TMZ Sports - Page 14

LeVar Burton is defending space exploration, Angelina Jolie is not dating anyone, and Kyren Williams is previewing the upcoming NFL season ... all this on today's TMZ TV Hot Takes.

First up on "TMZ Live," Harvey and Babcock break down LeVar's position on space ... now that we're dealing with an astronaut emergency up there.

Flau'jae Johnson isn't interested in being called an athlete who raps ... the LSU national champion and artist behind the hit track with Lil' Wayne says her goals are far loftier -- as in Adele collaborations and Grammy Award wins!

TMZ Sports talked to 20-year-old Flau'jae just days after she dropped the music video for "Came Out A Beast" -- which already has over a million views -- and asked #4 if she believed she was the best athlete rapper.

"I don't know. I'm not them. That's not my title because I'm really taking this seriously. Like I'm trying to perform arenas. I'm trying to tour. I'm trying to be a real established artist. I want to win a Grammy."

Jeremy Stephens is gunning to improve his Bare Knuckle Fighting record to a perfect 2-0 next Saturday ... and the big question is, could a win propel him to a fight with former foe turned BKFC owner, Conor McGregor?!

TMZ Sports caught up with the 38-year-old fighter ahead of his second scrap with the promotion, against 6-2 Bobby Taylor. While Taylor has more experience fighting without gloves, Stephens doesn't anticipate much of a challenge.

"Body bag, not worried about the opponent, man," he said. "Just [going to] put him in a f****** bag. We're here to f****** hurt him, this is the hurt business. He's just an opponent, go in there and do my thing."

Edgar Berlanga vows to not only win his fight against Canelo Alvarez .... but he's also promising to retire the legendary boxer, telling TMZ Sports boxing needs a new frontman!

"I'm destined right now to make history on September 14th," the boxer said ahead of his Las Vegas bout against Alvarez. "To become a legend that day, to take over the sport of boxing and become the face."

Of course, Alvarez is one of the faces in boxing ... along with other fighters like Terence Crawford and Gervonta Davis.

Matthew Gaudreau's death is inspiring genoristy in others ... with many people donating thousands to his widow and soon-to-be born child after his tragic death Thursday.

A GoFundMe has been started in honor of the brother to NHL standout Johnny Gaudreau ... with all the proceeds going to his wife Madeline -- and, it's just crossed over the $375k mark.

The frundraiser's description explains the money will go toward alleviating the financial burden brought on by Matthew's sudden passing ... though obviously they admit no amount of money will alleviate the family's grief.

The widow of Johnny Gaudreau has shared her first messages since he was tragically killed by a suspected DUI driver on Thursday ... and it is heartbreaking.

As TMZ previously reported ... the NHL star and his little brother, Matthew, were hit and killed while riding their bikes. The suspect in the case has since been charged with their deaths.

Meredith Gaudreau on Saturday shared two devastating posts on social media about her husband’s death ... and explained what an amazing husband and father he was.

Ricky Pearsall, the 49ers 2024 first-round draft pick, was shot earlier today during an attempted burglary in San Francisco, the city's mayor announced.

23-year-old Pearsall is in stable condition at a local hospital ... after reportedly being shot in the arm around 3:30 PM.

The alleged shooter was caught at the scene and is currently in custody.

The harrowing incident went down Saturday afternoon in the Union Square area of downtown SF, according to SFPD.

Artem Chingvintsev got busted, Kamala Harris got questioned and AEW star Mercedes Moné revealed her dream tag team partner ... all this on today's TMZ TV Hot Takes.

First up on "TMZ Live," Harvey and Babcock have the latest on the 'DWTS' pro being arrested in Napa Valley for domestic violence.

If Aaron Donald gets the itch to return to the Rams this season, Kyren Williams tells TMZ Sports he's got no issues whatsoever helping the defensive tackle scratch it!!

AD, of course, retired back in March ... but after video surfaced of him recently beating former NFL running back LeSean McCoy in a sprint -- many have wondered if the future Hall of Famer has more gas left in the tank that he wants to expel on Sundays.

According to Williams, he's pretty sure Donald is firmly enjoying retirement ... but he said if the feeling ever changed, he'd happily welcome him back to the locker room.

The USA men's 3x3 squad failed to bring home the hardware, but Jrue Holiday thinks he and his NBA brothers could yield different results if they teamed up for the Olympics ... telling TMZ Sports he likes their chances!!

We caught up with the Celtics champion and Paris gold medalist while he was working an honorary shift at Raising Cane's in Boston this week ... and he talked all about his "whirlwind" 2024.

"It's been fun," Holiday said. "Winning's not too bad."

Caleb Plant has something special in store for Trevor McCumby -- an "old-fashioned ass whoopin'" -- after his opponent branded the former champion a "quitter," making things "more personal!"

That's what the 22-2 boxer told TMZ Sports ahead of his WBA interim super middleweight title match with McCumby (28-0, 21 KOs), set to go down on September 14 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

It'll be Caleb's first fight since March 2023 (a loss to David Benavidez) ... but Plant says he had the best camp ever and is ready to beat up McCumby for his comments.

Sean Higgins -- the man accused of killing NHL star Johnny Gaudreau and his little brother, Matthew -- made his first appearance in a New Jersey courtroom on Friday ... and he looked upset to hear he'll be spending his upcoming long holiday weekend in jail.

The 43-year-old appeared virtually before a judge ... after he was hit with two charges of death by auto following allegations he drunkenly slammed his Jeep Grand Cherokee into the backs of the Gaudreaus on Thursday night while they were biking on a small roadway in Oldmans Township.

Wearing an anti-suicide smock -- Higgins initially didn't speak much at the hearing ... although when he was informed he would remain behind bars until at least next Thursday -- he seemed dejected.

Artem Chigvintsev's domestic violence arrest didn't come out of left field, at least according to people who say they know him and Nikki Bella ... they tell us the relationship has always been "volatile."

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ … Artem and Nikki's close friends, including their former 'DWTS' cast and crew members, are not entirely shocked by Artem's claims Nikki threw shoes at him during a heated exchange.

We're told Artem and Nikki's marriage has been troubled for some time, and it wasn't exactly a secret to anyone in their orbit.

The tragic deaths of the Gaudreau brothers keeps getting more and more heartbreaking ... Matthew's wife is apparently expecting to deliver the couple's first baby in just a few months.

According to an online registry, Madeline Gaudreau is currently pregnant ... and has been given a due date of Dec. 31, 2024.

In the registry, the couple had been asking family and friends for all kinds of newborn items -- from clothes to dishware -- to help prepare them for their first foray into parenthood.

The radio dispatch from the Artem Chigvintsev domestic violence case reveals ... he did indeed call 911 to request medical assistance, but then added his wife, Nikki Bella, had thrown shoes at him.

TMZ has obtained the dispatch call, in which the dispatcher says, "Initially came in as requesting medical, but now he is stating he got into an argument with his wife and his wife threw shoes at rp [reporting party]."

The dispatcher notes, "There is a child on scene. Medical en route," adding, "There's an active 415 [disturbing the peace] in the background responsible."

The sports world is paying tribute to Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau following their tragic death at the hands of a drunk driver Thursday night in New Jersey.

Mike Trout -- a South Jersey native like the brothers -- said he was devastated by the news of their passing ... and that his condolences were with his family.

Lebron James also commented on the situation ... saying, "Insane man! I instantly go so down and sad."