TMZ Sports - Page 28

Joel Embiid is adding to his medal collection -- just days after winning gold at the 2024 Olympics in Paris, the NBA star was awarded the "Order of Valor" in his home country of Cameroon.

The special moment happened on Wednesday in the Central African country ... with the Sixers center surrounded by fans as he made his way to meet Cameroon President Paul Biya.

Once Embiid entered the building, he was approached by President Biya, who greeted him with the Medal of Commander of the Order of Valor -- an honor given to Cameroon natives who have made "exceptional contributions in the fields of arts, science, agriculture, commerce, or industry."

Drew Gilbert's afternoon at the ballpark ended very early Wednesday ... and it's all 'cause he got nailed in the junk by a wayward breaking ball.

The painful pitch happened just after the New York Mets top prospect stepped up to the dish in the first inning of Syracuse's minor league tilt with Rochester.

Check out footage from the game's broadcast ... on the fourth pitch of the at-bat, Thaddeus Ward's sweeper got away from him, and beelined toward Gilbert's family jewels.

Jonathan Owens' Chicago Bears teammates didn't have an issue with him missing part of training camp to watch his wife, Simone Biles, dominate at the Olympics ... 'cause he received a warm welcome upon his return to practice -- complete with a passionate "USA" chant!!

The 29-year-old safety's reunion with his squad was captured on HBO's 'Hard Knocks' cameras during Tuesday's episode ... and while some folks questioned his excused absence to be present for the GOAT's historic performances, the team was clearly in his corner.

During a meeting, Owens addressed the crowd as a Biles-themed PowerPoint presentation ran across the big screen ... and he explained just how important the trip was for him.

Michael Rubin's defending his decision to 86 Kendrick Lamar‘s megahit, “Not Like Us” during his annual All-White Party ... and admits it was all to put Drake at ease.

The Fanatics CEO told "The Breakfast Club" on Wednesday that it was his decision -- not Drake's -- to ban the record that has since become K. Dot's biggest song of his career!!!

MR was confirming the story TMZ Hip Hop broke last month -- that despite the song's massive culture and chart success, none of the DJs at Rubin's party spun the record.

J.J. McCarthy's rookie season is over -- the Minnesota Vikings' 2024 first-round pick will miss the entire 2024-25 schedule after surgery revealed a full repair of his meniscus was necessary.

It's a tough blow for the 21-year-old signal-caller ... who started dealing with knee soreness following the team's 24-23 preseason victory over the Las Vegas Raiders.

At the time, head coach Kevin O'Connell said the team had no reason to believe it was more than routine soreness. As it turns out, that "routine soreness" was actually a meniscus tear ... which then required McCarthy to be put under the knife to determine the extent of the issue -- and, unfortunately, it was the worst-case scenario for the 10th overall pick.

If Colin Kaepernick wants back in the NFL, Jim Harbaugh's giving him the chance ... although it ain't to play quarterback!

The Los Angeles Chargers new head man recently revealed to USA Today he actually extended an offer to Kap to join the Bolts' coaching staff.

The 60-year-old told the outlet he made the offer to the former signal-caller earlier this year ... and said Kaepernick appeared interested.

Chris Jones is gunning to spring a convicted chicken wing thief from prison ... the Chiefs superstar has offered to pay $1.5 million after a cafeteria employee was sentenced to 9 years behind bars for stealing 11k cases of Buffalo's favorite food!

68-year-old Vera Liddell, who worked at an elementary school in a Chicago suburb for nearly a decade, plead guilty to stealing millions in flats and drums over 19 months ... when she was in charge of ordering the food.

Ultimately, Liddell was caught during an audit ... when officials realized the school had gone way over their food budget.

Baltimore Ravens star Mark Andrews was involved in a car wreck just before his team's planned workout Wednesday morning ... but, thankfully, it appears he's going to be OK.

The Ravens said in a statement the tight end crashed his ride while he was on his way to Baltimore's Under Armour Performance Center ... and he was evaluated by trainers when he arrived.

Fortunately, the Ravens said Andrews "did not sustain any apparent injuries" -- and he went on to participate in team meetings.

Tommy Fury and Molly-Mae Hague have called it quits ... with the boxer and influencer announcing they have officially ended their relationship.

MMH first shared the bombshell news on Wednesday ... saying, "Never in a million years did I think I'd ever have to write this. After five years of being together I never imagined our story would end, especially not this way."

Fury and Hague famously met on Season 5 of "Love Island" in 2019 ... and welcomed a child, Bambi, back in January 2023.

Toronto Blue Jays star George Springer went berserk during his team's win over the Los Angeles Angels ... and it all stemmed from what he felt was a blown call.

The scene played out when the Jays were up 5-0 in the top of the seventh inning ... after Springer appeared to take a pitch off the right foot, but the ump didn't notice. Springer signaled to his dugout to challenge the call ... but even after another look, it wasn't ruled in his favor.

Springer was furious with the decision ... which led to him exchanging words with the man behind the plate -- Manny Gonzalez. A few seconds later, Springer found himself tossed from the game -- which set him off even further.

Some players kick dirt on the mound, others play with the rosin bag ... meanwhile, Reds pitcher Hunter Greene's starting his very own pre-pitch ritual -- puking on the mound!!!

Yes, it happened ... again.

25-year-old Greene was on the bump in the 5th inning in a game against the Cardinals ... when the young star turned his back to the mound, and put his glove up to his face before vomit started spraying out between the webbing.

Former mixed martial artist Lumumba Sayers -- who once fought ex-UFC star Derek Brunson inside a cage -- was arrested for murder over the weekend ... after he allegedly shot and killed a man to avenge his son's death.

The Commerce City Police Department says the incident happened at around 5 PM on Saturday during a children's birthday party at a Commerce City, Colo. park.

According to the arrest affidavit, obtained by Denver7, Sayers is accused of walking up to 28-year-old Malcolm Watson and shooting him in the head. The docs state witnesses told cops Sayers may have thought Watson had been a friend of a man he believed to be somehow involved in the 2023 death of Sayers' son.

Simone Biles' biological mother is ready to meet the Olympic hero face-to-face ... saying after decades of being out of her life, she wants to make things right.

When Biles was a toddler, she was placed in foster care as her mom, Shanon, battled drug and alcohol addiction. Simone's maternal grandparents, Ron and Nellie, stepped in and adopted her and her sister, Adria, in 2003.

Shanon said in a recent interview she would like to make up for time lost ... but is leaving it up to Simone and Adria to set it up.

Taylor Swift is exerting her influence over her boyfriend Travis Kelce, especially when it comes to his appearance ... so says Patrick Mahomes.

Mahomes -- the Kansas City Chiefs QB -- participated in a town hall discussion Tuesday on SiriusXM NFL Radio -- confessing Taylor has more control over Travis' hair than he does.

The way Mahomes tells it ... he'd been trying to get the Chiefs star tight end to sport a fuller 'do for a while, but nothing ever worked.

Dominique Dawes says the drama surrounding Jordan Chiles' bronze medal is "unfortunate" ... but she tells TMZ Sports she's sure the saga will show off the gymnast's true championship mettle.

The Olympic legend, of course, knows a thing or two about what Chiles is experiencing ... as she was once part of a similar ordeal a couple decades ago.

You might recall ... at the 2000 Games in Sydney, she and USA gymnastics placed fourth in the team competition -- but some 10 years later, the Americans were named rightful winners of the bronze medal after officials declared Team China had an underage competitor.

Donald Trump's lisp is stealing Elon Musk's thunder, Flavor Flav is hooking up an Olympic gymnast and NFL player Michael Hall Jr. is in trouble with the law ... all this on today's TMZ TV Hot Takes.

First up on "TMZ Live," Harvey and Charles take a look at Trump's X interview with Elon, and explain why folks couldn't stop talking about the former president's not-so-subtle lisp.

Over on "TMZ on TV," our crew reacts to Flav getting a custom bronze clock for Team USA gymnast Jordan Chiles ... after she was stripped of bronze in Paris.