TMZ Sports - Page 16

Sumo wrestling legend Akebono -- who once competed against Big Show at WWE's WrestleMania 21 -- has sadly died at 54 years old.

Akebono's family said in a statement Thursday the former grand champion passed away in Tokyo earlier this month from heart failure. They added he had been receiving care at a local hospital when he died.

Akebono grew up in Hawaii -- but he made a name for himself after moving to Tokyo in the 80s.

O.J. Simpson's death might have shocked the world ... but, it didn't come as a surprise to his close friends -- who TMZ has learned came to Las Vegas to say their final farewells.

Sources with direct knowledge tell us ... those who remained in O.J.'s inner circle flew into Vegas over the last week to see him before he passed. Unclear exactly how many friends, or who showed up, but we're told a handful of people came to Sin City and got to see O.J.

We're told Simpson was communicating just fine and was able to talk with his pals ... but, our sources say they all knew the end was coming, and that this would be their last chance to get some face time.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame acknowledged O.J. Simpson's passing on Thursday with a lengthy statement ... but in it, the org. notably distanced itself from his actions off the field -- remembering the Bills running back for his play only.

The Canton, Ohio establishment released the eulogy just minutes after Simpson's family revealed the ex-NFL star had died earlier this week following a battle with cancer.

The HOF's statement on Simpson's passing was about 500 words long ... and contained no praise -- just facts about his football career only.

Brittany Mahomes has debuted a fiery new look ... ditching her classic blonde locks for bright red hair, and she honestly looks like a whole other person.

Patrick Mahomes' wife shared her hair transformation with her followers Wednesday, posting a series of close-up pics to her feed. Brittany was clearly feeling the look -- as she beamed while posing in a black crop top and jeans. She added ... "Feeling spicy."

While it's unclear if BM simply dyed her hair or if she's rocking a wig, -- she credited hairstylist Laura Beth Cabott for the noteworthy new 'do. Laura Beth has worked with Brittany on a number of occasions, including last year's Met Gala and the 2023 ESPYS.

4/11 -- 6:38 AM -- According to the Lake Oswego Police Department, Ben McLemore was accused of committing the sex crimes in October 2021.

Cops say a woman told them McLemore -- who was a Portland Trail Blazer at the time -- sexually assaulted her while at a home in Lake Oswego.

Police added a grand jury formally indicted McLemore in February.

Former Kansas University men's basketball star Ben McLemore was arrested this week and booked on a charge of first-degree rape, TMZ Sports has confirmed.

Jail records show the 31-year-old -- who played in the NBA from 2013 through 2021 following his Jayhawks career -- was taken into custody in Multnomah County, Oregon on Tuesday on an outstanding warrant. He was later transferred to Clackamas County Jail on Wednesday.

Records show he remains behind bars there ... as he's facing one count of unlawful sexual penetration and two counts of sexual abuse -- in addition to the rape charge.

Further details on the allegations surrounding McLemore were not made immediately available ... although more is expected to be released later Wednesday -- after the basketball player is arraigned in court.

McLemore was a superstar for KU in his one season in Lawrence -- helping lead the Jayhawks to the Sweet 16 in 2013. He went on to be picked by the Sacramento Kings in the first round of the 2013 NBA Draft.

In his career, McLemore logged minutes for Sacramento, Houston, Portland, Memphis and the Los Angeles Lakers. Following his career, he went on to play overseas.

AEW aired footage of the physical altercation that led to CM Punk's firing from the promotion in 2023 on Wednesday ... showing the wrestling superstar shove and seemingly choke Jack Perry after a heated exchange.

The video was part of the AEW Dynamite event this week as part of the Young Bucks' current storyline against tag team FTR ... with YB claiming the incident was possibly orchestrated by their opponents --- blurring the lines between a real backstage incident with their ongoing TV feud.

The clip shows Punk approaching Perry backstage at the All-In event in London back in September ... and the two got on a passionate back-and-forth before things got violent.

Punk pushed Perry away from him ... and then proceeded to wrap his arms around his neck area.

The two needed to be separated by multiple bystanders ... and eventually, Punk stormed away from the scene.

It all stemmed from a previous incident at AEW's show, Collision -- when, according to Punk, Perry was hellbent on using real glass for a spot.

It led to a confrontation between them ... and then Perry went ahead and used real glass in a spot -- and told the camera, "Cry me a river," which Punk took as shade.

Punk -- who is back with WWE following his boot from AEW -- explained his side of the scuffle in an interview last week ... claiming he didn't feel like it was a fireable offense since he didn't punch Perry, just "choked somebody a little bit."

Turning heads at a gathering of the rich and powerful at the White House --- Lauren Sanchez and Jeff Bezos basically said, we got this ... as they arrived for Wednesday night's glitzy state dinner.

The Amazon honcho's fiancée was decked out in a fiery red, corset-style gown -- with a plunging neckline, of course -- as they arrived at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue for the 200-plus guest event.

Check out this partial list of attendees ... Robert De Niro and Tiffany Chen, Bill and Hillary Clinton, Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff, Apple CEO Tim Cook, JP Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Kristi Yamaguchi and Antony Blinken.

Mo Vaughn says don't blame the pitch clock for the recent rash of arm injuries around the MLB -- he says the real culprit is none other than ... computers!!

The former American League MVP made it clear to TMZ Sports this week he thinks it's analytics -- not adjustments to timing pitchers -- that's creating elbow woes.

He explained he thinks the obsession with velocity and spin rates has caused pitchers to stop, you know, pitching ... and focus solely on unloading the gas tank on every throw instead.

We're almost at the finish line in the week, but just getting started on TV!

Let's kick things off with 'TMZ Live' ... where Babcock and Charles talked about the latest development with Morgan Wallen -- namely, these new photos we got that place on the rooftop of the Nashville bar where he allegedly threw a chair over the edge.

Shohei Ohtani had no idea his translator was gambling millions of dollars, and the feds have concluded not only was the Dodger star NOT involved in the scheme, he was a victim of fraud ... law enforcement sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ Sports.

The feds have been investigating Ippei Mizuhara, Ohtani's longtime translator, close friend, and functionally his manager. Mizuhara gambled away millions, reportedly at least $4.5 million, and after the story broke he said Ohtani had covered the debt.

Our sources say the feds, who launched an investigation last month, have concluded Mizuhara was lying -- that Ohtani was completely in the dark over the gambling debt, and Mizuhara embezzled from one of Ohtani's accounts without the pitcher's knowledge.

A super-rare Shohei Ohtani jersey, worn by the (then) Angels superstar on Jackie Robinson Day in 2023, signed and inscribed by the slugger/ace, is on the auction block where it's expected to rake in six figures!

Shohei, before signing his historic, $700 million contract with the Dodgers this offseason, rocked the jersey on April 15, 2023 for the Angels vs. Red Sox game at Fenway Park ... the day all MLB players honored the achievements of the great Jackie Robinson by wearing his number 42.

Of course, all Major League Baseball retired the number across the entire sport ... so that's the only day anyone wears 42.

The Angels lost the game, 9-7 ... but to no one's surprise, Ohtani, who served as designated hitter, went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.

As if just being worn by Shohei wasn't cool enough, in February, months after the game, he also signed the jersey ... writing "GU 4.15.23" and "2023 AL MVP".

It's also the only game-worn jersey from the entire '23 season (that's hot the open market) ... making it even more special.

Now, the jersey is up for grabs at SCP Auctions ... where it's expected to sell for around $100k!

The item already has 7 bids -- $39k being the biggest. But, with 3 days remaining, you can bet that number will rise faster than Ohtani's home run total.

It's not the only Ohtani item on the SCP block. They're also offering Shohei's 200th home run ball (combining his NPB and MLB stats) ... which he blasted on June 23, 2023, at Coors Field against the Rockies.

The ball, launched 423 feet in the 5th inning, is, like the jersey, expected to bring in a pretty penny.

Rashee Rice is now officially a wanted man in Texas ... cops just announced they've issued an arrest warrant for the Chiefs star after he was involved in that massive car crash in Dallas last month.

Officials from the Dallas Police Dept. said in a statement Wednesday Rice is facing one count of aggravated assault, one count of collision involving serious bodily injury, and six counts of collision involving injury ... this after he admitted to driving one of the cars -- a matte black Lamborghini -- that caused a huge pileup on a highway on March 30.

Theodore Knox -- the man accused of driving the other car, a Corvette -- was also issued an arrest warrant ... and faces the same charges as Rice.

Toronto Raptors center Jontay Porter could be booted from the NBA for LIFE if the league finds the gambling allegations made against him are true ... with commissioner Adam Silver calling the bombshell accusations a "cardinal sin."

Porter -- who hasn't played since the claims were made public last month -- has been under fire over two games in particular this season ... when sportsbooks noticed some head-scratching activity on prop bets involving the big man.

The 24-year-old left both games early due to either injury or illness ... meaning folks who hammered the under on any Porter bets would be in for a big payday.

Porter could be in a world of trouble if the NBA determines he had anything to do with the betting activity ... 'cause Silver made it crystal clear he's not taking the claims lightly.

"I have enormous range of discipline available to me," Silver said at the league's board of governors meetings this week. "It's cardinal sin what he’s accused of in the NBA."

"The ultimate extreme option I have is to ban him from the game. That’s the level of authority I have here because there’s nothing more serious."

Caitlin Clark took women's basketball to new heights ... and South Carolina freshman MiLaysia Fulwiley is looking to build off her momentum -- telling TMZ Sports the next generation of hoopers wants to make the Iowa superstar proud!!

Clark had a huge impact on the entire sport during her career with the Hawkeyes ... breaking records and helping set historic television ratings in the process.

Fulwiley and the undefeated Gamecocks took down Clark's Iowa squad in the national championship game on Sunday ... and despite being opponents in the biggest matchup of the year, the freshman had nothing but great things to say about the WNBA's next No. 1-overall pick.

"Caitlin Clark, she's a great person, she did tremendous things for women's basketball -- not just women's basketball, but college basketball," Fulwiley told us.

Speaking of winning the natty, Fulwiley and her teammate Kamilla Cardoso celebrated by working a shift at Raising Cane's in Columbia on Wednesday ... handing out some delicious tenders for a ton of 'Cocks fans in attendance!!

Clark declared for the WNBA Draft earlier in the season ... leaving many to wonder what'll happen to all the hype surrounding women's hoops once she's gone.

Fulwiley said the up-and-comers are ready to fill Clark's big shoes ... and they're going to take what they learned from her and apply it to their game.

"Her leaving is gonna be a big impact on us, but she made us want to push harder," Fulwiley added. "She inspired all of us, all the younger ones, all us freshmen to see what it feels like to achieve all the goals that we've dreamed of."

"We're just trying to pick up where she left off and just keep things going because I know she'd be proud and everybody else that supports women's basketball will be proud."

There are apparently critics of Bronny James' game in NBA front offices too ... 'cause one general manager declared this week LeBron's kid is "nowhere near ready" to play in the Association right now.

The GM made the comments to The Ringer's Dan Conner ... while speaking under the condition of anonymity.

It didn't seem the exec absolutely loathed the 19-year-old's skillset -- in fact, he appeared to praise the teen's defensive ability -- but he seemed to make it clear that LBJ Jr. needs more seasoning before he can thrive in the pros like Dad.

10:23 AM PT -- Suggs, through EAG Sports rep Denise White, issued a statement on the incident to TMZ Sports ... and Terrell says he was in fear for his safety.

"I was in a quiet area of Scottsdale in the middle of the day in a Starbucks drive-thru near my home when an incident happened with a vehicle behind me. I was getting coffee, I was not looking for any trouble," TS said.

"When the man in the other vehicle escalated the situation, I feared for my safety not knowing what his intentions were. Throughout the incident, I was the one who felt in danger, while fearing I would be followed home and for the safety of my family nearby at my residence."

TMZ Sports has learned Terrell Suggs' arrest on Tuesday stemmed from a March incident in which he allegedly brandished a gun and threatened to kill a man during an argument at a Scottsdale, Arizona Starbucks.