TMZ Sports - Page 50

Former President Donald Trump's "Fight, Fight, Fight!" chant became a rallying cry for supporters following his assassination attempt ... and now, it has made its way to America's pastime -- with an MLB player recreating the moment in the middle of a game.

During Sunday's contest against the New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Taylor Walls smacked a double into right field and cruised to second base. As he turned to his dugout to celebrate, Walls paid homage to No. 45 by raising his fist and mouthing the same words.

The highlight quickly made rounds on social media ... with the MAGA crowd eating it up. Naturally, some people didn't care for it ... pointing out Walls should be more concerned about getting his batting average up -- which currently sits at .160 through 81 at-bats.

LeBron James can add yet another accomplishment to his extensive résumé -- the Lakers superstar was just revealed as a flag bearer for the 2024 Paris Olympics ... becoming the first Team USA men's basketball player to receive the honor.

King James -- who was nominated by Stephen Curry and the rest of the national team -- got word of the selection on Monday ... and he said it's something he isn't taking lightly.

"It's special in the fact that you get an opportunity to represent your country in another fashion," Bron said.

LSU defensive back Javien Toviano, who played in 13 games for the Tigers last season, was arrested over the weekend ... after cops say he admitted to filming himself having sex with a woman without her consent.

According to police documents, obtained by TMZ Sports, the 19-year-old fessed up to secretly placing a camera inside of a bedroom clock to record multiple sexual encounters with a woman earlier this month.

Police wrote in the documents that the alleged victim told officers she found the videos -- which were apparently recorded on July 5 and July 6 -- on an iPad belonging to Toviano.

"Parks and Rec" star Aubrey Plaza entered WNBA All-Star Weekend with two healthy knees ... but she left it with just one after an unfortunate mishap amid all the festivities.

According to the All-Star Game's broadcaster, Ryan Ruocco, Plaza suffered a torn ACL while playing in a spirited game of "Knockout" at the Phoenix Mercury's practice facility just hours before Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and A'ja Wilson tipped off their Team WNBA vs. Team USA exhibition clash.

Plaza still somehow mustered up the strength to catch the game at the Footprint Center ... although she needed an ice pack and a crutch to get through the night.

Kobe Bryant fans have an opportunity to get their hands on a truly rare piece of memorabilia ... the Black Mamba's Staples Center locker -- and it could sell for over a million bucks!!

TMZ Sports has learned ... the locker -- which was set to be destroyed during renovations at the Staples Center in 2018 -- was saved by a maintenance worker who realized it belonged to the Hall of Famer.

The worker kept it in storage for years until an American collector, who had the locker nameplate, purchased it to reunite the two pieces.

Quarterback DNA apparently runs thick in the Vick blood ... Michael Vick's daughter has become quite the football star -- and the former NFLer tells TMZ Sports he's helping her get even better!

Jada Vick received a scholarship to play flag football at Reinhardt University in Atlanta last year ... and when we got Mike out at LAX this week, he told us he's super proud of her.

The ex-Falcons signal-caller said he's been coaching up the 19-year-old, "trying to instill as much as I can" -- but he added she's been figuring out how to sling the pigskin like Pops "all on her own."

Adidas is issuing another mea culpa over their Munich Olympics campaign ... publicly apologizing to their partners -- including Bella Hadid.

The footwear giant posted another apology -- their second in the last few days -- early Sunday morning ... acknowledging connections are still being made between the Munich Massacre of the 1972 Olympics and their recent SL72 campaign.

Adidas says the connections weren't meant, and they apologize -- all falling right in line with the apology they issued earlier this week after the American Jewish Community called them out.

There's growing skepticism Donald Trump was hit by a bullet, and the latest to join the chorus is former ESPN host Keith Olbermann.

TMZ reported hours after the shooting, a well-placed source who had spoken with Secret Service told us ... Trump was hit by pieces of glass that had shattered during the gunfire.

The narrative changed almost immediately when the official word came out ... that Trump was grazed in the ear by an errant bullet, and had he not turned his head he would have been dead.

Jake Paul outlasted "Platinum" Mike Perry on Saturday ... defeating the Bare Knuckle FC and former UFC fighter via sixth-round TKO.

Jake handled Mike for the majority of the bout ... knocking Perry down in the first two rounds. He appeared gassed as the match went on, before ultimately catching a second wind and taking care of business.

Jake ended up getting the victory in the 6th ... and shortly after his hand was raised, he called out yet another UFC fighter -- Alex Pereira.

Tennis great Nick Kyrgios is bent out of shape that certain people -- AKA the "Hawk Tuah" chick -- are not getting famous the old-fashioned way.

Kyrgios was exercised over Haliey Welch's appearance at Jake Paul's fight against Mike Perry.

Haliey got quite the reaction, and to that Nick said, "No correlation between fame and actually being decent at something anymore," punctuating his criticism with a laughing emoji.

Bella Hadid's readying for legal battle with Adidas ... with sources telling us she's hired legal counsel to take on the athleticwear giant.

Sources familiar with the situation tell TMZ ... Bella's retained lawyers to take action against Adidas for their lack of public accountability -- basically, saying she feels they spearheaded a cruel and damaging campaign.

Our sources say she's upset the company would put out a campaign that would associate anyone with a tragedy like the Munich Massacre at the 1972 Olympics ... with violence running in contrast to BH's own views.

NBA guard Cameron Payne dialed 911 just before he was arrested in Arizona last month ... and in a tense conversation with dispatch, he said his name was "Terry Johnson."

The chat with the Scottsdale Police Department -- which lasted more than five minutes -- happened on June 14 at around 2:30 AM ... after the 29-year-old hooper said he had gotten into a verbal dispute with his girlfriend.

Initially, you can hear in audio of the call -- obtained by TMZ Sports -- that Payne wanted officers to come to his house ASAP. But, in an ensuing back and forth with dispatch, Payne pled with the official to drop the matter.

Barry Bonds has made history once again ... this time in an auction house -- where a pair of his game-used items sold for nearly a quarter of a million bucks!!

TMZ Sports has learned ... a jersey he wore during Games 3, 4 and 5 of the 2002 World Series fetched a whopping $158,600 last week -- the most expensive Bonds uniform ever sold at auction.

In addition, the bat Bonds used to smack his 60th home run during his record-breaking 2001 season closed at $86,620. If you can't do the math ... that's a staggering $245,220 for the pair!!!

Kim Kardashian and Taylor Swift may be healing the divide, Kyle Richards is pissed at Mauricio Umansky and Ingrid Andress is making lemonade ... all this on TMZ TV Hot Takes.

First up on "TMZ Live" Harvey and Charles explain how Ivanka Trump could be easing the thaw between Kim and Taylor.

The UFC will host the first-ever live sporting event at The Sphere in Las Vegas, but, there are only 10 fights. So, who gets a spot?? Well, 19-year-old Raul Rosas Jr. said earlier this week one should be reserved for him!

TMZ Sports talked to the rising star -- prior to reports he made the cut for the Noche UFC event going down on September 14 -- and he pleaded his case for why he should be involved.

"My manager is talking with the UFC right now, and I think the possibility is high," Rosas Jr. said of landing the coveted spot.

Hulk Hogan was in a celebratory mood after his big Trump speech at the Republican National Convention ... the iconic WWE wrestler was out partying at a Missouri saloon and we got the video to prove it!

Check it out ... Hulk was standing behind the bar at Shady Gators in Lake of the Ozarks Friday night when he picked up a can of his very own brew, "Real American Beer," and chugged the whole damn thing in front of everybody.

He then raised the empty can above his head before he dropped it to the loud applause of the cheering crowd. Everyone there was a Hulkamaniac for sure!!!