TMZ Sports - Page 13

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce made a surprise appearance at Coachella Saturday night ... getting cozy backstage while showing support for Tay's Collaborators.

The couple was spotted backstage hugging and dancing while friend Jack Antonoff's band Bleachers performed.

Traylor also showed support for Tay's "Karma" collaborator Ice Spice during her Coachella performance.

The winds were howling across the Indio polo fields for the second day of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and the biggest names in the desert faced the gales head-on into the unknown in true fashion!

Day 2 brought some big parties and performances ... and Hollywood matched that energy with some big looks of their own! Teyana Taylor carried the torch for the cowgirl caps with a Bret Michael's era hat/bandana and a sheer silver kaftan.

Lukas Gage kept it casual ... but somehow styled a frat-forward look into fest-fashion ... and Olivia Culpo made her yearly pilgrimage to the Hollywood holy-lands in a simple white dress to push the pure plur vibes.

The weekend's BIGGEST after-party Neon Carnival pulled in all the biggest names in the desert ... Ke$ha was raising hell as she rocked out with a vintage tee and a pair of classic cowboy boots. Amber Rose showed off her curves around the Brent Bolthouse bash in a green bodysuit ... while Paris Hilton continued "sliving in the desert" in a black jumper and some chromed-out chain accessories.

The great Caitlin Clark brought the house down on 'SNL,' schooling Michael Che for pooh-poohing women's basketball.

The Iowa guard joined Che and Colin Jost for Weekend Update, and right out of the gate, MC joked Caitlin was going to trade in her jersey for an apron.

Well, watch the clip, because at the end Caitlin shows Che who's boss!

Caitlin Clark is gonna fit right in at her new home in Indiana ... so says former Pacers forward Al Harrington, who tells TMZ Sports it's the perfect market for her to kickstart her WNBA career.

Clark -- who just capped off her historic college career at Iowa -- will undoubtedly be the first overall pick at this month's pro draft ... meaning she'll be the newest member of the Fever.

Al was a first-round pick to Indiana in 1998 ... so naturally, we asked him what it'd be like for Caitlin at the next level.

If the Miami Dolphins looked like they were frozen in their playoff game against the Chiefs last season -- it's 'cause they kind of were ... at least, that's according to Terron Armstead, who tells TMZ Sports it was unbearably frigid in Kansas City that day.

Tua Tagovailoa's protector broke it all down for us during a lengthy chat about life and football this week ... explaining he had never experienced anything like that January 13 night at Arrowhead Stadium.

"Cold is not the word I would use to describe it," he said.

Officially, it was -4 degrees ... but Terron said it felt more like "negative 99." Reportedly, it was the fourth coldest game in NFL history -- although Armstead couldn't imagine how there were days that were possibly worse.

"I'm from Illinois," the Miami offensive lineman said, "so I've worked with snow, I've played in the snow. This was a historic day, in the wrong way."

"It was bad," he added. "It was bad."

Armstead isn't speaking in hyperbole ... some fans reportedly got frostbite so bad while in attendance, they actually had to undergo amputations.

Somehow, Armstead played in the game without any sleeves on (he told us he'll never wear them again after once giving up a sack in them), but he said there's no way they would've even mattered -- because it was simply that cold.

The Fins, as you know by now, ended up never getting over the temps ... and were blown out, 26-7.

Armstead said he laments the way the regular season ended ... because if they had just won a few more games down the stretch -- including the season-finale against the Bills -- they wouldn't have even been in that game in the first place.

But, he said he's excited for this upcoming year ... telling us he truly believes they're "close" to breaking through and becoming real-deal, Super Bowl contenders.

It might not be long before another Vaughn is circling the basepaths in the MLB ... 'cause Mo Vaughn tells TMZ Sports his 11-year-old son is showing signs of being a serious baller on the diamond!!

The former AL MVP said this week Lee Vaughn has impressed him so far when he's gotten in between the white lines at ballparks ... telling us, "I honestly think he has a lot better tools than I ever had."

Mo said his offspring bats left, throws right ... and he can run, too!

The former Red Sox star, though, isn't rushing anything with his son right now ... explaining to us he knows how much can change in the baseball world in just a matter of years.

"There's such a marathon of life and game and mindset and many things mentally you have to go through," Mo said. "So, let's just see."

Of course, it wouldn't be unprecedented if Lee were to make it to the Big Leagues. MLB rosters are currently littered with sons of former stars -- including Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Fernando Tatis Jr. and, most recently, Jackson Holliday.

If Lee does want to take the baseball route seriously ... he will have some great training from Dad, as Mo has been a helluva coach already for prospects through his Vaughn Sports Academy and Perfect Game program.

But, again, Mo stressed he's going to be super patient with this whole process.

Sunday's a day of rest for a lot of people ... so, sit back, relax and take in some of the best stories TMZ covered this past week!

On "TMZ Live," Harvey and Charles break down "So You Think You Can Dance" star Korra Obidi going to the hospital after a knife and acid attack in London.

The "TMZ on TV" squad talks "The Real Housewives of Potomac" Wendy Osefo's home being burglarized after she posted photos on vacation.

And, the "TMZ Sports" crew addresses the controversy surrounding the size of Allen Iverson's statue in Philadelphia.

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

O.J. Simpson's estate won't pay his civil trial's judgment anytime soon ... according to the estate's executor who says he plans to fight any payments to the Browns or Goldmans.

Simpson's will -- obtained by TMZ -- names his longtime attorney Malcolm LaVergne as his executor ... and, Malcolm says he's focused on keeping money out of the hands of the families, specifically the Goldmans. The will also refers to a trust, which all his property was placed into in January.

Malcolm tells the Las Vegas Review-Journal, "It's my hope that the Goldmans get zero, nothing. Them specifically. And I will do everything in my capacity as the executor or personal representative to try and ensure that they get nothing."

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce popped up in L.A. Friday night ... hitting a romantic dinner instead of rockin' out to Coachella's finest.

The beloved power couple hit Los Angeles hot spot Sushi Park ... holdin' hands and lookin' fine as always while heading into the high-key celebrity restaurant.

Check out the pic ... Tay's decked out in Chiefs red while her man Killa Trav went with an all-green sweater and shorts combo -- a real good lookin' couple.

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."