TMZ Sports - Page 20

The shocking death of Ken Block has devastated his family and friends in not just the sports world, but the music industry, too ... with everyone from Lewis Hamilton, Travis Pastrana and even T-Pain mourning the legend's passing.

Hamilton -- a 7-time F1 champion -- released a statement Tuesday morning, the day after his "dear friend" died in a snowmobile accident in Utah.

"I am devastated to hear of Ken Block's passing," the 37-year-old said. "He was such an amazing person, always lived life to the fullest."

Hamilton says Block -- who also competed in motocross, skateboarding, and snowboarding -- was a positive person who had "so much talent behind the wheel."

"He will truly be missed and my thoughts and prayers go to his beautiful family."

Pastrana added a heartfelt message ... saying, "To me, Ken was a friend, a rival, a mentor, a boss, a business partner and a fellow family man who was more proud of showing me pictures of his kids go karting than he was of himself doing a worlds first in one of the many 'coolest cars known to man' that he regularly drove the wheels off."

"Ken lived his life to the fullest. Cut too short like so many of the greats before him. Rest in Peace buddy. You will never be forgotten."

Jake Paul also paid tribute to the racing star and DC Shoes co-founder, whom The Problem Child called his "childhood hero."

"Ken Block? Wtf," Paul wrote on Twitter on Monday, "RIP. This new years is brutal."

Jake wasn't the only boxer to show Ken love. Middleweight boxer Nico Ali Walsh -- grandson of the legendary boxer Muhammad Ali -- tweeted a photo of him and Block in his racing gear.

"I’m absolutely devastated to hear about the tragic passing of Ken Block," Walsh said, "An extreme talent and all around cool, down-to-earth guy. My heart goes out to his family…"

Block's untimely death also hit T-Pain extremely hard ... the rapper/producer penned an emotional note after Block's passing.

"Lost a f***ing legendary person bro. My whole driving/drifting passion was built off this man 😥 bro I’m broken right now. I’ve never f***ed with somebody I’ve never met so hard."

"S**t is unreal bro. I really wish this s**t was a joke"

TMZ Sports broke the story ... Wasatch County Sheriff's Office said Block was riding a snowmobile on a steep hill when it upended and landed on top of him. He was pronounced dead on the scene.

Ken Block, rally car driving champion, action sports star, and DC Shoes co-founder is dead at the age of 55 following a snowmobile accident in Utah, TMZ Sports has learned.

Details surrounding the accident are not yet clear. Block's team, Hoonigan, released a statement on the tragedy ... saying, "Ken was a visionary, a pioneer and an icon. And most importantly, a father and husband."

"He will be incredibly missed."

Block was in Utah snowmobiling ... and posted pictures on Instagram earlier Monday morning.

Of course, Ken was one of the most famous Rally car drivers in the world ... where he competed since the mid-2000s, finishing on the podium dozens of times.

But, Block didn't just drive rally cars ... he also competed in motocross and skateboarding, amongst other action sports. He was also a competitive snowboarder.

Over the years, Block became a big star on social media, amassing millions of followers and subscribers online.

Ken also left his mark in the skating fashion world. Block co-founded the brand DC Shoes in 1994.

Ken is survived by his wife Lucy and 3 children. Block's 16-year-old daughter Lia is also a driver.

Rest in peace.

Dana White and his wife got physical with each other on New Year's Eve, stunning onlookers in a crowded Cabo San Lucas nightclub ... an incident Dana says was, regretfully, fueled by booze.

The UFC honcho and Anne White, who've been married for 26 years, were celebrating Saturday night with friends in El Squid Roe ... but things took a turn shortly after they all welcomed in 2023 at midnight.

The couple and their group were in a VIP area above the dance floor, and when Dana leaned over to say something to Anne ... she reacted by slapping him across the face. Dana immediately slapped her back in the face, before friends jumped in and pulled them apart -- and it all played out in plain view of patrons down below.

Eyewitnesses in the club tell TMZ Sports ... Dana and Anne both seemed heavily intoxicated prior to the violence, and the video seems to bear that out, because things went from zero to 100 in an instant -- seemingly for no reason. Further, we're told the conflict was all over in less than a minute.

We spoke to Dana about the incident, and he admits he and Anne had been drinking heavily -- but quickly adds that's no excuse for him getting physical. He told us, "You've heard me say for years, 'There's never ever an excuse for a guy to put his hands on a woman,' and now here I am on TMZ talking about it."

He says he's embarrassed by this "horrible" incident, and he and Anne have apologized to each other. He says they're "good," but their biggest concern now is for their 3 kids ... with whom they've already discussed the fight.

Thousands have opened up their wallets in an effort to show love for Damar Hamlin following the Bills defensive back's scary collapse Monday night ... donating over $3 MILLION to the football player's toy drive fundraiser.

Hamlin initially started the charity effort back in 2020 -- in an attempt to gain funds so he could distribute toys to kids in need in Pennsylvania. His target goal was simply $2,500.

But, in the hours after Hamlin suffered a terrifying medical emergency during the first quarter of Buffalo's "Monday Night Football" game against the Cincinnati Bengals, donations flooded in.

It hit $1 million roughly an hour after the 24-year-old had been rushed to the hospital, and by Tuesday morning, it was at $3,496,590.

Several NFL players appear to have given to the cause, as 49ers stars Trey Lance and Christian McCaffrey's names were written on the donation list.

In his note on the Gofundme page, Hamlin encouraged those who couldn't contribute monetarily to still help the cause ... writing, "We are accepting donated toys at the Daycare Center or simply spread the word by sharing this fundraiser on your social channels."

As we reported, the Bills say Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest after he tackled Tee Higgins to the ground. The team said, thankfully, "his heartbeat was restored on the field and he was transferred to the UC Medical Center for further testing and treatment."

"He is currently sedated and listed in critical condition," Bills officials added.

Hamlin joined the Bills in 2021 -- and had started 13 games for the team this season.

Ja Morant has been sued, TMZ Sports has learned ... after he was allegedly involved in the attack of a minor during a basketball game in July at his Tennessee home.

The suit was filed in Shelby County in September. Court records show the case has since been sealed -- but we've learned it all stems from a July 26 incident at the NBA superstar's residence in Eads, Tenn.

According to police documents, a 17-year-old -- who filed the lawsuit on Sept. 9 -- told cops he was playing in a pickup basketball game with Morant at the house ... when the two got into a verbal altercation.

The plaintiff, according to the docs, said the argument became heated, and he threw a basketball at Morant -- "accidentally" hitting him in the face. The teenager said the Grizzlies point guard then approached him, put his chin on his shoulder, and asked a bystander "Should I do it to him?" The teen says Morant then struck him "with a closed fist, knocking him to the ground."

According to the docs, the 17-year-old said Morant then "continued sticking him while on the ground" -- and claims another man jumped in and began hitting him as well.

Officers in the docs say they noted the teenager had "a large knot" on his head.

In the docs, cops say Morant told them he did strike the teenager, but insisted he was acting in self-defense. Morant said the plaintiff threw the ball at him "intentionally" during the argument, and then "began to approach him as if he wanted to fight."

Police say Morant also told them "his brother" was involved in the altercation as well -- but the basketball player did not name the man.

Both parties, according to the docs, said the fight was broken up by spectators shortly after it began. Morant told officers the teenager "made verbal threats stating he'd 'light his house up'" as he was being escorted off the property. Morant "advised he and his family were put in fear by the statement."

According to the docs, police investigated the allegations for several weeks ... before they submitted the case to the district attorney's office on Oct. 4. Less than a month later, cops say the DA declined prosecution.

It's unclear what the plaintiff is seeking in the suit. Court records show Morant, as well as his childhood friend Davonte Pack, are listed as defendants.

We've reached out to reps for Morant for comment, but have yet to hear back.

USC legend LenDale White was so furious after watching his alma mater lose to Tulane that he took to social media to unload on the team ... at one point calling the Trojans defense "a f***ing joke."

Lincoln Riley's offense looked good against the Green Wave in Monday morning's Cotton Bowl -- but the defense ultimately let the team down ... giving up a game-winning TD with just seconds left to lose the contest, 46-45.

White was HOT about it all immediately afterward on Twitter ... rippin' everyone on the Trojans' D -- and then Riley himself.

"Our defense and whoever's a part of it is a f***ing joke," the former SC tailback said. "That bend don't break Defense s*** you brought from OU ain’t gonna cut it..!!!!!!"

He added, "It’s a shame to be a Trojan right now."

White's barrage on his old team didn't stop there ... he also tweeted "Tulane whooped our ass" and retweeted a fan who wrote, "USC is a joke."

SC had a promising start to the season -- it went 11-1 and appeared headed for the College Football Playoff.

But, the Trojans' defense was bad in the 47-24 loss to Utah in the Pac-12 Championship Game, and then again on Monday.

Uche Nwaneri -- former Purdue and Jacksonville Jaguars' offensive lineman -- has tragically died after he was found unresponsive in his wife's Indiana home on Friday.

He was only 38.

Nwaneri was at his wife's home in West Lafayette -- about 65 miles northwest of Indianapolis -- when police received a call around 1 AM stating the 6'4" NFL guard collapsed in a bedroom.

Unfortunately, Nwaneri couldn't be saved.

The Tippecanoe County Office of the Coroner tells us while the official cause hasn't yet been determined, their initial (preliminary) report indicates Uche died of an "enlarged heart with acute heart failure".

Authorities say there are no signs of trauma or foul play.

The official cause will not be named until the toxicology report comes back in a few weeks.

Tony Khan -- son of Jags' owner Shahid -- issued a statement shortly after the news broke ... saying Nwaneri "forged a strong bond with the Jags fans that's remained to this day."

"On behalf of the Jaguars organization and my family, our thoughts are with Uche's family + friends at this terrible time."

The Dallas native started his football career when he committed to Purdue over Kentucky and Texas A&M in 2003.

He was suspended from Purdue for the 2005 fall semester after breaking his teammate Ryan Noblet's jaw during a fight at practice.

Nwaneri was picked up by the Jags in the 5th round of the 2007 NFL draft and played for them until he was released on March 4, 2014.

He was signed by the Cowboys a few months later but didn't make the final roster cut.

After football, Nwaneri began a YouTube channel called "The Observant Lineman" where he discussed sports and music with his 21,400 subscribers.

He also remained active with his fans via Twitter ... with his last tweet being a tribute to the late Brazilian soccer legend Pelé on Dec. 29 -- the day before he passed away.

Fitness company Equinox is catchin' heat online after launching a day-long campaign to lock out newcomers, blasting that all too common New Year's resolution -- hit the gym, and then quickly give up.

Those looking to start 2023 off with a bang would've been met with a message to stop you in your tracks ... that is, if you tried getting an Equinox membership -- because the company's "We Don't Speak January" campaign was plastered all over its site.

Equinox said it wasn't signing up new clients on January 1, calling the month a "fantasy delivered to your door in a pastel-colored box."

The company says life doesn't start at beginning of the year -- and neither does Equinox, apparently.

An interesting concept ... but one that was met with negativity online. One potential client called the campaign "super cringe and pointless," and another said, "I hate equinox for many reasons, but this is definitely a new low."

The point of the campaign was to drive dedication to the brand, according to Brian Collins -- who worked on the concept ... as a way to "snub short-term resolutions."

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson is pouring his heart out on his girlfriend's birthday ... sending Jilly Anais an emotional tribute as she celebrates another trip around the sun.

The 3-time Pro Bowler and influencer/model have been going strong for years ... and judging by the special message he shared with his Instagram followers on Monday, they're still madly in love.

"Happy QUEEN Day Luv!!!!," Watson said on Jilly's 27th birthday. "Today is your day!!!!"

"May The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace! & Continue to bless you with many more years of happiness, love, and success!"

He continued ..."You will achieve whatever you desire my twin! 💛🤞🏾You know this shii 4ever set in stone!!!! 🔒 "

Of course, Jilly has remained by Deshaun's side as he faced accusations of sexual misconduct made by multiple massage therapists ... and was present as he returned to the football field following his 11-game suspension against his former team, the Houston Texans, in Week 13.

The Atlanta Falcons social media team had a change of heart on Monday ... scrapping a post that appeared to make fun of Ohio State kicker Noah Ruggles for missing a game-winning field goal over the weekend.

The now-deleted tweet was published right after ATL's Younghoe Koo nailed a 21-yarder to lead the Falcons to a 20-19 home win over the Arizona Cardinals ... which read, "This is how you make a game-winning field goal at @MBStadium."

Of course, Ruggles was in a similar, yet much more important, position on Saturday night in the College Football Playoff semis against the Georgia Bulldogs at Mercedes-Benz Stadium ... but his 50-yard attempt ended up wide left, ending Ohio State's national championship hopes.

The Falcons' tweet was widely panned on social media ... with many pointing out Ruggles is just a kid, and he's probably already beating himself up over the situation.

On top of that, the Falcons were awful in 2022-23 ... and comparing a game-winning kick to earn a 6th win late in the season to a missed opportunity at a championship is laughable.

The Falcons must've agreed with the backlash ... 'cause the tweet was deleted on Monday.

But, considering this is the Internet we're talking about, the damage was already done ... and plenty of followers screenshot the bad joke and shared it all over social media.

Art McNally, a former NFL referee and the first official to ever be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, has died, his family announced on Monday.

Art's son, Tom, shared that his father, an on-field official for nine seasons, passed away on Sunday due to natural causes. He was 97 years old.

McNally, born in Pennsylvania, served as a field judge and ref in the NFL from 1959-1967. In 1968, McNally pivoted, becoming the NFL's director of officiating.

McNally's NFL career spans several decades -- and he's most revered for his work as director of officiating, where he implemented a program for evaluating officials using game footage.

McNally left his role as director of officiating in 1990 ... but he returned to the NFL front office in 1996 as an assistant supervisor of officials, where he served in that role until 2007.

In 2008, the Philadelphia native transitioned to a role where he observed and trained officials after spending over a decade as an assistant supervisor.

Art was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2022 and officially inducted in the summer.

"Art McNally was an extraordinary man, the epitome of integrity and class," commissioner Roger Goodell said Monday. "Throughout his distinguished officiating career, he earned the eternal respect of the entire football community. Fittingly, he was the first game official enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. But more importantly, he was a Hall of Fame person in absolutely every way."

"Our thoughts go out to his wife, Sharon, his children Marybeth, Tom, and Michael, and his grandchildren.”

Lamar Odom is adamant he didn't use illicit drugs the night he overdosed at a Nevada brothel ... claiming the owner wanted him dead and plied him with drugs ... he says just that on a Fox primetime special Monday at 9 PM where he also talks about doing Khloe Kardashian dirty.

Lamar says he doesn't know why Dennis Hof, the late owner of the Love Ranch South in Pahrump, Nevada, would want to kill him ... nor does he know how drugs wound up in his system when he OD'd and nearly died.

The way Lamar recalls his infamous trip in 2015 to the brothel ... he had one drink when he arrived and woke up 3 days later in a hospital with tubes coming out of his body, unable to speak or walk.

Lamar says in the show Khloe was the love of his life and has lots of regrets, and would like to spend some time with her again to make things right. He opens up in vivid detail about how their marriage collapsed.

Alabama Crimson Tide star quarterback Bryce Young is going pro -- the 2021 Heisman Trophy winner just declared for the NFL Draft.

The 21-year-old announced his departure from the program on Monday ... and is expected to be a top pick come April.

"Coming here was the best decision of my life," Young said. "I'm forever grateful for the University of Alabama."

Young had a stellar three seasons with Bama ... winning a national championship in 2020 and earning 8,356 yards, 80 touchdowns and just 12 interceptions. He was also awarded the AP College Football Player of the Year in 2021.

Some experts are predicting Young will go as high as first or second overall ... with Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud being another option for the Houston Texans, who will most likely secure the worst record and top pick of the draft.

Bama star edge rusher Will Anderson -- who's also expected to be a highly-coveted prospect in the 2023 class -- also announced his decision to forego the remainder of his college career.

Running back Jahmyr Gibbs also plans to enter the draft ... which might sound like Bama has a ton of holes to fill -- but if we know anything about the program, they always reload.

The Mississippi State football team will pay tribute to the late Mike Leach during its bowl game on Monday ... by wearing custom pirate helmets in honor of the legendary college coach.

The Bulldogs just unveiled the special lids to pay tribute to the coach's famous "Pirate" nickname ... hours before they play Illinois in the ReliaQuest Bowl at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.

The maroon and white helmets feature a flag with a skull and an eye patch ... with Leach's initials "ML" centered in between two swords.

Mississippi State released a hype video ahead of Monday's contest ... showing off the helmets with the caption, "Swing. Your. Sword."

The stadium's iconic pirate ship also has a memorial set up for Coach ... including flowers and a framed picture.

As we reported, the legendary head coach died in December ... due to complications from a heart condition. He was 61. The loss shocked the entire football community ... with former players, coaches and colleagues sharing their condolences.

The school is encouraging fans to arrive at the stadium early ... as officials plan to honor Leach's life and legacy throughout the game.

Amazing moment in Memphis on Sunday night ... Ja Morant gifted a kid the shoes off his feet following a game -- and the act was so generous, it brought the youngster to tears!!

The emotional scene happened after Ja and the Grizzlies beat the Sacramento Kings, 118-108 ... when Morant saw 9-year-old Zander Carr holding a sign that read, "Ready to JAM out in my JA 1's #summer2023."

The 23-year-old NBA superstar took off his pink, Ja 1 Nike kicks ... and walked over to the kid -- who was already sobbing at the up-close site of the Memphis point guard.

Eventually, Ja signed the shoes and gave Carr a hug -- which turned the youngster into a complete puddle of emotions.

Check out the video the Grizzlies posted of the interaction -- it's pretty awesome!!

Carr's mom, Krissi, could be heard in the clip in complete disbelief ... telling Morant the game was her son's birthday present. The three ultimately posed for a photo ... before Morant headed back to the locker room.

FYI, the kicks Carr got are Ja's debut sneakers with Nike ... that were released on Christmas Day. Morant had dedicated the new signature sneakers to his 3-year-old daughter, Kaari, whose name is actually imprinted on the inner half of the shoe.

Martina Navratilova -- one of the greatest tennis players of all time -- just announced she has been diagnosed with Stage 1 throat and breast cancer ... but fortunately, she says her condition is "fixable."

The 66-year-old -- who won 59 Grand Slam titles during her career -- says she learned of her status after discovering an enlarged lymph node in her neck back in November.

"The cancer type is HPV and this particular type responds really well to treatment," Martina's rep said in a statement.

After undergoing tests, a mass was also found in her breast ... which was unrelated to the throat cancer.

Luckily, the rep says both cancers are in the early stages and the outcome is positive.

"This double whammy is serious but still fixable," Navratilova said. "I'm hoping for a favorable outcome. It’s going to stink for a while but I’ll fight with all I have got."

The 9-time Wimbledon winner previously battled breast cancer in 2010 ... and after radiation treatment, she was cleared of the disease six months later.