Sports

11:11 AM PT -- Claude Lemieux, 4x Stanley Cup-winning NHL player, died by suicide, TMZ Sports has learned.

Former NHL star Claude Lemieux is dead at the age of 60, TMZ Sports has learned.

Lemieux -- known for his fiery and aggressive play on the ice -- spent 21 seasons in the league, playing for the Montreal Canadiens, New Jersey Devils, Colorado Avalanche, Phoenix Coyotes, Dallas Stars, and San Jose Sharks.

He won four Stanley Cups ('86, '95, '96, '00) ... and won the Conn Smythe Trophy with the Devils in 1995, awarded to the best playoff performer.

Claude played 1,215 regular-season and 234 playoff games over his two-plus-decade career, accounting for 944 points.

Lemieux was the 26th overall pick in the 1983 NHL draft.

Claude was present at the Canadiens' playoff game on Monday, carrying the torch into the Bell Centre in a pregame ceremony.

The National Hockey League Alumni Association released a lengthy statement on the tragic news, saying they were "devastated" by the death.

Tributes have already begun pouring

Claude is survived by his wife, Deborah, and their four children.

R.I.P.

Good friend award goes to WWE Superstar Gunther ... who shelled out $1,000 to get his fellow wrestler friend Ludwig Kaiser out of jail following his battery arrest.

TMZ Sports has obtained Kaiser's bond information sheet following his recent run-in with the law in Florida ... and it turns out the guy who came through for him was Walter Hahn, Gunther's real name.

Gunther wrote two $500 checks to pay the fee ... meaning he'll be making damn sure Kaiser -- real name Marcel Barthel -- will show up to his court date next month so his dough doesn't go to waste.

As we previously reported, Kaiser was accused of whooping his neighbor's ass for complaining about a wild make-out session between the wrestler and his girlfriend in an elevator on April 23.

The neighbor, according to a police report, told the two to "have some manners" ... which apparently set Kaiser off and resulted in the physical altercation.

He was booked for battery and later released ... thanks to Gunther.

Sugar Ray Leonard claims his whole family is terrified of his 25-year-old son ... stating drug issues turned Daniel into a violent, stealing monster.

The 70-year-old boxing legend laid out his family's problems in a restraining order request filed last week ... where he said Daniel has been addicted to drugs for "7 or 8 years at least" -- and his behavior has gone downhill in the process.

In the docs, obtained by TMZ Sports, Leonard stated Daniel wrecked five of their cars in the past year ... including a hit-and-run incident. He also claimed Daniel experienced four overdoses -- two that required medical assistance to "bring him back to life" at the hospital.

A 911 call was made from Josh Jacobs' home during the alleged violent attack involving the Packers star ... with dispatch telling police she could hear "yelling and screaming" on an open line.

According to newly released dispatch audio, obtained by TMJ 4, officials received not one but two calls about the incident ... one from the scene of the alleged crime, and the other from a neighbor next door.

"Things being thrown," the dispatcher tells officers, adding, "Possibly a male and female."

Jaxson Dart had a meaningful chat with his New York Giants teammates about his recent visit with President Donald Trump ... and by all accounts, it sounds like the locker room will now put the matter in the rearview mirror.

The second-year quarterback, Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and Jameis Winston all spoke during Wednesday's meeting, according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport ... and the report states they were able to "work through it."

Dart introduced Trump at Rockland Community College in Suffern, New York, on Friday ... where he said it was an honor to welcome Nos. 45-47 to the stage. Trump returned the compliments ... calling Dart a future Hall of Famer.

President Trump will be at Madison Square Garden for an NBA Finals game, but Bill Bradley, former U.S. Senator and N.Y. Knicks star, says he won't be the center of attention!

The Knicks alum has some advice for the Prez, saying ... "If [Trump] goes to the game, he has to realize he is second fiddle. He's the president of the United States, but at an NBA Final, if he attends, he's second fiddle. He's not first."

"We'll see what he does. Quite frankly, I don't give a s*** what he does," Number 24 said.

NASCAR legend Kyle Busch had reportedly been battling bacterial pneumonia for "days to weeks" before his death ... and his condition allegedly spiraled fatally in just 24 hours once sepsis set in.

According to his death certificate, obtained by Us Weekly, Busch's pneumonia progressed into sepsis roughly one day before he shockingly died last Thursday.

From there, the sepsis reportedly caused dangerous clots to spread through his body ... before things took an even worse turn with severe bleeding that sent his body into shock.

Jalen Hurts is adamant there's no bad blood with A.J. Brown ... saying even though he wasn't at the star receiver's wedding, he was happy for the guy and his new wife.

The Philadelphia Eagles' superstar quarterback faced the media on Wednesday ... and the topic of Brown initially came up when Hurts was asked about the trade rumors surrounding the All-Pro talent.

It was actually pretty funny -- Hurts was downing a cup of water at that exact moment ... resulting in an awkward pause.

President Donald Trump says he'll be at Madison Square Garden when the NBA Finals tip off next month ... confirming he was invited by James Dolan, owner of the Knicks.

Rumors began to swirl this week that POTUS would make a trip up to the Big Apple for the series -- the first time the Knicks have played for an NBA title in nearly three decades.

Trump cleared things up during a cabinet meeting at the White House on Wednesday.

Josh Jacobs is out of jail following his domestic violence arrest ... with prosecutors stating they need more time before deciding on whether to file criminal charges.

The Green Bay Packers running back's attorneys announced the update on Wednesday ... saying they are "extremely pleased" Jacobs is no longer in custody.

David Chesnoff, Richard Schonfeld, and Clarence Duchac added they hope people "keep an open mind" as the matter is reviewed ... as they feel "once all of the evidence is gathered and evaluated, it will confirm that no charges should be brought against Josh in the future."

Gervonta Davis is in the crosshairs of authorities in Maryland who want the star boxer in handcuffs after allegedly violating his probation during an altercation at a Miami strip club last year.

A Baltimore judge signed off on an arrest warrant on April 24, accusing 31-year-old Tank of breaking the rules of his probation, originally stemming from a hit-and-run in 2020, where multiple people were hurt.

The violation occurred, according to local officials, when Davis allegedly attacked his ex-girlfriend, Courtney Rossel, at Tootsie's Cabaret in Miami, where she was working as a cocktail server, during the early morning hours of October 27, 2025.

Rossel claimed Davis forcibly grabbed her by the neck and physically moved her through the club against her will ... before she was ultimately able to escape, which surveillance video appears to back up.

Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini seem to be moving forward with their respective partners ... 'cause the New England Patriots coach raved about his wife, Jen Vrabel, in a press conference with reporters on Wednesday.

The Super Bowl winner was asked about his family-and-football balance ... as he admitted he needed to work on it following the photo scandal in which he was seen getting cozy with Russini.

Minutes ago, speaking with reporters, he claimed things are going "really good."

"I think that that's ... again, I appreciate my family is great. I love Jen. I love the boys. I love ... my personal friends."

He then discussed the Patriots' offseason progress before wrapping up his answer.

It's a sign both sides of one of the biggest NFL scandals of the year are doing just fine in the relationship department ... 'cause Russini was spotted kissing her husband, Kevin Goldschmidt, on Mother's Day ... they even had a night out in NYC, two weekends ago.

Vrabel previously ditched Day 3 of the NFL Draft to get counseling ... and he and his wife jetted to Utah separately -- for whatever that entailed -- before he returned to the team a few days later.

Pedro Martínez doesn't know if Wander Franco will ever play Major League Baseball again, but he hopes society will give the All-Star shortstop a chance to redeem himself.

"I don't really know if he would. I'm hoping that he can actually reestablish himself, not only spiritually, but mentally. As humans, we all deserve an opportunity to redo ourselves," the Red Sox legend told TMZ Sports at the Sports Emmys when we asked him if he believed Franco would again play in the big leagues.

Franco, 25, was found criminally responsible for sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl, but was spared prison after a judge ruled he was also the victim of extortion and blackmail at the hands of the minor's mother.

Adam Sandler's love of the game comes first ... ditching formal wear to show a little team spirit on the red carpet for his wife's new movie.

The actor and comedian posed for pics with his better half, Jackie Sandler, at The Egyptian Theater in Hollywood on Tuesday for the world premiere of Netflix's new rom-com, "Office Romance," starring Jennifer Lopez and Brett Goldstein.

While Jackie -- who plays Caroline in the flick -- dressed to the nines in a casual-chic black ensemble, Adam pulled up in a bright orange Knicks hoodie and blue sweats ... not the average celeb's go-to red carpet look -- but par for the course for the "Happy Gilmore" star.

9:53 AM PT -- Kendrick Perkins hopped on "The Pat McAfee Show" to share more of his story ... claiming one of the kids on his team was "body-slammed" by an alleged "7'0", 400-pound" player after the game -- and he confronted the opposing team's coach over it.

Perk said he was met with disrespect ... and that's when he got pissed.

He said he has to protect every player on his team ... and especially when their parents aren't around, they're his responsibility.

Ultimately, cooler heads prevailed ... and he said both sides dapped it up and apologized to each other.

7:41 AM PT -- Kendrick Perkins went to social media to address the video ... saying, "Damn right and it probably won’t be the last time!"

"I’m going to protect every single kid in my organization like they’re my own."

Ex-NBA player Kendrick Perkins found himself in the middle of the action at his son's AAU game over the weekend ... when he lunged at the opposition in a heated altercation -- but his side says he was simply defending his players.