Sports

Carolina Hurricanes goalie Frederik Andersen was overcome with emotion Friday night after helping his team reach the Stanley Cup Final -- delivering the win just days after the death of his longtime agent and mentor, NHL legend Claude Lemieux.

Before Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Montreal Canadiens, the Hurricanes held a moment of remembrance at Lenovo Center honoring Lemieux, who was remembered as a "great champion" of the sport.

Lemieux also had a personal connection to the game on the ice -- he was the agent for Andersen, who was one of his earliest clients, and had long been considered a mentor and father figure to the goaltender.

Following Carolina’s dominant 6-1 win, Andersen was visibly emotional as teammates mobbed him in celebration on the ice. The moment quickly turned personal when he addressed reporters, reflecting on what Lemieux would have said to him after such a career milestone -- "Just go get it."

Deion Sanders is a Hall of Famer in the present department ... 'cause Karrueche Tran tells TMZ Sports she was certainly feeling the love on her birthday earlier this month.

We caught up with the stunning 38-year-old out at LAX recently ... and had to ask if the Colorado Buffaloes coach got her anything special for her big day.

While she didn't spill any specifics, Tran was clearly thrilled with her man's gestures ... as she referred to him as a "great" gift giver.

Amanda Serrano isn't just one of the best boxers in the world, she's also an MMA fighter ... and she's interested in returning to the cage -- and she has a big name opponent in mind!

Gina Carano!

37-year-old Serrano -- the unified featherweight world champion -- chopped it up with Babcock ahead of her return to the ring (more on that in a minute) ... when the topic of mixed martial arts came up.

Days after NY Giants QB Jaxson Dart sparked a full-blown locker room firestorm by introducing President Donald Trump at an event in New York -- and getting publicly side-eyed by Abdul Carter -- the two young stars were spotted embracing at practice!

All eyes were on Jaxson and Abdul at Big Blue's facility in East Rutherford, NJ, for OTAs on Friday -- the first time the players have practiced since the controversy last week -- and there was nary a sign of friction as the men came face-to-face.

Cameras were rolling as the players approached each other, first dapping each other up, and then hugging for several seconds as they shared a private word.

Those closest to Claude Lemieux are devastated by his tragic death ... with family members sharing emotional tributes on social media.

Claudia Lemieux went to Instagram to address her dad's passing on Thursday ... saying, "No words to express the level of devastation we feel. I love you forever daddy. Forever your only girl."

Claudia's husband, Hunter Bishop, honored his father-in-law with an image of them golfing ... writing, "Rest in peace to a truly amazing man. Words can’t even begin to describe how much you meant to everyone. Love you big man 👼🏽."

Minnesota Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards is bringing in a massive 7-figure monthly income ... at least according to new legal docs from his baby mama court battle.

New court docs, obtained by TMZ, show the NBA star pulls in $3,364,911 in gross monthly income, while his ex, Alexandria Desroches, makes around $1,016 per month.

The docs say Anthony is paying around $5,000 a month in child support to Desroches.

Puka Nacua met with reporters for the first time since his drama-filled offseason ... and while he didn't dive into the details of the night that led to a bombshell lawsuit, he said he's taking the matter as a learning experience.

The superstar Rams receiver took the podium after Thursday's practice ... and emphasized how he's doing better mentally after seeking treatment at a facility in Malibu.

25-year-old Nacua said the support he got from the team has been great ... and he now understands it's okay to ask for help.

Felix Rosenqvist won the closest ever Indianapolis 500, edging David Malukas by two-hundredths of a second ... begging the question, are there hard feelings between the champ and his rival driver?!

That's what TMZ Sports asked the 34-year-old this week in NYC, just days removed from the "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing."

"No [bad blood], we had a great chat at the red carpet, at the banquet, and we hugged it out. I could tell he was happy for me," Rosenqvist revealed.

Claude Lemieux, 4x Stanley Cup-winning NHL player, died by suicide, TMZ Sports has learned.

Lemieux -- who was 60 years old -- was found at the family furniture business by his adult son around 3 AM after they became concerned that he hadn't returned home. The 21-year NHL vet was located in a rear warehouse.

Tiger Woods' luxury ride is headed for the scrap heap ... with airbags still blown out inside.

TMZ Sports has obtained exclusive photos of the golf legend's wrecked Range Rover sitting in a Florida junkyard two months after the crash that led to his arrest ... and, as you can see, the luxury SUV remains destroyed.

Take a look at the photos ... for the first time since the March 27 crash, we're seeing inside the SUV ... where deployed side curtain airbags are still hanging throughout the cabin covering shattered glass -- cops smashed the rear window at the scene to retrieve his golf clubs.

11:11 AM PT -- Claude Lemieux, 4x Stanley Cup-winning NHL player, died by suicide, TMZ Sports has learned.

Former NHL star Claude Lemieux is dead at the age of 60, TMZ Sports has learned.

Lemieux -- known for his fiery and aggressive play on the ice -- spent 21 seasons in the league, playing for the Montreal Canadiens, New Jersey Devils, Colorado Avalanche, Phoenix Coyotes, Dallas Stars, and San Jose Sharks.

He won four Stanley Cups ('86, '95, '96, '00) ... and won the Conn Smythe Trophy with the Devils in 1995, awarded to the best playoff performer.

Claude played 1,215 regular-season and 234 playoff games over his two-plus-decade career, accounting for 944 points.

Lemieux was the 26th overall pick in the 1983 NHL draft.

Claude was present at the Canadiens' playoff game on Monday, carrying the torch into the Bell Centre in a pregame ceremony.

The National Hockey League Alumni Association released a lengthy statement on the tragic news, saying they were "devastated" by the death.

Tributes have already begun pouring

Claude is survived by his wife, Deborah, and their four children.

R.I.P.

Good friend award goes to WWE Superstar Gunther ... who shelled out $1,000 to get his fellow wrestler friend Ludwig Kaiser out of jail following his battery arrest.

TMZ Sports has obtained Kaiser's bond information sheet following his recent run-in with the law in Florida ... and it turns out the guy who came through for him was Walter Hahn, Gunther's real name.

Gunther wrote two $500 checks to pay the fee ... meaning he'll be making damn sure Kaiser -- real name Marcel Barthel -- will show up to his court date next month so his dough doesn't go to waste.

As we previously reported, Kaiser was accused of whooping his neighbor's ass for complaining about a wild make-out session between the wrestler and his girlfriend in an elevator on April 23.

The neighbor, according to a police report, told the two to "have some manners" ... which apparently set Kaiser off and resulted in the physical altercation.

He was booked for battery and later released ... thanks to Gunther.

Sugar Ray Leonard claims his whole family is terrified of his 25-year-old son ... stating drug issues turned Daniel into a violent, stealing monster.

The 70-year-old boxing legend laid out his family's problems in a restraining order request filed last week ... where he said Daniel has been addicted to drugs for "7 or 8 years at least" -- and his behavior has gone downhill in the process.

In the docs, obtained by TMZ Sports, Leonard stated Daniel wrecked five of their cars in the past year ... including a hit-and-run incident. He also claimed Daniel experienced four overdoses -- two that required medical assistance to "bring him back to life" at the hospital.

A 911 call was made from Josh Jacobs' home during the alleged violent attack involving the Packers star ... with dispatch telling police she could hear "yelling and screaming" on an open line.

According to newly released dispatch audio, obtained by TMJ 4, officials received not one but two calls about the incident ... one from the scene of the alleged crime, and the other from a neighbor next door.

"Things being thrown," the dispatcher tells officers, adding, "Possibly a male and female."

Jaxson Dart had a meaningful chat with his New York Giants teammates about his recent visit with President Donald Trump ... and by all accounts, it sounds like the locker room will now put the matter in the rearview mirror.

The second-year quarterback, Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and Jameis Winston all spoke during Wednesday's meeting, according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport ... and the report states they were able to "work through it."

Dart introduced Trump at Rockland Community College in Suffern, New York, on Friday ... where he said it was an honor to welcome Nos. 45-47 to the stage. Trump returned the compliments ... calling Dart a future Hall of Famer.

President Trump will be at Madison Square Garden for an NBA Finals game, but Bill Bradley, former U.S. Senator and N.Y. Knicks star, says he won't be the center of attention!

The Knicks alum has some advice for the Prez, saying ... "If [Trump] goes to the game, he has to realize he is second fiddle. He's the president of the United States, but at an NBA Final, if he attends, he's second fiddle. He's not first."

"We'll see what he does. Quite frankly, I don't give a s*** what he does," Number 24 said.