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A Black high school basketball player is being met with an "outpouring of encouragement and support" after a fan hurled the N-word at him during a recent game ... and TMZ Sports has learned he's even back on the court, despite the ugly incident.

The disgusting moment happened in the second quarter of last week's Flint Metro League boys basketball semifinal game, when a Goodrich High School fan yelled a racist slur at a Flint Kearsley High player.

The incident, which was captured on a live stream of the game, predictably sparked outrage ... but also a whole bunch of love and support for the player, especially from his teammates, classmates, and the community.

Devonta Lee -- who played college football for the LSU Tigers and Louisiana Tech Bulldogs -- has died at age 27, his former schools announced Thursday.

The wide receiver was a star at Amite High School ... and helped his team win a state championship in 2018.

He was a top recruit in the state ... and committed to LSU, where he played for three seasons.

The U.S. women's teams may not have been able to make the trip to visit the White House just yet, but they are in store for one helluva celebration this summer ... 'cause Flavor Flav is telling TMZ Sports all about his plans for their epic Vegas takeover -- which even includes a parade!

Babcock spoke with the hip hop legend about what he's cooking up later this year, not only for the women's hockey team -- but for any female athlete who represented the Red, White and Blue, too.

Flav says it's slated to go down July 16-19 ... and that he's teamed up with MGM Resorts to make it possible.

"The men have been getting all the glory," he said. "These women have been busting their ass out here and not really being recognized, so that's why I stepped up to the plate."

The Atlanta Hawks are bringing the iconic Magic City strip club vibes to State Farm Arena -- stay with us, we're not kidding -- the team just announced it is honoring the local "cultural institution" at a game next month!!

The NBA franchise revealed the one-night collab on Thursday ... saying the party will go down on March 16 when the Hawks face the Orlando Magic -- and T.I. is slated to make an appearance.

"As part of this celebration, the Hawks have worked with Magic City to bring the ‘best of’ the phenomena for fans in attendance at the award-winning State Farm Arena," the team said.

To start the party, the Hawks will have DJ Esco blasting music at the game and a halftime performance from ATL's own Tip Harris, who is hyped to do this for Magic City.

Alysa Liu’s gold medal didn’t just make history on the ice -- it just launched her hairstylist into orbit!

Kelsey Miller, the mastermind behind Liu’s now-viral “halo ring” color, tells TMZ Sports that ever since the Olympic spotlight hit, her phone hasn’t stopped buzzing … and her appointment book is stacked all the way into summer and fall.

“It's been like so surreal right now, all the attention that I've gotten from doing this,” Miller tells us.

What started as a five-hour coloring in January has placed both of them in the spotlight. Miller’s Instagram post from the session has garnered nearly 1 million likes as her account grew by the thousands during the Games.

Golfer Andrea Pavan was "badly injured" in a crazy freak accident in South Africa this week ... after he fell down an elevator shaft before a golf tourney, according to reports.

The scary scene occurred on Wednesday while the 36-year-old was in Cape Town to compete in the DP World Tour's Investec South African Open. He is now in the hospital with serious injuries.

Pavan was staying in a nearby hotel when he called for an elevator, according to Monday Q, who first reported the news. The elevator shaft door opened, but there was no car there. Not realizing, the golfer stepped into the shaft and plummeted three floors.

Thankfully, his injuries are "not life-threatening" ... though he did require hours of surgery after the accident.

Someone cue the ominous music … because Shedeur Sanders sent his head coach a horse head for his birthday!

Before anyone panics -- it wasn't exactly a “Godfather” situation.

New Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken revealed to CBS Sports from the NFL scouting combine that he received a porcelain horse head from his QB as a birthday gift … and yeah, he was just as confused as you are.

Monken said the package showed up on his 60th birthday, and at first, he assumed it was something his wife had ordered. But when he checked the sender? Shedeur Sanders.

Inside the box sat a decorative porcelain horse head … naturally, Monken had questions.

“I asked him, ‘What was the meaning?’” Monken said. “And he just said, ‘Well, I really liked it. I got myself one.’”

“Well, great.”

No hidden message. No “sleeping with the fishes.”

The Prada show at Milan Fashion Week had no shortage of star power from the sports world -- with Eileen Gu and Caitlin Clark catching all the latest 'fits in the front row!!

Fresh off her viral Olympic run, the Team China skier and model hung out with the WNBA great on Thursday ... and she documented their run-in with a selfie.

The two seemed pretty chatty ... with video showing them laughing as they conversed at their seats.

Iman Shumpert is speaking out for the first time about Kayla Nicole's public feud with his ex-wife, Teyana Taylor ... revealing the influencer reached out to him to apologize after the shade sparked backlash.

Quick refresher ... Nicole was on Angel Reese's podcast in 2024 and admitted a guy she was dating dumped her for a popular singer/actress. While Nicole never name-dropped, she did say she dressed up as the woman for Halloween to be petty.

Social media detectives figured it out ... the costume was Taylor's iconic outfit from Kanye West's "Fade" video.

Boxing star Ruben Castillo -- who fought in four world championship bouts -- passed away after a battle with cancer.

He was 68.

Castillo -- famously known as the Conquistador -- died on Wednesday in Beaumont, California, and was surrounded by his loved ones. After the sad news, tributes flooded social media honoring the featherweight fighter, including a video message from WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman.

N.J. Devils star Jack Hughes was back on home ice Wednesday night after lifting the U.S. men's hockey team to Olympic gold ... and the 24-year-old star received a rousing ovation from the hometown faithful!!!

Hughes also briefly addressed the team's controversial phone call with the President of the United States.

Jack received a standing ovation when he took center ice at the Prudential Center in Newark, where he spoke to Devils fans about the experience. He also brought out his Team USA teammate turned opponent for the night, Buffalo Sabres center Tage Thompson.

"I'm so proud and so happy that the men's and women's USA hockey teams brought gold medals back to the United States of America," Hughes said. "I'm so proud to represent the New Jersey Devils organization, and I'm so, so proud to represent the great state of New Jersey."

Mike Eruzione isn’t here for the outrage … he’s here for the red, white and blue.

The "Miracle on Ice" captain -- who scored the most iconic goals in U.S. hockey history at the 1980 Winter Olympics -- tells TMZ Sports he’s fed up with the pearl-clutching and is firing back at haters taking shots at today’s Team USA stars.

“Shut up and just enjoy what they did,” he told the critics in an interview with Babcock on Wednesday.

Eruzione pointed to his own experience in 1980, when political figures were openly supporting the team without controversy. He recalled then-Vice President Walter Mondale sitting in the stands -- and even a phone call in the locker room from the POTUS after the "Miracle on Ice" win.

“Jimmy Carter called the locker room and I spoke to him,” Eruzione said, adding the team was invited to visit the White House the very next day -- and there was zero backlash.

TMZ locked in this week's "Cheek of the Week" at first glance -- these Paige VanZant hot bum shots will make you dance!

Paige busted onto the scene fighting in the UFC over a decade ago ... She's definitely known for her fighting style and mainstream appeal ...

Peak at the cheek and check out our gallery ... Then put the pieces of Page back together:

NeNe Leakes isn't hiding her new man … she's showing him off.

TMZ obtained video of the former "Real Housewives of Atlanta" star at Wednesday night's Memphis Grizzlies game with attorney Arthur Horne III and at one point, he leans in and plants a kiss on her as they walk out together.

Earlier in the night, the two were posted up courtside, cuddled close and clearly coupled up. Witnesses tell us they were "hugged up" and "really touchy-feely" throughout the game ... making it crystal clear this wasn't just a friendly outing.

Tom Brady might think pro wrestling is “very cute” … but WWE Superstar Kiana James says if the NFL legend wants to truly find out how tough it is, there’s an easy solution -- step into the ring!

The WWE Superstar joined TMZ’s Inside The Ring podcast this week … where she was asked about Brady’s viral comment, aimed at Logan Paul.

“I don’t want to fault anyone for their ignorance,” James told us. “When you’re unfamiliar with something, there’s a level of ignorance there.”

U.S hockey star Hilary Knight isn't letting all the controversy overshadow her relationship with her male counterparts -- describing the moment as simply "a quick lapse."

Knight spoke about the now-infamous phone call between the men's team and President Trump, not long after Jack Hughes scored the winning goal against Canada ... where POTUS joked he'd "probably be impeached" if he didn't invite the women's team to the White House following their gold medal win.

Folks online were big mad after the team laughed following DT's comment, but Knight says the group was put in "a tough spot."