TMZ Sports - Page 50

F1 superstar Daniel Ricciardo is giving the Miami Grand Prix two thumbs up -- telling TMZ Sports he had an absolute blast in Florida over the weekend ... especially because he got to hang out with his bestie, Josh Allen!!

Of course, the biggest stars on the planet were in town for the inaugural race ... from David Beckham to Tom Brady and Michael Jordan.

Ricciardo says it was an awesome experience having so many celebs stop by ... telling us, "It was cool, it was pretty nuts, actually. It was pretty wild."

But, there was one VIP that had Daniel super pumped ... and that's the Buffalo Bills quarterback, who was a special guest for McLaren.

In case you didn't know, Ricciardo and Allen have randomly become really close over the years ... with Daniel -- a hardcore Bills fan -- instantly clicking with the signal-caller after meeting in Monaco in 2019.

We spoke with Ricciardo about hanging with #17 ... and you can tell by the look on his face, he's still giddy over the bro sesh.

As for the race, Ricciardo finished 13th ... but he definitely still enjoyed himself.

Ricciardo also talked about the hit Netflix series, "Drive To Survive" getting picked up for two more seasons ... and he says he's not sick of the cameras hanging around him just yet.

Michigan State fans are honoring Adreian Payne in a very Spartan way -- painting a tribute to the former hoops star on the famous boulder in the middle of the school's campus.

MSU supporters inked "RIP AP #5" on "The Rock" -- a monument on the university's campus since 1873 -- just two days after Payne was shot and killed following a dispute outside of a Florida home on Monday.

The fans also painted a message on the rock referencing Payne's touching friendship with 8-year-old cancer patient Lacey Holsworth.

"Adreian + Lacey ❤ together again," the note read.

There were also several bouquets of flowers left near the monument, too.

Payne played at MSU from 2010 to 2014 -- and helped lead the team to an Elite Eight appearance in his senior season.

Spartans head coach Tom Izzo -- along with many others in the basketball community -- mourned Payne's death on Monday, saying in a statement, "Adreian was loved by his teammates and coaches, who respected his development as a player and a person."

Bodybuilding star Calum von Moger is reportedly fighting for his life after jumping out of a window and causing severe injury to his spine, according to multiple outlets.

Generation Iron, a popular bodybuilding website, reported the Australian actor and renowned bodybuilder jumped out of a second-story window on May 6 ... which they say left him hospitalized in critical condition.

The outlet says von Moger is in the ICU ... where he's undergone surgery to treat his injuries.

The reasoning behind the alleged act hasn't been confirmed, but there are reports the 31-year-old has had a rough go of it lately ... even feuding with his parents.

But, just last week, von Moger -- a 3x World Fitness Federation 'Mr. Universe' winner -- posted on social media, vowing to be a better person.

"Everyone has a past. We've all been through hard times. I admit. I messed up bad many times," he wrote.

"But I don't care about dwelling on negative thoughts of the past. All I care about is that I learn from my mistakes and become a better person. I'm trying my hardest to stay strong but I have my days too."

In addition to Calum's success on the stage, he's also been on the silver screen. In 2018, he portrayed bodybuilding god Arnold Schwarzenegger in "Bigger."

CvM has also been in other movies ... appearing in Generation Iron 2.

He's also a social media star ... accumulating over 3 million followers on Instagram.

Calum's also part of one of the best TMZ Sports clips ever ... when he, along with our cameraman, Andrew Capucetti, took their shirts off and made the pecs dance.

Since news of the incident hit the internet, there has been an outpouring of love and support for von Moger.

StockX is firing back at Nike after being accused of selling fake kicks in a recent lawsuit ... saying the mega brand's claims are straight-up "baseless."

Nike and StockX have been going at it for months over a separate issue about an NFT release ... and on Tuesday, things heated up when the resale site was accused of having a bogus authentication process.

The Swoosh claims the company bought four pairs of "authenticated" pairs of Nike kicks that were actually phony.

"Those four pairs of counterfeit shoes were all purchased within a short two-month period on StockX's platform, all had affixed to them StockX's 'Verified Authentic' hangtag, and all came with a paper receipt from StockX in the shoe box stating that the condition of the shoes is '100% Authentic,'" Nike said in the docs.

Nike also says in the new filing that StockX is "knowingly deceiving consumers" with the fake Nike products and is hurting their brand's reputation.

StockX didn't take the accusation kindly and struck back on Wednesday ... saying Nike's claims are false and odd ... as they allege Swoosh executives buy and/or sell kicks off their site.

"We take customer protection extremely seriously, and we've invested millions to fight the proliferation of counterfeit products that virtually every global marketplace faces today," StockX said.

"Nike's latest filing is not only baseless but also is curious given that their own brand protection team has communicated confidence in our authentication program, and that hundreds of Nike employees -- including current senior executives -- use StockX to buy and sell products."

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. just did his best Bo Jackson impression ... completely -- and easily -- destroying his bat over his leg following a tough strikeout.

The Toronto superstar turned his personalized lumber into kindling in the fifth inning of the Blue Jays' game against the Yankees ... when he struck out on a Jameson Taillon cutter.

Guerrero Jr. was so mad at himself for waving at a pitch that ended up outside of the zone -- he slammed his bat to the ground ... and then snapped it over his right quad.

Video shows the thing didn't stand a chance against the wrath of the 6'2, 235-pound first baseman ... it splintered all over the batter's box.

If you're wondering, there's no MLB rule against snapping a bat in frustration ... so Vladdy won't face any penalty over the temper tantrum.

As for the game ... the Jays are currently down 5-2 -- but Vlad's gotten another bat and is scheduled to come up again shortly.

It's 2022, but COVID is still finding ways to affect baseball ... the MLB just announced the Cleveland Guardians' game against the White Sox on Wednesday has been postponed due to a virus outbreak.

In a statement released just hours before the first pitch was scheduled to go down at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago, the league said the game will not go on because of "multiple" positive COVID tests in the Guardians' org.

This is the first time in the 2022 season that an MLB game has been postponed over coronavirus.

Unclear which players tested positive for the virus ... but the Guardians did reveal prior to the game's postponement that manager Terry Francona had contracted COVID.

LeBron James appears to be sending a message to his haters who think he isn't working hard this offseason ... by posting videos of him hitting the gym shirtless at 5 AM!

James threw up the clips on his Instagram on Wednesday morning ... showing that despite being on a few vacays the last several weeks, the Akron native is still getting after it, and is still completely jacked.

James captioned one of the videos at 5 AM by writing, "The perfect place to pull up on to relieve so stress! Time to work."

He then showed off his chiseled shoulders, chest and abs while getting in some kettlebell and cable work.

Of course, the timing of the posts is interesting ... LBJ's been under a lot of scrutiny lately from fans who believe he's been enjoying his offseason just a little too much after the Lakers' disappointing season.

Bron's been spotted vacationing in the Maldives with his wife, Savannah, as well as in Miami ... where he partied his face off for the F1's Grand Prix event.

So, were these vids a clap back at the haters?!?

F1 driver Valtteri Bottas was one with nature during his trip to Aspen, Colorado ... getting buck nekkid and laying out in a creek!!

The Alfa Romeo star took a trip to the Centennial State after finishing 7th at the Miami Grand Prix over the weekend ... and didn't shy away from showing off his posterior on Instagram.

Now, it's not a new sight for fans of Netflix's "Drive to Survive" -- the Finnish driver takes it ALL off while sitting in the sauna during the show ... so really, this is just another day for Bottas' backers.

F1 drivers have a bit of downtime before taking the track in Barcelona ... so it's nice to see VB checking out the States a bit.

Getting the New York Giants' #5 jersey number from Graham Gano cost Kayvon Thibodeaux a whopping $50K ... but don't worry, the kicker said the cash is on its way to a VERY good cause!!!

Here's the deal ... Gano has worn the NY #5 since 2020, but after Thibodeaux was picked in the first round of the NFL Draft -- the star rookie wanted it badly.

After all, the 6-foot-4 pass rusher wore it when he starred for the Oregon Ducks from 2019 to 2021 -- AND he was also the #5 overall pick in last month's draft.

So, Gano cut an agreement with the former All-American ... send $50K to Puppies Behind Bars -- an org. that "trains incarcerated individuals to raise service dogs for wounded war veterans and first responders" -- and the jersey is yours.

Thibodeaux apparently gladly cut the check -- 'cause Gano is wearing #9 now.

"The whole idea behind the number five being special to myself and being special to Kayvon was being able to help five people get the five dogs and be able to make an impact in five people's lives for the better," Gano said.

"While it is special to me as well, there's a whole lot of meaning in that No. 5 to him."

Gano added, "I just wanted to be a good teammate and also be able to support others throughout the whole process."

So, the 35-year-old kicker -- who set a franchise record with three 50-yard plus field goals against the Cowboys in the 2020 season -- will wear #9 ... for the time being.

"I can be No. 9 and maybe in 10-15 years when he retires and I'm still kicking, I can get No. 5 back," Gano joked.

DJ Khaled pulled a Drake during the Miami Heat playoff game on Tuesday ... jumping up from his courtside seat to assist his beloved team -- including giving Erik Spoelstra a shoulder massage!!

The hilarious moment went down in the third quarter of the Heat's second-round matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers ... when the mogul hopped up to snag a ball that went out of bounds.

But, while Khaled was up, he decided to pump up the crowd by clapping and cheering ... and when he made his way back to his seat, he gave Coach Spo's shoulders a squeeze.

Of course, it's reminiscent of what Drizzy did to Toronto Raptors coach Nick Nurse back in the 2019 playoffs ... when he tried to calm him down after a Fred VanVleet three-pointer.

Khaled should be careful, though -- the NBA had to talk to the Raps regarding Drake's sideline antics ... but ultimately, nothing serious happened.

Spo seemed to love Khaled's gesture ... saying, "That was funny. I didn't even notice him until the end, what he was doing to get the crowd fired up."

"But, I loved it," he added. "That's awesome. I was humbled to be part of that moment. He's such a great fan there. Over the years, I've said hello a few times. But, that was the best interaction and that was genuine."

Jack Harlow always has time for his fans ... even the youngest ones on the outskirts.

The rapper cleared a path this weekend for a 10-year-old who was seeking a photo with him at the Kentucky Derby, but was blocked off by a gaggle of security guards flanking him on all sides.

The kid's mother, Katy Mackin, tells TMZ ... her daughter, Veronica, saw Jack down on the race track where he was scheduled to do the "riders up" call -- signaling the jockeys to take their starting positions on the horses. This family had a horse running, BTW ... Smile Happy.

Anyway, we're told Veronica saw Jack -- whom she loves -- and was eager for a pic ... something that was gonna be hard to achieve with all the muscle around him.

Lucky for her, Jack's got eagle eyes ... Mackin tells us he spotted her and figured she was itching for a quick meet and greet -- which he obliged by opening up the sea of men, so to speak. Before long, she was hugging the guy and got her snap!

Sad news in the NBA world ... Hall of Famer Bob Lanier passed away on Tuesday at 73 years old.

The Detroit Pistons legend -- who made eight All-Star teams in 14 seasons -- died following a short illness, the NBA announced. He was surrounded by his family when he passed, the league added.

"I learned so much from Bob by simply watching how he connected with people," NBA commissioner, Adam Silver, said in a statement mourning Lanier's death on Tuesday night. "He was a close friend who I will miss dearly, as will so many of his colleagues across the NBA who were inspired by his generosity."

"We send our deepest condolences to Bob's family and friends."

Lanier -- who gained notoriety for his size 22 shoes -- was taken by the Detroit Pistons with the #1 overall pick in the 1970 NBA Draft ... and he went on to star for the Motor City for the next decade, averaging 22.7 points per game and 11.8 rebounds per game.

The 6-foot-11, 250-pound big man later went on to star for the Bucks -- playing four seasons in Milwaukee before retiring following the 1983-84 season.

Silver called Lanier one of "the most talented centers in the history of the NBA."

Following his career on the court, Lanier briefly coached the Golden State Warriors. He later became a global ambassador for the NBA and a special assistant to commissioner David Stern and then Silver.

"His impact on the league went far beyond what he accomplished on the court," Silver said.
"For more than 30 years, Bob served as our global ambassador and as a special assistant to David Stern and then me, traveling the world to teach the game's values and make a positive impact on young people everywhere."

Silver continued, "It was a labor of love for Bob, who was one of the kindest and most genuine people I have ever been around. His enormous influence on the NBA was also seen during his time as President of the National Basketball Players Association, where he played a key role in the negotiation of a game-changing collective bargaining agreement."

The infamous ACE Family estate -- which was foreclosed on last year -- is now in the hands of a couple more influencers ... who actually got it for a heck of a deal!

Sources connected to the sale tell TMZ ... Austin and Catherine McBroom's one-time mega-property -- which is comprised of nearly 2 acres of land in Woodland Hills, CA, and essentially 3 houses spanning over 13,000 square feet total -- was sold Friday for a pretty penny.

The price tag, we're told, ended up at $9.275 million ... a serious drop from its original asking price of $12.9 mil.

As for the new homeowners ... our sources tell us twin brother YouTubers Alan and Alex Stokes -- who have 13.2M subscribers and over 30 million TikTok followers -- were the lucky fellas who snapped this puppy up. No word on their financing, which is kinda important.

The reason we're bringing that up is because AM and CM's financial sitch came under scrutiny during their time in this massive crib. They first bought it in 2019 for about $10 mil, with $9 mil reportedly secured via high-interest loans ... on which they eventually defaulted.

As news of their choppy money waters surfaced, the couple initially denied anything was wrong, but later copped to having $$$ trouble ... blaming others for their woes.

In any case, the bank ended up taking the property back at the end of last year -- and now it belongs to a whole new brood. BTW, this place is a beaut -- it's got 12 bedrooms, 13 baths and a lot of amenities, like a basketball court and in-ground trampoline, etc.

First Troy Aikman, then Tony Romo ... now, Tom Brady?!?

Eric Dickerson is fully expecting the G.O.A.T. to be in the same class as the former Cowboys superstars when he transitions to the booth after his football career ends ... telling TMZ Sports he thinks TB12 will be "great" as an analyst just like Aikman and Romo.

Dickerson explained why to us at LAX on Tuesday ... saying because of Brady's brain, he's expecting a Romo-like transition to TV for the Buccaneers star once he hangs up the spikes.

"I think he'll be great at it," Dickerson said. "He's a quarterback. He knows all the systems. He'll be great. He'll be like Tony Romo and all those guys. I think he'll be good."

Dickerson would know a thing or two about what awaits Brady -- he famously transitioned from Hall of Fame player to "Monday Night Football" sideline reporter back in 2000 and 2001.

And, he truly thinks Brady has what it takes to succeed in a similar role.

"Being a great quarterback doesn't mean you'll be a great commentator," Dickerson said, "but I think Tom will do a great job."

Fox Sports is certainly hoping E.D. is right -- because, according to the New York Post, the company gave Brady a whopping 10-year, $375 MILLION contract to enter the color commentator role after his time in Tampa ends.

The Phoenix Suns are making sure to show support for Brittney Griner for the remainder of their playoff run -- by putting a decal on their court in honor of the WNBA superstar as she remains detained in Russia.

As we previously reported, the Phoenix Mercury center has been detained since February ... after she was accused of having hash oil in her luggage while going through airport security.

Sports, entertainment and political figures have been calling for her release ever since ... with President Joe Biden's administration even claiming Griner is being wrongfully detained in hopes of bringing her home sooner.

The Suns revealed the "BG42" decal ahead of their game against the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday ... saying, "One family. #WeAreBG."

"Honoring Brittney Griner on our court for the remainder of the playoffs. 💜🧡"

The decal is the same one the WNBA debuted recently ... with commissioner Cathy Engelbert promising to keep "Brittney at the forefront of what we do through the game of basketball and in the community."

"We continue to work on bringing Brittney home," Englebert added, "and are appreciative of the support the community has shown BG and her family during this extraordinarily challenging time."

Members of the Delaware State University women's lacrosse team claim they were racially profiled by police during a traffic stop last month ... but law enforcement is insisting that's simply not the case.

The HBCU's lacrosse team was traveling back to campus after a game in Florida on April 20 ... when their bus was pulled over for a minor traffic violation.

The school says the belongings of the student-athletes -- including suitcases located in the luggage racks beneath the bus -- were searched by police and drug-sniffing dogs.

Video footage of the police interaction with everyone on the bus was uploaded to a YouTube channel by Sydney Anderson, a player on the DSU squad.

In addition to the video, Anderson wrote a lengthy piece for the Hornet Newspaper, detailing what she describes as a traumatic experience, explaining she believes cops only did the thorough search because they were black.

DSU's lacrosse coach Pamella Jenkins told Andscape she felt "angry" and "helpless" during the traffic stop because she sees her players as her own children and wants to protect them.

DSU President Tony Allen said in a statement that nothing illegal was discovered during the officers' search ... and that all of the school's coaches and student-athletes comported themselves with dignity throughout a trying and humiliating process.

"I am proud of our student-athletes, their coaches, the athletic department, the leadership and the reporters and staff of the school newspaper. Our mission is a critical one and as much a part of the American story as any."

"Again, I say. We shall not be moved."

Sheriff William Bowman of the Liberty County Police force held a press conference on Tuesday ... where he addressed the incident.

The bus, according to the sheriff, was pulled over for driving in the left lane on the highway ... when any bus or motor coach must drive in the 2 far right lanes.

As for the thorough search, Sherriff Bowman says deputies stopped a bus earlier that day and located contraband on board ... and contends the stop of DSU's bus was not racially motivated based on the information he has available to him.