Sports

NFL receiver Sterling Shepard is taking his breakup in stride -- he made his way to the desert for some country music, fresh off his engagement falling apart.

The recent Tampa Bay Buccaneers star shared snaps from his time at Stagecoach this past weekend ... and he was all smiles as he posed for the camera.

Shepard didn't have much to say outside of a hashtag name-dropping the popular festival in his caption.

Ben Stiller has the MAGA army coming after him over a social media post about his beloved Knicks ... misinterpreted as a comment on the White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting.

Here's the deal ... the actor merely posted "Got it done" Saturday night, in reference to the Knicks Game 4 road victory over the Atlanta Hawks to even their playoff series. And it just so happened around that time ... suspected gunman Cole Tomas Allen opened fire at the Correspondents' Dinner.

Due to the timing ... MAGA supporters jumped all over Ben's X post, assuming that, since he's a Hollywood liberal who's been critical of President Trump in the past ... CLEARLY he must've been rooting on the gunman.

The NBA Dunk Contest is on relevancy life support ... but Julius Erving, the first-ever winner in the event, has a way to save it -- telling TMZ Sports it's time for the league's biggest stars to brush up on their history.

We caught up with the Hall of Famer in NYC this week ... and considering he has countless iconic slams to his name, we had to ask about the state of the All-Star Weekend staple.

It's no secret fans are starting to roll their eyes at it ... with randos competing against each other instead of franchise players. Zach LaVine, Aaron Gordon and G League star Mac McClung have certainly helped the cause ... but overall, it's been a dud for quite some time.

Tristan Thompson was all smiles before the shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner ... TMZ obtained video of him on his way in, and he was stopping to take selfies with fans.

Check out this video from Saturday's event in Washington D.C. ... Tristan is on his way to take an escalator up to the dinner when he stops to snap photos with some folks.

Tristan is wearing a bedazzled and sparkling jacket as he pauses for some pics ... and he even has to retake a selfie with a woman who whipped out her phone.

This all went down about 30 minutes before shots rang out at the hotel and sent guests scrambling for cover.

Don't confuse Ronda Rousey's show of respect with weakness ... 'cause the MMA legend says she's hellbent on beating Gina Carano's ass next month, despite appreciating all the fighter-turned-actor has done for the sport!

"Once they close the door, I'm going to do everything in my power to kill that chick with my bare hands, and it's up to that referee to stop me," Rousey ominously told Babcock this week.

It's a different tone than Ronda's struck for much of the lead-up to the highly anticipated MVP-promoted event on May 16.

All TMZ Sports had to do was mention Caleb Downs' name to get Michael Irvin fired up -- the Hall of Famer tells us the Cowboys knocked their first-round draft pick outta the park ... and he's gonna help Dallas win a Super Bowl this year!!!

We caught up with No. 88 at LAX fresh off Day 1 of the NFL draft ... and our camera guy only got two words out before Irvin unloaded a passionate rant on the Ohio State standout.

"We're happy about that," Irvin said Friday. "Boy a bad boy, now. That's a bad dude. He is a game changer. He is one of the few right now in the game that plays like that dude Kyle Hamilton from the Ravens. That's the kinda safety -- plays all over the field and makes a difference all over the place. So I'm happy about it."'

Fernando Mendoza didn't only sit atop the NFL Draft Thursday night ... he was also the most popular athlete when it came to merch sales!

Mendoza, 22, was scooped up by the Silver and Black with the first overall pick, and fans didn't waste any time in buying his jersey in droves!

In fact, our Fanatics sources tell us Fernando was not only the most popular player among the rookies, nor the wider NFL ... his threads sold at a greater clip than any athlete in all American sports, period.

More than Travis Kelce. More than LeBron James, Shohei Ohtani, and Patrick Mahomes. Mendoza reigned supreme.

Thanks in large part to all the jerseys he sold, the Las Vegas Raiders were the top-selling team, beating out all the other NFL franchises.

Mendoza also got his first trading card courtesy of Topps. The iconic brand was on hand to instantly -- we're talking inside 90 seconds -- snap photos and create cards for the first round draftees.

Those cards will be available for purchase over the next 2+ days.

In Fernando's case, that meant sending a photographer to his home, where he celebrated the joyous occasion with his family and friends.

Mendoza even signed his card (so did the other players!), inscribing it ... "My 1st NFL Auto"

The photographer who snapped the pics of Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini lookin' all cozy in Arizona was NOT a private investigator hired by a scorned spouse, despite the internet rumor.

In the wake of the Page Six photos, a theory has emerged online ... with fans speculating that Jen Vrabel, wife of the Patriots head coach, or Kevin Goldschmidt, the NFL insider's husband, recruited a P.I. to catch Vrabel and Russini in the act.

As juicy as that'd be, it just ain't the truth.

Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor -- widely considered the greatest defensive football player in NFL history -- was hospitalized in New Jersey after experiencing a medical emergency, TMZ Sports has learned.

The New York Giants legend's status is unclear at this time -- we will provide more information as soon as we get it.

We confirmed Taylor, 67, arrived at the emergency room and was shortly transferred to a different section of the facility.

Ex-University of Michigan head football coach Sherrone Moore's former mistress and assistant, Paige Shiver, just dropped a bombshell about their relationship -- she claims she was pregnant with his baby.

Shiver shared the shocking news during an interview with ABC News that partly aired on "Good Morning America" Friday morning. She tearfully said she wanted to keep the baby, but her docs told her it wouldn't be safe to carry the child due to her Pompe Disease, a progressive disorder that weakens muscles and causes respiratory and heart issues.

Shiver also spoke about the manipulation tactics Moore allegedly used during their relationship, explaining ... "[He] had complete control over me, over my emotions, over my career, and he knew that, and he used it against me."

Mike Vrabel put on a happy face for the newest member of the New England Patriots ... telling the team's first-round draft pick he's "doing great" on Thursday -- even though he's in the middle of a massive scandal with Dianna Russini.

The Pats shared footage from inside their draft room as they called offensive tackle Caleb Lomu to relay the life-changing news ... and the former Utah Ute was over the moon.

When the org's Executive Vice President of Player Personnel Eliot Wolf passed the phone to coach, he introduced himself and asked how Lomu was doing.

Tim Tebow just shared some heartbreaking family news ... revealing his father, Bob, has passed away at 78 years old after a battle with Parkinson's.

The former Heisman Trophy recipient delivered a touching tribute to his dad on Friday ... saying, "Heaven ushered in a hero of the faith last night as my Dad was welcomed home!"

While Tebow acknowledged his friends, family and fans will say "sorry for your loss," he has a different perspective ... as Bob was a "hero of the faith" who is now "home."

The Las Vegas Raiders officially have their franchise quarterback, selecting Fernando Mendoza, the gunslinging Heisman Trophy winner, with the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Let's keep it a buck ... everyone knew Vegas was going to pick the former star Indiana QB -- it was the worst-kept secret in the NFL -- but now it's officially official.

Mendoza, 22, is coming off an incredible season at Indiana, where he not only led the Hoosiers to a national title but also had immense personal success, winning the coveted Heisman.

Mike Vrabel got over his Titans unemployment by hitting a casino with none other than Dianna Russini ... and he seemed pretty happy, even though Tennessee kicked him to the curb just weeks prior to this photo.

TMZ Sports has obtained a pic of the current Patriots head coach and former Athletic insider at the Beau Rivage Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi shortly before midnight on January 31, 2024. They were both married at the time.

Why Biloxi?? It might have had to do with the 2024 Senior Bowl held in Mobile, Alabama on Feb. 3 ... about an hour drive away.

A witness tells us they snapped the pic when they recognized Vrabel ... and assumed at the time that the woman by his side was his wife based on their body language. They didn't realize until the recent bombshell news that the lady was actually Russini.

Sherrone Moore's former assistant is breaking her silence after the coach's stunning downfall ... claiming he had "complete control" over her during their secret affair and used that power to keep her trapped.

Paige Shiver sat down with ABC News in an interview set to air Friday during "Good Morning America" and didn't hold back ... saying Moore manipulated her emotionally and professionally throughout their relationship.

"Here's a man that had complete control over me, over my emotions, over my career -- and he knew that, and he used it, he used it against me," Shiver said.

Atlanta Falcons player James Pearce Jr. is dodging a trial in his Rickea Jackson case after agreeing to enter an intervention program.

Pearce -- who was hit with felony aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, fleeing police, and resisting arrest, as well as misdemeanor stalking, after a Feb. 7 domestic dispute -- will take part in the program for six months under strict guidelines.

As part of the agreement, Pearce will not be allowed to make contact with or be near the WNBA star ... and must take part in therapy sessions.