Tag: tmz sports

While a good amount of the U.S. men’s hockey team visited the White House following their gold medal win over Canada in the Winter Olympics, a handful of players like Jake Guentzel opted to pass on the opportunity … and the Tampa Bay Lightning winger said he was absent due to a “timing thing for me and my family.”

Guentzel — along with Brock Nelson, Kyle Connor and Jake Oettinger — was not spotted when President Donald Trump welcomed the team to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue to celebrate their huge win. But the Stanley Cup champion made it clear there was no political message behind it.

“I was definitely not denying the request to go,” Guentzel said. “It was a dream come true to go, I was fortunate to go in 2017 when Trump was in office.”

Tyler Shough made a helluva impression on not just Saints fans, but even their star players … so much so that Cam Jordan tells TMZ Sports he believes the rookie could be their franchise quarterback.

The New Orleans Saints have been searching for a new signal caller since Drew Brees retired …. and despite bringing in signal-callers like Jameis Winston, Andy Dalton, and Derek Carr, they just haven’t found their guy.

Until now, potentially.

The Saints drafted Shough in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft, and the QB threw for 2,384 passing yards and 13 touchdowns in 11 games … something Jordan, the longtime Saints defensive end, says was a great showcase.

With high praise comes high pressure — especially for a young QB — but Jordan believes Shough simply has to “continue grinding, continue proving everybody who you think you are.”

With the quarterback having some experience under his belt, the 8x Pro Bowler thinks the Saints can return to the playoffs, emphasizing the goal is always to win it all, not just a few games (you’re about to catch a stray, NYJ).

Nate Diaz has his sights set on kickin’ ass on one of the most unexpected stages possible: the White House.

The MMA star tells TMZ Sports he’s all-in if talk of a potential fight card tied to the nation’s capital ever becomes reality … making it clear the idea of scrapping under a red, white and blue spotlight has his full attention.

“Yeah, that’d be dope, too,” Diaz said. “America gang, baby. You already know what’s popping.”

While Diaz is hyped about the possibility of fighting on a patriotic mega-card, he says he’s not picky about who he faces — as long as it’s a legit, high-level fight.

And if he gets his way, the White House event could feature some familiar names from his past.

Diaz says he wants to run back his legendary rivalry with Conor McGregor for a trilogy bout — a fight that would instantly become one of the biggest attractions possible for a blockbuster event.

He also called out Dustin Poirier as another potential opponent, though Diaz didn’t exactly extend the olive branch … saying he’d be down to fight him “if he stops being such a p****.”

Diaz even floated Mike Perry as another name he’d gladly throw down with … making it clear he’s ready for whatever matchup gets him back into what he calls “real action.”

The youngest Beckham just dropped the sweetest message and it might double as a family olive branch.

Harper Beckham shared a throwback snap with her brothers — Brooklyn, Romeo, and Cruz — writing, “I love you all so much words can’t describe it,” in a Valentine’s Day Instagram post.

The timing? Not exactly random. As you know, tensions have been brewing between Brooklyn and the rest of the Beckham clan, with ongoing drama involving his wife, Nicola Peltz, and distance from his parents, David and Victoria.

Brooklyn publicly aired grievances about his parents and siblings in a series of Instagram Stories recently. In the posts, Brooklyn accused his parents of controlling him for much of his life and claimed his anxiety disappeared after stepping away from his family. He also defended Nicola, pushing back against claims she influences or controls him.

Brooklyn further alleged tensions boiled over at his wedding, claiming Victoria interrupted a planned moment when Marc Anthony was serenading the newlyweds. According to Brooklyn, his mom instead danced with him in a way he described as inappropriate and humiliating.

Lindsey Vonn is fresh off her fourth surgery following her devastating Winter Olympics crash, and she has a message for fans … keep the sympathy to a minimum.

The ski legend revealed Saturday her latest procedure went well and she’ll be heading back to the United States soon to continue recovering. Posting from her hospital bed, Vonn reflected on the flood of support she’s received but made it clear she doesn’t want anyone feeling sorry for her.

“I have been reading a lot of messages and comments saying that what has happened to me makes them sad,” she wrote. “Please, don’t be sad. Empathy, love and support I welcome with an open heart, but please not sadness or sympathy.”

The brutal crash came just 13 seconds into her women’s downhill run last Sunday, when she lost control and was airlifted to a hospital in Italy. Doctors later stabilized a fracture in her left leg.

Valentine’s Day is creeping up … and while couples are busy emptying their wallets, Lou Young is waving a financial red flag.

We caught up with Lou at Druski’s “Coulda Been Love” Season 2 event Wednesday, and he told TMZ straight up — fellas need to chill before they blow the rent money trying to impress. Why? Because March 1 is looming … and rent waits for no one.

Catch the full clip … ’cause Lou elaborates on his message — spend what you can afford.

We also hit him with the ultimate IG question — is it a red flag if a guy won’t post his girl? His answer might raise some eyebrows!

TMZ Sports is going live from the newsroom to discuss the day’s biggest stories … but we don’t just want folks to watch and enjoy the conversation, we want y’all to get involved!!

Hit the comment section as Babcock, Lucas, Luca, and the whole crew break down the most important topics of the day … and we’ll be interacting with viewers throughout the program between 1 and 2:30 PM PT.

YouTube, X, TikTok … we’re everywhere.

So tune in, make fun of us, share your two cents, sound off about your favorite team … nothing is out of bounds.

Mac Jones isn’t exactly buying into the 49ers’ viral practice facility conspiracy … but he’s not completely brushing it off either!

The San Francisco backup QB talked with TMZ Sports about the chatter tying the team’s nearby electrical substation to their injury history … a theory that’s picked up steam online and even sparked quiet locker room curiosity over the years.

Some have speculated electromagnetic fields from the power station by Levi’s Stadium could be messing with players’ bodies, but there’s been zero scientific proof backing it.

Jones kept things pretty chill when asked about it … saying he hasn’t personally noticed anything strange since joining the team.

“I haven’t been there long enough,” Jones said, “but I think there’s something to studying it and at least finding out if it’s good or bad, but I don’t feel any different.”

He even poked fun at one of the conspiracy’s more out-there claims — that players can supposedly hear electrical buzzing near the facility.

“I can’t hear the buzz,” he said. “Maybe some of the guys who have been there for a minute, but not me.”

For those who may be drinking the tea … neither of the Super Bowl teams is practicing at the Niners’ facility.

Jones also made it clear he’s not exactly a tin-foil-hat kinda guy when it comes to conspiracy theories in general.

“Honestly, no,” he said. “I’ll entertain them, but I don’t believe any weird ones.”

While speculation continues to swirl around the Niners — fueled in part by the team’s recent injury stretches — Jones sounds locked in on football, not power grids.

“I’m happy where I’m at,” he added. “I love the 49ers and I want to keep winning and having fun.”

Mitt Romney‘s sister-in-law left a handwritten suicide note tucked inside a Book of Mormon and had Xanax in her system when she died … according to the L.A. County Medical Examiner.

The ME’s report says detectives discovered a Book of Mormon on the front passenger seat of Carrie‘s car. In the final pages of the book, authorities say Carrie left a handwritten suicide note. Medications were also found inside the vehicle.

The report states Carrie had 6.3 ng/mL of Xanax in her system at the time of her death. A witness told first responders Carrie was seen pacing on the top level of the parking structure, watching security cameras, and looking over the edge of the parapet. The report also states surveillance footage captured her final moments.

As we reported … Carrie died from blunt traumatic injuries after falling from the rooftop of a parking structure in Valencia, California, back in October.

Carrie’s husband, Scott Romney — Mitt’s brother — had reported her missing to the Sheriff’s Department. He told authorities she previously drove her car off a cliff two years earlier and had struggled with anxiety, per the report.

Angie Katsanevas wasted no time piling on after Ben Affleck admitted he doesn’t remember ever meeting Lisa Barlow.

“The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” star trolled her co-star in the comments of a Bravo fan post showing Affleck looking clueless about Barlow, writing … “He didn’t know Lisa but he recognized Celia.” Celia is Angie’s pet poodle.

The dig reignited fallout from a season 6 episode in which Barlow name-dropped Affleck and Blake Lively as the reason she skipped Katsanevas’ girls’ trip.

The Kid LAROI‘s clearly over Tate McRae … because he was spotted hanging all over his new GF, Sophie HM, while walking around New York City.

The rapper stepped out with his model better half Friday … bundled up against the cold in thick jackets and pants — and keeping each other warm with their PDA, too.

Check it out … TKL leans in to smooch Sophie on the side of her head — and his arm is wrapped tightly around her back as they stride down the street.

They’re not the type of couple who are attached at the hip though … also spending time on their phones while walking a few steps away from one another during their outing.

ICYMI … The Kid LAROI and McRae reportedly split over the summer — and Tate opened up about the breakup after she dropped her track “TIT FOR TAT” which seemed to be a response to LAROI’s “A COLD PLAY.”

She also told Rolling Stone in December, “What I’ve had to realize is that he’s going to write songs and I’m going to write songs, and that’s our way of expressing ourselves. That’s our art, that’s our job. And once it’s out there, it’s not mine anymore.”

More recently, Tate’s been seen hanging out with New Jersey Devils star Jack Hughes … sparking romance rumors.

The Fisk University Bulldogs will not be playing this Thursday … after sophomore forward, Andre Bell, was shot and killed on a highway in Nashville, Tennessee, on Sunday.

The HBCU’s Assistant Athletic Director, Scott Wallace, confirmed the decision to TMZ Sports on Tuesday … just two days after the Metro Nashville Police Department said Bell was tragically shot in the head on 1-65 North at the I-40 Interchange.

The Bulldogs’ game against Voorhees University has been postponed … but they will play Saturday against Talladega College.

The MNPD’s investigation revealed that Bell and two of his friends left a gymnastics event and got on the highway to head back to campus. A dark sedan pulled up on the left side of Bell’s white Nissan Sentra, and opened fire.

Andre was critically wounded and later died at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. The shooting is still under investigation.

DK Metcalf‘s season could’ve ended when the NFL suspended him two games for hitting a Lions fan — but it didn’t — and now he’s got a chance to make amends, according to a 2x Super Bowl champ!

TMZ Sports talked to Charlie Batch, who not only played 11 seasons in Pittsburgh but now covers the team, and he says things could’ve gotten ugly if the Steelers lost to the Ravens and missed the playoffs.

Of course, the cause of the altercation between Metcalf and the fan is still disputed. The Lions supporter is adamant he simply called DK by his full name … while DK’s circle told Chad Johnson he used a racial slur.

The fan, Ryan Kennedy, has since denied ever using any such language.

Whatever happened, the NFL still hit Metcalf with a hefty punishment for his role in the ugly incident.

Without their star receiver, Pittsburgh barely made the playoffs, losing their week 17 game against the Browns, before clinching the AFC North crown with a win over the Ravens, thanks to a missed field goal in the waning moments of the game.

The No. 4-seeded Steelers are hopeful that Metcalf’s return will spark a playoff run as they open at home against the No. 5 Houston Texans on Monday night.

Lenny Dykstra — a longtime major leaguer best remembered as a member of the 1986 New York Mets — may be facing drug charges.

According to a police report obtained by TMZ, Pennsylvania State Police pulled over a car in which Dykstra was a passenger on New Year’s Day after they say they saw the driver commit a motor vehicle code violation.

During the traffic stop, officers claim they found Dykstra had “narcotics and narcotic related equipment/paraphernalia.” Officers list Dykstra as the “arrestee” on the documents, however his high-powered attorney Matthew Blit says that’s not the case.

Lenny played in the big leagues from 1985 to 1996 with the Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies. He was a three-time All Star, a Silver Slugger winner and a member of the 1986 World Series champion Mets.

One of Shawn Porter‘s kids might be following in his boxing footsteps — the former champ tells TMZ Sports his two-year-old son is already showing signs he’s got the bug!!

Porter opened up on his fam with us …  claiming out of all his kids, his youngest is the one who puts on the gloves and throws punches.

“The other two, I think they’re gonna move on into some other things,” Porter said, “But, this baby right here, he might be a scrapper.”

“I saw my dad give me to other people, and then, hey, I need him back, so I would definitely allow other people to put the gloves on my sons and work with them, but I’d be the only one coaching them,” Porter said.

Taylor Swift is showing her team spirit by spending Christmas day in Kansas City … popping up at fiancé Travis Kelce‘s game against the Denver Broncos!!!

Travis’ game is being shown on Amazon Prime and the broadcast just cut away from some second quarter action to show Taylor’s arrival.

The NFL’s X account in Brazil posted a clip from the broadcast showing Taylor walking through the stadium on her way to her suite. It’s likely this footage was shot before the game and Amazon was waiting for the right time to show it during the game.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year … which means epic NBA showdowns — and the gorgeous wives and girlfriends that come with them!!

The first matchup takes place at Madison Square Garden … where the Cavaliers face the NBA Cup champion New York Knicks.

Celebrity Row at the Mecca will be packed … and perhaps we’ll get a glimpse of Donovan Mitchell‘s R&B singer fiancée, Coco Jones, and Karl-Anthony Towns‘ longtime bae, Jordyn Woods.

Following that game, the San Antonio Spurs will go up against the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder.

Expect to see De’Aaron Fox‘s wife, Recee, who we’re sure won’t miss the Spurs guard’s second holiday game … plus Thunder star Isaiah Hartenstein‘s wife, Kourtney — a retired ring girl.

The Dallas Mavericks and Golden State Warriors will then battle it out at the Chase Center in San Francisco … and folks can expect to see Steph Curry‘s right hand, Ayesha, at the home game.

Speaking of wives … Queen James, AKA Savannah James, has been a trooper with LeBron‘s full Christmas schedule over the years … but we take it they’ll be able to enjoy their holiday together at least for a bit.

It will be a first for Jabari Smith Jr.‘s girlfriend, Jasmine A, as the Rockets’ last appearance on X-mas was in 2019.

Closing out Christmas Day: the Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Denver Nuggets, with Julius Randle‘s wife, Kendra, and Nikola Jokic’s wife, Natalija, slated to be in full support of their men.

TMZ Sports is going live from the newsroom to discuss the day’s biggest stories … but we don’t just want folks to watch and enjoy the conversation, we want y’all to get involved!!

Hit the comment section as Lucas, Mojo, Luca, and the whole crew break down the most important topics of the day … and we’ll be interacting with viewers throughout the program between 1 and 2 PM PT.

YouTube, X, TikTok … we’re everywhere.

So tune in, make fun of us, share your two cents, sound off about your favorite team … nothing is out of bounds.

Terence “Bud” Crawford‘s retirement this week shocked many, but not Shawn Porter … ’cause he tells TMZ Sports the boxing champion had been talking about hanging up the gloves for “a long time.”

In fact, Porter says Crawford began talking about the end of his boxing career just before their 2021 fight at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.

“I knew once he fought Canelo [Alvarez], he felt like there was nothin’ left for him,” Porter said.

When it comes to the Mount Rushmore of boxing … Porter said Crawford is up there with Oleksandr Usyk in that era of the sport.

DK Metcalf might have nerves of steel … but, a Detroit Lions fan got on his last one — and video shows him taking a swing at the guy!

The wild moment went down late in the second quarter of the Lions matchup against DK’s Pittsburgh Steelers … with the CBS broadcast first showing a tense convo between the veteran wide receiver and a DET fan in a bright blue wig.

Metcalf then quickly reached up with his closed right fist … seemingly landing a glancing blow on fan’s face before walking away.

As broadcaster Jim Nantz says in the clip … we’d assume DK will face some major consequences because of his actions — though he wasn’t removed from the important matchup against the Lions.

According to ESPN … because a flag wasn’t thrown at the time, the NFL can’t weigh in on disqualification — which it the only reason they let the guy keep playing.