TMZ Sports

Former Albany defensive lineman AJ Simon, who was hoping to get picked in the upcoming NFL Draft, has died at only 25 years old.

The university announced the tragic news on social media on Wednesday, writing ... "The UAlbany football program was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former student-athlete Amitral "AJ" Simon this morning."

"AJ was a tremendous young man and even better teammate throughout his time at UAlbany. he was a role model both on and off the field, serving as a pillar to this program over the last two years."

An Indiana Fever reporter is being dragged for how he interacted with Caitlin Clark on Wednesday ... with many fans blasting the journalist for the way he shot a cringeworthy comment at the WNBA's newest star.

The encounter happened just minutes after Clark was introduced to Indiana media members for the first time since she was drafted by the Fever ... when Indianapolis Star columnist Gregg Doyel stepped up to the microphone to ask her a question about her new hometown.

At first, things seemed innocuous -- he politely introduced himself -- but then he paused, and sent a hearthand gesture to the 22-year-old.

O.J. Simpson has officially been cremated -- and it sounds like there were only a select few people around to bear witness ... including his attorney-turned-executor of his estate.

Malcolm LaVergne confirms to TMZ that his longtime client's body was burned to ashes Wednesday at a facility called Palm Mortuary in Las Vegas ... and he says he was present, as were some others, although he wouldn't say exactly who.

We're told the cremation went down this morning around 10 AM. LaVergne told AP there were no immediate plans for a public memorial.

Beyoncé has now joined the long list of people giving Dawn Staley her flowers for her latest NCAA championship win -- sending a literal bouquet to the South Carolina head coach this week!

Staley showed off the gift from Queen B in an adorable Instagram video Wednesday ... beaming from ear-to-ear as she revealed in addition to the roses -- the "Irreplaceable" crooner also sent an "Always Been Country" tee too!

"This deserves a video thank you!" she said as she blared Bey's "Texas Hold 'Em" tune in the background. "Look at the flowers. Look at the merchandise! If you know, you know!"

Staley said Beyoncé sent over a card with the items as well.

"To Coach Staley and the entire South Carolina Gamecocks," Staley said the note read, "me and my family watched your games and cheered you on through the entire season. I'm so proud of you. All my love."

Staley -- who now has three national titles since becoming the Gamecocks coach in 2000 -- was hyped that the message appeared to be from Jay-Z and Blue Ivy too.

"That's B!" she yelled. "B and her family. Yes! Mr. Carter! Blue, you did yo' thang, Blue! Sir, and Rumi!"

Staley added, "B, Thank you! We appreciate you!"

Staley definitely deserves the gifts ... the former six-time WNBA All-Star has now won titles in 2017, 2022 and 2024.

Her leadership has earned her four Naismith Coach of the Year honors, two AP National Coach of the Year awards and a $22.4 million contract -- making her one of the three WBB coaches to earn over $3M a year.

She's also the highest-paid Black college basketball coach in the nation.

The injury Zion Williamson suffered late in the Pelicans vs. Lakers Play-In game was very real, despite some fans suggesting the NBA star was fakin' it, 'cause the former #1 pick will now miss Friday's elimination game!

ICYMI ... the 23-year-old went off in Tuesday's game against LeBron James and the Lakers ... putting up 40 points and 11 rebounds. Hands down one of the finest games of his pro career.

Unfortunately, with the game tied at 95 all with 3 minutes left, Williamson hurt his left leg ... allowing the Lake Show to pull away late, sending the Pelicans to a one-game elimination with the Sacramento Kings on Friday.

But, many were skeptical about the injury ... with some fans believing Zion faked the injury so the Pelis would lose and avoid playing the defending champion Denver Nuggets in the next round.

That scenario would pit the Lakers vs. Jokic and the Nuggets, while the Pelicans would then face top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder.

However, that theory can be put to rest ... after Adrian Wojnarowski announced Williamson would be forced to miss the game with a left hamstring injury.

"It was tough to see him go down," Pelicans coach Willie Green said after the game. "We are all praying and hoping he is OK."

Of course, it's a massive blow for the Pelicans and their fans ... especially given how ZW has been hooping.

In fact, Zion played in 70 games this season, the most in his NBA career.

An explosive new book about Victoria and David Beckham promises to throw loads of shade on the polished Brand Beckham with alleged details of their marriage.

"The House of Beckham: Money, Sex, and Power," penned by British investigative biographer Tom Bower, is dropping this June -- and if you've been curious about David's bedroom antics, especially those rumored affairs ... the author says you're in for a treat.

Even though V & B sat down amicably for 2 lengthy chats with a senior member of his team, Bower didn't meet them personally ... claiming he knew they'd end up turning him down.

The live taping of a 'New Heights' show at the Univ. of Cincinnati last week came at a steep cost for Jason Kelce ... who says he actually lost his Super Bowl ring during all the hoopla.

The former Philadelphia Eagles center said on this week's pod he believes the championship bling made its disappearance at some point during a chili tub scavenger hunt that he and his little brother, Travis, were overseeing.

Jason says as part of the game, contestants had to sift through the slop in some inflatable pools for a sock that had his actual SB LII jewelry inside of it.

But, none of the contestants were able to come up with it ... and after searching for it for hours, his pals couldn't find it either.

"I legitimately lost my Super Bowl ring in this event," Kelce said. "They could not find it."

Jason -- who explained the game was actually set up to make fun of his propensity for losing the ring and then finding it days later -- said he's pretty sure that because everything was thrown in the trash following the big event, the prized item is now in a landfill somewhere in the Cincinnati area.

Travis -- who has three Super Bowl rings of his own -- roasted his big brother for involving his jewelry in the game ... calling him "a f***ing imbecile."

Jontay Porter has just been banned from the NBA for LIFE ... after league officials say the Toronto Raptors player not only bet on his own team to lose, but also manipulated his play to tip the scales in his favor!

Adam Silver just announced the historic punishment on Wednesday ... explaining league investigators discovered that in March, Porter took part in a gambling scheme that ultimately called into question the integrity of the NBA's competition.

They claim the 24-year-old gave confidential information about his health to at least one known bettor. They say another bettor Porter knew then placed an $80K wager that Porter "would underperform" in the Raptors' March 20 tilt with the Sacramento Kings.

Caitlin Clark doesn't mind packed arenas, zone defenses or contested shots ... but she admitted Wednesday there is one thing that terrifies her -- "Saturday Night Live" cameras!!

The 22-year-old met with reporters in Indiana for the first time since the Fever picked her in Monday night's WNBA Draft ... and amid questions about her game and her future, someone just had to ask about her hilarious appearance on 'SNL' over the weekend.

Clark revealed that while she looked calm and cool on the outside -- she was anything but that on the inside ... saying, "I was terrified."

"I was so nervous," she said. "My heart was about to explode out of my chest."

Of course, Clark -- as she does so often on the hardwood -- came through in the clutch despite the nerves ... and delivered funny line after funny line in her four-minute cameo with Michael Che and Colin Jost on Weekend Update.

She roasted Che for making fun of women's sports ... and then made him read some jokes about himself that she said on the show that she "wrote."

Clark revealed Wednesday she didn't actually pen them herself -- "I'm not that funny," she quipped  -- but she was pleased nonetheless with how it all turned out.

"It was good," she said. "It was a good platform for women's sports. Everybody loved it."

Bill Haney says it's time for Ryan Garcia to pay for all he's said ... and the trainer/dad of undefeated superstar boxer Devin Haney says his kid is going into the ring with one thing on his mind -- execute King Ry!

TMZ Sports talked to Bill just days before the hugely anticipated scrap where we chopped it up about all things Haney-Garcia, including whether pops thinks Ryan is struggling with his mental health, to how he believes the fight will turn out.

"It's absolutely an act," Bill said of Ryan's recent actions, before making it clear Team Haney wouldn't be distracted.

"We're not at the least bit taken back by the antics. If he can fool us, he can beat us, and we're nobody's fool. I think that's what he can do," Bill said.

"You try to give us the illusion that you're not focused, that you're not serious about the fight. To give us, you know, just that little bit to slow us down. But I'm telling you, we're motivated. New York City has motivated us!"

On the fight, it doesn't sound like Devin plans on showing any mercy to the 25-year-old, 24-1 boxing star.

"To all my parents, put your kids to bed or be careful of what they see. Because on the 20th, Devin is being sent in there to kill Ryan Garcia," Bill told us.

Haney then delivered another warning.

"If you go against the United States of America, it's treason," Haney said, "And, if he was to go against a religion, it would be blasphemy. To go against Devin the Dream, it's an execution, and it will be carried out on April the 20th at [Barclays]."

We also talked to Bill about his unwavering dedication to 25-year-old Devin ... and how his role has changed over the years as his undefeated (31-0) boxer son rose through the ranks.

"The first part of my life was protecting him. The second part was teaching him. Now I'm in that friendship stage. So it's a give and take. I give him my honest opinion, but it's all him. I'm telling you, when he found boxing and boxing found him, it was a marriage made in heaven."

The Devin Haney-Ryan Garcia super fight goes down on DAZN in just three days ... and Bill sent one last message.

The winner of the Number 10 Chicago Sky jersey sweepstakes has been confirmed ... Kamilla Cardoso will keep the number she wore in South Carolina while Angel Reese will switch to 5, calling it "new beginnings."

Remember, former Gamecocks center Cardoso and Reese -- who played forward at LSU -- both wore number 10 during their standout college basketball careers.

In fact, Reese even wore the number before stepping foot in Louisiana... rocking 5 at the Univ. of Maryland (2020-2022) and Saint Frances Academy in Baltimore. Cardoso, on the other hand, has worn different jersey numbers since high school.

So, when the Chicago Sky selected Cardoso and Reese at the WNBA Draft Monday night, we questioned who'd get 10.

The Chicago Sky posted the new rookie jerseys on their site on Tuesday ... and you can obviously see Cardoso's black and blue number 10 jersey.

Reese addressed the change to 5 ... and the 7th overall pick claims she's fine with the new number.

"New era, new beginnings," the 21-year-old said. "Go cop now!"

Despite the change, you can expect Reese's gear to sell like crazy. Remember, Fanatics told us Caitlin Clark's rookie jersey was the hottest seller for a rookie athlete ever, with a record number of fans copping Caitlin's merch.

Reese is also incredibly popular ... and her jersey is sure to be one of the most rocked in the country.

Speaking of the two superstar hoopers ... their teams, the Chicago Sky and Indiana Fever, will match up in a highly anticipated game on June 1.

Eyeballs all across the nation continue to flock toward Caitlin Clark ... Monday night's WNBA Draft -- which the former Iowa superstar headlined -- was just revealed to be the most-viewed in the history of the event!

ESPN announced Tuesday that 2.45 million people tuned in to watch the Indiana Fever take Clark with the No. 1 overall pick ... smashing the previous high of 601,000 watchers in 2004. The outlet added that at its peak, the draft's broadcast drew in a total of 3.09 million people.

According to the network, the selection ceremony -- which also featured stars like Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso -- was the most popular program on Monday night amongst people under the age of 35 years old.

Caitlin Clark has always been a baller, but even her own high school coach, Kristin Meyer, never saw this level of stardom coming, telling TMZ Sports, "I can't say that I honestly predicted this!"

Don't get it twisted, Meyer knew from the get-go Clark was special and would find success -- but No. 1 college women's basketball player ever simply didn't cross her mind when she had the point guard runnin' pick and rolls at Dowling Catholic High School in West Des Moines, Iowa.

"This level of success, and especially this level of fame that she's achieved," Meyer said, "it's just something I don't think anyone could have predicted."

The week has only just started but, in case you're behind, here are some TMZ TV hot takes to catch up on.

First up, on "TMZ Live," Harvey and Charles discuss Courtney Love's biting criticism of Taylor Swift. She even came for Beyoncé, too!!!

O.J. Simpson's estate is NOT flush with the kinda cash you'd expect -- nor is it enough to satisfy his debt to Ron Goldman's family ... at least that's what his executor is claiming.

We got Simpson's longtime attorney Malcolm LaVergne Tuesday on "TMZ Live," and he opened up about O.J.'s finances following his death last week. As Malcolm put it, O.J. died with less than 5-figures in one Nevada bank account, and overall ... had less than millions to his name.

In his final days, O.J. was receiving the maximum amount of social security, as well as pensions from his time as an NFL star and actor. Malcolm claims those payments totaled less than the $400K per year that's been reported.