Basketball Wives

"Basketball Wives" star Tami Roman and her former NBA-playing ex-husband have finally settled an $800,000 child support lawsuit after battling for almost NINE YEARS, TMZ has learned.

Roman filed a lawsuit in New Jersey way back in 2005 against her ex, retired NBA star Kenny Anderson. Roman claimed he had stopped paying the court-ordered $8,500/month in child support for their two daughters -- totaling $800k in missed payments.

Sources close to Tami tell TMZ ... the two recently settled the case out of court. We're told Tami received just south of what she was owed and will be paid incrementally through Kenny's NBA retirement fund.

We're told in return, all the warrants issued against Anderson for his unpaid child support were dropped.

Sources close to Tami add that she is happy Kenny is becoming more involved with their two daughters and is ready to move on from this chapter in her life

Evelyn Lozada says despite his arrest for allegedly head-butting her, she still loves estranged husband Chad Johnson -- but adds she can't imagine speaking to him any time soon.

In an interview with "Nightline" that airs tonight, Lozada described the alleged domestic violence incident as "a bad choice that destroyed his life ... But it was his choice, it wasn't mine."

Lozada said she hopes Chad is getting help and she wants "the best for him," but says that being apart is "the right thing."

Chad Johnson's estranged wife Evelyn Lozada has cut herself off entirely from her husband -- telling TMZ, she hasn't spoken a word to the former NFL star since he allegedly headbutted her earlier this month.

Evelyn was out in NYC this morning when we asked if she has had any contact with Chad since the August 11th incident -- when Chad was busted for domestic violence -- and Evelyn replied, "No."

It's the first time Evelyn's spoken a word in public following that fateful night. She has since filed for divorce.

Robin Roberts was forced to back out of the first interview with Chad Johnson's estranged wife Evelyn Lozada since he allegedly attacked her earlier this month -- and TMZ has learned, it's due to Robin's health crisis.

Sources tell us ... Evelyn agreed to sit down with Robin on "Good Morning America" to discuss the Aug. 11 domestic violence incident -- because she feels Roberts has tremendous integrity as a reporter.

The interview was set for this week, but hit a snag when Lozada asked Robin to tape the segment at her hotel ... since Evelyn wanted a private setting for such a serious conversation.

We're told Roberts couldn't make that happen because she would have to miss a treatment session for her blood disorder ... myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).

As we reported, Roberts is scheduled to start a leave of absence this Friday to receive a bone marrow transplant.

Chad Johnson's estranged wife Evelyn Lozada -- whom the ex-NFL player allegedly headbutted during a nuclear argument this month -- is showing her face for the first time since the incident ... and TMZ has the pics.

The photos were snapped this week in Florida -- on a beach near the friend's house where Evelyn fled following the alleged domestic violence incident on August 11th.

You can't see the injuries -- we're told Evelyn refuses to leave the house without a hat -- but according to sources, a laceration on her forehead required several stitches.

Since the photos were taken, we're told Evelyn has left for Barbados with her daughter to escape media scrutiny -- and is anxious to put everything behind her.

Chad Johnson's college girlfriend -- whom the ex-NFL player was convicted of slapping in 2000 -- wants a pow wow with Chad's latest alleged battery victim ... his wife ... and TMZ has learned, it's all in an effort to find closure.

Sources close to the former girlfriend tell TMZ, the woman has been attempting to reach out to Chad's wife Evelyn Lozada on Twitter and Facebook -- ever since news broke last weekend that Chad had allegedly attacked her.

We're told the ex-GF believes she and Evelyn have a lot to talk about and can help each other heal in the process.

According to our sources, the GF has had no luck in reaching Evelyn thus far..

And how's this for irony ... TMZ has obtained Chad Johnson's certificate of completion from a domestic violence batterers' treatment program back in 2002, following his domestic battery conviction.

According to a status report from the program, Chad was cooperative and appeared to make good progress -- but "struggled initially with accepting the need to make lifestyle changes as well as minimizing his past behavior."

The report says Chad eventually came to terms with his problems -- and his "risk to re-offend appears low."

"Basketball Wives" star Evelyn Lozada is not ready to face the public following her brutal break-up with unemployed NFLer Chad Johnson ... so she cancelled all her upcoming public appearances, TMZ has learned

Sources tell TMZ ... Evelyn had several gigs lined up -- including the second half of her book tour for "The Wives Association: Inner Circle," as well as various club gigs and a book expo in September where she was supposed to appear alongside "Real Housewives of New Jersey" star Teresa Giudice.

But we're told Evelyn is not ready to deal with the questions the public will ask regarding the domestic violence incident and divorce ... so she pulled the plug on all the engagements.

Here's a shocker -- something actually lasted LESS TIME than Chad Johnson's marriage to Evelyn Lozada -- his endorsement deal with Zico coconut water ... because the drink company just fired his ass ... less than a month after signing him.

A rep for Zico released a statement today, saying, "In light of recent events involving Mr. Johnson, we have decided to terminate our relationship" with him. The "recent events" obviously refer to Johnson's domestic violence arrest this weekend ... after he allegedly headbutted Lozada.

The rep adds, "The values we espouse, through our employees, our customers and our brand, are central to our mission. We have taken this proactive step to demonstrate just how important those values are."

Zico signed Johnson on July 25th. Johnson married his soon-to-be ex-wife Evelyn on July 4th.

Chad Johnson lied to his coach's face this week in an effort to keep from being cut from the Miami Dolphins ... but it didn't work ... and Chad's humiliating termination was all caught on tape.

Johnson's ill-fated meeting with Coach Joe Philbin was captured by the crew at "Hard Knocks" ... a weekly HBO documentary series following the Dolphins which aired last night.

"Hard Knocks" cameras followed Johnson on the day after he was arrested for domestic battery ... when he met with Philbin at the Miami offices ... and tried to talk the Coach out of firing his ass.

During the very short meeting, Johnson told Philbin ... "Coach, I've never been in trouble before ... ever."

He lied.

As TMZ previously reported, Johnson was convicted of domestic violence back in 2000 ... after slapping his then-girlfriend during an argument. Apparently, the arrest slipped his mind.

Chad Johnson has broken his silence ... and has issued an apology "To everyone for the recent events that have occurred" involving his wife Evelyn Lozada.

Moments after Evelyn filed for divorce, Johnson released a statement on his website regarding his recent domestic violence arrest ... saying, "I would like to wish Evelyn well and will never say anything bad about her because I truly love her to death."

He adds, "To all the fans and supporters I have disappointed, you have my sincerest apologies. I will stay positive and get through this tough period in my life."

And now this ... Chad just changed his Twitter picture to a sign that reads "Rock ... Hard place" with arrows pointing in opposite directions. Wonder what he's trying to say ...

Chad Johnson's wife of 6 weeks has filed for divorce ... TMZ has learned.

Evelyn Lozada filed legal docs moments ago in Florida, claiming her marriage is "irretrievably broken."

The trigger for the divorce was the domestic violence incident over the weekend, in which Chad Johnson was arrested after allegedly head-butting her during an argument.

Evelyn claimed she found a receipt for a box of condoms in his car.

According to the divorce docs, the couple had a prenup -- but that won't be a big deal since the marriage was shorter than Kim Kardashian's.

Evelyn Lozada has a few words for Chad Johnson after his arrest for allegedly head-butting her -- first, stop blaming me ... and second, get help for your problems, now.

Evelyn tells TMZ, “I am deeply disappointed that Chad has failed to take responsibility for his actions and made false accusations against me." As TMZ first reported ... Chad told police that it was Evelyn who actually head-butted him during their blowout argument Saturday night.

Chad was arrested and booked for domestic battery.

Evelyn Lozada is mourning her brother-in-law, who died tonight after a long battle with cancer ... TMZ has learned.

Anthony Ochoa who was married to Evelyn's sister Sylvia, made several appearances on "Basketball Wives" ... and just last month he escorted Evelyn down the aisle for her wedding to Chad Johnson.

We're told Anthony was featured prominently in the reality show about the wedding. As TMZ first reported ... VH1 has decided not to air the show after Chad's arrest for domestic battery.

We're told Anthony was surrounded by family members when he passed away in New York City.

Evelyn tells TMZ, "Anthony was an amazing husband, father, and brother-in-law. He will be dearly missed."

Anthony and Sylvia were married for more than 10 years, and had 2 children.

Chad Johnson's wife Evelyn Lozada had a bleeding gash on her forehead when she ran to her neighbor for help this weekend ... this according to the neighbor -- who begged 911 dispatch to keep the whole situation hush-hush.

As we first reported, Evelyn fled to her neighbor's house following a domestic dispute with Chad Saturday night, during which the NFL star allegedly head-butted her in the forehead.

The neighbor called 911 -- telling the dispatcher, Chad "hit her on the head ... She has a nice cut on the forehead that I believe is going to need stitches."

But the neighbor wasn't just worried about Evelyn's cut, he was also freaking out about an inevitable media firestorm surrounding the domestic dispute ... telling the dispatcher, Chad is a "very high-profile person and we'd like to keep this as quiet as possible."

He pleaded, "We don't need the news here."

Chad Johnson just lost another job ... VH1 tells TMZ the network is cancelling plans to air Chad's upcoming reality show in the wake of his domestic violence arrest.

The series, titled "Ev and Ocho" is already in the can and was supposed to debut on Sept. 3.

But now, after Chad was arrested for allegedly headbutting his wife Evelyn Lozada ... VH1 tells us:

"Due to the unfortunate events over the weekend and the seriousness of the allegations, VH1 is pulling the series 'Ev and Ocho' from its schedule and has no current plans of airing it."

File this under IRONIC -- years before Evelyn Lozada's nuclear argument with husband Chad Johnson over a box of condoms left her in the ER ... she told him if he WAS going to cheat, to at least wrap his tool.

The awkward conversation went down on a previously aired episode of VH1's "Basketball Wives" (above) ... Lozada and Johnson sat down for a pre-wedding talk to discuss the now-unemployed NFL'rs tendency to cheat.

In the clip (shown in flashback) ... the "BB Wife" tells Chad that if he is going to shack up with another woman, she wants him to be honest about it and at least "Go to the pharmacy and get condoms" first.

Evelyn later explained that she and Chad didn't have an open relationship ... and she never WANTED him to cheat ... but she was always realistic about the possibility of Chad straying and wanted to be safe.