TMZ Sports - Page 50

JOE BURROW FOR THE WIN ... in a basketball shoot-out?!

Yeah, it happened -- against Oklahoma -- and it was awesome.

Turns out, the LSU and Oklahoma football teams had a friendly Xmas Day basketball shooting contest Wednesday night ahead of the big Peach Bowl game.

Both sides picked a 5-man crew to hit shots from all over the court. The Sooners were up big going into the last round ... but the Heisman Trophy-winning QB stepped in and went 10 for 12, sealing the victory for the Tigers!

By the way, Burrow was a pretty solid high school basketball player back in Ohio before he turned his full-time focus to football.

According to Max Preps, Burrow averaged 19.3 points per game his senior year at Athens High ... with 6.1 rebounds and 2.4 assists. Not bad, right!?

Anyway, he was better at football ... and now he's expected to go Top 3 in the NFL Draft. What an athlete, huh?

Lindsey Vonn scoffs at the notion that only women want jewelry signifying their engagement, because she just blinged out her fiance during a very cool proposal.

Lindsay's already engaged to P.K. Subban, but on Xmas day she surprised him with a ring and a proposal of marriage.

The legendary skier said it was only fitting since this is the 2-year anniversary since they started dating ... "On our 2 year anniversary I returned the favor and asked PK to marry me… and he said yes."

She went on ... "We talk about equality but actions speak louder than words. Men should get engagement rings too and this is what PK deserves. Can’t wait to marry you babe."

They are a formidable couple for sure. 35-year-old Vonn is hands down one of the greatest U.S. skiers of all time. 30-year-old Subban is a top 10 NHL defensive player.

Lindsay was previously married to U.S. Ski teammate Thomas Vonn. They divorced in 2013. She subsequently dated Tiger Woods and then NFL coach Kenan Smith.

You think a fetus can derail UFC fighter Nina Ansaroff's MMA training!?!?!

Well, it can ... but Nina tells TMZ Sports she ain't exactly putting her career on hold when she gets pregnant with Amanda Nunes' baby.

Of course, Amanda ain't the only world-class fighter in the relationship -- 34-year-old Nina is the #5 ranked strawweight contender in the UFC. She's a killer.

But, with the two decided to expand their family in 2020 -- and Nina being the designated baby carrier -- we asked the two how it will affect her career in the Octagon.

"I’m taking a year off," Ansaroff says ... but when she returns, Nina says she plans on moving up a weight class and competing in the 125-lb flyweight division.

"I’m gonna be training throughout my pregnancy. I’m gonna stay in shape. I’m not gonna, ya know, just like not do anything and jump in."

Nick Young saved his girlfriend's best gift for last ... asking her to marry him with a MASSIVE engagement ring!!!

The charming moment went down on Christmas morning with help from his son, Nick Jr. who filmed the whole thing. You can see Nick grab the huge ring box from a different room and walk over to his baby mama Keonna Green and said the proposal is "way overdue."

It's a pretty swaggy moment ... the entire fam -- wearing matching PJs -- saw Nick tell Keonna he wants to spend the rest of his life with her and, of course, she said yes. Nick let out a huuuuge cheer after he slipped the ring on her. He then turned to his son and said, "We did it, son!!" Nick Jr. was stoked about it too.

We're told Nick worked with Jason of Beverly Hills to come up with the perfect ring for his Keonna ... and he was really stoked with the results.

"Nick was very hands on and took his time to design the ring and plan the proposal. You can tell he really enjoyed the process and I can definitely see the connection between him and Keonna. He proposed to his soulmate," Jason Arasheben, CEO Jason of Beverly Hills tells us.

Nick and Keonna started dating in high school. They have 3 kids together ... Nick Jr., daughter Navi and daughter Nyce, who was born in July.

Chris Johnson is breathing easier today ... TMZ Sports has learned the ex-NFL superstar only got a slap on the wrist after he was accused of choking a valet last year.

Back in April 2018, the former Tennessee Titans RB allegedly roughed up a nightclub valet in Hillsborough County, Florida.

According to court docs, Johnson is accused of placing a man in a chokehold and punching him the face.

In video of the altercation obtained by TMZ Sports, you can see the two interact ... but it's unclear if an attack ever took place.

In a separate video posted by the alleged victim, you can see the guy was rattled from the incident ... bleeding from his nose and saying he thought he was going to die.

Johnson was eventually hit with misdemeanor battery over the altercation ... but the 34-year-old fought the charge in court for months, and finally, earlier this month, he cut a deal with prosecutors to close out the case.

We're told Johnson agreed to enter into a pre-trial diversion program to eventually have the charge dropped.

Details of Johnson's exact program are unclear ... but we're told by officials that generally, defendants in misdemeanor intervention programs in Hillsborough County, Florida are required to pay some fines and restitution and complete community service.

NBA star Trae Young is beastin' for the Atlanta Hawks right now ... and he's rewarding himself by buying a $1.5 million crib in his home state of Oklahoma!!

TMZ Sports has learned ... Trae bought himself a new 8,100-square-foot pad in Norman Oklahoma where he grew up --- his first LEGIT house ... and it's loaded!!!

The pad comes with 5 bedrooms, 6 baths, a massive kitchen, a pool with a cool slide, a pool house ... and you can put up to 7 cars in his giant garage!

It doesn't stop there ... the baller is also adding 14 TVs and a dope audio system --- and because of that, he's spending TONS of money on security. Not bad for a 21-year-old huh?

And, Trae -- who's averaging 28 PPG and 8 assists right now --- is serious about uppin' his game that he's having his trainers and nutritionist live with him at his new home during the offseason.

The newest New York Knicks coach is ... Kenyon Martin????

Don't rule it out ... 'cause the ex-NBA superstar is officially throwing his hat into the ring for the open job -- telling TMZ Sports he wants to be NY's next head man!!

And, get this ... the dude says he wants Metta World Peace to be an assistant on his staff!!

We got the 41-year-old out at LAX ... and when we asked him who should replace David Fizdale at Madison Square Garden next, he told us straight-up, "Me!"

When our photog informed him Metta has also been gunning for the job ... he said that's cool, saying, "Me and Metta, head coach and assistant coach!"

So, could it happen? Almost certainly not ... the rumored favorite for the opening is Mark Jackson -- but others like Stan and Jeff Van Gundy have also reportedly been linked to the job.

Snowed in and wanna get away?? Here's some of your favorite athletes livin' it up in much better conditions to take your mind off the cold!!

It's a tradition unlike any other -- big-time ballers love to show off their shredded bods while getting some R&R in paradise ... and if you're LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, that means puttin' on some REALLY short shorts.

Baecation hall of famers Paige VanZant and her hubby Austin Vanderford always come through with some fire whenever they get some downtime ... as well as Steph and Ayesha Curry.

Antonio Brown really wants his ex out of his house ... and he's doing everything he can to kick his baby mama to the curb.

The unemployed wide receiver is suing his ex, Chelsie Kyriss ... claiming she's refusing to leave his home after he served her with an eviction notice.

Antonio just filed legal docs in Florida, obtained by TMZ Sports, claiming Chelsie is a guest in his home and is ignoring his notice to vacate the premises ... he says she was supposed to pack up and leave by Dec. 16, but claims she's still living in his Fort Lauderdale estate.

The lawsuit is the latest in a nasty spat between the former couple.

Tacko Fall is VERSATILE!!!

Check out the 7'5" Boston Celtics rookie -- a beloved fan-favorite -- taking over the famous Boston Pops Orchestra for their Xmas show ... AND KILLIN' IT!!

The 24-year-old -- born in Senegal -- took the stage at Symphony Hall in a size 48 double extra-long tuxedo ... and temporarily filled in for conductor Keith Lockhart for a rendition of "Sleigh Ride."

HE EVEN BUSTED OUT A SPIN MOVE!!! GIVE THIS GUY A CONTRACT!

Fall absolutely smashed his orchestra debut -- and the crowd went wild for him.

After the show, Fall gave props to Shaquille O'Neal -- who conducted back in 2010 --  telling the Boston Globe he prepared by studying Shaq's performance.

Shout out to Tacko ... one of the nicest guys in pro sports.

Fall was a college sensation back at UCF but didn't get picked in the 2019 NBA Draft. The Celtics signed him to a deal and he did well in the NBA's summer league -- eventually making his NBA debut in October.

Bottom line, the people love Tacko!!

Here's Magic Johnson saying what ALL basketball fans are thinking ... WE WANT ZION!!

Of course, Zion Williamson has missed his entire NBA rookie season thanks to a meniscus tear in his right knee. The New Orleans Pelicans star underwent surgery about 9 weeks ago, but he's far from game-ready.

Magic's good pal Stephen A. Smith recently suggested Zion sit out the rest of the season and focus on his recovery ... so when we saw Johnson leaving Avra in Bev Hills, we asked his thoughts on the situation.

"We don't know the extent of his injury," Magic said ... "Whatever is good for him. I'm sure [Zion's team] will make a good decision."

"We wanna see him on the court but if it's better for him to sit out, then maybe he do that. If he wants to come back, then come back!"

The bottom line for Magic ... "The league misses him. We love seeing his talent because we think he's really gonna be a star in our league."

You can take David Arquette out of the wrestling ring ... but you can't take the wrestler outta David Arquette ... 'cause he tells TMZ Sports he's BACK for another brawl!!!

It's no secret the actor loves to get his ass beat ... remember when he got in a nasty, bloody beatdown back in 2018?? He went on to continue to get his ass beat repeatedly in 2019.

But, DA ain't afraid to get back to business ... telling us he's got an epic "bar wrestling" fight going down on New Year's Eve to end his year on a high note!!

"I'm ready for some 2020," Arquette says. "I'm sick of this 2019. 2019 was bad. I almost died twice in 2019."

Like we said ... dude REALLY gets his ass kicked.

But, this time around he says he's facing off against Joey Ryan and Colt Cabana ... and his tag team partner is RJ City. So ... maybe this time he'll deliver the beating??

Doug Flutie says his gorgeous daughter, Alexa, was "in the mix" to become a Maxim cover model ... but a gnarly accident with a dog forced her to back out of the contest.

TMZ Sports spoke with the ex-football star about the former NFL cheerleader throwing her hat in the ring for Maxim's cover girl contest earlier this year ... and he says he was "very proud" of her success.

"Very good," Flutie says. "Very proud of her. She really made a good run at that."

Flutie says Alexa made it a few rounds before a bad dog bite kept her from continuing through the competition ... but she's doing much better now.

"She kind of just ignored the whole thing and left it and went on to take care of herself."

"She’s doing great, she’s fine but would've been interesting to see if she kept promoting herself online and kept after it a little bit how she could of done."

We also asked how he feels about people eyeing his daughter ... and he says he's used to it by now!

"I gave up on that a long time ago," Flutie jokes. "She’s spent 5 years in the NFL as a NFL cheerleader, she went to school for dance, she been in production, she’s been in this and that."

Former Dodgers pitcher Rich Hill and his wife got busted by cops this weekend at a Patriots game ... TMZ Sports has confirmed.

Law enforcement sources tell us Hill and his spouse, Caitlin McClellan, were arrested Saturday outside of Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA before kickoff ... because they were trying to enter the facility with an oversized bag and then refusing to leave the grounds.

We're told Foxboro PD instructed Hill and McClellan they couldn't come in with the bag they were trying to bring along. Cops are saying the missus tried sneaking in through other gates after repeatedly being told "no."

After allegedly refusing to leave the grounds, cops arrested her for disorderly conduct and trespassing -- and as they were putting her into a car ... Hill himself allegedly got involved and attempted to intervene. He got arrested too ... they were both taken to a station for booking.

NBC has suspended Jeremy Roenick indefinitely without pay ... after the pro-turned-analyst went on a podcast and made sexual comments about his coworkers.

The 20-year vet -- who played for a number of NHL teams including the Blackhawks, Coyotes and Flyers -- appeared on the Barstool Sports "Spittin' Chiclets" podcast when he started talking about his colleagues Kathryn Tappen and Patrick Sharp.

At one point, Roenick discussed going on vacation with his wife and Tappen ... and revealed he joked with a hotel guest about their "situation," saying, “I play it off like we’re going to bed together every night, the three of us.”

Roenick explains that it would NEVER happen ... but added, "If it really came to fruition, that would really be good."

Later in the interview, Roenick praised the host as a coworker, saying she's "one of the most professional sports personalities I know."

As for Sharp, Roenick also gushed about his appearance ... saying he's "so beautiful" and "I'd have to think about it if he asked me ... I wouldn't say no right away."

NBC Sports released a statement on Monday, saying “Jeremy Roenick has been suspended indefinitely without pay for making inappropriate comments about his co-workers."

"We will have no further comment at this time.”

Roenick has been working for NBC Sports since 2010 ... but it's unclear when he'll make it back to the TV screens.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic's statue is still taking a beating from pissed off fans ... the international soccer superstar's life-sized tribute in Sweden had its nose cut off and got a new paint job.

As we previously reported ... Ibra's statue outside the soccer stadium in Malmo has been under attack since he bought an ownership stake in another Swedish pro team, Hammarby -- which operates out of Stockholm.

The thing has been through a lot since it debuted in October -- it's been sprayed with paint, had a toilet seat around its arm and a noose around its neck, been set on fire ... and most recently, somebody tried to saw off its feet.

The vandalism continued on Sunday when an angry fan somehow managed to cut off the statue's nose ... and then spray-painted the entire body.

ICYMI -- we spoke with Ibra about the constant statue attacks ... and he played it off like he didn't know what we were talking about (but the dude *HAS* to know about it).

Authorities in Malmo have been investigating the vandalism ... and workers were already power-washing the statue to remove the paint.

Maybe it's time to put the thing in a glass box??