TMZ Sports - Page 34

12:01 PM PT -- A rep for Amazon MGM Studios tells TMZ ... "Dwayne Johnson and Seven Bucks have been incredible partners on 'Red One' -- a film that audiences of all ages are going to love this holiday season. Our testing has been very strong -- the reaction from CinemaCon speaks for itself -- and we couldn’t have made it without Dwayne’s constant work and support."

They add, "Any reporting that implies that we got to this point with him showing up 7-8 hours late to set is both ridiculous and false."

The Rock got into a tiff with Ryan Reynolds while they were working on a movie together years ago -- and while it wasn't a blowup fight as has been suggested, it was a real thing.

New York Jets star Sauce Gardner is letting out a big yawn after checking out Kendrick Lamar's new Drake diss ... saying after taking three weeks to drop, it should've been MUCH better.

Social media is freaking out over Kendrick's surprise response to Drizzy's "Push Ups" and "Taylor Made Freestyle" tracks on Tuesday ... with people torn between whether it was enough to give him the upper hand in the rap beef.

Gardner -- who says he appreciates both artists -- is clearly siding with the 6 God so far, 'cause he shared his opinion on Kendrick's "Euphoria" ... and it wasn't a very glowing review.

Xavier Worthy just made sure he'll never forget NFL Draft night 2024 ... getting a tattoo to immortalize the moment the Chiefs took him with their first-round pick.

The former Texas Longhorns wideout hit up a parlor over the weekend to get the ink done -- just days after Kansas City made him Patrick Mahomes' newest target.

In a video posted to his TikTok page, you can see Worthy had a Chiefs logo put down on his forearm ... as well as the letters and numbers "R:1 P:28" -- a nod to the 28th overall selection K.C. used to get him.

Worthy -- who ran a 4.21 40-yard dash at the NFL's scouting combine last month -- was clearly thrilled with how the artwork turned out ... sharing it with all of Chiefs Kingdom on his social media page.

Worthy, of course, is no stranger to going under the needle -- he's got plenty of tats all over his body ... including one of the NFL's shield just above his newest piece.

Magic Johnson is painting a dire picture for the Los Angeles Lakers ... saying if the team doesn't completely revamp its roster this offseason, they're in serious risk of getting left in the dust.

Fresh off L.A.'s elimination from the playoffs at the hands of the Denver Nuggets, the Lakers legend gave his two cents on the disappointing season on Tuesday ... and he's not sugar-coating anything.

"Laker Nation, we have a problem," the five-time champion said on X. "All the good teams in the West are young and talented: the Nuggets, the Timberwolves, the Thunder, the Clippers, and the Mavs."

Diana Taurasi is standing by her comments on Caitlin Clark and the learning curve she'll inevitably face as a pro, despite a wave of backlash, with the former MVP describing fans of the rookie hooper as "really sensitive!"

In case you missed the OG comments ... the WNBA legend was recently on TV following 22-year-old Clark's selection as the number one overall pick, where Taurasi cautioned Caitlin would face her fair share of struggles.

"Reality is coming," Taurasi said earlier this month. "There's levels to this thing. That's just life. We all went through it."

"You look superhuman playing against some 18-year-olds, but you're gonna come play with some grown women that have been playing professional basketball for a long time -- not saying that's not gonna translate."

Taurasi added, "There's gonna be a transition period where you're gonna have to give yourself some grace as a rookie."

Clark fans didn't appreciate the take -- unloading on the Phoenix Mercury star -- though Taurasi isn't taking a single syllable back, despite the hate.

"The new fans are really sensitive these days," Taurasi told reporters, adding, "You can’t say anything."

"It’s kind of like when you go to kindergarten to first grade, there’s a learning adjustment. When you go from high school to college, there’s a learning adjustment."

"I don’t think I said anything that’s factually incorrect. Like anything, greatness is going to translate. And she’s proven that at every level. I don’t see why that’s going to be any different in the WNBA."

Of course, it'd probably behoove Clark to listen to 41-year-old Taurasi -- who was given the "White Mamba" nickname by Kobe Bryant -- is one of the greatest female hoopers ever ... with 3 WNBA Championships, 2 Finals MVPs, 10 All-Star nods, 10 All WNBA First team bids, and a league MVP, amongst many other accolades.

The UConn legend also knows a thing or two about coming in and being an immediate difference-maker. The number one overall pick went on to win Rookie of the Year in 2004.

Travis Kelce seems head over heels in love with Taylor Swift ... so much so that he made a very public display of affection toward his pop superstar girlfriend -- and it was all caught on video!

As the world already knows, the famous couple was hanging out this weekend at a charity event in Las Vegas -- where Travis couldn't keep his paws -- or his lips -- off Taylor.

Check out this new footage posted to X ... Travis is standing behind Taylor with his hands all over her as she tries to speak to someone next to her.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass tried to to find the silver lining after the Lakers' early exit from the playoffs ... congratulating the Purple & Gold on winning the In-Season Tournament a few months ago -- but it was met with so much backlash, she ended up scrubbing the post from her page.

LeBron James and Co. got booted from the postseason on Monday ... falling to the Denver Nuggets in Game 5 of their first-round matchup.

Bass attempted to share some positivity shortly after the final buzzer ... pointing out the Lake Show had a bit of success earlier in the 2023-24 campaign when L.A. won the meaningless mid-season competition in December.

Galveston, TX is returning fire after Charles Barkley took a shot at their "dirty" beaches on national television ... with the city clapping back, saying millions of people visit for their "beautiful shoreline."

ICYMI, the NBA legend roasted the city, nicknamed the "Queen City of the Gulf," located about 50 miles southeast of Houston ... after the New Orleans Pelicans disappointing 106-85 loss to Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday.

"They didn't even try, man," Barkley said on NBA on TNT. "We're not giving them no plane ticket to the beach."

The fighting world is rallying around Francis Ngannou following the death of his son ... with many combat sports stars -- including Manny Pacquiao and Anthony Joshua -- sending their prayers and condolences his way on Monday.

The heartfelt notes were left on Ngannou's Instagram page ... in the comment section of a post where the former UFC champ mourned the loss of Kobe, his 15-month-old son.

"How do you deal with such a thing?" Ngannou said in the post. "How can you live with it?"

LeBron James says he's yet to make a decision about his NBA future following L.A.'s playoff exit Monday night ... telling media members he's not sure if he'll return to the Lakers in 2024.

LBJ played coy when he was asked multiple times about his plans for next season ... even at one point ducking a question from a reporter who wanted to know if he considered the possibility of the Game 5 loss to the Nuggets being his last in the Purple and Gold.

"I'm not going to answer that," he said.

Logan Paul got an assist from the biggest superstar in the NFL during WWE's "Monday Night Raw" ... using Patrick Mahomes' "Super Bowl Rings" like brass knuckles in the middle of a match -- but the plan totally backfired!!

The Chiefs quarterback was a surprise guest at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City ... where he had a front-row seat for all the wild action.

But Mahomes wasn't just a bystander -- he played a huge role in Paul's showdown with Jey Uso ... when the Maverick decided to help his Judgment Day friends JD McDonagh and Finn Balor in a scrap.

Jake Paul's fighting Mike Tyson in July, and many people are worried about The Problem Child's safety. But, it's Iron Mike who should actually be concerned, according to the legendary Oscar De la Hoya.

TMZ Sports ran into the Hall of Fame boxer in New York City last week, and we asked ODLH about the upcoming scrap between 57-year-old Tyson and 27-year-old Paul.

"I'm gonna pray for Mike Tyson, 'cause I love Mike Tyson. I think Jake Paul, look, he's a real fighter. He really is. It's a dangerous fight. Mike Tyson, be careful, please," De La Hoya told us.

A YouTuber is lucky to be alive after falling 85 feet in a paraglider crash ... which left him with several broken bones, and practically paralyzed on the ground as he called for help.

Check it out ... Anthony Vella filmed himself recently enjoying a motorized paraglide ride in Texas, when something went terribly wrong -- resulting in the internet personality plummeting to the ground. Anthony screams out in pain before calling out to Siri on his phone to call 911.

2 eyewitnesses come to Anthony's aid ... assisting him in contacting first responders as well as his wife, Leandra. Anthony -- who was going about 50 mph before his fall from the sky -- was rushed to the hospital ... where he was diagnosed with a fractured neck, back, pelvis, and a broken arm. His injuries will require surgery.

Johnny Manziel and Josie Canseco aren't being subtle about their romance anymore -- the Heisman Trophy winner and model just went full-send with their relationship ... sharing some PDA pics after attending Stagecoach together.

The new couple simultaneously posted snaps from the country music festival on their Instagram stories a few minutes ago ... with both images showing them wrapped in each other's arms during Morgan Wallen's headlining performance.

Johnny also documented their group jamming to the singer's "Ain't That Some" ... and it's clear everyone had a helluva time.

12:58 PM PT -- Francis Ngannou released a statement on the loss ... and it's incredibly emotional.

"Too soon to leave but yet he's gone," he said. "My little boy, my mate, my partner Kobe was full of life and joy. Now, he's laying without life. I shouted his name over and over but he's not responding."

Ngannou added Kobe made him his "best self" ... and he's now lost without him.

Travis Kelce was already having an amazing 2024 ... he won Super Bowl LVIII, he's dating the biggest star in the world, and now he's getting a new, fat contract extension -- making him the richest tight end in the NFL!

The 34-year-old perennial Pro Bowler agreed to a two-year extension on Monday ... and even though the amount hasn't been disclosed, reports say it's enough to make him the highest-paid TE in the league.

Of course, it's well deserved. Kelce is arguably the best tight end in the NFL -- and one of the greatest ever -- already racking up 74 receiving touchdowns and 11,328 yards since being drafted in 2013 (3rd round pick).