TMZ Sports - Page 4

Christy Martin's happy Sydney Sweeney's lacing up her boxing gloves ... saying she's thrilled Syd's playing her in a new biopic, and she wants to make sure her ring moves look authentic.

The boxing legend tells TMZ ... she's excited for Syd's performance, especially because she has a background in MMA and combat sports -- and says the actor's performance can prove dynamite comes in small packages!

Martin maintains she had no say in casting, and while she hasn't spoken to Sweeney yet ... she's anxious to let her know how honored she is she's taking the role.

Christy says she'll definitely be involved with Sydney's boxing training, specifically to help the star with her left hook ... giving her championship-level tools for the flick.

The Formula One Miami Grand Prix blew the Super Bowl outta the water in the VIP department ... so says gamer FaZe Banks, who tells TMZ Sports last weekend's event was "insane!!"

Folks like Patrick and Brittany Mahomes, Kendall Jenner, Steve Aoki, Jerry Bruckheimer, Joe Burrow, BLACKPINK's Lisa and Ed Sheeran -- just to name a FEW -- were all in attendance for the big race in Florida ... and if that sounds overwhelming, Banks says that's 'cause it really was.

"F1 was f***ing dope," Banks -- who was a special guest of Raising Cane's founder Todd Graves -- said of the festivities. "S***'s lit, people like it clearly."

Matt Barnes says the Los Angeles Lakers' coaching vacancy is a tough gig, but thinks JJ Redick would be able to handle the pressure ... telling TMZ Sports the former sharp-shooter has a "great basketball mind."

The Purple and Gold are looking for their next head coach now that Darvin Ham is out after two years ... and they're in desperate search of someone who can get them back in perennial title contention.

Barnes told us at LAX this week he doesn't have a clear favorite to take over the clipboard in L.A. ... but when we asked about Redick's name being thrown around as a potential candidate, he was all about it.

How do you top the 'Greatest Roast of All-Time??' How about going at another GOAT -- 'cause comedian Chris D'Elia tells TMZ Sports a roast of LeBron James would be a worthy follow-up to Tom Brady's night of hell.

But, don't get your hopes up, folks ... 'cause he doubts that'll ever happen.

We talked to D'Elia all about the successful Netflix special at LAX this week ... and picked his brain about the rules of roasting -- after all, he DID crack jokes at a guy named Justin Bieber's expense back in 2015.

Another week comes to a close ... and, TMZ's got you covered with some of the hottest takes on television. Check out the best from the last week.

On "TMZ Live," Charles and Jacob talk Justin Bieber's mom Pattie Mallette finally getting to share her excitement at her impending grandchild.

A group of teenage rowers from Oakland found themselves under fire in neighboring Sacramento during a race they were in on the river -- and we mean that quite literally.

Nine different boys -- ranging in age from 15 to 16 years old -- were rowing their boat along the Sacramento River late last month during a regatta run-through that was being held in the region ... and they were literally in the middle of their race when gunshots rang out.

The video is wild ... you can see and hear them focused on their task, when suddenly -- a few shots come their way from somewhere along the river bank... barely missing them.

The last thing Novak Djokovic probably expected while signing autographs after his win at the Italian Open was to get hurt ... but that's exactly what happened -- as a flying water bottle from the stands nailed him in the head, leaving him crouching in pain.

Djokovic approached his supporters after a 6-3, 6-1 win over France's Corentin Moutet on Friday ... and decided to show some love by scribbling his Hancock on some memorabilia.

Videos on X show Djokovic falling to the ground and grabbing his head after the water bottle struck him in the head.

"We killed [Reggie Miller at The Garden.] The whole crowd, 20,000 people. 'F you, Reggie.' I ain't gonna lie, I might have been in on the chat."

That's New York legend, and forever Knicks superfan, Fat Joe ... recounting the insanely loud chant directed at the Pacers legend as game 2 came to a close, and the NY K took a 2-0 series lead.

58-year-old Miller was part of the ESPN broadcast ... and the Hall of Famer wasn't shy, continually taking jabs at Knicks fans throughout the game, reminding the MSG faithful that he "owned" NYC.

Sean Burroughs -- the ninth-overall pick in the 1998 MLB Draft -- has suddenly passed away, it was announced on Friday. He was just 43 years old.

The former third baseman was coaching his son's Little League game in California on Thursday when he suffered cardiac arrest.

Burroughs was a standout for the Long Beach Little League World Series teams in 1992-93 ... becoming the first American-born pitcher to throw back-to-back no-hitters as he led his teammates to two titles.

Bert Kreischer's clearing up a wild story about Tom Brady's roast, saying he did NOT have cocaine on him -- like everyone in the arena suspected -- but admits playing it up for the crowd!

The comedian appeared on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" Thursday night, and spoke about an unaired moment that got the Kia Forum audience jumping -- he showed them a bag full of a white substance and implied he was holding a bit of blow.

Kreischer explains he had a bag full of nicotine pouches, which he put in a clear plastic baggie -- making it look like coke -- and placed it in his pocket.

Fans of the "College Football" video game franchise just got a little nugget to hold them over until the reboot is officially released later this year ... with EA Sports revealing the "Deluxe Edition" cover -- featuring some of the sport's biggest CURRENT stars.

"College Football 25" popped up on the PlayStation Store on Friday ... allowing gamers to add the project to their wishlist before it drops this summer. The main art for the special version of the game shows Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers, Michigan running back Donovan Edwards and two-way Colorado player Travis Hunter front and center.

Alabama's Jalen Milroe, Georgia's Carson Beck and Ohio State's Quinshon Judkins also appear behind them.

The FedEx driver who carelessly tossed over a dozen packages into his truck has been fired by the delivery giant ... after Dana White captured the incident on camera before posting it on social media, where it went viral!

In case you missed it, White was being chauffeured in the Big Apple on Tuesday when he saw the delivery man throwing box after box ... as if he was Steph Curry shooting jump shots.

"FedEx. We'll get your shit there, but we'll f*** it up," White said. "My boy don't give a f***." While Dana and many others online found the video comical, FedEx didn't.

The 45-year-old man who stole and destroyed a Jackie Robinson statue in Kansas pled guilty on Thursday to multiple charges, including theft, and is now facing over 19 years behind bars!

Remember, the large Jackie statue was stolen on January 25 from a youth baseball park in Wichita, KS ... only to be found burned and destroyed days later at a nearby park.

Multiple people were captured on surveillance video taking the statue, but only one person, Ricky Alderete, has been arrested and charged.

10:30 AM PT -- It happened -- Shaquille O'Neal just took his beef with Shannon Sharpe to the mic ... dropping a diss track amid their internet feud.

Forget Drake and Kendrick Lamar, there's a new beef taking over -- Shaquille O'Neal vs. Shannon Sharpe ... with the NBA legend sending shots at the NFL Hall of Famer for claiming he's "jealous" of Nikola Jokic.

Patrick Beverley isn't hiding his face after getting hit with a four-game suspension ... popping up one of the most popular restaurants in L.A. just hours after news of his punishment broke -- and despite the recent drama, he said he's doing "amazing."

The Milwaukee Bucks guard and his partner, Mandana Bolourchi, dined at Craig's in West Hollywood on Thursday ... a regular spot for cameras to post up in hopes of running into celebrities.

The photogs in attendance cracked a few jokes with Pat Bev as the duo made their exit from the eatery ... referencing the incident in which he threw a ball at two different fans in the crowd during last week's game against the Indiana Pacers -- as well as his tiff he had with a reporter shortly afterward.

Will Caitlin Clark's star power carry over to the WNBA? One home (exhibition) game in and we have our answer. A big hell yes!

22-year-old Clark officially suited up in front of the hometown fans for the first time as an Indiana Fever player Thursday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis ... as the squad took on the Atlanta Dream, beating them 83-80.

The game didn't count ... so it's all the more astounding that 13,028 fans showed up to watch Clark and her teammates, nearly triple the Fever's regular-season attendance numbers from the 2023 season, where they averaged 4,067 a game.