TMZ Sports - Page 15

All eyes are on LeBron James before he takes the court for his first playoff game of the season ... and the Lakers superstar is sending a powerful message with his wardrobe:

"Make America Arrest The Cops Who Killed Breonna Taylor"

The demand comes in the form of a modified Donald Trump "MAGA" hat ... which POTUS made famous during his first campaign for presidency.

Of course, the Lakers and Portland Trail Blazers are set to tip-off for their first-round match-up in the NBA Playoffs from the Disney World bubble ... and LeBron has vowed to use his platform to raise social justice awareness throughout the season.

As we previously reported, a number of NBA superstars spoke with Taylor's mother, Tamika Palmer, last month ... and many have used their platform to demand justice.

The hat is also clearly another jab from James at POTUS -- and it's not the first time. LeBron has not his disdain for the President ... he's previously referred to him as a "bum" and a "clown."

LBJ also chose to wear a shirt with the phrase "by any means" ... as well as a pair of Nike Air Force 1s designed by African artist Karabo Poppy.

Talk about making a statement.

Dale Hawerchuck -- a hockey Hall of Famer and Winnipeg Jets legend -- died Tuesday after a battle with stomach cancer ... his son announced.

He was 57 years old.

Hawerchuk is arguably the greatest player in Winnipeg Jets history ... tallying 100 or more points in 6 of his first 7 seasons with the team after it selected him with the #1 overall pick in the 1981 NHL draft.

Hawerchuk ended up owning Jets franchise records for points (929) and goals (379) ... all the way up until the marks were finally bested in the 2015-16 season.

"The Winnipeg Jets Hockey Club, our players, our alumni, and our fans will miss him dearly," the Jets said in a statement, "and we will forever be inspired by his passion for the game, his commitment to his team, and his love for our community."

Hawerchuk went on to play 17 total seasons in the NHL ... which included a solid run with the Buffalo Sabres after his time with the Jets ended in 1990.

"The National Hockey League mourns the passing of Dale Hawerchuk, an instant and enduring star who captured the hearts of two hockey-loving cities, represented his country with class and distinction and is one of the most decorated players in our game's history," commish Gary Bettman said.

Hawerchuk began treatments for cancer in 2019 and completed chemotherapy this past April ... but his son announced just a few weeks ago the disease had returned.

A moment of silence was observed for Hawerchuk just before the Philadelphia Flyers took on the Montreal Canadians in a playoff game in Toronto on Tuesday.

Really good at football. Really bad at singing!!!

That's how the Philadelphia Eagles players felt about rookie QB Jalen Hurts -- booing the guy off the stage during a performance at the team facility  ... and the footage is hilarious!!!

The former Oklahoma/Alabama star tried to best to perform Maze's 1981 hit, "Before I Let Go" on Tuesday -- but man, it did not work out!

Tone-deaf? Yes. Pitchy? Yes. Voice cracking during the song? Mmmhmmm.

And, since it's Philly, the crowd LET HIM HAVE IT -- booing the crap out of the guy ... with some players yelling, "Get the f**k outta here!"

Obviously, the whole thing is in good fun ... NFL rookies have been embarrassing themselves in team "talent" shows for decades. Never gets old.

Hurts had previously performed Al Green's "Love & Happiness" for the team last week --- no boo's there, though.

The L.A. Lakers will rock special Kobe Bryant tribute jerseys during their playoff run -- which include a patch to honor Gigi Bryant ... and Vanessa is a huge fan of it all.

Check out the "Black Mamba" look -- uniforms that were actually inspired by and co-designed by Kobe a few years before he passed.

The design is sweet -- black uniforms with a snakeskin print ... featuring 16 stars on the side to represent the 16 Lakers championships.

The team is set to debut the new threads on Kobe Bryant Day -- 8/24 -- against the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 4 of their playoff series, according to the NBA's "Lockervision" website.

The jerseys will also include a special patch on the right shoulder to honor Gigi -- featuring her #2 in a white heart.

Vanessa gave a sneak peek at the threads on her Instagram stories Monday and they're awesome.

We're guessing the Lakers players are stoked about the look -- especially since LeBron James and Anthony Davis previously got Kobe Bryant tattoos to pay tribute to the NBA legend.

As for the date, 8/24 has already been declared Kobe Bryant Day in Orange County, where Kobe and Gigi lived.

The date represents the two jersey numbers Kobe wore during his 20-year run with the Lakers ... 8 and 24.

Nike, meanwhile, is giving Kobe his own memorial week starting on 8/23 (Bryant's birthday) ... with reps from the Swoosh saying they'll honor the Lakers legend all week with special programming and merch.

Kobe and Gianna -- along with 7 others -- died in a helicopter crash back in January.

Gianna was only 13-years-old. Kobe would have turned 42 this coming Sunday.

Who's the Kim Kardashian of the Gronkowski family?!

IT'S NOT ROB!

This according to the NFL superstar himself who says he's teaming up with his bros for a new FAMILY project ... and it sounds insane!

Rob tells TMZ Sports he spent his entire offseason beating  up his brothers -- Gordie, Dan, Chris and Glenn -- for their new YouTube channel, "The Gronks."

"We all just compete verse each other," Rob says ... "We all team up with each other to do all different type of weird activities or fun activities, or crazy activities, however you wanna categorize it."

Paintball, jet skis, beer pong -- you name it, they're doing it. With intensity.

We asked Rob if the new project is part of a larger strategic plan to set up a post-NFL career for himself in Hollywood.

His response is classic.

"I don't really have a plan. I really just take whatever I'm doing at the moment. Obviously right now my plan is just football, for real."

"I'm just really focused on the game right now and I'm loving it."

Gronk sat out of the 2019 season -- but says he feels awesome right now ... and when we asked how much longer he wants to play pro ball, he didn't commit to an answer.

"I'm not gonna lie, the game of football doesn't last for your whole life," Gronk said ... "So, it's good to have options when you're done playing but as of now, the focus is just there to get better and play some ball."

The Gronks say as part of their new channel, they team up with a ton of big stars for some insane physical challenges ... and even teased a possible Tom Brady cameo.

One of the men convicted in the murder of Michael Jordan's father, James Sr., in 1993 will walk free in 2023 ... after he was granted parole on Tuesday.

MJ's dad was shot to death in July 1993 while sleeping in his car at a rest stop in North Carolina. His body was dumped off a bridge in South Carolina and recovered 11 days later.

One of the men -- 45-year-old Larry Demery -- pled guilty to first-degree murder, armed robbery, and conspiracy to commit robbery in 1996.

On Tuesday, the North Carolina Post-Release Supervision and Parole Commission announced that it has granted Demery parole as part of the Mutual Agreement Parole Program.

Demery is set to be released on August 6, 2023.

In a letter explaining Demery's release, the MAPP is described as a scholastic and vocational program that is a three-way agreement between the Commission, the Division of Prisons and the offender.

The Charlotte Hornets play-by-play guy John Focke says he wanted to tweet out the word "Nuggets" on Monday.

He tweeted out a different n-word instead ... and now he's been suspended indefinitely.

Here's the deal ... Focke was watching the Utah Jazz take on the Denver Nuggets on Monday and claims his intention was to tweet about the shooting.

But, something went wrong ... and he sent out the racial slur to his 3,800 followers.

"Shot making in this Jazz-(n-word) game is awesome!" Focke said in the since-deleted tweet. "Murray and Mitchell going back and forth what a game!"

Once he realized what he had done, Focke scrambled to apologize and explain ... saying, "Earlier today I made a horrific error while attempting to tweet about the Denver-Utah game."

"I don’t know how I mistyped, I had (and have) no intention of ever using that word."

"I take full responsibility for my actions. I have been sick to my stomach about it ever since. I’m truly sorry that this happened and I apologize to those I offended."

The Hornets quickly addressed the issue ... suspending Focke indefinitely and launching an investigation into the incident.

"The Charlotte Hornets are aware of the recent social media post by radio broadcaster John Focke. As an organization, we do not condone this type of language."

"John has been suspended indefinitely as we investigate the matter more closely."

To make matter worse ... this is Focke's first season broadcasting for the Hornets.

Michael Strahan's game-worn Super Bowl 42 jersey -- when his NY Giants upset Tom Brady's UNDEFEATED Patriots in 2008 -- just hit the auction block ... and it's expected to crack the $100k mark!

TMZ Sports has learned ... Goldin Auctions is featuring Strahan's white and red NYG jersey in a current auction. The starting bid was $20k and it quickly exploded to $36k.

The game -- played on February 3, 2008, in Glendale, AZ -- is widely considered one of the best in Super Bowl history. It was also Strahan's final game of his legendary NFL career.

Goldin Auctions insists the jersey is 100% authentic -- it was photo-matched from 2 different companies that specialize in apparel authenticity.

Of course, New England entered the game as huge 12 point favorites and was looking to go 19-0 ... joining the Miami Dolphins as the only teams in history to complete an undefeated championship run.

But, Strahan -- along with Eli Manning and some help from a sure-handed, sure-helmeted David Tyree -- ruined the Patriots' night in a 17-to-14 upset.

Don't feel too bad for Bill Belichick, Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski, and the rest of the gang ... they won other Super Bowls. They're just fine.

Strahan had a solid game that night -- chalking up 3 tackles and a sack.

He later went on to make the Pro Football Hall of Fame and launched a TV career that could eclipse his playing career ... and that's really saying something!!

The jersey auction will run until August 22 and could get super hot in the final days as there are some rabid and rich Giants fans that would LOVE to get their hands on this.

Mike Conley is BACK -- almost!!!

The Utah Jazz star has returned to the NBA bubble in Orlando -- ready for the playoffs -- just one day after his wife gave birth to their son, Elijah.

Now, the quarantine begins -- and if he passed all of the COVID-19 tests, he can rejoin his teammates in just a few days.

Conley had traveled from Orlando to a hospital in Columbus, Ohio on Sunday so he could be in the room when his wife, Mary, delivered. And, he made it!

The Utah Jazz said they supported Conley taking as much time as he needed to be with his family ... but Monday night,  he was already reporting for duty, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

The quick turnaround means Conley MIGHT be cleared to return to action for Game 3 (Friday) of Utah's playoff series against the Denver Nuggets.

Like everyone who leaves the bubble, Conley must quarantine for several days and pass multiple COVID-19 tests before he'll be allowed to re-enter the bubble environment at Walt Disney World in Orlando.

This is the sports highlight of the day, BY FAR.

Washington Football Team QB Alex Smith made his official return to full practice on Tuesday ... nearly 2 years after he ALMOST DIED from complications following a devastating leg injury.

You can see in the amazing footage ... Smith runs through drills alongside QB Dwayne Haskins -- even connecting on a short pass to running back Antonio Gibson.

This is IMPROBABLE video considering everything Smith has gone through over the past 2 years.

Remember, the QB suffered a compound fracture in his right leg -- the bone broke through the skin -- during a game in November 2018.

Days later during his recovery, Smith became VERY sick and his leg turned black. He was diagnosed with sepsis -- a life-threatening condition that stems from a bad infection.

Doctors later determined Smith had a flesh-eating bacteria that ultimately required 17 surgeries!!!

Somehow, Smith battled through all of the procedures, all of the rehab ... all of the mental torture -- and was CLEARED by docs to return to the field over the weekend.

Alex's family celebrated the news with a champagne-spraying party -- and cake! Amazing moment.

And, now, once again Smith is beating the odds ... most everyone though the 36-year-old would just hang up his cleats and move on with his life.

But, Alex made it clear football is his passion and made it his mission to get back on the field.

Mission accomplished.

Tom Brady is fitting in just fine as the new guy down in Tampa Bay ... so says his new star wide receiver Mike Evans -- who absolutely GUSHED over the QB on Tuesday!!!

"He's the G.O.A.T. on and off the field," Evans said. "It's crazy. He's a superstar. The most accomplished player in our game in history. And. he's just like everybody else."

"He just works extremely hard. He's always taking care of his body. He loves his family. He loves family time. And, he's just cool."

Evans added, "He's a real down-to-earth guy. And, he's already up there as one of my favorite teammates."

It's huge praise from the 3-time Pro Bowl wideout ... considering the guys just became teammates about 5 months ago and have only had a few official practices as Bucs.

But, Evans says he truly means it ... saying, "I'm learning a lot from him. And hopefully, we tear it up this year."

Seems Brady's having a blast with Evans too ... Tom told NBC's Peter King earlier this week he's "so happy with the decision I made" to bolt from New England to Florida.

Good times in Tampa, huh?!

O.J. Simpson is getting political -- railing against his old pal Donald Trump's MAGA catchphrase ... while begging people to vote.

The whole thing begs the question ... Is O.J. trying to take out Trump? Sure seems that way.

The 73-year-old ex-con says his new rant was inspired by a golf outing with a buddy who was sporting a "Make America Great Again" hat ... which really rubbed him the wrong way.

"I was teasing him a little bit," Juice admits ... "He said 'Man, why does everyone get on my case when I wear this hat?'"

O.J. explained it this way... "I think 'Making America Great' is great. It's the 'Again' that bothers me."

Simpson is clearly offended by the slogan -- and tries to explain why America has BEEN great under several U.S. presidents -- he names both Republicans and Democrats, including Bush and Obama.

"Through all those presidents, America was great. We were the #1 nation there is."

"All of these politicians today, they're standing on the shoulders of the giants who ran this country before them."

Simpson ended his golf-course rant by encouraging people to vote.

So, does this mean Simpson is supporting Joe Biden?

Unclear ... but Simpson did say something interesting when asked in 2018 if he would have voted for Trump in the 2016 election.

"Somebody asked me if I'd have voted for him ... Probably not, but I only know two of my friends I'd vote to be president."

"Some of my best, best besties I would not vote to be president."

Dez Bryant has officially touched down in Baltimore ... next stop, a new contract with the Ravens?!

The former NFL superstar was at BWI Airport in Maryland Tuesday making his way to the Ravens' practice facility for a much-anticipated tryout ... and the dude seems PUMPED!!

The ex-Dallas Cowboys WR said straight-up "it'd be fun" to join the Ravens ... before adding he wants to play with Lamar Jackson BADLY!!!

"He the man," Dez said of the Baltimore QB. "He the man. Hell yeah. I've been rooting for Lamar since his Louisville days. Anybody that knows me knows that!"

Of course, there are a few hurdles Dez has to jump through before the Jackson-to-Bryant connection can be a reality.

Per NFL rules, Bryant must pass COVID testing prior to taking the field ... and even then, he's got to prove to Ravens coaches he still belongs in the league.

Remember, the 31-year-old hasn't played a down in the league since the 2017 season ... and has suffered through a blown-out Achilles in the meantime.

But, Dez has been working like a mad man to get back ... and, judging by his swagger at the airport Tuesday, dude's clearly confident heading into the tryout.

Good luck!!

Luka Doncic thinks it's RIDICULOUS the refs ejected his teammate Kristaps Porzingis for that NOTHING-BURGER of an altercation during Monday's playoff game.

... and LeBron James agrees!!

The Dallas Mavericks big man got the heave-ho for confronting Marcus Morris during an incident in the 3rd quarter.

KP was stepping up to defend Luka's honor -- after Marcus had gotten physical with him earlier. Nothing crazy. No punches. Just some minor shoving.

Still, Porzingis was tossed as a result -- and it pretty much spelled doom for the Mavs; chances at winning that critical Game 1 playoff game.

In fact, without KP, one of Dallas' best and most important players, the Mavs lost 118 to 110.

After the game, Luka not only defended Porzingis, he called out the refs in the process.

"I knew KP had my back. He did it for me, he did it for his teammate. He had my back."

"I don’t think it was fair to get him out of the game -- especially in the playoffs.”

"But you know, they decided -- so we had to play without him, which was tough."

Doncic wasn't the only one who was pissed about the bad officiating -- LeBron James and Dirk Nowitzki spoke out too.

"Man that was BOGUS AS HELL MAN!!!! Cmon man." James said on Twitter.

Nowitzki added, "The ejection is super soft."

Doncic carried the team once KP was ejected, scoring a game-high 42 points -- a record for the most points by any player in their first playoff appearance in NBA history.

Bet he would rather have the "W" instead though ...

The golf blood clearly runs thick in the Woods family ... Tiger's 11-year-old son just mowed down the field in a tournament this month -- winning a kids event EASILY!!

Charlie Woods posted a super low score of 3-under 33 in the 9-hole event on Aug. 9 at Hammock Creek Golf Club in Florida, winning the whole thing by 5 strokes ... and it's got everyone wondering -- is he the next Tiger?!

Charlie carded 3 birdies and no bogeys in the round ... and it wasn't like the course was a cakewalk -- the scorecard shows 6 of the 9 holes were 300 yards or longer!!

Of course, Dad was with Charlie every step of the way ... Tiger was even spotted carrying his kid's clubs during the outing!

The 44-year-old golf G.O.A.T. has praised his son's swing in the past ... saying straight-up he wishes he could put some of it into his own!!

"He’s starting to understand how to play. He’s asking me the right questions," Tiger told GOLFTV this summer. "I’ve kept it competitive with his par, so it’s been just an absolute blast to go out there and just, you know, be with him."

The bubble life is over -- so it's back to the couple life for Kendall Jenner and Devin Booker.

The two have been inseparable since Devin's Phoenix Suns were bounced from the NBA Bubble last week ... picking up their romance right where it left off.

Check out 23-year-old Devin and 24-year-old Kendall running errands in Malibu Monday -- scooping up a brand new dog bowl for DB's pooch, Haven.

They're wearing masks! The dog's on a leash! They're doing everything right!

Remember, Devin left the Orlando bubble on Friday -- immediately hit Nobu for a fancy reunion dinner with Kendall on Saturday night. Can you blame him?!

Before the NBA season re-started, Devin and Kendall were getting pretty close ... even taking road trips together. Remember the quick Sedona getaway?

Devin played insanely well during the Suns' undefeated bubble run -- some say he should have been named MVP of the restart.

But, post-season life doesn't seem to bad either ...