TMZ Sports - Page 37

NBA star Ricky Rubio is ending his professional basketball career ... revealing he made the decision after going into "a dark place" last offseason.

33-year-old Rubio -- the fifth-overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft -- spent 12 seasons in the Association ... most notably for the Minnesota Timberwolves, where he played from 2011-17.

The Spanish guard joined the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2021 ... but it was announced back in August he would take time away to focus on his mental health.

On Thursday, Rubio shared a statement on his official retirement ... sharing July 30 was "one of the toughest nights of my life," but did not go into detail.

"I kind of knew I was going on that direction, but I've never thought I wasn't under control of the situation," he said.

"The next day, I decided to stop my professional career."

Rubio said he will talk more on what happened at a later date so he can help others going through similar situations ... and will continue to work on his mental well-being moving forward.

"But I am proud to say I'm doing much better and getting better everyday," he added.

Rubio -- who averaged 10.8 points, 4.1 rebounds and 7.4 assists in his career -- said it was a dream to play in the NBA ... thanking the Wolves, Utah Jazz, Phoenix Suns and Cavs for "good memories and great relationships."

Thirty-seven hours and 2,627 strokes later, Barstool Sports personality Jersey Jerry finally did it -- he hit a hole-in-one on a golf simulator ... after huge names like Tom Brady rallied behind the guy on his grueling journey.

For those who haven't been keeping up, the beloved Barstool employee does weekly challenges on his "Jerry After Dark" show ... and this time around, he tasked himself with playing virtual golf until he carded an ace.

As it turns out, Jerry's self-imposed quest was a LOT harder than expected ... and he quickly lost hope in achieving the feat.

Some big stars in the sports world voiced their support for Jerry -- golfers Brooks Koepka and Max Homa ... and even TB12 himself, who sent an encouraging X post to stay the course.

"It's darkest before dawn," the 7-time Super Bowl champ said Thursday morning.

Just minutes later, the moment of glory happened -- Jerry hit his perfect shot, and the entire room erupted in celebration.

Even the PGA Tour chimed in on the accomplishment ... congratulating JJ on the "LegenJerry" performance.

Jerry gave a speech shortly after reaching glory ... and naturally, the diehard Pittsburgh Steelers fan used it as an opportunity to ask T.J. Watt out to dinner.

"T.J. Watt, listen," an emotional and fatigued Jerry said. "I love you so much, bro. We couldn't make dinner happen last year, my dream is to have dinner with T.J. It could be one-on-one, it could be multiple people. I don't care. I just want to have a nice steak, mashed potatoes, asparagus, mac and cheese with T.J. Watt."

The inferno at Tyreek Hill's mansion on Wednesday was caused by a child playing with a lighter ... this according to officials.

A spokesperson for the Davie Fire Department in Florida confirmed to TMZ Sports that investigators believe a youngster inside a bedroom at Hill's Southwest Ranches home started the blaze.

It's unclear if the child is related to Hill or how exactly it was able to ignite the flames -- though according to the DFP rep, because officials formally identified it all as "accidental," no further investigations are taking place.

As we reported, firefighters were first notified of the flames at around 1:50 PM ET ... and a short time later, they were able to knock down the blaze with a water hose.

Officials say, fortunately, no one was injured.

Hill was at Dolphins practice when the fire first broke out -- and, according to the team, he left early to handle the issue. He was seen on the scene at around 3 PM ET with his wife looking concerned as he watched officials try to contain the blaze.

Drew Rosenhaus -- Hill's agent -- said, though, in an interview with 7News that his client was in good spirits despite the situation.

"It is very difficult for anybody, obviously, to have your home catch on fire," Rosenhaus said, "but Hill was handling it with as much poise as you can hope."

Boxing star Jarrell "Big Baby" Miller was arrested on Tuesday ... after he was accused of body-slamming a car dealership employee before stealing a truck.

According to the Hollywood Police Department in Florida, the incident took place at Haims Motors -- a used car lot located about half an hour north of Miami.

Cops say an employee at the dealership told them a woman had approached him and complained that she had left a phone in a truck that the establishment had recently repossessed.

Police say when the employee went to grab the keys to help her get the device back ... Miller grabbed him, put him in a chokehold -- and insisted he fork over the keys.

HPD officers say the employee told them Miller then threw him to the ground, nabbed the keys and jacked the truck.

Cops say that while Miller fled the scene, he was unaware that there was a tracking device in the ride -- and a short time later, officers found him, arrested him, and booked him on charges of carjacking without a firearm or weapon and burglary with assault or battery.

Miller appeared in court on Wednesday ... and during the proceedings, prosecutors said they believed Miller had planned the attack.

"It would appear that Mr. Miller," one official said in the courtroom, "he knew what the plan was going to this business to get his car back."

Miller, however, pled not guilty to the charges ... though jail records show that as of Thursday morning, he's still behind bars in Broward County.

Some guys go with baseball, but Giannis Antetokounmpo's got the Pacers on the mind before knockin' boots ... 'cause the NBA superstar admitted he's constantly thinking about the Bucks' recent struggles against Indiana -- even in the bedroom!!

The Greek Freak made the hilarious soundbite after Milwaukee's 142-130 loss to the Pacers Wednesday night ... which marked the fourth time the Bucks fell to their division opponent in five matchups this season.

When asked about their challenges against Tyrese Haliburton and Co. ... Giannis insisted it's "not the end of the world," but said it's certainly something that's living rent-free in his head at all times.

"I think we realize as a team that there are teams out there that can beat us four times in a season," Antetokounmpo told reporters after the game.

"Now you have that, you think about it -- when you go back home, when you sleep, when you wake up, you think about it. Now, when you go back and work out, you think about it."

"On the All-Star Break, when you gonna be at exciting beach with your family, I hope you think about it. When you're about to get freaky at night, you think about it."

Giannis' comments were met with giggles from the media ... but he quickly got serious again -- saying his crew can now take the losses on the chin and regroup for the rest of the season.

NLE Choppa isn't a fan of Blueface's new "Barbie" remix, considering the fact it's a play for his ex-girlfriend -- so, he's ready to take things to the ring!!!

ICYMI, Blueface used the 'ol beef-n-bait tactic to push Jaidyn Alexis' debut song into higher Billboard contention by name-checking Offset, Cardi B, Soulja Boy as well as Marissa Da'Nae, the mother of NLE's most recent child.

On Thursday, NLE took to X and challenged BF to a duel mano a mano ... "Let’s box who can set up @bluefacebleedem 👿 who can set up a celebrity boxing match in Vegas me and him hit me ASAP. He undefeated vs women ion respect a nigga that put his hands on em anyway !"

NLE was referencing Blueface and Chrisean’s explosive fight where she claimed he ambushed her with punches.

But if NLE was looking to intimidate Blue, his plan backfired … Blueface happily accepted his challenge with the utmost confidence.

He repsonded on X ... “I’m not worried about a Muslim vegan cryp on sY bet that small fry  squabble up or shut up," and added that he gave NLE his first big break with their 2020 collab “Shotta Flow (Remix).”

Fans immediately favored BF in the potential slugfest … he has a few pro-fight wins under his belt, after all, and even survived a stabbing while training.

Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco showed the Lakers a thing or two about how to be a good team Wednesday night ... packing on the PDA at Crypto.com Arena as L.A. continued its struggles on the court.

While LeBron James and Anthony Davis couldn't piece together a victory over the Heat -- who were playing without superstar Jimmy Butler -- Gomez and Blanco made it clear to the world just feet away that their relationship is going as strong as ever.

The couple -- which just went public with their love a few weeks ago -- were inseparable as they sat in their courtside seats.

Gomez was spotted burying herself in Blanco's arms throughout the night -- and at one point, Benny was seen giving her a big smooch on her hand.

A lot of Gomez's fans have taken to social media to bash the relationship recently -- believing the pop star could do better -- but she's making it obvious she's smitten ... and she doesn't care who has a problem with it.

The two were hardly the only A-listers to hit up the game ... Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels and WNBA superstar A'ja Wilson were also in attendance. Dwyane Wade -- with some Miami Heat-colored nails -- was there, too ... and Cedric the Entertainer and Kaytranada also had some sweet seats for the contest as well.

Jeremy Allen White is the new Marky Mark -- no, he's not rapping about "Good Vibrations," but he sure as hell looks hot in the same undies Wahlberg used to rock on larger than life billboards.

The actor launched his partnership with Calvin Klein Thursday with a set of steamy photos of him in the signature white briefs -- showing off his shredded physique.

BTW, looks like he did the shoot -- or at least, part of it -- on a rooftop in NYC, which happens to be his hometown.

JAW's got a lot going for him right now, so this ambassador gig is the icing on the cake -- as you know, he's garnering Oscar buzz for his role as Kerry Von Erich in "The Iron Claw," and he's up for a Best Actor Golden Globe this weekend for his work in "The Bear."

Things also seem to be going well for him in the dating department ... 'cause he was spotted taking a stroll in NYC with his boo, Rosalía, last week.

A naked event is set to take place on the Colorado slopes ... one where the ladies and non-binary skiers are allowed to shred the mountain in just a pair of boots!

Boot Tan Fest is bringing back its annual retreat in March at CO's Sunlight Mountain Resort -- the program is open to those who are non-binary and "female-identifying," and is expected to bring in around 500 people this year.

The event kicks off after the resort closes at 3 PM, but folks attending can enjoy the facilities when it's open to the public during the day ... with their clothes on, of course.

The event first popped up in 2021 with less than 30 participants ... but has certainly garnered a big audience as time went on -- and this year, ticket holders will have access to women-owned brands, a tattoo booth, camping, and live entertainment.

Jenny Verrochi, founder of Boot Tan Fest, said the fun in the snow is all about putting up a welcoming environment ... saying, "Come by yourself and you’re sure to walk away with friends."

BTW, going fully nude isn't a mandate for this thing ... but seeing how popular this ski event is, it looks like you'd be in the minority if ya don't strip it off.

Dunking is definitely in Bronny James's DNA ... the star USC freshman looked just like his pops LeBron as he threw down a rim-rocking alley-oop during Wednesday's game!

The 4-star recruit added a highlight to his college basketball reel during the first half of USC's home game against California at the Galen Center in downtown Los Angeles.

Trojans star and future top lottery pick Isaiah Collier stole the ball and pushed down the court, throwing a sweet lob to Bronny for the two-handed jam.

The crowd went crazy!

James ended up dropping 10 points in the 82-74 win, their 7th of the season.

Bronny, since debuting for USC in mid-December, is averaging 7.5 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.7 assists.

It wasn't just college hoops fans who went wild over the dunk ... so did dad. LeBron posted video on his Instagram like a proud papa.

Watching the clip, you surely see similarities -- especially in the number 6 jersey -- with how the James' move ... despite Bronny being a few inches shorter than his father.

Not to play favorites with his kids, the NBA legend also shared a highlight from his younger son, Sierra Canyon star Bryce James, who also dunked in his game last night ... which the Trailblazers won 91-52.

A Seahawks fan says Marshawn Lynch turned into Beastmode outside of a Seattle bar over the weekend ... smashing his phone during an altercation.

The Hawks supporter's name is Jose Lozano ... and he tells TMZ Sports the incident all happened in front of Xtadium in downtown Seattle on Sunday at around 1:30 AM.

Lozano says he tried to get a pic with Lynch inside of the bar earlier in the night -- but was denied by the Seahawks legend's friends ... who told him straight up, "No pictures."

However, when Lozano spotted Lynch outside of the establishment a short time later, he made one final attempt to get the former Seattle tailback to stop for a photo before he called it a night.

In video from the scene, you can see Lozano approach Lynch -- who's wearing a Beastmode sweatshirt -- and yell, "Marshawn! Beastmode! Let me a take a --."

Suddenly, though, Lynch appears to lunge at Lozano's phone -- before the footage cuts out.

Lozano tells us once the camera stopped rolling, Lynch grabbed his phone and screamed, "Y'all mother f***ers are weird," before he busted up the device with his hands. Eventually, Lozano said he was able to get the phone back just prior to Lynch leaving the area.

Lozano tells us he didn't realize his phone -- an iPhone 14 that he purchased just a few months ago -- was broken until several minutes had passed, but he said he has no intentions of going to police now over the incident because he's such a huge fan ... although he did say he wished Lynch hadn't been so "rude."

This, of course, is not the first time Marshawn has been accused of swiping at fans' phones ... back in 2017, he smacked a phone from a man's hands while out at LAX.

Former New York Giants running back Derrick Ward is fighting back in his robbery case ... pleading not guilty to the charges that prosecutors hit him with last month.

The one-time Super Bowl champion appeared in a Los Angeles-area courtroom on Wednesday to issue the pleas, according to the New York Post.

Ward wore a light-colored sweater and black pants for the proceedings ... and appeared stoic.

Court records show the 43-year-old is now facing seven counts of second-degree robbery in the case ... after authorities say he stole from several businesses in L.A., including gas stations.

Officials claim Ward did not use a firearm to commit the crimes -- but coerced employees to hand over goods using force and fear.

Ward was arrested back on Dec. 18 following the allegations. Records show he ultimately posted $100,000 bond this month. He's now due back for another hearing in the case in early February.

Rick Ross just so happens to be neighbors with Tyreek Hill -- and was home as the Miami Dolphins' star's mansion went up in flames earlier this afternoon -- documenting the inferno in real-time.

The MMG rapper immediately jetted out to his front lawn Wednesday when he spotted the smoke, met by fire truck sirens and helicopters swirling the Southwest Ranches community.

The Boss captured the fire trucks working overtime in attempts to douse the flames.

Rozay gave his take on the source of the blaze, saying he believed it was caused by an electrical disturbance.

Bryce Mitchell was on the wrong end of one of the most frightening and brutal knockouts in MMA history, and now the UFC fighter has been banned from sparring or fighting for six months ... a restriction he imposed on himself.

If you watched the UFC 296 bout between Josh Emmett and Mitchell on December 12, it's a scene you're unlikely to forget. Just minutes into the fight, JE, a heavy hitter, landed a crushing right to Bryce's head, sending him crumbling to the Octagon floor. Mitchell began to convulse in what was an incredibly scary incident to witness.

Thankfully, after some time passed, Bryce was able to walk off under his own power.

The knockout immediately went viral.

In the aftermath, Mitchell is taking his health seriously, telling ESPN he's in his "own concussion protocol."

"I'll consult with my coaches, too, and we're basically just saying, 'You know, don't spar for six months,'" Mitchell said.

The 29-year-old fighter, who stepped up on short notice to fight Emmett after Giga Chikadze was forced to pull out, also pointed out he's got a lot going on in his personal life ... including the upcoming birth of his first baby. He's also building a house.

It's a hectic time that the featherweight will use to fully heal up.

But, when mid-2024 rolls around, it's right back on the horse for Bryce.

“I’m right into my next training after that. The good thing is I don’t have to rush into it.”

As for the knockout, Mitchell said the hardest part for him was dealing with everyone else worrying.

“The worst part is dealing with everybody afterwards, 'cause they all thought I was dead.”

Bryce, though, did find a silver lining.

"On the bright side, that was the easiest fight for me. I've never had a fight where I've come out feeling so great. I just woke up in the ambulance and barely remembered what happened. There's no pain, I'm telling you."

Chandler Jones is adding to his body ink collection -- this time, the current NFL free agent decided to have the word "Messiah" forever etched across the top of his head.

33-year-old Jones shared footage of his most recent tattoo session at a shop in Arizona on Wednesday ... showing an artist putting the needle to his dome as he calmly sat through the process.

After the job was finished, Jones said he heard his late mother, Camille, tell him to stop getting tattoos.

Jones has seemingly hit a rough patch since the Las Vegas Raiders cut him back in September ... including numerous run-ins with law enforcement and bizarre Instagram posts.

It's unclear what exactly is going on with the Super Bowl champion ... but his followers have expressed concern and support in the comment section of his uploads.

TMZ Sports is told Chandler has been staying with his brother, Arthur, recently ... and being around family has done a lot of good for his situation.

12:28 PM PT -- A spokesperson for the Davie Fire Dept. tells TMZ Sports ... they first received a call about the fire at Tyreek Hill's home at around 1:50 PM ET.

There were occupants inside the residence when the blaze broke out, the spokesperson said ... but all were safely evacuated and no one suffered any injuries.

The spokesperson added the fire is currently under control -- though it's yet to be determined what started it all.

12:06 PM PT -- Tyreek Hill and his wife have just shown up at the property.

The Dolphins star -- wearing a white T-shirt, sweats and a boot to protect his injured ankle -- looked concerned as he watched firefighters put out the blaze.

A Florida home belonging to NFL superstar Tyreek Hill has caught on fire ... and rescue crews are now on the scene working to put out the blaze.

Flames could be seen poking through the roof of the Southwest Ranches mansion throughout Wednesday afternoon ... and firefighters have been attempting to knock down the inferno with a water hose for much of the last hour or so.

Thankfully, a spokesperson for the Dolphins told media members neither Hill nor his family are in any danger. The Miami rep added Hill has left Fins practice to go get a handle on the situation.

Hill -- who was traded to the Dolphins prior to last season -- reportedly purchased the place in 2022 for nearly $7 million.

He's in the middle of an MVP-caliber season -- logging 112 catches for 1,717 yards and 12 TDs.

The Dolphins are slated to play in a pivotal game against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday night that will decide the AFC East.