TMZ Sports - Page 41

A teenage surfer tragically died on Thursday after he was mauled by a shark in South Australia ... and a witness says the horrifying incident all went down right in front of the boy's father.

South Australia Police said in a statement they received reports of the attack at around 1:30 PM at Ethel Beach in the Innes National Park ... but, sadly, when medics arrived on the scene, they said the boy had passed.

A bystander at the beach told the Adelaide Advertiser ... the teen had been out in the water with his father catching waves -- when a shark suddenly took his leg.

"Another local guy ran out, jumped on his board, and paddled out to help him," the witness told the outlet.

"The shark was circling them as the guy pulled the boy out of the water. There was a lot of blood. He brought him to shore but I think it was too late by then."

Tragically, this is the fifth reported shark attack this year in South Australia ... and sightings of the sea creatures have been common in the area recently.

In fact, a teacher was just killed by a shark at Walkers Rock in May -- which is just west of where the teen died Thursday.

Dwayne Johnson is NOT the In-N-Out Burger virgin he claims to be.

"The Rock" posted a fun video earlier this week claiming he was trying In-N-Out Burger for the first time ... leading to a lot of attention, headlines and pats on the back.

While we enjoyed Dwayne's production and his zest for In-N-Out hamburgers, fries, the smooth drive-thru process and their friendly employees ... we noticed he's done this same thing before.

In fact, this is the THIRD time Dwayne's mentioned going to In-N-Out for the first time.

Funnily enough, Dwayne posted a video on Instagram in August 2022 documenting a cheat meal of In-N-Out Double-Doubles, fries and his own brand of tequila.

Of course, Dwayne mixed reposado and blanco tequilas in the same glass to wash down his In-N-Out last year ... so maybe he forgot about the whole thing.

But then there's the fact The Rock also posted about his "first" In-N-Out experience back in 2017 ... that time it was just a selfie with a couple In-N-Out employees at the drive-thru window.

In his February 2017 post, Dwayne added a long caption explaining his wife and daughter wanted In-N-Out. He also promised to "destroy multiple burgers" should his "Moana" movie win an Oscar a few days later ... well, the movie came up empty.

So, Dwayne's at least been to In-N-Out and tried the food before claiming this week he was having his "first ever" experience at the popular chain.

Anthony Bourdain once said he would get more likes on IG posts about In-N-Out than pics with huge celebs ... and it seems Dwayne's wanting some of that engagement too.

Move over, Santa Claus ... Travis Kelce was the real MVP of Christmas in Kanas City this year -- 'cause the tight end gifted a grip of custom-made velour jumpsuits to his Chiefs teammates for the December holiday!!

The K.C. star revealed his act of generosity on the latest episode of his "New Heights" podcast this week ... explaining he teamed up with Los Angeles-based designer Daniel Patrick to get some of his guys some one-of-a-kind drip.

"Everyone this winter can just enjoy a nice velour top and bottom," Kelce said of the presents, "just a hoodie and sweatpants. So good."

Patrick tells TMZ Sports getting all the gifts together was a bit stressful -- as Kelce hit him up for the job only just a couple weeks before Xmas.

"We literally had to move heaven and earth to get it done in time," Patrick said.

But, DP -- who launched his luxury sports brand in 2012 -- somehow got them all ready and delivered before the 25th ... and as you can see from Chiefs offensive lineman Donovan Smith's Instagram ... the guys were clearly diggin' how they came out.

We're told Kelce got 38 custom pieces in total from Patrick -- who has worked with other A-list celebrities including Usher, Beyoncé, and Justin Bieber -- and the Chiefs players either received a black or grey oversized hoodie with parachute sweatpants.

Of course, Kelce wasn't the only Chief who hooked up his team for Xmas ... Patrick Mahomes also gifted some of the guys custom golf carts featuring their names and jersey numbers.

NBA star Mikal Bridges' body has apparently been sculpted by Chipotle -- 'cause the Brooklyn Nets forward just revealed he's been eating at the fast food joint every day for the past 10 years!!

The 27-year-old -- who's currently averaging 21.1 points per game -- made the shocking revelation during an interview with GQ Sports earlier this month ... explaining he's been plowing through burrito bowls daily since he was a teenager.

Bridges said the meals are simply "too fire to not have it every single time" ... adding, "It don't disappoint."

The former first-round pick, however, said his meals are on the healthier side -- telling GQ he gets his bowls with white rice, double chicken, salsa, corn, lettuce ... and nothing more.

Bridges, who's 6-foot-6, 209 pounds, did say he used to get it spicy -- though his taste buds just can't stand it anymore.

"Rest in peace to the hot sauce," he said with a smile.

Former NBA star Charlie Villanueva is counting his blessings today ... revealing he's ultra thankful to be alive after he was involved in a bad car crash earlier this week.

The former Milwaukee Bucks forward said on his Instagram page Wednesday night that he and his wife, Lala, were riding in a Mercedes G Wagon when someone hit them from behind.

Thankfully, the 39-year-old ex-hooper revealed no one was seriously injured in the wreck -- though in pictures he shared from the crash scene, you can see his car was almost completely destroyed.

"If you wondering what happened, my wife and I got hit bad by another car, and the crazy part is that whomever hit me, decided to run," Villanueva said.

"Sore neck, sore back, messed up car, we are thankful to see another day. Our lives can’t be replaced, but the vehicle can."

Villanueva -- who played 11 seasons in the NBA -- praised God for keeping them safe.

He then went on to leave a message for those who've dealt with similar scary situations this year.

Gypsy Rose Blanchard's back on the outside ... she's just been released from behind bars and is out on parole.

Gypsy had been serving a 10-year prison sentence after being convicted of second-degree murder in connection with the death of her mother, Dee Dee Blanchard.

As we reported ... Gypsy was granted parole in September and the Missouri Department of Corrections scheduled her release for Dec. 28, three years before her release date.

Remember ... Gypsy was sentenced to a decade behind bars back in 2016 after pleading guilty to her mother's murder, a case that spawned an HBO documentary and a Hulu scripted series.

You'll recall ... Dee Dee was accused of forcing Gypsy to pretend to be disabled for years, holding her hostage and even tying her up in a bed after Gypsy tried to escape her clutches.

Dee Dee suffered from Munchausen by proxy ... a mental disorder where someone fabricates illnesses or actually causes injury to someone for sympathy or attention.

Gypsy's then-boyfriend, Nick Godejohn, admitted to murdering Dee Dee in 2015 to help Gypsy escape her mother.

While Gypsy is now enjoying some newfound freedom, Godejohn was convicted of murder and is serving a life sentence.

GRB, now 32 years old, has said in prison interviews she felt more free behind bars than she was when she was living with Dee Dee ... and she says she regrets her mother's murder.

Gypsy Rose Blanchard is only a few hours away from her early prison release ... but she's not being let out to a bunch of pomp and circumstance ... in fact, quite the opposite.

The felon, who was serving a 10-year sentence for second-degree murder, is set to be released Thursday from the Chillicothe Correctional Center in Chillicothe, MO ... and we've learned it's going to be a secretive process.

Karen Pojmann, Communications Director for the Missouri Department of Corrections, tells TMZ ... no one will be allowed on the premises for Gypsy's upcoming release, which means no media, fans or spectators.

The parking lot is off limits too ... and we're told it's all about protecting prison staff, ensuring safety at the prison, and protecting Gypsy's privacy.

Gypsy's exact time of release is also being kept under wraps and she's not interested in talking to media during her exit ... even though she's been giving interviews from prison ahead of her high-profile release.

We're told Gypsy wanted her release to be super low-key... and the prison is keeping things close to the vest here because of her fame.

Gypsy was granted parole in September and is being released 3 years early. In 2016 she was sentenced to a decade behind bars after being convicted in her mother's murder. The prison says her release process is a year in the making ... with officials taking time to make sure all the I's are dotted and the T's are crossed.

Once Gypsy leaves custody, we're told corrections officials are hoping she can go on to be successful and lead a normal life.

During Gypsy's 7 years in prison, we're told she took photography and videography classes, got involved with the media team and explored higher education opportunities.

Now that Gypsy's being released on parole, we're told she has a plan for where she's going to live and how she's going to keep up with her parole officer.

The most popular person at the Maple Leafs game Wednesday night wasn't Auston Matthews or Mitch Marner ... no, the guy who appeared to get the most love from hockey fans was none other than Justin Bieber!!

The "Ghost" crooner pulled up to Scotiabank Arena in Toronto with his wife, Hailey, to see his beloved Leafs take on the Ottawa Senators -- and when the crowd realized he was in attendance, it went crazy.

Bieber and his wife were shown on the jumbotron while they were in their suite seats -- and a loud roar ensued. Both the pop star and Hailey then smiled big and gave a wave.

Will Arnett was there, too -- and the reception he got wasn't shabby either!!

During one of the intermissions, the Leafs paid tribute to Bieber -- as their mascot and a dance team full of talented kids performed choreography to his biggest hits.

Sadly for JB, the night ended with a bit of whimper -- as the Leafs fell to the Senators, 4-2.

Hailee Steinfeld and Josh Allen still appear to be a thing ... 'cause the actress was spotted jetting from L.A. to Buffalo on Saturday just minutes after the QB beat the Chargers at SoFi Stadium.

It's unclear if the "Starving" singer -- who wore a black hoodie and a mask during her airport travels -- was in attendance for Allen's win over the Bolts while in the City of Angels, but given the time, date and place of her flight to New York ... it seems likely.

Of course, that would appear to mean she and Allen are still very much dating -- this after they were first seen together in the spring.

You'll recall, the two had a bit of a romantic dinner date in May that was captured on camera -- and a few weeks later, they were seen packing on the PDA while vacationing in Mexico.

The couple has somehow avoided much of the public eye since -- though her flight over the weekend sure appears to indicate they're still going strong.

Allen was previously in a long-term relationship with Brittany Williams ... but they broke up following his 2022 season. Steinfeld, meanwhile, had dated Niall Horan in the past, though they split in 2018.

John Salley says the Ja Morant critics need to pipe down ... telling TMZ Sports he truly believes the NBA superstar didn't have bad intentions when he appeared to do a gun celebration on Tuesday night.

Salley told us the firearm-themed gestures -- which Morant seemed to hit following a thunderous alley-oop dunk in the Grizzlies' overtime win over the Pelicans -- were merely "a part of hip hop culture" ... and nothing more than that.

"He's not saying, 'Forget ya'll -- I got my gun!'" the four-time NBA champion said on Wednesday. "He probably didn't even realize it."

"It's nothing meaning anything," he added.

Of course, basketball fans all over social media have disagreed with that stance -- with many on X calling it a "tone-deaf" situation ... considering the 24-year-old had just served a 25-game suspension for a string of incidents involving gun-related social media videos.

Salley, however, was just sure there was no ill will involved in the post-dunk celly.

"I don't think he's trying to mock anybody," Salley said. "I don't think he's trying to be mean about it."

"Leave Ja Morant alone ... Leave him alone."

Salley also shared with us his opinion on his former Detroit Pistons squad -- which just lost its 27th game in a row on Tuesday night.

2:48 PM PT -- Aaron Gordon reportedly needed 21 stitches to fix the wounds he suffered in the dog attack on Monday.

Nuggets head coach Michael Malone, meanwhile, said on Wednesday there's currently no timetable for a return for his star -- saying he wants Gordon to "heal inside and out" first.

Aaron Gordon will be away from the Denver Nuggets for the foreseeable future ... after he was attacked by a dog on Christmas.

The NBA org. revealed on Wednesday the 28-year-old was bitten by a pooch following the team's victory over the Golden State Warriors on Monday.

The Nuggets said in a statement the power forward suffered cuts to his face and hand during the incident, but, thankfully, he's "in good condition."

"[He] will remain away from the team while he recovers," the team added.

Gordon looked just fine while playing 31 minutes in the victory over the Dubs just prior to the incident ... scoring 16 points while adding 10 rebounds and three assists.

He's been a key player for Denver since he was traded to the team in 2021 -- helping the Nuggets win their first-ever NBA championship last season.

One fan is preparing for the Duke's Mayo Bowl by glugging a bottle of mayonnaise -- and while we're sure his stomach won't be happy with him later today ... it's clear the vibes are high heading into the big condiment-themed contest!!

The college football fan performed the chug just hours before UNC vs. West Virginia kicked off the bowl game on Wednesday afternoon -- and if you've got a weak tummy, video from the scene might not be for you.

In the clips, you can see the dude was partying at the Duke’s Mayo Bowl FanFest near Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte when he grabbed a tube of mayo and got busy.

The fella -- sporting a Nike hoodie and blue jeans -- took a couple shots and didn't flinch -- and the Duke's social media team was so impressed ... they blasted footage of his feat all over X.

While some were grossed out by it all, it did draw positive reviews, with one fan commenting, "I hope my alma mater gets to play in this bowl someday."

Of course, the mayonnaise guzzle will hardly be the most cringeworthy thing to come from today's bowl game -- after all, the winning coach is slated to be doused in the condiment!!

Jaire Alexander's eyebrow-raising actions during Sunday's pregame ceremonies have just cost him dearly ... because the Packers revealed Wednesday they're suspending him for the debacle.

If you missed it, the Green Bay cornerback ruffled some serious feathers over the weekend when he nearly blew the coin toss for his team just prior to its tilt with the Panthers in Carolina.

Alexander unexpectedly joined the Packers' captains at midfield ... called tails, and when he told the refs he wanted to start the game on defense -- it almost cost the Pack a possession.

Thankfully for Alexander and Green Bay, the snafu got cleared up and the team went on to win 33-30 ... but on Wednesday, the Packers made it clear they're furious over the situation.

General manager Brian Gutekunst said the 26-year-old has been banned one game for the incident ... adding in a statement, "Jaire's actions prior to the game in Carolina led us to take this step."

"As an organization, we have an expectation that everyone puts the team first."

Gutekunst also said the team and Alexander had a conversation about the situation Wednesday morning and the org. "fully" expects him "to learn from this as we move forward together."

Alexander has not publicly commented since the ban was announced -- though in a postgame meeting with reporters Sunday, he didn't show much remorse for his actions ... appearing to say he took it upon himself to go out with the captains since the Packers were playing in his hometown of Charlotte.

Alexander is widely regarded as one of the best young corners in the game -- he's made two Pro Bowls in his six-year career -- although injuries have sidelined him for most of this season.

Russell Wilson has been sidelined in Denver ... the Broncos are benching the future Hall of Famer.

Head coach Sean Payton made the decision this week, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter, informing his team Wednesday that backup Jarrett Stidham will now be the starting signal-caller going forward.

Wilson has been largely a disappointment since Denver traded a bevy of picks and players for him prior to the 2022 season ... but, per Schefter, the move also has a lot to do with the 35-year-old's contract.

Schefter reported Wednesday that leaving Wilson on the bench will ensure he won't get injured -- and therefore $37 million of his contract will not become guaranteed in 2024.

The former Super Bowl champ had arrived in Colorado with huge expectations, but he was one of the worst QBs in the NFL in '22 -- throwing just 16 TD passes to 11 interceptions.

His 2023 campaign, however, had seen far more ups -- he's thrown for 26 TDs and just 8 INTs this season -- but the Broncos are still just 7-8 ... and have lost three of their last four.

Complicating matters further for Wilson, Payton was seen screaming at him on the sidelines during Denver's blowout loss to Detroit earlier this month.

Taylor Swift's fans are seeing red -- more than usual -- because Travis Kelce was spotted with a big ol' red mark on his neck that's giving hickey in a big way ... at least to Swifties!

We present Exhibit A: The Chiefs' tight end was all red-neck'd, in a good way, during the Chiefs' game against the Patriots last weekend. Yes, some fans eagle-eyed fans were still looking at pics from the Dec. 17 game when they discovered what they think is Taylor's love mark on her man.

As you can imagine, they're going nuts over it. Of course, Taylor was in the stands at the Chiefs/Pats game with her dad, Scott -- who is usually an Eagles fan, but threw on some Chiefs garb to show support.

Now, Swifties aside -- just for a moment, gang -- and we have to say that mark on Trav's neck could easily be an ingrown hair or a shaving scar. Yes, we're the wet blanket.

Whatever it was ... the hickey-esque thingy seemed to be gone in time for the Chiefs game on Christmas day game against the Raiders.

Simone Biles' fans are going after her hubby, Jonathan Owens ... relentlessly trolling him on Instagram after the NFL player controversially said he was the "catch" in their relationship.

The Green Bay Packers safety made the remarks on "The Pivot" podcast last week -- saying he didn't know who Biles was when he first met her ... while going on to call himself the real prize in the couple.

The comments were met with outrage -- because, after all, Biles is one of the greatest female competitors to ever walk the Earth -- and her fans are still clearly pissed over them ... with many taking to his social media page recently to throw barbs.

"Merry Christmas to Mr. & Mrs. Simone Biles❤️," one commenter wrote on Owens' Christmas Day post.

"I don’t even know his name," another fan said. "I just know him as Simone Biles's husband."

Others took shots at Owens' bank account ... writing, "Girl have him sign a prenup."

The couple, however, seems unbothered by the backlash -- in fact, Biles actually rushed to his defense days ago, supporting Owens in an IG post.