Sports

Don't believe everything you see on the internet ... Steelers legend "Mean" Joe Greene is very much alive despite a viral death hoax, the team tells TMZ Sports.

The rumors started to swirl on social media on Friday, with an erroneous report claiming the 79-year-old four-time Super Bowl champ died.

Fans, reacting to the news, began paying tribute to the legendary defensive tackle.

But when we reached out to the Steelers about the supposed tragic news, they stated the report is "not accurate."

Steph Curry didn’t drop 30 … he watched the original No. 30 go up.

The NBA superstar had the night off Thursday -- but instead of resting up, he pulled up courtside in Charlotte to watch his dad, Dell Curry, get his jersey retired by the Hornets.

And yeah … full-circle doesn’t even begin to cover it.

Steph -- who has become a global icon in the same No. 30 -- sat front row as the man who wore it first in Charlotte saw his number rise into the rafters at Spectrum Center.

Dell, clearly overwhelmed in the moment, fought back tears as he addressed the crowd.

The Boston Red Sox are getting in on the "Heated Rivalry" craze ... 'cause the team is hosting a night celebrating the book that inspired the hit TV show!!

Boston shared the news in a release on Thursday, promising fans it will bring "the passion and electric chemistry of Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov's story into a setting that knows a thing or two about unforgettable rivalries."

"Join us and Harlequin in the city where Ilya rules the ice for a summer night that's anything but ordinary."

Draymond Green's wish isn't getting granted anytime soon -- relocating the Memphis Grizzlies to Nashville isn't on the Music City mayor's to-do list.

The Golden State Warriors star has been vocal about how he doesn't like playing in Memphis ... and recently, he went as far as to say he'd love it if the NBA relocated the Grizzlies 200 miles east.

"Do everybody a favor and move that team to Nashville," Green said on his podcast this week.

"There's no great hotels in Memphis. I love the people of Memphis. They are incredible. Shout out to the people of Memphis. I love them, but just from an NBA standpoint, man -- there's not a sauna or a hot tub in sight."

19-year-old champion wrestler Saleh Mohammadi was publicly executed in Iran on Thursday for participating in protests against the Khamenei regime.

He and two other people were hanged "in the presence of a group of people in Qom," according to the Iran Human Rights non-government organization.

The IHRNGO says Mohammadi, Saeed Davodi and Mehdi Ghasemi were accused of being involved with the murders of two police officers during recent nationwide unrest -- prior to the country being attacked by the U.S. and Israel -- and are the first people to be hanged over these protests.

Combat athlete and human rights activist Nima Far told Fox News Saleh's hanging was "a blatant political murder" on Iran's part, accusing the regime of targeting athletes "to crush dissent and terrorize society."

IHRNGO Director Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam said Saleh's trial was "grossly unfair" and said he was tortured and coerced into confessing.

Amiry-Moghaddam warned that protesters are at "risk of mass executions" ... saying, "The Islamic Republic is fighting for its survival and knows that the greatest threat to its existence comes from the Iranian people who demand fundamental change."

Nima told Fox News that Iran should be banned from international competitions "until it halts executions of protesters and athletes, releases those jailed in sham trials, and ends retaliation against competitors who speak out or defect."

Members of the WWE roster aren't taking too kindly to Tom Brady's comments about their jobs being "cute and scripted" ... with names like Charlotte Flair and the Bella Twins ripping the NFL GOAT.

Brady made the comments while speaking with Sports Illustrated at the Fanatics Flag Football Draft Wednesday night ... when he was asked how many WWE wrestlers it would take to sack him.

"They wouldn't even get near me," he said. "Plus if I had a good offensive line they punch those guys right in the throat and they'd probably be crying."

Ricochet's controversial post telling a woman he's "glad" she has multiple sclerosis has had a major impact on his family -- the AEW star's wife, former WWE announcer Samantha Irvin, went to social media to share deeply concerning messages she has received amid the backlash.

Irvin -- who deactivated her X account after her husband's distasteful exchange -- published several screenshots of DMs she's gotten on Instagram this week ... with some users going as far as threatening her and Ricochet's lives.

The original comment came after a woman criticized Ricochet's acting skills -- he then replied by saying, "I'm glad you got MS."

The woman followed up with, "Well if that makes you happy have a great life ..."

While Ricochet was clearly in character, most wrestling fans say he took his role too far ... and he apparently agreed because he later deleted the comment and apologized.

"I took out my hatred for the IWC [internet wrestling community] on Sandi, and inadvertently others who are effected by MS," Ricochet said. "She didnt deserve it and for that, I sincerely apologize."

Byron Scott -- a three-time NBA champion with the Showtime Lakers and former NBA Coach of the Year -- wants back on the sidelines … and he’s got his eyes locked on Arizona State.

TMZ Sports caught up with the longtime NBA figure, who also had head coaching stints with the Nets, Hornets, Cavs and Lakers … and when the Sun Devils opening came up following Bobby Hurley’s exit, Scott didn’t hesitate.

“Oh, I have a ton of interest,” he said.

For Scott, this isn’t just another job -- it’s personal. He starred at Arizona State in the early ‘80s, and his connection to the program still runs deep.

Shaquille O'Neal is mourning the death of 12-year-old Jada West, who passed away after a fight with a classmate earlier this month ... and the NBA legend is looking to help the grieving family by offering to cover her funeral expenses, saying, "No parent should ever have to bury their child."

The Douglas County Sheriff's Office revealed the gesture this week ... after West, a sixth-grader at Mason Creek Middle School in Winston, Georgia, passed away following an apparent off-campus bullying incident with another student on March 5.

The DCSO said O'Neal, who serves as Chief of Community Relations for the Henry County Sheriff's Office, was heartbroken by the news and wanted to help the West family by covering the funeral costs so they wouldn't have to bear the burden.

UFC Freedom 250 has secured an organization to oversee the fights at the White House ... Dana White's promotion partnered with the Association of Boxing Commissions, which will officially license and regulate the bouts on the South Lawn.

The move allows the UFC to sidestep the local D.C. Sports Commission after the group voiced concerns over the event.

The UFC shared the news Thursday morning, announcing ABC "will serve as an independent third party to advise on the regulatory operations for the unprecedented UFC event scheduled for Sunday, June 14, on the grounds of the iconic White House."

Without a sanctioning body's involvement, the White House fights would not count as professional bouts.

Tom Brady was unhinged during the Fanatics Flag Football Classic Draft on Wednesday ... throwing shots at his upcoming opponents left and right -- but one jab at Joe Burrow seemed a little too on the nose.

The G.O.A.T was present for the selection ceremony in Los Angeles ... where there was plenty of trash talk from all the guys involved as they learned which squad they'd represent on Saturday.

At one moment, when host Kevin Hart was introducing the Wildcats team, Brady said it was fitting of Joey B to play for them after the weekend he had with Alix Earle, Tate McRae and Stassie Karanikolaou.

March Madness always delivers a moment -- this one just happened to be wearing Speedos.

Midway through the second half of Miami (Ohio)’s First Four matchup against SMU, what should’ve been a routine trip to the free-throw line turned into something else entirely. As SMU’s Corey Washington stepped up, a group of RedHawks fans -- clad in nothing but Speedos, swim caps and goggles -- stormed the aisle behind the basket.

But it wasn’t random ... it's become a tradition.

Steph Curry's stroll to the tunnel at the Warriors vs. Celtics game got derailed ... when an overzealous fan crossed the line and yanked at the NBA superstar's arm -- a wild moment that was caught on video.

The shocking interaction went down at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts ... when the Warriors -- who played without Curry due to a knee injury -- faced the Celtics on Wednesday evening.

In the clip, Curry is making his way toward the locker rooms as fans gather with their phones and hands out, hoping for a quick interaction with the four-time NBA champion ... but the first one to reach him ruined it for everyone.

You can see the fan's hand grab Curry's left arm, yanking him back ... and from his stunned expression, Steph was completely caught off guard, even seeming to mouth the word "Whoa" before he kept it moving.

South Florida coach Bryan Hodgson isn’t just chasing a March Madness upset -- he’s coaching for his dad.

Hodgson got emotional talking to TMZ Sports ahead of No. 11 USF’s first-round matchup with No. 6 Louisville … revealing his father, Larry, is battling dementia -- but is still doing well enough to understand what’s about to happen.

And what’s about to happen is huge.

Robbie Avila -- the goggle-wearing big man who went viral as “College Jokic” for his throwback game and elite passing -- isn’t just cooking on the court … he’s racking up an all-time nickname collection.

Before March Madness truly tips off, TMZ Sports caught up with the Saint Louis star to run through the internet’s best monikers -- and one stood out above the rest: “Cream Abdul-Jabbar.”

“That’s the most creative nickname I’ve ever heard,” Avila said. “It’s hilarious, I love it.”

The specs and old-school style make it hit even harder for the 6-foot-10 sensation who has the Billikens dancing into the NCAA Tournament with a 28-5 record.

Stumped filling out your March Madness bracket?! Dan Dakich is here to help ... giving us his picks ahead of the NCAA Tourney tip-off -- just don't expect a whole bunch of upsets, or Cinderella runs!

TMZ Sports caught up with the longtime college hoops coach turned host of Outkick's Don't @ Me podcast, who says the tournament feels top-heavy with only a handful of teams that can actually win it all -- and he’s riding with the big dogs.

“I’ll take my chances with Duke and Michigan,” Dakich said, adding Florida’s right there, too. “I think one of those teams wins it.”