TMZ Sports - Page 50

Whose house?!?!

The iconic Hollywood sign in Los Angeles will no longer read "Hollywood" -- at least for the next few days ... L.A. officials are in the process of changing the letters to "Rams House" after the Rams' Super Bowl win on Sunday.

L.A. mayor Eric Garcetti said following the Rams' big victory over the Cincinnati Bengals that the makeover would take place ... and on Monday, workers set up shop near the sign to implement the change.

As of Monday around noon, only the "R" and the "A" were up, but officials said they expected the project to be finished by Monday evening and remain through Wednesday.

As for why "Rams House" ... if you're unfamiliar, the Rams have chosen to go with a "Whose House?!? Rams House!" battle cry ever since moving to Los Angeles a few years ago.

"This town has the best teams and fans in the world," Garcetti said of the signage change, "and we can’t wait to show off our L.A. pride with a display that only Hollywood could deliver."

Tom Brady is giving a special shoutout to Gisele Bündchen on Valentine's Day ... by praising his wife and giving her a unique gift.

The 7-time Super Bowl Champ posted a sentimental note to Gisele on Instagram ... expressing his love for her on Monday.

"Happy valentines day Lovvvey ... Te amo muito 💚💚💚," Brady wrote ... while sharing a pic kissing her on the cheek.

A romantic post wasn't all TB12 did for his wife of 13 years -- the former Bucs QB (that sounds weird) also gave Gisele a chance to plant her own trees with help from Plant A Billion Trees.

Gisele responded ... "Happy Valentines day hubby! Hope you like your gift. Let’s grow some love and make the world greener!"

Of course, Gisele has long been advocating for her hubby to hang up his cleats and walk away from the sport of football.

She finally got her wish ... as the G.O.A.T. retired after 22 seasons and 7 Super Bowl rings.

The power couple was most recently spotted in Costa Rica ... where they have their annual beach vacation -- and the two looked extremely happy.

With Tom gone from the NFL -- at least for now, it seems -- the couple will have a lot more time together to share all the kisses.

A Super Bowl ring appears to have come with a big cost for Odell Beckham Jr. ... the wide receiver is believed to have torn his ACL during the game -- and his 2022 season is now in jeopardy.

NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport just reported the news ... saying testing on the Rams star's left knee appears to show he shredded his ACL during L.A.'s win over Cincinnati.

If it ultimately is confirmed ... it'll sadly be the second time Beckham has torn the ligament in his career -- you'll recall, he busted up the same knee when he was with the Cleveland Browns in 2020.

The injury could mean Beckham will have to sit out the entire 2022 season, as ACL injuries are known to take around 12 months to fully recover from.

It's a huge bummer for Odell -- who's a free agent this offseason -- as he had revived his career with the Rams -- hooking up for a bunch of TDs with Matthew Stafford, including one in Sunday's game.

Beckham, though, still was able to celebrate the win despite the bleak injury ... he was seen crying tears of joy on the field after the game and was also spotted dancing in the locker room after the win.

Olivia Culpo can't get enough of her superstar boyfriend Christian McCaffrey ... sharing a smokin' hot bikini photo with the NFL running back on Valentine's Day.

Culpo posted the shot of CMC holding her up in his arms on a vacation in paradise ... captioning the pic with a mushy love note.

"My best friend ❤️❤️❤️ happy Valentine’s Day baby @christianmccaffrey," Olivia wrote on social media.

Of course, the two love birds are no strangers to PDA -- they show their love for each other quite often on trips and in their everyday relationship.

Olivia and Christian are the definition of what you would call "couple goals" ... and are easily one of the hottest duos around.

CMC and Olivia have been dating since 2019 ... and have always made it a point to show love and affection to each other -- especially on special days like birthdays and holidays.

The Rams weren't the only ones getting rings on Sunday ... 'cause safety Taylor Rapp proposed to his GF, Dani Johnson, right after L.A.'s huge win!!

The moment happened right on the field ... with the 24-year-old getting down on one knee and asking "Will you marry me?" before presenting Johnson with an engagement ring.

It was incredibly special ... and a few Rams players and supporters of the couple cheered the entire time as the proposal happened.

Johnson -- who was overwhelmed with emotion -- shook her head in acceptance ... and the two hugged and embraced as the picture-perfect ending to the night unfolded.

Rapp and Johnson have been attached at the hip for years now ... and they even attended the prom together in 2015.

The proposal couldn't have been more perfect ... and just in time for Valentine's Day, too!!

It wasn't all sad times for Joe Burrow on Sunday night -- because after losing the biggest game of his life, the Bengals star at least got to live out one of his dreams.

Burrow hit the stage with his childhood idol, Kid Cudi, after losing Super Bowl LVI ... and video from the scene shows that while he was somber, he was still enjoying the moment.

Check out the footage from Cincinnati's after-party, Joe was spotted in the background on stage as Cudi -- who was wearing a Burrow jersey -- performed for a packed crowd in attendance.

Of course, Burrow and Cudi have grown close these playoffs -- Joey Franchise shouted out the rapper on Cudi's 38th birthday after defeating the Chiefs to advance to the Super Bowl a few weeks ago.

Burrow took the bromance a step further a short time later ... personally sending the jersey he wore in the AFC Championship Game to Cudi as a gift.

Cudi -- who's a native of Ohio and a big supporter of 25-year-old Burrow -- loved the present, saying he was "geeked" over it.

The Rams' Super Bowl win was P* -- the champions had a rager for the ages after beating the Bengals on Sunday ... with special guest Gunna!!

TMZ Sports has learned ... the Rams took their celebration from SoFi Stadium to Advanced Air in Hawthorne shortly after the game ... and brought out the "Pushin P" MC to provide the entertainment.

We're told there were 5 open bars for the special event ... as well as tacos, chicken, burgers and hot dogs on a stick.

Rams owner Stan Kroenke and head coach Sean McVay also took to the stage to hype up the crowd ... showing off the Vince Lombardi trophy as the friends and family in attendance cheered on.

The party was decked out in Rams décor as well ... and light sticks and pom-poms were handed out to everyone to show love for the champs.

It was a quick turnaround for Gunna, who was with Kodak Black shortly before the terrifying shooting outside the Justin Bieber after-party on Friday.

We're told there were no issues with this bash, however ... and the good vibes were flowing until 4 AM.

Congrats to the champs!!!

Super Bowl LVI MVP voters got it wrong -- Aaron Donald should've gotten the honor, not Cooper Kupp ... so says Calais Campbell.

The NFL star was adamant about it while leaving SoFi Stadium on Sunday night ... telling TMZ Sports he truly believed Donald deserved the award more than Kupp.

"Cooper Kupp did a great job, he's worthy," Campbell said. "Aaron Donald played an amazing game. He should've been Super Bowl MVP."

Kupp did score the game-winning touchdown -- and he finished the night with 92 receiving yards on eight catches -- but Donald had two sacks and helped force an incompletion on Joe Burrow's final pass of the night.

Campbell clearly believed that was enough to overtake Kupp for the award ... telling us, "He went and earned it today."

In fact, Donald had such a good game ... Campbell said the night put him "in the conversation" for best defensive player ever.

As for the possibility that Donald could retire following the game, Campbell told us he's hoping that doesn't happen ... saying he's not done seeing the Rams superstar yet.

Larry Fitzgerald and Rams fans are all in the same boat following the Super Bowl ... as in, they're all now praying Aaron Donald doesn't walk away from the game after the big win.

The legendary wide receiver told TMZ Sports following L.A.'s victory that he's hoping like hell Donald doesn't now retire ... saying, "That would be a big blow to the league."

Of course, nobody even dreamed it could be a possibility before Sunday ... but Rodney Harrison reported on the broadcast in the leadup to the game that it could definitely happen.

"He also told me this," Harrison said of a conversation with Donald before the Super Bowl, "if he wins a Super Bowl, there's a strong possibility that he could walk away from the game and retire."

Donald sidestepped questions about his future after the win -- appearing to reveal he is, in fact, considering the option -- but Fitzgerald is clearly pleading for it to not go down.

"I hope that's not the case, man," he told us.

Eminem paid tribute to Colin Kaepernick on the biggest of stages at the Super Bowl ... spurring discussion (and some confusion) as to whether the NFL was kosher with the move.

The rapper ended his portion of his set Sunday at SoFi Stadium by dropping down to his knee with his head low, and holding the position for a good while as things transitioned over to Dr. Dre again.

Eventually, he got up and took his place among the other performers -- but what only amounted to about 30 seconds or so ended speaking volumes in the NFL’s backyard.

Of course, the question is ... was it sanctioned or not??? Well, depends on who you ask ... and how you interpret the NFL's official response. There are reports saying the move was forbidden by higher-ups, but a rep for the league went on record Sunday ... saying they’d seen Em take a knee during rehearsals, and were well aware it was included.

Whether they ever asked him not to is a different story -- and not necessarily addressed in the guy's statement here. But, it’s irrelevant now -- the dude did it, and by doing so ... definitely invoked the memory of Kap.

As you know, the ex-QB spent his final year or so in the league doing just this before each game, all in the name of social justice.

Eminem has voiced support for the cause, and it seems he wanted to make a point about it during the most important moment of the broadcast.

Author and activist Michael Eric Dyson saw it live at SoFi, and gave Em major props for the gesture.

File this under bizarre, controversial ... Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva has officially been cleared to continue competing in the Winter Olympics, despite failing a drug test that initially resulted in a suspension from competition.

Last week it was revealed that 15-year-old Valieva tested positive for a banned performance-enhancing substance, trimetazidine (aids blood flow), back in December.

The skater -- who won gold in a team skating event -- was suspended.

But, Valieva appealed the suspension ... and the Court of Arbitration for Sport actually sided with the Olympic skater, paving the way for her to continue competing.

And, part of the reason she was cleared?

CAS Director General Matthieu Reeb said preventing Valieva from competing at the Games "would cause her irreparable harm" ... especially considering she's a minor.

Athletes under 16 are held to less stringent doping standards than that of their adult counterparts ... in the eyes of CAS.

FYI, Russia isn't even officially competing in the Olympics because of pervasive cheating. They're officially called the Russian Olympic Committee.

The governing body also said because Valieva failed the test six weeks ago ... and not at the Olympics, it'd be unfair to keep her from skating.

So, Valieva will now compete ... most likely.

There was only one game in town for celebs Sunday night in L.A. ... yeah, you guessed it.

So, let's go through a partial list ....  Jennifer Lopez, Ben Affleck, Kanye, Olivia Rodrigo, Charlize Theron, Kevin Hart, The Rock, Matt Damon, the Biebers and Kendall Jenner were front and center.

But wait, there's more ... Ellen DeGeneres, Devin Booker, Floyd Mayweather, Keke Palmer, Drake, Adam Devine, Sophie Turner, Joe Jonas, Martha Stewart, The Weeknd, Prince Harry, Tyga, YG, Antonio Brown, Will Farrell, Ryan Reynolds, Sean Penn, Chris Tucker, Tracy Morgan, Chip and Joanna Gaines, Mark Wahlberg, Nelly, 2 Chainz, Steph Curry, Michael Strahan and Shawn Mendes. Oh yea, Jay Z and Beyonce also showed.

And, that doesn't even include the Halftime performers.

Check out the gallery ... good luck L.A. Health Dept, which requires masks indoors ... because there wasn't a mask in sight.

Rams wide receiver Van Jefferson's wife wasn't quite able to catch her hubby's thrilling Super Bowl win on Sunday ... 'cause she had to leave the game early on a stretcher to have the couple's baby!

Samaria Jefferson was rushed out of SoFi Stadium just minutes before L.A. beat the Cincinnati Bengals, 23-20, to win Super Bowl LVI ... according to multiple reporters on the scene.

Thankfully, though, Samaria was able to make it to a medical facility without any issue -- and after Van and the Rams pulled off their comeback, he joined her to welcome their new baby.

Van posted a pic with the newborn just minutes after winning his ring, smiling with glee and writing, "X2!!!!!"

Samaria had spoken about the possibility of the situation just days before the Big Game, telling The Athletic that she was "praying" her water didn't break during the middle of the contest.

In fact, in the hours leading up to the game, she posted on her Instagram page that she was "still praying."

Cameras actually caught Van sprinting out of the stadium following the win ... showing him leaving in a hurry.

The baby is the couple's second child -- they had their first daughter together five years ago.

Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre did NOT disappoint at the Super Bowl Halftime Show -- and they didn't come empty-handed either ... trotting out none other than 50 Cent.

The two headliners kicked off the star-studded performance Sunday at SoFi Stadium, going through a few of their hits, including 'The Next Episode' and 'California Love,' -- but in the middle of them doing their thing on stage ... Mr. Jackson swung into action down below!

Fitty turned out to be the big surprise guest that had been rumored for weeks now ... and he performed 'In Da Club' on a set piece underneath Snoop and Dre -- this while hanging upside down.

It made for a ton of fanfare ... and folks cheered the trio on. Soon after, Mary J. Blige came on and went through a quick medley as well, before passing the baton on to Kendrick ... who eventually handed things off to Eminem, pumping up the energy with each performance.

Snoop and Dre eventually took center stage once again ... and ended things on a high note with 'Still D.R.E.' -- and were flanked by all the artists by the finale of the song.

Seems like this one was a major homage to the legacy of Dre, and turned out to be pretty damn rad as a result ... living up to the hype and then some.

The Los Angeles Rams are Super Bowl champions ... beating Joe Burrow's Cincinatti Bengals on a late fourth quarter drive, in one of the best SB's in recent history.

The Bengals were leading 20-16 with just minutes to go ... before Matt Stafford led his squad on a 15 play drive that culminated in a Cooper Kupp touchdown.

28-year-old Kupp -- who caught 8 balls for 92 yards and 2 touchdowns -- was named the SB MVP.

It was an incredible game ... close from start to finish.

34-year-old Stafford -- a 13 year NFL vet -- threw for 283 yards and 3 TD's and 2 INT's.

As for 25-year-old Burrow ... he threw for 263 yards and 1 TD.

Aaron Donald was electric. He had 4 combined tackles and 1 sack ... but was a nuisance the entire game.

The Bengals had the ball late, and were driving, with a chance to tie with a field goal or take the lead with a touchdown. The game came down to a 4th and 1. Cue AD ... who pressured JB, forcing the incompletion.

Game over. Super Bowl over. Rams win.

Oh, and the halftime show was awesome. Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Mary J. Blige, Kendrick Lamar, 50 Cent and Eminem killed it!

The Jaguars' hiring of Doug Pederson just got two thumbs up from legendary Jacksonville running back Fred Taylor, who tells TMZ Sports he loves the move.

The former Jag -- who played 11 seasons in Duval -- said he believes the marriage of Pederson and star quarterback Trevor Lawrence could yield huge results.

"Sky is the limit," Taylor said out in L.A. this week. "We’re hoping that. Everybody in Duval hoping it.”

No matter what, things can't get too much worse for the Jaguars -- because, as Fred noted, last season under Urban Meyer was a disaster.

In fact, Taylor actually called it all a "comedy," saying, "It was a big circus, man. Things was all over the place."

But, Taylor is hopeful Pederson can turn things around ... particularly because of the success he had with the Philadelphia Eagles.

You'll recall, Pederson and Philly actually beat Tom Brady and the Patriots at Super Bowl LII in 2018.

Fred, however, did express a desire to see teams hire more Black coaches because "they're more than capable" ... but he said he understands that owners are allowed to make the decisions they deem best for their team.

"The number is the numbers," Taylor said. "I mean, you can’t run from that, and the numbers pretty much show there’s discrimination."