TMZ Sports - Page 50

A Rafael Nadal heckler was ejected from the Australian Open on Thursday ... and the scene was both bizarre and hilarious -- 'cause the woman straight-up shot the tennis star the bird from the stands!

The wild moment all went down during Nadal's win over Michael Mmoh at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne ... when Nadal had to stop play mid-match over some screaming in the stands.

Turns out, a woman was yelling trying to distract the 34-year-old Spaniard ... and when Rafa kept pausing to look at her actions, she eventually flipped him off!!

Security tried to get involved ... but the fan kept going -- and the whole time, Nadal was cracking up!

At one point, announcers suspected the woman was drunk ... saying on the broadcast, "Maybe a bit too much -- a bit inebriated, I think."

One of the announcers then added, "This is chaos."

Finally, after a two- or three-minute delay, security got ahold of the woman and booted her from the premises.

"It wasn't a good wreck."

That's Karl-Anthony Towns opening up about the car crash that left him hospitalized before the NBA season ... revealing he's lucky to be alive.

The Minnesota Timberwolves star has still not revealed the exact date and location of the crash -- but opened up about the incident with reporters on Wednesday night.

KAT says he was going to visit his girlfriend, Jordyn Woods, at a photo shoot during the NBA offseason when a drunk driver slammed into him out of nowhere.

"I was 2 minutes from the shoot on a cliff ... drunk driver comes drifting fast as hell. It's 2 PM in the afternoon and ya know, it just happened. It was not a good wreck."

The NBA star says he was rushed to the hospital where he went through a battery of tests ... but was more concerned that he damaged his GF's car, which he was driving at the time of the wreck.

"The way I am ... even as how I felt, and the injuries I sustained and stuff like that, I was more worried that I messed up her car."

"That was just how my mindset always is. I just always wanna try to make sure everyone else is okay and I didn't wanna mess up her car."

He added, "I survived, I'm happy I was alive. I had to do what I had to do get monitored, tested all that stuff and she was right there with me."

Karl-Anthony went on to praise Woods as a strong woman who had made him a better man ... especially with all of the turmoil he's gone through over the past year, which included his mother and several other family members dying from COVID.

Tommy Pham just revealed the gnarly scar he suffered in a 2020 strip club stabbing incident ... and it makes his recovery even more impressive.

Pham was badly slashed on his lower back during a dispute on Oct. 11 outside a strip club in San Diego ... and video of the aftermath of the attack showed the Padres outfielder was covered in blood.

Tommy was eventually taken to the hospital and required a procedure to close the wound. A few weeks later, the 32-year-old said the entire thing took 200 stitches to repair.

Now, in a workout video posted by the MLB player's trainers at Stretch Affect, you can see just how bad the damage truly was.

Pham's scar goes all the way from his right hip to his left hip, proving once again the 7-year MLB vet is lucky to have avoided any career- or even life-threatening injuries.

Pham had said after the attack he'd be ready for the 2021 season ... and, given how he looks in all of his training videos, it appears nothing has changed with that timeline.

Tampa Bay Bucs tight end Cameron Brate knew the stakes were high when Tom Brady drunkenly threw him the Lombardi Trophy ... saying his career woulda been OVER if he missed the catch!

"If I had dropped that? I think I would've had to retire," Brate told the Tampa Bay Times.

"That was amazing. He pointed it at me. We talked about it earlier. It was a great throw. I mean, what do you expect from Tom Brady? A great throw."

You've seen the insane video by now -- TB12 tossing the trophy from his boat to another boat during the Bucs' floating Super Bowl parade on the Hillsborough River.

As Tom got ready to make the toss, you could hear his daughter scream, "Nooooo!!!!!"

Fortunately, Brate made the catch -- and the clip has gone super viral.

Not every Bucs receiver was as sure-handed as Brate on Wednesday -- just ask Chris Godwin who said fellow WR Scotty Miller dropped his cell phone into the river during a parade blunder!

FYI, Godwin has reportedly made around $4.6 mil during his NFL career -- and will undoubtedly have some big contracts in his future. So, yeah ... he can afford a new phone!

Gina Carano -- ex-MMA fighter turned "Mandalorian" star -- has seemingly Instagrammed her way out of the 'Star Wars' universe after posting offensive content about Jewish people on social media.

The 38-year-old -- who's previously posted anti-liberal and anti-COVID mask content on social media -- shared a post comparing her perceived mistreatment of conservatives in the U.S. to the millions of Jews who were slaughtered in the Holocaust. Seriously.

"Jews were beaten in the streets, not by Nazi soldiers but by their neighbors ... even by children. Because history is edited, most people today don’t realize that to get to the point where Nazi soldiers could easily round up thousands of Jews, the government first made their own neighbors hate them simply for being Jews. How is that any different from hating someone for their political views," the post read.

The wildly offensive post breathed new life into the #FireGinaCarano movement (which began in 2020 due to other insensitive posts she had made) ... and ultimately caught the attention of her bosses at Lucasfilm.

"Gina Carano is not currently employed by Lucasfilm and there are no plans for her to be in the future," the company said in a statement.

"Nevertheless, her social media posts denigrating people based on their cultural and religious identities are abhorrent and unacceptable."

Carano played former Rebel shock trooper Cara Dune in the Disney+ series -- the latest in a series of high-profile action roles for the actress.

She previously had key roles playing tough-guy characters in "Deadpool" and "Kickboxer: Vengeance."

Before storming Hollywood, Carano fought her way to the top of the women's MMA world -- racking up a 7-0 record before getting smashed by Cris Cyborg in 2009.

Patrick Mahomes might not have to wait for next season to get revenge on Tom Brady ... 'cause TMZ Sports has learned the peeps behind "The Match" golf tourney are gunning for a blockbuster TB12 vs. Mahomes event this spring.

Yes ... Super Bowl rematch, links edition.

You know The Match ... Tiger Woods and Peyton Manning beat Phil Mickelson and Tom Brady in the nationally televised, match play-style game in May 2020.

The event raised over $20 million for COVID-19 relief ... and was a smash hit.

Now, event organizers wanna bring back 'The Match' ... and they're targeting Brady and Mahomes.

Well-placed sources tell us event organizers are gunning to book the superstar QBs ... for a match that could take place in late spring 2021.

We're told the event is still in the early planning stages ... however, everyone seems optimistic a deal can be made since it's a fun event, it's for charity and Tom had fun in his previous 'Match.' Remember that insane shot he sank?!

Woods and Mickelson competed in both of the first 2 events. If a Brady vs. Mahomes match can be booked, it's unclear if either of the legendary golfers will play.

On the football field -- going by just record -- the Brady vs. Mahomes matchup has been pretty even.

Brady's 3-2 when facing Patrick ... however TB12 just dominated the young gunslinger in Super Bowl 55.

Andy Reid's son, Britt Reid, is no longer a member of the K.C. Chiefs coaching staff, this just days after he was involved in a car crash that critically injured a 5-year-old.

35-year-old Britt -- who was a linebacker coach with the Chiefs -- was initially placed on leave after Thursday's accident ... and now ESPN reports his contract has since expired and the team did not make an effort to renew it.

In other words, he's out.

As we previously reported, cops say Reid admitted to drinking alcohol and taking Adderall allegedly smashing into 2 parked cars that were pulled over on the side of a highway on-ramp. The crash occurred just minutes from Arrowhead Stadium in K.C.

Two children were injured in the wreck -- including a 4-year-old and a 5-year-old little girl, who suffered brain damage and has not regained consciousness since the accident.

Britt Reid did not travel with the Chiefs to Super Bowl LV in Tampa this past weekend ... though it was clear the incident took a toll on his father in those critical hours before the big game.

After the Chiefs lost to the Bucs, Andy Reid spoke about the accident ... saying, "My heart goes out to all those who were involved in the accident, particularly the family with the little girl who's fighting for her life."

When is The King jealous of The GOAT??

Today, it seems ... 'cause LeBron James just said he was SUPER ENVIOUS of the epic championship celebration Tom Brady just had in Tampa Bay!!!

Just minutes after the Buccaneers star was captured on video seemingly drunkenly stumbling away from his SEVENTH Super Bowl title parade ... Bron tweeted about his FOMO.

"Man o man," LeBron said. "I wish we were able to have our parade too cause I would have been walking beautifully just like you!"

Of course, LBJ and the Lakers weren't able to have a Los Angeles celebration after their NBA title in October ... California's strict COVID guidelines prevented a party from going down.

Bron had been angling to try to make some sort of safe celebration happen ... but with the 2021 season already underway, it seems it may never go down at this point.

Clearly, LeBron is sad about that ... and can you blame him?! LOOK AT ALL THE FUN BRADY HAD AT HIS TITLE CELLY!!!

By the way, Brady poked some fun at himself over his boozy day ... jokingly writing of it all, "Noting to see her...just litTle avoCado tequila."

Tom Brady is such a VIP in the Tampa area, he gets a police escort on land and on water!!!

The Tampa Bay Bucs QB just arrived to the official Super Bowl boat parade which will take place on the Hillsborough River -- where players, coaches and staff will float around the Davis Islands before ending up at Sparkman Wharf.

Event organizers felt this was the safest way to celebrate the team since we're still in the middle of the COVID pandemic.

Boaters are allowed in the water but they must stay at least 50 feet from the vessels containing Bucs players and staff.

Tom is out in the brand new boat we told you about back in December -- it's a multi-million dollar state-of-the-art 40-foot vessel with all the bells and whistles.

It's named "Viva a Vida" -- which seems to be inspired by his wife Gisele's environmental conservation initiative.

By the way, Brady's teammates are showing big love to the QB who helped get them their championship ... with dudes wearing shirts that feature Tom's old draft picture on them!!

Head coach Bruce Arians, meanwhile, is already on the water holding the Lombardi Trophy. Other players are expected to arrive shortly.

story developing ...

Mark Cuban has axed national anthems from the Dallas Mavericks' pregame routines this season ... saying Tuesday night, "It was my decision."

Cuban added in a message to the New York Times, "I made it in November."

The NBA owner declined to further explain the choice ... but it seems clear, Cuban is preferring to have his team avoid all the controversy that's come with the song's playing over the last few years.

You'll recall ... after Colin Kaepernick began kneeling during the NFL's playing of anthems in 2016 to protest police brutality and racial injustice in America -- critics, including Donald Trump, slammed the move as unpatriotic.

Trump went so far as to say the NFL should fire any "son of a bitch" who participated in the demonstration.

The polarizing kneeling quickly spread to other sports ... and despite the NBA's longstanding stand-for-the-anthem policy, players and coaches alike knelt during the song's playing in the NBA bubble at the height of the Black Lives Matter movement this past summer.

League Commish Adam Silver gave teams the choice this season over how to handle the pregame song ... and, for now, Cuban appears to be the only owner who's nixed it from the in-game experiences.

According to The Athletic, the Mavericks -- who hadn't had fans in the arena until just this week when 1,500 vaccinated healthcare workers received tickets to a game -- have not played the anthem in any of their 13 preseason and regular-season games so far.

Seems New Orleans Pelicans coach Stan Van Gundy wouldn't mind if his team took the same approach ... the 61-year-old said Wednesday morning, "This should happen everywhere."

"If you think the anthem needs to be played before sporting events, then play it before every movie, concert, church service and the start of every work day at every business," Van Gundy added. "What good reason is there to play the anthem before a game?"

FYI, Cuban has supported peaceful protests during the national anthems in the past ... saying to ESPN in June before the NBA's bubble restart, "If they were taking a knee and they were being respectful, I’d be proud of them."

"Hopefully, I’d join them."

The Big Game is done, but Rob Gronkowski ain't finished spiking footballs yet -- he just took a swipe at the Chiefs with a Super Bowl streaker joke ... and it's SAVAGE!!!

The Buccaneers tight end -- who scored 2 TDs in the blowout win over the Chiefs on Sunday -- joined James Corden on 'The Late Late Show' this week to break down the championship.

They talked burritos, TDs, celebrations and more ... but when it came time to discuss the infamous Super Bowl streaker -- that's when the shade came out!!

Gronk said the thonged-out runner entertained the hell out of Tampa Bay's sideline ... and then he dropped this ...

"He actually scored," Gronk said of the streaker who slid into the endzone. "The Chiefs didn't. He scored. They should definitely sign him!"

BUUUURNNNNNNN!!! (only the streaker technically began his slide on the 1-yard line, before he crossed the end zone, so he didn't actually get to pay dirt. Sorry).

Of course, the Chiefs were terrible on offense in the game ... they didn't sniff the endzone all night either  -- so Gronk does have a point.

Alleah Taylor is revealing the disturbing injury photos taken after she was brutally attacked by NFL lineman Chad Wheeler ... and she's explaining why he needs to be locked up in prison.

Taylor appeared on "CBS This Morning" and told reporter Jericka Duncan the injuries she suffered during the Jan. 22 incident at their Washington apartment will require treatment for the rest of her life.

"I still have to regularly get my concussion checked. I have bolts and a steel plate I'm gonna have forever in my arm. I'm gonna have to deal with this the rest of my life."

As we previously reported, Taylor claims Wheeler -- who played for the Seattle Seahawks at the time -- "snapped" and got violent with her in an apparent manic episode. They had been dating for roughly 6 months at the time.

She claims Wheeler had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder before the attack but had recently stopped taking his medicine.

During the attack, Taylor says the NFL player demanded she "bow down" to him -- and when she refused, he beat and choked her within an inch of her life.

Cops eventually arrived and subdued Wheeler after an intense physical struggle. He was arrested and hit with multiple domestic violence charges.

When asked if she thinks Wheeler's actions were triggered by a mental health episode, she told CBS, "To be honest, I don't know."

She continued, "He went and ate dinner after he did this to me. And he didn’t take the same approach with the cops as he did with me."

Wheeler is facing up to 12 years in prison if convicted on domestic violence charges.

Taylor was asked if she thinks Wheeler should do time and replied, "Yes, I definitely do think that he should."

Taylor says she's "beyond grateful" to be alive -- and feels god blessed her with a second chance at life.

"I want to try to use the time I've been blessed with to help other people and to get this story out and to make sure people don't feel alone and to make sure this doesn’t happen again."

The historic Krispy Kreme donut shop in Atlanta -- which is owned by Shaq and has ties to Martin Luther King Jr. -- was "gutted" in a massive fire Wednesday morning ... but the NBA legend has vowed to repair it.

The fire broke out at the Ponce de Leon Ave. location just after midnight while 2 employees were still inside the shop.

Both staffers were able to escape without injury, but the structure took heavy damage before Atlanta Fire Rescue was able to extinguish the blaze.

"A fast moving fire gutted the building this morning just before 1 am," Atlanta Fire Rescue said in a statement.

Video of the blaze is wild -- it's a miracle no one was hurt. 11Alive's Joe Ripley reports the back of the structure was badly damaged and the famous giant donut menu was melted.

Shaquille O'Neal bought the shop back in 2016 -- noting its importance to the community ... and to the country.

It first opened in 1965 -- one of the first Krispy Kreme shops outside of the company's headquarters in North Carolina.

In fact, after Martin Luther King, Jr. died in 1968, that specific shop donated 150 boxes of donuts to locate churches to feed the mourners who flocked to Atlanta to pay their respects.

Michael Irvin says he's heard secret audio from the Super Bowl ... and it proves Tom Brady did NOT call Tyrann Mathieu a racial slur during their trash-talking at the big game.

Brady and the Honey Badger got in each other's faces multiple times during the Buccaneers' blowout of the Chiefs, and afterward, Mathieu accused the Tampa Bay QB of muttering something nasty his way.

"He called me something I won't repeat," Mathieu said, "but yeah I'll let all the media throw me under the bus as if I did something or said something to him."

Many thought this implied that Brady had perhaps used racial language on the field ... but Irvin says audio picked up on hot mics showed that flat-out didn't happen.

Irvin -- who has access to the clips through his work as an analyst on Showtime's "Inside The NFL" -- explained on "The Rich Eisen Show" on Tuesday he was upset with Mathieu after audio revealed Brady didn't cross any racial lines with his talk.

"I didn't like that Tyrann Mathieu put that out like that," Irvin said ... "Because, I go, come on now. It makes it sound as if -- it makes people want to know, 'What'd he say?'"

"As if he said the n-word. And he did not. Tom did not. So, you know, I didn't like that even looming over this situation. So that's why I think we should clean that up somewhere, somehow."

Irvin added, "That's what I'm saying. [Brady] didn't say that."

As for what Brady did say ... Irvin says he could not reveal that due to directives from "Inside The NFL" show producers.

"This was just two guys competing," Irvin explained. "That's what that is. Just two guys competing."

Colin Cowherd was hospitalized Saturday night for what turned out to be a blood clot in his lung -- after a terrifying medical emergency at a restaurant.

The 57-year-old host of FS1's "The Herd" -- one of the biggest stars in sports talk -- says he was having dinner with his wife near his home in Southern California when he felt a sharp pain on the right side of his chest.

So, Cowherd phoned a friend who raced over, picked him up and sped Colin to a nearby hospital for emergency treatment.

Cowherd says he was in "incredible pain" and was understandably scared -- thinking he may have come down with COVID.

Doctors told Colin he tested NEGATIVE for coronavirus twice during his hospital stay -- but noted they found a small blood clot in his right lung.

The clot was limiting Cowherd's breathing so doctors admitted him to a room and used morphine to control the pain.

"I was pretty much knocked out with morphine, a narcotic, for 16 to 18 hours," Cowherd said.

Now, doctors are trying to figure out WHY Cowherd suffered the clot.

"I'm waiting for the blood work," Colin said ... "I have no idea why it happened. I have been doing a lot of skiing at high altitudes, traveling, that could be it. We don't know. We’ll find out in a few days."

Cowherd says he's already feeling better -- noting he went on a 30-minute walk on Tuesday ... "which is amazing considering where I was 48 hours ago."

Cowherd says the goal is to return to his show as soon as possible -- but the focus is on his recovery ... and he shouted out FS1 and iHeartRadio for being incredibly supportive during this scary time.

The guy who streaked at Super Bowl 55 hit the strip club after he was released from custody -- and worked the pole so hard, he was DRAGGED off the stage!!!

... while still wearing his thong bathing suit!

31-year-old Yuri Andrade rolled into the Penthouse Club in Tampa where he was cheered on by patrons ... including Tampa Bay Bucs superstar WR Mike Evans.

But, the craziest moment came when he broke away from security and rushed onto the main stage ... where he grabbed a pile of money and made it rain before jumping on the pole and trying out a few moves.

Eventually, security rushed in and apprehended him -- though it looks to us as if the club was in on the joke, since they posted footage with the guy on their social media page afterward.

Andrade is getting the hero treatment in Tampa after claiming he made $370,000 by allegedly betting a ton of money that a streaker would hit the field at Super Bowl LV ... and then taking matters into his own hands to seal his victory.

The worst part of the whole stunt ... Andrade claims the cops who detained him at the stadium wouldn't let him pick his wedgie from the thong bathing suit.