TMZ Sports - Page 50

Lia Thomas, the openly transgender NCAA championship swimmer, has been nominated by the University of Pennsylvania for one of the most prestigious awards in college athletics ... NCAA Woman of the Year.

UPenn nominated 22-year-old Thomas for the honor ... designed to recognize "female student-athletes who have exhausted their eligibility and distinguished themselves in their community, in athletics and in academics throughout their college careers."

Thomas, of course, was dominant this season for the Ivy League school -- even winning the 500-yard freestyle event at the NCAA championship meet (she defeated Olympic silver medalist Emma Weyant by nearly 2 seconds) ... but it wasn't without controversy.

Lia, prior to transitioning, was a member of the men's swimming team at UPenn ... however, Thomas didn't enjoy nearly the same success.

Many people, including 16 people from Lia's own team, penned a unanimous letter to university officials asking them to support stricter rules for Thomas and other future transgender athletes.

"However, we also recognize that when it comes to sports competition, that the biology of sex is a separate issue from someone’s gender identity," the letter read, "Biologically, Lia holds an unfair advantage over competition in the women’s category, as evidenced by her rankings that have bounced from #462 as a male to #1 as a female.”

As a result of the backlash, the NCAA did alter rules governing transgender athletes ... however, the regulations -- which would've prevented Lia from competing so soon after transitioning -- were not in effect last swim season.

The 2022 MLB Home Run Derby winner will walk away with more than just bragging rights ... TMZ Sports has learned they'll also get a custom chain and pendant featuring the words "Derby Champ" in 525 Gypsy set Swarovski crystals.

We're told the chain was hand-made in NYC by jewelers Kenny Hwang, Xavier Murillo, and John Luongo ... and MLB will present it to the player who smashes the most homers Monday night.

The chain's 25 inches long (and can be extended to 29 in.) ... and is platinum-plated with 650 handset cubic zirconia.

The crown, which sits atop a baseball design, is plated in 18-karat gold ... and features 5-prong set Emerald cut Lab Grown Sapphires -- totaling 25 carats of total weight.

The Home Run Derby is arguably the most popular event during the All-Star festivities. Last year, New York Mets star slugger Pete Alonso took home the trophy, with Orioles' first baseman Trey Mancini coming in second place.

This year's contest is expected to live up to the hype ... with superstars like Kyle Schwarber, Juan Soto, Jose Ramirez, Ronald Acuna Jr., Corey Seager, Julio Rodriguez, and Pete Alonso (the reigning champ), and soon-to-be-retired legend Albert Pujols participating.

The Home Run Derby goes down at Dodgers Stadium in L.A. on July 18.

LSU star gymnast Olivia "Livvy" Dunne ditched the leotards and the balance beams for pom poms and a cheerleader 'fit for Walker Hayes' new music video -- and she crushed the role!

Hayes -- one of the biggest stars in today's country music scene -- dropped his vid for his hit song "Y'all Life" on Friday ... and Dunne made several appearances in it.

Throughout the football-themed video, the athlete and social media star -- who has 5.6 million followers on TikTok and another 1.9 million on Instagram -- flipped on the sidelines and cheered on the fake action on the field.

Hayes, meanwhile, sang about growing up in the South as one of the team's coaches.

Dunne was pumped to see the final results drop on Friday ... writing on her social media page, "Thank you @walkerhayes for including me in your music video for Y'all Life!"

The cameo is just the latest cool thing to go down in Dunne's life -- Livvy, one of the best gymnasts in the country, signed massive NIL deals in the past year and has appeared in multiple ads and commercials recently as well.

Awesome scene at USC's campus on Thursday ... injured Trojan hoops recruit Aaliyah Gayles made a surprise visit to one of her future team's workouts -- and their reaction to seeing her was priceless!

The heartwarming moment was caught on video, showing Gayles -- who was shot multiple times at a house party in April just months after committing to USC -- popping up on the Trojans women's basketball team.

You can see in the clip, the team was stoked for the visit ... with sophomore guard Bella Perkins jumping for joy before the rest of the team came together for a group hug.

Gayles' father, Dwight, tells TMZ Sports this was Aaliyah's first time with the team since she was shot at a North Las Vegas house party on April 16. As we reported, she was hit by bullets 10 times in both her arms and legs.

Dwight says Gayles -- the #8 ranked player of the 2022 class -- and her Trojan teammates hit up the Los Angeles Sparks game later Thursday ... and they had a blast.

"Aaliyah said the DJ was super cool," Dwight said. "They treated her like a superstar."

When it comes to her recovery, Dwight says Aaliyah is progressing well.

"Her recovery is epic," he said. "It's unreal! You'll see!"

Gayles has had plenty of ups recently on her road to recovery -- she graduated from Spring Valley High, took her first steps out of her wheelchair, and made her first basket earlier this month.

The women who have accused the Houston Texans of enabling Deshaun Watson's sexual misconduct against them have settled their cases with the NFL team, their lawyer, Tony Buzbee, announced Friday.

The attorney, who's representing the 30 women making the claims, did not disclose financial details of the settlement in his announcement.

"I will have no further comment on the allegations or the Texans' role, other than to say that there is a marked contrast in the way in which the Texans addressed these allegations, and the way in which Watson’s team has done so," Buzbee said.

As we previously reported, Toi Garner -- a female masseuse -- sued the Texans last month ... after she said the football team was partly to blame for the assault she says Watson committed on her during a massage session in Nov. 2020.

In her suit, Garner alleged the Texans turned "a blind eye" to Watson's "egregious behavior," and, in fact, helped enable it.

Buzbee had said at the time of the lawsuit's filing that several more women were planning to file similar suits against the football team.

But, in his announcement Friday, Buzbee said "all of the women who have made, or intended to make, claims against the Houston Texans organization have resolved their claims."

As for the cases against Watson, Buzbee announced in June that all but four of the quarterback's accusers had settled with him. Buzbee said Friday those four unsettled cases are still continuing onward.

"We hope to try them all in the spring of next year," he said. "In the meantime, we will continue to do the important work to prepare for such.”

For his part, Watson -- who was never arrested or charged over the claims -- has denied any wrongdoing.

Glen "Big Baby" Davis' hoop days may be over, but he's still shooting his shot ... at Lizzo!!!

It all went down on the "ALL THE SMOKE" podcast ... when the former NBA star, who's been showing the female rapper mad love on his IG page, was asked if Lizzo was his celebrity crush.

"Yeah, I wanna do something with her," Davis told hosts Stephen Jackson and Matt Barnes.

"Yeah, I wanna do something with Lizzo. I ain't even gon' lie. I just like her personality."

With that said, Jackson and Barnes let Davis take over the camera and send a message to the "About Damn Time" artist.

"Lizzo, I'm talking to you. I'm reaching out. I done see you a couple of times, I ain't really say nothing, but ... I need you."

"I need you! Your energy -- I feel like you and me together is a hell of a combination and we represent for the big people."

Davis added, "I think you're awesome, you beautiful and you know ... I like that!"

Now, we're unsure if Big Baby's aware, but Lizzo recently went public with her new boyfriend, comedian Myke Wright. The couple made an appearance together at a red carpet event for her Amazon series "Watch Out for the Big Grrrls."

In fact, just a day after Davis' interview, Lizzo spoke about her relationship status on "The Breakfast Club" ... saying her new bae makes her laugh.

Brittney Griner, wearing a Nirvana T-shirt, was back in court Friday, where the WNBA star's attorney told the judge BG, who's being tried on a drug charge, was prescribed cannabis for medical use ... the same substance she was caught carrying.

Griner's lawyer, Maria Blagovolina, told the court on Friday, "The attending physician gave Brittney recommendations for the use of medical cannabis."

"The permission was issued on behalf of the Arizona Department of Health," she added.

Blagovolina also submitted tests to the court ... showing 31-year-old Griner underwent testing to ensure she complied with anti-doping regulations, and the results revealed the hooper didn't have any prohibited substances in her system.

Griner appeared in court last week, bringing a photo of her wife, Cherelle, to the proceeding ... where she plead guilty to drug possession.

While addressing the court, Griner told the judge it wasn't her intent to break the law ... she simply packed hastily, and forgot about the cannabis.

Griner faces up to 10 years in prison ... but reps for the Phoenix Mercury star told us they're hopeful her guilty plea will be the beginning of getting Griner freed from Russian custody.

For now, Brittney's detention has been authorized to go through Dec. 20, according to the Associated Press, and although she plead guilty at last week's court hearing, Russia's justice system differs from the United States ... meaning the trial is to go through the beginning of August.

Griner's next hearing is scheduled for July 26.

Golf fans, try not to get teary-eyed watching this ...

Tiger Woods broke down while out on the golf course Friday morning, appearing to cry on the 18th fairway just before formally missing the cut at The Open -- and video from the scene is very emotional.

Woods -- who made it a goal to return to St. Andrews this year for the British Open after badly injuring his leg in a Feb. 2021 car crash -- struggled throughout the first two days of the tournament, and did not qualify for weekend play.

So, on his last hole of his second round on Friday, he received a massive ovation from the crowd in the stands -- and he couldn't hide his emotions.

Cameras captured Woods wiping away tears for several moments as he walked toward his ball near the green.

Tiger was eventually able to gather himself, and he went on to make a par -- finishing the event with a score of +9.

It could be the last time Woods ever competes in another Open at St. Andrews -- and he said afterward that's why he got so emotional out on the course.

"I don't know if I'll be physically able to play another British Open here at St. Andrews," said the 46-year-old, who's previously won two Opens at the famous course. "I certainly feel like I'll be able to play more British Opens. But, I don't know if I'll be around when it comes back around here."

"So, the warmth and the ovation at 18, it got to me."

One of the greatest brand-athlete deals in the history of the sports could be heading toward splitsville ... Tracy McGrady just revealed he thinks his relationship with Adidas is "coming to an end."

The former Houston Rockets superstar made the announcement while on stage at the Hashtag Sports conference in Las Vegas on Thursday ... calling his partnership with the shoe giant "rocky" at the moment.

"I've been with Adidas for 25 years," McGrady said. "I think we're coming to an end. I think we're coming to an end."

Tracy revealed this has been brewing for around 10 years now ... after he said he has not been happy with the way the company has dealt with him in the past decade.

Specifically, McGrady seemed displeased with the way Adidas has handled the creation of his one-on-one, tournament-style basketball league -- the Ones Basketball League.

"When I started OBL, I was told I couldn't pull this off by Adidas," McGrady said. "So, that's why I feel that way."

It's unclear of how the logistics of a formal split would work between the two parties -- McGrady did, after all, famously sign a lifetime deal with Adidas back in 2002.

But, if it truly somehow is the end ... it's sad for a lot of hoops fans and sneakerheads. The two combined to make some of the most memorable basketball shoes ever -- including the T MAC 1s.

Talk about first-world problems ... Tom Brady just revealed the toughest thing he has to deal with as a parent is trying to keep his kids grounded despite their rich and famous lifestyle.

TB12 opened up about being a dad to Ford honcho Jim Farley on the "DRIVE" podcast earlier this month ... and he explained one of his biggest parenting struggles is teaching humility to his kids while also being one of the most wealthy families in the nation.

"We have people that clean for us," said the Tampa Bay Buccaneers star, who's made over $300 MILLION in NFL contracts alone. "We have people that make our food. We have people that drive us to the airport if we need that. We get off a plane and there's people waiting there for us and we get ushered in."

"And it's just, that's my kids' reality. Which is the hard part to say, 'Guys, this is not the way reality really is.'"

Brady -- who has two sons and one daughter -- called balancing it all "probably the hardest thing for us as parents."

Of course, the words were met with immediate backlash -- as there are certainly millions of people across the globe who would happily take those issues.

But, Brady said they are real problems for him and his wife, Gisele -- and they're things he says he has to deal with daily.

"I know that I've screwed up a lot of things -- that's the reality of being a parent," he said. "You just hope you can show them enough things to realize that when they are doing things that are selected for Mom and Dad to make our lives more convenient that that is a treat. You know, that is something that is not what every kid goes through."

Prosecutors have hit Duane Brown with a criminal charge stemming from his arrest at LAX last weekend ... and now, the NFL star could be facing up to 1 year behind bars if he's convicted.

We broke the story, the five-time Pro Bowler -- who most recently played for the Seattle Seahawks -- was busted at the airport in L.A. on July 9 after authorities said he tried to go through TSA with a gun in his luggage.

Now, TMZ Sports has learned Brown has been charged by Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer, a longtime national leader on gun violence prevention.

According to court documents, Brown was hit with one count of carrying a concealed weapon, a misdemeanor that carries a penalty of up to 1 year in jail.

For his part, Brown -- through his attorney -- called the incident "an accident" in a statement to media members earlier this week.

"To err is human, and this clearly was an accident," Brown's attorney, Kennard McGuire, said. "As a law-abiding citizen, Duane will continue to exercise proper judgment and continue education on gun safety measures."

Six Univ. of Southwest student-athlete golfers were not killed by a 13-year-old boy driving a pickup truck -- as originally suspected -- it turns out the teen's dad, who had meth in his system, was behind the wheel during the horrific, fatal accident.

The crash occurred in West Texas in March around 8:17 PM ... and left six athletes -- age 18 to 22 -- and one 26-year-old male coach dead after a 2007 Dodge pickup truck veered across the center line and into the Ford van carrying the team, who just competed in a tournament. Two students survived, but were seriously injured.

Shortly after the accident, authorities from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said the 13-year-old, who did not have a license, was driving the pickup at the time of the head-on collision.

However, after a more thorough investigation, the NTSB is revising its story in a new preliminary report ... indicating the teenage boy's 38-year-old father was actually the driver, and when authorities tested his blood, they found methamphetamine.

They did not specify how much of the drug was in his system ... or whether it would've impacted his ability to operate a vehicle.

The NTSB say they used DNA to reach the new conclusion.

Both the 13-year-old and the father also died.

The NTSB also points out there's no evidence to suggest the crash was caused by a sudden flat tire, or any other catastrophic incident that could've caused the crash.

The Marlins' win on Thursday didn't come without a price for Miguel Rojas -- who had to sacrifice his tooth in order to make an out near the end of the game.

The wild scene all went down in the 9th inning of the Marlins' afternoon tilt with the Pirates ... when Pittsburgh star Oneil Cruz attempted to steal second base.

As Rojas was going to lay the tag on the rookie -- who slid into the bag feet first -- the Pirates star rose up and accidentally cracked Rojas in the mouth with his helmet.

Broadcast replays showed Cruz's head hit Rojas' so hard -- it sent a tooth flying out of his mouth and onto the infield dirt.

Rojas was forced to leave the game following the collision.

Positive update from Kim Glass ... the former Olympic volleyball star got 40 stitches removed from her eye -- less than a week after it was gashed by an object thrown by a man in a brazen attack in Los Angeles.

The 37-year-old shared the news in a video on her Instagram page Wednesday evening -- showing Beverly Hills doctor Kam Rezzadeh removing the sutures from her face in a delicate procedure.

"It was definitely down to your bone," the doc told her as he worked on her face. "But you're healing."

"One thing I've noticed with my patients is that when they're optimistic, it plays a huge part in the healing process."

Following the removal of the stitches, Glass went to Dr. Nicole Garrett in L.A. to use a hyperbaric oxygen chamber to get some of the swelling down -- and the former outside hitter said it worked marvelously.

"I just got out of the hyperbaric chamber ... this is the most I've ever been able to open eye."

"This is crazy," she added. "Like my eye is literally so much more open than before and this is my first session. I'm blown away!"

As we previously reported, Glass said a homeless man threw a metal object at her after she had finished eating with a friend in Downtown L.A. last Friday. She said she suffered multiple facial fractures and cuts in the incident.

Benson Parks, a good Samaritan, captured the aftermath of the attack on video while he held down the suspect ... showing puddles of blood on the sidewalk.

Semeon Tesfamarian -- who, according to prosecutors, has a history of using weapons to attack people at random -- was arrested for the attack ... and later charged with a felony.

LL Cool J just gave us a tour of the $1 million-plus per week yacht he and Magic Johnson -- along with a slew of other celebs like Samuel L. Jackson -- have been living their best life on ... and, as expected, it's incredible!!

The hip-hop legend joined the 62-year-old Lakers legend and wife, Cookie, aboard a $150K a day, 279 ft. luxury yacht for Magic's annual summer vacay ... which dates back to at least 2017.

Sure, there are photos of the yacht ... but up until now, you could really only imagine how the famous guests were living aboard the lavish yacht.

LL starts the tour by showing his room, the master suite, and the incredible view they have from one of the decks on the boat - with a jacuzzi nearby, of course.

"Our home away from home for the last 2 weeks..Thank you to my Big bro @magicjohnson and @thecookiej we appreciate you.. and to Sam, Latanya, Rich, Tina, Vicky, and John, much love!! GOOD VIBES!!!" LL wrote on Instagram.

LL takes us through multiple floors, showcasing a massive lounge/formal dining area, gym, and a massage/spa area.

The best part ... the gym leads to an outdoor pool, and as you can see in the video, the view is breathtaking.

"My best friend my twin flame the love of my life. I’ve never loved anything as much as i love you."

Those are the heart-wrenching words of Kelly Kay, girlfriend of Spencer Webb -- the 22-year-old Oregon Ducks tight end who tragically died on Wednesday -- and it's clear she's broken over the devastating loss of her BF.

"You were my everything, you gave me purpose, you showed me what it’s like to be cherished and valued and seen for me," Kay wrote.

"We had so many big plans. I don’t know where to go from here but I know you’ll be watching over me keeping me strong. You always put everybody else before yourself and I’ll try to hold the same kindness in my heart ❤️‍🔥"

If Kelly's name sounds familiar, it's 'cause she made national news in 2020 when she hopped a railing during Super Bowl LIV in Miami and briefly streaked on the field during the Chiefs vs. 49ers championship game.

Details surrounding Webb's death aren't entirely clear, but the Lane County Sheriff's Office says they responded to an emergency call Wednesday afternoon for an injured person. Despite rescue efforts, the man, who cops say fell and struck his head, couldn't be resuscitated.

FYI, Webb joined Oregon's football team in 2018 after starring in H.S. at Christian Brothers Academy in Sacramento. He went on to play in 20 games for the Ducks, and was expected to have a key role with the team this season.

Everyone from the University of Oregon, head football coach Dan Lanning, teammates, friends, family and fans have expressed devastation over the unexpected loss.