TMZ Sports - Page 50

O.J. Simpson's acquittal in his 1994 murder trial remains one of the most controversial verdicts to date, but a member of his defense -- the so-called Dream Team -- stands by the strategies they used to get him off.

Perhaps the most controversial of their strategies was playing the "race card" during the trial ... a decision attorney Carl Douglas defends, claiming both sides knew race would play a factor in the case.

He tells TMZ ... "The prosecution played the race card as well when they brought on a Black prosecutor (Christopher Darden) for the first time when the jury was all assembled on the first day of trial."

Sales of O.J. Simpson's "If I Did It" book have exploded since the infamous star's death, with the publication skyrocketing to the top of the charts.

76-year-old O.J. died on Wednesday -- a day before the public found out -- when the Simpson family announced the news ... and reignited interest in the grizzly, 1994 double murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman.

According to Amazon.com, the world's largest bookseller, "If I Did It" sits in the number 1, 2, and 4 spots (different versions of the book -- audio, abridged, unabridged) in the entire Criminology section. It's also number 8 in the Murder/True Crime section.

Justin Gaethje's UFC career is chock full of big fights, but he says none more important than his UFC 300 scrap with Max Holloway!

There's that much on the line.

"This is the biggest fight of my career," 35-year-old Gaethje, the #2 ranked lightweight, told TMZ Sports of Saturday's contest, continuing, "a loss here definitely takes away those aspirations of fighting for the gold. You know, a win here definitely solidifies that."

32-year-old Holloway, who is going up to 155 for the scrap, isn't ranked at lightweight ... but is the #2-ranked featherweight.

FYI, Justin is coming off an impressive win over star Dustin Poirier at UFC 291, and Rafael Fiziev before. JG's also beaten the likes of Michael Chandler, Tony Ferguson, Edson Barboza, and Cowboy Cerrone in the UFC.

Max defeated "Korean Zombie" in August, and Arnold Allen in April 2023. Mas has beaten Frankie Edgar, Brian Ortega, Anthony Pettis, and Jose Aldo (twice).

Justin, a slight favorite Saturday, believes a dub gets him a title shot against champ Islam Makhachev.

"I think I win this fight and my goal is to fight the champion at Madison Square Garden," Gaethje says.

We also talked to Justin about fighting on the historic card. UFC 1 was in November 1993 ... and now 30 years later, Gaethje is one of the premiere fights on the stacked card.

He talked about what it means to him.

"It's just a testament to what I've done here," Gaethje said.

"My first interaction with the UFC fans at a press conference, I said 'I'm the most violent lightweight on the planet and the most exciting,' and I think I've lived up to that. I've spoken it into reality. I'm the most consistent guy. I think that's why we're kind of the people's main event, because they know they're going to get a show."

Chelsea Green's phone has been dry AF lately -- at least when it comes to hearing from her newest nemesis -- 'cause the WWE Superstar tells TMZ Sports the folks at The Plaza in NYC still haven't hit her up to clear the air after hotel staffers mistook her for an escort.

As we previously reported, Green tried to get a drink with a friend at the Champagne Bar before attending a Broadway show last Tuesday ... but ended up being humiliated when security singled her out and told her to scram on multiple occasions.

Green said at the time she believed it was due to her wardrobe choice ... as numerous staffers commented about how she was there for "business" -- the bedroom kind.

Little did they know, she really WAS in town for business -- she had just participated in "Monday Night Raw" at Barclays Center the night prior.

After the incident went viral, Green claimed the hotel reached out to her on social media ... promising to set up a time to hash things out.

But, we're told that day still hasn't come ... which means Green was left without both a drink AND an apology.

It's finally the weekend, and TMZ covered a whole lotta wild stories this week. Check out the best of the past week below.

On "TMZ Live," Harvey and Charles discuss Caitlyn Jenner slamming social media users for comparing the tragic car crash she was a part of to O.J. Simpson's alleged crimes.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's new Netflix venture's already poppin' with star power ... 'cause early filming saw Serena Williams hangin' with the duo!

The Sussexes were down in Miami shooting their new show for Netflix all about the polo world ... attending the Royal Salute Polo Challenge Friday.

Check out the pics ... Harry's all decked out in his polo gear -- ready to hop on a horse and score a few points with cameras ready to cover it all.

It's a busy time for the Denver Nuggets ... the defending champs, on a quest to go back-to-back, are fighting for the number one seed in the West -- but that's not going to stop the defending champs from having a UFC 300 watch party, according to star Jamal Murray!

27-year-old Murray, a huge MMA fan, joined Babcock on TMZ Sports, and chopped it up while previewing the historic card ... which is going down Saturday night in Las Vegas.

Unfortunately for the NBA star, Jamal won't be able to attend the fights in person at T-Mobile Arena 'cause the Nuggets play the San Antonio Spurs in Texas on Friday and the Memphis Grizzlies in Tennessee on Sunday.

But, Murray has a Plan B.

"We'll do a little watch party," Jamal said, adding, "I think we got a little conference room set up in Memphis for the fights. I mean, the cards will be going on all day. So, yeah, some great fights, man. Some great fights!"

UFC 300 is a big deal for Dana White's organization ... and as you'd expect, the card's stacked! One of the big fights is Justin Gaethje vs. Max Holloway. We asked Jamal about the scrap.

"Justin, Max Holloway, that's going to be a very, very interesting fight because it can go so many different ways," the former 7th overall draft pick told us.

"I think Max is going to have to pull out all the tools to beat Gaethje, whereas Gaethje, he can more stand in the pocket and rely on his chin and his punches to win the fight at that weight. Whereas Max is going to have to be more technical and probably get some ground control, more knees, you know, just a little more tighter."

3:10 PM PT -- Teddy Knox turned himself in to cops on Friday for his role in the Rashee Rice car crash ... just one day after the Chiefs star did the same.

Knox, like Rice, took a mug shot ... and it didn't exactly look thrilled in the pic.

SMU Mustangs cornerback Teddy Knox -- the other man facing several charges stemming from the Rashee Rice car crash -- has been suspended from the football team, the school announced Thursday.

Dallas PD announced they issued arrest warrants on Wednesday ... with Knox and Rice both facing one count of aggravated assault, one count of collision involving serious bodily injury, and six counts of collision involving injury.

Rice admitted to driving the rented Lamborghini during the multi-vehicle accident ... and Knox is accused of driving the Corvette.

SMU addressed the legal update on Thursday ... confirming Knox is a member of the Mustang football team -- but not at the moment.

"Knox has been suspended from the team," the school said in a statement. "SMU takes these allegations seriously. Federal student privacy laws prevent the University from discussing details involving student disciplinary proceedings."

Knox was a four-star recruit out of The Woodlands High School in Texas ... and started his college career at Mississippi State before transferring to SMU.

He played in 11 games in 2023 ... earning four tackles.

As for Rice, his attorney, Royce West, said he will do whatever it takes to make things right with the victims of the accident.

Michael Strahan's daughter Isabella shared a disappointing setback amid her brain tumor battle ... revealing her next round of chemotherapy has been delayed.

The teen opened up in a YouTube video about her ongoing treatment ... explaining to her followers why she had to recently return to the hospital.

As Isabella put it ... a fever was to blame -- which is why she had to get an IV and have scans taken.

O.J. Simpson spoke to many close friends and family members in his last days, but he did not make any confessions about the murders before succumbing to cancer.

Of course, almost as soon as news broke of his death, people wondered if he'd spoken at all about the slayings of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman. It does play like the perfect movie scene, which clearly helped fuel the rumor -- but a source with direct knowledge tells us it's just that ... a rumor.

We asked if anything like that happened, and one source called it "totally false."

The 76ers just unveiled their new Allen Iverson statue ... and its stature has fans all across the NBA world scratching their heads -- wondering why the hell it's so small!!

Take a look at The Answer's new bust -- which Philadelphia officials just placed outside the Sixers' practice facility on Friday -- it's about the size of the Heisman Trophy!

In total, including its base, it appears to be less than six feet tall ... as AI -- who stands at 6'0 -- was quite literally at eye-level with it.

People who loved the Hall of Famer's game quickly took to social media to clown it ... with famed internet personality Jomboy writing, "Sixers promised Allen Iverson a statue and gave him a toy soldier."

Added basketball reporter Jeff Goodman, "Where’s the rest of the statue???"

Iverson, though, didn't seem to have much of an issue with it ... when he spoke with reporters about the figurine, he called it a whale of honor.

And, to be fair, most of the statues that currently reside outside of the team’s Camden practice facility aren't all that big … for instance, Charles Barkley's is only a few inches taller than him.

But still, the internet wasn't pleased nonetheless.

It, of course, has been a rough year for NBA statue-makers ... as back in February, the Lakers revealed a sculpture honoring Kobe Bryant that was riddled with spelling errors.

2:22 PM PT -- Ippei Mizuhara showed up to his court appearance with shackles around his ankles ... although the chains were ultimately removed as the hearing got underway.

During the proceedings, Mizuhara -- wearing a dark-colored suit -- learned he will be released on $25,000 bond ... but he will have to abide by a myriad of conditions in order to stay out of custody -- including no gambling whatsoever.

Mizuhara will also have to enroll in a gamblers addiction treatment program ... as well as, among other stipulations, have no communication with Shohei Ohtani.

Caitlyn Jenner is refusing to apologize for her blunt statement regarding O.J. Simpson's death, and she's calling out those who say she's just like him ... due to a deadly car wreck.

The Olympian faced a barrage of negative comments after she celebrated O.J.'s passing ... writing "Good Riddance" in a curt statement on X. In response, many slammed Caitlyn -- and compared her to Simpson by calling her a killer for her involvement in a 2015 fatal car accident.

Caitlyn responded to the criticism Friday, defending she is nothing like the controversial NFL star -- who was found liable in a 1996 civil trial for the killing of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman.

Jake Paul and Jutta Leerdam are madly in love with one another, and they want the world to know it -- sharing mushy notes about each other on their one-year anniversary Friday!

The two just threw up the posts on their social media pages minutes ago ... and, yeah, they're gooey.

Leerdam shared a video of the two dancing and getting close. Paul, meanwhile, put up a collage of romantic photos.

Ben McLemore is breaking his silence days after he was arrested and charged with rape, adamantly claiming he's not guilty of the horrific crime!

The 10-year NBA vet was arrested Tuesday on a first-degree rape charge in Multnomah County, Oregon ... and later transferred to Clackamas County Jail on Wednesday.

McLemore, who was released after posting bond, addressed the sex crime accusation in a statement Thursday night.

“I did not rape this woman,” the 31-year-old said. “I am not sexually abusive. I have never pursued a sexual relationship when I understood the woman was not interested in me and acting willingly.”

As for what he's accused of doing ... Police say a woman claims McLemore sexually assaulted her at his Lake Oswego home in 2021 when BM was a member of the Portland Trail Blazers.

According to police, the investigation was delayed because McLemore was out of the country, playing professional basketball in China, Greece and Spain.

McLemore is facing one count of unlawful sexual penetration and two counts of sexual abuse, in addition to the first-degree rape charge.

The former Kansas University men's basketball star is obviously frustrated with how the case has been handled by authorities so far.

“I met every request they made of me, immediately and professionally," McLemore said.

"I indicated that I was interested in testifying in the grand jury but was refused that opportunity. When my attorneys were informed of the charges, we immediately made plans for me to return to the United States for the first court appearance -- and informed all law enforcement authorities and the Court of my travel plan."

"I could not have done more to assist in the process.”

Jared Goff's swimsuit model fiancée, Christen Harper, is celebrating her final days as an unmarried woman in fitting fashion ... soaking in the Mexico sun with other models in teeny bikinis!!!

The 30-year-old -- who got engaged to Goff back in June 2023 -- piled into a plane on Thursday morning with a grip of her closest friends ... and headed off to Cabo San Lucas to let loose one last time before her upcoming nuptials.

And, once they touched down, first order of business appeared to be to throw on some swimwear and catch some rays by a pool at a luxurious resort.

Of course, Harper -- who's been featured in Sports Illustrated several times -- was surrounded by other beautiful women who are no stranger to posing in barely-there attire ... including Katie Austin and Elizabeth Turner.

All of the girls seemed to be having a blast ... there were balloons, catered food -- and even temporary tattoos with Goff's mug on them!!

Harper and the ladies then threw on some dresses for a night on the town ... and it's expected they'll keep the party going throughout the weekend.

Harper and Goff first went public with their relationship way back in 2019 -- when TMZ Sports spotted them running errands at a Los Angeles-area Best Buy. They've since become inseparable -- even when the quarterback got traded from the Rams to the Detroit Lions.