TMZ Sports - Page 43

Consider Baron Davis on Stephen Jackson's side in his beef with Austin Rivers ... 'cause the former Hornets and Warriors star tells TMZ Sports he believes pairing LeBron James with his son, Bronny, would work wonders for the young hooper.

TMZ Sports caught up with B. Diddy just days after Rivers claimed it would be bad if King James' team drafted the USC standout ... which was met with heavy criticism from the "All the Smoke" podcast host, who referred to the former Clipper as "trash."

Davis -- who played 15 seasons in the NBA -- weighed in on the debate while out in Vegas for the Super Bowl festivities ... and he's optimistic about the potential pairing.

"Your daddy is LeBron James," Davis said, "I think it will do nothing but help him."

"You say it'll enable him because your daddy on the team, but like, nah, that s*** different. That's LeBron. LeBron's a coach, a basketball genius and that's his seed."

Davis used Ken Griffey Jr. as an example ... as the former MLB legend played with his dad on the Mariners in the 90s -- making them the first father/son duo to play on the same Major League Baseball team together.

"There's a certain type of swag, there's a certain type of s*** that you really didn't get to see as a kid," Davis said.

"Now you there, you get to see your dad's whole layout."

At the end of the day, Davis feels Rivers' own comparison to being coached by his dad is totally different than Bronny playing with his pops ... and the James duo will benefit whichever franchise they play on.

"[Bronny] already got the DNA. Now you got the whole layout, the whole trajectory, and the blueprint laid out for you."

Patrick Mahomes looks over the years are the real MVP!

Here is a 19-year-old version of the sophomore warmin' up playing for the Texas Tech Raiders back in 2015 (left). This was four years before he led the Kansas City Chiefs to a win against the 49ers at Super Bowl LIV.

And, nearly a decade later the hunky pro was still makin' 'em sweat -- playing against the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, New York (right).

Mahomes is gearing up to take on the 49ers yet again, but will his good looks and athletic skills be enough to take home the trophy?

It's SHOWTIME baby!

The important question here is...

It's Super Bowl Sunday ... and there's no better time than now to brush up on what TMZ was covering on their TV shows to end the week, all of which was topical/timely.

Starting with 'TMZ Live,' Harvey and Charles got into a story we broke Friday -- namely, the fact Usher has been hitting up Justin Bieber lately to talk about the prospect of JB joining him during the Super Bowl Halftime Show ... which now sounds like a very real possibility.

Still no word on whether Justin agreed -- but we know they've been chatting ... A LOT.

When it comes to 'TMZ on TV,' the gang got back to talking about Prince Harry -- but only 'cause he popped up in the most random of events ... the NFL Honors in Las Vegas.

Dude definitely didn't seem to fit in ... and the staff certainly seemed to notice, and comment.

Big day on 'TMZ Sports' ... we had the great Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin stop by!

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

Rap beef -- Super Bowl edition!!

San Francisco 49ers super fan E-40 and diehard Kansas City Chiefs backer Tech N9ne came face-to-face ahead of their teams' huge Super Bowl matchup ... and luckily, the TMZ Sports cameras were rolling for the whole hilarious interaction!!

The two MCs put their loyalty on full display at NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal's "Shaq's Fun House" event on Friday night ... and there was no shortage of friendly banter.

Our photog asked the two rap greats if there were any wagers going down for the Big Game ... and as you can tell in the clip, they have too much respect for each other -- and their teams -- to risk taking money from their "family."

But that didn't stop them from letting it known where they stand on the contest ... with N9ne pointing out Patrick Mahomes will lead the Chiefs to a second-straight championship ... and 40 giving "Mr. Irrelevant" Brock Purdy his flowers.

E-Four-Oh and Tecca Nina aren't just casual fans -- they've both gotten in the booth to record anthems for their beloved squads ... so no one can accuse them of being fair-weather fans at all.

While the two rappers may have placed their own individual bets on the game -- gotta love their confidence -- it's clear they'll still maintain their respect for each other no matter what the scoreboard says after the game.

Kayla Nicole's probably not rooting for Kansas City on Sunday ... instead she seems firmly in Niners camp -- partying with San Francisco wives and girlfriends

The ex-GF of Travis Kelce took to Instagram in the wee hours of Saturday morning to share a number of clips from a wicked rager she attended ... and a few familiar faces to 49ers fans popped up in the clips.

During the night, Kayla took a shot with some ladies ... and George Kittle's wife Claire threw one back alongside her. George of course is San Fran's tight end -- the same position Kelce plays.

Claire and Kayla are clearly friends ... having been photographed together at a different event near the end of January.

Kristin Juszczyk -- wife of versatile SF fullback Kyle -- tagged Claire in multiple posts last night from the party, so it seems she was there at least -- though it's unclear if she had any face time with Kayla as well.

Kayla's been fraternizing with people on both sides of the Super Bowl debate ... remember, we obtained photos of her and Patrick Mahomes' bro Jackson chatting amicably -- so maybe she's just being friendly to both teams.

Given her acrimonious breakup with TK, though -- and his new very public relationship -- we gotta imagine Kayla throwing back shots with Niners wives means she's chosen her side for the Super Bowl.

Rooting against your ex in the Super Bowl ... really adds a whole new meaning to "winning the breakup!"

Super Bowl LVIII's already bringing the stars to Las Vegas ... including reality TV mainstays, the KarJenners -- and it seems they've brought a super famous crooner with them.

The Kardashian clan's jet touched down in Sin City early Saturday morning ... with Kim Kardashian, Khloe Kardashian and Kendall Jenner all bundled up and clambering out of their private jet.

They kept a fairly low profile ... Kim covering up with a hat while all three of the ladies used big sunglasses to cover parts of their faces as they made their way from the airport to their luxurious accommodations.

Big reveal at the hotel though ... because a man in a huge puffy coat, white beanie decorated with a black palm tree, and blue jeans on -- and with style choices like those this could only be Justin Bieber!!!

At least, we're pretty sure it's Biebs ... check out the pics for yourself. It definitely looks like JB from the back, and he's carrying what seems to be a Louis Vuitton dog carrier -- and we only really know one celeb who regularly schleps that around.

Of course ... Justin's tight with the Kardashian family -- particularly Kendall and Kylie Jenner through his wife Hailey, so flying with them isn't totally surprising.

And, we broke the story ... Usher's personally been in contact with his protégé about performing during the Super Bowl Halftime show -- not handlers passing messages between the two, but direct communication.

So, it looks like Justin took Usher up on his offer ... or he just wants to take in the game with his pals. Either way, we're definitely probably sure that's Justin!

Bottom line ... celebs not named Taylor Swift are trickling into Vegas before Sunday's 3:30 kickoff -- and there may be a few more surprises in store for fans.

Darius Rucker's singin' his blues away ... 'cause he hopped onstage in Las Vegas to belt out a few tunes -- alongside Miami Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa.

The legendary singer-songwriter was joined by TT for a performance of his song "Wagon Wheel" ahead of Super Bowl Sunday in Sin City ... and the dynamic duo seemed to give the crowd the time of their lives.

Check out the vid ... Darius' staying on lead vocals of course -- dude's got three Grammys on his shelf, so he's in charge -- but there's Tua right next to him, dark shades on, strumming away on his acoustic guitar.

Tua's not hiding in the back though ... the 25-year-old's supporting DR with both his guitar and his voice it appears -- no lip sync controversy here!

The crowd's belting away too ... with most of them ripping away on vocals -- including Giants QB Daniel Jones who's really getting into it with a couple buddies.

FWIW ... this isn't a stir-of-the-moment performance. Tua showed off his musical talents during an episode of the ManningCast back in December -- plucking away on his guitar as the Jaguars took on the Bengals.

The performance seemed to catch Rucker's eye ... 'cause the longtime Dolphins fan said he'd be down to jam with Tua sometime -- and that time finally came!

BTW ... Darius doesn't look like any of his recent legal drama's weighing him down -- we broke the story, Darius was arrested early this month on three misdemeanor charges all stemming from a February 2023 arrest.

The Super Bowl may not be the most star-studded sporting event in Vegas these next few days ... 'cause Dana White's Power Slap 6 Friday night in Sin City had some of the biggest stars in the world, including Tom Brady and Travis Scott!

And we've got a bunch of pics and video from the event.

It wasn't just TB 12 and La Flame in the building ... Charles Barkley, Pat McAfee, Johnny Manziel, Taylor Lewan, Bert Kreischer, IShowSpeed, billionaire Michael Rubin, and a bunch of others were also there for the festivities -- and judging by the stars, it slapped.

Friday night marked the first event White held outside of the UFC's own Apex center ... going down at the Durango Resort, marking a big step forward for the young org.

We talked to Dana backstage during the event (while he wasn't rubbing shoulders with Tom and Travis) ... and asked him about the night.

"This is the first time ever selling tickets. We sold VIP packages. It was a good night," White said with a big smile on his face.

As for the action on the mats, the main event, Manny Muniz vs. Christopher Thomas, was a barn burner ... and the scrap DW was most looking forward to.

"Muniz has never been knocked out, and Chris Thomas knocks everybody out," White told us.

Manny ended up beating Chris by knockout in the 5th round.

We also talked to UFC legend Chuck Liddell at the event ... and while it's clear he likes watching, it doesn't sound like he's going to be coming out of retirement to compete at Power Slap 7.

Jax Taylor was also in the house ... and the former "Vanderpump Rules" star told us how he became a slap-fighting fan.

Taylor says he initially saw highlights on Instagram, so he messaged Power Slap ... which led to an invite from Dana.

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's families are getting super close ... taking in Sunday's big game from a suite together TMZ has learned -- and, like a gentleman, Travis is paying.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... Taylor's mom, Andrea, dad Scott, brother Austin and his girlfriend Sydney are going to sit with Travis' mom Donna, dad Ed, brother Jason and sister-in-law Kylie Kelce while watching Travis compete for his third Super Bowl ring.

Taylor's gonna be there of course, and we're told some of her friends are tagging along ... though we don't know if any of her famous entourage will join the two families.

Allegiant Stadium sources tell us the suite costs well over $1 million ... and we're told that Travis is covering all of it because he just wants everyone to enjoy Super Bowl Sunday together.

87 sorta said this was the case on his "New Heights" podcast earlier this week when he joked he was "just counting how much money I'm spending on this damn Super Bowl for family and friends to come."

Well, we now know exactly who he spent all that dough on ... and it seems like he'll definitely be staying in the good graces of the Swift family.

There's been a ton of interaction between the happy couple and their families this year ... whether it be pics and videos of Donna cheering alongside Taylor or T-Swift hanging out with her own parents at a game, Travis has been feeling the love and support this season.

Taylor Swift just wrapped up her fourth and final concert in Tokyo – but she's now rushing to her biggest show back in The States – the Super Bowl!

Check out this video of Taylor taking a bow and waving to her multitude of fans at the Tokyo Dome Saturday night followed by her leaving the venue to take a mini-break from the international leg of her 'Eras' tour.

Her last show went off without a hitch after she suffered a couple snafus on previous nights.

Taylor seemed to have a spring in her step as she apparently made her way to the airport to fly back to the U.S. for Sunday's big matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers.

While Taylor is not scheduled to perform at the game, she will be showcased in a major way before, during, and after Super Bowl LVIII.

Every camera will be focused on the pop superstar as she cheers on her hunky boyfriend, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, from her private suite at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

Our sources tell us ... it will be a family affair inside Taylor's VIP room. Taylor's mom, Andrea, dad Scott, brother Austin and his girlfriend Sydney will be seated next to Travis' mom Donna, dad Ed, brother Jason and sister-in-law Kylie Kelce. Of course, everyone will be watching Travis compete for his third Super Bowl ring.

And get this ... Travis is paying the $1 million-plus bill for the suite so his loved ones can have the time of their lives for free. We're also told some of Taylor's closest buds will also be on hand ... but we don't know if any of her famous friends will join the two families.

Shaquille O'Neal threw the biggest and craziest pre-Super Bowl party in Las Vegas, turning the event into his annual "Shaq Fun House" -- with a major performance by none other than Lil Wayne!

The retired NBA legend kicked off the Friday night soiree at XS nightclub on the Vegas strip with hordes of people packing the venue to bear witness to Shaq's master skills as a disc jockey followed by Wayne's energetic show.

Check out this video, obtained by TMZ ... Shaq, who also goes by the name DJ Diesel, revved up the record player and spun some tunes, getting into the groove with the crowd.

Wearing some major bling around his neck, Shaq kept the house music going for a while until Diplo took over the DJ duties before it was time to bring out the hip hop icon ... AKA Wayne.

After Wayne took to the stage, he rapped like there was no tomorrow, getting the crowd all worked up into a frenzy.

Wayne performed some of his biggest hits, such as "6 Foot 7 Foot" and "John." And the audience just loved it, recording the whole gig with their cell phone cameras.

There was one touching moment when Shaq got emotional while talking about the recent unveiling of late NBA superstar Kobe Bryant's new statue.

Damar Hamlin is pulling for the team that booted the Buffalo Bills from the playoffs on Sunday ... telling TMZ Sports he believes the Kansas City Chiefs will win their second-straight Super Bowl.

But, don't get it twisted -- #3 says he's rocking with Bills Mafia for life ... and he'll be right off that bandwagon after a brief three-hour run.

25-year-old Hamlin weighed in on this weekend's matchup with Babcock on the "TMZ Sports" TV show on FS1 this week ... and he gave us his exclusive take on who he'd like to see hoist the Lombardi Trophy.

It may be a bit surprising to hear ... considering the Chiefs have had the Bills' number in the postseason since 2020.

But, the safety explained Patrick Mahomes is the main reason behind his allegiance ... as it's truly hard to see the two-time Super Bowl MVP not coming out on top against the San Francisco 49ers.

We talked to Hamlin about much more than the Big Game -- he also chopped it up about his incredible return to the football field after nearly losing his life during "Monday Night Football" in Jan. 2023, his appreciation for NBA superstar LeBron James, and his newest partnership with the Don't Quit nutrition brand.

Las Vegas is the center of the sports universe as it hosts the Super Bowl ... but it's not just football fans flocking to Sin City, 'cause TMZ Sports has learned countless beautiful ladies are in the desert to work the pole!!

Several gentlemen's clubs tell us women have been lined up outside their doors in hopes of getting a spot on their stages this weekend ... and many strip joints are increasing staff just to meet the demand.

In fact, Hustler -- one of the most popular strip clubs in Vegas -- expects it to be busier than the Las Vegas Grand Prix last November ... which was the first time the city hosted an F1 race in more than 40 years.

"This is an exciting time for Las Vegas, especially for businesses due to the economic impact of the Big Game," Hustler Club LV's general manager Brittany Rose said.

"We have seen out-of-town audition numbers in the hundreds leading up to the week of Super Bowl LVIII."

We're told there's also an influx of male entertainers for the Kings of Hustler Male Revue ... which is located on the 3rd floor of the strip club.

"Everyone is excited being that the club is just steps away from all the action at the stadium," Rose added.

Other clubs like Spearmint Rhino and Crazy Horse III are also expecting a record-breaking weekend ... with both saying they have no choice but to add more dancers each night.

"We will have double to triple the entertainers all week (about 300 entertainers nightly)," Nando Sostilio, owner of Crazy Horse 3, said.

"Since the teams have been announced, we have a ton of VIP reservations already input for football players, musical artists, and tech billionaires from Silicon Valley, and the reservations are continuing to pour in."

No matter what happens on Super Bowl Sunday, Brock Purdy and the San Francisco 49ers will have some shiny, new hardware ... 'cause the whole squad just got hooked up with some brand new team-themed chains!!

TMZ Sports is told ... the NFC champions received new bling from The GLD Shop's private popup outside their Levi's Stadium locker room last weekend ... right before flying out to Sin City for their matchup against the Chiefs.

We're told "Mr. Irrelevant" and Co. got pendants of either the classic SF logo or 49ers helmet ... each plated in 14k white gold.

The dope ice also came with rope chains or upgraded diamond tennis necklaces -- like the one Purdy has on his neck in the pic above.

We're told the players loved their gifts so much ... some of 'em purchased more at the popup shop -- from diamond watches to iced-out chains ranging from $1K to $50K!!

The GLD Shop founder Christian Johnston -- who has worked with A-list celebs including Rihanna and Kevin Durant -- also gave fans a chance to get the same 49ers items (as well as other teams) this Super Bowl weekend at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in LV.

"We're excited to be back at the Super Bowl," Johnston said.

"Being part of this major sporting event in the entertainment capital is a genuine honor. We're ready to rise to the occasion, bringing the ice to Las Vegas with NFL Crown Jewels -- an immersive experience that lets fans across the nation rep their favorite NFL team with style."

Michael Irvin tells TMZ Sports he believes the Pro Football Hall of Fame robbed Antonio Gates by bypassing him for the 2024 class ... but he's now offering some advice for the tight end to get through it.

Irvin said at the "A Night Out With Legends" party in Vegas that the ex-Chargers superstar can't get too down on himself after he didn't make the cut for the HOF's '24 class on Thursday ... explaining that if he does, he'll allow the committee to "steal" from him twice.

Instead, he recommended Gates put this behind him quickly ... so when he ultimately gets his gold jacket, he can enjoy it.

Irvin, of course, would know a thing or two about the situation ... after all, it took him three years to finally get into Canton despite being one of the most prolific receivers of all time.

"I didn't get in on the first ballot," the former Dallas Cowboys receiver said. "But, I promise you I got in on the third ballot and when I got there, and I got to that podium, straight joy was waiting on me. It didn't even matter that I didn't go in on the first ballot, once I got there, I just saw joy."

Irvin tells us he's got plans to relay the message to Gates himself ... saying, "that's my guy."

Talk about charm-ing ... Braxton Berrios and girlfriend Alix Earle turned their super cute pet names for each other into shiny bling, copping two diamond-filled panda bear pendants!

TMZ Sports has learned the Miami Dolphins receiver recently hit up Sean Salci for matching necklaces for him and his TikTok star GF, whom he started dating in 2023.

"My boyfriend just got me the best present I've ever gotten in my life," Earle said on social media.

"We call each other panda and he got us matching panda diamond necklaces!"

We're told each piece contains solid, 14-karat yellow gold with 5 carats of VVS1 F diamonds. Top notch.

"The eyes, nose, and mouth all have custom-sized and shaped diamonds to really enhance the panda look we were going for," Salci said. "It was extremely important to keep the all-diamond look while maximizing the panda face concept."

We're not sure if Berrios rocked the piece to the NFL Honors show in Las Vegas on Thursday, but another athlete did wear a Salci piece to the event ... New York Giants QB Tommy DeVito.

We're told the 25-year-old quarterback copped a custom cross and necklace ... and you can clearly see the massive chain on DeVito's neck while on the red carpet and on television during the show, even prompting Keegan-Michael Key to make a "Goodfellas" joke.

Salci -- who also happens to be Tommy's marketing guy (he makes the jewelry through his family-owned jewelry business) -- told us DeVito's iced-out piece contains a total of 55 carats of diamonds.

It's unclear how much dough Berriors and DeVito dropped on the pieces.

Berrios signed a $3.5 million contract with the Dolphins last March and DeVito -- who went undrafted in 2023 -- signed a bunch of endorsement deals since becoming a star last year in Daniel Jones' absence.