TMZ Sports - Page 50

The NY Rangers say allegations star player Artemi Panarin assaulted a woman in 2011 are "unfounded" -- suggesting the claims are all part of a Russian smear campaign to punish the NHL star for publicly criticizing Vladimir Putin.

Here's the deal ... on Monday, Panarin -- who's in the middle of a 7-year, $81 million contract -- announced he's taking a leave of absence from the Rangers for personal reasons.

The announcement comes in the wake of a report out of Russia that Panarin beat the hell out of an 18-year-old woman at a hotel bar in Latvia in 2011.

In an on-camera interview with a Russian news outlet, Nazarov says Panarin was detained by police during the alleged 2011 incident -- and references a rumor that the NHL star paid 40,000 euros to bribe his way out of trouble.

The man behind the allegations is Andrei Nazarov -- who coached Panarin during his time in the KHL (formerly known as the Russian Superleague).

Nazarov and Panarin reportedly clashed over politics -- since Panarin has been an outspoken critic of Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

Enter the NY Rangers ... the club says it has looked into the allegations and also spoke with Panarin and believes the whole thing is pure B.S. conjured up to ruin Panarin's career as punishment for criticizing Putin.

"Artemi vehemently and unequivocally denies any and all allegations in this fabricated story," the Rangers said Monday.

"This is clearly an intimidation tactic being used against him for being outspoken on recent political events. Artemi is obviously shaken and concerned and will take some time away from the team."

"The Rangers fully support Artemi and will work with him to identify the source of these unfounded allegations."

USA Today's NY Rangers reporter Vince Z. Mercogliano says Panarin is concerned about the safety and well-being of his family.

It’s rare for a Russian star athlete to speak out against the Russian government, but Panarin hasn’t been shy -- In a 2019 interview with a foreign publication, he sounded off on his frustration with economic structure.

"I think that the people who hush up the problems are more like foreign agents than those who talk about them," Panarin said at the time. "If I think about problems, I am coming from a positive place, I want to change something, to have people live better. I don't want to see retirees begging.”

FYI, Panarin voiced his support for Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny in an IG post from January 21 ... with the caption, "Freedom for Navalny."

The Fighting Irish has announced it will NOT be a part of the new EA Sports NCAA college football video game ... saying they won't give the green light until it's clear how players will be compensated.

The new video game, which was announced earlier this month, is the first EA Sports college football game since 2013.

When EA Sports made the announcement, the company said more than 100 teams would be in the game ... however it would NOT include current rosters or images and likenesses of real college players.

At the moment, NCAA rules prohibit players from selling their NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) rights while they're still in school.

But, Notre Dame says they won't cooperate with EA Sports until there's a plan in place for Fighting Irish athletes to be compensated fairly.

"Notre Dame athletics welcome the return of EA Sports college football, the video game series that has historically helped promote interest in college football," AD Jack Swarbrick said.

"Notre Dame will not, however, participate in the game until such time as rules have been finalized covering the participation of our student-athletes."

The statement continued, "As those rules are developed, it is our strong desire that student athletes be allowed to benefit directly from allowing their name, image and performance history to be used in the game."

ND head coach Brian Kelly also weighed in -- saying, "We are here to support our student-athletes."

"Much like we have empowered our players when it comes to providing a platform to speak on racial inequalities & social issues that are important to them, we must support them when it comes to NIL & the work that still needs to be done."

It's obviously a big deal -- Notre Dame is arguably the biggest name in college football and has been for decades. The team finished the 2020 season ranked #4 in the country.

Cristiano Ronaldo's pet cat is down to 8 lives ... it's currently recovering in Spain after being hit by a car.

The animal, Pepe, is a hairless Sphynx cat -- the beloved family pet who travels everywhere with the Ronaldos on private jets, fancy cars and stays in mansions all over the world. Pepe has been a part of the Ronaldo family for about 2 years.

But, Pepe was badly hurt recently -- after leaving the family residence in Turin, Italy and getting run over by a car.

"It was close to death and after a month and a half in intensive care at the vet’s, we’ve decided my sister Ivana should look after it," CR7's girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez told the Spanish magazine InStyle.

"Pepe’s now in Spain recovering ... now he's in the best hands."

Sphynx cats only have an average lifespan of 8 to 14 years ... and it sounds like the Ronaldos are doing everything they can to help little Pepe get to double digits.

Arizona Cardinals tackle Marcus Gilbert and his former beauty queen fiancee, Madison Gesiotto, tied the knot at a star-studded ceremony over the weekend ... and holy crap, have you seen their cake?!?!

The couple -- who got engaged back in July 2020 -- hosted their closest family and friends as they got hitched in Canton, Ohio on Saturday ... and it looked like one heck of a party.

Gilbert's NFL friends like the Pouncey twins and Carlos Dunlap showed up for the bash ... and there's no way anyone left on an empty stomach.

Folks in attendance were served with chicken piccata and risotto, which is nice and all ... but the REAL takeaway is the black and gold 9-layer cake that was served for dessert!!

The cake featured the couple's "MG" initials on top ... as well as "The Gilberts" and the date of their wedding, February 20, 2021, near the base.

What's equally impressive?? The whole party got in on a Hora chair dance during the reception -- including Gilbert, who is reportedly 6'6", 330 pounds!!

Of course, Gesiotto is former Miss Ohio USA 2014 ... and went on to become a political analyst. She is well-known for her support of the Republican party and President Donald Trump.

Gilbert has been in the NFL since 2011 ... and played for the Pittsburgh Steelers until 2019, when he joined the Cardinals.

Oklahoma wide receiver Spencer Jones, who played in every game for the Sooners this past season, nearly lost his eye in a violent altercation in a bar bathroom earlier this month.

The wild scrap was all caught on video ... and the footage is insane, showing Jones and another man getting in a fistfight on Valentine's weekend at Logies on the Corner in Norman, OK.

It's unclear what started the fight ... the video picks up with Jones and another person arguing with two men.

In the clip, you can hear Jones tell one of the men repeatedly, "Get the f*** out of here!" before he takes several punches to the face.

Jones is then thrown on the ground, punched some more, and ultimately put into a chokehold.

A separate fistfight, meanwhile, also broke out while Jones and the other man were wrestling on the ground.

The commotion was eventually broken up ... but Jones suffered serious damage in the melee -- with his attorney, Woodrow "Woody" Glass, telling OUDaily.com the Sooners' redshirt senior almost lost his eye.

Glass said Jones had to undergo a lengthy surgery to fix his issues ... adding doctors told Jones and his family afterward the football player was "extraordinarily lucky" to still have his eye.

As for what started the fight, Glass said Jones was simply trying to play peacemaker and ended up being the victim of an assault.

We've reached out to cops in Norman to see if a police investigation is underway, but so far, no word back yet.

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.