Super Bowl

The Super Bowl LIII halftime came and went, and it featured A LOT of Adam Levine ... who stripped down until there was practically nothing left up top.

Maroon 5 took center stage Sunday midway through the big game, and they ran through a bunch of their early hits to kick things off. As the show went on, Adam lost more and more layers from his torso ... until he was fully shirtless by 'Moves Like Jagger' at the end.

Travis Scott and Big Boi made brief appearances as well -- each of them performed one verse and a hook of their songs, "SICKO MODE" and "The Way You Move," respectively. But no guest appearances here, even though both songs featured big artists like Drake and Andre 3000. Even M5's "Girls Like You" went without a surprise Cardi B visit. Darn ...

Either way, the spotlight always went back to Adam and co. They were the headliners, after all ... and this performance proved it.

The NFL tried telling Barstool Sports to stay away, but the company's president insisted on attending Super Bowl LIII ... and just got his ass thrown out in handcuffs.

Dave Portnoy was hauled away by security Sunday during Maroon 5's halftime show as he watched from the stand -- and by hauled, we mean his entire body was literally lifted up and carried out by a swarm of guards. He was trying to go incognito with a stache and shades.

Dave was brought inside and appeared to be getting questioned by security personnel before armed police officers cuffed him and escorted him outside. It's unclear if he was ultimately arrested or not, but Dave and co. definitely knew they weren't allowed in.

If you'll recall ... Dave and fellow Barstool employee PFT Commenter got tossed from the Super Bowl Opening Day Event last week after officials discovered they were carrying fake press passes. Both men were issued criminal trespass warnings by police.

Conor McGregor is BACK in America -- this time, no violence ... just cuteness!!

The UFC superstar and his 1-year-old son, Conor Jr., just arrived at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta, in matching purple suits ... and they're both STYLIN'!!!

Conor is a huge Dallas Cowboys fan -- he became with friends with Jerry Jones in 2018 -- but since they're not in the big game, unclear who Conor will be rooting for.

One thing's for sure ... Conor ain't missing an opportunity to flash his mug at the biggest sporting ever of the year!!

By the way, look at Conor McGregor Jr.'s designer kicks -- sweeeeeeet!!!!

The A-list stars are starting to arrive at the stadium -- Jon Bon Jovi, Kevin Hart and Ludacris are already there.

So is Rams superfan YG -- he's been a good luck charm for the Rams this season, this is good news for L.A.

Saints fans are still pissed about getting screwed in the NFC Championship game -- and they're protesting Super Bowl LIII the only way NOLA knows how ... partying it up big time.

The Who Dat faithful took to the streets Sunday by the thousands for a Mardi Gras-style event they dubbed #BoycottBowl. It's basically a festival aimed at calling out the outrageous late-game pass interference no-call against the Rams, which didn't help them win.

This ain't no small thing either -- hordes of fans were out in Saints jerseys and literally parading around town with marching bands and dance troupes ... playing live music and celebrating. There's an entire schedule out for #BoycottBowl too, which includes events like the "Anti-Goodell Protest Bowl" and "Salty Super Bowl Bingo."

The upside ... everyone seems to be protesting peacefully and trying to make the most out of a crappy situation (for them, anyway). And hey, this has gotta be a boom for local businesses and vendors, who are definitely out in force to snap up customers. Win-win!!! Eh, kinda.

In case you missed it, Nickell Robey-Coleman hit Tommylee Lewis out of bounds before he could catch a pass from Drew Brees late in the game, but it was called incomplete instead of a pass interference ... which the NFL later admitted was a major mistake.

Bow Wow was more than willing to talk after his arrest Saturday morning for allegedly beating a woman ... but what he wants to talk about has nothing to do with the incident.

We got Bow Wow Saturday night leaving Magic City Strip Club in ATL and he said on the advice of his lawyer he couldn't say anything about the incident.

As TMZ reported ... Bow Wow and the woman were both arrested after they allegedly got in some sort of physical altercation at 4:15 AM Saturday in Atlanta. The woman claimed Bow Wow assaulted her. He claimed it was the opposite.

Bow Wow was booked for Battery with Substantial Physical Harm ... despite the fact cops told us the injuries were "minor." He was released on $8k bail.

Before Rams players headed for Atlanta to prepare for their Super Bowl 53 matchup against the Patriots, they got some advice from the NFL -- protect your homes in L.A.

Our NFL sources tell us ... officials spoke with several players and coaches on the Rams who live in the Los Angeles area and suggested they take steps to ensure their homes are safe from potential burglars while they are out of town.

We're told they offered tips like having someone house-sit, parking an extra car in the driveway, adding alarms and surveillance, or even hiring security guards for the days they'll be away.

Other sources tell us many players heeded the NFL's advice by upgrading their home security systems and some indeed hired staff at their residences ... including private armed security and retired cops.

As you may know ... L.A. and the San Fernando Valley have seen a string of burglaries over the past couple of years, especially at the houses of celebs and famous athletes. In fact, Rams WR Robert Woods is on that list.

10 gang members were charged in connection with burglaries at more than 24 homes in late November, and cops say the break-in at Woods' pad -- while he was playing "Thursday Night Football" -- was a key to cracking the case.

This burglary crew allegedly also targeted stars like Rihanna, LeBron James, Yasiel Puig and Viola Davis.

Akon's got a hot take on African-American singers and rappers blowing off the Super Bowl LIII Halftime Show, and it sounds like he's NOT exactly down with the boycott in support of Colin Kaepernick.

We got the singer/producer as he touched down in ATL, days ahead of the big game, and asked what he made of A-list celebs snubbing the NFL to stand in solidarity with Kap. Some are even calling for Travis Scott, Big Boi and Maroon 5 to take a knee during their performance -- but don't count Akon among that group.

For him, it's about time and place and he believes the Super Bowl is just too big a stage to opt out of playing on it.

Brandon Browner -- the guy who helped the Patriots win Super Bowl XLIX -- WILL be allowed to watch his former team in the Super Bowl from jail ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Browner -- who was just sentenced to 8 years behind bars after he pled no contest to attempted murder back in December -- is currently being held in L.A. County Jail.

But, law enforcement sources tell us they won't ban the guy from watching his ex-team if he wants to ... saying Brandon WILL have the ability to catch the game on Sunday.

Browner was a superstar for New England in his lone season there in 2014 ... and has even been credited by Bill Belichick for helping Malcolm Butler make the game-sealing pick against the Seahawks in the Super Bowl.

But, Browner found himself in big trouble last July after he brutalized his ex-girlfriend in front of her two children -- and was sentenced to 8 years in prison after he copped a no contest plea.

Brandon is currently trying to have a judge throw out the conviction ... with a court date set for next month.

Patriots owner Robert Kraft is spending his final hours before the Super Bowl dancing his face off with rap stars ... hitting the stage and showing off his moves with Cardi B!!

Kraft looked anything but nervous the day before the Big Game ... joining the "Money" rapper on stage at the Fanatics Super Bowl party in ATL, which was hosted by Sixers co-owner Michael Rubin.

There was hopping. There was finger pointing. The crowd loved every second of it.

As if Cardi wasn't enough ... Kraft had Meek Mill for a hype man pumping him up on the side of the stage.

Think this guy's worried about the game?

BTW -- we're told Cardi's not just having fun with Kraft and Meek ... she also made a significant donation to Reform Alliance, the criminal justice reform org formed by the 2 along with Rubin, Jay-Z, Van Jones and others.

12:45 PM PT -- Bow Wow's been released on bond.

12:20 PM PT -- Here's the mug shot for Leslie Holden, who we've learned is Bow Wow's on-and-off GF, and goes by Kiyomi Leslie. She's also on "Growing Up Hip Hop" with the rapper.

She's facing the same battery charge as Bow Wow, and her bond's been set at $8k.

11:15 AM PT -- TMZ's obtained Bow Wow's mug shot, which shows big scratches on his forehead and a mark below his eye.

According to the Fulton County Sheriff's Office ... the rapper's been charged with Battery Substantial Physical Harm, which is in conflict with what we were told earlier -- that both sustained minor injuries.

Bow Wow's bond's been set at $8k.

Bow Wow was arrested in Atlanta early Saturday morning for allegedly beating a woman ... a woman who was also arrested for allegedly beating him.

ATL cops tell TMZ ... there was some sort of dispute between Bow Wow and the woman at 4:15 AM Saturday. When they arrived, the woman claimed Bow Wow assaulted her. He claimed it was the opposite.

Both Bow Wow and the woman sustained visible, minor injuries.

Police identified the woman as Leslie Holden. We cannot find any relationship between her and Bow Wow.

Cops couldn't figure out which one was the true aggressor, so they arrested both and charged them with misdemeanor battery.

Bow Wow had been promoting a Super Bowl pop-up shop for his mom during Super Bowl weekend. He was also spotted at Shaquille O'Neal's SB event -- called Shaq's Fun House -- not long before his arrest.

Check it out ... he's introduced by Jermaine Dupri and gets a pretty big reaction from the ATL crowd.

Cardi B and Offset are clearly re-establishing the family unit ... by enjoying a night out together at a hot club!!!

The couple hit up OAK in Atlanta Saturday at around 3 AM. They hung out together and enjoyed the show, all the while protected by security.

Cardi's the headliner Saturday night at the Bud Light Super Bowl Music Fest at the State Farm Arena. Migos is performing at Shaq's Fun House Big Game Weekend.

Cardi's made it clear ... there may have been some bumps in the road in her marriage, but she and Offset are determined to make it work.

We've been waiting all season for this moment ... the WAGs of Super Bowl LIII!!!

There's a new meaning to Hotlanta this weekend ... with the wives and girlfriends of the New England Patriots and the L.A. Rams invading Georgia for the big game.

You've heard of the Giseles and Camille Kosteks of the bunch ... but, don't let those Pats WAGs superstars distract you from the heat over on the Rams' end, like Ndamukong Suh's girl Katya Leick and Brandin Cooks' wife, Briannon.

Here's a 24 year old version of the Dallas Cowboys' starting quarterback Tony Romo in a team headshot back in 2005 (left) ... and 14 years later the eerily psychic 38 year old Super Bowl LIII analyst earlier this month (right).

His future is looking good ... and he knows all about it.

The question is ...

Seems the ice has thawed between Patriots owner Robert Kraft and Donald Trump -- because Kraft just praised POTUS on live TV ... and thanked him for his support of the team in the Super Bowl.

Kraft appeared on "Fox & Friends" early Friday morning where was asked how he felt about Trump sending a congratulatory tweet to the Patriots following their big win in the AFC Championship game.

"We can use every fan who wants to support us from wherever they are in their standard of life," Kraft said.

When asked if he's spoken with Trump -- or gotten advice from the President -- Kraft continued to throw nice words Trump's way.

"I have a lot of people who give me advice and he's been very supportive and I know he's working very hard to serve the best interest of the country."

It's interesting considering the relationship between Kraft and Trump has been rocky over the past few years.

The two were VERY close for years but then clashed in April over Trump's handling of the Colin Kaepernick kneeling situation.

Remember, Trump called for NFL owners to fire any "son of a bitch" who doesn't stand for the anthem.

Kraft called Trump's statements "divisive" and "horrible."

But, it seems it's all water under the bridge now.

Makes us wonder if Trump is also repairing his relationship with Tom Brady -- who he was also very close with.

However, Gisele has become a very outspoken critic of Trump ever since he took office and Tom and Trump have seemingly had a falling out.

But now, with Trump publicly supporting Brady again ... it'll be interesting to see if Tom returns the love.

WWE superstar Adam Cole thinks it's a joke that he's not the reigning 'NXT' champion -- and says he plans on making a massive violent statement when he gets in the ring on Sunday.

Cole is teaming up with Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa for a 6-man tag team match at WWE's 'Halftime Heat' show ... and tells TMZ Sports it's an opportunity to show the world why he deserves a shot at the title.

"I'm a guy who feels like I should be a champion at 'NXT' ... I think it's an outrage that I'm not."

By the way, Cole also has a message for his Super Bowl halftime competition, Adam Levine -- but it's more of an olive branch than a declaration of war ... unlike the WWE promo for 'Halftime Heat.'

In the running back battle of L.A., it's Melvin Gordon over Todd Gurley ... at least, according to Melvin Gordon.

The L.A. Chargers star is feelin' himself after a pretty solid 2018 season -- he only played in 12 games due to injury, but still managed to rack up 885 rushing yards and 10 rushing TDs.

Not bad!!!

Gordon's a cool guy -- and even when he was braggin' about himself, he still showed respect for Gurley, who's getting ready to play in the Super Bowl.