TMZ Sports - Page 28

Jeff Bezos had one of the best seats in the house at Arrowhead Stadium Thursday night -- taking in the Chargers-Chiefs game with Roger Goodell from the NFL commissioner's suite.

58-year-old Amazon founder was in the building with Goodell ... as the game was the first broadcast by Prime. Amazon won exclusive broadcast rights for "Thursday Night Football" through 2033. The Chiefs-Chargers game was the first on the platform.

Bezos, worth about $150 billion, according to Forbes, was shown during the game sitting next to the commish ... and the men appeared to be having a good time as two of the best teams in the AFC battled down on the field.

Of course, seeing Goodell and JB chop it up at the game had the Internet buzzin' -- as social media users wondered what the two tycoons were discussing.

Chiefs owner Clark Hunt and Chargers owner Dean Spanos also got some facetime with Bezos on the field before the game kicked off.

There was more for Goodell to celebrate than just the first Prime game. The home game marked the 50th season the Chiefs have played at Arrowhead Stadium -- opened in 1972 -- one of the best in all of football.

David Beckham jumped in line to pay his respects to Queen Elizabeth II on Friday morning ... waiting hours with thousands of mourners to eventually see Her Majesty's coffin.

Beckham told reporters at the line that he showed up to the London queue at 2 AM hoping to avoid massive crowds -- but he said "everybody had that in mind," so he's been hanging patiently with normies for a while as the throngs of people slowly make their way into Westminster Hall.

Beckham dressed to the nines despite knowing the hours of standing he'd have to do to pay his respects, wearing a suit, shirt, tie and hat.

He said while waiting that he felt it was important to be there.

"I grew up in a household of Royalists and I was brought up that way," the soccer legend said. "So if my grandparents were here today, I know that they would have wanted to be here so I am here on their behalf and on behalf of my family and to celebrate with everybody else here."

It's been reported that lines to see the Queen could last as long as 14 hours on Friday ... but Beckham made it clear he didn't mind spending the time to make sure he got a glimpse of it all.

Phoenix Suns minority owner Jahm Najafi followed in the steps of his team's star player, Chris Paul, this week by calling for harsher penalties for Robert Sarver -- saying the owner should give up his position.

Najafi -- the Suns' second-largest stakeholder -- sent a letter to Phoenix employees Thursday ... saying that Sarver should resign ASAP after the NBA found he's used racist language and bullied employees during his tenure.

"Similar conduct by any CEO, executive director, president, teacher, coach, or any other position of leadership would warrant immediate termination," Najafi said in his letter.

"The fact that Robert Sarver 'owns' the team does not give him a license to treat others differently than any other leader. The fact that anyone would find him fit to lead because of this 'ownership' position is forgetting that NBA teams belong to the communities they serve."

He continued, "I cannot in good judgment sit back and allow our children and future generations of fans to think that this behavior is tolerated because of wealth and privilege. Therefore, in accordance with my commitment to helping eradicate any form of racism, sexism and bias, as Vice Chairman of the Phoenix Suns, I am calling for the resignation of Robert Sarver."

Following a months-long investigation into claims Sarver was inappropriate in the Suns' workplace -- the NBA announced this week it did find he used the n-word on multiple occasions.

Investigators also said he made unprofessional comments about female employees, and did not treat them equally. The probe also found Sarver engaged in inappropriate physical conduct toward male employees.

Sarver was banned one season and fined $10 million as punishment. Paul said following the announcement he believed the penalties should have been more severe.

"This conduct especially towards women is unacceptable and must never be repeated," Paul said. "I am of the view that the sanctions fell short in truly addressing what we can all agree was atrocious behavior. My heart goes out to all of the people that were affected."

Tyron Woodley's ready to give the people what they want ... a fight between the future UFC Hall of Famer and YouTube star-turned-boxer, KSI!

Some backstory -- KSI blasted out a poll to his 8 million Twitter followers, asking a simple question ... would you like to see me fight T-Wood, Dillon Danis, Slim, or Dr. Mike in January?

And, the winner (at the time we're writing), with 264,446 votes or 36% of the followers polled ... Tyron Woodley. So, we asked the MMA star if he was interested in the fight.

"KSI, I like that he's energetic, he's all into it, he's all over the place but he's gonna get f****d up playing around me. My new slogan is 'don't get f****d up by having me f****d up' and he's had me f****d up for a long time talking shit about my name."

40-year-old Woodley then sent a message directly to the 29-year-old YouTuber.

"KSI, I know you watching because you watch everything I do. You probably was a fan of me like everybody else. If you're watching this, you wanna be a fighter, you want the respect, get the full training camp to yourself as you requested."

"I'll get the full training camp. January, we can get it cracking. We can get it cracking in White Castle. We can get it cracking in U.K. We can get it cracking in Vegas."

As for the fighter's resumes ... Woodley, of course, is one of the best MMA fighters of all time.

But, KSI isn't a scrub. He recently fought twice in one night ... albeit against overmatched opponents. He knocked out Swarmz and 2-5 pro boxer Luis Alcaraz Pineda at the O2 Arena in London.

Woodley also broke down some of what he was dealing with behind the scenes leading up to the second Jake Paul fight, and he expressed interest in a scrap with Tommy Fury.

Bottom line ... Tyron is anything but retired, and he's ready to dole out an ass whoopin'!

Former 76ers owner Michael Rubin has found a new place to call home -- TMZ Sports has confirmed he just dropped $70 million on an L.A. mansion that sits on land previously owned by Ronald Reagan!

The pad is located in Hollywood Hills -- and it's insane. It features seven bedrooms, 12 bathrooms and a laundry list of amenities.

It's also three stories tall -- and it's located so perfectly on a knoll that it overlooks the famous Sunset Strip in Hollywood.

Reagan used to own the property many years ago, as did legendary music producer Richard Perry, though it's undergone significant remodels over the years since.

Our sources say Rubin -- who wanted a new pad in Los Angeles because a lot of his Fanatics business is run out of the city -- got a pretty good deal on the place ... it was originally listed for over $80 million.

Like Rubin, the seller has some ties to the sports world -- according to the L.A. Times, Francesco Aquilini, the chairman of the Vancouver Canucks, was the one who put it on the market.

Westside Estate Agency's Kurt Rappaport repped Rubin in the purchase.

A high school football coach was shot after breaking up a fight at the school's campus this week ... and the terrifying incident was all caught on video.

The Vallejo Police Department says the shooting happened in front of Vallejo H.S. in Northern California after classes had ended at around 3:45 PM on Tuesday.

Officials say several students were fighting with some "unknown males" ... but the brawl was broken up by Joe Pastrana, the defensive coordinator on the school's football team.

Cops say after the parties were separated, some of the people involved got into a car and started shooting backward while speeding off. Unfortunately, according to cops, one of the bullets struck Pastrana.

A bystander captured the whole thing on camera ... showing everyone running for cover when several gunshots rang out.

"The motive and circumstances involving this incident remain under investigation," authorities said in a statement this week.

Head coach Mike Wilson III told the Times-Herald the team found out about Pastrana while suiting up for practice and they took "the news very hard."

"When we found out what happened all practices were canceled," Wilson said. "When it was safe we told everyone to go home."

Wilson said Pastrana is in stable condition at a local hospital.

VP Police Chief Shawny Williams praised Pastrana for his heroism ... saying, "This is a very courageous staff member that potentially saved another child’s life or multiple people’s lives."

Some rich person just coughed up an unprecedented amount of money to cop a rare Michael Jordan jersey -- unloading over $10 MILLION to acquire some of His Airness' former threads!!

The MJ jersey -- one that the Chicago Bulls legend wore during Game 1 of the 1998 NBA Finals -- went up for auction on Sept. 6 ... and TMZ Sports has learned the gavel officially came down on the sale on Wednesday for a staggering $10,091,000.

The number is shocking -- considering experts at Sotheby's, which hosted the auction, initially predicted it would sell for around $3 million.

The eight-figure price tag, according to Sotheby's, set multiple records -- including most ever for a basketball jersey at auction, most ever for any game-worn sports memorabilia, and most ever paid for an MJ item.

The jersey -- while expensive -- is pretty incredible ... Jordan wore it when he scored 33 points against the Utah Jazz. And, while MJ lost the contest in the uni, he and the Bulls went on to win the series, giving Jordan his sixth NBA championship.

No word yet on who the buyer is -- but something tells us they've got some deep pockets to put their new jersey in.

Serena and Venus Williams' childhood home in Florida -- where the tennis greats lived as teenagers with father Richard Williams -- is set to hit the auction block this month after 5 years of fighting in court ... and will now go to the highest bidder.

The 4-bedroom, 2.5-bath home in Palm Beach Gardens -- estimated to be worth around $1.42 million -- is scheduled to be auctioned off in late September ... after Richard's 43-year-old ex, Lakeisha, failed to keep up with the payments.

The home, which was built in the 1980s, has fallen into disrepair over the years.

According to the notice of sale, the house will go to "the highest and best bidder for cash.”

Venus and Serena moved to the house as teenagers after Richard purchased the property, which features two tennis courts on its 10+ acre lot. It's pretty cool ... it's the court where "King Richard" trained his daughters.

Of course, the girls went on to become two of the greatest tennis players -- and athletes, period -- that the world has ever seen.

Their story was told in the hit movie, "King Richard," where Will Smith portrayed Richard Williams.

Serena, after a run at the U.S. Open earlier this month, retired from tennis after winning 23 majors.

Paige Spiranac -- the most followed golfer on Instagram -- says she was forced to delete a ton of comments on her latest IG video ... after a bunch of men called her fat.

Spiranac posted the clip to her social media page on Wednesday -- showing her hitting a golf ball while wearing a tight, pink one-piece outfit.

The problem ... she said after she threw the footage online, men left hateful comments all over it.

"Honestly the amount of men calling me 'fat' on this post is next level lol," the 29-year-old pro-golfer-turned-influencer said to her 3.6 million followers on Wednesday night. "I've had to delete so many comments which I almost never do."

Spiranac says it was all troubling for her ... because she's struggled to "maintain my ideal weight all the time for year after year."

She said she works out and diets right, "but it doesn't come naturally to me."

She then urged the trolls to calm down on the vitriol going forward.

"It can be defeating when people call out body insecurities," she said.

Spiranac hopes to be able to share more about her diet and fitness routine to help others who "feel a similar body pressure."

A Polish MMA fighter violently attacked a YouTuber in the middle of an interview Tuesday -- sucker punching the guy square in the jaw -- and the wild scene was all captured on video.

The brutal blow went down just seconds after internet personality Sadek had begun answering questions from journalist Monica Laskowska.

While the man was in the middle of a response, Amadeusz “Ferrari” Roslik -- a professional MMA fighter -- walked up to the two, and then blasted Sadek right in the face.

The punch knocked Sadek to the ground -- causing him to bleed from his mouth. Miraculously, the guy was somehow able to get up and finish the interview.

According to multiple reports, Roslik had been upset with Sadek over comments he had made about the fighter and his family.

Roslik -- who's slated to fight on Saturday against Pawel "Scarface" Bomba -- isn't facing any legal ramifications as of now, MMANews reported on Thursday.

As for Sadek, it's unclear if he suffered any serious injuries from the punch -- though he appeared to tell Laskowska afterward that he was OK, and finished the interview.

Unfortunately, this is not the first time Roslik has lost his temper during a press event -- back in March, while in the middle of an interview, he threw multiple punches at his opponent after being slapped. Roslik appeared to knock the man unconscious in the fracas -- before stomping on his head area.

Ex-NBA hooper Stephen Jackson is speaking out in the aftermath of Philly rap star PnB Rock's murder in South Los Angeles ... saying he "checks in" whenever traveling to another city or state.

By checking in, Stak means if you're visiting a city that you're not from or familiar with, it's best to call someone who is and make sure you're good while there, alert you to any possible danger ... and it's a sign of respect.

"I check in everywhere I go," Jackson said in a social media post on Wednesday.

"Everywhere I go I call somebody from the place I'm going that I know and check in. I wanna come home to my family and I love my life. I'm checking in with my people out of respect."

Stak's message comes on the heels of PnB Rock's murder, whom many believe was the target of a robbery while eating at Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles with his girlfriend, in an area of L.A. that's seen an increase in robberies.

Jackson hopes PnB Rock's tragic murder serves as a cautionary tale for people visiting unfamiliar places.

"It's nothing wrong with showing respect when you in somebody's city or state," Jackson said.

"I always check in 'cause I know real ones everywhere. I care about my life and I'm coming home to my kids and my family. Bet that."

Former NBA player Marquis Daniels agreed with Stak -- saying in the comments, "When you outta town you gotta play by the rules or at least know what's going on."

Two-time Grand Slam winner Simona Halep will look a little different the next time she takes the tennis court ... she just revealed she got a nose job -- for both "functional" and "aesthetic" purposes.

The 30-year-old said in a social media post Thursday she'd been having difficulty breathing for years, but noticed it was worse after her loss to Daria Snigur in last month's U.S. Open.

She also noted she "did not like [my] nose at all" -- so, she decided to solve both problems at once with surgery this week.

"I could never do it earlier because I never found the necessary three months for recovery, because tennis was always the first priority in my life," Halep said.

"I felt it's the right time to do it and also to do something for myself as a person," she added.

Halep, who was ranked #1 in the world twice between 2017 and 2019, said there's currently no timetable for a return to the court ... though she did say she's sure the procedure will keep her out until at least 2023.

The situation between Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen is reportedly so bad the famous couple is currently living apart from one another in separate houses ... as TB12's return to the football field has caused a major rift at home.

CNN reports Brady and Bündchen -- who married in 2009 --  are having "marital" issues and "living separately."

It's just the latest report about the couple's issues ... which began to come to light when the 45-year-old Bucs quarterback mysteriously left training camp for 11 days.

A few weeks back, Gisele gave an interview to ELLE Magazine where she admitted to having "concerns" about her husband's return to the football field.

"I have definitely had those conversations with him over and over again," she said to the outlet. "But ultimately, I feel that everybody has to make a decision that works for [them]. He needs to follow his joy, too."

The supermodel -- who hasn't been shy over the years about making it known she wants Tom to retire -- also told the magazine she wanted Brady to "be more present."

TB12 hasn't addressed the reports, but did bluntly say he has "a lot of s*** going on."

During a recent episode of his podcast with Jim Gray, the 7-time Super Bowl champ talked about the sacrifices he's made over the years.

"I haven't had a Christmas in 23 years and I haven't had a Thanksgiving in 23 years, I haven't celebrated birthdays with people that I care about that are born from August to late January. And I'm not able to be at funerals and I'm not able to be at weddings."

Tom continued ... "I think there comes a point in your life where you say: 'You know what? I've had my fill and it's enough and time to go on, to move into other parts of life.'"

Tom Ford had a huge moment at New York Fashion Week ... and some of the biggest names in Hollywood had a front-row seat to it all!

Tom Ford's show went down Wednesday night and was jam-packed with celebs ... including Chris Rock, Katie Holmes, Madonna, her daughter Lourdes Leon and many others.

NBA stars Carmelo Anthony and Russell Westbrook also attended the show in style ... both rockin' shades as models graced the runway.

Ciara and Vogue legend Anna Wintour apparently got the same memo ... and took a moment to flick it up in all-red at some point during the night.

Of course, Bella Hadid strutted her stuff down the runway along with her sister Gigi Hadid ... and no, Leonardo Dicaprio wasn't in the building -- well, as far as we know!

Clemson defensive tackle Bryan Bresee will be playing games this season with a heavy heart ... he just revealed his sister, Ella, has tragically died following a battle with brain cancer.

She was just 15 years old.

"My beautiful sister Ella you amazed me every single day with the fight that you put up and how joyful you were constantly through this battle," Bresee wrote on his social media page Thursday morning. "Never did I think I would be sitting here today saying bye to you."

Ella was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer in 2021. Bresee and the Tigers had shown support for her throughout her fight with the disease -- with the defensive lineman leading the Tiger Walk last weekend while he and his teammates wore "Ella Strong" shirts.

In announcing her passing, Bryan thanked Ella for "bringing happiness to not only me but so many people," saying she's "the best sister a brother could ask for."

"I know for a fact heaven has gained a beautiful angel today, Love you forever and always Ella bear.❤️"

Ella was originally supposed to attend the Clemson vs. Furman game on Saturday, according to the Associated Press, but had a setback and went to the hospital instead.

Coach Dabo Swinney said Bresee could miss this weekend's game against Louisiana Tech on Saturday night while he's away from the team with his family.

"He's got more important things that he needs to focus on right now than football," Swinney told reporters. "Lot more important things than the game of football for that young man right now."

Tennis is losing another legend ... Roger Federer just announced he's calling it a career -- just days after Serena Williams officially hung up her racket.

The 41-year-old -- considered by many to be the greatest men's player ever -- revealed on his social media on Thursday morning that next week's Laver Cup event will be the final tournament of his legendary career.

"As many of you know, the past three years have presented me with challenges in the form of injuries and surgeries," Federer said.

"I've worked hard to return to full competitive form. But I also know my body's capacities and limits, and its message to me lately has been clear. I am 41 years old. I have played more than 1500 matches over 24 years. Tennis has treated me more generously than I ever would have dreamt, and now I must recognize when it is time to end my competitive career."

Federer said he still will play tennis -- "but just not in Grand Slams or on the tour."

"This is a bittersweet decision," he continued in his announcement, "because I will miss everything the tour has given me. But at the same time, there is so much to celebrate. I consider myself one of the most fortunate people on Earth. I was given a special talent to play tennis, and I did it at a level that I never imagined, for much longer than I ever thought possible."

Federer first turned pro in 1998 -- and quickly found success, winning his first Grand Slam singles trophy at Wimbledon in 2003. He went on to win 19 more major titles in his career -- while piling up over 100 ATP singles titles as well.

In his goodbye note to the sport, he thanked his wife, Mirka, his coaches, his fans and more for all of the support over the last two-plus decades of dominance.