TMZ Sports - Page 12

The Columbus Blue Jackets will honor Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau this season in wake of their tragic deaths last month ... promising several tributes for the brothers in 2024 -- including jersey patches, helmet stickers and more.

The NHL team announced Wednesday the first salute will happen at CBJ's preseason opener against the Buffalo Sabres on Sept. 23, when players will sport blue and gray decals on their buckets. The stickers will have the "Gaudreau" name on it -- along with their jersey numbers and two doves.

Columbus also revealed there will be a moment of silence for the duo at the team's first home preseason game against the St. Louis Blues on September 25.

Xandra Pohl is adding fuel to the speculation surrounding her relationship status with Danny Amendola -- the Sports Illustrated swimsuit model was among the folks in attendance for his "Dancing With The Stars" debut on Tuesday ... even sitting with the former NFLer's fam for the event.

Pohl -- who's also a professional DJ -- didn't shy away from the fact she was present for the premiere episode ... sharing an Instagram pic of her posing on the dance floor alongside former "Bachelor" contestant Kelsey Anderson.

Despite the Super Bowl champ's absence from the social media post, the night is being dubbed a "hard launch" by some social media users ... as the 'DWTS' cams captured Pohl celebrating with DA's loved ones after his routine.

EDM fans in Boston got a special surprise at Kygo's concert on Tuesday ... when local legends Rob Gronkowski and Camille Kostek took the stage to belt out a song in front of thousands of fans!!

The Norwegian hitmaker welcomed the longtime couple up on the platform at the TD Garden ... and when it was time for his big track, "Stargazing" feat. Justin Jesso -- he had them put their pipes to the test.

Gronk and Camille rehearsed for the moment backstage ... and given the former Patriots cheerleader's assessment of her boo's music abilities, she wasn't expecting him to give a Grammy-worthy performance.

Tom Holland's got more than just superhero moves -- he hit the golf course to flaunt his impressive swing at the BMW PGA Championship Celebrity Pro-Am.

The actor looked like a pro out there, teeing off at Wentworth Club in Surrey, England ... with a crowd of spectators watching him give it his all.

Tom's there this week for the tournament’s annual tradition of celebs competing against seasoned pros ... but his GF Zendaya was MIA, so no extra glitz and glamour this time.

Raul Rosas Jr. says he's ready for a ranked opponent ... as the 19-year-old MMA star hopes to supplant Jon Jones as the youngest-ever UFC champion!

TMZ Sports talked to Rosas Jr. fresh off his unanimous decision victory over Qileng Aori at UFC 306 at the Sphere in Las Vegas ... and RR says he wants a step up in competition.

"I still have to talk to my manager about what's next. Obviously, that's what I would love and that's what I want 'cause I know it would take me a step closer to my dream, which is to become a UFC champion," Raul told us.

Florida surfer Jorge Alvarado -- who was placed on life support after suffering a serious head injury during a wipeout at Daytona Beach last week -- has died, his friends announced Wednesday. He was only 49 years old.

Justin Gore provided the tragic update on Alvarado's GoFundMe page ... saying the memories they made together will live on forever.

"Jorge, rest in paradise brother," Gore said. "Your spirit was as vibrant as the ocean waves you loved to ride. You brought joy and adventure to everyone around you."

The Phoenix Mercury and Los Angeles Sparks game nearly turned into a boxing match ... Brittney Griner squared up with Rickea Jackson after the hoopers got into a scuffle!

The Mercury -- who just locked in the 7 seed in the WNBA playoffs -- faced the Sparks on Tuesday at the Crypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles ... and tempers flared late in the first half.

Mercury guard Celeste Taylor makes a free throw with only a few seconds left in the first half ... when it appears Griner threw an elbow at Jackson, who was trying to box her out.

That didn't go over well with the Sparks rookie ... and she confronted Griner right on the court.

Griner wasn't havin' it ... and the two started shoving each other near the Mercury bench.

Step aside, Joe Jackson ... Jose Altuve now might have the rightful claim to the "Shoeless" moniker -- after he ditched not only his cleat, but his sock during a wild tiff with an umpire on Tuesday night.

The bizarre scene all unfolded in the top of the ninth inning of the Astros' close game against the Padres in San Diego -- when the Houston superstar hit a grounder to third base.

Jose was adamant the ball clanked off his foot and should have been ruled foul. But, the ump didn't see that way, and called him out.

LeBron James is rallying behind Bryce Young ... telling the second-year quarterback to stay focused on his goals after losing his starting job with the Carolina Panthers.

King James -- a fellow No. 1 overall pick himself -- went to X to show support for the young signal-caller on Tuesday ... making sure his 53 million followers saw his encouraging message.

"Bryce Young hold ya head Young 🤴🏾!! Rooting for you and know this ain't on you! Continue to put the work in and it shall prevail! 🙏🏾👑"

If basketball ends anytime soon for NBA star Tyrese Haliburton ... he's clearly got a career in the wrestling world -- as during another WWE appearance on Tuesday, he played the heel role perfectly, taking a swipe at Orlando Magic fans!!

The 24-year-old Indiana Pacers forward stopped by NXT -- the company's developmental brand -- in Orlando with initial goals of helping set up a match contract between Trick Williams and Ethan Page.

Haliburton wasn't alone, though ... he rolled to the squared circle with a ton of his Pacers teammates -- and when the Florida fans weren't happy to see him, he showed off his villain skills on the mic.

Patrick Mahomes seemingly has everything -- a loving family, three Super Bowl rings and an NFL contract worth roughly half a billion dollars -- but Travis Kelce still tried to hook him up with a sweet birthday gift this week nonetheless.

The Chiefs' star signal-caller revealed during an interview with "The Drive" on Tuesday his favorite pass catcher got him a swanky Louis Vuitton golf bag for his big 2-9.

It's unclear how much Kelce dropped on the present -- but on the designer's website, there are a few different models that range from $22,600 to $31,500.

The Eagles superfan who wrecked his knee after chest-bumping Jason Kelce says he's doing just fine now ... not only because he'll eventually recover, but also thanks to the Philly legend for reaching out and making his dreams come true!!

Rob Dunphy went to social media to provide a pretty hilarious medical update on Tuesday ... saying he got some x-rays done on his knee after the "Monday Night Countdown" catastrophe -- and the results were essentially, "Man the f*** up."

Dunphy added he's hoping to get an MRI done in the next few days ... but in the meantime, he'll be getting around on some crutches.

Police officers raced to Joey Bosa's home late Monday afternoon and pulled up to the NFL star's door with their weapons drawn ... but, thankfully, no one was in any danger -- and the whole ordeal ended up being a false alarm.

TMZ Sports has learned ... the LAPD received a call of a possible burglary in progress at Bosa's Los Angeles-area home at around 5 PM -- after a security system at the residence was triggered.

Law enforcement said there might've been suspects inside the house -- and as you can see in the video from the scene ... they took no chances as they entered the home with guns in their hands.

It's about to be Prime Time in Tallahassee once again -- at least, that's what Adam "Pacman" Jones is willing to put his hard-earned money on ... 'cause the ex-NFL star believes Deion Sanders will be the next head coach of the Florida State Seminoles!!

The former Bengals star defensive back laid out the prediction on The Pacman Jones Show this week, his new BetOnline gig ... prefacing it by saying he doesn't have any inside information, he just thinks the move makes way too much sense.

"He fit Florida State," Jones said. "My opinion, he would have picked Florida State over Colorado, but Florida State f***ed that up."

The Carolina Panthers have no one to blame but themselves for how things played out with Bryce Young ... so says former No. 2 overall pick Ryan Leaf, who tells TMZ Sports the entire organization is a complete mess -- and he's hoping the quarterback gets the hell outta town.

We caught up with Leaf shortly after the Panthers announced they would go with veteran signal-caller Andy Dalton under center in Week 3 ... and he thinks the former Alabama superstar was dealt a crappy hand with his first NFL home.

"They screwed this thing up from the get-go, though. I mean, this organization is horrible," Leaf said.

Diddy is being jailed on sex trafficking charges, Kim Zolciak is shutting down Kroy Biermann and Demario Davis is breaking down his NFL team's hot start ... all this on today's TMZ TV Hot Takes.

First up on "TMZ Live," Harvey and Charles dive into the Diddy indictment out of New York.