TMZ Sports - Page 29

7:30 AM -- Ice Cube is now speaking out on the offer ... saying it was a no-brainer to pitch Caitlin Clark to his organization.

"Caitlin is a generational athlete who can achieve tremendous success in the BIG3," he said minutes ago on X ... while also pointing out the league has a track record of breaking barriers with female coaches like Nancy Lieberman and Lisa Leslie.

"With our offer, Caitlin Clark can make history and break down even more barriers for women athletes," Cube added.

The BIG3 founder also thinks his org. will be a better alternative for WNBA athletes to make money during the offseason ... so they don't have to take their talents to "often dismal and dubious foreign countries" to earn a living.

"And they should have more than just one professional option in the US at a time when American pro sports leagues are being infiltrated by autocratic, anti-women regimes such as Qatar," he said. "Our pathbreaking offer to Caitlin Clark demonstrates that BIG3 now offers another choice for athletes."

Caitlin Clark is in line to make more history -- the NCAA phenom could become basketball's first-ever $5 million woman, if she accepts a massive deal from Ice Cube's Big3 league ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Ninja -- one of the most popular esports stars in the world -- just revealed he has cancer.

The 32-year-old made the announcement on his X page Tuesday evening ... saying that following a routine skin checkup a few weeks back, he was diagnosed with melanoma.

Ninja -- real name Tyler Blevins -- says the problem area was discovered after he had a mole on the bottom of his foot looked at. Thankfully, he said doctors believe it's all in "the early stages," although he's clearly shaken by the diagnosis nonetheless.

"I’m still in a bit of shock," he said in his post ... before adding, "I'm grateful to have hope in finding this early, but please take this as a PSA to get skin checkups."

Ninja hasn't shown any signs -- at least publicly -- that it's affected him at all ... he's continued to stream to his millions of followers without issue.

In fact, he just posted a bunch of clips to his Instagram page this week showing him laughing and in good spirits while playing Fortnite.

Many in the sports world sent well wishes his way ... including Robert Griffin III, who tweeted, "Praying for you brother."

Shakira gave a real treat to New Yorkers Tuesday night ... putting on a surprise performance in Times Square for 40,000 screaming fans.

The Grammy-winning singer hit the TSX stage at the Crossroads of the World in Midtown Manhattan just hours after she announced the pop-up show on the social media app, "X."

Thousands of her followers rushed to see Shakira's spur of the moment concert as she celebrated the release of her new album, "Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran."

Dan Dakich is offering up some free advice to any player in this weekend's Sweet 16 looking for tips on how to prepare for the big games ... saying simply, "Don't start thinking you're a star!"

The former Indiana Hoosiers guard said in a talk with TMZ Sports this week it's easy for players who've made it this far in the NCAA tournament to start losing focus.

He said as teams return to campus and feel all the love -- it's common for players to get a big head ... and then falter when the lights come back on for the tourney's next round.

It's Hump Day, but we're gonna push through here at TMZ ... by recapping our TV topics.

Let's start with "TMZ Live," where Harvey and Charles continued to discuss the fallout from the raids on Diddy's homes in Los Angeles and Miami -- including the fact that someone in his entourage ended up behind bars on drug charges during their airport run-in with feds.

Next up, we got "TMZ on TV" ... with the gang talking about Will Smith getting a speeding ticket recently while driving along the PCH in Malibu -- and allegedly going a little too fast.

Vince Young was involved in a wild bar fight last month -- one that ended after he was socked in the face and seemingly knocked unconscious.

The fracas -- which went down inside Tokyo Joe's Shot Bar in Houston, Texas at around 9 PM on Feb. 4 -- was all captured on video, obtained by TMZ Sports.

In the footage, you can see Young -- wearing a white hat, black shirt and shorts -- and another man begin arguing with fellow bargoers ... when, suddenly, things turn physical.

Brendan Paul -- Sean "Diddy" Combs' alleged "mule" who was arrested on Monday while the rap mogul and his crew were stopped by federal law enforcement agents -- previously had a career as a college basketball player.

Paul suited up for the Syracuse Orange from 2018-2020 ... and while he wasn't exactly a star there -- he did log minutes in 17 games during his two seasons.

Paul went on to transfer to Fairmont State University in West Virginia after his time in New York ... and he fared much better on the court in his two years there -- recording 51 points, 23 rebounds, 19 assists and 11 steals.

New York Jets star Sauce Gardner is addressing the backlash after stating Jewish people "run the world" ... claiming he had no idea his words would be considered antisemitic -- but has since educated himself on the matter.

The two-time All-Pro came under fire after appearing in a video with popular streamer Adin Ross -- who is Jewish -- this week ... when he stated, "I'mma be honest, like no funny, weird s***, y'all run the world."

The comment was met with laughter from those in the room ... and while Ross didn't appear offended, many took to social media to sound off on Gardner.

The former Defensive Rookie of the Year is now clarifying his controversial take ... going to X to try to explain his side of things.

"I love all people," Gardner said. "While my intentions were positive, I just learned that people use those exact words I shared for hate towards Jewish people."

"That is not what I am about and I appreciate those who took the time to educate me on that fact."

Gardner also noted the majority of his agency and marketing teams consist of Jewish people and he talks to them on the daily ... and he meant it as a compliment.

Some folks had Gardner's back ... saying they understood he didn't mean any harm.

It would've been better than an episode of "Veep" ... sadly, Vice President Aaron Rodgers won't be coming to a poll near you -- Robert F. Kennedy has picked his running mate, and it's NOT the 4-time NFL MVP!

During a campaign event in Oakland on Tuesday, RFK Jr. announced Northern California-based attorney Nicole Shanahan, 38, would anchor the Independent's ticket.

Of course, RFK Jr. was considering two other high-profile options ... including 40-year-old Rodgers, a future first-ballot Hall of Famer, who the 70-year-old confirmed was near the "top" of his shortlist. Mike Rowe and Jesse Ventura were also considered.

Ex-NBA tough guy Matt Barnes met his match this week ... coming face-to-face with a pesky opossum that entered his home -- and the video of the standoff is riveting.

The 44-year-old hooper documented the whole thing on his Instagram page ... showing his elaborate plan to get the creature out of his kitchen.

Barnes -- who's in the process of moving -- had a bunch of boxes set up in hopes of leading the opossum toward the door.

The guy even tried throwing various fruits at it ... but the intruder refused to budge.

Barnes then grabbed a golf club ... with the intent to "put a pitching wedge up his ass."

The 6'7" champ did everything he could to keep a distance ... hopping around on the countertops and spraying the rodent with water, which only made it more of a challenge as it scurried further into the home.

At one point, MB even pondered lighting a joint to get the critter high ... but elected against it.

Eventually, Barnes' nemesis decided it was time to go back outside ... bolting for the door and off the property.

"I'll fight anybody, but I don't f*** with animals," Barnes said. "That's for g**damn sure."

The interaction received a ton of responses from Barnes' followers ... including Deion Sanders, Jon Jones, Gilbert Arenas, Terrell Owens and more.

The NCAA tournament wasn't all fun and games for the Utah Utes women's basketball team ... 'cause several players were allegedly called the N-word and other "racial hate crimes" while at the team hotel.

Utes head coach Lynne Roberts revealed the cruel acts following their 2nd round loss to 4-seeded Gonzaga on Monday, claiming they had to relocate the entire team from their hotel in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho over the incredibly offensive treatment.

"We had several instances of some kind of racial hate crimes towards our program," Roberts said during the post-game press conference. "Incredibly upsetting for all of us."

Former NFL star Malcolm Butler -- who famously helped the Patriots win Super Bowl XLIX with a last-minute interception -- was arrested in Rhode Island earlier this month, TMZ Sports has confirmed.

According to North Providence Police Dept. documents, Butler was thrown behind bars back on March 16 after officers say he displayed signs of driving drunk during a traffic stop.

Cops say they initially pulled his white Mercedes-Benz over at around 3:22 AM ... after he was allegedly blocking traffic while stopped in a travel lane.

11:34 AM PT -- We've gotten some much-needed clarification on what exactly is happening at the gym Taylor Swift frequents whenever she drops in for a workout -- and while it's not nearly as dramatic as it was made out to be ... she does, in fact, get special treatment when she's there.

A rep for Dogpound tells TMZ ... "Dogpound is a by-appointment establishment. We value members' experience and have never had anyone wait outside for 2 hours. The narrative running in the media does not accurately reflect circumstances. We respect the privacy of our clients." On the issue of who these people outside were, they wouldn't say.

Lucky for us, we found the answer another way ... sources familiar with this gym tell us that several of the folks pictured in workout attire are actually Dogpound employees -- whom, we're told, do have to get out when Taylor swings by to get some exercise.

7:18 AM PT -- Baltimore's MLB team just sent out its thoughts and prayers to those affected by the collapse ... vowing in a statement to "get through this" as a "tight-knit and resilient city."

The Baltimore Ravens sent out prayers to the victims of the tragic Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse Tuesday morning ... writing in a statement their "hearts go out to those who have been affected."

The bridge crumpled into the Patapsco River at around 1:30 AM ... after a large ship hit one of its support columns.

Several vehicles were on the bridge when it crashed into the near-freezing water below ... and city officials say divers are now on the scene searching for victims.

The Ravens -- who play roughly 15 miles away from the bridge at M&T Bank Stadium -- added in their statement they're confident the city will bond together in the wake of the tragedy.

Former Ravens quarterback Robert Griffin III also sent prayers to those involved ... as did LSU women's basketball star Angel Reese, who was born and raised in the Baltimore area.

Eric Decker just ensured he won't be having any more kids following the birth of his fourth one -- revealing Monday night he had a vasectomy.

The former NFL star had fun while making the announcement ... sharing some photos of him recovering from the procedure while wearing a T-shirt that read, "Vasectomy survivor. I kid you not."

In one of the snaps, he had a bag of frozen peas on his private parts -- while holding what appeared to be a stiff drink in one of his hands.

Yankees outfielder Oscar Gonzalez is currently resting in a hospital -- this after he broke his eye socket in a scary moment during an exhibition game Monday night.

Gonzalez was at the plate in the middle of NY's tilt against the Diablos Rojos del Mexico in Mexico City when he got pitched inside -- and foul tipped the ball right into his face.

Video from the game's broadcast shows the 26-year-old crumpled in pain immediately ... as trainers raced out to the field to tend to him.