TMZ Sports - Page 50

Major League Baseball and the Players Association just pledged $10 MILLION to increase Black participation in baseball -- from youth sports all the way to the Majors.

MLB and the MLBPA announced the partnership with The Players Alliance -- a group of former and current pro ball players -- with a goal to "reinvigorate representation of Black Americans in baseball" ... through all levels of the game.

The $10 million will be paid in the form of grants over the next few years ... until 2024.

MLB announced the massive effort ... and detailed several of the Players Alliance designed programs they hope will change the landscape of the sport.

According to MLB, the money is designed to "Increase participation in baseball among Black youth and young adults through efforts that include funding individual leagues, equipment donations, special tournaments, clinics, and playground activities"

MLB says the goal is to knock down barriers and build pipelines that ultimately make baseball accessible to all children.

FYI, according to USA Today, Black players make up less than 8% of MLB rosters.

“Major League Baseball is committed to enacting positive changes within our sport to mirror those we hope to see in society,” MLB Commish Robert Manfred said.

"I did not leave my hundred acres and a view to come here for no bull junk!"

Deion Sanders just GUARANTEED he'd bring victories to Jackson State after accepting the HBCU's head football coaching job -- and his speech promising the Ws was epic!

Prime Time was introduced as the school's new head man Monday morning at a raucous pep rally on the Mississippi campus ... and it didn't take long for Deion to fire up the crowd.

The NFL legend spoke for about 10 minutes ... and said point-blank JSU is going to win PLENTY of football games under his watch.

"We going to win," Sanders said. "We going to look good while we win. We going to have a good time while we win. And we going to do this professionally."

In fact, the 53-year-old said his program is going to be so good ... he promised it'd lift up every other sport on the campus as well!!!

"I believe this is going to be a marriage made in heaven," Sanders said, "and I cannot wait to get started."

Deion added some Prime Time flare to his speech ... rockin' a custom suit that had JSU patches not only on the outside -- but in the lining of his jacket as well!!

The school, meanwhile, says it's PUMPED to add the Hall of Famer to its football program ... with university officials saying they have championship expectations with Deion at the helm.

An extremely rare Giannis Antetokounmpo rookie card just became the most expensive piece of cardboard in basketball ... with the final bid fetching a whopping $1.812 MILLION!!!

As we previously reported ... the signed Giannis card --  listed by Goldin Auctions -- features a piece of a game-worn jersey from the Greek Freak's rookie season.

The card was part of the Panini America's 2013-14 high-end "National Treasures" line ... and features the NBA "Logoman" patch from one of Giannis' rookie jerseys.

The card was graded a MINT 9 by the Beckett Grading Service ... which had the most hardcore of collectors salivating over the thing.

At the time, Goldin told us it could become the most expensive basketball card in modern-day history ... and they were right -- with the Giannis card edging out the LeBron James rookie card that sold for $1.8 million in July.

"Just when you thought you were ready to spit on the grave of the Dallas Cowboys, that's when we raised our hand up and said, 'We're not dead yet!!!'"

Michael Irvin went INSANE breaking down his former team's epic comeback victory over the Atlanta Falcons ... and his impassioned speech is MUST WATCH!!!

Irvin went on NFL Network on Sunday night to talk football just a few hours after the Cowboys came back from down 26-7 to beat ATL, 40-39 ... and the former WR let his emotions fly!

Ya gotta watch the clip ... Irvin gets so fired up over the win -- he straight-up has to tell himself on camera, "Calm down, Michael! Calm down!"

As for the game ... it probably deserved the reaction from Irv -- the Cowboys not only needed to make up a 19-point deficit, but they also needed a miracle onside kick to do it.

Turns out, Dallas did both things ... and Irvin and just about everyone else in the NFL world couldn't believe it!!

In fact, even Charles Barkley had to chime in on the game while was doing his NBA on TNT show ... saying the Falcons choked it all away!!

"They outdid themselves today," Barkley said of Atlanta. "That was the biggest choke job, what the Atlanta Falcons did today. I'm not giving the Dallas Cowboys any credit. That was a choke job!"

Tom Brady and Russell Wilson were both devastated to hear their former teammate James White's father died in a car crash Sunday ... with Brady saying he's "so heartbroken."

White's dad, former Miami-Dade Police Captain Tyrone White, was killed in a violent crash at around 1 PM in Cooper City, Fla. -- just hours before White's Patriots were set to play the Seahawks.

Cops say when they responded to the two-car accident, one vehicle was flipped over, while the other was on fire.

Officers say Tyrone was pronounced dead at the scene ... while White's mother, a passenger in Tyrone's car, was transported to the hospital, reportedly in critical condition.

White ended up sitting out the Patriots loss to Seattle after hearing the news ... and before, during and after the game -- NFL stars like Brady and Wilson expressed their condolences to the RB.

"So heartbroken to hear the news of the tragedy of my great friend and forever teammate," said Brady, who played with White for years in New England. "There are few people that come into your life that do EVERYTHING the right way... James is one of them."

"His parents raised an amazing son. And we are all grieving with James as he is going through this difficult time. Love you my friend."

Added Wilson, who played with White at Wisconsin before the two were NFL stars ... "My heart's been heavy all day thinking about him ... James, I'm praying for you, man."

54-year-old Mike Tyson is still an elite fighter who could give the greatest heavyweights in the world a serious run for their money -- so says Iron Mike's legendary trainer.

TMZ Sports talked to Rafael Cordero -- owner of SoCal's Kings MMA, regarded as one of the best combat sport coaches -- about Mike ... who's fighting Roy Jones Jr. in November.

Cordero -- who says Tyson is training 6 to 8 hours a day -- told us Mike is actually better than he was decades ago when he was heavyweight champ of the world ... so we asked, could he put up a fight against Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, and Deontay Wilder?

"I believe Mike can do it. If he put his mind, he wanna fight for the belt one day, why not? Who say it's impossible to do?" Rafael says.

"He's fighting every single day in the gym and I believe the best still to come. Why not? If one day he want to prove, he put his techniques to the test, why not [fight for] for the belt?"

FYI, 32-year-old, 6'9", 30-0-1 Fury, 30-year-old, 6'6", 24-1 Joshua, and 34-year-old, 6'7", 42-1-1 Wilder are considered the 3 top heavyweights in the world.

If you think the Presidential election has gotten ugly, check out the intensely angry exchange between 2 UFC fighters ... and Donald Trump makes it clear whose side he's on.

Colby Covington had just defeated Tyron Woodley Saturday night when he appeared on the post-show with his arch-enemy ... Champion Kamaru Usman, who defeated Covington last December for the title. Covington, who was enraged the fight was stopped, is demanding a rematch.

And, that's the backdrop for some trash talking ... the likes of which you haven't heard in a while. The 2 men are talking at the same time ... Covington threatening Usman -- "When I see you, you're dead" -- while Usman laughs it off, claiming he broke Covington's face when they fought.

Covington invokes Trump's name, saying, "I got the President of the United States, dragon energy." And, soon after that, Trump called Covington to congratulate him on beating Woodley. Trump says, "I just made a big speech to 35,000 people and said, 'Oh, I've got to get home now and watch Colby.'"

It's undeniably good sportsmanship -- a triathlon runner stopped running and let a competitor beat him --  but in the world of sports, is it too much?

British athlete James Teagle was oh-so-close to placing third in the 2020 Santander Triathlon in Spain. Thing is ... about 100 yards before reaching the finish line, Teagle became confused and ran the wrong way, toward the cheering crowd.

Enter Spanish triathlete Diego Mentrida, who had been behind Teagle for much of the race.  Mentrida passed Teagle, but before reaching the finish line, he suddenly stopped and let Teagle -- who regained his bearings -- pass him to place third.

After the race, Mentrida said, "He deserved it. This is something my parents and my club taught me since I was a child. My view is it should be a normal thing to do."

The winner of the race, Javier Gomez Noya, called Mentrida's move "the best in history."

The organizers of the race decided to give Mentrida an honorary third place and he ended up getting 3rd place prize money -- $355.

Roy Jones Jr., listen up ... here's some sage boxing advice from Rocky himself -- DON'T GET HIT BY MIKE TYSON!!!!

TMZ Sports got Sylvester Stallone leaving Fia in Santa Monica this week ... and when we asked about RJJ's chances in his November exhibition with Iron Mike -- Sly didn't love them.

In fact, Stallone seemed straight-up concerned for Roy!!!

"Well, let's put it this way," Stallone said. "What do you think is going to work? A 22 against a 45???"

Sly added, "Roy Jones is a great, great fighter, but it's just a matter of physics."

Stallone says his advice for Roy when it comes to hanging with Mike in the ring is simple ... "Keep moving!"

"You're talking about, I mean -- everyone knows it. Mike Tyson is a wrecking ball."

The fight is scheduled for Nov. 28 ... and, if you're listening to Sly, that means there's still plenty of time for Roy to not go through with this!!

Oscar De La Hoya's stunning 21-year-old daughter, Atiana, says she's out to make a name for herself outside of the boxing world ... telling TMZ Sports she's working to blaze her own trail as the next big model!!

Remember, looks run in the family -- Atiana's mom is former Miss USA Shanna Moakler ... and ODLH ain't too bad lookin' himself.

We spoke with Atiana about her own career ... and she says it's off to a hot start!!!

"It's going great!," ADLH tells us. "Kinda ready to branch out and start a whole new path, so we'll see where it goes. Got some exciting stuff I'm working on."

We asked if having a legendary boxer as her pops has any perks in the modeling industry ... and Atiana makes sure to point out she still has to be great in order to succeed.

"I always like to say it opens doors but it doesn't get you through them."

While she won't spill the beans on any of her current projects, one look at Atiana's Instagram shows she's already got huge brand deals with companies like Too Faced Cosmetics ... so she's off to a great start!!

Naturally ... we had to ask some questions about Oscar's big boxing comeback ... and Atiana is 100% confident her dad will open a can of Whoop Ass when he gets back in the ring.

"I think it's amazing! I'm so excited for him. Think it's gonna be great."

As for ODLH being 47 ... Atiana ain't worried one bit.

"Absolutely not! He's got this. I'm so confident in him. It's gonna be great!"

How'd Kansas City Chiefs rookie Clyde Edwards-Helaire celebrate his huge NFL debut??

DIAMOND PENDANTS, BABY!!!

TMZ Sports has learned Patrick Mahomes' new star teammate just copped some ice after his first-ever monster game in the pros ... and the jewelry is INSANE!!

We're told the running back -- who rushed for 138 yards and a TD in the Chiefs' opening game last week -- hit up Leo Frost to make FIVE pieces ... and the celeb jeweler didn't disappoint.

The bling features the word "Glyde" -- a play on Clyde's "The Glyde" nickname -- as well as his former LSU jersey #22.

We're told each pendant is decked out in 18 carats of VVS diamonds ... plus Clyde's drip includes a bracelet and a Cuban link chain that also have "Glyde" on the locking clasps.

Unclear how much Clyde paid for the pieces ... but we're told the RB is spreading the pendants out to some of his closest family members and friends.

Before these little lads made it big time playing for the NFL, they were just youngsters focusing on growing up!

With football season back in full swing and on a lot of folks' minds, we're sticking to the program and bringing you some old school pics from the players themselves ... although it's up to you to tackle who is in the throwback shot!

Now is your chance to test your player knowledge and see if you can guess which NFL star is in the kid pic ... Just scroll through our gallery and play along!

Talk about being ahead of the curve ... this little guy is only halfway through his first year of life and already getting a taste of the water sports life, and handling it pretty freakin' well!

Meet Rich Humphreys, who's only 6 months old ... and apparently a waterskiing/wakeboarding prodigy. Check out this video that his parents posted of him holding his own on Lake Powell out in Utah. The kid's literally standing up and balancing himself as the boat pulls him.

His ma, Mindi, writes ... "Worlds youngest water skier!! #worldrecord 6 months 4 days old." Rich's pop, Casey, was just as stoked, saying ... " 6 months 4 days! Take one look at this kid and tell me he isn’t having the time of his life! Such a little stud! #worldrecord."

Indeed, he certainly looks like he's enjoying himself. What's unclear (and even crazier to think about) is if Rich can even walk yet!!! Obviously, the kid can get up on his own, but if he can water ski before he can even take his first steps ... he may be destined for this water life.

Speaking of which ... Mindi and Casey have made it quite clear that their boy is quite the outdoorsman. Rich has his own IG page, and he sure seems to dig roughin' it ... especially when H20 is involved.

Navarro College says Jerry Harris' arrest should not reflect on the school or its celebrated cheer squad ... because he wasn't part of their program even before the child pornography bust.

As you know ... Jerry, one of the stars of Netflix's cheerleading docuseries "Cheer," was arrested Thursday and hit with a charge of production of child pornography.

Navarro College, whose cheer team is featured on Netflix's uber-popular show, tells TMZ ... Jerry left campus in March due to the pandemic and completed his degree in May. We're told he did not return to Navarro this fall, despite the fact he could have continued cheering.

Remember ... at the end of "Cheer" season 1, Jerry goes off to the University of Louisville. We're told he enrolled there, and participated in cheer, but left in 2019 after one semester and returned to Navarro, rejoining its cheer team to resume filming with Netflix.

So, Jerry was cheering for Navarro before the coronavirus outbreak, but he hasn't been on campus since March, and hasn't been affiliated with the school since May, when he earned an associate's degree in science.

It's interesting ... Jerry did an interview before his arrest saying he wasn't sure what his plan was after graduating. He's since deleted his Instagram, which had pics of him in the Navarro cheer uniform.

Bad news for Brock Lesnar fans ... Dana White says the former UFC champ has NOT taken him up on his offer to put together a fight with Jon Jones.

And, Dana says he doesn't expect it'll ever happen.

Remember, White previously told us he would be down to make a fight between the ex-heavyweight champ and Jones if both guys really wanted it to happen.

Dana even invited Brock to call him so they could talk out a deal.

So, when we spoke with White we had to ask if Brock has reached out -- and unfortunately, it was crickets.

"Not a word," White tells TMZ Sports.

"The guy has had a long killer career. He actually came in and became a UFC heavyweight champ and the guy's made a lot of money. I just don't see him coming back over here again at his age."

White says he would love for Brock to call just so they can talk anyway -- "I'd love to hear how he's doing and how his family is, stuff like that."

But, White says, "I think that's gonna be the extent of the conversation with him."

As for Jon Jones, he's moving up from light heavyweight to the heavyweight division -- but when we asked Dana if there is a fight on the horizon ... again, crickets.

"Nope. Nothing. He's out doing his thing and ya know -- nothing."

They almost fought in line at a Vegas buffet in 2019 -- but UFC star Colby Covington and fighter manager Ali Abdelaziz have buried the hatchet in 2020 ... with a little help from Donald Trump.

First, some backstory!!!

Ali represents some of the biggest names in MMA -- from Khabib to Justin Gaethje, Kamaru Usman, Henry Cejudo and more.

Back in early 2019, Colby was trying to set up a welterweight title fight with Kamaru ... and the trash talk got so personal, things came to a head at the buffet at The Palms in Vegas.

Colby was in line ... and Ali gets in his face -- and Kamaru had to hold Abdelaziz back! Intense!!!

So, what happened since?

Ali -- along with Henry Cejudo and Justin Gaethje -- were invited to hang with Trump at his rally in Nevada on Sunday ... where Covington was also a VIP guest of the President.

Ali tells us ... since the two men were forced to hang out, they made the best of the situation and talked things out. And, as of now, they're cool.

"I don't hate the kid, I don't have no ill will towards him. He was there to represent the President, I was there to represent the President. If he fought Kamaru or Gilbert or any of my guys again, he becomes the enemy again, it's simple."

"But, right now he's not the enemy. He's a guy trying to make a name for himself."

As for meeting Trump, Ali says it was one of the highlights of his life -- and says Trump treated him like one of the boys!

There's more ... Ali also talked about the upcoming matchup between Kahbib and Gaethje (both are his clients) and explained why it could be one of the greatest fights in MMA history!