TMZ Sports - Page 50

If you can't spot The Rock in the first image from his latest movie set ... you ain't alone -- 'cause Dwayne Johnson looks unrecognizable in his new role as ex-UFC fighter Mark Kerr!

The WWE superstar transformed into the MMA legend for A24's upcoming project, "The Smashing Machine," and check out the first look from the film he posted ... the Brahma Bull's no longer distinguishable.

Dwayne covered up his signature tats ... added a wig -- and even appeared to put on some heavy face makeup to really look the part.

Pro wrestler John 'Bad Bones' Klinger -- who competed in Westside Xtreme Wrestling and TNA, among other promotions -- passed away just days after his latest match in the ring. He was only 40.

wXw made the tragic announcement on Monday. Klinger's cause of death hasn't been disclosed.

"We wish his family and friends strength during this difficult time," the wrestling promotion said.

Cameron Brink's meet-and-greet with Hollywood's biggest names continues ... 'cause fresh off her run-in with Kim Kardashian, the L.A. Sparks star hung out with Shohei Ohtani at the Dodgers game!!

The 2024 No. 2 overall pick and her fellow rookie teammate, No. 4 pick Rickea Jackson, were VIP guests at Los Angeles' home matchup against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday ... throwing out the first pitch and shouting the traditional "It's time for Dodger baseball" rally cry before the game.

Brink got some one-on-one time with the biggest name in baseball as well ... and when they met up, Ohtani couldn't help but acknowledge how they were on eye level.

Caitlin Clark's WNBA growing pains continued Monday night ... this time, a profane outburst at a ref cost her team a technical foul -- which hurt the Fever in yet another loss.

Clark hurled an F-bomb an official's way late in the fourth quarter of Indiana's tilt with Connecticut at Gainbridge Fieldhouse ... after she believed she was illegally hit on an offensive possession just moments prior.

She ran up to the referee and screamed, "That's a f***ing foul!" ... before she went to regroup with her teammates.

If Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Kyle Busch wanna take their beef from garages and pit roads to an actual squared circle ... TMZ Sports has learned Celebrity Boxing is more than willing to put on the bout for them.

Damon Feldman -- the honcho of the fight org. -- said in a video message Monday he's ready to put the wheels in motion on a boxing match between the NASCAR stars ... as soon as they give him the green light.

"Come on, NASCAR," Feldman said, "let's make this the biggest deal in the country!"

A transgender high school runner won a state title over the weekend, but instead of a rousing ovation, the athlete was met with a chorus of boos ... with spectators voicing their displeasure over the track star's participation in the event.

The controversial incident happened Saturday at the Oregon School Activities Association track and field championships in Eugene ... where McDaniel H.S. sophomore Aayden Gallagher raced girls in the 200-meter finals.

Gallagher trailed, but a late push saw her cross the finish line in 23.82 seconds, just ahead of the second-place runner.

Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze is imploring his fans to send their prayers Brian Battie's way ... revealing Monday the Tigers running back has been put on a ventilator after he was involved in a shooting over the weekend.

The football player was initially wounded at around 3:30 AM on Saturday ... after gunfire erupted in the Tallywood Centre Plaza parking lot in Sarasota, Fla.

According to the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office, one person, Battie's brother, Tommie L. Battie IV, was killed during the incident. Several others, the SCSO said, needed to be transported to nearby hospitals to address their injuries.

Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and their fellow first-round draft picks might be pros now, but they ain't done learning -- soaking in some wise words from Tom Brady and Jay-Z at a luncheon over the weekend.

The Bears and Commanders top picks -- as well as Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, Giants receiver Malik Nabers, Raiders tight end Brock Bowers and Broncos quarterback Bo Nix -- attended the gathering held by Fanatics founder Michael Rubin ... and hopefully they were taking notes, 'cause TB12, Hov and the businessman shared some serious nuggets.

"When you have 53 guys on the team, you think it's about you -- it ain't about you, it's about us," Brady said during the lunch. "And the biggest problem I see with a lot of the young players today, you guys are making it too much about I and me because of social media, because of branding and all that. It's fine. You're not gonna win."

Nina Dobrev's active lifestyle has taken a hit -- 'cause she landed in the hospital ... this after an accident on an electric bike.

The 'Vampire Diaries' alum shared this unfortunate news Monday by posting a photo from her hospital bed on Instagram ... where she was hooked up to a monitor while sporting a knee brace AND a neck brace.

Nina appeared to blame an e-bike for her current state ... as her first slide in the upload featured her posing on the vehicle in a little black outfit -- looking as happy as can be.

Paul Pierce is finally letting the world know how he suffered a finger injury that required a trip to the hospital last week ... revealing he busted up the digit during a workout mishap.

The NBA Hall of Famer explained the situation to Keyshawn Johnson and Skip Bayless on Monday's episode of "Undisputed," telling the guys it all happened as he was trying to do a plank with a weight on his back last Friday.

Pierce said at one point during the core exercise -- the 45-pounder that had been placed between his shoulder blades came dislodged ... and then fell right on his hand.

Jim Otto -- a Pro Football Hall of Famer and one of the greatest Raiders of all time -- has sadly died, the team announced this weekend. He was 86 years old.

Las Vegas owner Mark Davis extended his condolences following the legend's passing late Sunday evening ... lighting the Al Davis memorial torch at Allegiant Stadium in the former offensive lineman's honor.

"The entire Raider Nation's thoughts and prayers go out to Jim's wife, Sally, and the entire Otto family," he said.

NASCAR's All-Star race Sunday night looked a whole lot more like a UFC event -- at least at the end -- when Ricky Stenhouse Jr. hauled off and socked Kyle Busch in the face for wrecking into him earlier in the evening.

The scene was chaotic ... after getting run over by Busch in the second lap of the contest at North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Carolina, Stenhouse Jr. waited all night long to confront the NASCAR superstar in the raceway's garage.

He got in Busch's face, told him he was pissed over the crash ... and then he threw a right hand that connected with the driver's left cheek. He appeared to throw at least one more punch -- before all hell then broke loose.

Adele's got the public buzzing with some life news, 'cause she let a little secret slip -- apparently, she's feeling motherly again ... and now, it sounds like she wants a little girl.

The British singer reportedly spilled the beans during her Friday Las Vegas show ... telling the crowd once her residency wraps up, she's putting baby-making on the top of her to-do list with Rich Paul -- and she's totally hoping for a pink gender reveal.

Adele said she wants a girl 'cause she's ready to balance out her squad. Remember, she was previously married to Simon Konecki, and together they share their son Angelo, who's now 11.

Charles Leclerc had a podium finish at F1's Imola Grand Prix on Sunday ... but his weekend was pretty crappy overall -- thanks to his adorable puppy, Leo, handling his business right in the middle of the paddock!!

The Ferrari superstar placed third in his team's home race ... with Red Bull's Max Verstappen and McLaren's Lando Norris taking the top two spots respectively.

Leclerc was more worried about No. 2 following the outing, though ... as Leo dropped a deuce while roaming around the team garages -- and the 26-year-old was NOT prepared.

Simone Biles is tired of hearing the trolls chirp about her husband ... telling Jonathan Owens' critics this weekend to "f*** off."

The gymnastics star took to Instagram to send the message to the haters on Sunday night ... after they had crawled out yet again following the NFL player's appearance at her competition on Saturday in Hartford, Connecticut.

You'll recall, the NFL safety has received heat from fans ever since he referred to himself as "the catch" in the couple's relationship while doing an interview on the "The Pivot" back in December ... and when he was shown on TV as "Simone Biles' Husband" at the event over the weekend, the negative comments cropped up again all over social media.

Former UFC fighter Geane Herrera -- who also competed in Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) -- tragically passed away following a fatal motorcycle crash in Florida on Saturday.

He was only 33 and a few days shy of his 34th birthday.

The Florida Dept. of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles told us the incident happened around 10:45 PM at Gandy Bridge in Tampa, FL ... when Herrera crashed into the back of another vehicle at a "very high rate of speed."