TMZ Sports - Page 50

Kim Zolciak-Biermann says renewing your wedding vows isn't the spark for a fizzled out relationship -- but if that's what you're aiming for ... she's got a suggestion.

We got Kim and her hubby, Kroy, at LAX and asked if they recommend married couples renew their vows -- like they did this past spring -- to reignite romance.

Turns out Justin Bieber isn't the best basketball player up at the Hillsong Church ... that honor would go to temple honcho -- and Bieber's spiritual advisor -- Carl Lentz, who seriously has game.

Like, for real.

TMZ Sports got our hands on some video of Lentz in action ... balling along none other than ex-Duke national player of the year Jay Williams, and looking dominant.

Lentz seems to be from the Steph Curry "any range is in range" school of playing, but it's clear he's got a divine (get it?) set of skills.

BTW, Lentz is an actual ball player -- before he got his calling, he was a shooter at NC State. And he still has a lot of NBA friends including Kevin Durant, Tyson Chandler and Kyrie Irving.

Celebrate boxing days with these sluggin' stars ... punch through these pics and see if you can guess who's getting a knock-out deal this holiday!

Shannon Sharpe REALLY hopes Diddy can become the next owner of the Carolina Panthers ... and he's spelling out everything that needs to happen in order for that to become a reality.

The co-host of FS1's "Undisputed" has been a Diddy supporter since the music mogul first announced his intentions to buy the NFL team ... and this weekend, he told us why he's confident it can happen.

Sharpe also explains why it might be in Diddy's best interest to move forward WITHOUT Colin Kaepernick if he wants the BEST chance to buy the team.

LeBron James will NOT be denied when it comes to spending Christmas morning with his family ... even if he's across the country!

With the Cleveland Cavs gearing up to the play the Golden State Warriors in the Bay Area on Monday, LeBron FaceTime'd in with his family so he could be a part of the gift-opening on Christmas Day!

It's a good thing he did ... because the reaction from his daughter when she ripped open her presents is awesome!!

Terrell Owens says he and Colin Kaepernick are one and the same when it comes to their NFL careers ... 'cause "politics" are keeping both of 'em outta the league.

"What's stopping Colin Kaepernick from being in the league? You trying to tell me he can't play in the league right now?" T.O. said to TMZ Sports.

T.O.'s been pushing for an NFL comeback for years -- but says he, like Kaep, will never be given an opportunity since owners and GMs ain't just looking at what they can do on the gridiron.

So now ... it seems like Terrell might be throwing in the towel.

Tippin' good in the neighborhood ...

The entire staff at an Applebee's restaurant in Tampa Bay got hooked up fat on Christmas Eve ... and it was all thanks to a very generous Bucs player.

TB defensive tackle Sealver Siliga and some friends hit up Applebee's after losing to the Carolina Panthers earlier in the day -- but despite the L, we're told the guys couldn't have been nicer.

When the bill came (around 10pm), we're told Sealver asked the manager how many people were still working in the restaurant ... because he wanted to tip every person $100 (from the servers to dishwashers).

In total, Siliga dropped a cool $1,000 ... and made everyone's night.

How's that for a heartwarming Xmas story?!

Shannon Briggs has finally found his huckleberry, after years of trying to get a big named Heavyweight to fight him, Briggs tells TMZ Sports he's fighting Tyson Fury in 2018 ... for one round.

Fury hasn't fought since he beat Wladimir Klitschko in 2015 and shocked the boxing world, but recently said in an interview he's coming back, and wants to fight Briggs in his return.

We talked to Shannon, who told us he's been in talks with Fury for a little while and expects the fight to happen next year ... and to be really, really short.

"I'm calling it right now, I'm telling you first, round one. I will knock Tyson fury out in one round."

Vince McMahon already has a huge cheerleader supporting his bid to relaunch the XFL -- with ex-WWE superstar Torrie Wilson telling TMZ Sports the time to strike the NFL ... is now.

Wilson -- who spent nearly a decade working for the McMahon family biz -- says Vince has learned a lot from his first iteration of the pro football league ... and essentially says he won't fail twice.

Plus, with all the drama surrounding the NFL ... Torrie says, "If there's ever a time to do it, it might be now."

She also has a take on how the XFL should handle the national anthem -- Colin Kaepernick ain't gonna like it.

There's more ... if Vince does resurrect the league, Torrie says she wants a job!

The plan was to ask NBA star Karl-Anthony Towns about everything from Kobe to LeBron ... maybe even Lonzo Ball.

But then our TMZ photog saw KAT walking out of Craig's in L.A. with his insanely attractive girlfriend -- and the plan fell apart in a big way.

Karl-Anthony's girlfriend is Kawahine Andrade -- a Hawaiian fitness model with a pretty fantastic Instagram page.

Eventually, our guy managed to get out a question to KAT (and he very nicely answered) ... but listening to our guy try to maintain focus is pretty hilarious.

BTW, Karl-Anthony and Kawahine gave been dating for at least a year. Cheers to you two!

It might not snow in L.A. but bet your ass Nicole Williams still knows how to turn a beach into a winter wonderland.

The 'WAGS' star was struttin' her stuff on a beach in Santa Monica where she wore the hell out of a mesh one-piece from her Nia Lynn swim collection. This attire's quite the switch-up from what we're used to seeing her in -- usually very little to nothing at all ... not that we're complaining.

Manny Pacquiao's so set on fighting Conor McGregor, his people have been hitting up their UFC connects to make it happen -- including legendary Octagon announcer Bruce Buffer.

We got Bruce at LAX ... and he told us Team Pac-Man's been hounding him to help broker the deal for the past 6 MONTHS.

"I’ve had some of Manny’s friends call me and say, 'Can you talk to Conor’s management?'"

"I told 'em, 'You guys know who to call -- call the right people.'"

But even though he won't middle-man, Buff told us he seriously thinks the fight could get made if Pacquiao's willing to step inside the cage.

Bruce hinted that Manny's got experience beyond boxing, and McGregor told us he wants an MMA fight over the weekend ... so never say never.

It's unclear if Pittsburgh Steelers LB Ryan Shazier will ever walk again -- but he's got a new ally who knows EXACTLY what he's going through ... Eric LeGrand.

LeGrand -- a former Rutgers football player -- was paralyzed in 2010 while making a tackle on a kickoff in a game against Army.

He busted his ass in rehab and made tremendous progress in his recovery -- Eric vows to walk again.

Now, LeGrand tells TMZ Sports ... he's already reached out to Shazier to offer any assistance he can provide to the NFL player -- whether it's advice, friendship or doctor recommendations.

"We're sending him a bunch of Team LeGrand stuff. I'm sending him my book and I'm hoping everything works out well for him because he's in our prayers and we're there for him."

Nick Young says it's painfully obvious why the Patriots are so damn successful -- the NFL's CHEATING FOR THEM.

On the same night as his accidental Iggy Azalea reunion, we also got Swaggy P to weigh in on the controversial Pats-Steelers ending from last Sunday.

Young told us Pittsburgh got screwed on the overturned TD call ... not like it surprised him.

"Yeah man, they got cheated," Young told TMZ Sports. "They always cheat for the Patriots ... they can't do no wrong."

Swaggy even speculated the NFL might have its own Tim Donaghy problem ... saying gambling probably played a role in the Pats getting the W.

Kenny Smith isn't trying to be a hater ... but he says there's one really huge flaw with LaVar Ball's plan to launch a pre-NBA hoops league for guys who don't want to play in college.

LaVar's plan is to sign 80 players for his Junior Basketball League -- a paid league for players who graduated high school and are looking for an alternative to the NCAA. The league will pay players between $3,000 and $10,000 a month.

But Kenny says he doesn't think LaVar will be able to find 80 kids good enough to sustain the league -- pointing out the NBA already has the "G-League" for players facing that exact dilemma.

Work hard? Hot tub hard.

That was Ezekiel Elliott's mentality during his suspension/vacation in Mexico.

TMZ Sports obtained footage of Zeke chillaxin' with friends at the Diamante Resort in Cabo San Lucas.

The video was shot on December 15 -- but we're told Elliott was a regular at the hot tub during his stay in Mexico.

Zeke's camp has said the Dallas Cowboys star was hardcore training in Cabo during his 6-week suspension. He came back looking leaner.

Our sources say in addition to working out, he would party -- with one witness saying he was spotted multiple days popping bottles of expensive champagne with lady friends at the resort.