TMZ Sports - Page 50

HOW AWESOME IS THIS?!?!?

LeBron James' son is such a superstar already that L.A. Rams running back Todd Gurley had courtside seats to watch him play in his high school game Tuesday night!!

And, get this, the kid didn't disappoint -- throwing down a MONSTER alley-oop!!!!

Bronny James got his first-ever start for Sierra Canyon against Granada Hills Charter in Chatsworth, Calif. ... and it didn't take him long to flash his insane potential.

Just a few minutes into the game ... LBJ's 15-year-old kid caught a lob and threw it down with authority!!!

And, eventually, Bronny's squad ran away with it ... routing GHC, 87-35.

Gurley seemed impressed with the King's kid ... and even posted a few highlights from his night on the hardwood to his social media page!!

Forget the Heisman Trophy ... get Ole Miss QB John Rhys Plumlee a Grammy -- 'cause the dude can SAAAAAAAAAANNNGGG!!!

Here's video of the Rebels star at the 2019 C Spire Conerly Award ceremony Tuesday in Mississippi ... taking ALL of the shine away from the other award finalists.

It's unclear why JRP stepped up to the piano ... but we're all sure as hell glad he did -- 'cause the 18-year-old tickled the keys and belted out "Drops Of Jupiter."

And, yeah, we're all swooning!!!

As for what went down after Plumlee's impromptu concert ... the freshman didn't end up winning the coveted honor that goes to the best college football player in Mississippi (Miss. State's Kylin Hill did).

But , JRP sure gained a bunch of new fans anyway!!!

By the way, if you haven't heard of Plumlee ... you should get to know the guy -- he's got SUPERSTAR potential, rushing for 1,023 yards and throwing for 910 more in just 9 games this season.

L.A. Clippers player Patrick Patterson hit the streets of Bev Hills with his wife this week ... in the wake of a social media war that erupted over their interracial marriage.

Some quick background -- Patterson posted an anniversary message to his wife Sarah on IG back in October ... which didn't go over well with one of his followers who suggested Sarah only married him because he's an NBA player.

"I bet she’s the only one in her family history to date a black. Stay woke my guy."

Patterson clapped back -- saying, "So I should settle for a bulldog and act like I’m happy with my life and preach ‘keep it in your race’ to the world as if Dr. King didn’t fight/die for equality, acceptance, all cultures loving one another, and no hate? No thanks. That may be your life but I don’t want that for mine or for my family. Color doesn’t matter. Wake up."

People were furious with Patterson, claiming the "bulldog" comment was insulting to black women.

30-year-old Patterson -- a 1st round pick in the 2010 NBA Draft -- apologized and said the comment was only directed at the commenter's wife ... but acknowledges he shouldn't have used the term in the first place.

Now, Patterson tells TMZ Sports he and his wife are trying to move on from the controversy  -- saying, "At the end of the day, what happened, happened. I apologized for it, I would just like to leave it at that."

We asked Patterson if he and his wife are treated differently in real life as opposed to social media.

"The only experience that matters is the one that I share with my wife right here and that's the love we share. At the end of the day, nothing else matters."

"Social media is one thing, it's a different animal. The real world's a whole new animal, so each aspect is different from another in their own way."

Here's proof CC Sabathia gave EVERYTHING he had to try to get the Yankees another World Series title ...

TMZ Sports got the former MLB ace out in NYC on Tuesday ... and he was sporting a bulky brace on his pitching arm.

When we spoke to sources close to the 39-year-old, they told us he needed surgery last week to clean up the mess he made in his left arm after pitching for the Yanks against Houston in the ALCS.

Tough dude, right?!

Of course, CC battled a TON of injuries in his last year in pinstripes ... the guy famously said he would have had knee surgery over the summer if the Yanks weren't in a championship hunt.

As for his future, a timeline for recovery doesn't matter much anymore ... Sabathia is done pitching for good -- and if you expect to see him around the diamond next year, don't count on it.

The guy told reporters Tuesday he has ZERO interest in managing or broadcasting ... and seems he wasn't kidding when he told us earlier this year he's looking to do a ton of fishing in retirement!

Travis Scott is getting an inside look at the upcoming Dior x Air Jordan 1s due out next year ... and yeah, they look expensive as hell.

La Flame -- who's got his own Nike deal and custom line of AJs and AF1s -- posted the luxurious kicks on his IG on Tuesday ... proving his folks at the Swoosh really care.

The Dior Js are slated to come out in April 2020 and have a HEFTY rumored price tag of $2,000, making them some of the highest-priced Js EVER.

The sneaks will be made entirely in Italy with white and pearl grey Dior leather and the Swoosh will have the classic pattern used in the Dior B23 shoes. Fancy stuff.

Of course, Scott's collabs with Nike have been a massive hit -- his $175 AJ1 collabs have sold out within minutes and have gone for thousands on the resale market ... and he's also got his take on a number of other iconic Nike kicks.

Travis also announced earlier Tuesday he's working with Nike to bring a "Cactus Jack Court" to Houston ... so yeah, both sides gotta be happy about that.

Terrelle Pryor was just wheeled out of the Intensive Care Unit -- SMILING -- with a bandage over the wound where he was stabbed in his chest ... and it's all on video.

"Thanks for all the support," the NFL player said on his way out of ICU ... "I'mma be aite."

Pryor notes that he "had to be coded twice" -- which is usually hospital slang for an emergency effort to resuscitate someone having a life-threatening medical episode.

You can see a bandage on Pryor's right chest area.

As we previously reported, Pryor underwent emergency surgery on Nov. 30 after he was stabbed in the chest in a domestic dispute with his girlfriend, Shalaya Briston.

Seems Pryor got along with the nurses and staff in the ICU -- writing, "Left trauma ICU for the first time. Had to say by to my girls."

In the footage, Pryor invites the staff to come visit him "upstairs" -- which we assume means he's being moved to a different part of the hospital while he continues to recover.

Once Pryor is healthy enough to leave the hospital, cops tell TMZ Sports he'll have to surrender to police to be booked for misdemeanor assault for his alleged role in the incident with his GF.

As for Briston, she's been charged with aggravated assault and attempted homicide, and is currently behind bars.

Johnny Gill says he was watching LIVE when the Seahawks receivers paid homage to New Edition with their TD celebration on Monday ... and tells TMZ Sports he loved every second of it!!!

The 'Hawks turned the gridiron into a dance floor after a 3rd quarter touchdown to David Moore ... re-enacting the iconic "If It Isn't Love" choreography from the boy band's 1988 hit music vid.

The Internet went crazy after the TD celly and the R&B legend appreciated it even more -- not only 'cause he's a Seahawks fan ... but also because they killed it!!!

"That was freakin' hilarious," Gill tells us. "But, you know what's so funny is that they're one of the few that I actually saw, like, they actually had the form and everything down."

"I was watching the game, and I'm going, 'OK! OK! AIGHT!'"

Gill says it was obvious how much time Moore, Tyler Lockett, DK Metcalf and Jaron Brown put into perfecting the dance.

"They really honestly took time and they practiced. I was like 'Yo, they're right in sync and the form is correct.'"

Gill gets serious for a second, pointing out the dance just goes to show how timeless the group's music really is ... and that's what made it even more special.

"True testament to our work, for anybody, when generations come and they’re aware of you and can appreciate what you’ve done. That’s a true testament to the hard work we put in and obviously you can’t even put it into words."

Gill says the group of guys have done a great job all season -- including their 'NSYNC "Bye Bye Bye" tribute.

We also asked Gill if he's ever down to join the WR corps next time they put on a New Edition rendition ... and ya gotta hear his response!!!

It's World Trick Shot Day ... and you know who's pumped about that?? The Harlem Globetrotters, which completed the HIGHEST DUNK EVER in honor of the holiday!!

The video is bananas ... Globetrotter legend Hammer Harrison jumped out of a freakin' airplane from 13,000 feet to attempt the record-breaking rim shaker ... and flew all the way down to land the dunk.

Not only is skydiving insane (props to the pro controlling the parachute), but Hammer managed to keep his focus to successfully complete the shot.

But, think about it ... WHAT IF HE MISJUDGED THE LANDING AND HIT HIS HEAD ON THE BACKBOARD?!?!?!

The Globetrotters made World Trick Shot Day an official holiday 4 years ago, so obviously they had to go big. 13,000-feet big to be exact.

Harrison also celebrated the big day last year by jumping off the Stratosphere in Las Vegas, which was the previous highest slam dunk record at 855 feet. Equally bananas.

"We work on trick shots every day, though the skydive trick shot is not one of them," Harrison said of the jump.

"We practice them because it’s such a thrill for us, and for our fans. Our fans give us such great feedback when we post them. We love getting the chance to see what they can do, too."

Alex Rodriguez is one of only 9 players ever to hit 600 home runs ... and now you can own everything short of the jockstrap A-Rod wore when he smashed the historic dinger.

Rodriguez hit his 600th career home run off Blue Jays pitcher Shaun Marcum on August 4, 2010 at Yankees Stadium in The Bronx ... making him the youngest player (35 years, 8 days) to ever reach the milestone.

Now, the Louisville Slugger bat that Rodriguez used to crush the Rawlings baseball over the center field fence is up for auction at SCP Auctions.

You can also bid on Alex's Majestic brand Yankees uniform ... as well as the 1st base bag that Rodriguez touched during his HR trot.

All of the pieces are signed by Rodriguez ... and inscribed with writing that commemorates his 600th blast.

600 home runs is a BIG DEAL ... and it put A-Rod in a super exclusive club with legends like Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron (and a few other guys you might've heard of ... Mays, Griffey Jr., Pujols, Thome, Sosa).

Rodriguez went on to hit 696 total home runs ... 4th all-time on the Major League Baseball career HR list.

Bidding ends next week ... and the bat, ball, and uniform (offered individually, not as a package) have each crossed the $10K mark already!

The auction house tells us they expect the bat to go for between $40-50K, the uniform $30-40K ... and the baseball for over $50,000.

Terrelle Pryor ain't getting a "Get Out of Jail Free" card just because he was stabbed -- he'll be booked and must take a mug shot when he's released from the hospital, cops tell TMZ Sports.

Remember, Pryor was charged with misdemeanor assault for allegedly fighting with his girlfriend Shalaya Briston on Nov. 30 ... but he hasn't been booked because he's still holed up at UPMC Mercy Hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery to treat a life-threatening stab wound.

However, when he IS healthy enough to leave the hospital, cops say he MUST go through the regular booking process ... meaning he'll have to turn himself in and get booked like every other arrestee.

Which means mug shot, fingerprints, perp walk ... the whole shebang.

Unclear when Pryor will be released from the hospital -- however, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler says the family is hoping he'll be out in the next 48 hours.

As we previously reported, Pryor and Briston allegedly got into it at their Pittsburgh apartment after a night out with friends ... and things escalated quickly.

One witness claims Pryor attacked first and Briston defended herself by grabbing a sharp object and stabbing the 30-year-old NFL player in the chest.

Briston has been charged with felony attempted homicide -- and she's still behind bars. When Briston was booked, she appeared to be smirking in her mug shot.

Brandon Marshall is calling for MERCY for Browns head coach Freddie Kitchens -- telling TMZ Sports the guy should get another shot in Year 2 ... with one serious caveat.

Of course, calling the Browns underachievers under Kitchens is a massive understatement ... they've got an insanely talented roster but have only managed to get 5 wins.

And, after Kitchen rocked a "Pittsburgh Started It" shirt -- making light of the Myles Garrett helmet attack days before the Steelers rematch -- many are calling for the ax.

But, not Marshall ... at least, not yet.

"I didn't like him wearing that shirt. It made no sense for him to do that. Nothing that justifies that," Marshall said ... "But, I hate letting a coach go in the first year."

Marshall suggested keeping Kitchens around for a Prove-It year 2 ... but "he's gotta turn it around" -- explaining there's a serious problem with the culture in Cleveland.

"There are some cultural things he's gotta fix."

As for Baker Mayfield, Marshall's optimistic about him too ... saying it appears the QB has turned a corner and is starting to show he can be the guy in CLE.

The best young power hitter in the MLB hits a golf a ball like THIS?!?!?!

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. took a trip to Top Golf on Monday ... and the results were shockingly average.

The Toronto Blue Jays superstar stepped up to the range mat with what appeared to be a 3-wood in his hands ... and proceeded to show off less power than your average dad.

Watch the clip ... the same violent swing that allows the 20-year-old to launch baseballs 500 feet only yielded some 175-yarders.

OKAY, he ain't exactly Zion Williamson with a golf club ... but come on, look at this kid with a baseball bat in his hands!!!

For their part, Vladdy's friends appeared to be making fun of his lack of pop on the links too!!

Don't worry, baby Guerrero's still raking on the baseball diamond ... he later posted some clips Monday night showing off his classic power.

But, still ... call up Nelson Cruz and get some golf lessons, bro!!!

Ex-Notre Dame RB George Atkinson III -- son of former Super Bowl champ George Atkinson II -- died on Monday ... less than 1 year after his twin brother committed suicide.

It's unclear how the 27-year-old passed ... but the former NFL player said losing his brother, Josh, last December took a serious toll on him.

In a letter penned by Atkinson III in October ... he said Josh's death put him "on an emotional roller coaster and in a real dark place."

Atkinson III admitted he attempted to "harm himself" shortly after the death and had to be institutionalized ... but said his 2-year-old daughter was keeping him going.

"Without my daughter," Atkinson III wrote, "I don’t know where I would be right now. She gave me that second wind of motivation."

Atkinson III was a top recruit in the country coming out of high school in 2011 ... and was a stud for Notre Dame from '11 to '13 -- scoring 10 career TDs.

He went on to play two seasons in the NFL, one for the Raiders and one for the Browns ... and scored a memorable preseason TD in 2016.

Atkinson III's father was a star returner and defensive back for the Raiders, making two Pro Bowls and helping Oakland win Super Bowl XI over the Minnesota Vikings.

RIP

File Under: "WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?!"

A Russian figure skater wore an Auschwitz-themed costume during a November competition -- while skating to music from "Schindler's List" -- and now people are FURIOUS!!!

The skater is 23-year-old Anton Shulepov -- who competed in the costume during his free skating performance at the Grand Prix of Figure Skating event ... a prestigious tournament featuring top skaters from all over the world, including Israel.

Of course, the outfit contains imagery from Nazi concentration camps -- including the yellow star they forced Jews to wear ... and other elements of a Nazi prison guard uniform.

If the outfit isn't offensive enough, things got WORSE this week, when it appeared on a Best Costume list provided by the International Skating Union ... a contest that allows fans to vote on their favorite outfits.

The ISU has since removed the costume from the list -- insisting it meant to feature Shulepov's costume from his "Short Program" routine, a plain blue outfit.

The Anti-Defamation League has obviously condemned the costume AND the ISU for including it on the list in a statement from CEO Jonathan A Greenblatt.

"While we understand the need for skaters to be creative in their choice of costumes, Anton Shulepov’s apparent decision to evoke painful Holocaust imagery as part of his routine was insensitive and offensive."

"We are surprised that the International Skating Union initially posted a picture of this costume as a nominee for ‘costume of the year.’ Yellow Stars of David or other concentration camp imagery have no place in figure skating."

FYI, Shulepov reportedly finished LAST in the skating competition.

Bikram Choudhury -- the guy behind Bikram Yoga -- is not currently being investigated for rape despite a damning new Netflix documentary, but he ain't exactly out of the woods yet.

The 75-year-old was painted as a conniving serial rapist in "Bikram: Yogi, Guru, Predator" -- with several women explaining how Bikram abused his power to sexually assault them.

The burning question at the end of the documentary ... how the hell was Bikram NOT hit with criminal charges???

The L.A. District Attorney's Office acknowledges a case was submitted in 2013 involving 4 accusers -- but at the time "it was determined that there was insufficient evidence to file criminal charges."

Here's the breakdown as to why prosecutors shot down each allegation  ...

Alleged Victim 1 (Claimed she was sexually assaulted at Bikram's home in 2005) -- "No other witnesses were present and no physical evidence was recovered."

Alleged Victim 2 (Claimed she was sexually assaulted at Bikram's home in 2006) -- "No one witnessed the assault."

Alleged Victim 3 (Claimed she was raped twice in 2011) -- "No percipient witnesses or corroborative evidence are available."

Alleged Victim 4 (Claimed she was raped three times in 2010) -- "No percipient witnesses or corroborative evidence are available."

The D.A. also notes the statute of limitations had expired on Alleged Victim 1 prior to reporting.

But, even though those cases didn't go anywhere, the D.A. tells TMZ it will conduct a "complete and thorough review" if law enforcement presents any new allegations to the office.

Our LAPD sources tell us there are no current investigations but as one person put it, "If a victim does come forward, the LAPD will investigate."

Law enforcement sources tell us ... people involved in the previous investigations strongly believe the accusers ARE credible, but it's difficult to get a conviction without witnesses or physical evidence.

Of course, Bikram is currently on the lam ... he fled the country after he was hit with a $6.8 million judgment in 2016 after his former lawyer, Minakshi Jafa-Bodden, sued him for wrongful termination and sexual harassment.

Jafa-Bodden -- who was featured heavily in the Netflix doc -- claimed she was fired after investigating claims Bikram raped a female student.

For his part, Bikram has denied raping anyone -- claiming he doesn't need to rape because there are plenty of women around the world who would willingly have sex with him.

NFL wide receiver Antonio Callaway was mere FEET from gunfire in Miami in which a woman was shot ... and the whole incident was captured on video.

22-year-old Callaway -- who was cut by the Browns in Nov. after failing a drug test -- was part of a large crowd of people watching a street fight between two women Sunday night when shots rang out.

Unclear why the women were fighting or why Callaway was there ... but people in the crowd seemed excited about the brawl with one woman live streaming the incident on Facebook.

But, after the fight, as people were leaving, multiple shots rang out and the woman who was live streaming drops her phone.

We've confirmed the woman recording is being hospitalized in the ICU at Jackson Memorial Hospital.

The Miami Police Dept. is investigating the shooting -- but so far, no arrests have been made and no suspects have been identified.

As for Callaway's involvement, we've reached out to his reps for comment and we're waiting to hear back.

Callaway was a stud WR during his freshman year at the University of Florida -- but was suspended in 2016 and 2017 for various reasons including an allegation of sexual assault (though school investigators found him "not responsible" for the incident and was allowed back on the team).