TMZ Sports - Page 50

Demaryius Thomas' former teammates paid their respects to the ex-NFL star on "Monday Night Football" ... with Von Miller and DeAndre Hopkins wearing helmet decals to honor DT.

The Rams and Cardinals superstars both put #88 stickers on their respective helmets to show love for the former wide receiver just days after he tragically died in his Georgia home.

Miller's emblem featured an 88 with Broncos colors, while Hopkins' sticker had a simple white and black 88.

"88 4 L ETERNAL 🖤," Miller said of the tribute in a caption on his social media page.

Of course, Miller played alongside Thomas for years in Denver ... while Hopkins shared time with the wideout when the two were in Houston together in the 2018 season.

Another one of Thomas' former Broncos teammates, Cardinals kicker Matt Prater, also put an 88 sticker on his Arizona helmet for the game.

As we previously reported, Thomas' old Denver team honored DT on Sunday with a video tribute, helmet stickers and a special delay of game penalty in their matchup with the Lions. Thomas' former Jets team, meanwhile, also held a moment of silence before their game against the Saints.

Thomas would have turned 34 years old on Christmas.

Julianna Peña admits Amanda Nunes deserves an immediate rematch -- telling TMZ Sports she'll get it soon (after the "Venezuelan Vixen" goes to Disney, of course) -- this after the MMA fighter shocked the world at UFC 269.

We talked to 32-year-old Peña -- fresh off her decisive win over the G.O.A.T., Nunes -- and asked her about a potential rematch.

"[Amanda] was the champ for so long. She definitely deserves a rematch and she wants it. So, she wants it, and I want it, and I'm willing to give it. It looks like it just needs to be a matter of time before they set it up," the champ told us.

And, let's be honest ... if any former champ deserves to run it back right away, it's Amanda.

Before Saturday night, Nunes hadn't lost in 7+ years ... when Cat Zingano beat her via TKO at UFC 178 in September 2014.

Peña walked us through what exactly it was like to face Nunes ... and although she might've made it look relatively easy, it was anything but.

"I knew that I was going to be facing arguably the best women combat sports athlete ever. She came 100 percent. Her shots were amazing. Her leg kicks she threw with massive intent. It hurt, but I definitely knew that at the end of the day, if I could just keep my composure, that I would get my hand raised."

But first, Peña says she wants to celebrate her daughter's 4th birthday like many champs ... in style, at Disney.

"I've been grinding for so long, I just really think my daughter deserves a little bit of attention. Her birthday's coming up in January, I'd like to taker her to Disney World. And then, after that, I'm ready to go. So, whenever they decide, is probably gonna be good."

Something tells us Peña might again be the underdog ... but she surely isn't going to catch anyone off guard this time around.

Julianna Peña can fight her ass off ... and she proved it Saturday night.

A wrestler took things way too far during a match over the weekend ... stabbing a referee in the head with an iron spike so violently, the man was forced to go to the hospital.

The horrifying scene all went down at a World Class Pro Wrestling event in Irving, Texas on Saturday ... when Devon Nicholson -- AKA "Hannibal" -- was taking on "Carlito."

Nicholson -- who runs a popular YouTube page that has over 300,000 subscribers -- and Carlito put on a show for several minutes ... with Nicholson eventually pinning his opponent and winning the match.

Nicholson, though, did not leave the ring immediately -- and, instead, he began fighting with a referee inside the squared circle.

In video from the match, you can see at one point, Nicholson took out a spike and began ramming it into the ref's forehead over and over and over again.

The full video of the match shows Nicholson stabbed and scraped the man with the sharp object over a dozen times -- leaving him in a pool of blood in the ring.

Eventually, another wrestler pulled Nicholson off the ref -- and video from the event shows a public address announcer actually asked for a doctor in the crowd to help the ref.

The ref -- Lando Deltoro -- was ultimately taken to the hospital and required sutures to close his wounds.

Somehow, according to a statement on Deltoro's social media pages, he's expected to make a full recovery.

"Recovering at home," the ref said on his Twitter page. "Still a bit fuzzy and pain, yes lots of pain. But I'll live. Thanks you all for the outpouring of love and support."

World Class Pro Wrestling owner Jerry Bostic, meanwhile, said in a video message Sunday that he found Nicholson's actions appalling -- and announced the wrestler is now banned from all of his future events.

"World Class moving forward will not be associated with Devon Nicholson," Bostic said. "I cannot and will not condone what happened last night."

We've reached out to Nicholson for comment, but so far, no word back yet.

AEW star Anthony Bowens is opening up about the fan who shouted a homophobic slur at him last week ... telling TMZ Sports he's glad the incident was captured on video, 'cause it proves there's still more work to be done towards inclusion.

As we previously reported, Bowens was called the homophobic f-word while competing in a 4-on-4 tag team match when the incident took place.

"Unfortunately that kind of stuff comes with the territory, being an out LGBTQ athlete," Bowens says.

"This is actually the first time that I've audibly heard something like that during a performance or during television."

Bowens -- who came out as bisexual in 2017, but now identifies as gay -- tells us it's something he's gotten used to after going public ... saying when he started a YouTube channel with his boyfriend, they received similar, if not, worse treatment.

"I have really thick skin, I'm kind of used to it from my boyfriend Michael and I," Anthony said. "We have our YouTube channel and when we first started that the comments were brutal."

"I can't even repeat them."

But Bowens makes it clear his time at AEW has been nothing but great ... and this was an isolated incident.

"This is not indicative of the AEW fans at all," Bowens said. "Any interactions I've had with them since starting the company have all been positive."

As for AEW, Bowens expressed his gratitude toward the company for supporting him throughout the entire ordeal ... and making him feel comfortable enough to be himself.

Jimmy Rave -- who famously feuded with AJ Styles in Ring of Honor before becoming a TNA Wrestling star -- died Sunday, a rep for the former pro wrestler announced.

He was just 39 years old.

Bill Behrens, who helped represent Rave in his decades-long wrestling career, announced the sad news Monday ... saying Rave passed away after "struggling with drug addiction for many years."

"His struggles resulted in the amputation of his arm," Behrens said, "and, later, both of his legs."

Rave -- real name James Michael Guffey -- began his wrestling career in 1999 ... and joined Ring of Honor just a few years later, where he and Styles famously had beef.

The two feuded as part of their Ring of Honor storyline -- with the duo actually competing in a match for the rights to Styles' famous finishing move, the Styles Clash.

Rave went on to star in TNA Wrestling -- before ending his career with a variety of independent promotions.

"This really hurts," WWE legend Mick Foley said on social media, adding "Jimmy Rave has passed away. He was only 39. #RIPJimmyRave"

Behrens announced memorial services for the former wrestler will take place in Georgia.

Vicente Fernández fans mourned together at a big soccer game in Mexico on Sunday ... with thousands of supporters singing and cheering throughout the venue.

The powerful moment went down at the Jalisco Stadium ... as Atlas and León players joined together at midfield to celebrate the life and legacy of Fernández.

Fans in attendance stood in solidarity with one another ... clapping for more than a minute straight as fireworks shot to the sky.

Music was played as a young boy dressed in all white walked onto the field to release a white balloon into the sky.

That wasn't all ... a message was projected on the screens at the stadium reading "Don Vicente Fernández 1940-2021."

Fernández's death has affected people not just in the music world, but the sports world as well ... and this tribute was clearly special to all in attendance.

He is survived by his wife, María del Refugio Abarca Villasenor, and their four kids -- Vicente Jr., Gerardo, Alejandro, and Alejandra.

After a 5-year battle, the hundreds of gymnasts who were victims of Larry Nassar's incessant sexual abuse have reached a $380 million agreement to settle their lawsuits against USA Gymnastics and the USA Olympic Committee.

MSU settled with 332 female athletes back in 2018 for $500 million ... and on Monday, USA Gymnastics and the USOPC raised the total amount to $880 million, the highest settlement amount for a single perpetrator in a sexual assault case, according to ESPN.

"This settlement is the result of the bravery of hundreds of survivors who, despite legal obstacles, long odds and the best corporate legal talent money can buy, refused to be silent," the gymnasts' attorney John Manly told the outlet. "The power of their story eventually won the day."

Along with the money, as part of the settlement, USA Gymnastics and the USOPC have vowed to make huge changes within the organizations to ensure the safety and betterment of the athletes.

Some of Team USA's biggest stars have spoken out about Nassar ... including Simone Biles, who claimed his abuse may have triggered her mental health struggles during the 2020 Olympics.

Pedro Scooby -- one of the best big wave surfers in the world -- caught a MASSIVE wave in Portugal on Monday ... and his insane ride was all caught on video!!

Scooby dropped in on the wave during the TUDOR Nazaré Tow Surfing Challenge ... and check out the footage, the ocean swell was seriously monstrous.

Unclear exactly how high the peak of the wave ultimately was -- it appeared to be somewhere in the 60-foot range -- but Scooby bombed it nonetheless.

Check out the clip, the 33-year-old zoomed through the wave's barrel ... coming out on the other side to a round of cheers from onlookers on the shore.

Judges ended up giving Scooby a staggering 9.50 score for the ride -- and after he got off his board, Scooby was ecstatic, telling a reporter in the ocean, "It was a crazy hit!"

Danny Carey, the drummer for Tool, got busted for assault at the airport in Kansas City ... and cops say it all stems from a fight he got in with someone inside the terminal.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... airport police responded Sunday night to a report of a disturbance between 2 men and when they got to the scene they arrested DC and transported him to a nearby police station for booking.

We're told Danny was booked for misdemeanor assault ... and as you can see, he certainly didn't look happy in his mug shot. He's no longer in custody after being released on bond.

Cops tell us the police report is being forwarded to prosecutors for review, and potential charges will follow.

As for his weekend, Danny performed at the Kansas vs. Mizzou college basketball game with the band. He was clearly good luck, as Kansas won. Too bad things took a turn at the airport.

Danny hails from Kansas, and he's been playing drums for Tool ever since the rock band formed way back in the 1980s in Los Angeles ... with many considering him one of the greatest drummers of all time.

In addition to rocking with Tool, Danny also plays drums for smaller acts like Pigmy Love Circus, Zaum, Legend of the Seagullmen and Volto.

We reached out to Danny's reps ... but they had no comment on his arrest.

Fred VanVleet is making a path for underprivileged kids who want to go to college and get their dream job ... by starting an academic scholarship with the University of Toronto.

The Toronto Raptors guard made the announcement on Monday ... saying it's key to help the youth in underprivileged communities as they may not have the same advantages and opportunities as others -- especially when it comes to education.

"This scholarship is important because it's going shine light on some of those who may be underserved or underprivileged in certain communities and aspects," VanVleet said via IG.

"We know there's a selection process to a lot of different scholarships and sometimes that counts people out."

The scholarship will assist a black or Indigenous student who's interested in management with four years of tuition at the local university ... as well as a $1,000 stipend for books each year.

"I would love for the scholarship to be the catalyst to start a young person's career," he added.

"That platform that they need to get access to the resources, information and education. Hopefully, they go on to do many bright and important things."

There's also an amazing bonus -- one-on-one mentoring with VanVleet, which he says is an important way to motivate those who look like him.

Screw debates ... how's this for politicians settling a disagreement?!

39-year-old Simao Peixoto, mayor of Borba, Brazil ... participated in a 3-round slugfest with political rival, 45-year-old Erineu Alvas Da Silva, a former councilor in the area.

Da Silva had been critical of the mayor online, calling him a "scoundrel" (fightin' words!), so the politician accepted the fight ... which went down under MMA rules.

So, punches, kicks, elbows, takedowns ... all legal.

Peixoto ended up winning the fight -- which was streamed by his staff -- by decision, according to the Daily Mail ... despite eating a flurry of heavy leg kicks which clearly hurt the mayor in the first round.

Before the fight, the mayor said this while agreeing to lace up the gloves.

"I'm not a street fighter … I'm the mayor of the municipality of Borba."

Peixoto continued ... "But if he really wants to fight … we're ready to fight … I've always been a winner."

It's certainly a more entertaining way to settle a dispute.

Zac Stacy told cops the brutal attack on his ex was all "staged" ... claiming the woman set him up because she was "bitter" he didn't want to be with her.

The former NFL running back's conversation with officers was all captured on police video, obtained by TMZ Sports, just days after he ruthlessly beat his ex at her Florida home.

In the arrest footage, Stacy can be heard speaking with Orlando Police Dept. officers for several minutes about the events that led up to the Nov. 13 altercation ... insisting it all "was staged."

"It's just a case of just bitterness, man," Stacy told the policemen. "That's why she did this. The whole assault thing, she staged it. She set me up."

Stacy continued, "The whole thing was staged. All she's trying to do is get money out of me. She got a reaction out of me."

Stacy explained that he believes his ex -- the mother of his months-old son -- was upset with him because he didn't want to continue a romantic relationship with her.

The former St. Louis Rams and New York Jets player told officers the woman knew he wasn't in a good place mentally (he said he had just gotten out of rehab for anxiety and depression), and she used that to get "a reaction out of me."

"She knew I was down, she knew I was going through anxiety and depression," Stacy said. "She knew I was trying to close this gap that's between me and my son and she's just upset that she got caught and she's upset I'm not taking care of him like she expected. And now she took it this far."

Stacy added, "This is just a case of just girl is just bitter that I don't want to be with her and she's just trying to destroy my whole reputation 'cause of this s***."

Stacy then told the officers he knew his actions were "f***ed up."

"I don't know what man -- how any man could have handled that situation," Stacy said.

The 30-year-old was eventually taken to a local police station and booked on charges of felony aggravated battery and felony criminal mischief.

Stacy is currently out on bond.

Conor McGregor doesn't believe there's any doubt about who should fight UFC champ Charles Oliveira for the title next -- despite losing his last 2 -- 'cause it's obviously him!

"So what date am I fighting Oliveira," McGregor tweeted Monday morning.

McGregor's tweet comes just days after 32-year-old Oliveira picked up the 32nd victory of his great MMA career, beating Dustin Poirier by 3rd-round submission.

Oliveira -- though champ -- was a slight underdog in the fight.

Of course, it's nearly impossible to objectively say McGregor -- a former 2 weight class UFC champ -- deserves a title shot when he returns to the Octagon.

Not only will Conor -- currently the #9 ranked lightweight -- be coming off a devastating injury (broken leg) ... but he lost his last 2 fights to the guy who just lost to Oliveira (and 3 of his last 4 overall).

The Notorious wasn't done Tweeting.

He also referenced his epic win over Brazilian Jose Aldo ... posting a photo of the Irish flag and the Brazilian flag next to the number 2.

Remember, Conor starched the UFC superstar with a perfectly placed punch in only 13 seconds during their December 2015 fight.

Oliveria is a Brazilian star ... hence Ireland vs. Brazil 2.

Charles has not yet responded to Conor ... who also posed for a photo with his old UFC belt.

As for who he will fight next ... it'll likely be #2 ranked lightweight Justin Gaethje. But, Conor's still the biggest star in the sport ... and likely only a good win away from another title. shot.

Legendary college hoops announcer Dick Vitale was so honored by a long, standing ovation he received while calling the Baylor vs. Villanova game on Sunday ... he broke down in tears, and video from the scene is incredibly emotional.

Dickie V -- who's currently going through chemo treatments for cancer -- has been calling games while fighting the disease ... and Baylor fans showed just how much they appreciate the ESPN personality by giving him a round of applause.

Vitale was clearly moved by the gesture ... he began crying and waving to the fans as they clapped and cheered for him.

Vitale was also given a #42 Baylor jersey before the game to reflect the 42 years he's been on the mic for ESPN.

Dickie has had a challenging 2021 -- earlier this year, he revealed he had melanoma ... and back in October, he announced his lymphoma diagnosis.

Despite the recent health issues, Vitale returned to the broadcast booth in November ... and has been crushing it on the mic.

As for the game, #2 Baylor beat #6 Villanova, 57-36.

Terrible news in the horse racing world ... 3 jockeys were hospitalized and 2 horses died after a horrific fall during a horserace in Hong Kong on Sunday.

The tragic event happened during the Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint at Sha Tin Racecourse ... when jockey Lyle Hewitson's horse lost its footing several hundred yards into the race, collapsing ahead of a large pack of horses.

The whole incident was televised ... and the video clearly shows Hewiston's horse, Amazing Star fall, sending the South African jockey slamming to the ground, before being trampled by a stampede of horses.

That caused a domino effect ... and sent 3 other jockeys and their horses flying to the ground.

Hong Kong Jockey Club's executive director Andrew Harding says all 3 men were treated at Prince of Wales hospital with multiple injuries.

Hewitson ended up having a fractured hip and small bleed in the brain. 4x Hong Kong champ, Zac Purton, suffered four fractured ribs, a fractured wrist and a broken nose.

The third jockey, Yuichi Fukunaga of Japan, broke his collarbone.

Miraculously, all of the jockeys survived.

Unfortunately, the 2 horses weren't so lucky. Amazing Star and Naboo Attack suffered fatal injuries and had to be euthanized.

The race did go on after the collision. Australian jockey Blake Shinn and his horse Sky Field officially took the title ... a win he calls "bittersweet".

"I have mixed emotions for winning this race today," Shinn said.

"Obviously the first emotion is that my feelings are with the fallen jockeys and horses out there."

Santa Claus can pass up Philadelphia ... Meek Mill's got his hometown covered for the holidays, as he gives away more than half a million bucks worth of some fire gifts!!!

TMZ has learned Meek's planning to hand out a massive sack full of gifts for families in need this weekend -- things like bikes, video game gift cards, laptops, tablets, dolls and much more.

The Philly-born and raised rapper's getting his friends to kick in too -- Patriots owner Robert Kraft, Sixers partner Michael Rubin and Meek's managers at Roc Nation are supporting the huge gift giveaway.

The event, set for this coming Sunday, will be a more up close and personal giveaway than Meek could pull off last year during the pandemic. You might recall this heartwarming moment -- he had gifts delivered, surprising the families ... but could only video chat with them.