TMZ Sports - Page 50

Adrianne Haslet -- who lost her left leg in the '13 Boston Marathon bombing -- is recovering after undergoing an 8-hour surgery to rebuild her left side after being hit by a car on Saturday.

As we previously reported, Haslet -- who's been training for the 2019 Boston Marathon -- was hit while crossing the street around 7:15 PM by a driver making a left turn.

Haslet has undergone multiple procedures -- and says she's still pretty groggy after a major operation on Monday, where doctors "put in a bunch of metal plates and screws trying to rebuild ... because my entire left side was shattered."

She hasn't gone into specifics about her injuries -- but, obviously, it's bad.

Haslet says she's not certain if she'll be able to run again -- and admits she's too afraid to ask the doctors for a prognosis.

That said ... if there's anyone who's tough enough to bounce back from this tragedy -- it's Adrianne.

Remember, back in 2016 ... after she was fitted with a prosthetic leg, Haslet decided she was going to complete the Boston Marathon to prove as a way of turning tragedy into triumph.

Even Tom Brady was impressed at the time ... saying, "Adrianne thank you for being my inspiration!! #BostonStrong"

USC head coach Clay Helton says there's no hard feelings with Kliff Kingsbury for leaving the coaching staff to take an NFL head coaching job ... saying he doesn't blame the guy for jumping ship.

Of course, Kliff -- who was fired from Texas Tech -- signed a contract to become USC's offensive coordinator just last month ... only to back out this week when the Arizona Cardinals expressed interest.

Kliff officially signed with the Cards on Tuesday -- and his short-lived boss, Clay Helton, finally broke his silence about all of the drama that's been going down behind the scenes.

"I am happy for Kliff," Helton said in a statement.

"Any time you get an opportunity to be an NFL head coach, it is special. He is a talented coach, that’s why we brought him here. I wish him nothing but the best."

Helton continued ... "USC has always attracted the best coaches in the country from all levels. We will spend the upcoming weeks finding the best possible fit for USC and our program."

Great news for CC Sabathia ... the Yankees ace has been officially cleared to work out after undergoing heart surgery last month.

ICYMI --the Cy Young winner needed an angioplasty to unblock an artery back in December after experiencing acid reflux, heartburn and other symptoms.

At the time, team officials say Sabathia could have suffered a heart attack if he did not seek help.

The surgery was a success ... and after a follow-up stress test on Tuesday, the team announced Sabathia has been cleared to workout and resume baseball activities after.

Joe Namath is keepin' it classy when it comes to Alabama losing in the National Championship game -- congratulating Clemson for simply outplaying his alma mater.

"Never like losing," Namath said on his way out of CBS in New York ... "We got outplayed and that's the way it goes."

"Congratulations to Clemson."

Namath says the 44 to 16 loss to Clemson wasn't exactly heartbreaking -- probably because Bama has won FIVE national titles since 2009 ... not bad.

By the way, Namath was a beast at Bama back in the day ... starting at QB for the Tide in 1962 (as a sophomore) under legendary head coach Bear Bryant.

Sen. Lindsey Graham is in such a good mood after his home state Clemson Tigers won the national championship ... he's inviting Democrats to call him up to make a deal to end the shutdown!

In fact, the Senator from South Carolina says he's INSPIRED by the Tigers -- saying the way they came together as a team is a lesson for Congress on the whole.

"Remember that to be successful you have to be a team .. and so, I'm gonna take that attitude about trying to bring the Congress together."

Graham says he's still gung-ho about finding a way to fund the border wall -- and it seems he's willing to work with Democrats when it comes to the Dream Act.

"There's a deal to be had ... secure that border with a wall component, help the Dream Act population [and others] who have been here for decades who are about to lose their legal status and do some legal reforms and call it a day."

"There's a deal to be had so let's go get it ... and after the football game, I'm in a good mood, so if you're a Democrat, give me a call."

Devon Still says he's rooting hard for Marvin Lewis to get another shot to coach in the NFL -- telling TMZ Sports he'll always be grateful to Lewis for helping to save his daughter's life.

Remember, it was Lewis who kept Still on the Cincinnati Bengals roster back in 2014 when his daughter Leah was battling cancer ... so she could keep the team health insurance coverage.

The story made national news -- and people from all over the country bought Still's Bengals jersey to show their support for Devon, Leah and the Bengals organization. It was an amazing thing.

The good news ... we got Still out in New York with 8-year-old Leah -- who's been cancer-free for 4 YEARS! It's an amazing story and Devon tells us he'll always be grateful for his former coach.

"He did a lot for me and my family during a time where I really couldn't do nothing for that organization," Still says ... "So, I definitely want to see him fall on his feet."

Lewis got the ax in Cinci last month after 16 years with the organization. The 60-year-old has suggested that he wants to continue coaching.

Still has chronicled Leah's battle in his new book "Still In the Game" -- in which he describes how he handled the pain and stress of watching his daughter fight for her life.

"I basically wanted to share my playbook that I taught my daughter how to beat cancer with, so people can overcome the struggles they're facing in their life."

How 'bout them Cowboys!?

Jerry Jones just bought himself one of the sickest yachts we've ever seen -- 357 feet long with TWO helipads and a gym ... and a reported price tag of $250 MILLION!!!!

The ship is called "Bravo Eugenia" -- which the 76-year-old billionaire named after his wife, Gene Jones. It was built in the Netherlands and delivered to Jones on Dec. 20 ... an early Christmas present.

The ship can hold 14 guests with 30 members ... and has all the bells and whistles you'd expect.

Fun features include a steam room, full gym, massage room, plunge pool, rain shower and a storage area for all of the cool water toys Jones decides to take out to sea.

The interior is also top of the line -- featuring light woods and lacquered surfaces.

One of the designers, Pascale Reymond, issued a statement on his work ... saying, "We worked very closely with the Owner to find the perfect artisans and craftsmen in creating bespoke artworks, fabrics and signature furniture pieces that reflect the Owner's style and essence and combine to create a warm, inviting environment for all on board."

Trevor Lawrence's girlfriend landed a winner ... and she knew it 2 YEARS AGO ... 'cause she predicted her man would win the national championship back in 2017!!!!

The freshman Clemson star has been dating college soccer player Marissa Mowry since early 2016 ... and while we were doing some research on the dreamy QB's lady, we came across this prophecy from January 9, 2017:

"Two more years then you'll be a National Champ😉 #GoTigers"

Not only was Marissa right ... but the fact that Trevor beat out Kelly Bryant to take over the starting gig as a true freshman and lead the Tigers over Bama in the title game makes this just. plain. FREAKY.

The prediction was bold ... but the confidence in her man was justified -- Trevor was considered one of the greatest high school QB prospects ever.

We've reached out to Marissa for comment (and some lottery numbers) ... so far, no word back.

The Governor of Kentucky HATES Lil Wayne -- and seemed disgusted someone would book the rapper to perform with Imagine Dragons at the college football National Championship game.

Weezy joined the rock band during the halftime show of the Clemson vs. Alabama game and performed 2 songs -- first, he did "Uproar" followed by a rap verse in the Imagine Dragons hit "Believer."

Most people LOVED the "Believer" verse ... but not Gov. Matt Bevin, who went to social media to vent about how much he hated the performance.

"Way to ruin an entertaining @Imaginedragons half-time concert with the weird rantings of a tired, has-been like @LilTunechi," Bevin said.

"One act still rising...The other, not so much."

Damn, Gov!

Some Weezy supporters have fired back at Bevin on Twitter, saying things like ...

"Well if there's anyone who knows weird, tired rantings when they see 'em, it's you."

And ... "Imagine me draggin’ deez nutz across yo face."

Good times.

The biggest critique of Wayne's performance was his outfit -- jackets on jackets on jackets ... with a striped scarf, floppy hat and big Elton John sunglasses.

So far, no response from Wayne.

DABO DANCE MOVES ARE BACK!!!

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney pulled a page outta BlocBoy JB's book to celebrate winning it all on Monday night ... bringing out his "shoot" dance -- and his players totally lost it!!

Clemson shocked Alabama by whoopin' the Tide 44-16 in the College Football Playoff National Championship ... and the Tigers capped off the win with a dance party for the ages.

Dabo's been known to get loose after Clemson dubs ... and already had the "dab" and "hit dem folk" in his repertoire.

But, this one had to be even better than his other moves, and the dude didn't disappoint.

Of course, there was more shade towards new Bama fan, Drake ... as the team jumped around and chanted his song, "Big Rings."

Charging into the ring in a "Mean Gene-O-Mania" shirt, Hulk Hogan grabbed the mic on 'Raw' Monday night, and gave a 5-minute tribute to his longtime friend, "Mean" Gene Okerlund.

"You know something guys, I came out here wide open tonight in character because that's exactly the way 'Mean' Gene woulda wanted it," Hogan told the crowd at the Amway Center in Orlando.

"I want to let all you guys know, 'Mean' Gene loved entertaining, and he loved entertaining everybody here in the WWE universe."

"I love you, 'Mean' Gene. I miss you."

The crowd began to chant, "Thank You, 'Mean' Gene" ... Hulk stopped his rant to listen.

That's when Hulk began shouting out other fallen WWE superstars -- saying Gene is no doubt in heaven orchestrating a tag match with Macho Man Randy Savage and Ultimate Warrior taking on Rowdy Roddy Piper and Mr. Perfect ... with Andre the Giant as the guest ref.

Hogan closed out his tribute with a trademark Hoganism ...

"Whatcha gonna do when 'Mean' Gene-O-Mania runs wild on you, brother?"

'Mean' Gene passed away on January 2 after battling health issues for months. He was 76.

R.I.P.

The Drake Curse strikes again ... and this time, Clemson ain't letting him forget it!!

Remember, just a week before the National Championship game, the University of Alabama posted video featuring the rapper giving a motivational speech wearing a Bama sweatshirt.

Since Drake really has no affiliation with the team, everyone labeled him as a bandwagoner ... again ... since Bama was widely expected to crush Clemson easily in the title game.

But, that ain't what happened Monday night ... Clemson beat the dog snot out of the Tide in a 44 to 16 shalacking.

After the game, Clemson went to Twitter to take a shot at Drake ...

"Someone get this man a shirt with a Tiger Paw quick."

David Arquette is open-minded when it comes to pushing the envelope in pro wrestling -- but says the female wrestler who pulled a fake bloody tampon from her pants last month during a match went too far.

The video of the stunt has gone viral ... wrestler Priscilla Kelly was taking on another wrestler named Tuna at the Suburban Fight event in L.A. on Dec. 30 when she reached down below and whipped out the feminine hygiene product and shoved it in Tuna's mouth.

The crowd started chanting, "You sick f**k."

"I didn't like it," Arquette told us in L.A. ... "That's not my style."

Arquette appreciated the fact that Kelly's stunt has raised her profile in the wrestling community -- but says there are other ways to make a splash without having to pull anything out of your genitals.

As for Priscilla, she said she had no intentions of going viral ... noting, "I just thought it was funny."

But, she's suggested that the blowback from fans is based in sexism.

Sorry, Baker Mayfield ... Rashad Jennings says there's NO DEBATE who the Rookie of the Year is ... and the ex-NFL star says it's "hands down" Saquon Barkley.

TMZ Sports spoke with Jennings about the tight race for ROY between guys like Mayfield, Barkley, Phillip Lindsay and Nick Chubb ... but R.J. says it ain't even close.

It really could go any way ... after each rookie has posted huge numbers this season:

Barkley -- 1,307 rushing yards, 721 receiving yards and 15 TD.

Mayfield -- 3,725 passing yards,131 rushing yards and 27 TD.

Lindsay -- 1,037 rushing yards, 241 receiving yards and 10 TD.

Chubb -- 996 rushing yards, 149 receiving yards and 10 TD.

R.J. says he predicted Barkley would win ROY last March -- before the dude was even drafted -- and he's sticking with his preseason pick.

Here's a sight that'll make KSI VERY happy -- Logan Paul took an absolute beating from a real deal boxing star on his podcast ... and the video looks painful as hell!!

20-year-old Ryan Garcia -- a 17-0 rising boxing star -- turned the social media megastar into his own human punching bag on the "Impaulsive" podcast on Monday ... as part of the Body Shot Challenge.

If you can't figure it out ... the Body Shot Challenge is when someone tries to punch you as many times as possible (usually wearing some sort of padding).

Paul volunteered to be Garcia's guinea pig ... but the dude was clearly shook.

"I am f*cked. I am SO f*cked," Paul says before taking 20 straight punches to the gut and falling backward.

BTW, Garcia's known to be a heavy hitter -- he's knocked all but 3 of his opponents. But, Logan takes the hits like a champ, though ... and even takes one WITHOUT the padding!!

Tyron Woodley has a busy 2019 -- telling TMZ Sports the plan is to destroy Kamaru Usman at UFC 235 in March ... and then get back in the Octagon to face Colby Covington at UFC 238 in June.

Both Usman and Covington have been angling for a shot at Woodley's welterweight belt ever since Tyron smashed Darren Till at UFC 228 back in Sept. ... but it wasn't clear who was gonna get the first crack.

Tyron tells us he signed his deal to fight Usman on March 2 in Las Vegas -- and WHEN he gets the victory, the plan is to get right back into fight camp to prep for Covington.

Colby is currently the #1 ranked welterweight contender, Usman is #2.

We asked Tyron if he's got a fight strategy for Usman yet ... and shocker, it's violent.