Marcellus Wiley Loathes Osaka's Media Boycott ... 'You Making The Millions'
"You making the millions, you're doing the media."
That's Marcellus Wiley telling TMZ Sports ... Naomi Osaka should NOT get a pass from speaking with reporters after matches -- even if she's claiming it's for mental health reasons.
The former NFL star says the tennis player straight-up just HAS to do the post-match sessions ... explaining the interviews are one of the biggest reasons for the sport's popularity.
"How do they think that this sport is driven?" Wiley said. "Just because people show up and pay for cotton candy? That's not it!"
"It's all of the investment that goes into the sport and participation."
In other words, the host of FS1's "Speak for Yourself" says Osaka's boycott could cost the sport fans' interest ... and in turn, take money out of players' pockets.
As for the mental health argument ... Wiley admits it's important for Osaka to deal with that aspect of her life -- but he claims she should still have to do media regardless.
"Handle your mental health -- you!" Wiley tells us. "And, then show up when you're ready and don't burn down the house."
As we previously reported, Osaka had initially planned to do no press conferences at the French Open ... saying it was all in an effort to improve her mental health.
— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) May 31, 2021 @naomiosaka
Days later, though, she withdrew from the tournament after officials fined her $15K for her boycott.
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UFC's Dan Ige Birth Of Newborn ... Extra Motivation To Be Champ
Dan Ige always wanted to be a champion ... but now the UFC fighter says he’s got a little extra motivation to beat the "Korean Zombie’s" ass -- his newborn baby boy, Bam.
TMZ Sports talked to the 29-year-old, 8th ranked UFC Featherweight star -- who's taking on Chan Sung Jung at UFC Fight Night on June 19 -- and we asked if the birth of his newborn changed the way he approached fighting.
FYI, Dan's wife, Savannah, gave birth to Bam Alexander Ige at the beginning of April.
"Yeah, for sure," Ige says ... "I've always been a pretty motivated guy. I was never a guy to look for that type of external motivation to push me. I've always had that internal drive but definitely having a little external motivation doesn't hurt at all."
"50K" Ige continued ... "Having my son and my family and my wife and everyone just kinda adds to that fuel and yeah, now it's not just about me anymore."
"It's about my son, it's about making sure he has a good life and he's set and he's secure, making sure my family is secure, so it's definitely a driving factor when I go to training every day or when I'm tired."
As for the fight ... Dan -- who's 15-3 as a pro and has beaten beasts like Edson Barboza -- believe's a win over the 4th ranked Zombie will put him in a prime position to make a run at the 145-pound title.
"I have to go out there and I have to beat him and make a statement and I have to be ready for anything to come because this is my time."
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50 Cent Suspects Arrested in $3 Mil Burglary Of Leased Office Space
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Cops say they've nabbed the guys who made off with $3 million in cash and jewelry from one of 50 Cent's businesses -- and the key to cracking the case was a stolen car.
According to prosecutors in Bergen County, New Jersey ... a resident of the apartment building where the theft went down reported the heist back in January, shortly after the Cliffside Park PD recovered a stolen vehicle in that area.
Law enforcement sources say cops reviewed surveillance footage and tied the stolen ride to the burglary, and after a 5-month investigation ... were able to track down the guys who allegedly did it.
The 3 men have each been charged with burglary, conspiracy to commit burglary, receiving stolen property and criminal mischief.
Fiddy's attorney tells us this burglary has incorrectly been reported as a break-in at the rapper's home, when it was actually a leased corporate apartment for one of his businesses.
The lawyer adds ... "At the time the suspects were in the unit, police drove by but did not realize the individuals were still inside. The entire matter was caught on surveillance cameras."
Although it's been 6 months since the loot was taken, 50 Cent's camp says they're expecting cops to recover and return the $3 mil. Good luck!
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Axiom Space Commander Space Tourists Dig Zero Gravity ... ISS Training Will Be Fun!!!
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The former NASA astronaut commanding the first civilian crew to the International Space Station is feeling good about the so-called space tourists, because they're handling zero gravity better than him!!!
Michael Lopez-Alegria, the decorated astronaut with 2 NASA records for spacewalks, joined us on "TMZ Live" Friday to tell us how he and his 3 crew members handled their first weightless training flight.
It's pretty funny ... Michael says he was the one who felt the worst, while the philanthropists and entrepreneurs had a blast doing somersaults and backflips while they were experiencing zero gravity.
Larry Connor, Mark Pathy and Eytan Stibbe are the 3 men who've dropped $55 million each to punch their tickets to the ISS and, so far, they're making their commander proud.
Axiom's Ax-1 mission -- the first private mission to the ISS -- blasts off in January with Michael at the controls. He admits he'll have a "tough needle to thread" during the 10-day mission with space newbies ... since he's their commander, but also ... kinda their tour guide in orbit.
It's a new challenge, for sure ... even for a guy who's logged more spacewalks than anyone else in history.
You can see the full interview Friday on "TMZ Live" (check local listings).
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Boxer Andre Berto Rips Floyd vs. Logan 'Just a Big S**t Show'
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"I think it's gonna be just a big s**t show."
Gotta appreciate the honesty from Andre Berto -- who tells TMZ Sports he doesn't exactly have high expectations for the big Floyd Mayweather vs. Logan Paul fight on Sunday.
Look, Berto -- a very accomplished and well-respected boxer -- has actually been in the ring with Mayweather in 2015 ... and knows what's like to fight against the best in the world.
So, how does he feel about a YouTube star getting a crack at TBE?
"This s**t is more of an event [than a real fight] and I'm tired of people texting my phone asking me, 'Ay bro, who you think is gonna win, Logan or Floyd?' I wanna throw my phone at a f**king wall!"
Don't get it twisted, Berto actually LIKES the Paul Bros -- and clearly has professional respect for Mayweather ... but he thinks it's a circus.
So, does Logan have a chance?
"You always got a puncher's chance ... I mean this is boxing. Anything can happen but of course, I think Floyd has it, running away with it and I think it's gonna be a show."
Watch the clip ... ya gotta hear what Berto says when we ask if Logan could possibly knock out Floyd.
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Yana Sizikova Russian Tennis Player Arrested for Match Fixing at 2020 French Open
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This is Yana Sizikova ... the pro tennis player suspected of taking BRIBES in a match-fixing scheme at the 2020 French Open.
... and now she's behind bars.
The 26-year-old Russian player -- currently ranked #765 in the world by the WTA -- was taken into custody in Paris on Thursday evening, officials confirm.
Sizikova was in France competing in the 2021 French Open -- and had lost in a doubles match earlier in the day.
Now, prosecutors say she's facing charges of "sports bribery and organized fraud for acts likely to have been committed in Sept. 2020."
Here's the deal ... Sizikova -- who's ranked #101 as a doubles player -- was involved in a doubles match at the 2020 French Open that was flagged after bookmakers noticed unusual bets being made.
Officials say hundreds of thousands of euros were wagered on the match -- and then noticed Sizikova was playing unusually bad.
After an investigation, prosecutors believe they have enough evidence to prove Sizikova was tanking on purpose as part of a match-fixing scheme.
So far, no official comment from Sizikova -- who is reportedly still in custody.
Story developing ...
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Peter Berg I Ride with Netflix, But ... Let's Get Back to Movie Theaters!!!
Peter Berg's pumped about movie theaters finally making a pandemic comeback even though he's in business with Netflix, because as he explains ... it's good for the entire film biz.
The producer/director was heading to Gold's Gym in Venice when we got his response to the Memorial Day box office rebound thanks to "A Quiet Place Part II" ... and he seems as excited to head back to the movies as everyone else.
It might seem like Berg's biting the hand that feeds since he recently scored a first-look deal to produce and direct live-action projects for the streaming giant ... but he says that's not the case at all.
Peter points out Netflix can release movies in theaters first, and then on its platform ... and that's actually what they want. He calls it the best of both worlds.
Berg admits box office numbers might take a hit from folks who still opt to watch movies from home -- like millions did last year for his Netflix hit, "Spenser Confidential" -- but he suggests that's a small price to pay.
Oh, and as for all the hubbub about AMC stock amid the theater revival ... Peter simply says beware. And, that goes for crypto, too.
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Johnny Manziel I Made $33k Signing Autographs ... Before '13 A&M Season
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Turns out Johnny Manziel really WAS raking in 5 figures signing autographs after his Heisman season ... 'cause the ex-college superstar is admitting to making at least $33k off his signature before suiting up for Texas A&M in 2013.
Remember, the NCAA launched a massive investigation into claims Manziel was making dough signing memorabilia (a no-no for college athletes) while in Miami for the 2013 BCS National Championship game ... but found zero evidence of the QB getting paid.
Johnny Football is now coming clean about the whole ordeal ... breaking down the entire thing with Barstool Sports' "Bussin' With The Boys" podcast.
"This guy comes up behind me, he's like, 'Yo, how would you wanna make 3 grand?'" Johnny said. "I turn around, I'm like, f*** yeah, bro!'"
Manziel said he had about $65 in his bank account at the time and wanted some extra cash ... so he followed the guy to his condo to sign "probably 10,000 pieces."
But, it didn't stop there -- Johnny says another dude approached him and said he was getting royally ripped off (which, uh, yeah, he definitely was) ... and offered him a sweeter deal -- $30k!!!
"So, this guy's pretty much, 'All right, go to this room at the Fontainebleau. All this stuff will be in there laid out. When you're done, just send me a picture of all of it. I'll give you the code to the safe, the money will be in there,'" Johnny says.
Pretty sketchy, right?? But, Johnny says he didn't care ... 'cause he was finally making some money ... and has no regrets over the serious NCAA violations.
In fact, he says he went back several more times over the next few months to get some more coin.
"We went 9-4 the next year, so if the NCAA wants to take my f***ing 9-4 season away, my Chick-Fil-A Bowl against Duke, f***ing blow me," Manziel said.
So ... does this mean Manziel's Heisman could get taken away like Reggie Bush's?? Johnny's adamant he didn't break any rules until AFTER he won the trophy.
"I never took a dollar until after I won the Heisman, and I think my statute of limitations are up. So, you can blow me again!"
We've reached out to the NCAA for comment ... so far, no word back.
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Miles Teller My Black Eye's Healing Up ... After Punch To Face in Maui
Miles Teller brought a bunch of mementos from his vacation in Hawaii back to the mainland with him ... including a black eye.
The "Top Gun: Maverick" star was spotted Wednesday in Los Angeles walking around with a hat from a famous resort on Maui and a shiner ... from the punch to the face he took in a Maui restaurant.
Miles wasn't practicing aloha when a photog asked about the nasty incident he was involved in on Maui -- he was mum other than to say he's feeling alright ... despite the black eye.
TMZ broke the story ... Miles was dining at Monkeypod Kitchen on Maui when he was allegedly attacked in the restroom by a man who is married to a wedding planner with a history with Teller and his wife, Keleigh.
Russell and Lorrie Nielson claim Miles and Keleigh didn't pay the bill for their 2019 Maui wedding Lorrie claims she planned.
As we first told you ... Russell and Lorrie were in the thick of drama at another wedding just weeks before the alleged attack on Miles ... ending with the wedding planner's arrest.
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Mike Posner I Climbed Mount Everest ... Check Out The View!!!
Mike Posner really knows how to soak in a sunrise ... he's now enjoyed one from the top of Mount Everest!!!
The EDM star just completed another amazing trek, summiting our planet's highest mountain, and ya gotta see the view from 29,000 feet above sea level. Even Mike would have to say this beats a pill in Ibiza ... hands down.
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Mike says his climb up Mount Everest was extremely hard and more exhausting than his 6-month walk from New Jersey to California back in 2019 ... but it looks like the juice was definitely worth the squeeze.
Now, Mike's descending back to base camp after raising $229,000 and counting for the Detroit Justice Center with his climb. He says he's excited to get back to his home state of Michigan after spending about 2 months in the Himalayas prepping for the trek of a lifetime.
Remember, Mike walked across America 2 years ago and he says when he was crossing the Rocky Mountains he decided what he wanted to accomplish next ... climbing Everest.
Congrats, Mike!!! Can't wait to see what's next on his bucket list.
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Yung Bleu, Boosie Badazz Sued You Stole My Tracks to Launch Bleu ... And I Didn't 'Miss It!!!'
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Yung Bleu's hip-hop stardom only came after he used music from a producer named Ice Starr for his hit, "Miss It" ... at least that's Ice's story, and he says he hasn't received a dime in royalties for it.
According to new legal docs -- obtained by TMZ -- Ice Starr's a producer who creates compositions and recordings for rappers to use on a licensing basis, but he claims YB began ripping his music in 2017 for unauthorized use.
Ice says 2 of Bleu's most successful songs -- "Miss It" and "Ice On My Baby" -- jacked his instrumental work, "without his knowledge, authorization, and without any compensation whatsoever."
The producer claims the same is true of most of Yung Bleu's "Investments 5" album ... which Ice insists boosted Bleu's popularity and turned him into a hip-hop star.
As for where Boosie comes in ... Ice claims the rapper's Bad Azz Music label -- to which Yung Bleu is signed -- induced him into an invalid agreement to sign away his rights after "Miss It" had already been released without his knowledge.
Ice claims this was done so YB could continue profiting off the unauthorized use of Ice's recordings. BTW, Bleu's most recent hit, "Your Mines Still" features Drake, but that one doesn't use Ice's music.
Ice Starr's suing for copyright infringement and wants a cut of the profits and future royalties from Yung Bleu's hit tracks. We reached out to the rappers ... no word back.
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Vanessa Bryant Outraged Over Apparent Nike Shoe Leak 'Not Approved To Be Made'
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Vanessa Bryant says Nike shoes she designed to honor Kobe and Gianna have been leaked ... and she's outraged over it, claiming they should have NEVER been made.
VB explained the situation early Thursday morning ... saying during recent talks with Nike, she helped create a version of the Kobe 6 Protro that was meant to honor her two loved ones who tragically died in a 2020 helicopter crash.
Vanessa says the shoes featured a black and white colorway, Gianna's #2, and other specific marks like a butterfly, wings and a halo.
The problem? Vanessa says after her split with Nike this spring, approval for the shoes to be made was NOT given -- but she claims they've somehow been leaked anyway and posted a photo of someone holding the shoe in their hand!
"Nike has NOT sent any of these pairs to me and my girls," Vanessa said in a statement.
"I do not know how someone else has their hands on shoes I designed in honor of my daughter, Gigi, and we don't. I hope these shoes did not get sold."
Vanessa added she wanted the shoes to be sold "to honor my daughter with ALL of the proceeds benefitting our @mambamambacitasports foundation."
Vanessa then asked her followers to track down the shoes ... writing on social media, "If someone can share how they have these shoes in their possession, that would be great because my daughters and I don’t have any of Gigi’s MAMBACITA shoes."
An Instagram user, brandon1an, who originally posted professional photos of the "Mambacita" shoes nearly 3 weeks ago, claims Nike is the one responsible for the shoe leak.
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"I just want to make it clear that I don't own a pair of those Mambacita Kobes," the IG user said in a statement Thursday morning.
"The pictures I posted are official product pictures from a Nike authorized retailer."
The user continued, "Unfortunately for [Vanessa Bryant], Nike clearly sent pairs to this retailer (as well as others) with the intent of selling pairs."
We've reached out to Nike to get an official comment on the situation, but so far, no word back yet.
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Miles Teller Wedding Planner & Hubby at it Again In Wild Confrontation
Miles Teller isn't the only one recently in the sights of a Hawaiian wedding planner and her husband, because just weeks before the alleged attack on the actor, the two were smack dab in the middle of drama at ANOTHER wedding ... ending in the planner's arrest.
TMZ has obtained video of an enraged Lorrie Nielson outside the Four Seasons Lanai. We're told the trouble started inside the venue, at a wedding Nielson worked on, before spilling out to the parking lot, and that's where our video picks up.
A wedding guest films as she comes at him, witnesses hold her back and you hear Lorrie yell "Russell, get him!" to her husband ... the same man who allegedly punched Teller in the face inside a Maui restaurant last week.
Russell appears to be the peacekeeper this time, telling the man behind the camera to stop escalating the situation with Lorrie.
Cops came to the scene, and drove Lorrie away in the back of a police SUV. You hear officers ask the man behind the camera to keep his distance from Lorrie's husband, Russell, for the rest of the night.
5/28/2021
TMZ broke the story, Teller was eating at Monkeypod Kitchen in Maui when he was allegedly attacked in the restroom by Russell. Lorrie was the wedding planner for Miles and his wife, Keleigh's 2019 ceremony, and the couple allegedly still owes Nielson money. A witness tells us Russell mentioned he's owed $60k.
Nielson's attorney, Tre Lovell, told us, "It is my understanding that the altercation was a dispute over money pertaining to the couple's wedding. We are currently evaluating my clients' legal claims that may exist surrounding the incident, statements made about the incident and the parties previous business dealings."
Cops tell us Lorrie was arrested for criminal trespass in the second degree. We reached out to Lorrie and Russell for comment ... so far, no word back.
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Ellen DeGeneres Curious Montecito Home Purchase
Ellen DeGeneres is never one to spare any expense for glitzy properties ... which makes this $2.9 million buy all that more interesting.
The talk show host just copped this modest yet modern Santa Barbara bungalow ... a stone's throw from the coveted Montecito Butterfly Beach and the famous Biltmore Hotel.
It's a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom contemporary jewel with huge glass doors that open up to lush landscaping. There's a cool water feature and fire pit on the sun-drenched patios.
There's also enough room for a pool or even a guest house. Either way ... privacy reigns thanks to fortification in the form of noise-reducing acoustic fencing.
The single-level home was built in 1954 and it's gone through several renovations. It's probable Ellen's buying this as an investment property.
TMZ broke the story ... Ellen and Portia de Rossi bought Adam Levine's Bev Hills mansion back in 2019 and put it back on the market in March. Ellen and Portia paid $45 mil for the 2-story monster of a property and were asking for a whopping $53.5M.
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James Dean 'Cursed' Transaxle Sells for $400K ... Zak Bagans is Buyer
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James Dean's "cursed" Porsche has been stripped for parts ... and a crucial one is now in the hands of Zak Bagans, who paid a fortune for the hunk of metal.
The late actor's 4-speed transaxle -- part of the Porsche 550 Spyder Dean was driving when he crashed and died in 1955 -- recently hit the auction block and sold for a whopping $382,000 ... but the winning bidder was anonymous, until now.
We've learned it was Zak who snapped it up, which makes total sense ... knowing his knack for collecting the most macabre memorabilia on Earth.
The "Ghost Adventures" host tells TMZ ... the transaxle's rep as an eternally doomed piece of equipment is obviously what drew him to the purchase -- he notes it's known as one of the only items from Dean's wreck that's still intact and in circulation. That means it's one of the final items around that might still carry the "curse" that's supposedly responsible for Dean's fatal wreck.
There's A LOT of occult-linked history behind James' crash -- not to mention what followed his death in the subsequent reselling and reuse of different parts from the car James drove that fateful night.
Short story long, several of those parts were refurbished/recycled ... and went on to help cause other crashes over the years -- including one that killed another guy who slammed into a tree.
The axle -- which was acquired by another private owner in 2020 before getting hawked again this year -- was put in a steel display stand that rolls on casters ... presumably to show it might still have some functionality.
It features a magnesium case that can house 4 forward gears, a reverse gear and a differential gear. The axle display also comes with a hydraulically-activated clutch release lever, swing-axle tubes, aluminum drum brake assemblies and a starter motor. Awesome, as long as ya don't believe in curses!
Zak says he plans to show it off what's left of "Little Bastard" -- JD's nickname for the Porsche -- at his haunted museum in Nevada.
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Tony Gonzalez Sells Bev. Hills Pad to Billionaire ... For $21 Million!!!
NFL legend Tony Gonzalez's Beverly Hills mansion is in new hands -- and some very rich hands, at that -- 'cause the Hall of Famer just reportedly sold his pad to a billionaire businessman for $21 million!!!
Gonzalez -- one of the best tight ends to ever play the game -- is officially parting ways with the 7-bedroom, 12-bathroom crib ... which comes decked out with some truly unique elements.
For instance, the home has a full-size homeschooling classroom, its own speakeasy-inspired lounge with plenty of wine storage and an elevator!!
The house also has a gourmet chef's kitchen with top-notch appliances, a gym and a subterranean garage that can fit 8 cars.
The backyard is just as baller -- with a lighted tennis court, pool and cabana.
Gonzalez bought the property for $7.1 million back in 2016 and tore down the existing house to rebuild this 13,300-square-foot pad in 2018, according to the L.A. Times.
The estate -- co-listed by Rodeo Realty's Michelle Graci and Rayni & Branden Williams of The Beverly Hills Estates -- just sold for $21.15 million to billionaire investor Wayne Boich -- a discount from its initial $30 million price tag.
Boich was represented by Jay Luchs & Steven Schaefer of Newmark.
45-year-old Gonzalez made over $72 million in his 17-year NFL career ... so we're sure he'll find another place soon enough.