Sports

Spencer Pratt brought his political ambitions to the hardwood last night ... showing up courtside at a Lakers game and turning the NBA spotlight into a very public campaign moment.

The reality star–turned–mayoral candidate was spotted soaking up the action at the arena ... chatting with fans and treating the high-profile game like an unofficial campaign rally.

At one point, Pratt appeared to be chatting it up in the crowd more than watching the court, all while wearing a "Los Angeles Pratt" hat that resembles the L.A. team's famous yellow logo.

The World Cup -- hosted by the United States for the first time in 3 decades -- will be here before we know it ... and U.S. soccer legend Alexi Lalas says sports fans are about to be introduced to a bunch of new stars!

"Yes [there will be stars born] by the end of the tournament," the U.S. soccer great told Babcock from the TMZ Sports newsroom this week, ahead of the FIFA World Cup, going down across North America, starting June 11.

"I think the Christian Pulisic phenomenon, if you will, 'cause I think he's going to go on and become the best male American soccer player. But I think again, I am sitting here because of that [World Cup] power. A guy like Weston McKennie, who plays over at Juventus in Italy, I think his personality is really going to be something that Americans are going to gravitate to."

Dana White is the opposite of frightened leading up to the HEATED UFC 328 main event matchup between Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland, telling TMZ Sports ... "It's exciting!"

"It doesn't scare me," the UFC honcho said Friday in Manhattan, referencing all the insane trash talk leading up to Saturday's fight card.

"It's been a minute since I've had a fight that's had this much heat on it. Ya know, it's exciting."

Tyreek Hill is heading into the weekend with some weight off his shoulders -- the NFL superstar reached a settlement with the OnlyFans model who took him to court for a broken leg she suffered in 2023.

The free agent receiver was in the middle of a trial with Sophie Hall over a football training session gone wrong ... but it was announced Friday the two sides struck an agreement for an undisclosed amount to put the matter to rest once and for all.

As part of the deal, Hall agreed to dismiss her assault and battery claims ... and Hill settled the negligence claim.

Trevor Bauer once signed a $102 million contract to play baseball, but that was years ago, and with the Cy Young award winner desperate to once again toe the rubber for a team in the Majors, he's got an idea ... he'll play for free!

35-year-old Bauer -- who hasn't played Major League Baseball since the 2021 season -- hit up social media on Friday, where he pitched an interesting, seemingly risk-free, idea.

"Hypothetical: You’re the owner of an MLB team. I offer to take $0 salary and sign a minor league contract and go to Low A," Trevor wrote. "If the 'he sucks now' crowd is right and I get lit up, you cut me, lose $0 and there’s no risk to the big league club."

Dianna Russini once cracked a joke about having husband and wife sex, saying you need to close your eyes to do it in a resurfaced clip that's gone viral.

In the video, which now seems awkward given her situation with Mike Vrabel, Russini is playing Barstool's version of "Family Feud" game with a bunch of dudes, including Vrabel himself.

Vrabel, of course, is the New England Patriots coach with whom Russini has carried on a cozy relationship that forced her to resign as The Athletic's NFL reporter and turned their lives into a media circus.

Austin Reaves was in a heated feud with officials throughout the Lakers' Game 2 loss to the Thunder on Thursday ... and it came to a head when he appeared to call a ref a "p***y" during an argument late in the contest.

The moment went down with less than six minutes left in the fourth quarter ... when Reaves went at it with John Goble, who yelled in the L.A. star's face amid an argument over a call.

Reaves wasn't having any of it ... and took issue with how Goble handled the ordeal, calling it "bulls***."

Justin Herbert and Madison Beer are in love and they don't care who knows it -- the L.A. Chargers quarterback played the singer's romantic interest in her new music video ... and yeah, no acting required.

Beer dropped the visuals for her "lovergirl" track on Friday ... and with lyrics like, "I just can't help that I'm a lover girl, why not embrace a simple pleasure, let me hold you close, and we can take off all our clothes," it's not hard to understand the overall theme.

The vid is just short of three and a half minutes ... but there's a ton of PDA packed into it -- with Herbert carrying his girlfriend around the beach, embracing her and even giving her a big smooch amid all the cute moments.

Paul Heyman swears he had no idea Brock Lesnar was gonna retire at WrestleMania ... but he tells TMZ Sports the future of WWE is in good hands nonetheless ... 'cause he's now focused on The Vision!!

For those who don't remember, the Hall of Famer told us The Beast Incarnate had no plans to retire prior to last month's festivities in Las Vegas ... and went as far as to say Lesnar still had another 15 years in him.

Fast forward a week and a half, and his guy took off his gloves and boots and called it a career after falling to Oba Femi ... and Heyman was a puddle of emotions in the ring as they hugged it out.

🎵"Come aboard, we're expecting you" ...

New video shows Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini heading out for their Tennessee boat day while she was very much showing during her first pregnancy.

TMZ Sports obtained the clip showing the pair together on the dock of a private rental company back in June 2021 ... as the NFL coach and reporter prepared to head out onto a lake in Putnam County, TN.

Check it out ... Russini walks ahead as the then-Titans head coach trails a few feet behind her. At one point, she turns around to talk to him, and it's very easy to see she was about 6-7 months pregnant at the time.

Mike and Diana were dressed casually, in T-shirts and shorts, as they made their way toward the boat.

Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland came face-to-face today for the first time -- just days before they'll meet in a locked cage -- and you could cut the tension with a knife!

"I am a terrorist for him. I'm gonna take off his head. I'm gonna kill him! Allahu Akbar!" Chimaev screamed in response to a fan, who referenced disparaging remarks Strickland previously made about Chimaev.

The beef between the two fighters goes well beyond trash talk ... which has made their main event fight one of the most anticipated bouts in years.

Clearly, the UFC wasn't caught off guard -- they were prepared -- as multiple armed police officers lined the stage for the face-offs portion of the media event.

But the beefed-up security presence still wasn't enough to maintain the peace.

Khamzat, after saying he "wasn't going to touch" Sean, kicked up after exchanging words ... just inches in front of Dana White.

Both fighters were immediately held back ... and thankfully, it appears Strickland wasn't injured, meaning the fight is still on.

UFC 328 goes down from the Prudential Center Saturday night, and you can bet the UFC and law enforcement are pulling out all the stops to ensure everyone remains safe.

Ex-NFL star Shawne Merriman is being taken to federal court for fraud by a company claiming he owes more than $2.5 million ... TMZ has learned.

According to court docs, obtained by TMZ, a company called ARI Agent LLC claims Shawne took millions of dollars in financing but has not repaid a single cent. The investment firm says the former NFL star borrowed the money for his company, Lights Out XF, which is focused on mixed martial arts and entertainment.

ARI says this is no "routine default or simple contract dispute, but a deliberate, coordinated, multi-step scheme by Merriman to commit fraud, coercion, misrepresentation, and obstruction -- all designed to avoid repayment and accountability."

The internet is running wild with Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini theories ... but one can be put to rest -- the NFL reporter did NOT name her first son after the coach, TMZ Sports has learned.

Cyber sleuths have been looking into both Vrabel and Russini ever since their cozy resort pics dropped last month ... and it didn't take long for them to highlight the fact that Russini's son and Vrabel share the same moniker.

The chatter intensified after we posted a story about the two enjoying a private trip on the water in June 2021 ... weeks before she welcomed her child with her husband, Kevin Goldschmidt. On top of that, she also had an old post where she mentioned her infant son and questioned the best Mikes in NFL history to play and coach.

5/7/2026 10:04 AM PT -- TMZ Sports obtained a clip showing the pair together on the dock of a private rental company back in June 2021 ... as the NFL coach and reporter prepared to head out onto a lake in Putnam County, TN.

Add a new chapter to the Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini saga, because TMZ Sports has learned they rented a private boat together for a day on the water ... just the 2 of them.

The NFL duo booked the vessel in Putnam County, Tennessee back in June 2021 ... according to a source with direct knowledge, who also says the then-Tennessee Titans head coach and the journalist were the only people onboard for their 2-to-3-hour rental.

The timing of that outing might raise a few eyebrows, because Russini was pregnant at the time with her first child.

Eric Bischoff, one of the most successful and influential figures in pro wrestling history, wouldn't be who he is without the late, great Ted Turner ... EB himself tells TMZ Sports.

"When I first heard the news this morning," Eric explained, "I was talking to my wife, and I live in a beautiful home here in Wyoming. I look out over the mountains, up the valley into Yellowstone National Park. I live in a postcard. And I wouldn't be living here had it not been for the opportunity that Ted gave me."

That opportunity was running Turner's wrestling promotion, World Championship Wrestling (WCW) ... as Executive Producer, starting in 1993, following an internal shakeup in the company.

The Kentucky Derby winner is slowing its "tempo" -- the horse's trainer just announced Golden Tempo will not attempt a Triple Crown and bypass the Preakness Stakes on May 16.

Cherie DeVaux Racing announced the move on Wednesday ... saying the decision was made "after much thoughtful discussion as a team."

"We are incredibly appreciative of the excitement and support surrounding the possibility of a Triple Crown run. The enthusiasm from racing fans, our owners, and our entire team has meant more to us than we can properly express."