TMZ Sports - Page 50

Another year with no Sunday red or roars for Tiger Woods at The Masters???

It very well might happen ... 'cause Tiger says recent back surgery could keep him out of April's annual golf classic for the third time in the past six years.

Woods joined Jim Nantz on the CBS broadcast of the final round of the Genesis Open in L.A. on Sunday and revealed the tough news ... saying he's got a ways to go before he can commit to entering the big tourney's field.

"God, I hope so," 45-year-old Woods said when Nantz asked if Tiger would play in the event. "I got to get there first."

Woods had a procedure done to his back just a few weeks ago ... announcing he had docs cut him open to "remove a pressurized disc fragment that was pinching his nerve."

Most thought the surgery would be a minor one and Woods would be back on fairways with plenty of time for the start of the Masters on April 8 ... but Tiger clearly has some worry that might not happen.

Woods explained to Nantz he's still "stiff" ... and still needs further clearance from doctors before he goes full-go on tee boxes.

"A lot of it is based on my surgeons and my doctors and my therapists and making sure that I do it correctly," Tiger said. "This is the only back I got, so I don't have much more wiggle room left here."

Of course, Tiger missed the Masters in both 2016 and 2017 with back problems ... before returning to the event in 2018 and ultimately winning it in 2019.

Janet Jackson was so impressed with a UCLA gymnastics star who busted out a floor routine inspired by her music, JANET FACETIMED HER!!

The athlete behind the routine is Margzetta Frazier -- who busted out some of Ms. Jackson's legendary dance moves to songs like "Nasty" and "If" during a competition against BYU earlier this month.

Footage of the routine went viral -- because it's awesome -- and got all the way to Janet, who DEMANDED she talk to Frazier face-to-face (virtually, of course).

The two connected on Friday -- and Jackson gushed about Frazier's routine, talent and raw athleticism.

"I just want too say thank you," Janet said to Margzetta ... "Thank you for sharing your talent. It's so beautiful to see you tumble. Really inspiring."

"It just inspired me to want to do more, and do better and be stronger. I loved it. Absolutely loved it."

Frazier was so touched, she choked back tears and told her idol how much Janet and her music meant to her.

A teenage football player says he's truly sorry for trash-talking Cam Newton at a camp over the weekend ... explaining, "I never meant to humiliate & let anyone down."

If you missed it, the young footballer and the former NFL MVP really got into it at a 7-on-7 event in Myrtle Beach, SC.

Cameras caught the player calling Cam "ass" and ribbing the 31-year-old for being an upcoming free agent.

Cam -- who helped sponsor teams at the event -- responded by telling the kid he was "rich" and asking to see his parents.

The clip quickly went viral ... with several current and former NFL players chastising the player for going after Cam.

Leonard Fournette -- a newly crowned Super Bowl champion -- wrote on Twitter, "Any young athlete watching this video please don’t be this kid."

"Don’t miss your chance to learn something from someone who has been their at the highest level in this sport.... STAY HUMBLE."

Cam himself later commented on the drama ... explaining his role in the situation and adding he does everything he can to help kids at events like these.

Late Sunday night, the player -- identified as Perkiomen Valley HS's Jseth Owens -- issued a statement apologizing for the way everything went down.

"I did not intend for it to get as far as it did!" said Owens, a junior linebacker and wide receiver. "As a football player, I let my competitive side get the best of me & it was a huge miscommunication."

"It was in the midst of the moment & I realize now how a lot of you took it as disrespect."

Owens continued, "I apologize & hope I can be forgiven."

Deion Sanders is ADAMANT his personal items were STOLEN -- not misplaced -- during his college football coaching debut on Sunday ... and Prime Time says he has a witness to prove it.

The NFL legend was FURIOUS after he led Jackson State to a 53-0 win over the Edward Waters Tigers ... claiming someone had sneaked into the locker room and swiped a bunch of his personal belongings.

"While the game was going on, someone came in and stole every darn thing I have in the coaches' office," Sanders said ... "Credit cards, wallet, watches. Thank god I had on my necklaces."

A short time later, reps for Jackson State told various media outlets the whole thing was just a big misunderstanding -- and that the items were "misplaced and found."

But, Deion clearly needs to get on the same page as the school -- because he says that's complete BS ... and he's got a witness to back him up.

"Whomever putting out the lie that my belongings wasn’t stolen is LYING," Sanders posted on social media.

"My belongings were taken out of a zipped bag in my office and more items were taken as well from my office. We have retrieved them since being reported. My Staff member witnessed the crime."

He added, "A staff member walked in on the theft being committed but she couldn’t fight a dude off."

The good news ... Sanders got his stuff back and his football team is 1-0.

Carson Wentz will NOT wear #11 with the Indianapolis Colts -- because it already belongs to WR Michael Pittman Jr. ... and he ain't giving it up!!

"I am number 11," the 23-year-old wideout tells TMZ Sports ... "I don't think there's any deal that is gonna be done."

Don't get it twisted ... Pittman says he has a TON of respect for the QB -- calling him a proven winner -- but when it comes to #11, he's not willing to part ways with the digits he rocked his rookie season in Indy.

And, the good news ... Wentz is being totally cool about it.

"Yeah, so I spoke to [Carson] and he was just seeing how locked in I was to #11, and I told him I was locked in -- and he was like, 'That’s cool, bro, because I’m probably gonna switch anyway.'"

Wentz has worn #11 since his college days at North Dakota State and through his career with the Philadelphia Eagles -- but now that he's in a new city, he's open to switching to a new number.

"He asked me very respectfully and I just appreciated him for that. I think he’s a great dude, because lots of guys with his status, they would come in and demand and stuff like that."

Pittman says he's already making plans to get together with Wentz so they can start working out and training ... and believes Wentz will be the QB in Indy for years to come.

Ex-NBA star Chris Webber believes there's A LOT of money to be made in the weed business ... and he wants to make sure minorities get a fair shot to get that green.

Webber has teamed up with JW Asset Management to launch a $100 million private equity fund specifically to help minority entrepreneurs succeed in the marijuana industry, which has exploded all over the country.

The issue ... Webber says there are several barriers in place which seem to prevent minorities from getting a piece of the action -- and he's looking to even the playing field.

Webber told the guys on "TMZ Live" ... some states require a $60,000 deposit to apply for a license to open a dispensary which is an extraordinarily high price.

"People need help," Webber says ... "So we’re gonna come in these places and we’re gonna train, we’re gonna make sure we provide jobs, and we’re gonna make sure you have a hub to understand how you can enter the cannabis industry not just as a cultivator or grower, or some star, but also how to make a great living by providing certain services that the industry allow."

Webber broke it down this way in a statement -- "It’s crucial that we diversify the leadership in the cannabis industry and level the playing field for people from our communities."

Patrick Mahomes and his fiancee, Brittany Matthews, are proud, happy parents of a healthy baby girl ... and the name is awesome!

The Kansas City Chiefs QB and his bride-to-be made the announcement Sunday with matching photos and similar captions. It depicts a close-up shot of mom, dad and baby's hands/fingers all touching ... with Brittany wearing a necklace with the kid's name.

She goes by Sterling Skye Mahomes -- and Brittany shared she was born Saturday, coming in at 6 lbs, 11 oz.

The couple revealed the baby's gender back in October -- using their dogs to help with the announcement. Mahomes proudly called himself a #GirlDad."

Just a couple days ago, Brittany posted photos of a maternity shoot she'd done, with Patrick in tow.

 "Ready to meet you baby girl 💕," Brittany posted .

The couple came out publicly with news they were expecting back in September -- not too long after Pat popped the question to his longtime girlfriend.

America is a fractured country ... but there might be someone who can heal the nation from inside the Oval Office -- Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson!!

That's according to Johnson's longtime friend, WWE legend The Undertaker ... who tells TMZ Sports he'd fully support Johnson running for the highest office in the land -- and won't be surprised if he actually throws his hat in the ring.

"That man works his tail off and he dives in wholeheartedly in everything that he does and if he gets his mindset that he wants to make a run at politics, ya know what? I think he'll do it," Taker says.

Of course, 48-year-old Johnson recently told USA Today he'd "consider a presidential run in the future if that’s what the people wanted.”

The wrestling legend and world's biggest movie star doesn't have any political experience ... but let's be real, almost everyone loves The Rock -- so could he mend the political divide?

"I think so. He's so charming, he's so witty, I think he can be the uniter that people are looking for," Undertaker tells us.

"I know that he has the charisma. Maybe all it would take would be 1 eyebrow, and he'd look at the left, raise the eyebrow. Look at the right, raise an eyebrow and hit 'em with 'the People's Elbow.'"

Taker continues ... "I don't know man, there's so many possibilities and if that's what he chooses to do, I'll support wholeheartedly in his efforts to do so."

But, what would ya call him?? The WWE great has some ideas.

"I think people would still call him Rock, I don't know. I would hope I would have that clout that I can get away with calling him Rock, or Jabroni."

President Jabroni ... let that sink in.

If Dodgers prospect Yadier Alvarez ever makes it to the big leagues ... he'll be riding there in style -- 'cause the pitcher just copped a 6-wheel behemoth that's absolutely INSANE!!

TMZ Sports has learned ... Alvarez -- an MLB minor leaguer who earned a $16 MILLION bonus from the Dodgers in 2015 after he defected from Cuba -- was looking for a ride similar to the whip Aroldis Chapman snagged last June.

You'll recall, the NY Yankees star closer purchased a custom, massive 6-wheeler ... and we're told after seeing it, Alvarez REALLY wanted something bigger and badder.

So, the 24-year-old reached out to the guys who made Aroldis' car -- Apocalypse Manufacturing in Fort Lauderdale, FL -- and turns out, they had just what he was looking for!!

Shop honcho Joseph Ghattas tells us they had just built an Apocalypse Hellfire ... and stored it at a local mall.

And, when they showed it to Alvarez last week ... he loved it so much -- he bought it straight out of its display!!!

Check out the footage of Alvarez shortly after he got the ride ... he was smiling ear to ear!!!

Of course, Yadier had every reason to be happy ... the vehicle is absurd -- we're told it comes with 500 horsepower and an 8-speed automatic transmission.

We're also told it has a three-part Kevlar protective coating, power to all six wheels, 40-inch tires and a boatload of other bells and whistles.

In total, Ghattas says the ride was $180,000 ... but seems Alvarez was very cool with that tag -- 'cause Ghattas says he's been getting calls about people seeing the whip all over the Miami area already!!

As for Alvarez's baseball future ... despite previously being ranked as one of the best prospects in the game with a 100 MPH fastball, he's had an up-and-down minor league career, and it's unclear if he'll ever make it to The Show.

Former MLB star Johnny Damon has a clear view of jail after his DUI arrest ... it sucks.

Damon was released Friday and told reporters on his way out of the police station, "Jail sucks, handcuffs are worse. Jail is horrible."

The former Red Sox player gave a rambling and confusing explanation of his arrest, intimating he was not drunk behind the wheel and, at the same time, apologizing for his conduct.

The 47-year-old was pulled over early Friday morning after cops allegedly saw his SUV swerving on the road in Windermere, Florida. Police say his speech was slurred and he was unsteady on his feet. They also say he admitted to drinking earlier in the evening. His wife allegedly was combative with cops.

The Kardboard King is at it again -- Rob Kardashian is putting his rare Honus Wagner autograph card up for auction ... and we're told it could fetch around $20k!!!

Rob pulled the card out of a 2020 Topps Dynasty pack he purchased for $750 from the folks at the Bullpen card shop in L.A. back in November.

The guys who opened the pack for Rob went absolutely bonkers when they realized what they had ... a 1-of-1 authentic "cut signature" card from MLB legend Honus Wagner, who died in 1955.

What that means is ... the people at Topps procured an authentic Wagner signature and used it as the base for an incredible baseball card.

Since Rob is wealthy is in his own right and loves to collect cards, it was unclear if he was going to keep it ... or sell it.

But ultimately, he hit up the folks at Goldin Auctions and we're told they're expecting it to sell for at least $20k when the bidding ends on March 7.

Kenny Smith says Meek Mill should NOT be canceled for referencing Kobe Bryant's tragic death in his new song ... telling TMZ Sports the rapper deserves a pass for the controversial lyric.

The Philly rapper drew SERIOUS backlash this week when his new collab with Lil Baby surfaced on the internet ... with fans outraged over the following bar -- "And if I ever lack I’m going out with my chopper, it be another Kobe."

While some fans are ready to pull the plug on Meek's career, Smith says he's going to give the guy a pass.

"I'm a Meek Mill fan," Smith says. "I know that he's a huge basketball fan, huge Kobe fan. Whatever he says, I'm always going to give Meek a pass."

The "Inside The NBA" analyst added he knows the sports world is sensitive about Kobe and the January 2020 helicopter accident ... but given all the positive things like criminal justice reform and charitable contributions Meek has done years, he'll let it slide.

"I always give Meek the benefit of the doubt," Smith adds. "He has a track record that speaks pretty long and pretty positive in the past year."

Super Bowl champion this month ... dominant pro lacrosse player next year?!

Rob Gronkowski could do exactly that ... so says his former Patriots teammate Chris Hogan, who tells TMZ Sports the future Hall of Fame tight end could be lethal in lax!!

"I mean, Gronk would be a force to be reckoned with, man," Hogan says. "I don't know how you would be able to take the ball away from him. He's such a physically gifted person and athlete."

As for how Hogan would know ... if you ain't familiar, he's a damn good lacrosse player himself.

In fact, 33-year-old Hogan -- who was a 1st-team all-conference star at Penn State before transferring to Monmouth for football -- just signed on to play in the Premier Lacrosse League in 2021.

And, he says with some training, Gronk might be able to join him there in a short time.

"I think if he were to pick up a stick and put a little training into it," Hogan said of Gronk, "I think he'd be a great lacrosse player."

As for Chris' future in the sport ... Hogan seems fired up to get his pro lacrosse career off the ground -- telling us, ideally, the stint in the PLL would cap off his sports career.

"I think always in the back of my mind when I was playing football," Hogan says, "it seemed like this would be a cool way to kind of tie off the end of my career."

Hogan -- who played just 5 games for the Jets in 2020 and is now a free agent -- says he's not officially slamming the door on the NFL ... he tells us the lax opportunity is just too good to pass up for now.

"Where I'm at in my career and just how kinda things evolved over the last year, it kind of seemed like this would be a pretty unique opportunity to go back to lacrosse."

TMZ Sports has obtained the police body cam footage from the Chad Wheeler arrest -- in which you can hear the desperate struggle to subdue the NFL lineman after officials say he nearly killed his girlfriend in a violent bipolar episode.

The video starts on the evening of Jan. 22, with police literally kicking down the door to the home in Kent, Washington where Wheeler was living with then-girlfriend Alleah Taylor. Taylor had called 911 claiming Wheeler had beaten and strangled her within inches of her life.

Once cops enter the home, the video goes dark -- police redacted the in-home footage for various legal reasons but the audio paints a crystal clear picture of the chaos that ensues.

"Put your f**king hands behind your back," one officer screams at the 6'7", 315-pound athlete ... "If you don't comply, you're going to get hurt."

Wheeler sounds relatively calm at first, considering the circumstances -- but the cops insist he is resisting arrest and repeatedly order him to stop fighting back.

At one point, Wheeler says to the cops, "Please don't shoot me."

Cops continue to accuse Wheeler of resisting arrest -- at one point you can hear an officer deploy a taser, which Wheeler basically brushes off.

Wheeler then begins to yell for his girlfriend, screaming ... "Alleah, please … Alleah … please I love you … Please stop … I love you … Alleah."

Again, cops say Wheeler continues to disobey orders -- and escalate their threats against him.

"You're gonna get f**kin' tased if you don't knock this s**t off right f**king now, you understand me?"

"You're gonna get the f**k knocked out of you, so knock it the f**k off."

Wheeler responds, "Please, I'm sorry, I'll do whatever you guys want" -- to which an officer replies, "Then stop f**king fighting!"

Finally, cops are able to place Wheeler in handcuffs and explain to him he's going to jail.

Wheeler was eventually hit with three criminal charges over the incident -- including 1st-degree domestic violence assault. If convicted, he faces up to 12 years in prison.

The NFL player -- who blamed all of his actions on a "manic episode" -- pled not guilty to the charges at a hearing in a Washington courtroom.

Despite his explanation, Alleah Taylor told CBS News she thinks Wheeler should spend time behind bars for the attack, which left her with serious injuries.

"I still have to regularly get my concussion checked. I have bolts and a steel plate I'm gonna have forever in my arm. I'm gonna have to deal with this the rest of my life."

Carson Wentz just poured his heart out to his old teammates, fans and the Philadelphia Eagles organization ... thanking everyone for their love and support after being traded to the Colts.

Wentz was shipped to Indianapolis in exchange for a couple draft picks earlier this week ... officially ending his 5-year career with the Eagles.

The 28-year-old bid farewell to his first NFL home on Friday in a lengthy message, saying, "As one chapter closes, another one begins."

Wentz first thanked his Eagles teammates -- "I appreciate every one of you and will never forget the relationships and memories made over the years."

"So many lifelong relationships have been formed in that locker room. Thank you for the fellowship, the camaraderie in the locker room, and the daily battles out on the practice field!"

Wentz then showed love to the city of Philly ... adding, "You have been my home for the past five years. It has been everything a kid from Bismarck, North Dakota could have dreamed of."

"My family grew here, had a lot of fun, ate a lot of great food, got to be a part of an incredible church, and so many more memories off the field."

He continued ... "On the field, we brought the Lombardi trophy home to Philly and hopefully brought a lot of joy to the city over the years."

"Thank you to the amazing Eagles fans across the World that have supported my family, our foundation, and our football team through all of the wins and losses. It was an honor to play in a city whose passion and love for their football team is unrivaled."

Lastly, Wentz thanked the team that drafted him #2 overall back in 2016 and making his NFL dream a reality -- "Thank you Mr. Lurie, Howie Roseman & the Eagles front office, Coach Pederson & all of my coaches, our training staff, our equipment staff and all of the support staff at the Nova Care Complex."

"It has been an amazing journey and I wish you all the best."

Wentz says he's stoked for the new journey ahead with the Colts ... and it's easy to believe it -- he's already reached out to his new teammates via text and FaceTime!!

What's better than NHL hockey?? NHL hockey outdoors, apparently ... 'cause check out how awesome the Avalanche and Golden Knights' practices were in Lake Tahoe on Friday!!!

The two teams are set to square off Saturday in the famous Stateline, Nev. town for one of the league's outdoor classic games ... and the scene there is seriously surreal.

Check out the trees that look like Christmas; snow-capped mountains; a big view of the blue lake; and even some spectators getting in a walk by the rink!

You can tell the players were pretty pumped about it all too ... they got in some intense work under the sun, with some guys even wearing eye black.

The Avs and Knights will drop the puck for their game at noon PT on Saturday ... and the Bruins and Flyers will follow it up with a game there on Sunday at 11 AM PT.

And, with no fans in the stands due to COVID ... TV execs are already raving about how awesome the broadcast is going to be.

"You're going to see some shots that you've never seen in a hockey game before," NBC director Charlie Dammeyer told NHL.com.