TMZ Sports - Page 50

Jennifer Hudson was nearly drilled by a stray basketball at the Knicks game Tuesday night -- and while Common did his best to save the day ... she still appeared to end up with quite the ouchie.

The singer/actress cruised to Madison Square Garden with her boyfriend to catch New York's tilt with Steph Curry and the Warriors ... but unfortunately for the two, they got a little too close to the action in the tilt's second quarter.

Miles McBride attempted to steal a basketball right in front of the courtside couple -- but instead of corralling it, he knocked it right near Hudson's noggin.

Olympic medalist Omari Jones is steppin' into the ring for his boxing debut on March 15 ... and plans to make a powerful statement with a knockout victory!

Jones -- who won the bronze medal in boxing at the 2024 Paris Olympics -- spoke with TMZ Sports days before his six-round boxing debut at the Caribe Royale in his hometown of Orlando, Florida.

Jones -- who signed with Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Boxing promotion -- is eager to showcase his skills in front of his family, friends, and fans, describing himself as the complete package as an elite boxer.

LAFC's Sergi Palencia has been cleared of wrongdoing by a major soccer governing body ... as CONCACAF determined the defender did not use a derogatory term towards a Colorado Rapids player during their matchup in February.

The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football released their findings Tuesday afternoon, saying that while inappropriate language was used during the Feb. 25 interaction with Rapids defender Chidozie Awaziem, "The word reported by the Colorado Rapids in its official position to Concacaf was not used."

"Concacaf will continue to urge teams, players, and fans to participate in our sport positively and with respect for the opposition," the statement read. "There is no room for discrimination in our game. What’s Wrong is Wrong."

LiAngelo Ball's building quite the roster of big-name rap collabs ... first Lil Wayne, now GloRilla!!

Gelo's brother, Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo, gave fans a sneak peek of the middle Ball's upcoming music video on his Instagram story on Tuesday ... which shows Glo -- one of the hottest female rappers out right now -- on camera with the "Tweaker" artist.

This will be Gelo's second single since his debut song ... which reached No. 29 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and reportedly generated almost $640k.

1:22 PM PT -- Kyrie Irving just went live on Instagram to address the bad news ... saying while it's not the outcome he would have hoped for, he's fully committed to recovering and getting back on the court.

Uncle Drew seemed to be in good spirits as he showed off propped-up leg in a compression wrap ... and thanked his fans for their support following the ailment.

Their teams might be on the opposite ends of the wildest trade of the season, but LeBron James and Luka Doncic are sending positive vibes Kyrie Irving's way ... after the Mavericks star suffered a torn ACL during Monday's game.

The heartbreaking moment went down with under three minutes left in the first quarter of the Mavs' contest against the Kings. As Irving drove to the hoop, his knee buckled and he fell to the ground in pain.

Even with Kyrie struggling to put weight on his left leg, the 36-year-old knocked down two free throws before exiting the matchup ... which the team called a "left knee sprain."

It was later revealed on Tuesday his season was over after tearing his ACL.

Detroit Pistons star Malik Beasley's wife, Montana Yao, has filed for legal separation ... one day before their fifth wedding anniversary, TMZ Sports has learned.

The 27-year-old model -- who shares two kids with the NBA vet -- filed the docs on Tuesday ... citing "irreconcilable differences."

Yao is seeking spousal support, according to court docs we obtained.

The walk-off Grand Slam baseball that Jason Giambi blasted into the Yankee Stadium bleachers in 2002 -- his first huge moment as part of the Bronx Bombers -- just hit the auction block!

Baseball fans will remember. Giambi was fresh off inking a deal that despite sounding like a downright bargain in 2025, was huge in the early 2000s (7 years, $120 million). The Yanks new slugger wasn't slumping to start the long season, but wasn't exactly off to a hot start, either.

It was May 17, 2002, and the Twins were in NYC to face the Yankees. Bernie Williams hit a game-tying, solo homer in the 9th to push the game to extra innings.

KSI and Dillon Danis are 25 days away from entering the ring for their highly anticipated boxing match ... but the former already landed his first attack -- smacking his opponent with a pancake during their press conference!!

It all went down across the pond in London as the two met with the media to drum up some buzz for their March 29 bout. After the two laid down some trash talk, they went face-to-face with each other.

During the photo op, KSI dug into his pocket -- and then slapped his opponent with the breakfast.

J.D. Vance was skiing among a bunch of folks who made their hatred for him well known, but the Secret Service tells us there was never a threat to him or his family ... despite Vance nearly being taken out by an out-of-control skier.

Multiple Secret Service sources tell TMZ ... the Vice President was never in danger this weekend during his ski trip to Sugarbush Resort in Warren, Vermont ... despite how things may have looked.

We obtained video of Vance being heckled in line for ski lifts -- someone called him  "Putin's Puppet" -- and during one of his runs he almost got barreled into -- first by a snowboarder ... then by another skier, who crashed into someone just feet away from the Veep.

Irina Shayk knows how to make a splash, and she did just that in her eye-popping outfit that showed off her amazing bod during Brazil's Carnival in Rio de Janeiro.

The model -- who's the rumored girlfriend of ex-NFL star Tom Brady -- strutted down the street in her blue peacock-like costume as if it were a catwalk, joining thousands with carnival fever Tuesday in the city of Rio De Janeiro.

As you can see, Irina is all smiles, and why wouldn’t she be … she’s in total party mode like everyone else there, samba dancing the night away.

Bodybuilder Jodi Vance died last week after suffering a fatal heart attack. The rising star was attending the Arnold Sports Festival in Ohio.

She was only 20 years old.

Vance, who was also a coach, wasn't competing in Columbus, but instead was there to support athletes under her tutelage.

"Her heart stopped due to complications of severe dehydration. Despite all efforts by the hospital, they were unable to revive her," Vance's family wrote on social media.

Kevin DiCicco, the man who owned Buddy -- star of the popular "Air Bud" movies -- and helped create the film series, is being treated by medical professionals as he battles a severe bout of pneumonia that landed him in the hospital ... TMZ has learned.

Kevin tells TMZ ... he contracted severe pneumonia two weeks ago and has been hospitalized in San Diego. He tells us the pneumonia is bad and he's currently being treated with an arsenal of antibiotics.

Kevin -- who found future dog-actor Buddy near his Yosemite cabin and took him in back in the day -- tells us amid his hospitalization for pneumonia ... he's still battling chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which he believes he got from his use of medical marijuana.

Eagles general manager Howie Roseman says winning the Super Bowl is a lot like bumpin' uglies ... admitting now that he's won a second title, he can finally enjoy the experience.

The Philly executive vice prez made the R-rated comparison on the "McShay Show" this week ... when he opened up on what has been going on in his head following his team's dominating victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.

Roseman said the organization's first title in 2017 was like losing the V card -- the "quality" of the win doesn't mean nearly as much as the fact it even happened in the first place.

Jon Stewart just explained the geopolitical landscape and America's role in it after the now-infamous Zelensky/Trump showdown in the Oval Office Friday ... comparing it to a wrestling event that also shook the world this weekend.

In Monday night’s episode of "The Daily Show," Jon explained the whole metaphorical ordeal -- Cody Rhodes is Volodymyr Zelensky, The Rock is Vladimir Putin, and John Cena is America.

In Jon’s interpretation of events ... Cody (Zelensky) went to the White House to meet with John Cena (America) to take on the person "demanding his soul," The Rock (Putin). To everyone’s surprise, especially Cody's … Cena had experienced a change of heart, and no longer had Cody's back. As Cody embraced Cena, The Rock gave Cena the throat-cut signal ... and Cena delivered a cheap shot to Cody's groin, then pummeled him on the ground in a dramatic "heel turn."

Angel Reese doused Kevin Durant dating rumors back in September ... but the NBA superstar might have just reignited them with a sly pregame comment over the weekend.

In the leadup to the Phoenix vs. Minnesota game in Arizona on Sunday, Suns players were asked to shout out their favorite female athlete of all-time to honor the start of Women's Empowerment Month.

Most of the guys went the chalk route -- choosing legends like Diana Taurasi and Serena Williams. Others showed love to their college's alumni ... while Grayson Allen picked his wife, former pro soccer player Morgan Reid Allen.

Politics ain't the only thing Johnny Damon and Donald Trump agree on ... the former MLB star tells TMZ Sports POTUS is right when it comes to Pete Rose's Hall of Fame candidacy as well.

Trump took to his Truth Social page on Friday night to demand MLB "get off its fat, lazy ass" and put Rose into Cooperstown ... and when we spoke with Damon about the opinion on Monday, he told us he concurred.

The ex-Red Sox outfielder -- who actually served on the President's Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition during Trump's first term in D.C. -- said the game's climate has changed so much since Rose was first given a perma-ban for gambling on baseball that he now thinks it's about time to get the MLB's Hit King into the HOF.