TMZ Sports - Page 10

Ric Flair's shocking claim that "street drugs" killed Hulk Hogan is simply not true ... this, according to the wrestling legend's widow, who tells TMZ Sports the Nature Boy was fed some bad info.

Flair recently addressed Hogan's death on the "DOUBL3 COVERAGE" podcast ... when he stated he spoke with Hulk the day before he passed about his deteriorating health.

Flair claimed Hogan's doctor stopped prescribing him pain medication to combat his numerous wrestling injuries ... so he resorted to unorthodox measures to deal with his suffering.

Fans are big mad at Browns QB Dillon Gabriel's fiancée Zo Caswell, after she appeared to take a shot at the team after Sunday's game ... but the WAG isn't just takin' the hate.

"Browns lost what's new 😂," Caswell captioned a TikTok video after Cleveland's 26-8 loss to San Francisco, a game started by Shedeur Sanders, and not her future hubby, which fans were quick to point out.

"I don't remember these captions when ya man was qb1 😒," someone commented.

"Love you and your content but very disappointed in this caption😟 need to support this team weather he is in or not," another wrote.

Zo tried her best to stem the criticism, commenting on her own video ... though it doesn't look like it's workin'.

"For everyone complaining about the caption, I obviously am cheering for the Browns... it's clearly a joke. If we don't laugh, we cry"

With the loss -- Sanders first as a starter -- the Browns fell to 3-9 on the season.

After the game, Caswell likely didn't hear what she was hoping from head coach Kevin Stefanski, who announced Shedeur would start next week's game against the Titans, meaning her man, Gabiel, will once again serve as backup quarterback.

Shedeur and Dillon's relationship -- which hasn't seemed the best at times -- has been the focus of much attention going back to April's NFL Draft, when both players were selected just two rounds apart.

Bill Belichick's Tar Heels couldn't protect their endzone on Saturday, but the North Carolina head coach at least provided some coverage for his girlfriend, Jordon Hudson ... ditching his coat to keep her warm after the game.

The football legend shifted into boyfriend mode after NC State embarrassed his team in a 42-19 effort ... taking the puffy blue jacket off his back to make sure the 24-year-old Hudson was warm in the Raleigh weather Saturday night.

It didn't look like Hudson was prepared for the cold -- she was wearing a navy and Carolina blue ensemble with see-through printed pants ... and her arms were fully exposed.

Lane Kiffin's sudden exit from Ole Miss for an SEC rival comes with a massive payday -- one that makes him one of the richest coaches in college football!

Kiffin -- who coached the Rebels the past six seasons -- was named the LSU Tigers' newest leader on Sunday ... and he reportedly signed a seven-year deal worth $91 million. This has him in the upper tier of the sport, comparable to top guys like Georgia's Kirby Smart, who inked a 10-year, $130 million extension in 2024, and Ohio State's Ryan Day ($12.5 million annual salary over seven years).

This move comes during Ole Miss' national championship hopes -- the Rebels are sitting at 11-1 and College Football Playoff bound ... and the fans haven't been shy about voicing their frustration.

On the bright side, Jauan Jennings didn't get punched in the balls ... but he was again the target of an opponent's anger, with Browns DT Shelby Harris ripping the Niners WR for running his mouth during the game, calling him a "ho!"

The beef started in the third quarter of the 49ers-Browns game on Sunday at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland ... when Browns defensive tackle Maleik Collins suffered a serious knee injury and had to be carted off.

Before Collins was taken off the field, several Browns players got into a heated verbal altercation with Jennings ... prompting Harris' postgame rant about Jauan.

NFL great Rodney Harrison had fans worried he was dealing with a medical issue after he appeared to be struggling on live TV ahead of "Sunday Night Football" ... but thankfully, the two-time Super Bowl champ seemed completely fine after the game.

The concerning moment happened as NBC's pregame crew consisting of Harrison, Jac Collinsworth and Tony Dungy broke down the Denver Broncos and Washington Commanders matchup before kickoff ... when the Colts coaching legend looked to get the 52-year-old former Patriots safety involved in the conversation.

Harrison stumbled over a few words before admitting he forgot the question ... and when Collinsworth tried to help out two different times, he gave up on contributing to the discussion.

"TMZ After Dark" doubled the chaos this weekend -- two buses, twice the drama, and zero doubt we’re the wildest party rolling through Hollywood!

Check it out ... OFB Yung from Cali Swag District, Klypso, and The FiNATTiCZ pulled up and set the vibe ... downing those shots, riding mechanical bulls like pros, and turning all the way up for a party-goer's birthday ... all fueled by Monster Energy!

The bus was bumping Cali Swag District's "Teach Me How to Dougie," and "Don't Drop That Thun Thun" by The FiNATTiCZ ... and OFB Yung even taught everybody onboard how to Dougie!

We are only months away from the World Cup kicking off in North America, with the United States hosting 78 of the 104 matches ... and USMNT member Diego Luna is well aware of the stakes ... telling TMZ Sports it's one of the biggest years for the sport stateside!!

We chatted with Luna out at LAX ... and he described the World Cup in the U.S. as a "once in a lifetime opportunity for us."

"I think for the country itself, it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," Luna said. "The soccer is built here so much and to now have the World Cup come here. I think this is the biggest opportunity to kind of take that big step into making soccer a super popular sport here."

Paul Heyman's not playing around when it comes to his safety ... shoving away a young fan who got in his path while he was walking with Logan Paul.

The WWE manager and former executive was spotted in San Diego for the WWE Survivor Series: WarGames Saturday night ... and fans filmed him walking in front of Paul at the end of the evening with police and other security surrounding them.

Check out the clip ... a fan -- seemingly a kid -- pushes his way through security and runs up to Heyman, clearly excited to meet him and Paul.

Klay Thompson's sticking with nautical tradition -- naming his boat after a woman -- namely, his rapper better half Megan Thee Stallion!

The 4-time NBA champion shared a series of pics chronicling the Dallas Mavericks' recent West Coast road trip as well as his Thanksgiving meal ... captioning the post, "West coastin’."

Buried in the photo dump's a picture of the back of his boat ... which he's named the "S.S. Stallion" ... clearly a reference to Megan.

Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia's brother found himself in cuffs again this weekend after getting arrested during Saturday's win over Tennessee, marking the second time he’s been tossed behind bars.

Javier Pavia was busted for public intoxication at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville after he allegedly clashed with event staff in the stands, according to Knox News.

According to the outlet, stadium workers told police Javier kept blocking fans with a massive flag, ignoring repeated warnings to put it down. When officers approached, Javier allegedly slurred his words, swayed on his feet, and got loud and combative with staff and cops.

C.J. Stroud is all about family ... and he tells TMZ Sports that once his dad is released from prison, he plans to have him work with his foundation!!

The Houston Texans quarterback opened up to us about his plans nearly a decade after his father, Coleridge Bernard Stroud III, was sentenced to Folsom State Prison near Sacramento.

Stroud's dad is currently serving a 38-year sentence after pleading guilty to carjacking, kidnapping, robbery and misdemeanor sexual battery in 2015.

Bert Kreischer's a diehard Tampa Bay Buccaneers fan, and he LOVES Baker Mayfield ... and we now know why.

The uber-popular comedian joined Babcock on the heels of the Bucs' third straight loss, when we asked whether he'd lost faith in his squad.

Kreischer hasn't, saying "I still feel good" ... though it's the why that's notable.

No matter what happens in the ring on Dec. 19, Jake Paul has got some massive balls to take on Anthony Joshua ... so says comedian Bryan Callen, who tells TMZ Sports El Gallo is "borderline crazy!"

We spoke with the comedian at LAX ... and talked all about Paul and Joshua's showdown at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida.

Sure, many see Joshua, an Olympic gold medalist and two-time boxing champion, winning by a landslide ... but Callen says you've still got to give Paul credit for even taking on the challenge.

Huge congrats to Vanessa Hudgens and Cole Tucker -- the "High School Musical" star just welcomed their second child!

Vanessa announced the happy news in an IG post Saturday ... sharing a pic where she's lying in a hospital bed -- her hand clasped around her professional athlete husband.

She wrote in the caption, "Well…. I did it. Had another baby!!! What a wild ride labor is. Big shout out to all the moms. It’s truly incredible what our bodies can do."

Detroit Lions star and Pro Football Hall of Famer Lem Barney is "alive and well," his family tells TMZ.

Amid reports that the 80-year-old football icon has died, his son, Lem Barney III, has confirmed to TMZ he is alive, adding that he spoke to him today.

He says he is in the care of "around-the-clock" caretakers who have given him no reason to worry about his health -- and says he was even sent a picture of his father today.