TMZ Sports - Page 50

ESPN is standing firm in its decision to honor Prince Harry with the Pat Tillman Award for Service at this month's ESPYs ... doubling down and saying the Duke of Sussex is a rightful recipient of the honor.

As we previously reported, Tillman's mother, Mary, was dissatisfied with this year's pick for the award ... saying there were plenty of lesser-known candidates that deserve some recognition -- and referring to Harry as "controversial and divisive" in the process.

ESPN talent Pat McAfee also dogged the selection ... claiming it felt like the network was purposely trying to strike a controversy.

12:23 PM PT -- BET is blaming an "audio malfunction" for Usher's muted speech and ponied up an apology via The Hollywood Reporter.

Usher got deep reliving hardships of his life and career during the 2024 BET Awards -- but the TV audience missed much of his Lifetime Achievement speech, because he made the censors work overtime!!!

Fans posted their frustration on social media and it was clear why they were upset -- BET was forced to mute big chunks of his speech, due to Usher dropping some colorful language.

Diana Taurasi is changin' her tune a bit on Caitlin Clark ... following their first on-court matchup this weekend, the WNBA legend had nothing but praise for the league's newest star.

Of course, Taurasi made headlines back in April ... when she said she anticipated big struggles from Clark once she arrived in the W. The Phoenix Mercury guard said on ESPN "reality is coming" for the then-Iowa superstar -- explaining she believed dominating in the WNBA was a far tougher task than tearing up the college ranks.

But, after Clark and her Fever squad got the better of Taurasi and the Mercury on Sunday at the Footprint Center in Arizona ... Taurasi had nothing but kind things to say about the 22-year-old.

Sorry ladies, Sexy Dexy's off the market ... NY Giants star Dexter Lawrence tied the knot with fiancée Donna McCain!

Dexter looked sharp, rocking a dark suit for the festivities, while Donna stunned, looking gorgeous in a white gown at the wedding late last week.

While it was an emotional ceremony, everyone had a blast at the party! A bunch of Lawrence's current and former teammates were in attendance, including Christian Wilkins (they played together at Clemson) and Leonard Williams ... in addition to other family and friends.

Las Vegas Aces star A'ja Wilson wasn't about to let Pride Month come and go without a big celebration ... showing love for her LGBTQ teammates by getting them a hilarious cake!!

The two-time WNBA MVP showed off the special gesture on Instagram on Sunday ... saying it's something she does every year -- but this one took the cake. Literally.

The tasty treat is decked out in rainbows, disco balls and scissors ... and features the words "Hooray you gay" in the center.

Taylor Swift was over the moon when she spotted BF Travis Kelce ... after the NFL star surprised her during Sunday's "Eras" tour stop.

Check it out ... the Grammy winner smiled wide after she clocked the Kansas City Chiefs tight end in the crowd at her 3rd show at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.

TK was at a California wedding over the weekend ... rushing to Europe to catch at least part of her Sunday concert in Ireland. Travis arrived in time for the "Folklore" era, as she performed her hit "August" in a red, flowing gown onstage.

O.J. Simpson was included in the 2024 BET Awards' "In Memoriam" segment ...

Check out the clip from the ceremony -- the audience was enthusiastically applauding Sunday as photos of the departed flashed onscreen ... but when O.J.'s picture appeared, labeling him  "Former NFL Player," an awkward silence enveloped the room.

As the shock wore off, a few hesitant claps could be heard ... but the atmosphere remained uneasy.

Jimmy Rollins says he wouldn't mind it if an MLB player never wore the No. 24 again ... telling TMZ Sports he'd be down to see Rob Manfred retire Willie Mays' famous number league-wide.

The possibility of the honor has been floated by baseball fans all over the country the past few days ... after Mays sadly died at 93 years old on June 18.

Seamheads have argued that due to his impact on the league, Mays' old number should get the same treatment that only Jackie Robinson's No. 42 has previously earned from the MLB.

Prince Harry isn't fit to receive the Pat Tillman Award at the ESPYs, and it's shocking ESPN let him ... at least, that's what the late veteran's mother thinks.

Mary Tillman -- mom to former NFL safety Pat Tillman who joined the U.S. Army after 9/11 and died in a friendly fire incident -- spoke to Daily Mail about ESPN choosing Prince Harry to receive the ESPY named in Pat's honor ... and, suffice to say, she's not happy with the decision.

Tillman says, "I am shocked as to why they would select such a controversial and divisive individual to receive the award."

Zach Wilson will soon step off the gridiron and into a stylish tux ... 'cause he just got engaged to his model girlfriend on an Italian vacation.

Nicolette Dellanno -- the lucky lady ready to settle down with ZW -- posted pics of the two together overlooking the water on an Italian cliffside just moments ago ... and check out the pics 'cause she's got a MASSIVE rock on her left hand.

Dellanno's clad in all white here -- looking pretty dang angelic, we gotta say ... and, she's engaging in a ton of PDA with Zach, holding hands and smooching under the moonlight.

Chrissy Teigen's casting her vote for the next Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue cover ... and, she's no "Nonsense" about getting singer Sabrina Carpenter.

The model -- who appeared on the cover of this year's issue, BTW -- talked about her who she wants to follow in her footsteps in an interview with People ... and, she immediately pointed to the "Espresso" singer.

Teigen says Sabrina's participation in the mag would be awesome ... noting she and her kids are obsessed with SC's music right now -- though hopefully, the kiddos haven't heard Carpenter's steamy outros.

Former New England tight end Pharaoh Brown says Patriots players had no idea about Bill Belichick's 23-year-old girlfriend last season ... telling TMZ Sports the coach never once brought her up.

Brown says Belichick was all ball during the pass catcher's one season in Foxborough this past year ... keeping things solely about football -- and not on how his love life with Jordon Hudson was going.

"One thing about Bill Belichick," Brown told us out in L.A. this week, "He's one of the greatest coaches 'cause he keeps it professional. He knows how to keep the main thing, the main thing, right?"

Jayson Tatum and Matthew Tkachuk were destined to be world champions ... so says their former middle school gym teacher, who tells TMZ Sports he recognized long ago that there was something special about the two.

The Boston Celtics hooper and Florida Panthers left winger -- who both won their respective titles in the NBA and NHL this month -- both attended Chaminade College Preparatory School in St. Louis, MO as kids ... and Michael Derkits -- who also coached Tatum on the basketball team -- got an early look at their potential.

Derkits said Tatum and Tkachuk hit it off as soon as the former transferred to Chaminade as a 7th grader ... and he credits to them having similar personalities.

Chris Pratt says he's willing to change cinematic universes, Kesha got booted from a gas station and Stefon Diggs is failing at Pilates ... all this on today's TMZ Hot Takes.

On "TMZ Live" Harvey and Charles react to Chris telling our photog he's down to make movies in the DC Universe despite his Marvel fame.

Christian McCaffrey and Olivia Culpo are officially husband and wife -- the San Francisco 49ers superstar running back and stunning model just tied the knot at an extravagant ceremony in Rhode Island.

TMZ Sports has learned ... the wildly attractive couple walked down the aisle in front of their closest family and friends at the Ocean House in Westerly, Rhode Island Saturday afternoon.

We got pics of the couple leaving the ceremony, walking up to excited friends and family to share in the happy moment ... they're holding hands and looking loving while beginning this next chapter of their lives together.

Logan Paul's spittin' on that thang in WWE ... reacting in a way inspired by the "Hawk Tuah" girl mid-bout -- and, it's got the internet in a frenzy.

The YouTube star turned pro wrestler pulled up to "WWE SmackDown" Friday night in Madison Square Garden and faced off with LA Knight and Santos Escobar in a threeway battle ... and, after failing to pin Escobar, he pulled his head back and spat out the viral phrase.

Check out the clip ... Logan clearly annunciates the words heard 'round the world -- spitting in the general direction of his opponent after not getting the win.