TMZ Sports - Page 2

The USBL is going to bat for Jontay Porter -- telling TMZ Sports the league believes in “second chances” as it welcomes the banned ex-NBA big man.

Porter, who was banned for life from the NBA in 2024 following a gambling scandal that torpedoed his career, signed last week with the Seattle SuperHawks in the relaunched United States Basketball League.

While some leagues might shy away from the baggage, the USBL is leaning in.

If ya thought Michael Irvin's signature "belt to ass" celebration was going away after Miami's championship hopes came up short, think again ... 'cause the Hurricanes legend tells TMZ Sports he'll be doing the move after every game next season.

Irvin went viral throughout the 'Canes' playoff run this past campaign ... where he'd remove his accessory from his waist and hit a water cooler with it to cement every Miami win.

Despite how things played out against the Indiana Hoosiers in the College Football Playoff Final, Irvin is already guaranteeing perfection in Coral Gables.

Things appear to be very serious between Kim Kardashian and Lewis Hamilton because TMZ has learned the two were on vacation together in Arizona over the weekend.

TMZ has obtained video of Kim and Lewis Saturday evening near Lake Powell, taking in a breathtaking desert sunset, where we're told they were seen snapping a cozy selfie together.

The pair was seen off the beaten path at the secluded spot of the major vacation destination on the Colorado River in Utah and Arizona. The quiet, upscale boating destination is where wealthy travelers typically go for private trips.

The World Cup is the biggest sporting event of 2026 ... but Inglewood's not sweating being one of the host cities -- thanks to names like Taylor Swift and Beyoncé.

We spoke with Mayor James Butts Jr. this week as the city gears up to welcome soccer fans at SoFi Stadium this June ... with folks from all over the globe expected to travel to the area for games.

Mayor Butts said federal presence will be added to the city's already "robust public safety matrix" ... which already exists thanks to massive names like Swift and Bey having tour stops in the area in years past -- as well as the Super Bowl -- with countless spectators flooding the city for those events.

Speaking of the Super Bowl, Butts said having the World Cup is like hosting several Super Bowls in one month ... which is pretty bonkers to think about.

Jazz Chisholm Jr. is officially off the market … but don’t expect the Yankees star to be knee-deep in seating charts and floral arrangements.

TMZ Sports caught up with Jazz and his fiancée, Ahnalys Santiago, earlier this month in West Hollywood and asked the happy couple how they're doing post-engagement … and when it comes to wedding planning, the MLB slugger made it clear he’s taking a backseat.

“He’s barely a part of it, but it’s coming along, though,” she teased.

Jazz didn’t argue.

“I’m letting her do it. That’s her wedding,” he quipped -- before Ahnalys quickly corrected him: “It’s ours.”

Chisholm popped the question to Ahnalys, a singer and influencer better known as Ahna Mac, on Christmas under the Northern Lights in Finland. And they said (almost) married life has not changed much -- at least not between them.

This Major League Baseball season will be different than any in the league's 120+ year history, 'cause a computer will, in part, call balls and strikes ... but is it a good thing?!

That's the question we posed to longtime MLB umpire Jim Joyce, who worked 30 seasons in the Big Leagues, including three World Series, and was widely regarded as one of the best umps in the game.

"As with any new technology, there has to be a sounding out system," Joyce told TMZ Sports ... "I hope they have done due diligence in that part of it."

There was plenty of gold on “Saturday Night Live” -- with Team USA women’s hockey stars Hilary Knight and Megan Keller taking a jab at President Donald Trump for his controversial joke last week … right in front of Jack and Quinn Hughes!!

The Hughes bros were first to appear during the opening monologue from Connor Storrie -- the star of the hit series "Heated Rivalry" on HBO -- who cracked some jokes about the show ... saying they haven't had time to sit down and binge it.

Storrie then brought out Keller and Knight ... with the audience going nuts when they walked out on stage.

The 2026 World Cup is just months away, and Lyft is preparing all its drivers for the biggest sports event of the year ... revealing to TMZ Sports it is providing plenty of resources to keep travelers safe -- including anti-trafficking education.

We spoke with Lyft to get a blueprint for how it'll handle the WC, which will bring thousands of fans around the world to hosting cities like Los Angeles, New York/New Jersey, Miami, and more.

The on-demand ridesharing service said it's thrilled to be part of this "landmark moment," offering riders coming from Europe a special promo code to welcome first timers, AKA "FreeNow customers."

Lyft is also making sure its drivers are educated on what to expect during the World Cup ... and as part of the effort, will provide training, including anti-human trafficking courses, to help drivers recognize potential risks while keeping fans safe.

It's clear Brett Favre is a Fernando Mendoza fan ... and even though the Indiana superstar isn't showing off his arm at the NFL Combine, the Gunslinger tells TMZ Sports it doesn't really matter -- 'cause his best traits can't be measured.

We got the Pro Football Hall of Famer's perspective on the expected No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft ... and it's safe to say he thinks Mendoza to the Las Vegas Raiders is a no-brainer.

Favre -- who won Super Bowl XXXI during his 20-year NFL career -- had nothing but great things to say about the 22-year-old, pointing to his leadership and consistency.

Uroš Medić will never forget the moment he went from begging for immigration help inside the Octagon … to hearing the President of the United States on speakerphone minutes later, he tells TMZ Sports.

After his win in Houston last weekend, the Serbian-born UFC star made a respectful, emotional plea. Medić explained he’s lived in America for 11 years, built his career here and has a work permit through 2030 … but was terrified to travel home on limited documentation, fearing he wouldn’t be allowed back in.

With his grandmother aging, sponsorship opportunities waiting in Serbia and the UFC heading to Belgrade, Medić said he desperately needed to see his family before fighting on home soil.

Then came the shocker.

The Winter Olympics may be over, but pro snowboarder Chloe Kim is still droppin' jaws with her golden-girl style! Can you tie up the sneaky switches?!

The 25-year-old star -- who recently won the silver medal in the women’s snowboard halfpipe -- hit New York City earlier this week, cuffed to the 9s!

Chloe Kim rocks socks!

Terrion Arnold's team is responding to reports the Detroit Lions cornerback is tied to a robbery and kidnapping incident that occurred in Florida earlier this month ... telling TMZ Sports he had no "involvement whatsoever."

Arnold's lawyer -- Timothy Jansen -- provided a statement on Friday ... making it clear that NFLer's hands are clean despite being named in Judge Logan Murphy's order to hold one of the alleged conspirators on pre-trial detention.

"He did not participate in, nor was he present for, any conduct related to the alleged offenses. There is no evidence in police reports, text messages, or witness statements that implicates Mr. Arnold in any way."

Oleksandr Usyk and Rico Verhoeven are making history with their upcoming showdown -- the heavyweight title fight will be staged at the Pyramids of Giza, the first to be held at the iconic landmark.

It was announced on Friday that Usyk will defend his WBC title against the former kickboxing heavyweight champion at "Glory in Giza" on May 23 in Egypt.

The news shocked boxing fans, as bouts are usually in famous venues like Madison Square Garden or T-Mobile Arena -- not one of the most historic landmarks on Earth.

Quick history lesson ... the Great Pyramid -- largest in Egypt -- was constructed around 2600 BC using an estimated 2.3 million massive stone blocks. It's the oldest structure of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, initially built as a massive tomb for Egyptian pharaohs.

The Atlanta Falcons wasted no time cutting ties with assistant LaTroy Lewis -- hours after the coach was accused of sexual assault, the team announced he's been fired from his role.

The Falcons made the announcement Friday, not long after they confirmed they were looking into the disturbing report.

The allegations against Lewis stem from his time as an assistant coach at the University of Michigan from 2023-24. A woman claims Lewis raped and attacked her in separate incidents -- with the article including graphic messages Lewis allegedly sent the woman.

NeNe Leakes is setting the record straight when it comes to a video from her recent date ... she says she didn't kiss the guy -- they only pecked!!!

The reality TV star took to social media to put her spin on footage we first obtained, which shows her and attorney Arthur Earl Horne III touching lips at an NBA game.

NeNe says it was just a peck ... and it came after a fun night out in Memphis, Tennessee, where the booze was flowing.

What's more, NeNe says she's not in a relationship with Arthur ... claiming he's just one of multiple men she plans on dating.

NeNe's love life has been closely followed over the years ... she was married to Gregg Leakes from 1997 to 2011 before they remarried in 2013. They remained together until Gregg’s death from colon cancer in September 2021.

The golf world is finally hearing from Andrea Pavan after he fell down an elevator shaft in South Africa on Wednesday ... with the Italian athlete confirming he is recovering in the hospital after undergoing surgery -- and thanking everyone who reached out over the past 48 hours.

The DP World Tour released a statement on behalf of the 36-year-old on Friday, with Pavan saying he underwent surgery "on my shoulder and my back on Wednesday evening." While he acknowledged he has "a lot of rehab and hard work ahead of me," he's thankful for all the support he's gotten.

"The care I have received so far from the Mediclinic hospital staff has been incredible, as has the support from the DP World Tour, the Sunshine Tour, and all their staff here in Stellenbosch. I am also very grateful for all the help Johann Rupert and his wife Gaynor have given me."