Sports

Darryl Strawberry has a message for anyone writing Nick Kyrgios off after the tennis star’s positive cocaine test ... ease up!

The former MLB slugger -- who famously battled drug abuse during his own playing days -- is now a pastor helping others through recovery ... and he recently spent a few minutes with TMZ Sports, making it crystal clear where he stands following Nick's positive test.

“I think it’s truly unfair when people punish people, especially athletes, that have substance abuse problems,” Strawberry told us. “I had it for a very long time and I received the same kind of treatment from the public. A lot of times we don’t understand what a person is going through emotionally, mentally, inside."

"Substance abuse is just something to escape from. You can be great as an athlete and have all the talent you want, but at the same time, when you’re broken on the inside, you need to be healed on the inside. And that’s all it is really for him.”

Conor McGregor wasn't just up and on his feet a week after ACL surgery ... the UFC superstar was filming an ad for his MAC Energy drink, and we got a BTS look!

Warning: If you're Conor's doctor, close your eyes.

The commercial, which was filmed last week in California's San Fernando Valley, shows The Notorious on a military-inspired set, rockin' full tactical gear, for a scene straight out of an Arnold action movie.

It was only eight days after McGregor went under the knife for his right leg injury ... which he sustained during the opening moments of his comeback fight against Max Holloway at UFC 329.

Drew Brees is fresh off receiving the ultimate honor, and with just about every football accolade under his belt, the former Saints superstar still can't process what happened in Canton!

The legendary quarterback chopped it up with Babcock just days after his Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ... and admitted the whole thing felt completely out of this world -- literally.

“I don’t think Hall of Fame is anywhere on your radar,” Brees told us.

Tyreek Hill's estranged wife, Keeta Hill, claims the NFL star is refusing to answer questions about him allegedly paying a woman who previously accused him of abuse ... TMZ has learned.

According to court docs obtained by TMZ, Keeta claims Tyreek has failed to answer whether he offered, promised, or paid "any consideration" to Crystal Espinal, his ex and the mother of three of his children.

Keeta claims Tyreek had not spoken to Crystal in over five years before his attorney contacted her one week before her deposition in the divorce, allegedly telling her there "needs to be trust" and that they "needed to bridge the gap."

The docs say Tyreek then flew to Arkansas to see his ex and their three kids for the first time in two years.

Eala Mania is still going strong -- 'cause tennis phenomenon Alex Eala's Nike merch went live on Tuesday ... and not too long after, it was completely sold out.

The 21-year-old Filipino athlete has taken the sport by storm in 2026 ... and her popularity exploded after winning the Washington Open against Jessica Pegula in August.

Tickets to her matches have since become a hot commodity, with a ton of supporters wanting to catch her in action ... and the Toronto Open even added chicken adobo, a classic Filipino dish, to its concessions menu in her honor.

Tennis Star Nick Kyrgios' tennis career is in question after he tested positive for cocaine ahead of a match in Mallorca.

Nick announced on Instagram Wednesday he was provisionally suspended from tennis in June after he tested positive for the drug on the Spanish Island ... while admitting he knows he messed up big time.

He apologized to his fans, family, and sponsors, as well as the kids who idolize him, adding ... "I know the example this sets and I'm deeply disappointed in myself."

LeBron James is taking his talents to the links -- and PGA Tour star Sam Burns is all for it!

TMZ Sports spoke to one of the Tour's top-ranked golfers Tuesday morning from a golf event in St. Louis (more on that in a minute), and Burns said he was thrilled to see the NBA legend jumping into the sport, which he thinks will provide a major boost thanks to King James' global reach.

"I think as a fan of golf, I mean, to have LeBron James be a supporter and obviously growing the game is great," Burns told us.

"He has such an impact on so many people around the world. So it's great for our sport. It's great for what he's doing for it. And we're happy to see him out there enjoying some golf."

Jeanie Buss is fighting like hell to keep the Los Angeles Lakers in the family ... but all five of her siblings are making it clear they're ready to move forward with selling their remaining ownership stake.

Jim, Johnny, Janie, Joey and Jesse Buss released a statement in response to Jeanie's plans to contest the sale on Tuesday ... and they certainly haven't changed their minds, saying they "remain united in that decision."

"We intend to move forward thoughtfully, respectfully and through the appropriate process," the statement said, according to Shams Charania.

Eric Bieniemy shared some great news about his wife, Mia, on Tuesday ... telling reporters she's on her way to making a full recovery -- while praising her toughness after allegedly being shot by their own son Elijah last month.

The Kansas City Chiefs' offensive coordinator met with the media for the first time since the late-July incident ... and while he didn't get into specifics on what went down at his Virginia home, he did explain he got Mia's approval to return to the team's training camp as she recovers.

Bieniemy said he was tuning in to camp remotely as his wife received medical treatment ... so he really didn't miss much during his time away.

Bill Rasmussen -- the founder of ESPN -- has died at 93 years old from the effects of Parkinson's disease, the network announced Tuesday.

Rasmussen was credited with creating the first 24-hour television network when he launched the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network with his son, Scott, in 1979 ... which would change the medium forever.

Rasmussen was the network's inaugural president and CEO ... and was able to form relationships with sports leagues, investors and cable operators to set the network up for years to come.

10:41 AM PT -- Turns out the three arrests weren't connected to the brawl in the bleachers, despite what Chicago PD initially told us.

Wrigley Field’s bleachers looked more like an MMA cage Monday night during the Cubs-White Sox Crosstown Classic, with fans beating the hell out of each other, leaving one guy bloodied and three people arrested!

Viral video captured the chaos in the stadium stands as haymakers were flying and bodies flailing all around, blood streaming from at least one fan's face ... before Chicago PD and security pushed through the crowd to break the brawl up.

The cops didn't just stop the fight and hightail it out of there ... TMZ Sports has learned three people were arrested.

Tennis pro Amanda Anisimova brewed up quite the conversation during her match against Filipino sensation Alex Eala on Monday ... when commentators debated whether she was drinking on the job.

The gulp in question went down in the second set of Anisimova's Round of 32 win at the Cincinnati Open ... and later in the showdown, Brett Haber and Lindsay Davenport dissected footage of her drinking from a clear cup amid a changeover.

The liquid looked like a beer ... as it was foamy and had the same hue as a pilsner.

There was no shortage of A-listers at Karl-Anthony Towns and Jordyn Woods' wedding, but there was someone noticeably absent -- Knicks legend and team exec Allan Houston -- and there's good reason!

TMZ Sports ran into number 20 in Times Square in NYC on Monday, and we asked him about the weekend's nuptials.

"I'm so proud of him. He and Jordyn's journey, they've been through a lot, and they're overcomers," Houston said of the couple tying the knot.

Why wasn't he there?

3:30 PM -- Not so fast -- Jeanie Buss' attorney just fired back with a letter to her siblings' legal teams ... stating the sale CANNOT happen.

In the letter, Adam Streisand cited a court order that states a sale can't be made without Jeanie's approval ... making the vote that was reported on Monday "void." It also stated Jeanie must remain the Lakers' owner for life.

"On behalf of Jeanie Buss, I demand that your clients make clear publicly that Jeanie Buss is the Controlling Owner of the Los Angeles Lakers and that your clients shall take no action on this supposed 'vote' to sell the 17.8% stake," Streisand wrote, according to CNBC.

He also accused Joey and Jesse of feeding Shams Charania bad info maliciously ... claiming they have a "years-long pattern" of doing so.

It truly is a new era for the Los Angeles Lakers -- the Buss family has sold its remaining 17.8% stake in the team to Bob Iger and Josh Kushner.

According to Shams Charania, the Buss family trust, which consists of Jeanie, Jim, Johnny, Jamie, Joey and Jesse, recently received the necessary votes to push the sale through.

As a result of the transaction, Jeanie will no longer serve as governor of the Lakers, as at least 15-percent ownership is required to hold the position.

Big development in the NBA’s long-running investigation into the Kawhi Leonard salary-cap scandal ... and it’s good news for billionaire Clippers owner Steve Ballmer, at least according to ESPN.

The league found no evidence that Ballmer funneled money through team sponsors to pay Kawhi off the books to dodge the salary cap, according to a report from the outlet.

But the NBA is pushing back, saying the story "contains numerous and significant inaccuracies."

If Enes Kanter Freedom didn't already have enemies in the WNBA, he certainly has one now ... 'cause the former NBA center says his first order of business in the league is dunking on Angel Reese.

The 2027 WNBA Draft hopeful went to social media to react to the Atlanta Dream star's missed game-winning layup against Caitlin Clark's Indiana Fever on Sunday ... and suggested she focus on a different career instead of basketball.

"Sis!" EKF said on X. "Once I go No. 1 pick in the 2027 @WNBA Draft, the first player I’m dunking on is Angel Reese. She’s the Paul George of the #WNBA."