TMZ Sports - Page 6

It was all love in Portland for Damian Lillard ... the NBA star got a standing ovation from fans in his first return to the Moda Center since he was traded to the Bucks.

The big show of appreciation came Wednesday night when the Bucks faced the Blazers on their home court, months after Dame was traded from Portland, after 11 seasons, to Milwaukee.

The sold-out crowd got on their feet and cheered for their former guard during player introduction ... and Lillard was overwhelmed with emotions.

"It was a fun game," the 8x All-Star said at his post-game press conference, "I think these types of games, you know, where it's just a lot of meaning, it's a lot of emotion to it."

"That's what tonight was. It was an entertaining game, it was excitement, the fans were into the game for a lot of reasons. That's what the NBA is."

Lillard also got a video tribute on the jumbotron from the Blazers organization.

Speaking of videos, Kevin Durant also made his first return to the Barclay Center since the Nets traded him to the Phoenix Suns ... Brooklyn also gave him a tribute, too.

FYI, Durant seemingly didn't want a video ... saying he didn't deserve one days ahead of the game.

"I was there for three years, four years and we didn’t accomplish anything worth being celebrated for," Durant told The Arizona Republic.

"That’s just how I feel."

The youth baseball league that had its beloved Jackie Robinson statue stolen and destroyed has received more than enough money to replace the tribute ... with over $175k raised so far for the cause.

As we previously reported, League 42 in Wichita, Kansas had its bronze figure of the baseball legend taken from outside its facility last week ... and unfortunately, it was found wrecked beyond repair in a trash can fire at a nearby park on Tuesday.

A GoFundMe was set up to help replace the Robinson statue ... and while it had an estimated value of $75,000, the campaign has since surpassed its goal.

League 42 says it will keep the fundraiser active ... as the extra money can help the program in many other ways -- like funding the organization's education programs and revamping several fields that need new lighting and artificial turf.

League 42 says its annual budget has risen to $400k a year ... and the money raised will continue to help young kids learn the sport without having to worry about high entry fees.

The org. released a statement on the support Thursday morning ... saying, "What people are doing and have done to support League 42 makes all of us -- our families, board members, staff and players -- grateful beyond words."

"There really are no words to describe the past week. But rest assured, we are so very thankful for the support and generosity being shown to us."

Move over, Tom Brady ... Patrick Mahomes' teammate, Justin Reid, says the Chiefs star is making a real-deal run at the NFL's GOAT title!!

In fact, the Kansas City defensive back tells TMZ Sports his quarterback might already have supplanted TB12 for the honor!!

"The guy is a Hall of Famer," Reid said of Mahomes. "First ballot. Probably the best player in NFL history. And he just keeps getting better."

Reid gushed over Mahomes just days after the 28-year-old signal-caller helped the Chiefs beat the Ravens in the AFC Championship Game ... saying point blank he and his squadmates never think they're out of a game as long as Mahomes is under center.

"You can be down 24," he told us. "You can be up 15. Whatever it is -- as long as Fifteen has the ball in his hands, you know you've got a shot to win."

Reid obviously has a little bias -- after all, Mahomes might help earn his second Super Bowl ring next week -- but he might not be wrong.

Pat is about to make his FOURTH trip to the Super Bowl in his sixth season as a starter -- and with two MVPs and six Pro Bowl honors already on his resume ... he'd almost certainly have a bust in Canton in five years if he retired following next week's big game.

Reid also had a bunch of other complimentary things to say about his team ... including kind words for his defensive coordinator, Steve Spagnuolo.

Reid said the assistant coach "really cares" about his players ... and he loves him so much, he's actually created "In Spags We Trust" tees, which he's selling for a good cause.

We just got past Hump Day here at TMZ, and now -- we're in the final stretch of the week ... but that doesn't mean we're letting up on the gas for the stories we cover on TV.

On 'TMZ Live' Wednesday, we talked about the shocking arrests of Courtney Clenney's parents in Texas -- who've been knee-deep in her murder case ... perhaps too much so, according to prosecutors.

Take a listen to hear all about why they got busted, and what the authorities in Florida are alleging her folks did in an effort to clear their daughter's name ... it's absolutely wild.

Things were just as bumpy on on 'TMZ on TV,' where the gang dove into this supposed "holy war" that Donald Trump and his cronies are reportedly ready to wage against Taylor Swift.

It might sound kinda funny, but based on the reports out there about this -- DT and co. are definitely not laughing ... and they seem set to go to the mat ahead of the 2024 election.

On 'TMZ Sports,' Michael and Mojo covered this neat new auction that's hawking some footballs Tom Brady once threw for Super Bowl glory. Take a guess on how much they could fetch ... it's a lot!

Check your local listings for when TMZ is on in your area or catch up on past episodes!

Taylor Swift has no chance of swaying the 2024 election -- this according to Congressman Tim Burchett ... though, a prominent dueling Representative says otherwise.

Rep. Burchett chopped it up with a photog in D.C. Wednesday -- where he said he doesn't care for a TS endorsement ... cause she lost him when she left country music, and he hasn't cared for her since. So, Swift's seal of approval means absolutely nada to him.

Tim's TS loathing doesn't end there ... he says her NFL influence may be significant with more people than ever tuning into the sport ... but he personally hasn't watched a game in years despite being the captain of his high school football team back in '87 ... so, in his mind, her influence can't be that big of a deal.

Basically, he tells the cameraman she's all talk cause she previously came out to speak against Tennessee's Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn ... and it didn't move the needle.

Tim adds that a celeb endorsement doesn't mean much in general ... all it does is just become a scenario where both teams think they've won by bringing in top dogs as backup.

So, that recent poll that showed 18% of voters were "more likely" to vote for a candidate endorsed by Tay? Tim's essentially pouring cold water on it ... saying it's total BS.

While Tim's adamant about his stance, former Tennessee Rep. Jim Cooper, who Taylor endorsed for House of Representatives in 2018, tells TMZ he's got it all wrong -- cause TS' endorsement is the best endorsement you can have -- period.

He says anyone who cares about Taylor having a voice in politics is jealous they didn't get her endorsement ... cause, at the end of the day, she's got a massive 29 million followers on her socials and can easily influence swing states that are really close in numbers.

Also, her fans are well and truly devoted ... meaning they're game for anything, he says.

Jim's a massive Taylor fan ... and says she's handled all politics-related matters with complete brilliance and wholesomeness, which is refreshing. He also can't resist touching on her Travis Kelce romance -- saying it plays out like a Hollywood movie.

Back to Tim though ... he goes on to talk about the current political climate ... expressing hopes more young voters will come out and vote because historically, they don't.

Shaquille O'Neal values education, and now the legendary big man is making college substantially more affordable ... as American students continue to fall deeper into debt.

O'Neal, along with 29-year-old business partner Tade Oyerinde, talked to TMZ Sports this week about their company, Campus, and its goal to revolutionize 2-year degrees.

Think of Campus, which Oyerinde, now the Chancellor, founded in 2022 ... as an affordable, online community college where students have an opportunity to earn an associate's degree.

Unlike the typical community college experience, Campus' professors come from some of the most prestigious universities, such as Princeton.

O'Neal, who attended LSU, is investing in Campus, joining other high-profile investors like OpenAI founder Sam Altman and billionaire Michael Bloomberg ... as the men throw their money and time behind the concept.

We asked Shaq why he decided to get involved.

"I like to invest in things that are gonna change people's lives, and this will definitely change a person's life. Everyone to be able to have access to world-class education is very important. When I first met Tade he told me 'DFD. I was like, 'What does that mean? Debt-free degrees,'" O'Neal told Babcock.

Of course, student loan debt is a huge problem ... with U.S. students/graduates owing lenders to the tune of $1.7 TRILLION. Campus says they want to stem the bleeding by providing affordable schooling.

Tuition at Campus clocks in at just over $7k for the year ... which pales in comparison to the average cost for a college education.

Patrick Mahomes is continuing to put up big numbers -- but he didn't even have to lift a finger this time around ... 'cause the Kansas City Chiefs superstar's game-worn jersey just sold at an auction for a record-breaking amount!!

Mahomes' No. 15 home threads worn during Week 5 of the 2022 season -- when the Chiefs hosted the Las Vegas Raiders at Arrowhead Stadium -- hit the auction block with Goldin recently ... and after 32 bids, it found a new owner for $213,500.

The final price tag is significant -- as it marks the most expensive Mahomes jersey ever sold at auction.

The two-time NFL MVP wore the red jersey as he led his Chiefs squad to victory with 292 yards and four touchdowns ... and it's still in its original shape -- including stains and contact marks.

Speaking of records, Mahomes can move up an important list in a few weeks in Las Vegas -- if he throws two TD passes in the Super Bowl, he will pass Peyton Manning for the 5th-most in NFL postseason history.

If that happens, the 28-year-old will only trail Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers, Joe Montana, and, of course, Tom Brady ... and all his memorabilia will continue to rise in value.

The man who hosted the ill-fated Kansas City Chiefs watch party that ended with three deaths is reportedly seeking addiction help in rehab -- and TMZ has learned more info about the deceased that could provide clues about what might've happened.

Jordan Willis -- who invited several friends to his K.C.-area home to watch the Chiefs play in early January -- is now seeking treatment for substance abuse -- with his attorney saying he "recognized that he had a problem with addiction" ... this in the aftermath of his three friends turning up dead in his backyard after a night of watching football ... according to Fox News.

Remember ... families of the three men raised the alarm after they hadn't heard from their loved ones for several days. Police showed up at Willis' house on January 9 and placed JW in handcuffs while he was just in his underwear -- though he was not arrested.

They found David Harrington, Ricky Johnson, and Clayton McGeeney dead at his home. A fifth man, Alex Waemer-Lee, attended the event but reportedly left the party early.

Now, it's interesting that Willis is heading to rehab -- because TMZ has done some digging that jibes with the notion that this tragedy may, perhaps, be drug-related after all.

For instance, we've learned that one of the men, Clayton, had a connection to pharmaceuticals which might shed some light. We've uncovered that McGeeney had an active pharmacist license which was issued last year and set to expire at the end of May 2024.

While we don't know if he was working at any pharmacy in particular or practicing pharmacology in any way at the time of his death ... we do know the license would allow him to work as a pharmacy technician if he so desired.

Another interesting fact ... David Harrington -- another one of the men who died -- was arrested back in Colorado in 2011 for possession of a Schedule II controlled substance ... although it seems he ended up with just a year of probation and paying some fines.

We don't know for certain what the substance was that resulted in Harrington's arrest, but Schedule II drugs in Colorado include opiates such as oxycodone and fentanyl, and other similar narcotics.

On the face of things, some of these facts appear to line up with what police have maintained since the beginning ... namely, that there's no evidence of foul play, and that for now, they don't suspect homicide either -- though, the investigation remains ongoing.

Alex Caprariello, a NewsNation reporter who's been chasing the story since the beginning, reported the families of the victims are meeting with the Platte County prosecutor to "discuss the ongoing investigation and possibility of criminal prosecution."

Anthony Edwards knew it was coming ... the Minnesota Timberwolves star was just hit with a $40K fine by the NBA for talking trash about the referees after a recent game -- just like he expected.

The All-Star guard blasted officials during a post-game interview on Monday, complaining his team didn't get calls, despite winning 107-101 over the Oklahoma City Thunder.

And, AE knew there would be consequences for talking about the refs publicly.

"I'ma take the fine," Edwards said, "because the refs did not give us no calls tonight. We had to play through every bump, every grab. I don't know how we won tonight."

The cameraman even caught the 22-year-old rippin' officials while celebrating the victory with teammate Rudy Gobert.

"Cheatin' ass refs!!!"

Well, the fine he spoke of finally came to fruition Wednesday ... a $40K bill "for repeatedly publicly criticizing the officiating."

Of course, $40k is just a slap on the wrist to AE ... the former 1st overall pick just agreed to a five-year, $260 million deal last July.

And, it's not the first time Edwards was fined by the NBA.

Talk about a great conundrum -- Paige VanZant just revealed she could make a TON of money by chopping off her locks ... but there's one key detail to the proposal that has her sitting on the fence.

The MMA star and OnlyFans model discussed the eye-popping request on the latest episode of her "A Kickass Love Story" podcast with her hubby, Bellator fighter Austin Vanderford ... saying one fan on the subscription-based platform slid into her DMs and asked if she would switch to a bob hairstyle in exchange for $50k.

While PVZ acknowledged it's a big payday for a little work, she explained the one thing that left her hesitant was that the follower wanted her hair scraps shipped to him once the deed was done.

Paige explained her reservations ... saying after watching a Gypsy Rose Blanchard doc, she started to worry about what the supporter could do with her tresses -- and she isn't trying to get some evil spell put on her.

Austin backed his wife ... pointing out if it were just a normal haircut, there's really no debate -- but mailing someone the locks makes it a pretty hairy situation.

Dry January? My a** ... so says these stars sunning themselves during idyllic getaways far and wide.

Sure, alcohol doesn't have to be involved ... as long as there's a whole lot of sea water, it's a good time! Just check out Tia Mowry ... knee-deep in the Thai waters, proudly showcasing her bottom.

Georgina Rodriguez and Cristiano Ronaldo were wet and wild in Dubai, while Cody Simpson gave us a glimpse of those ripplin' muscles floatin' poolside through the beginning of 2024. Jealous? Us? Nah!!

Diplo was marching to the beat of his own drum ... swapping out the soaring temps for an icy Antarctic plunge. IYDK, cold water therapy has many benefits, such as pain relief and boosting mental health, so Diplo is clearly leading by example.

Taylor Swift got a special shoutout from her boo on Wednesday ... with Travis Kelce giving a playful "thank you" to the pop superstar for jumping on the Chiefs bandwagon just in time for their Super Bowl run.

The "Cruel Summer" crooner has been Kelce's biggest supporter since they first started dating last year ... making numerous appearances at home and away matchups, including every game during the Chiefs' current playoff run.

The love hasn't gone unnoticed in the Kelce fam ... with Jason Kelce jokingly congratulating Swift on reaching the biggest sporting event of the year so early in her fandom.

"Shout out to the newest members of the Chiefs Kingdom," Jason said on the 'New Heights' podcast. "Taylor Swift who has officially reached the Super Bowl in her rookie year."

Travis played along ... adding, "Shout out to Tay! Thanks for joining the team!"

Of course, the Swifties have followed in her footsteps ... tuning in to every Chiefs game to get a glimpse of "mother" catching games from her usual suite seats.

The Traylor craze has left a huge impact on Kelce's jersey sales and TV ratings ... further solidifying the defending Super Bowl champs as the must-see game every week.

Worth noting -- Swift used to show love for her Philadelphia Eagles ... something Travis mentioned when addressing the musician's interaction with his head coach Andy Reid after Sunday's AFC Championship Game.

Travis Kelce just teed off on Justin Tucker over their pregame altercation at the AFC Championship ... calling out the Baltimore Ravens kicker for acting like a "f***ing d***" and purposely getting in Patrick Mahomes' way during warmups.

Both sides of the tiff have continued to breathe life into the viral moment this week ... with Tucker, Mahomes and now Kelce weighing in on it.

Travis didn't hold back when discussing the spat on his "New Heights" podcast with his brother, Jason, on Wednesday ... saying he could tell Tucker was playing around, but the Chiefs weren't in the mood for tomfoolery.

Kelce explained there's an unwritten rule when it comes to specialists -- they make sure to stay out of their opponents' way when prepping for a matchup. But, Tucker didn't do that ... which rubbed him the wrong way.

"If you want to be a f***ing d*** about it, you keep your helmet and your football and your f***ing kicking tee right where the quarterbacks are warming up and they’re dropping, eyes are looking left and they’ve got a helmet down by their feet," Kelce said.

"If you’re not going to pick that up, I’ll happily move that for you."

Of course, Kelce proved to be a man of his word ... taking Tucker's helmet and tossing it away from Mahomes on Sunday.

Kelce apologized for his actions ... admitting Tucker winked at him during the altercation to indicate he was just messing around, but reiterated he was not in a joking mood.

"If you're gonna be a d*** I promise you, I can one-up you every time."

Atlanta Hawks fans let D'Angelo Russell know they're not down to trade Dejounte Murray for him ... chanting "We don't want you" at the Lakers guard during Tuesday's game!

The cold-blooded moment happened at the Lakers vs. Hawks game at State Farm Arena in Atlanta ... when Russell walked to the free-throw line after being fouled.

"We don't want you! We don't want you!" a chorus of fans in the upper bowl yelled ... a moment that was captured on video by reporter Dave McMenamin.

The chants stem from rumors the Lakers are shopping DLo ... and the guy they want in return is Murray, an All-Star guard, who agreed to a four-year, $120 million extension with the Hawks last July.

Russell -- who is in his second stint with LA -- is averaging 17.1 points and 6.1 assists this season.

Nonetheless, no trade has been agreed to ... so for now the Hawks fans get their wish. But, the Lakers have until the Feb. 8 deadline.

Hawks coach Quin Snyder refused to respond to the trade rumors ... telling reporters at pre-game, "I think I made it clear that I don’t comment on rumors and speculation. It’s not something I get involved with."

Heckling aside, Hawks fans left happy ... their team beat the Lakers, 138-122, thanks in part to an off game from Russell (he only scored 9 points on 3 of 11 shooting).

The San Francisco 49ers are feeling the love from their city after clinching their spot in the Super Bowl ... with the Golden State Warriors hosting the squad for a celebration at Tuesday's game!!

The NFC Champs were treated as such at the Chase Center as the Dubs faced off against the Philadelphia 76ers ... with the home team setting up a nice spread in honor of their big win on Sunday.

All the players like Trent Williams, Ray-Ray McCloud and Chase Young were gifted their very own customized Warriors jerseys ... complete with their names and numbers.

Deebo Samuel was soaking in the hospitality ... which also included a special cake and what appeared to be rosé.

The gang certainly appreciated the gesture ... cheering as they chowed down on some snacks and enjoyed the private gathering.

Stephen Curry also acknowledged the NFC Champs at the game ... sharing a moment with star tight end George Kittle, who was sitting courtside for the 119-107 victory.

In fact, Curry said the Dubs were a bit inspired by the Niners being in the building for the matchup ... and they may have given Golden State the motivation to keep the winning going.

Donald Trump and his closest aides are apparently ramping up to go to battle with Taylor Swift and any Democrats she might end up endorsing -- this according to a new report.

Rolling Stone dished out some alleged behind-the-scenes deets about what's being discussed lately in Trump world -- particularly as it pertains to T-Swift and the (likely) possibility that she'll throw her weight behind Joe Biden as we get close to the '24 election.

From what they're hearing ... DT and co. are grousing at the prospect of Taylor using her massive influence to support the Biden ticket -- so much so, in fact, that RS reports some in the Trump camp are declaring a "holy war" against her ... whatever the hell that means.

The outlet says that the topic of Taylor has come up in Trump's orbit quite a bit in recent months -- especially as she'd become ever-more popular due to her NFL tie lately. The more she's surged in the zeitgeist, the more Trump and co. have reportedly fumed with anger.

RS even goes so far as to claim that Trump recently told confidants he was "more popular" than Taylor and that he had a more loyal fan base than her as well. The outlet goes on to say Trump was telling people he "obviously" should've been TIME's Person of the Year.

As wild as this might sound, there's already evidence out there that it's true -- especially on the "holy war" front ... 'cause some popular Trump surrogates have talked about it of late.

Political persona Jack Posobiec recently told a MAGA-leaning crowd at an event that their side had to fight fire with fire when it comes to the Taylor effect ... throwing out stars in their own world who could presumably rile up their base and get people to the polls for DT.

Some of the A-listers he mentioned ... Kid Rock, Ted Nugent and Jon Voight, to name a few.

On its face, it would seem MAGA supporters feel like they're in a fight for their lives here -- and based on all these reports ... it would seem they see Tay Tay as the anti-Christ!

Meanwhile, in reality, all Taylor has done, really, is ... just go to football games and cheer.

That, in and of itself though, has apparently triggered Trumpers around the country -- who are throwing a bit of hissy fit over the prospect she might get political again this year.