TMZ Sports - Page 39

LeBron James enlisted his most famous friends like Jay-Z, Beyoncé and Anthony Davis to celebrate his birthday in Los Angeles on Monday ... but there was one guy on the guest list who was a bit of a surprise -- suspended Warriors star Draymond Green.

The King -- whose special day was on Dec. 30 -- hosted his buds at Hyde Sunset for his 39th trip around the sun ... and there appeared to be a fun theme for the night, as A.D. and Draymond showed up in flashy outfits.

Green -- who hasn't played since his Dec. 12 incident with Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkić -- appeared to be in great spirits as he entered the venue alongside Davis, who was rocking an iconic 'fro.

Of course, Draymond is getting help during his time away from the team ... with reports saying he is seeking counseling before suiting up for the Dubs again.

He'll remain sidelined through at least the early part of January ... but his attendance at his good friend's shindig is proof he's not worried about staying lowkey during his ban.

Speaking of lowkey, Jay and Bey tried their hardest to stay hidden as they made their entrance ... with security putting up umbrellas and blankets in hopes of keeping cameras from getting a shot.

Dwayne Johnson returned to the WWE on Monday night, making a surprise appearance at RAW -- and it's safe to say following an electric few minutes on the mic and in the ring ... the crowd definitely smelled what he was cooking.

The 51-year-old -- who hasn't been seen in the WWE since September -- shocked fans at Pechanga Arena in San Diego when he interrupted Jinder Mahal's anti-American rant to open up a can of whoop ass.

The Rock slowly made his way to the ring after Mahal had bashed the U.S. in a minutes-long promo ... and when he eventually stood in front of the former WWE champ, Dwayne popped off insult after insult after insult.

In fact, at one point, Dwayne was able to get the crowd to call Mahal a "douche bag" over and over again in a unified chant.

Ultimately, a brawl between the guys broke out  -- but The Rock put an end to things quickly with a Spinebuster followed by his signature People's Elbow.

After Mahal ran away, The Rock electrified the crowd further ... calling out Roman Reigns.

If you're a baseball fan with a quarter of a million dollars lyin' around -- you're in luck ... 'cause an ultra-rare bat that Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente once used and signed is about to go on sale!!

TMZ Sports has learned ... the Hillerich & Bradsby signature model U1 bat that Clemente swung during the 1971 season is hitting Heritage Auctions in February -- and it's awesome.

The 36-inch, 35.5-ounce relic has been photo-matched ... and it's also been autographed by Clemente himself.

The inscription -- which Clemente made out to famed memorabilia collector Carey Diab -- reads, "To my friend Carey, Best Wishes Always, Roberto Clemente." It also has the No. 21 written on the knob.

Experts at Heritage Auctions expect it to go for $250K when it ultimately sells ... explaining, "It is one of a tiny handful of known photo-matched Clemente gamers."

Clemente was the first Caribbean and Latin-American MLB player to be inducted into the Hall of Fame after playing 18 seasons in the pros. In his career, he logged 3,000 hits and 240 home runs.

He also won two World Series with the Pittsburgh Pirates and became a 15-time All-Star, a four-time NL batting champ, and an NL MVP. Clemente also won 12 Gold Gloves.

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce started 2024 off with a bang ... or at least a steamy kiss in a now-viral video sweeping social media.

The songstress and the NFL star grabbed each other at midnight with Taylor wrapping her arms around Travis' neck and pulling him in close for a smooch.

While partygoers around them noticed the two going at it, the happy couple seemed too preoccupied with one another to care.

It's not clear exactly where the lovebirds rang in the New Year, but it's likely they stuck around Kansas City after Travis' game against the Bengals.

As we previously reported ... T-Swift pulled up to Arrowhead Stadium solo Sunday afternoon to cheer on her beau, a common occurrence these days.

Taylor has become a staple at Chiefs games since she and Travis went public back in September. She's even traveled to the frigid Northeast to take in a couple games this season.

As for what the pair's plans for the new year might be, that's anyone's guess. We know Taylor and Travis wanted to spend the holidays together after being apart for Thanksgiving, and T-Swift's got shows in Japan coming up in February.

In the interim though, Tayvis seems content on enjoying their time together ... and each other's mouths as well.

Another year sailed by in Hollywood, and tons of stars were ready to bid 2023 adieu ... while partying hard to ring in 2024 right!

Dua Lipa kicked her year off with a drink in hand while posing with a fan out in Jaipur, India. Perhaps the 28-year-old even got "One Kiss" at midnight?

David and Victoria Beckham kept it classy, as they always do, with a couple glasses of white wine, probably toasting the success of their new Netflix docuseries.

And, Lindsay Lohan and her husband Bader Shammas had a ton to celebrate on NYE after the "Mean Girls" star gave birth to their first child in July.

Other celebs enjoying the night out ... Naomi Campbell, Julia Fox, Ian Somerhalder, Nikki Reed, Emma Roberts, Don Lemon and Jeff Zucker, Demi Lovato and her fiancé Jutes, Alix Earle, April Love Geary, Robin Thicke, Jack White Hall, Rod Stewart, Molly-Mae Hague, Tommy Fury, Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodriguez, Geri Halliwell-Horner and Christian Horner, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Michael Douglas, Elizabeth Hurley and Arun Nayar.

Tom Brady was apparently ready to get back on the gridiron not long after announcing his retirement (again) this year ... now revealing he damn near put on his shoulder pads again.

The retired QB and the G.O.A.T. of football made the shocking confession in an end-of-year IG post that featured a collection of photos of him, his kids and other loved ones in various settings throughout 2023 ... all of which looks to be quality time well-spent with family.

He writes, "Looking back on 2023 grateful for every moment. Cherishing the highs, learning from the lows, and looking forward to what’s coming next. I’m blessed to have family and friends filled with so much love, joy, and compassion surrounding me."

TB12 goes on to say that he recommends everyone connect with the people they love as much as possible, as they're all that matters at the end of the day.

He then ends with this ... "PS: The only downside to 2023 was when I was about to unretire in May and my friends threw a surprise retirement party. Kind of forced my hand."

Sounds like he's serious ... which, if true, then it's absolutely nuts -- especially when you consider he already faked retired the year prior, only to undo it and go for another season.

This also seems to prove that he was somewhat BS'ing when he claimed a report saying this exact thing could possibly happen was "fake news." As it turns out, there was in fact some truth to it ... but in the end, Tom obviously decided to stay retired for good.

Of course, he's got that big FOX Sports broadcasting job for him on the horizon -- which, by all accounts, he's been vigorously prepping for next season. Still, the dude can't seem to stay away from football -- as a matter of fact, he's been critical of the state of the game lately.

Former NFL star Muhammad Wilkerson was arrested again last week ... after cops say he drove drunk with a loaded gun tucked beneath his car seat.

According to court documents, obtained by TMZ Sports, Wilkerson was initially pulled over by police in Morris County, New Jersey back on Dec. 22 at 6:41 AM.

During the stop, cops suspected he was under the influence ... saying a strong odor of alcohol was emanating from the former New York Jets pass rusher's ride.

In the docs, cops say at one point during questioning, Wilkerson told them he was coming from a New York City club ... and a short time later, they say he failed field sobriety tests.

Wilkerson was placed under arrest -- and afterward, cops said during a search of his vehicle they not only found an open bottle of Don Julio tequila ... but also an FN 509 Tactical Handgun with 11 hollow point bullets inside of it.

Police said Wilkerson told them the firearm was purchased in Florida -- but he did not provide them proper documentation.

Court records show Wilkerson has since been tagged with a bevy of charges in the case -- including operating a vehicle while under the influence and unlawful possession of a handgun.

He's due in court for hearings on the matter next month.

This, of course, is not the first time Wilkerson has been accused of drinking and driving ... he was arrested for DWI in 2020 and 2019 as well.

Taylor Swift is ending the year watching her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, play football -- capping off what's been a whirlwind romance full of memories ... not to mention NFL appearances.

The pop star was once again in the building at Arrowhead Stadium Sunday to catch the K.C. Chiefs play one last home game against the Cincinnati Bengals ... and just like she usually does, she rolled up in a golf cart down below and made her way to her luxury box suite.

Looks like she was cruising solo this time around, whereas last week ... she had some company in her mom and brother, who joined her for the big Christmas game there in town.

T-Swift was looking pretty stylish here for the NYE matchup ... dressed in all black, aside from a sweet white Chiefs letterman jacket she was rocking as she made her way up to the stands. If it wasn't obvious by now, she'll be spending New Year's there in Kansas City.

Like we said, Taylor attending games has become a bit of a pastime this year -- ever since she and TK went public with their relationship toward the start of the season ... she's gone in person to watch him several different times, and sometimes in totally different cities too.

At each stop, Taylor has been seen rooting and screaming her heart out for her man ... oftentimes memorably, whether it's cursing at a bad call or celebrating with handshakes.

While she and Travis were apart for a bit during Thanksgiving -- when she jetted on down to Brazil for a few shows as part of her 'Eras' tour -- they've spent the majority of the holidays together ... and their bond is going strong. From the looks of it, this could be the real deal.

From the NFL side ... you best believe the league has loved them as a couple, especially when Taylor shows up in person. The ratings have ballooned at most of her games ... as she seems to have drawn in a whole new audience who might've otherwise not watched.

Some diehard football fans have become annoyed with the attention Taylor commands -- but hey, it's entertainment at the end of the day ... and this is where worlds collide for big $$$.

Anyway, it's pretty safe to say she's probably had the biggest year out of anyone in showbiz.

Tom Brady's massive new home is seemingly nearing the end of construction, as new photos show the extent of the build taken on by contractors for the NFL legend.

The home is huge, no doubt, but it's the extent of accessories and add-ons that the finished project is set to contain that is really the shock factor.

According to Daily Mail -- the home is estimated to cost close to $11.5 million when all is said and done -- complete with a waterfront, a massive pool with spa, multiple gyms and room for plenty of cars in his garage.

Of course, Tom purchased the property back in 2020 when he was still married to Gisele Bundchen for a reported $17 million.

Tom's taken the last year off after retiring last season from the NFL, considered the best QB to ever do it. Don't worry though, the lack of work doesn't have him strapped for cash -- Tom's worth an estimated $500 million.

Not to mention, whenever he's ready for it, he's signed on with FOX as an NFL commentator for $375 million ... so ya, if he wanted, he could build the same house a bunch of times over.

Gypsy Rose Blanchard is back home in Louisiana ... making it official, she'll miss out on a possible meeting with Taylor Swift after sources close told us she was asked to leave the state of Missouri.

Sporting a New Orleans Saints jersey, Gypsy posted a short video Sunday thanking fans for their support across her platforms on social media. Gypsy says it's nice to be home, and enjoying a day outside celebrating her freedom.

Already a marketing whiz, Gypsy announces she's got a lot of big things on the way, including her upcoming docuseries on LifeTime and her recently released ebook ... which she calls a reflection on everything she learned during her time behind bars.

TMZ broke the story, Gypsy and her husband had planned on attending Sunday's Chiefs game in Kansas City where she had hoped to possibly run into Taylor Swift -- who is likely to be in attendance cheering on boyfriend, Travis Kelce.

That plan was sidelined Saturday, as sources close to Gypsy tell us her parole officers wanted her out of the state ... unclear exactly why, but our sources say local officials contacted the parole team to tell them they wanted her out of MO stat.

It's possible they felt Gypsy's presence in Missouri could pose as a safety risk, especially if she had plans to attend a game with tens of thousands of others.

It was a not-so-happy birthday for LeBron James after the NBA legend was seemingly robbed of a three-pointer in a close game on his 39th Bday.

LeBron and company were in Minnesota Saturday night with the clock winding down, LeBron hoisted up and made what he thought was a three-pointer to tie the game at 107 with only 2 seconds and change remaining.

However, the referees said LeBron's foot was on the three-point line, making the score 107-106 in favor of the Timberwolves.

The play was then reviewed, and it appeared to show LeBron's foot was, in fact, behind the three-point line ... but the officials remained unchanged, which understandably set James off. The Timberwolves went on to win the game 108-106.

After the game, LeBron didn't hold back, talking with reporters, he said, "It’s obviously a 3. My foot is behind the line. I mean, you can see the space between the front of my foot and the 3-point line. You can clearly see a white, the wood on the floor, there’s a space in between the front of my foot and the 3-point line. So, you know, Stevie Wonder can see that, champ."

He continued, "It’s super frustrating in the sense of what the hell we got a replay for? What do we have replay for if even the replay gets it wrong? It’s like, who’s the part of the replay center? Like, do we got robots in there that's making the Teslas? What’s going on? If you don’t see that, that is clear, that is clear."

Legendary Kansas City running back Christian Okoye is urging the Taylor Swift critics to shake off their hate -- telling TMZ Sports the pop star is absolutely not the reason for Travis Kelce's struggles this season.

"She has nothing to do with how the team's doing right now," Okoye said emphatically this week.

Of course, there are many who are disagreeing with the Nigerian Nightmare these days ... as Kelce's play has dropped off dramatically from where it had been earlier this season.

He's only scored one touchdown since Week 8 -- and the Chiefs have subsequently lost five of their last eight games.

But Okoye says none of that is Swift's fault -- telling us defenses have simply come up with schemes to neutralize Kelce.

"Taylor Swift is not on the field," Okoye said. "Travis is playing like he always plays. Teams are just doubling up on him now knowing that our receivers are dropping the balls."

Okoye says the game film tells the real story -- explaining, "All of the sudden teams figured out if they can double him up and hold [Patrick] Mahomes in the pocket, everything will be all right for them. And that's what they're doing."

Okoye added he's loved what Swift has brought to the team this year.

"When you're doing bad, people have to find excuses," Okoye said. "And they have to point fingers. Especially those who don't like the situation about Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce."

"Those people are pointing fingers and making it up right now. So I have to tell you they are wrong."

Okoye was hopeful the team could get back on track when Swift undoubtedly attends K.C.'s game later Sunday against the Bengals.

If Michael Lombardi was running the Bears, this season would be Justin Fields' last in Chicago -- 'cause he tells TMZ Sports dumping the QB and drafting a different one is what's best for the franchise going forward.

The former Cleveland Browns general manager said he simply hasn't seen enough from the Bears' current starter to pass on guys like Caleb Williams, Drake Maye or Michael Penix Jr. in next April's NFL draft.

"I think you need a better player at the position," Lombardi said. "Someone who can throw the football with more regularity that doesn't have to wait for the second play."

Don't get it twisted, Lombardi says Fields will definitely have value on the trade market due to his unique ability to run with the football ... he just believes Chicago needs a more pure passer to make a serious runs at the playoffs.

"I think at the end of the day, it's still a passing league," he said, "and you have to throw the football effectively."

The Bears, of course, have not come to a decision with their current signal-caller ... although one will definitely need to be made in the next few months -- as they're poised to own the top pick in the draft due to a trade with Carolina in the offseason.

Lombardi also had some advice for the Patriots -- another team that will have to make a tough choice this offseason -- explaining to us that he would not move on from Bill Belichick if he were running that org.

Bam Margera is famously afraid of snakes, which makes this new video all the more cringe-worthy to watch ... as he tries (and mostly succeeds in) facing that fear.

The former 'Jackass' star appeared in a new segment from a group of young pranksters called the MadHouse Boys -- who posted the full video on their YouTube page capturing the moment they had BM confront a giant python face-to-face.

Check it out ... Bam's blindfolded from the jump, and as soon as they remove it -- he sees what's in front of him and makes a run for it. After some cajoling though, he comes back.

As you see, he eventually brings himself to pose with the python -- thanks to his fiancée Dannii Marie, who stuck it out with him and helped him overcome his crippling anxiety.

Later in the video, the MadHouse guys give him a much smaller snake to hold on his own -- and he conquers that, too ... albeit, with a lot of wincing and squirming around. Still though!

Bam's fear of snakes is well-documented -- he did a bunch of stunts with Johnny Knoxville and co. back in the day that put him right in the midst of these slithering beasts -- and he freaked the hell out each and every time. Good content then, and great content now.

Gypsy Rose Blanchard has overstayed her welcome in Missouri post-prison, 'cause she's gotten the ol' GTFOH from cops ... dashing any hope of a Swiftie meetup, for now.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... the recently-released ex-con -- who was cut loose into the wild Thursday from a state prison there in the area -- was recently notified by her parole officer that she and her loved ones needed to get outta Missouri.

The reasoning behind this is a bit unclear, but what we do know is that Gypsy was told local law enforcement officials spoke to the state corrections unit and notified them they wanted her gone ASAP. We're told this might be because of security risks her continued presence might present to the KC area ... where she's been hanging out for the past 24 hours or so.

It's true ... GRB has become a local celebrity during her brief time in town, taking photos with fans, and stopping/chatting with paps that have been hounding her. During the time she's been out behind bars, Gypsy has most certainly drawn a helluva lot of attention.

In any case, our sources tell us Gyspy's heard 'em loud and clear ... and is currently on her way to her husband's home in Louisiana -- which, of course, means she won't be at Sunday's Chiefs game.

We're told Gypsy is bummed about this development, as she and her hubby had plans to attend for a while now -- with tickets in hand dating back months and even some Chiefs merch ready to go that she got for Christmas. With that said, our sources say she gets it and is grateful to be freed.

As we reported ... Gypsy was hoping to meet Taylor Swift while at Arrowhead, with a Hail Mary shout-out that she hoped TS would see. Of course, it was a long shot to begin with.

Now, in terms of why Gypsy was allowed to roam around Kansas City to begin with -- we're told it had to do with the timing of her release (very, very early) which led MDOC to allow her to stay overnight in town at an Airbnb ... where her family partied.

Like we said, she's been living it up since getting back on the outside -- now, she'll just have to do it another state ... 'cause Missouri's told her to beat it, and she absolutely did.

Pretty crazy 48 hours for Gypsy, but it's nothing compared to her life story in general -- which, BTW, is going to be spotlighted in a new Lifetime special that's airing on Jan. 5.

The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard is a 3-night event that'll touch on the whole saga ... dating back to when she helped plan the murder of her abusive mother -- and it features a first-person perspective from GRB herself on her own newsworthy story.

Ray Rice will be honored by the Baltimore Ravens this weekend in front of fans -- this almost 10 years after he infamously knocked out his significant other in an elevator.

The ex-star running back has been tapped to be the focus of Sunday's "Legend of the Game" ceremony at M&T Bank Stadium ... where they'll formally recognize his achievements both on and off the field during and after his time with the team, which ended in 2014.

His professional accolades are unquestioned -- 3-time Pro Bowler and a SB champ, among other impressive stats -- but the obvious question ... is he worthy of a spotlight after his horrific domestic violence incident? The Ravens seem to think he's earned a 2nd chance.

The team's own article on this major news is quoted as saying ... "Rice is being recognized for the player he was, and for the redemption he has worked towards. Out of the public eye, Rice has been working on himself, his relationship, and within the community."

On that front, it's true ... Rice has become an incredibly philanthropic person in and around Baltimore since 2014 -- having contributed to a number of charitable orgs, speaking on behalf of important causes (preventing DV) and contributing mightily to local youths' lives.

Rice has also acknowledged how wrong he was for punching his then-girlfriend/now-wife, Janay Palmer, which left her completely unconscious. He now says, "I truly understand why I was let go and why so many hearts changed. But hopefully people can see where I'm at now. They say people can change, right? I am not the same person I was 10-12 years ago. That's just not who I am." He says he's trying to be the best version of himself in 2023.

Ravens Prez Sashi Brown adds ... "He was also consistently in the community, giving back. Importantly, after Ray's incident he owned it. On his own accord, Ray undertook critical work within himself and to bring awareness to and educate others on domestic violence. Nothing will change his past or make it right, but Ray's work has allowed him to atone for his actions and rebuild relationships personally and professionally, including with the Ravens."

Ray has returned to Baltimore before for a 'LOTF' ceremony -- notably in 2018, when he attended on behalf of others being honored and received a warm welcome from fans.