TMZ Sports - Page 50

Drake harnessed the power of the "Drake Curse" on Sunday -- and used it as a WEAPON to help his Toronto Raptors beat the 76ers.

For some reason, the Canadian superstar wasn't able to attend Game 7 in Toronto -- so he watched the game with some pals instead.

But, when Kawhi Leonard hit that insane buzzer beater to sink Philadelphia in the 4th quarter -- Drake busted out his phone and aimed down ... showing he was wearing a pair of 76ers shorts the whole time.

He posted the whole thing on his Instagram story. Even though you can't see his face, you can hear his voice -- it's obviously him.

The Drake curse is legendary ... whatever team Drake has rooted for in a championship capacity has crapped the bed when it counts.

From Alabama to Kentucky to the Toronto Maple Leafs ... even Conor McGregor.

So, credit to Drake for acknowledging to curse and using his mystical powers to help his own squad.

One more thing ... Drake also posted a photo of Leonard during the buzzer beater -- and used it as an opportunity to diss Joel Embiid ... because he tagged the 76ers star, "SadPhillyBoy."

Aaron Rodgers was DEFINITELY in Sunday night's episode of "Game of Thrones" ... but the question -- did he die or what?!

The Green Bay Packers QB not only posted a photo showing himself in full #GoT costume, but he also participated in a promotional package for the episode.

Here's the problem ... Aaron's cameo (or cameos?) was so brief, there's a debate over whether he survived Daenerys Targaryen's dragon-led assault on King's Landing.

Rodgers was first spotted as an archer in the Lannister army -- but that doesn't match the costume from his IG photo.

There's also video of him helping (?) a woman during the assault on the city. And then, more footage shows a person who looks like Aaron getting consumed by a wall of flames while trying to escape.

So, was he an archer AND a King's Landing-er? Did he survive the fire attack?

Of course, Aaron ain't the only celebrity to make a cameo on the show -- Rob McElhenney from "It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia" got an arrow through the face earlier this season.

Ditto for Martin Starr.

Conor McGregor is off the hook in his Miami phone smashing case -- prosecutors have dropped the charges against the UFC star after the victim stopped cooperating with authorities.

"The victim of the crime does not wish to return to the United States and prosecute this case," prosecutor Khalil Madani said during a hearing on Monday.

As we previously reported, McGregor was captured on video getting into an altercation outside the Fontainebleau hotel in Miami on March with Ahmed Abdirzak -- who was visiting from the United Kingdom.

In the footage, you can see McGregor snatch the guy's phone, stomp on it ... and leave the hotel with it.

He was arrested hours later and ultimately charged with felony robbery and misdemeanor criminal mischief.

But now, prosecutors say Abdirzak has left the country and doesn't want to come back to aid in Conor's prosecution ... which everyone saw coming from a mile away.

Here's why ... Abdirzak had filed a civil lawsuit against Conor -- which McGregor ultimately settled out of court.

Translation -- Abdirzak probably got a huge payday and wasn't exactly motivated to help put Conor behind bars.

This now clears the way for Conor to negotiate his next UFC fight without having to worry about being unavailable because of incarceration.

Blake Griffin tells TMZ Sports that Zion Williamson can "100 percent" be the NBA's all-time best dunker ... saying of the former Duke star, "He's going to be a monster."

Of course, Zion has been legendarily rattling rims since he was a high school prodigy ... and now that he's on his way to the NBA, we had to ask Blake if Z can be one of the best dunkers ever.

Blake's opinion? He says there's no doubt in his mind Zion can be up there with Michael Jordan and Dominique Wilkins, telling us, "100 percent. 100 percent."

"If he keeps playing like he is, he's going to be a monster."

In fact, Blake seems to be a huge fan of Zion's game overall -- not just his dunking -- saying, "He's a really good basketball player ... he can do a lot of stuff. He's going to be really, really good."

As for Griffin's advice on how Zion should handle possibly participating in the dunk contest in his rookie season next year ... BG says the ex-Duke star should only do it if it feels right.

But, when Z eventually decides to compete ... Griffin says it'll be a show, telling us, "He's probably going to do some things that we haven't seen in a while."

#CantWait!

We wouldn't have Hollywood if it weren't for all the mothers who gave birth to such stars -- and their kids sure seemed to recognize that too on Mother's Day.

Tons of celebs posted touching tributes to their moms Sunday, throwing up some sweet throwback pics in the process. Some standouts -- Shaq and his mom, Lucille; Kris Jenner and her ma, Mary Jo; Jamie Lynn Spears and her mother, Lynne; and Tom Brady and Galynn.

A lot of other folks got in on the love too -- including Paris Hilton, Quavo, Ronda Rousey, Chris Hemsworth, Mariah Carey, D-Wade, Neymar and even Nas.

Even more of them shouted out the mothers of their own children -- such as Barack Obama praising Michelle, Kevin Hart doing the same for Eniko, Will Smith bowing down for Jada Pinkett ... and Chance the Rapper thanking Kirsten for being a mom for him at times.

Ben Affleck killed two birds with one stone by paying tribute to both Jennifer Garner and his mother, Christine. Looks like everyone was on that train today too.

Nothing could be more on the nose than breakout actor Darren Criss singing the signature song from Lady Gaga's "A Star is Born" at a bar. Seriously ... this dude's talented.

The lead star from the FX series 'The Assassination of Gianni Versace' -- a role that won him tons of accolades this past awards season -- took the stage early Saturday morning at Tramp Stamp Granny's in Hollywood ... a piano bar that he has an ownership stake in.

Check it out ... Darren takes on the role of Bradley Cooper with the first verse and does pretty damn well. Then, a female companion gets onstage for Gaga's verse ... and absolutely kills it. We're told Darren went on to sing "A Whole New World" too, all impromptu.

It's been about three months since the Academy Awards wrapped up, where "Shallow" won Best Original Song ... but people still seem to be completely enamored with the movie, and the tune.

Take the WWE wrestlers who sang it in the ring a couple months back, or Billy Porter taking a whack at it in January. Now, Darren and co. are doing their own rendition.

12:51 PM PT -- Shams Charania of The Athletic is now reporting that the Mavericks are investigating the incident Kristaps was involved in. He says the current understanding by the team is that he was jumped at a club, assaulted and hit with objects.

The Mavericks have yet to release an official statement.

Dallas Mavericks star Kristaps Porzingis was reduced to a bloody mess in his home country of Latvia after he was apparently involved in a brawl that left him wanting more.

Eyewitnesses tell TMZ Sports ... the Euro NBA player was in his hometown of Liepaja over the weekend, where we're told he was celebrating some occasion through a number of clubs and pubs in the area.

Our sources say that a handful of Russians confronted Kristaps, supposedly upset with the fact that he was traded from the Knicks to the Mavs ... and an all-out tussle broke out. It would appear to have been pretty violent, 'cause Kristaps was bleeding from his head.

This video appears to capture the aftermath of the fight ... which almost wasn't over if Kristaps would have had his way. You can see him -- again, bleeding and with a torn shirt -- being held back by a woman at first, who he shoves aside.

Kristaps charges another group that's off camera, but a couple police officers plead with him to calm down and stand down. The entire exchange seems to be going on in their native tongue, Latvian.

The Mavericks haven't said anything about the altercation, and Kristaps himself has been quiet too.

Former WCW wrestler Silver King, who also starred in the 2006 comedy "Nacho Libre" with Jack Black, died Saturday night in the ring ... and a kick may have triggered the coronary.

Silver King was playing his tried-and-true role of villain in London at the Roundhouse when he suffered a heart attack, collapsing and dying. Authorities say he died at the venue.

In the video, you see him get knocked down 3 times, kind of writhing on the ground look somewhat dazed. It doesn't really look odd -- just doing what wrestlers do when they choreograph matches. But, then he takes a kick to the chest, and that drops him to the ground. His face is planted into the mat and he never gets up.

It looks like Silver King was supposed to win the match, because the ref didn't count him out, holding on the second count. His opponent turned Silver King over, making it appear he's pinning him to end the match, but Silver King is unresponsive. The ref ends the match, but Silver King doesn't move.

The ref takes off Silver King's mask, and it's apparent something is terribly wrong.

The 51-year-old Mexican wrestler, whose real name is Cesar Barron, was part of the Lucha Libre event. He played the bad guy character, Ramses, in "Nacho Libre."

London Metro Cops say they're treating the death as "non-suspicious."

The WWE said in a statement, "WWE extends its deepest condolences to Silver King's family, friends and fans."

The fight that got him the most attention was back in '98, during a WCW Cruiserweight Championship when he lost to Juventud Guerrera.

Jack Black posted a Spanish tribute, translated ... "Go with God, brother."

He was 51.

Don't close the book on Carmelo Anthony's career ... because his wife Lala Anthony tells TMZ Sports he'll DEFINITELY be back on a roster next season.

Lala was out in NYC when we asked about her hubby's NBA status -- considering he hasn't been on the court since 2018 and some people think he's done for good.

But, Anthony is only 34-years-old and he's been training hard recently -- so, we had to know if Lala expects to see Melo back in the league when the 2019-20 season kicks off.

"Why wouldn't we?" Lala said ... adding, "Facts!"

So, where she think Melo will land???

"Whatever team is gonna appreciate him!"

There's talk Anthony could return to the Knicks -- where he played for 7 seasons before he was traded to the OKC Thunder in 2017.

Anthony later spent a minute in Houston in 2018 before being traded to the Chicago Bulls, where he was waived on Feb. 1.

Michael B. Jordan doesn't want Conor McGregor's people to call his people about a role in 'Creed 3' ... because it seems like MBJ ain't at all interested in sharing the screen with the Irish mega-star.

We got Mike out in NYC -- wearing a Game Of Thrones style shoulder sheath with an umbrella in it (pulled it off too) -- and asked him if he'd be into the idea of Conor popping up in the next flick.

"Eh, I don't know about that man."

Now we should say ... Adonis Creed (Michael's character) fights at heavyweight, and Conor is like 155 pounds, so without a hell of a weight cut, we're now sure how the two would fight.

Still though, interesting that MBJ didn't even sound excited at all to share the screen in any way with Conor ... is the shine coming off the Irishman's star?

BTW ... we also asked about Deontay Wilder's chances of popping up in the movie ... something that two other stars of the flick have already said they're down for ... and Michael seemed more receptive.

Rob Gronkowski will NOT be successful transitioning from the NFL to Hollywood if he doesn't take it seriously ... so says ex-NFL star Thomas Jones -- who says the move is hard as hell!!!

Of course, TJ knows first-hand what it takes to go from on-the-field stud to on-the-screen star ... he spent 12 years in the league before becoming a respected actor.

And, he tells us the only way Gronk is going to have similar success is if he truly devotes himself.

"Just commit yourself to the industry, man," Jones says of his advice to the future Hall of Fame tight end ... "You can't really halfway do this. You have to really, really buy into it."

The reason? Jones says football players have to train themselves to be "inhumane" to be a beast on the field ... but acting requires more vulnerability.

In fact, Jones says he took acting classes for 4 YEARS to get that all down ... saying, "I took the craft seriously."

The good news for Gronk? Jones says the ex-Patriot will be a natural once he decides to put all his energy into it.

It's time for Kanye to give his music 100% to the lord ... that's according to Brandon Jennings, who says Kanye's Sunday Services are SO GOOD, that Ye should think about going gospel for real.

If you don't know what Sunday Services are we'll tell you ... it's where Kanye invites a bunch of famous people to Calabasas for an inspirational praise and worship session ... on Sunday.

It's not exactly church, but when we got Jennings out in L.A. he told us he's been, and it's AMAZING.

"If you love music, go to Kanye's service on Sunday ... for me I love music and it's positive and I see a lot of families there."

Must be really life-changing, 'cause Jennings thinks Kanye should turn in his keyboard for an organ, at least for one record.

"I think he should put out a gospel album, he'll definitely win a Grammy for that."

Kanye's done the gospel thing before -- remember "Jesus Walks?" -- so it's not out of the question.

Legendary boxing judge and HBO's longtime unofficial scorer Harold Lederman has died after battling with cancer.

Lederman passed away Saturday at a hospice care center in New York ... according to his daughter, Julie, and confirmed by HBO. Boxing promoter and former HBO exec Lou DiBella says Harold had fighting cancer for a while -- it's unclear which type.

A fixture of professional boxing, Lederman got his start judging matches back in 1967, but stopped in 1999 -- when he judged his final bout alongside his daughter. He covered more than 100 world title fights, including some legendary ones like Muhammad Ali-Ken Norton, Evander Holyfield-Dwight Muhammad Qawi, Marvin Hagler-Mustafa Hamsho and lots and lots of others.

When he became part of the HBO family in '86, he quickly became known for breaking down his unofficial score cards ... offering viewers an insight into how a judge picks apart a bout.

HBO Sports' executive VP, Peter Nelson, issued a statement on Harold's passing, saying ... "Harold Lederman had a lifelong love affair with the sport of boxing. Over the past 50 years he was universally respected and celebrated by the many people who make the sport what it is. Harold was happiest when seated ringside, studying the action and scoring the fight."

Harold was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2016 after storied career. He's survived by his wife, and his two daughters.

Danny Amendola has a new chick filling in the empty chair once occupied by Olivia Culpo -- but he can't seem to shake his ex completely, especially on her birthday.

The star wide receiver was down in his natural habitat of Miami Saturday, laying oceanfront with a smokin' hot lady friend who was tanning right next to him in a two-piece. Beach day with bae(?) -- a classic Amendola move, as we've come to learn.

It was pretty hot down there too -- and we're not just talkin' weather. Danny's pal got a little handsy with his abs after he seemed to spill some water on himself.

It sure looks like he's moving on from Olivia after going on an online tirade about her and her new flame, Zedd -- airing out A LOT of their personal biz in the process.

Speaking of Olivia and Zedd, the new pair also happened to be in Miami the same weekend. Olivia was in town celebrating her 27th birthday with her girlfriends, hitting up the elegant Swan restaurant ... where she was treated to a cake that was almost as big as her.

Zedd was there too, BTW ... tucked away in the background, but appearing to be having a grand ole time nevertheless. What's not to smile about when you got a former Miss Universe by your side??? Nothin' ... that's what.

One day after Dennis Rodman and his friends allegedly shoplifted from a Newport Beach yoga shop, the crew RETURNED to the business ... and allegedly stole MORE clothing!!!

TMZ Sports spoke with the owner of VIBES Hot Yoga who tells us Rodman and his pals came back to his yoga studio on May 8 ... with Rodman's female pal WEARING one of the outfits she stole the day before.

The owner tells us ... the staffer working the register on May 8 thought Rodman's behavior was bizarre -- he was gyrating and hip-thrusting at the counter.

Once staffers went through the surveillance footage, they noticed Rodman and his friends left with more clothing ... and we're told nobody paid a cent.

The owner is also adamant NOBODY on his staff told Rodman and his crew they could take items as "gifts" ... as Rodman claimed when TMZ Sports spoke with him Thursday evening.

As we previously reported, Rodman and his pals first appeared at the yoga shop on May 7 -- where cameras caught DR's female friend taking clothing off the rack and stuffing it into her purse.

One of Dennis' pals also dropped a $2,500 crystal in the store -- which they placed on a dolly and wheeled out of the store. The owner insists nobody paid for the crystal.

A rep for the Newport Beach PD previously told us they're investigating. So far, no arrests have been made.

As for Rodman, he told us Thursday night (May 9) that he didn't "steal sh*t."

Khabib Nurmagomedov is not abandoning hope for a super fight against UFC legend Georges St-Pierre ... his manager tells TMZ Sports he's actively working on getting the two in the Octagon.

Ali Abdelaziz not only reps Khabib -- but he's also close with GSP and helped get Georges back into fighting after a 4-year layoff to take on Michael Bisping in 2017.

Georges won that fight -- but hung up his gloves in early 2019 saying, "You should retire on top."

Now, Ali says the fighters have expressed to him that a Khabib vs. GSP matchup would be a "dream fight" on both ends ... but the trick is getting everyone to agree on money and a weight class.

"It's about weight," Ali says ... "The problem is about weight. What weight class do we fight at?"

If the two sides can strike a deal, the fight wouldn't happen any time in the immediate future -- Ali says Khabib has two fights to get through before he could get to GSP ... including a title fight with Dustin Poirier later this year.

Of course, Conor McGregor is also still in the picture -- he's demanding a rematch after Khabib dominated him at UFC 229 back in October.

Ali says Khabib feels Conor needs to prove he's worthy of a rematch -- considering he's lost 2 of his last 4 fights in the UFC.