TMZ Sports - Page 5

1:21 PM PT -- Pat McAfee is addressing the criticism ... saying he shouldn't have used the phrase when describing Caitlin Clark -- and he personally sent her an apology for his mistake.

"No matter the context.. even if we’re talking about race being a reason for some of the stuff happening," PM said on X. "I have way too much respect for her and women to put that into the universe."

He added ... "My intentions when saying it were complimentary just like the entire segment but, a lot of folks are saying that it certainly wasn’t at all. That’s 100% on me and for that I apologize."

Conor McGregor is opening up on the scrapped UFC 303 press conference that was scheduled for Monday ... and while he didn't explain exactly why it was canceled, he did say it was the result of a number of problems.

Notorious and Michael Chandler were slated to talk some trash in Dublin to promote the June 29 event ... but just hours before it was all supposed to go down, the organization confirmed it was a no-go until further notice -- without providing any more information.

Now, Conor is shedding a bit of light on the situation ... saying, "In consultation with the UFC, today's press conference was canceled due to a series of obstacles outside of our control."

Chicago Sky head coach Teresa Weatherspoon just condemned Chennedy Carter for her controversial foul on Caitlin Clark ... calling the shooting guard's actions unnecessary.

The Sky honcho made the comments in a statement on Monday afternoon ... admitting the body check that Carter laid on Clark during their game Saturday was "not appropriate."

"Nor is it what we do or who we are," she added.

Kim Zolciak and Kroy Biermann have delayed foreclosure on their home -- reaching an agreement with their bank to buy themselves a little time to unload it ... TMZ has learned.

In court docs obtained by TMZ ... Truist Bank agreed to cease foreclosure proceedings for the next 90 days ... meaning the estranged spouses can try to sell the property without the bank stepping into foreclosure on it.

But, if they fail to sell the home and pay back the bank by August 26, TB can resume foreclosure proceedings.

Jonathan Tucker usually plays misfits and bad guys on TV and in movies -- but he became a real-life hero this weekend ... rescuing a neighbor and her kids after a home invasion.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... the actor -- famous from "Kingdom," "Hostage," "The Ruins," and other shows/films -- called 911 Sunday evening to report a suspicious man who was going around banging on doors and talking to himself in his L.A. neighborhood.

We're told after Jon got off the phone with cops, he went outside after losing sight of the guy -- and when he got out there ... he saw that one of his neighbors' front doors was wide open, so he raced over to make sure everything was okay.

Emmitt Smith was devastated to learn of the passing of his former teammate Larry Allen on Monday ... saying in an emotional video he's at "a loss for words right now."

Smith, through tears, remembered Allen as a "good dude," a "great player," and a "super person" in a clip he posted to his Instagram page just minutes after the Dallas Cowboys revealed the former offensive lineman had died Sunday while on vacation in Mexico.

Smith played with Allen from 1994 to 2002 ... and while he said he hadn't been able to see much of the Hall of Famer following his retirement, he was still obviously shaken.

Dallas Cowboys legend Larry Allen -- arguably the best interior offensive lineman in NFL history -- has tragically died.

The team announced on Monday that Allen passed away on Sunday while on vacation with his family in Mexico. No further details surrounding his death were released.

"The Jones family and the Cowboys extend their deepest condolences, thoughts and prayers to the Allen family," the Cowboys said in a statement, "and grieve along with the many other friends and Cowboys teammates that also loved Larry."

NBA legend Alonzo Mourning underwent surgery to have his prostate removed recently ... revealing he was diagnosed with Stage 3 cancer.

The Hall of Fame center opened up on the procedure he had back in March ... explaining he was forced to take action following a routine prostate cancer screening that showed a rise in his PSA scores.

A second appointment confirmed Mourning had a Gleason score of eight ... which is a high grade of prostate cancer.

Cam'ron just returned fire after Anthony Edwards called out the New York rapper in his latest Adidas commercial ... going OFF on the Timberwolves superstar in a scathing freestyle.

The 22-year-old guard -- who signed with Adidas after turning pro -- released an ad shortly after Minnesota was eliminated from the playoffs last week ... where he clapped back at the people who criticized him by sharing, quite literally, receipts.

One of the naysayers mentioned was Cam'ron ... who said on his "It Is What It Is" podcast that Edwards wasn't a superstar yet.

Lance Armstrong retired from cycling more than a decade ago, but the 7x Tour de France champ is still competing, and winning, emerging victorious in his age group in a grueling race in New York City over the weekend!

52-year-old Armstrong competed in HYROX NYC -- a global fitness competition that blends a bunch of different (and really hard) movements/exercises -- including running, rows, burpees, sandbag lunges, sled pulls, and much more.

And, in the near 90-degree NYC heat ... borderline torture! 😄

Seems Karl-Anthony Towns is hoping a little retail therapy will help him get over the Timberwolves' Western Conference finals loss ... 'cause the Minnesota star was seen going on a shopping spree Sunday -- one in which he appeared to buy loads of luxury items.

The four-time NBA All-Star hit Topanga Mall in the Los Angeles area to apparently find comfort in his credit card ... just a couple days after the Dallas Mavericks unceremoniously ended his season.

KAT's longtime girlfriend, Jordyn Woods, joined him for the excursion ... and it's clear the two spent some big bucks as they officially kicked off the basketball player's offseason.

Brandon McManus -- a former Super Bowl champion who signed a big free-agent deal with Washington in March -- has just been cut by the Commanders ... following allegations he sexually assaulted two flight attendants last year.

The women made the claims against the 32-year-old kicker in a lawsuit that was filed in Duval County, Fla. last month.

Jane Doe I and Jane Doe II said that while they were working on a Sept. 28, 2023 United Kingdom-bound flight privately booked by the Jacksonville Jaguars ... McManus, who played for the Jags at the time, became inappropriate with them.

Justin Jefferson is getting PAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIID -- the Minnesota Vikings superstar agreed to a four-year, $140 million extension on Monday ... the richest contract for a non-quarterback in the history of the NFL.

The deal was announced just minutes ago ... with Adam Schefter saying a whopping $88.743 million will be due as soon as the standout wide receiver signs on the dotted line -- and $110 million overall is guaranteed.

Jefferson released a video addressing the monumental moment in his career ... captioning the post with a touching message for his fans.

The main event at Saturday's UFC 302 was not fought in the Octagon ... it went down in the stands as two fans got into a vicious brawl, with one guy beating the snot out of the other!

Check out this video ... it opens with the two men arguing in the nosebleed section at Newark, New Jersey's Prudential Center. What sparked the confrontation is anyone's guess, but the man with his hair in a bun ("Bun Man") keeps calling the other guy a "white boy" and begging him -- "Slap me!" For the record ... both guys are white.

Anyway, "Bun Man" starts screaming, "C'mon!," while smacking himself in the face.

Frank Martin's hoping more people keep doubting him ahead of his fight against Gervonta "Tank" Davis ... telling TMZ Sports he uses the criticism as "fuel" -- and can't wait to shock the world!!

The WBA Lightweight World Title fight is slated for June 15 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas ... and Martin (18-0 w/ 12 KOs) says he feels confident to get in the ring with one of the best pound-for-pound boxers in the world.

"I got a lot of things that him, the world, a lot of people may not expect that I got," Martin told us this week.

Angel Reese has been fined by the WNBA after the Chicago Sky's game against the Indiana Fever ... but, it's not for what most fans might think.

The league announced a fine for the rookie for skipping media obligations postgame ... dinging her $1,000 for not making herself available to reporters. They've also fined the Sky $5k.

Of course, Angel clearly applauded a cheap shot foul her teammate Chennedy Carter hit Clark with during the game Saturday, and some may have thought the league would reprimand her for that ... but, so far, that's not the case.