TMZ Sports - Page 50

Shawn Kemp has been charged with first-degree assault ... a charge stemming from that March parking lot altercation where the NBA legend was seen shooting a gun.

The case had been in limbo until this week. Authorities in Washington initially arrested the SuperSonics legend, before deciding they needed more time to investigate. All the while 53-year-old Kemp claimed he acted in self-defense, saying his actions were "reasonable and legally justified."

Unfortunately for Shawn, that's not the way prosecutors ultimately saw it, and they've now hit him with a first-degree assault charge. If convicted, the charge can carry a life sentence.

We broke the story last month, Kemp -- wearing a red vest -- approached a vehicle and pointed his gun, appearing to yell something before firing at least one shot outside a Tacoma, Washington shopping mall around 2:00 PM on March 8.

Kemp claimed he was simply trying to locate his phone, which was previously stolen, when things took a violent turn, and he was forced to defend himself.

Fortunately, no one was injured.

At the time of the confrontation, witnesses told us they heard multiple gunshots before pulling their phones out to record the incident, suggesting SK wasn't the only person shooting.

Moments later, the video also seemingly captured Shawn dumping his firearm in a bush.

Witness footage also showed police locating the weapon minutes later.

Now, barring a plea, Kemp's going to have to fight for his freedom in front of a judge ... and fight is exactly what his attorney says he's going to do, saying he'll plead not guilty to the charge.

Three weeks after being diagnosed with cancer, NFL tight end Foster Moreau says he believes he'll beat the disease, and hopes his story will inspire people to prioritize their health.

Moreau provided an update on his condition Friday on "Good Morning America" ... after he was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma, a type of cancer that attacks the body's immune system, following a physical with the New Orleans Saints in March.

“It’s at stage 2, so it’s spread from the initial location," Moreau said on GMA. "But, it appears to be a slow spread, and we should be able to get rid of all of it."

The former 4th round pick also had a message for viewers ... "To anyone who doesn’t want to get a checkup, afraid to see your doctor, afraid to take whatever test you’ve gotta take, it’s not gonna change the outcome, right? It’s better to know."

Moreau previously described his diagnosis as "life-changing," but is attacking the cancer much like he did preparing to play football, with purpose and intensity.

“There’s no other way to look at it, right?" Moreau asked. "So, I’m preparing for my opponent, right? Hodgkin’s lymphoma, chemotherapy, I’m preparing for being on an IV, for six, seven, eight hours."

Odell Beckham Jr.'s on a roll ... days after securing a lucrative one-year contract with the Ravens, a judge denied Nike's request to dismiss OBJ's lawsuit against the sportswear giant, ruling the case can go forward.

Nike initially filed docs claiming there were no grounds for the case and asked a judge to throw out the suit on February 28. After reviewing the motion, a circuit court judge in Multnomah County, Oregon (where Nike's headquartered) denied the motion to dismiss, according to court records.

Of course, it doesn't mean OBJ has won the case. A defendant asking the court to throw out a lawsuit is pretty standard, and it's a difficult motion to win, but the bottom line is it's a win for the star WR.

We broke the story in November ... 30-year-old Odell accused the Swoosh of screwing him out of millions of dollars by suppressing shoe sales that would've triggered an automatic lucrative contract extension.

Beckham Jr. also said Nike withheld money he was rightfully owed for what they deemed footwear and glove violations (customizing Nike products).

At the time he filed the lawsuit, Odell issued a statement to us, reading in part ... "Unfortunately, Nike did not honor its commitments. Throughout our partnership, I have kept my promise and fulfilled my obligations to the brand. I am extremely disappointed that I’ve had to take these measures to ensure Nike fulfills their obligations and promises."

Beckham Jr. continued ... "Today, I'm taking a stand not just for me, but to set a precedent for all athletes who have dedicated their life to the sport they love – especially those who don't have the means to stand up for themselves. We are held responsible for fulfilling our obligations under our contracts, but we also have to hold powerful companies like Nike accountable for honoring their commitments too."

All told the Pro Bowler says Nike shorted him around $20 million ... and Odell wants his cash, and now it looks like his attorneys will get their day in court.

On the field, Odell is the newest member of the Baltimore Ravens, signing a contract worth between $15 and $18 million earlier this week.

Mikey Williams, one of the country's best and highest-paid high school hoops stars, was reportedly arrested in San Diego on Thursday on multiple felony assault charges.

Police say an 18-year-old matching Williams' name, birthday, and description was booked into San Diego County Jail just before 3:30 PM, according to NBC San Diego. The outlet reports MW was arrested on 5 felony counts of assault with a firearm.

The alleged incident happened Thursday afternoon in Jamul, a suburb of San Diego, where Mikey bought a 3,700-square-foot home last summer.

We're told Williams was released late Thursday night after posting $50K bail.

Williams -- the 34th-ranked player in the class of 2023 according to ESPN -- is a 4-star recruit out of San Ysidro High School.

He scored a career-high 77 points, including nine 3-pointers, in 2019 and led the Cougars to the CIF-SDS Division III title win in 2020.

Mikey transferred to Lake Norman Christian School in North Carolina for his sophomore and junior years before returning to San Ysidro last year, where he averaged nearly 24 points and more than nine assists in his final season as a high schooler.

Williams' squad lost in the semifinals of the CIF Open Division playoffs.

Aside from being one of the top players on the court, he's among the highest earners off the hardwood ... raking in millions in Name, Imagine, and Likeness deals.

The 6'2" guard received offers from several top colleges but committed to Penny Hardaway's Memphis program last November. He's expected to be a big part of the Tigers team next season ... though the arrest could throw a wrench in their plans.

NBA star Miles Bridges has been suspended 30 games by the NBA ... for a domestic violence incident involving the mother of his kids last summer.

But, because 25-year-old Bridges missed the entire season (he was unsigned), the NBA has credited him with serving 20 games, meaning he only will have to sit out 10 more games next season.

"The incident occurred on June 27, 2022, in Los Angeles, after which Mr. Bridges was arrested and charged with multiple offenses."

"On November 3, 2022, Mr. Bridges entered a plea of no contest to a felony domestic violence charge and the remaining counts against him were dismissed," the league announced Friday afternoon.

Shortly after the incident, Mychelle Johnson claimed she suffered injuries to her face, arms, legs and back.

The NBA says they conducted their own investigation and conferred with D.V. experts, and that's how they arrived at the penalty.

"The 30-game suspension is based on all facts and circumstances of this matter and considers the conduct and its result, as well as the outcome of the criminal matter, among other factors."

Bridges was arrested on June 29 and ultimately charged with felony domestic violence ... and while he always maintained his innocence (Miles claims his ex has incessantly harassed him), he pleaded no contest to the charge in court.

The NBA star was sentenced to 3 years probation and 100 hours of community service, as well as requiring he take parenting classes.

Miles was the 12th overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, after starring under Tom Izzo and Michigan State. Bridges has averaged 13.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists over the course of his career.

The Dallas Mavericks season may be over, but the team's still making headlines -- the NBA fined the organization $750K for resting several key players like Kyrie Irving vs. the Bulls in the second-to-last game of the season, with the league accusing the team of losing on purpose.

The league announced the hefty punishment Friday ... explaining the Mavs violated the league's player resting policy on April 7 in the game with Chicago to improve their chances of keeping their first-round draft pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.

NBA executive VP Joe Dumars condemned Dallas for the move ... saying the team's actions "undermined the integrity of the sport," adding their actions "failed our fans and our league."

The Mavs were tied with the Bulls for the tenth-best lottery odds heading into the matchup ... and would have owed the Knicks their first-round pick if they beat Chicago, going back to terms agreed on during the Kristaps Porzingis trade.

The NBA launched an investigation after Dallas rested several key players -- Kyrie Irving, Christian Wood, and Tim Hardaway Jr. -- even with the team's play-in tournament hopes still alive. Luka Doncic played the first 12 minutes and 35 seconds but missed the rest of the game.

Dallas head coach Jason Kidd seemed to confirm the idea of resting their players in the crucial game came from upper management ... but said he agrees with his bosses' decision.

The short-handed Mavericks took Chicago down to the wire ... but ultimately lost their final two games, finishing the regular season with a disappointing 38-44 record after reaching the Western Conference Finals last season.

New York Rangers captain Jacob Trouba made a young fan's night and future -- by gifting him not only the jersey off his back, but a law school scholarship!!

The heartwarming moment went down Thursday night at Madison Square Garden, where the Toronto Maple Leafs played the Rangers.

Garden of Dreams Foundation member Isaiah Márquez-Greene, who survived the Sandy Hook shooting in 2012 but lost his sister Ana in the horrific event, met Trouba, his favorite player, on the ice and got the #8 jersey as a gift.

26 people, mostly elementary school-age kids, were senselessly murdered by a 20-year-old man on December 14, 2012, at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut.

"I've been a fan of you since Winnipeg [Jets]," Marquez-Greene told Trouba.

The hockey defenseman was flattered and signed the jersey for Isaiah ... but he had more in store for him.

"I know your story. I feel for you," Trouba said. "You're an amazing human."

That's when Trouba surprised Isaiah -- who wants to be a lawyer -- with a full scholarship!

"From the Garden of Dreams, this is a scholarship for law school! So you're gonna graduate from college, you're going to go to law school and you're gonna have no debt coming out of school."

Trouba even gave Isaiah his phone number to stay in touch so he gets his party invitation when he graduates.

"I want an invitation to when you graduate law school," Trouba said. "And I'm gonna check in with you when you go to college next year."

According to Márquez-Greene's mother, Nelba, the 18-year-old will be heading to UConn this fall.

Rudy Gobert says he apologized to his teammate, Kyle Anderson, for punching him earlier in the week during Minnesota's final game of the regular season  ... and says he has nothing but love for Kyle.

Gobert rejoined his team Thursday after the Timberwolves sent him home from the arena and suspended him for one game ... and Rudy told the media he and Anderson are both putting Sunday's incident behind them.

"We both apologized to each other, and you move on," Gobert said. "I still love Kyle. He's still my brother. I tell people, 'Sometimes you fight with your family. Sometimes you fight with people that you have a lot of love and respect for.'"

He continued ... "It's life. No one is perfect. Mistakes happen, and then you grow, and you move on."

Anderson echoed similar sentiments as Gobert did on Tuesday ... saying the two "hashed it out" and reminded people that grown men fighting "happens all the time in sports."

"We're teammates at the end of the day," Anderson said. "I don't want it to be a Kyle vs. Rudy thing. That's never the case. I always got my teammates' back, and we moved on."

Meanwhile, Gobert's status for Friday's elimination game against the Thunder remains uncertain as the three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award winner deals with lingering back pain.

If DeMar DeRozan will allow the Bulls' not-so-secret weapon, a.k.a. his daughter, Diar to miss school on Friday, the screeching 9-year-old free throw disruptor has a free ride to Miami ... courtesy of United Airlines.

Diar became an overnight sensation following Wednesday night's game ... where she repeatedly screamed while the Raptors players shot free throws, which appears to have worked!

Toronto missed half of their free throws -- going 18 of 36 from the charity stripe -- in the elimination game that they lost 109-105. The Raptors normally shoot nearly 80 percent ... meaning they left about 10 points (and a win) on the table.

The Raptors are now home.

As for Chicago, in order to advance, the Bulls must beat the Heat tonight in Miami ... and United say they have a seat aboard one of their jets for Diar.

"The flight's on us. What do you say, @DeMar_DeRozan? We’d love to take Diar’s talents to South Beach," the airline tweeted.

It makes sense. The Bulls play at the United Center ... the arena inked a 20-year extension for the naming rights in 2013.

Although Diar has become a fan-favorite in Chicago, DeMar said she won't attend Friday night's win-or-go-home game, explaining she has to get back to school.

LeBron James is sending his thoughts and prayers to Jamie Foxx after the award-winning actor suffered a medical emergency earlier this week.

Foxx, who was in Atlanta shooting a movie with Cameron Diaz, was hospitalized on Tuesday with what we're told was a serious medical issue. We're told Jamie is improving, but is still in the hospital.

James -- who's preparing for the Memphis Grizzlies playoff series -- wrote a heartfelt message on Twitter after hearing about the 55-year-old actor's health scare.

"Sending my thoughts and prayers to the heavens above to my brother @iamjamiefoxx!!!!" the Lakers star tweeted.

"Get well and back to yourself SOONER THAN LATER! God willing 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽✨✨✨✨✨✨♥"

Jamie and LeBron are buddies ... in fact, Foxx does impressions of the 19x All-Star all the time. He even did it on the 'Jimmy Kimmel' show.

Outside of King James, former NFL star-turned-rapper Antonio Brown also sent well wishes to Foxx.

"Pray For Jamie Fox," AB said on Thursday. "Overly Love."

Sources tell TMZ that Foxx is doing a lot better since the medical emergency and is even joking with the family now.

We're told while Jamie has gotten better, he's likely to remain in the hospital for a few more days.

Lolo Jones has some strong (albeit playful) words for Shaquille O'Neal after the NBA legend called Angel Reese LSU's G.O.A.T. ... telling TMZ Sports Diesel had to be "high" when he made the statement.

Jones -- who starred for LSU's track team before competing in BOTH the Summer and Winter Olympics -- got wind of O'Neal referring to Reese as the greatest athlete to ever come out of Baton Rouge on his 'Big Podcast' this week, and she vehemently disagreed with her fellow Tigers alum.

In fact, she seemed to think Shaq wasn't in his right mind since undergoing surgery last month.

"Shaq knew what he was doing," Jones said. "Shaq's just bored. He's coming off hip surgery. He's chilling at home. I think Shaq, honestly, is high on some pain medicines. The list is so big with LSU."

Jones -- a decorated hurdler and bobsledder -- feels Shaq was trying to stir the pot by saying Reese is LSU's top-ranked athlete ... knowing that it makes for good "water cooler talk."

"So, for Shaq to have the audacity to say 'she's the best ever,'" Jones continued, "I'm like, 'Bro, chill on the pain meds,' because that list is arduous. So long."

Jones -- who won three NCAA titles and earned 11 All-American honors as an LSU Tiger -- said she wouldn't put herself at the top of the list of the university's G.O.A.T. athletes.

But, don't get it twisted -- Lolo told us she isn't disrespecting Reese ... saying, "We're not hating on Angel. We love to see it. She's cooking. Let her keep cooking. But I'm telling you, LSU track and field is the powerhouse for that university."

It's been four months since Brittney Griner was released from a Russian penal camp, but the WNBA star hasn't forgotten about the Americans left behind, vowing to continue to fight for the release of U.S. citizens being held captive in Russia.

32-year-old Griner made a surprise cameo at Al Sharpton's National Action Network's Women's Empowerment Luncheon in NYC on Thursday, where she addressed the crowd.

“I want to continue to fight to bring home every American detained overseas. That means everything to me,” Griner said, flanked by her wife Cherelle Griner and Sharpton.

Of course, Brittney was sentenced to 9 years behind Russian bars after being found guilty on a drug charge. After 10 months spent in a jail cell and penal colony, she returned home on December 8 in a high-profile prisoner exchange.

After months of negotiations, the U.S. agreed to send Viktor Bout, known as the "Merchant of Death," serving a lengthy prison sentence in the States, back to Russia as part of a trade.

At the time of her release, the government was criticized for not getting back U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, who has been locked up in Russia since late December 2018.

On Thursday, Griner made it clear she hasn't forgotten about Whelan and several other Americans who are still overseas.

Andrew Wiggins is one step closer to getting back on the court -- the Golden State Warriors forward has been cleared to play in the NBA playoffs after being away from the team since February.

According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the All-Star was officially made available on Thursday ... just two days before the Dubs take on the Sacramento Kings in Game 1 of the first round of the playoffs.

The 28-year-old will ease back into his role with the team -- he will come off the bench and is expected to play around 20 to 25 minutes.

Wiggins hasn't played a minute of NBA ball since February 16 while he remained with his family as his dad dealt with a serious medical situation.

Wiggins -- who averaged 17.1 points and five rebounds this season -- made his first appearance back with the team earlier this month during the Thunder vs. Warriors game at Chase Center ... where he was caught sitting on the bench with his team.

The NBA champ received a standing ovation from the fans ... and he was all smiles.

BMX rider Kriss Kyle is back at it again ... performing a series of jaw-dropping bike tricks while suspended 2,000 feet in the air by a hot air balloon.

Check out the insane video ... you see the moments before Kyle, whose been on the BMX scene since he was 10, climbs into the hot air balloon as everyone wishes him well as he embarks on the death-defying journey.

Kriss came dangerously close to the edge of the floating skatepark multiple times  ... but the dare-devil stuck his landing each time and even found time to admire the breathtaking scenery of the Cotswolds in the UK.

And, while he may have been wearing a parachute, this was still very dangerous.

Kyle, with major help from Red Bull, pulled off the project as part of a new documentary he's working on called "Don't Look Down" ... which examines how the stunt started as a daydream and became a reality.

Kriss has earned a reputation for pushing the envelope on the BMX landscape since his first major competition at the Transgression Skate Park Jam in 2008.

Simply put, Kyle has been a pioneer in the industry, and he's taken the sport (BMX) to new heights (very literally) by pulling off wild stunts for his fans.

The L.A. "pothole" Arnold Schwarzenegger fixed was indeed a service trench for the gas company ... but TMZ has learned that service was done months ago, and that's why Arnold went all DIY on the ditch.

We got to the bottom of Arnold's roadwork adventure -- a story with more twists and turns than one of his action blockbusters.

ICYMI, Arnold rolled up his sleeves and went to work Tuesday ... using muscle, Quikrete and some tools to pave over what he saw as a "giant pothole." Frankly, he was fed up with the shoddy pavement that was wreaking havoc on tires for months in his Brentwood neighborhood.

Arnold posted his good deed on social media, and was mostly met with applause ... like the driver who stopped during the middle of his construction project to thank him.

But, the Los Angeles Department of Public Works came out and said the "giant pothole" was actually a service trench being used by SoCalGas to repair a pipeline. That's true, however, the gas co. work was wrapped up way back in January!

What's worse is the city had no plans to fill in the trench until May. That was way too long for Arnold and several other annoyed neighbors ... which is why he took matters into his own hands.

As Arnold explained ... "Today, after the whole neighborhood has been upset about this giant pothole that's been screwing up cars and bicycles for weeks, I went out with my team and fixed it. I always say, let's not complain, let's do something about it. Here you go."

The saga is not done yet ... the gas company reportedly sent crews Wednesday to level off the patch Arnold filled, in order to strengthen the paving mixture he used.

Odell Beckham Jr. is officially a Baltimore Raven ... and the star receiver wasted no time making a pitch to keep Lamar Jackson in town following the QB's trade request.

The Super Bowl champ opened up on why he signed a one-year contract with B-More during Thursday's introductory presser ... saying Jackson was a big part of his decision.

"It's the elephant in the room," the 30-year-old said. "It wasn't about so much money, it wasn't about anything. It was about they showed they wanted me."

OBJ even partied with Lamar once his next move was announced ... which came after a phone conversation that Beckham says was full of excitement.

"I don't know if he called me [or] I called him or whatever, but he was just like, obviously truzz, but he was just excited about it," Beckham said.

Of course, there are some concerns that fans won't get to see the dynamic duo hit the field together ... considering LJ asked Baltimore to trade him last month.

The Ravens placed a nonexclusive franchise tag on the former MVP ... which gives him permission to talk with other teams.

But, Beckham has "faith and hope" that it will all work out ... and sent a message to his buddy.

"Lamar, I don't know if you're watching, I would love to get to work with you," Beckham said. "I'll talk to these guys over here and hopefully, that gets done."