Robert Griffin III Dad tells Agents: Dont Talk to My Son

(TMZ) Robert Griffin III is getting some serious protection off the field from his father -- who's demanding  potential sports agents back off his Heisman Trophy winning son while he decides if he's jumping to the NFL.

Sources close to RG3's family tell TMZ, RG2 (aka Dad) has decided any agents who contact his son directly will be out of the running to sign him ... and thereby, screwed out of a future multi-million dollar commission.

We're told Dad wants all the agents to contact him -- leaving RG3 alone to focus on next week's Alamo Bowl, and his Master's degree. Believe it or not, some reps are playing ball -- we're told Dad's talking to 5 big-time agents ... just in case RG3 goes pro.

As for that big decision -- our source says Griffin is stressed about it, and far from a lock to go pro ... partially because he doesn't want to "let people down" at Baylor.

Is this kid perfect, or what?

Adidas Accused of Trying to Screw Church Servicing the Poor

A church near Chicago that caters to struggling members of its community claims Adidas is on a vicious campaign to torpedo the congregation, and a Chicago Bulls star is caught in the middle.

The Christian Faith Fellowship Church in Zion, IL trademarked the name, Add A Zero -- and church reps tell us it's using the trademark to sell clothing and other items to raise money for a new building, a food pantry and a day care program.

In 2009 -- 3 years after the Church got its trademark -- Adidas tried to register the name ADIZERO, for a sub-brand of its athletic clothing.  Adidas is marking the line, using Bulls point guard Derrick Rose as its spokesperson.   But here's the rub ... The U.S. Trademark Office rejected its application because the Church beat it to the punch. 

Adidas then offered the Church $5,000 to give up its trademark, but the Church said hell no.

And get this ... In November, 2010, Adidas petitioned the U.S. Trademark Office to cancel the Church's trademark, on ground the Church hadn't used the name enough.  The petition is pending.

Three weeks ago, Pastor E. James Logan from the Church sent letters to Adidas, begging them to back down.  The Pastor wrote, "I have long been an admirer of Adidas and would not expect a company of your stature, with celebrity endorsers like Mr. Rose, to try to use its wealth and power to bully a working class church."

The Pastor also wrote to Rose, pleading for him to knock some sense into Adidas.

We contacted the lawyer for Adidas but so far ... no comment. We also contacted Rose, but have not heard back yet.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. sentenced to 90 days in jail

(latimes.com)Boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. has been sentenced to 90 days in jail after pleading guilty to reduced domestic violence battery and harassment charges before a Las Vegas judge. He was told to report to jail on Jan. 6.

Judge Melissa Saragosa also ordered Mayweather to complete 100 hours of community service and pay a $2,500 fine.
The plea deal avoids trial on felony allegations that he hit his ex-girlfriend and threatened two of their children during an argument at her home in September 2010.

The conclusion of Mayweather's criminal case helps promoters move forward with plans to stage a super-fight next year between Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.
Pacquiao's promoter, Bob Arum, told The Times' Lance Pugmire on Tuesday that Mayweather's legal case has created uncertainty because of a possible trial date and how much jail time he could serve if convicted.
Arum said a likely date for the mega-fight between the sport's top two fighters would be in June. Arum said he's pursuing the idea of building a 45,000-seat venue on the Las Vegas Strip near the Wynn and Venetian properties. Arum said the additional time will assist the construction plan, even though Mayweather's advisor previously said he's cleared May 5 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas for a fight date against Pacquiao.
"That's Cinco de Mayo and too early," said Arum of the May 5 date; he added that fight talks won't take place during the holiday break.

Sanctions against Ohio State just the latest NCAA scandal

One signature football program, Southern California, re-enters the bowl mix next season. Another, Ohio State, falls out as the drumbeat of scandal in college athletics continues.

The NCAA on Tuesday punctuated an ignominious year for the Buckeyes, hitting them with the postseason ban, deepening self-imposed scholarship reductions and subjecting former coach Jim Tressel to restrictions for five years if he manages — or cares — to land another job.

The number of major football-playing schools currently on NCAA probation now is 25, or more than one in every five. Sixteen are in bowls this season. Four are in Bowl Championship Series games, including national title finalists LSU and Alabama.

USC is sitting out despite a 10-2 record, having drawn a two-year bowl ban in 2010 related to extra-benefit violations revolving around star running back Reggie Bush.

"Institutions of higher education must move to higher ground," said Ohio State athletics director Gene Smith, who acknowledged his school's infractions but expressed disappointment in the postseason ban.

That means new coach Urban Meyer, named Nov. 28 as Tressel's replacement, will go into his first season with no prospect of getting to the Big Ten Conference title game or a bowl. The Buckeyes haven't sat out the postseason since 1999, a 12-year period featuring eight BCS appearances.

Their current team, which struggled to 6-6 amid multiple player suspensions related to the violations, is free to play Florida as scheduled Jan. 2 in the Gator Bowl. The sanctions hanging over the game "will serve as a reminder that the college experience does not include the behavior that led to these penalties," Meyer said in a statement.

Ohio State's transgressions ran deeper than USC's, dating to November 2008 and involving 14 players the NCAA said accepted more than $16,000 in illicit benefits. The case revolved around former quarterback Terrelle Pryor and several others who got cash and free or discounted services from the owner of a local tattoo parlor.

Is This Splitsville For Kobe Bryant and Vanessa Bryant

 Kobe Bryant's wife, Vanessa Bryant, could see a big payday when it comes to the pending divorce settlement.

Vanessa filed for divorce from the Los Angeles Lakers player last Friday, citing irreconcilable differences as the reason for the split. But the couple, who were married for 10 years, reportedly didn't have a prenuptial agreement, which could mean bad news for the NBA star.
Vanessa's mother told the Los Angeles Times several years ago that the pair didn't sign a prenup when they wed back in 2001. If that's really the case, law experts say Vanessa could walk away with half of their community property.

Attorney Christopher C. Melcher told the Times a prenup "could have saved half of his fortune."

To put that in perspective, Kobe's net worth is estimated at $150 million, which means Vanessa could receive at least $75 million in addition to ongoing spousal and child support.

Since the divorce announcement last week, there have been various unconfirmed reports hinting at infidelity. A source told TMZ that Vanessa recently caught Kobe cheating - the final straw in what has probably been a trying marriage. She famously stood by his side when he was charged with sexual assault in 2003.

But supposed insiders claim Vanessa had found out about Kobe getting involved with "multiple women" over the years.

In the filing, Vanessa asked for spousal support, as well as joint legal and physical custody of the couple's two daughters, Natalia, 8, and Gianna, 5. Kobe also requested joint legal and physical custody.

Baylor QB Griffin Wins Heisman

Robert Griffin III is Baylor's Superman and when he won the Heisman Trophy he was wearing the socks to prove it.
Who knows? Maybe they even helped him outluck Andrew Luck.
The junior quarterback known as RG3 beat out the preseason favorite from Stanford on Saturday night, becoming the first Baylor player to take home college football's most famous trophy.

Right before his name was called, Griffin took a deep breath. When it was announced he broke into a bright smile, his face framed by his long braided hair. Then it was hugs all around, for his coaches, his parents, his sister and his fiance.
He took a few long strides up to the stage and let out a laugh when he got there, making a joke about the Superman socks -- complete with capes on the back -- he was wearing before going into his acceptance speech.

Griffin started the season on the fringe of the Heisman conversation, a talented and exciting player on a marginal team, while Luck was already being touted as a No. 1 NFL draft pick.
Draft day might very well still belong to Luck, but Griffin diverted the Heisman to Waco, Texas, to a school that has never had a player finish better than fourth in the voting -- and that was 48 years ago.
Griffin received 405 first-place votes and 1,687 points.

"Everybody associated with Baylor has a reason to celebrate tonight," he said.

Luck received 247 first-place votes and 1,407 points to become the fourth player to be Heisman runner-up in consecutive seasons and first since Arkansas running back Darren McFadden in 2006 and `07.

Lamar Odom Traded To The Mavs? Lakers Now After Howard,What Does This Mean For The Lakers?

With the latest news that the Los Angeles Lakers have pulled out of the Chris Paul deal, all reports point to the Lakers now focusing on Dwight Howard. In an effort to clear cap space and make a more attractive offer to the Magic, the Lakers have traded Lamar Odom into the Mavericks’ trade exception.

This trade exception was created today with the Tyson Chandler trade to the Knicks, and the Mavs are reaping the benefits of their move. Mike Bresnahan tweets that as part of the Odom deal, the Mavericks will be giving the Lakers a 2012 first round pick.

The Odom trade was executed to essentially clear up cap space for Dwight Howard, and the Lakers can now also take up the contract of Hedo Turkoglu or another Magic player. The Lakers will now push for Howard, and they will have to battle with the New Jersey Nets for the reigning Defensive Player of the Year.