonna show you!'”

Dale fought back tears as he opened up on "In Depth with Graham Bensinger" -- explaining how things finally turned around when they sought professional help from a woman named Jane.

"Jane was the reason why we were married. Jane is the reason why we're having a family. And, Jane is the reason why every day is way better."

The couple just welcomed their first child -- a baby girl named Isla Rose -- back in May ... and Dale says even though they still get regular checkups with their therapist -- they're a very happy family now.

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.