Sports

Pro wrestling icon Dennis “Loverboy” Condrey has died at the age of 74, according to fellow wrestling star Dax Harwood, who shared the news Friday.

Harwood took to Instagram with an emotional tribute, calling Condrey "a true Pioneer of Professional Wrestling" and revealing the two would text after every match, and Condrey would always tell him what he liked and what needed improvement ... something Dax says will "never be lost" on him.

Harwood goes on to include that Condrey’s wife gave him the green light to set up a GoFundMe in order to help cover funeral costs and bills she’s now left to handle on her own.

Chuck Norris' longtime jiu-jitsu instructor, legendary professor Rigan Machado, is remembering the martial arts legend as much more than a Hollywood star and cultural icon, but someone who was like family for decades.

"[Chuck's] a brother. For me, he's not just a friend. My relationship with Chuck Norris was over 30 years. Me and my brothers we called him Carlos because we were so close to him as a friend," Machado told TMZ Sports just hours after Norris' death was announced.

"We don't feel the celebrity vibe. We talk to him like a brother. I kind of get sad, but at the same time, he accomplished everything he wanted to in his life. He's a phenomenal martial artist. A phenomenal action movie star, a phenomenal father, husband. He accomplished everything he dreamed about."

VCU opened the NCAA Tournament by busting brackets -- and Phil Martelli Jr. proved the March Madness gene might run in the family.

TMZ Sports caught up with the VCU head coach fresh off leading his 11-seed squad to a massive upset over No. 6 North Carolina -- a moment that hit even harder with his father, legendary coach Phil Martelli Sr., in the building to witness it all.

Martelli Sr., of course, knows a thing or two about March magic.

He famously led Saint Joseph’s to an undefeated regular season and an Elite Eight run in 2004 … turning the Hawks into one of the tournament’s most iconic Cinderella stories.

Now, it’s his son writing a similar script in his first year with the Rams.

The Lakers aren’t just heating up -- they’re on fire … and even Byron Scott is starting to believe this run might be real.

L.A. sits third in the west after ripping off eight straight wins, fueled by a full-blown takeover from Luka Dončić -- who’s been dropping video game numbers and completely reshaping the offense in the process. But Scott tells TMZ Sports it’s not just the scoring that has him buying in.

“The biggest thing for me has always been the defensive end,” Scott said. “But over these last four or five games, really this whole stretch, they’ve been locked in.”

That’s the difference.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are opting to pass on the White House tradition after winning the 2025 NBA Finals ... with the team saying at the end of the day, their schedule didn't allow it.

OKC shared the news with The Athletic, citing "timing issues" as the reason why the champs wouldn't be able to swing by 1600 Pennsylvania Ave to visit President Donald Trump when they are in town this weekend for a showdown with the Wizards.

"We have been in touch with the White House and we are appreciative and grateful for the communication we have had, but the timing just didn’t work out, the team told the outlet.

Former WWE Superstar Ted DiBiase Jr. is having a great start to the weekend ... 'cause a jury found him not guilty on all charges related to a Mississippi welfare fraud case.

DiBiase Jr. -- son of WWE legend Ted DiBiase -- was acquitted by a federal jury on several charges ... one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and to commit theft concerning programs receiving federal funds, six counts of wire fraud, two counts of theft concerning programs receiving federal funds and four counts of money laundering.

If he would have been found guilty, he faced a maximum sentence of 185 years in federal prison.

Take a deep breath, Tom Brady -- Joe Burrow might not be "Mr. Steal Your Girl" after all ... the Cincinnati Bengals quarterback was spotted with Olivia Ponton Thursday night.

Burrow was out and about in LA ahead of the Fanatics Flag Football Classic slated for Saturday ... a few days after he left an Oscars party flanked by Alix Earle, Tate McRae, and Stassie Karanikolaou.

Seems like they were just saving money on Ubers that night ... 'cause Burrow was back with his presumed partner as the flag football competitors met for a pre-showdown gathering at Alba.

TMZ Sports has obtained the probable cause affidavit that details Florida State football player Conor McAneney's arrest ... which states the responding officer punched McAneney in the kisser after the kicker attempted to pull him to the ground.

In the report, cops state the FSU sophomore was being removed from a local bar when he was actively resisting. Cops say they then stepped in to assist ... telling him to leave the bar area and the establishment -- but he still refused to leave, grabbing onto the barrier gates of the business.

From there ... McAneney allegedly escalated a minor incident into a serious offense.

Chuck Norris' death is breaking hearts not just in Hollywood, but across the sports world ... with athletes and even the WWE paying tribute to the "culture icon."

Norris died on Thursday morning in Hawaii at the age of 86, after TMZ shared the news that the actor/martial artist was hospitalized.

Fans have flooded social media to pay their respects ... including former NFL star Chad Ochocinco, who shared the news on his X page with a broken-heart emoji.

Tiger Woods might’ve just sent the golf world into a full-blown frenzy … without even saying a word.

The 15-time major champ still hasn’t officially committed to the 2026 Masters -- and given his recent health struggles, most fans have been bracing for a “not this year” announcement. But now ... there’s a very interesting wrinkle out of Augusta.

On the tournament’s official website, Tiger is NOT listed among past champions skipping the tournament -- a group that does include legends like Jack Nicklaus and Nick Faldo. Instead, Woods is sitting comfortably on the active list … and it gets better.

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."