Sports

The Miami Heat set social media ablaze when its official YouTube page shared a link to a future LeBron James introductory press conference ... but the team insists the post was only made in preparation for a potential return -- not a leaked announcement.

The video was added to the Heat's socials on Tuesday ... and fans actually joined the live stream to comment their excitement over the 41-year-old King's apparent return.

Just one big issue -- James, a four-time NBA champion, has not revealed his next move ... and his agent, Rich Paul, said earlier in the day even he was in the dark on what his client intends to do (if anyone really believes that).

Tom Brady has folks puzzled over his "beef" with Logan Paul ... but one quarterback from his era tells TMZ Sports he's all in on TB12 settling things in the WWE squared circle.

We caught up with Drew Brees out in NYC on Tuesday ... and asked for his thoughts on a potential wrestling showdown between the GOAT and the Maverick.

"They should!" Brees told us. "They should schedule that."

Bud Light didn't find anything humorous in Dustin Poirier's arrest last month ... 'cause the fighter just revealed the beer giant wasted no time firing him from his lucrative sponsorship deal after the incident.

"They terminated my contract immediately. It's all good, man. I don't need that f****** poison in my life," Poirier told Ariel Helwani during an interview on Tuesday.

"It sucks that my family is missing out on the money I had left on the deal with them, which was a few hundred thousand dollars, but also if I'm representing something I'm not gonna be taking part in, promoting stuff, it is what it is."

Tyrese Haliburton and Jade Jones are married ... 'cause the couple announced they sealed the deal at the courthouse on Tuesday!!

The Indiana Pacers superstar and former Iowa State cheerleader tied the knot at the Indianapolis Marriage License Office just over a week before their Aug. 1 ceremony ... and they had plenty of witnesses.

"It’s (courthouse) official 🍾💍," Jones said on Tuesday ... showing off a cute white dress and a bouquet of flowers as they posed in front of the building.

Everyone's favorite World Cup superstar is celebrating his 26th trip around the sun ... and Erling Haaland says he's feeling a ton of love on his birthday -- 'cause his life has changed forever!!

The Norwegian striker hopped on a yacht with his girlfriend, Isabel Haugseng Johansen, and friends this week ... and it was all in honor of the birthday boy.

There was plenty of good food, vibes, and some golf ... and Haaland even rocked a viking hat at one point. They then wound up at a day club, where the athlete was spotted jamming out at the DJ booth.

Ryan Clark getting sent packing from ESPN isn't sitting well with the network's biggest star -- Stephen A. Smith voiced his frustrations over the move in a lengthy video on Tuesday ... saying his now-former colleague is the best in the business.

"I'm gonna miss him," SAS said. "I am not happy about this decision one bit. The bosses know I'm not happy about this decision. I've made that very, very clear."

The "First Take" host acknowledged it's part of the business ... and it's something he's experienced several times at ESPN, but this one is different due to his personal connection to Clark.

Cam Newton is out at the World Wide Leader ... the latest casualty in a round of cuts that claimed the jobs of some of the most prominent figures in sports media.

The former NFL MVP was laid off this week, according to TMZ Sports' sources ... a surprising move from the powers that be in Bristol.

Newton was only with ESPN for a few years -- he signed on in late 2024 -- but found success opposite Stephen A. Smith during the NFL season, where he was SAS' main debate partner on "First Take."

Newton was elevated into the premiere spot after Shannon Sharpe parted ways with ESPN last year.

Ryan Clark is sending some words of encouragement to all his coworkers getting axed from ESPN ... saying he hopes they all land on their feet -- while admitting he knows exactly what they're going through.

The former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back and ex-ESPN talent went to X to share his kind message on Tuesday ... saying, "Sending prayers and love to all those laid off today by ESPN."

"So many of you have poured your life into that company, & I know how you’re feeling right now. My hope is as this door closes another opens for you all. God bless!"

It's no secret Aaron Rodgers has been on the outs with his family for many years ... but all that's come to an end now because they just reunited ... for the most part.

That's right ... On Monday, the Pittsburgh Steelers star quarterback posted a series of Instagram photos showing Aaron bonding with his mom, Darla, his dad, Ed, and his brother, Luke. But his other brother, Jordan, was MIA, so it's unclear where that relationship stands.

In the caption, Aaron wrote, "Another bonding week #fam."

Ryan Clark was doing his job when he found out he no longer had one -- the NFL player-turned-ESPN analyst disappeared from "NFL Live" mid-show after a report was published stating he was impacted by a round of layoffs at the network.

The Athletic dropped the news on Monday, stating the former Steelers defensive back was being let go ... but there was one problem -- the network wasn't planning to break it to Clark himself until Tuesday morning.

With the cat out of the bag and Clark's phone likely blowing up over the development, producers elected for a lengthy commercial break.

Stefon Diggs’ male sexual assault accuser, Christopher Griffith, says he now has hard evidence proving the NFL star coordinated the L.A. beatdown on him ... TMZ has learned.

Christopher filed court docs saying he plans to add new allegations to his lawsuit against Stefon using the evidence handed over by Diggs during discovery in the case.

He said he now has text messages and phone records from Stefon’s assistant showing the coordination of the attack ... including logistical correspondence about booking flights and hotel arrangements with one of Chris’ assailants on the day he was attacked.

LeBron James still has the NBA in a holding pattern as he ponders his next move ... but Paul Pierce tells TMZ Sports the answer is simple -- go home!

The rumor mill is still swirling weeks after the 4x NBA champ parted ways with the Lakers and it seems as if The King has narrowed down his next kingdom to the Philadelphia 76ers, Miami Heat, Golden State Warriors, and of course, his old team (twice removed), the Cleveland Cavaliers.

We chopped it up with The Truth at Derek Fisher's 3rd Annual Be Better Foundation Celebrity Golf tourney, and asked him where he would like to see LeBron go.

A Chicago Cubs fan is going viral after he smacked a younger spectator upside the head for not standing during the national anthem ... but not everyone thinks this is patriotic.

Check out the video ... an older gentleman in a Cubs uniform barks at a younger fan in front of him to get off his butt for the Star-Spangled Banner at Wrigley Field ... and when the guy keeps sitting, the Cubs fan reaches back and slaps the back of his head.

Other folks in the stands turn around to see the fuss, and at least one man who saw it all go down raises an issue.

Former NFL player Josh Mauro allegedly went on a four-day drug and alcohol bender before his fatal overdose ... partying with multiple women right up until his final hours.

Josh began binge-drinking and using cocaine at his Arizona home days before his April death ... according to the California Post, citing a newly released Maricopa County Medical Examiner report.

Investigators reportedly reconstructed Josh's final days through interviews with several women who came and went from his home ... with the women describing a party that continued into the hours before he was found dead.

Tom Brady and Logan Paul may have the perfect place to settle their beef ... the squared circle at an upcoming WWE event!

TMZ Sports has learned there are ongoing conversations between the 7x Super Bowl-winning quarterback and World Wrestling Entertainment -- meaning TB12 could soon find himself staring down his WWE Superstar rival in the ring, mano a mano.

It all makes perfect sense now.

The two stars have been trading shots for months, starting with Brady’s appearance on Logan’s 'Impaulsive' podcast earlier this year. Things cooled off for a bit … until this weekend, when it exploded.

Former Pittsburgh Steelers star running back Le'Veon Bell was busted over the weekend ... and it's connected to child support payments, or an alleged lack thereof.

Le'Veon's attorney, Thomas Shaffer, tells TMZ ... Le'Veon did not make support payments, which are based on a healthy NFL salary -- a salary he's not earned in years.

Shaffer notes the support guidelines by law are based on current income, not his NFL salary, so computing these guidelines on inaccurate information is unfair.

Le'Veon allegedly owes more than $50,000 for child support.

The child in question lives in Michigan ... which is why the Michigan Attorney General has the case.