TMZ Sports - Page 50

Listen up, pro tennis players ... Rich Paul is offering some free business advice -- explaining to TMZ Sports he believes a career switch to pickleball could yield huge benefits for athletes if they officially traded in rackets for paddles.

Paul broke it all down for us at LAX this week ... about a month after he, Patrick Mahomes, Naomi Osaka, Nick Kyrgios and others joined forces to own a Major League Pickleball team.

The founder of Klutch Sports Group said he believes the sport is awesome and about to take off -- and noted that if a pro tennis player made the switch over now, it might lead to a big windfall of cash and fame later on.

"Those that play tennis that may be, you know, average or a little bit above average could be really great at this," Paul said. "It may be a little more lucrative."

He continued, "If I was someone who played a different sport that was kind of, what I would say would be an evolution or somewhat similar to another sport, and it was new, and it was hot and lucrative, I would take a look at it myself."

MLP began in 2021 with just eight teams -- but as the sport, played on a smaller version of a tennis court with paddles and a plastic ball with holes in it, has grown ... the org. expects to have 24 teams this year.

Paul's new squad will be one of the '23 additions to the league ... and he told us he's stoked for the potential it has, and the influx of talent that could be headed its way when people realize it.

As for his best friend LeBron James -- the King has also invested in MLP ... and is scheduled to actually compete against Paul's team this year.

Damar Hamlin continues to be with his team in spirit as their Cinderella journey toward a potential Super Bowl continues ... and it looks like he was even briefly with them in person.

The Buffalo Bills safety was tweeting out support for his guys Sunday as they took on the Miami Dolphins in a playoff game ... which they ended up winning by a few points to now advance to the AFC Divisional Round, making them one step closer to a SB appearance.

Right from the kickoff, Hamlin was tweeting ... one read, "My heart is with my guys as they compete today! Supporting from home as I focus on my recovery. Nothing I want more than to be out there with them! LFG." He attached an old video of him hyping up fans.

He sent other tweets throughout the game as well, including one that shouted out fellow safety Dean Marlowe and another congratulating running back James Cook. Both guys made great plays that helped the Bills secure the win in dramatic fashion -- with a 34 - 31 score.

Right after the game, Hamlin tweeted a "W" with some accompanying emojis that matched the team colors, and showed off a hand-gestured heart. Dude's clearly stoked.

Some thought DH was actually going to attend this matchup in person, as he showed up at the Bills' training facility at some point this weekend ... where he met face-to-face with his teammates and shared some smiles. A photo of this was posted to LB Matt Milano's IG Story.

It speaks to his remarkable recovery since his horrific on-field injury ... which nearly claimed his life. In the end, it seems like Hamlin is opting to take it easy, and that's probably for the best. While he seems good as new now, nobody expects him to hit the field anytime soon.

Considering the tremendous adversity the team has been put through these past two weeks ... it's kind of a miracle that they're continuing to play so well, clocking in victory after victory.

Devin Willock, a redshirt sophomore and offensive lineman for the University of Georgia died in a car crash early Sunday morning, along with a UGA staffer ... just hours after the team's national championship parade.

Willock was just 20 years old.

The recruiting staffer, 24-year-old Chandler LeCroy, was driving a 2021 Ford Expedition with Willock and two other passengers south of campus when the vehicle somehow left the road around 2:45 AM Eastern and collided with two poles and several trees, according to police.

Devin was pronounced dead on the scene. LeCroy was transported to the hospital, where she later died as a result of her injuries.

The two other passengers were injured ... one seriously.

"The entire Georgia family is devastated by the tragic loss of football student-athlete Devin Willock and football staff member Chandler LeCroy," the University of Georgia said in a statement.

"Devin and Chandler were two special people who meant so much to the University of Georgia, our football program, and our athletic department. We ask that everyone keep their families in your prayers during this very difficult time."

Georgia football coach Kirby Smart also released a statement ... "We are all heartbroken and devastated with the loss of Devin Willock and Chandler LeCroy. Devin was an outstanding young man in every way. He was always smiling, was a great teammate, and was a joy to coach."

"Chandler was a valuable member of our football staff and brought an incredible attitude and energy every single day. We grieve with their families for this tragic loss and will support them in every way possible."

6'7", 335 lbs. Willock, from New Millford, NJ, played in all of Georgia's games this season, including two starts at right guard.

UGA had been celebrating their second consecutive national championship, which they won Monday night after defeating TCU, 65-7, in the title game.

Gervonta Davis is going to love this ...

Mike Tyson just heaped some huge praise onto the star boxer ... saying if the 28-year-old continues fighting at the level he's currently at, he can without a doubt become a legend in the sport.

Iron Mike threw out the massive compliment in Beverly Hills on Friday afternoon ... while talking with TMZ Sports about people comparing Tank to a younger version of himself.

"Tank is a great fighter," Tyson said of the comp ... before adding, "He'll be [a legend] too if he keeps fighting."

Of course, Tyson has never been shy about his affinity for Davis ... calling the 28-0 boxer "probably the greatest fighter around now" after he beat Mario Barrios in 2021.

Others in the fight world, too, have shown big love for Tank's fighting skills ... comparing him to Tyson often due to his compact frame and propensity to end fights with one punch.

The biggest fight of Davis' career could very well happen at some point this year -- as he and Ryan Garcia appear to be on a collision course.

Floyd Mayweather made the most of his downtime cameoing in Armani White's new music video -- he actually taught the Def Jam artist some of the tricks that kept him an undefeated champ!!!

TMZ Hip Hop got clips of Floyd showing Armani the ropes outside the ring at his TMT gym ... where they'd been shooting the rapper's "GOATED" video. In between takes, Armani's face was all business while soaking up the 50-0 prizefighter's tips ... which included some footwork pointers, lessons on the heavy bag and overall posture.

The real sweat poured when they switched to cardio training and Floyd calmly did 100 push-ups and showed off his ninja skills with the jump rope.

It wasn't all grind and grit, though. Armani showed Floyd "The GOATED shoulder" dance that's perfect for TikTok. The champ caught on right away, and his groove made co-directors Mikey D’Amico and Davey Robinson's final cut!!!

The animated visual also sports the lyrical contributions of Denzel Curry and will be featured on Armani’s upcoming EP, which we hear is due out sometime early this year.

One of the best skaters in the sport doesn't have a need for speed -- 'cause Nyjah Huston tells TMZ Sports it's a HARD PASS on testing out the world's fastest skateboard.

Australian mechanical engineer Raine Kent recently broke the Guinness world record for the fastest speed ever recorded on a board ... after he reached an insane 82.25 miles per hour on his custom setup.

The next step is to make the product available to the general public ... but bad news for Kent, he already lost one customer.

"That s***'s scary, I'm not gonna lie," Huston told us at LAX.

"That's too fast for me. I'm good. I'm going to stick to my rails ... I'm good on that."

Of course, 28-year-old Huston is a 12-time X Games gold medalist ... and has several SLS Super Crown World Championship wins under his belt as well.

While he won't be hopping on the speedy wheels anytime soon, Huston says he's down to be a spectator.

"Go fast, send it!! Any send, I'm down," he added.

Tory Lanez has a new top-notch legal team in his midst that he hopes can get him out of jail ASAP -- which now includes the man who famously got Casey Anthony off the hook.

Sources connected to TL's defense team tell TMZ ... the rapper has recently hired Jose Baez as his latest attorney, whom we're told is going to work side by side with David Kenner and Matthew Barhoma ... two other powerhouse lawyers Tory brought on this past week.

It's shaping up to be quite the squad around him. Of course, Baez has repped countless notable clients -- there's Anthony, but also ... Aaron Hernandez. JB was in the middle of filing an appeal for his conviction in the murder of Odin Lloyd before AH took his own life.

Prior to his death, Baez successfully got Aaron acquitted in a separate double murder case he'd been charged for -- and he's worked on behalf of several other celebs over the years.

Kenner, for his part, repped Suge Knight in the '90s regarding a robbery charge -- for which he got Suge probation. It appears Kenner was also working for Suge for his more recent manslaughter case ... appearing in court with Suge while he was fighting those charges.

On top of that, Kenner also successfully represented Snoop Dogg around the same time -- helping him beat a murder case. So, yeah ... the guy's got a pretty good track record.

As for the latest on Tory's case ... Kenner asked a judge this week to have sentencing delayed for a bit while he catches up on court transcripts from the trial, so that he can prepare a solid appeal. The judge granted that request ... sentencing is now on for Feb. 28.

Tristan Thompson held a funeral for his late mother this weekend -- which a handful of notable celebrities flew out for to pay their respects ... including the Kardashians.

The NBA player was on hand Saturday in Toronto -- where a service was held for his mom, Andrea, who died suddenly over a week ago after suffering a heart attack. Tristan was dressed in all black outside, where Andrea's casket was eventually carried through as well.

Looks like some famous faces attended the celebration of life ... Drake, for instance, was notably on the scene. Ditto for Kim, Khloe and what seems to be Kylie. We know Kris Jenner was there too, but she doesn't appear in any of these shots.

In addition to these stars, there were other friends and family who were supporting Tristan. Everybody looks somber, and most everyone was dressed in traditional funeral attire.

As we reported ... Andrea was rushed to a hospital on Jan. 5 after going into cardiac arrest. Doctors tried reviving her, but she passed. Tristan flew out almost immediately, and Khloe went with him. Of course, they share two children together -- True and a new baby boy.

The ex-couple is no longer romantically involved, but obviously ... they're still close. Andrea was also incredibly close to her son -- she'd met True and Tristan's other kids over the years.

Arizona Cardinals WR A.J. Green's Georgia home was burglarized Friday night, TMZ Sports has learned ... and now cops are attempting to hunt down the alleged thief.

Law enforcement sources tell us Green's house was empty -- thankfully neither A.J. nor his family was home -- when the perpetrator somehow gained entry inside the Roswell, GA estate.

It's unclear exactly what was taken before they fled the scene. Thankfully, it wasn't exactly a clean getaway. The suspect tripped a house alarm, which notified the local police department, who responded around 8 PM.

We obtained video showing multiple police vehicles with lights flashing parked outside Green's home. Officers are seen standing outside an exterior gate.

Investigators say there are surveillance cameras on the property ... which they plan to review in the hopes it captured images of the perpetrator during the alleged crime.

Green's 5,100-square-foot house, which sits on 2.7 acres, was built in 2018 ... and has 4 bedrooms and 4 baths.

Cops are also taking an inventory of what was stolen from the 7x Pro Bowler's home.

A.J., who just finished his 12th NFL season, previously starred at the University of Georgia from 2008 to 2010. Roswell is about 90 minutes from the UGA campus.

KSI says Dillon Danis is persona non grata at all future Misfits Boxing events ... telling TMZ Sports if he ever sees the MMA fighter again, he'll "probably slap him in the face for all the disrespect he gave me."

As we previously reported, Danis backed out of his fight against KSI just days before the event was slated to go down in London ... with Misfits promoter Mams Taylor claiming his team told him Conor McGregor's buddy was underprepared to enter the ring.

We spoke with the 4-0-1 boxer about the whole ordeal ... and he's slamming the door on ever setting up another bout with Danis.

"No, I don't," KSI said this week. "I want him to go into irrelevancy. I don't want anything to do with him anymore. He's banned from Misfits. I don't ever want to see him anywhere near Misfits."

"I'm never gonna fight him, and if I see him, I'll probably slap him in the face for all the disrespect he gave me throughout this buildup."

Of course, FaZe Temper stepped up in Danis' place ... and will now face KSI at the OVO Arena Wembley on Saturday instead.

KSI says the FaZe Clan co-founder is no easy matchup ... but is confident his skills can outlast anyone in the social media circle.

If the NBA needs someone new to design its alternate jerseys or basketball courts, Mr. Brainwash is clearly the league's guy ... the famous street artist tells TMZ Sports he'd love to do it if asked!!

Recently, teams in the Association have been finding ways to get creative by working with artists for their City Edition floor designs and alternate jerseys. In fact, with the Nets' most recent threads, they channeled Brooklyn artist Jean-Michel Basquiat for the theme.

When we got Thierry Guetta -- famously known as Mr. Brainwash -- out in L.A. this week ... we had to ask if he, too, would like to join in on the fun someday ... and he told us absolutely!

"Yes, definitely," he said while out in Beverly Hills. "I'm always open."

Of course, the gig wouldn't be Mr. Brainwash's first big assignment -- he's a legend in L.A. who's created some amazing artwork, including a famous mural of the late Kobe and Gianna Bryant.

The French-born artist says he loves what he does ... telling us his work is "not only with people with talent but with people with a lot of passion."

Russell Wilson and the Broncos have put O.T. Genasis in a really crappy mood ... the rapper who loves the Denver franchise tells TMZ Sports he's down bad after the team's abysmal 5-12 season.

"This s*** is awful right now," the "CoCo" crooner admitted out at LAX this week.

Thankfully for the Broncos, though, O.T. is still keepin' the faith -- at least, somewhat -- telling us he's got hopes that after giving head coach Nathaniel Hackett the boot towards the end of the season, they can turn things around.

Then again, he ain't exactly optimistic about Wilson ... saying he's got big-time regrets about the five-year, $242 MILLION contract the Broncos gave the star QB after trading for him this past offseason.

"We gave him too much money," O.T. said ... before adding, "We should have test-drove the car before we bought it!"

O.T., though, knows a thing or two about sticking by Denver in bad times. The big Broncos fan -- who's often seen rockin' Denver attire -- lived through some disappointing losses before finally seeing them win the Super Bowl in 2016.

"Hopefully, it's just coaching," he said. "Hopefully, we come up with a better scheme, bro."

"I was on my knees crying. I loved Stephan."

UFC legend Diego Sanchez says he was crushed by the sudden death of his longtime friend and The Ultimate Fighter 1 star Stephan Bonnar ... who passed away unexpectedly on December 22.

"It was devastating. It was truly devastating. I was halfway through Christmas Eve just spending time with my family and I had someone text me, tried calling me, and then they texted me, 'You really wanna take this call.' I called them back and they gave me the news," Sanchez told us.

Diego and Stephan were both castmates on TUF1 -- which aired in early 2005 -- and are credited with helping the promotion grow into the biggest in all MMA. The season produced fighters like Josh Koscheck, Kenny Florian and Forrest Griffin among others.

Bonnar's finale fight with Griffin is one of the most famous fights in the promotion's history.

"[Stephan] worked my corner for one of my UFC fights. We were brothers. We stayed in contact and he was doing good, man. He was finally turning the curve," Sanchez said of his friend who at times struggled to find his way after his fighting career ended.

But, Diego -- who was cornered by Stephan at UFC 253 -- says his friend was on the right path.

"As a big brother who's been through the rough, the rain, the pours of life and he got his umbrella and he was coming out and he was going into the light. He was going into the sunshine."

Diego continued ... "He had his podcast, he had a new job with an insurance company and he was just working on rebuilding his life. I was happy for him and excited for him."

The NFL playoffs are finally here with six awesome wild card games this weekend and Monday ... and you're gonna see a lot of WAGs in the crowd supporting their men on the field.

Jenna Brandt will be in 49ers gear when her bae Brock Purdy takes on the Seahawks in his first playoff experience ... and who knows, she might be sitting with Christian McCaffrey's famous lady, Olivia Culpo.

Let's not forget Lauren Jackson -- she'll be there sporting a diamond ring after Tyler Lockett proposed to her a few months ago. Congrats!!!

Of course, Trevor Lawrence's wife, Marissa, and Christian Kirk's fiancée, Ozzy Ozkan, will be going insane in the suites at TIAA Bank Field when the Jaguars face the L.A. Chargers later Saturday.

If you're a Buffalo Bills fan, you know model Rachel Bush -- who married safety Jordan Poyer in 2018 -- will be tweeting away from her seat at Highmark Stadium on Sunday.

Plus, Josh Allen's girlfriend Brittany Williams will also be there ... and odds seem good she'll get a smooch from her QB as always.

Even though Tyrod Taylor is not starting for the Giants, the QB's famous model and fashion designer girlfriend, Draya Michele, might pull up in her best fit. But it's a given Ella Bonafede -- Daniel Jones' girlfriend -- will be there.

The Ravens versus Bengals game Sunday will mark Joe Burrow's second consecutive year in the playoffs ... and Olivia Holzmacher, his girlfriend of five years, will continue to be by his side.

The last game of "Super Wild Card Weekend" will be on Monday when the Dallas Cowboys face Tom Brady's Buccaneers ... and even though we don't expect Gisele Bündchen to be in attendance, his kids might be.

Former 'Bachelor' Colton Underwood is hoping Chris Harrison's past drama, resulting in an abrupt exit from the show, is water under the bridge ... but admits the former host might be doin' better since he left.

We got Colton at LAX Thursday and he's got nothing but love for the guy ... but check out his response when asked about a possible Chris Harrison comeback tour.

Colton's gunning for everyone involved to be at peace -- and hopes the matter's been dealt with and wrapped up behind the curtain.

For those unaware, Chris unloaded his thoughts about his exit this week on his new podcast, "The Most Dramatic Podcast Ever" ... saying he was heartbroken and gutted over the situation -- adding, “I was embarrassed. I was mad at myself."

As we reported, Chris was pushed out of the show after defending former 'Bachelor' contestant Rachael Kirkconnell for attending a plantation-themed party while in college.

Charlotte Hornets forward Kelly Oubre Jr. claims a luxury clothing company screwed him on a six-figure deal ... and now, TMZ Sports has learned he's suing over it all.

The lawsuit was filed in Los Angeles County on Friday ... and, according to the docs, it all stems from a pact Oubre Jr. attempted to make with former pro basketball player Patrick Christopher and his company, Sloan And Bennett, in 2021.

Oubre claims he asked Christopher and his co. to help him make products for his own clothing line, DopeSoul. He says in the suit Patrick agreed to provide him with items for DopeSoul's Capsule 001 and 002 collections.

The 28-year-old hooper says he sent over hundreds of thousands of dollars to Christopher ... expecting to receive clothing in return.

The problem ... Oubre Jr. claimed Christopher never delivered what he promised -- saying simply in the suit "the defendants did not perform."

Oubre Jr. said "for months" Christopher and his company dodged him and made excuses for why the products weren't available.

Finally, according to the suit, Christopher and his co. "shipped what they could scrape together" in 2022 ... but it included "incomplete, damaged, and defective goods."

Oubre Jr. is suing for breach of contract, fraud and more ... asking for damages of at least $94,250, and maybe a lot more.