TMZ Sports - Page 50

As if Texas' football season couldn't get any worse -- a monkey belonging to Longhorns special teams coach Jeff Banks' GF is being accused of attacking a young trick or treater on Halloween ... but the woman says it's all the kid's fault.

A report late Monday night claimed the white-faced capuchin "seriously hurt" a boy during Halloween festivities ... with the monkey's jaws having to be "pried" open to free the child.

Banks' GF, Danielle Thomas -- AKA "Pole Assassin," a professional pole dancer once featured on "Jerry Springer" -- admitted something happened, but quickly defended her monkey ... claiming she was hosting a haunted event at her place, and the kid went where he wasn't supposed to.

"I had a haunted house on one side gated off/ he had no permission to go pass the gate i had no idea he went in my back yard," Thomas posted on Twitter before scrapping her account.

Thomas also claims she had no idea her monkey bit anyone until a local doctor told her about a "small bite."

Thomas says the kids were told to turn around when they came to a set of balloons ... and an "11/12" year old should be old enough to follow the rules and not venture off in someone's yard without permission. She even posted a video detailing the kid's assumed walk to the monkey cage ... with a sign that reads "Do Not Enter, emotional support animal, no touching."

"How could she viciously bite someone if they don't stick their hand in there where they don't belong?" Thomas said in the video.

We've reached out to law enforcement ... so far, no word back.

James Harden gave a group of NYC kids a day they'll never forget Monday ... showing up to a Harlem playground to help them paint -- and providing words of encouragement.

Harden teamed up with Publicolor -- a not-for-profit youth development org. for at-risk and low-income NYC students -- for the gesture ... and pics from the event show it was all awesome.

The Beard helped paint walls -- using all of his 6-foot-5 frame to splash on swaths of yellow and blue -- and he also posed for a ton of pics with the kids as well.

The NBA star told media members on the scene that he was able to deliver inspiring messages too ... saying he told the group, "Keep pushing. Every day isn't going to be perfect. We all have bad days. We all have days where it's not great. We're human."

Harden added, "And as long as they can get that at a young age and keep pushing and keep fighting and stay focused on school and taking care of their families, good things will happen."

Publicolor’s founder Ruth Lande Shuman praised Harden for coming out ... while the org. also tweeted a giant thank you to the Nets guard for showing up.

"We had such a great time with you today!" Publicolor officials said. "Thank you so much for helping us transform PS 149 in Harlem!

Jason Momoa is killing time as he quarantines after contracting COVID-19 -- but he at least has some good (and skilled) company that'll flip his wig ... not to mention flipping a board.

The "Aquaman" star is isolating at his crib -- this after coming down with the virus following the premiere of his newest flick, "Dune," in London a couple weeks ago. He's got an update for fans ... he's doing alright, and his quarantine buddy is totally shredding.

It looks like Jason is hunkering down with pro skateboarder Erik Ellington ... whom he refers to as his roommate. He threw up a video of the guy doing a kickflip inside the residence ... going from the top of one step down to the kitchen floor, which impressed JM.

Unclear why exactly they're sheltering in place together -- presumably Erik also caught the 'rona while in Jason's company -- but in any case ... they're keeping each other entertained.

BTW, Jason also knows how to shred the gnar ... guy's a seasoned skater himself, and was hitting half pipes during the pandemic last year.

Anyway, check out this video ... besides the sweet tricks going down at his pad, Jason also seems to be ready to roll out a new sneaker he's been working on that's environmentally friendly.

Quavo is hoping time away from the Falcons is what Calvin Ridley needs ... telling TMZ Sports he wants to see the Atlanta star receiver get better ASAP.

We got the rapper -- who's one of the biggest Falcons fans on the planet -- out in NYC on Monday ... and he made it clear he has no issues whatsoever with Ridley stepping away from his favorite team in order to focus on his mental health.

Quavo wished Ridley a speedy recovery ... telling our camera guy before heading into a secret show for NBA Top Shot, "I hope he get well."

Ridley missed the Falcons' game against the Jets earlier this season for a personal matter ... and after missing the team's loss to the Panthers for the same reason -- the 26-year-old explained he's been battling mental health issues the last few weeks and needs time away from the gridiron.

"I need to step away from football at this time and focus on my mental wellbeing," he said Sunday. "This will help me be the best version of myself now and in the future."

No timetable has been given for a potential return to the lineup ... but every one from his teammates to his former head coach, Dan Quinn, has supported his decision.

Nate Diaz vs. Khamzat Chimaev could be coming to an Octagon near you very soon ... 'cause Dana White tells TMZ Sports he's down to make the fight, and plans to talk to the Stockton fighter.

After 27-year-old Chimaev put on another DOMINATING performance, toying with, and then submitting Jingliang Li in the first round at UFC 267, "Borz" called out Nate, saying, “Let’s see who is the real gangster,”

We talked to White Monday afternoon and asked him if the UFC was interested in hashing out a deal for the mega-fight.

"100%," White says ... "We're gonna talk to Nate about it."

36-year-old Diaz -- one of the UFC's biggest stars -- last fought in June ... losing in a unanimous decision to Leon Edwards.

Despite taking the L, Nate nearly stopped the top 5 contender in the 5th round, before running out of time.

As far as the undefeated Chimaev (10-0), he's been nothing short of incredible in his 4 fights in the UFC.

"This guy is like nothing anybody has ever seen. When you think about it he's got more UFC wins than he's been hit inside the Octagon. Insane!"

We also talked to Dana about some of the other standouts from 267 ... including Islam Makhachev (who's next?) and Petr Yan (can any bantamweight beat him?).

Rolando Romero has been pulled from his fight with Gervonta Davis after being accused of sexual assault ... but the boxing star is adamant the allegations are "totally false," and he's vowing to clear his name.

The undefeated (14-0) 26-year-old boxing star was scheduled to fight Tank -- also undefeated -- December 5 in Los Angeles ... but was replaced on Monday just days after several women alleged the fighter sexually assaulted them.

One of the accusers is a 24-year-old woman who claims Romero sexually assaulted her at his apartment in fall 2019 after they played a game of Connect 4.

The woman told SI she didn't go to the police when the alleged incident went down because it was "a paralyzing moment" ... and frankly, she didn't think anyone would believe her story.

All told, there are multiple women accusing Romero.

Romero addressed the damning allegations on social media, taking to Instagram to declare his innocence.

"Although the allegations against me are totally false and I will prove that through the legal system, I agree that it is in the best interest of everyone involved that I not participate in the upcoming pay-per-view event," Rolly says.

"After clearing my name I will return to the ring as soon as possible."

Wanna own Barry Bonds' iconic 500th home run ball??

Welp, it’s too late ... ‘cause the piece of history just sold at an auction for a whopping $300k!!

Bonds' ball -- which was hit off Dodgers pitcher Terry Adams -- was among the top sellers in SCP Auctions' Fall catalog ... and sold for $50k more than expected.

It’s not hard to see why someone would want to get their hands on this particular item -- Bonds is one of, if not THE greatest, hitters in MLB history ... and he’s got a legitimate argument in the GOAT discussion.

Of course, this homer ball was recovered as a result of the valiant efforts of a fan who retrieved it from the waters of McCovey Cove on April 17, 2001.

On top of the Bonds ball, the Honus Wagner T206 card -- considered the Holy Grail of sports collectibles -- sold for an incredible $1.1 million.

Altogether, the auction -- which closed this past weekend -- set more than two dozen records, with sales totaling $5.6 million.

SCP President David Kohler said ... "The sports memorabilia market is on fire, as evidenced by the world records we set."

"From high-end graded cards to the best of sports memorabilia, the results of our Fall Premier Auction are astonishing."

A house with some seriously famous past owners -- including Kendall Jenner, John Krasinski and Emily Blunt -- just added another well-known name to its address, James Dolan's son, Ryan, now holds the keys.

Ryan Dolan, son of the owner of the New York Knicks and Rangers as well as Madison Square Garden, plunked down $8.025 million for the house ... high above the Sunset Strip as well as the legendary Chateau Marmont.

Ryan's realtor was none other than Dalton Gomez, Ariana Grande's hubby who sells real estate for a living.

The house has the obligatory pool, rooftop patio, 6 bedrooms and 5 baths.

Jenner owned the home until 2017 when she sold it for $6.5 million. It was plagued with security issues ... namely stalkers who repeatedly showed up at her door. Prior to Kendall, Emily Blunt and John Krasinski owned the place.

Kobe Bryant was showcased in an extravagant Halloween display in Los Angeles this spooky holiday ... with the Los Angeles Lakers legend getting a jaw-dropping pumpkin tribute.

The nod to the NBA icon was part of the "Nights of the Jack" at King Gillette Ranch in Calabasas ... which is an annual over-the-top event that turns pumpkins into art pieces.

The festival included octopi, sharks and other animals ... as well as athletes getting the old-fashioned jack-o'-lantern treatment.

But, the Black Mamba got his very own display ... showing Kobe in a #24 Lakers jersey with the phrase, "Mamba Forever," and his signature autograph.

The whole piece used several pumpkins to complete ... and the finished product is incredible.

Kobe’s daughter, Gianna, as well as LeBron James and WWE Hall of Fame Hulk Hogan also got the pumpkin treatment.

Horse jockey Miguel Mena was tragically killed after being stuck by a car in Louisville Sunday night, according to reports. He was only 34.

The Jefferson County Coroner's Office in Kentucky says Mena was walking on the interstate in Louisville when he was hit by a vehicle around 7:30 PM.

At this time, there's no explanation to why Mena was walking on the highway -- the manner of death was ruled accidental.

The Peru native became a jockey in the US in 2003 -- he started in 2 Kentucky Derbys and rode 2,079 winners, including 481 at Churchill Downs ... which is 15th all-time.

This year, he won the Masqueparade in the Ohio Derby (G3) and Dalika in the Robert G. Dick Memorial (G3).

Mena earned $36k in his last win on Oct. 24 at Keeneland -- and overall, made $72 million in his career.

Several jockeys expressed their sadness over Mena's tragic death on social media ... with Alex Canchari saying, "my heart hurts right now I can’t believe this."

"RIP my friend Miguel Mena😔😔 a devoted father an amazing/fearless Jockey and a role model to so many my heart is broken for Miguel’s family I have no words rest easy Cholo  🙏😔😔"

Churchill Downs Racetrack President Mike Anderson released a statement -- "This news is absolutely shocking, terrible and heartbreaking."

"Our team is devastated to learn of Miguel’s passing. He was such a courageous rider who fought to overcome several challenges and adversity. We’ll miss his bright smile."

Anderson added, "Our deepest condolences are extended to his many friends, fellow riders and family, and our immediate thoughts are with his wife April and his daughters Naelah and Montserra."

Mena would have turned 35 this Saturday.

Amari Cooper is making his case for best teammate ever -- the star wideout just bought diamond chains for Dak Prescott and members of the Dallas Cowboys receivers ... a gift worth $120k total!!

TMZ Sports has learned ... Amari wanted to show love to his teammates for balling out so far this season, so he hit up Gabriel The Jeweler to whip up some dog tags for his QB, fellow receivers and a couple trainers.

Gabriel -- who's done work for the biggest names in the NFL, like Odell Beckham, Davante Adams and Aaron Donald -- made 15 pieces total for Cooper ... with each displaying the players' numbers and the word "DAWGS" etched across the top.

Altogether, we're told the project is worth $120k!!!

Cooper has gotten some incredible pieces in the past -- from his "Route Runner" chain to his own mini Cowboys jersey -- and now these chains will fit right in!!

Ravens linebacker Malik Harrison caught a stray bullet in the calf while at a gathering in Cleveland during the teams bye week, Baltimore announced on Monday, saying fortunately the injuries are not life-threatening.

Harrison, 23, was a third-round draft pick of the Ravens in 2020. Malik has played in all 7 of the Ravens games this seasons, racking up 44 combined tackles.

"On Sunday night while attending a gathering in Cleveland, Malik Harrison sustained a non-life-threatening injury after being struck by a stray bullet in the left calf," the Ravens said in a statement.

"Malik, who received medical care at a local hospital, has been in touch with our team doctors and will return to Baltimore today."

It's unclear what kind of event 6'3", 247 lb. Harrison attended ... or who was the intended target of the shooting.

Harrison -- who was First Team All-Big Ten at Ohio State in 2019 -- has played in 23 games throughout his 2-year professional career ... compiling 66 total tackles.

The first place Ravens are set to take on the Vikings in Baltimore this Sunday. It's unclear how much time Harrison will miss.

Huge win for female handball teams across the world -- players will no longer have to wear bikini bottoms for uniforms ... as the International Federation just reversed its sexist rule that sparked outrage.

Remember, the European Handball Federation made headlines back in July for fining each player 150 euros (almost $177 in USD) for wearing shorts instead of bikini bottoms ... which was considered a uniform violation.

The garment switch was a protest by female players to highlight the unfairness that men wear long shorts while women have to wear tiny bikini bottoms.

Even singer Pink was pissed about the controversy and offered to pay the players' fines.

No one will have to empty their wallets anymore ... 'cause the federation reversed the dress code and is now allowing women to wear shorts.

In the updated International Handball Federation rulebook -- women "must wear short tight pants with a close fit that are in accordance with the graphics."

The previous rule was to wear bikini bottoms "with a close fit and cut on an upward angle toward the top of the leg" ... and if you didn't, you would be fined or disqualified.

The new ruling will go into effect in January 2022.

Norwegian Handball Federation President Kåre Geir Lio told NBC News on Monday that this reversal is a big step toward gender equality in handball.

"I think it’s good for the game," Lio said, "but first of all, it’s good for the women, and it’s good for how we treat each other in sports."

Bill Belichick is just like everyone else in New England, mourning the death of Boston Red Sox legend, Jerry Remy ... who passed away after a year 13-year battle with cancer over the weekend.

The Patriots coach ended his weekly interview on WEEI ... memorializing the 68-year-old former player (infielder) and broadcaster of over 3 decades.

“Before we sign off, I just wanted to say to all of our fans out there, who are mostly Red Sox fans, how much we all are saddened by Jerry’s passing and how much he meant to all of us, the connection that he was to the Red Sox, his voice in the game and (how great) it was for the fans,” Belichick told the guys.

The 6x Super Bowl-winning head coach continues ... “He meant so much to Boston sports as a player and as an announcer, and his commentary of the game and insight into the game."

"We’ll all miss him. I know our fans are Jerry Remy and Red Sox fans, too, so our sympathy goes out to the Remy family. I just want to express my and all of our appreciation for all that he did to make Boston sports enjoyable and exciting for all of us. We’ll certainly miss him.”

The Red Sox also released a statement on Remy's death, with team owner John Henry saying ... "We are saddened by the loss of a beloved player, broadcaster, and 13-year cancer warrior."

Remy -- who played 7 seasons for the Sox as a 2nd baseman -- was inducted into the team's Hall of Fame in 2006.

Jerry -- who was born in Massachusetts -- was last seen at Fenway on October 5 for the Wild Card game against the New York Yankees. He threw out the first pitch to former teammate and broadcast partner, Dennis Eckersley.

Kal Penn says he's sharing his life story -- including the fact he's gay -- to let others know that you can do anything while being true to yourself, like say ... being a gay NASCAR fan.

We got the actor, politico and now author leaving 30 Rock Monday morning in NYC, and asked how his coming out over the weekend is being received in Hollywood and beyond.

Check out this chat we had ... Kal says so far so good, and when our guy asks why he waited 11 years to share his truth -- he cracks a hilarious joke, but then opens up.

Kal explains his manager suggested he pen his adventures on and off camera -- y'know, seeing how he went from a successful actor, getting tons of work ... to a White House staffer working in the Obama administration. Obviously, he had good material.

On a philosophical level ... KP tells us he's coming out with all this now -- including his relationship with fiance, Josh -- in hopes of inspiring others to dream big, dare to do the impossible and push themselves.

Kal even dishes on some deets from the book, including the tale of how he came to meet his partner ... which entails an interesting tidbit about the "real revelation" here -- the fact that he's apparently super into NASCAR.

More trouble for NASCAR -- Kyle Busch is apologizing for using the r-word in a post-race interview on Sunday ... saying he should have never used the derogatory term.

Busch was furious with Brad Keselowski after making contact with the driver at the NASCAR Cup playoff race at Martinsville ... sounding off to reporters following his 2nd-place finish.

"He drills my ass coming out of (turn) 4 for no reason," Busch said after the race.

"I mean, where was he going? What was he gonna do? Spin me out? He was trying to do a (Kevin) Harvick is what he was trying to do. For what? For second place? To do what, he wasn't gonna transfer through with that."

"It’s frickin’ (r-word), man. So stupid." Busch added. "I don't understand these guys. I should beat the s*** out of him right now, is what I should do. But, that doesn't do me any good, either."

Busch took to Twitter to share his regret over using the term ... saying, "In one of my post-race interviews I used a word I should never use and I want to apologize for it."

It's the third time a high-profile driver has used a derogatory slur recently -- remember, Kyle Larson was suspended after using the n-word during a stream ... and Hailie Deegan underwent sensitivity training after using the r-word.

A spokesperson for NASCAR says the org. is reviewing Busch's comments ... which means sensitivity training, a fine or a suspension could be on the horizon.