TMZ Sports - Page 50

The NFL ain't messing around with its sock policy -- hitting 2 star Pittsburgh Steelers players with $5k fines for showing too much leg during a game!

Steelers wideout JuJu Smith-Schuster and running back James Conner were both flagged by the league for breaking the dress code -- which requires players to wear their socks all the way up to their pants.

The league sent a letter to both JuJu and Conner claiming they broke the sock rule during the Oct. 25 game against the Tenessee Titans.

"Specifically, your stockings failed to cover your lower leg," the letter said. Juju later posted the note to social media.

Both players can appeal the fine ... but $5k won't set them back TOO much, even though they're both still on their rookie deals.

Socks.

Besides the dress code fines, the Steelers are on fire this season -- they're currently 7-0 (the NFL's only unbeaten team) and looking like world-beaters.

23-year-old Juju's hauled in 39 passes for 346 yards and 3 TDs so far this season.

The Biden vs. Trump race results are in ... and it's BIDEN BY A NOSE!!!

... a horse nose!

Because "Biden" and "Trump" are horses!

Yep, meet "BidenHisTime" and "SuperTrump" -- two racehorses who competed in the Betfair, Race To The White House Stakes at Lingfield Park in the U.K.

Will the winner actually predict the U.S. Presidential election? Maybe! Who knows?

What we do know ... it was a super-tight race with a wild photo finish!

Trump -- a chestnut and blonde racehorse -- jumped out to an early lead ... before the grey racehorse, Biden, made a charge down the stretch!

"What a ding-dong finish here," the announcer yelled as the horses raced neck-and-neck to the finish line!

In the end, BidenHisTime took the W -- prompting the announcer to make this joke:

"There’s your winner, not so 'sleepy' today!"

By the way, a Betfair rep tells us ... the U.S. election is getting a TON of betting action around the world -- the gaming site has already taken in over $352 MILLION in wagers!!!

Lotta action!

Denver Broncos president John Elway has tested positive for COVID-19, the team confirms ... the latest in a string of positive tests within the organization.

"John immediately left UCHealth Training Center [Broncos practice facility] on Monday morning after experiencing minor symptoms that he quickly brought to the attention of our medical staff," the team said in a statement.

The 60-year-old NFL legend is one of two Broncos execs who tested positive Tuesday morning -- the other is Broncos' CEO, Joe Ellis.

"After not feeling 100% on Sunday morning, Joe promptly reported his symptoms to our medical team and watched Sunday's game at home as a precaution," the team added.

"He continued to work from home on Monday before receiving a positive test result this morning."

Both execs are NOT at the team facility at the moment and are following the NFL's COVID protocol.

"Other than mild symptoms, both Joe and John are doing well. They will continue to work from home in self-isolation and participate in virtual meetings while their health is monitored."

60-year-old Elway and 61-year-old Ellis both believe they contracted the virus OUTSIDE the team facility.

"There were minimal close contacts identified for each (no players or coaches), and those individuals have been notified."

The team has been dealing with COVID issues over the past week -- with offensive lineman Graham Glasgow testing positive on Friday, leading the team to cancel practice that day.

Raiders' star lineman Trent Brown has NOT been released from the hospital -- he's still being treated for a botched IV injection that occurred before Sunday's game.

Yeah, this is a big deal.

Brown was rushed to the hospital before the Raiders took on the Browns in Cleveland due a "mishap with his pre-game IV that caused air to enter his bloodstream," according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

Brown had missed the previous week's game due to a positive COVID test. Unclear if that's why Brown was receiving IV fluids on Sunday.

Air in the bloodstream is a serious and potentially lethal issue -- it's a condition called an air embolism and can "travel to your brain, heart, or lungs and cause a heart attack, stroke, or respiratory failure," according to Healthline.com.

So, again ... this is a very serious matter.

The team is optimistic about Brown's health -- but ProFootballTalk reported Monday morning that Brown is still in the hospital, where doctors are running more tests to make sure he's okay.

Brown's teammate, Derek Carr, said on Sunday the team was concerned about Brown -- and had prayed for a speedy recovery.

"We had no clue what was happening," the quarterback said. "All of a sudden, we come in, and they’re wheeling him out and I’m like, 'Bro, what is going on?'"

"It was crazy and so we prayed."

It's been a rough couple weeks for the Las Vegas offensive lineman ... he tested positive for COVID-19 on Oct. 21 -- and was forced to miss the Raiders' Week 7 game against the Buccaneers.

This is the NFL's 2nd notable medical mishap this season ... a Chargers doc accidentally punctured Tyrod Taylor's lung while trying to administer a pain-killing injection back in September.

The NFLPA has reportedly launched an investigation into the Brown incident.

Insane scene in a Halloween MMA match ... a fighter snapped her forearm in half -- BUT TRIED TO CONTINUE THE MATCH ANYWAY!!!

It all went down Saturday in Sao Paulo, Brazil at SFT MMA's Standout Fighting Tournament 22 ... when Sidy Rocha was taking on Karine Silva.

At some point during the first round ... the two fighters got on the ground -- and Silva appeared to lock Rocha's arm in a submission hold.

That's when Rocha's arm broke ... and, WARNING: THE VIDEO OF THE SCENE IS GRAPHIC!

But, to everyone's bewilderment ... Rocha tried to continue brawling -- despite the fact that her arm was hanging by nothing but skin!!

Eventually, the ref stepped in to stop the fight ... and you can see in the video, Rocha was NOT happy at all with the decision.

Docs ultimately were able to tend to Rocha's arm inside the cage ... and she'll now reportedly undergo an operation to fix the break.

Adrien Broner is having a BAD week -- a judge tossed the boxer back in jail ... and then called him out for being a broke phony who fronts on social media.

"Where's all the money coming from that you're flashing around on Instagram? Whose money is that?!"

That's the JUDGE grilling Broner in court Monday -- demanding to know why he can floss on Instagram, but can't afford to pay his female assault victim!!

Remember, in December Broner was ordered to pay more than $800,000 to a woman he sexually assaulted in a nightclub back in 2018.

On Monday, the judge wanted to know why Broner had been missing deadlines and hadn't been paying the judgment.

Broner said in court documents filed last month he only had $13 in cash ... but the judge isn't buying AB's story and demanded he come clean about his finances.

In fact, the judge pressed Broner on Monday about an IG post from over the weekend in which he's showing off THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS in cash, spread on a table ... and bragging as if it belongs to him.

Broner told the judge the money was "sent" to him from rich friends looking to help him out ... and he's not REALLY swimming in cash, like he wants his followers to believe.

The judge wanted to know WHO is sending Broner cash -- and why?!?!?

AB suggested his rich pals like boxer Gervonta Davis and promoter Al Haymon have been hooking him up.

"Listen, I got a big heart," Broner told the judge ... "and when I did have money and everybody asked me for money, I gave it to them and now they see that I need help."

The judge asked Broner what he did with the money. Broner claims he spent the money paying off bills.

Finally, the judge lost her patience with Broner and ordered him to jail for contempt -- saying, "Mr. Broner has continually defied every court order I’ve given ... the jig is up today."

The judge said in the courtroom Broner will have to sit in a cell until he and his lawyers are able to properly provide answers and documents that help lay out a plan for how Broner is going to pay off the judgment against him.

As we previously reported, a woman claimed Broner smothered her and shoved his tongue down her throat at a Cleveland nightclub on June 8, 2018.

The woman went to cops and Broner was eventually hit with charges over the incident. In 2019, he pleaded guilty to assault and unlawful restraint and was sentenced to probation.

The woman also filed a civil lawsuit in the case ... and Broner was ultimately ordered to pay around $800,000.

Broner -- who lost to Manny Pacquiao in his last fight in January 2019 and has been arrested twice since -- said in court Monday he's attempting to return to the ring for a fight in January 2021.

This is GREAT to see -- Delonte West looking happy and physically active at his rehab center!!

Mark Cuban shared some pics of the ex-NBA star as he continues his treatment ... which now includes frisbee golf and kayaking!

Cuban, who was the driving force behind getting 37-year-old West into treatment, commented ... "Because we all want something to feel great about today, here is your Delonte West update."

He added, "It's still an uphill battle, but he is climbing."

As we previously reported, Cuban personally picked up West at a Dallas gas station last month and vowed to help out in any way he could after seeing pics of Delonte in late-September in bad shape, begging for money on the streets.

With the blessing of West's family, Cuban helped get Delonte -- a 2004 1st round NBA Draft pick -- into a treatment program ... and things have been going well ever since.

West started with a detox program -- and our sources told us he was "roughing it out" while getting all traces of drugs and alcohol out of his system.

Since then, he looks to be in a much better place -- he's been horseback riding and staying active ... taking it one day at a time!

Tom Brady beat the hell out of his helmet, smashing the thing as hard as he could into his team's bench Monday ... and then he made the Giants pay for it!

The G.O.A.T. had a classic TB12 meltdown on "Monday Night Football" ... getting so upset over a sack in the 1st half, he tried to end his helmet's life in a sideline tantrum.

The good news for the Bucs ... it clearly woke Brady up -- 'cause he went on to take down New York, 25-23.

Here's the deal ... Tom and Tampa really struggled to put away the lousy Giants in NY, trailing for most of the game -- and, at one point, things got so ugly ... Tom was visibly furious.

Brady took a sack in the 2nd quarter ... and then went to the sideline and slammed his helmet twice into the bench.

But, in true Brady fashion, he pulled the rabbit out of the hat, and scored 10 4th-quarter points to help put away the G-men.

The win was big for Tom's Bucs ... it moved them to an impressive 6-2 this year, and now, most have them as the Super Bowl favorite in the NFC.

It's a good thing Russell Wilson's rich ... 'cause the Seattle Seahawks QB says he spends around $1 MILLION every year just to take care of his body!

The 31-year-old broke it down recently on "The Bill Simmons Podcast" ... saying he's investing so much in his body so he can play in the NFL until he's 45-years-old!

"I probably spend $1 million if not more, a year, just on recovery," Wilson said.

Here's the breakdown ...

-- Full-time trainer (who also works with Ciara).

-- Full-time physical therapist

-- Full-time masseuse

-- Two chefs!

Wilson says he's been investing in his body for about 5 or 6 years now -- and also has "all the toys" to keep him in peak physical condition.

"I've got two hyperbaric chambers. I've got a little bit of everything. I get in the hyperbaric four times a week, three times a week. I get treatment every day."

Russ also says he tries to workout EVERY DAY -- 365 days a year -- though he admits there might be 1 or 2 days he takes off,.

"The reality is Christmas -- depending on the circumstances, but usually I do because we usually have a game around then -- and Thanksgiving. I'm in between 363 and 365 amount of work that we do every day, something around the work I do."

"I'm trying to play until I'm 45, at least. For me, my mentality is that I'm going to leave it all on the field and do everything I can to take care of myself."

Ryan Garcia says he isn't fazed by that explosive Gervonta Davis knockout -- telling TMZ Sports he's lickin' his chops to get a crack at Tank.

"I'm extremely confident I'd beat that boy down," Garcia tells us ... "He's just a big bully."

Garcia and Davis are 2 of the top young boxers in sports and it seems like it's only a matter of time before they meet in the ring.

Garcia tells us straight up he'd rather fight Tank sooner than later.

"We all know we can both knock people out. We all know we can put people to sleep that don't belong in the ring with us. But, one day we got to step up and go against someone who can also get slept. And, that’s what I'm trying to do. I'm trying to get in there and give fans a fight they’ll remember for the rest of their lives."

Garcia says he gives Tank props for that monstrous 6th-round knockout of Leo Santa Cruz this past weekend -- but he's not scared 1 bit.

"It didn't even make my pulse go up."

Garcia even has a message for Davis -- "Don’t run away from the specialness. I can hit like that too. I can hit like that too."

Richard Heckmann -- co-owner of the NBA's Phoenix Suns and WNBA's Phoenix Mercury -- has died, the team confirmed Monday. He was 76.

Heckmann reportedly suffered from a degenerative neurological disorder (similar to Parkinson's) -- and ultimately passed away on Saturday from complications related to multiple system atrophy, according to The Palm Springs Desert Sun.

He is survived by his wife, Wendy, and 7 children.

Heckmann had been involved in the NBA since 2004 -- when he was part of an investment group that purchased the Phoenix Suns for $401 million.

So, how did he get rich? Dude was a legendary businessman.

Heckmann founded the U.S. Filter water company in 1990 (it was bought out 9 years later for $8.2 BILLION!).

He was also a founding shareholder of the Callaway Golf Company and the CEO of the K2 winter sports company.

Oh, and he was also an Air Force veteran who served in Vietnam!

There's more ... a lot more. Bottom line, Heckmann was a BEAST in the business world.

He was also well-liked by his NBA associated -- with Suns managing partner Robert Sarver issuing this statement to remember his friend:

"Dick’s philanthropic spirit coupled with his sharp business acumen was what separated him from the pack."

"The legacy he built in the business world is only surpassed by his legacy of improving the community and his charismatic approach to life. I will deeply miss my friend and his kindness and presence."

Horrible news out of Ole Miss ... where a freshman tight end was airlifted to a hospital after suffering a realty bad injury during Monday practice that left him motionless.

The player is DaMarcus Thomas -- an 18-year-old true freshman from Alabama, who was a 4-star recruit.

Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin initially told the media Thomas took a hit during practice and hasn't moved since. A helicopter was immediately called to the field to airlift him to a nearby hospital.

"He never moved and he hasn't," Kiffin said ... "There's no feeling in his entire body. We've informed the family."

Kiffin continued, "I don't know if I've seen anything as hard or like that, personally."

There are reports Thomas was "showing some movement" before being placed in the helicopter -- let's hope that's true.

Ole Miss football is 2-4 on the season -- and coming off a win over Vanderbilt this past weekend.

Julianne Hough's calling it quits on her marriage ... almost a year after rumors of marital strife, and 6 months after they separated.

The dancer and actress filed to divorce her husband -- former NHL player Brooks Laich -- Monday in L.A. The couple wed in 2017, and after separating in May this year ... they were reportedly giving it another shot.

You might recall ... Hough was not wearing her wedding ring while cohosting NBC’s "New Year’s Eve" with Carson Daly, and again on social media a few days later.

This was right around the same time Brooks was posting messages about his sexuality and his goals in 2020 ... including wanting to be "open to all things and present in my relationships."

A couple months before that, Julianne made headlines when she addressed her own sexuality, saying she's "not straight" but chooses to be with her husband.

Looks like both will soon be free to explore whatever they want ... as single people.

"LeBron James Sucks!"

That's the chant that rang out at a Donald Trump campaign rally in Pennsylvania on Monday ... and #45 loved every second of it.

Trump was doing his usual anti-NBA thing ... talking about how NBA ratings sucked this year and blamed the bad numbers on the social activism from players like LeBron James -- and man, the crowd ate it up.

"How about basketball? How about Lebron? I felt badly for LeBron," Trump said ... "I felt very badly. Down 71% and that's for their championship -- I didn't want watch one shot."

He continued, "When they don't respect our country, when they dont respect our flag, nobody wants to watch. Nobody!"

Trump tried to change the subject to the NFL -- but the crowd erupted in a "LeBron James Sucks" chant ... and it got so loud, Trump stopped to acknowledge it.

"What a crowd! What a crowd!!!"

LeBron and Trump have been going after each other for years -- most recently, LeBron invited Barack Obama to appear on his show, "The Shop," where they both stumped hard for Joe Biden.

Chicago Bears WR Javon Wims uncorked TWO massive haymakers on a Saints player mid-game ... and the whole violent affair appeared to start because of a mouthpiece jacking.

Here's the deal ... early in the 3rd quarter of the Saints-Bears game in Chicago, Wims went to block Chauncey Gardner-Johnson -- and the two got into a bit of a tussle.

The guys trash-talked each other ... and, eventually, Gardner-Johnson ripped Wims' mouthpiece right off his facemask.

Wims was taken out for the remainder of the Bears' drive after the play ... but when his squad got the ball back -- he went to exact revenge on CGJ.

Check out the video of the play -- it's WILD -- Wims tried to grab Gardner-Johnson's mouthpiece, but when he missed ... he decided to throw 2 HUGE punches instead.

Both connected with CGJ's helmet ... and it kicked off a melee between the two teams.

Ultimately, the scrum was broken up and Wims was ejected ... and now, a big-time ban could be coming soon.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Monday the league is mulling a possible suspension for the wideout, and given his status as a role player on the Bears' roster ... his job might be in jeopardy too.

As for Gardner-Johnson, he definitely came out on top of the fight ... his Saints won, he didn't suffer any injuries in the brawl -- and he fired away at Wims on social media after the contest.

"That man punch like a female," CGJ said, before adding, "Bra cheap shot like a fee."

26-year-old Wims was picked by the Bears in the 7th-round of the 2018 NFL Draft ... and he's played in 28 games since, catching 27 passes and scoring 4 total TDs.

Jon Lester's future in Chicago is uncertain ... but one thing is guaranteed -- Cubs fans are getting LIT on the ace's dime this weekend!!!

The 36-year-old pitcher is expected to get a $10 million buyout and hit free agency this offseason ... so he wanted to say "thank you" to his fans over the past 6 years by buying their "first round" of beers at several spots in the Windy City this weekend.

"Regardless of what's next I want to thank the fans for the past 6 years," Lester tweeted Friday morning.

"So this weekend (10.30-11.1) I'm buying y’all my favorite beer."

All fans gotta do is hit up Hopsmith Tavern, The Lodge, Butch McGuire's or She-nannigan's -- which are all on Division Street in Chicago -- and they get a free Miller Lite!!!

"Just tell em to put it on #JonsTab."

It's a very kind gesture on Jon's part, but don't worry -- dude's reportedly made more than $190 MILLION in his career ... so it's just a drop in the bucket keg.

Just remember to wear your masks, bar hoppers!!