TMZ Sports - Page 37

For the first time since 2021, Bob Baffert will be allowed to enter a horse to race at the Churchill Downs ... and he tells TMZ Sports he's excited to be back!!

We caught up with the legendary horse trainer out at LAX `this week ... and the 71-year-old said it felt "great" to be back in the saddle after his suspension from the track was rescinded in July.

Baffert was punished in 2021 after his horse -- Medina Spirit -- was disqualified from the Kentucky Derby after it failed a drug test -- leading to runner-up Mandaloun being declared the winner.

La La Anthony says family friend Bronny James is nothing short of an "inspiration" ... but when it comes to her son Kiyan's basketball journey, she tells TMZ Sports he's "doing his own thing" when making his college decision.

17-year-old Kiyan -- a top-ranked high school hooper in New York -- and the Los Angeles Lakers rookie, 20, have long been compared to each other for years ... especially because of their famous dads.

Bronny, of course, is two years older than Kiyan ... so he got to experience the one-and-done at USC before making it to the Association -- all while Anthony was doing his thing in high school.

Adam Sandler is getting back into character as "Happy Gilmore" and working on his golf game ... taking swings at a driving range on the set of the much-anticipated sequel.

The Sandman was spotted filming scenes for "Happy Gilmore 2" with a golf club in hand ... hacking away with an iron at a golf course.

No drivers this time ... seems Happy is working on his short game, which, let's face it, has never really been Gilmore's strong suit.

Robert Kraft says if the domestic violence allegations surrounding Jabrill Peppers end up being true, the Patriots safety's time in New England is over.

The 83-year-old owner made the declaration during his appearance on "The Breakfast Club" on Friday ... two days after Peppers was put on the Commissioner's Exempt list following his Oct. 5 arrest.

Peppers was booked for four separate charges ... including domestic violence against his girlfriend and cocaine possession. However, Kraft noted Peppers' stance that the claims made against him were untrue ... and he believes in doing due diligence before jumping to a decision.

It turns out Conor McGregor is seeing action this year after all -- Notorious found himself in the middle of a fight at the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship weigh-in on Friday ... and all hell broke loose!!

The UFC superstar -- who recently became part-owner of BKFC -- was front and center when Franco Tenaglia and Tony Soto faced off ahead of their big bout for the vacant light heavyweight world title.

Tenaglia put his fist right up underneath Soto's chin ... who then reacted by lunging at his opponent.

Trevor Bauer is taking legal action against Lindsey Hill yet again -- the ex-MLB pitcher is suing his accuser for breaking the terms of their settlement ... by running her mouth about the deal.

The former Los Angeles Dodgers ace filed the docs this week ... highlighting numerous times Hill publicly stated she received a fat check to make her lawsuit against him disappear.

In the September 2023 resolution, both Bauer and Hill agreed no money would be exchanged ... and neither side would claim otherwise.

"I'm supporting the president that's going to be the most pro-life president."

That's Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker throwing his weight behind Donald Trump ... while at a campaign event in Missouri, for U.S. Senator Josh Hawley, a buddy of the 3x Super Bowl champion.

"The [Pro-life] topic is the most crucial topic for me," 29-year-old Butker said during an appearance on FOX News' "The Ingraham Angle" on Thursday.

Malik Nabers is good enough to hit up a Travis Scott concert ... but the New York Giants rookie still isn't ready to return to the field after suffering a concussion two weeks ago.

Giants head coach Brian Daboll confirmed the news at a press conference on Friday ... saying while the rookie will be able to participate in some practice activities, he won't be cleared to play in their Week 6 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals.

"He won't make it," he said.

Cam Newton didn't disappoint on the first day of his new job ... the NFL MVP trolled new co-worker Shannon Sharpe over his Instagram Live sex sesh with "Michelle"!

ESPN recently hired the former All-Pro signal-caller to sit opposite Stephen A. Smith and Sharpe on "First Take" ... and he made his debut on Friday for their HBCU road show.

Newton -- who already has a popular podcast, 4th&1 -- and the crew were discussing Smith's top five homecoming essentials, from the band to Greek life.

But, Cam felt like the group missed an essential ... parties!

Aubrey Plaza's reading sesh was interrupted by a major WNBA Finals game on Thursday ... 'cause the actress was spotted pretending to be deep into a novel from her courtside seat!!

The "Agatha All Along" star was one of many celebs at Game 1 of the Minnesota Lynx and New York Liberty matchup ... and fans went wild when she appeared on the jumbotron.

However, Plaza acted like she wasn't prepared to be on the big screen ... playing it off like she was oblivious to being recorded as she absorbed some words.

San Francisco 49ers stars George Kittle and Kyle Juszczyk are the frontrunners for the most heart-warming touchdown celebration of the season ... as the two commemorated a score by hugging their wives in the stands!!

Kittle caught a nine-yard touchdown pass from Brock Purdy to put the 49ers up 12 against the Seattle Seahawks in the fourth quarter on "Thursday Night Football" ... and did his usual celebration before starting to trot back to the team's sideline.

But Juszczyk realized their wives were sitting field level on that end of the stadium ... and the two promptly ran over and did their own Lambeau-style leap into their arms!!

Seattle Seahawks receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. didn't have much time to celebrate his 97-yard touchdown ... 'cause shortly after running the kickoff to the house, he got on one knee and puked his brains out!

The nasty moment went down during the third quarter of "Thursday Night Football" -- Seattle was trailing the San Francisco 49ers big ... but Shenault took matters into his own hands and scored off a kick return.

The highlight must have taken everything out of Shenault ... as he couldn't keep his lunch down shortly after the TD.

The NY Mets improbable October run has been nothing short of amazin' ... but it wouldn't be happening without Francisco Lindor -- and Mets legend Dwight Gooden tells TMZ Sports the 4x All-Star deserves to have the Captain patch added to his uniform!

We caught up with Gooden -- who was at Citi Field to witness Lindor's go-ahead grand slam in the sixth inning, punching the team's ticket to the NLCS -- and asked what was running through his mind when the team's star stepped up to the plate.

"You're just thinking, just make contact," Doc said. "Just don't hit it on the ground. The thing about it, a couple pitches before the home run, he was so late on the fastball you're just hoping just make good contact."

Travis Kelce's ex claims she's being bombarded with hate every single day amid his relationship with Taylor Swift ... saying the cruel comments from the Swifties have impacted her life, and she did nothing to deserve it!

Kayla Nicole was a guest on Angel Reese's new "Unapologetically Angel" show on Thursday ... where the two discussed her career, rumors and, of course, her ex of five years.

The Chicago Sky star brought up Kelce moving on with Taylor Swift ... and asked if the harassment from her fanbase bothered her -- even a year after the pop singer and Chiefs tight end became an item.

Tom Brady's office looks like a damn sports museum ... with the legendary quarterback showing off some of his prized possessions in his house -- and it's truly incredible.

TB12 gave a tour of the collection on his latest "Last Week" vlog ... and when he explained it would be impossible to pick his five favorite things in the lineup, we understand why.

Not only did Brady have his Super Bowl MVP trophies, signed team balls and old playbooks ... but he also pointed out several cool items he's received from his famous friends.

Patrick Mahomes' buddy and former Chiefs teammate Gehrig Dieter turned enemy last night -- at least for 9 innings while the Royals and Yankees battled in a pivotal MLB playoff game -- and despite the 3x NFL MVP talkin' trash, the guy named after the "Iron Horse" got the last laugh!

In case you missed it, 31-year-old Dieter -- who played alongside Mahomes in Kansas City for two seasons before retiring in 2022 -- was at Kauffman Stadium for game 3 of the ALDS ... where he was supporting his Bronx Bombers.

Of course, Pat is a minority owner of the Royals ... and Gehrig (named after Lou -- which he explains during the interview) was sitting in Mahomes' luxury suite.