TMZ Sports - Page 3

President Donald Trump is done with one of his most ardent supporters Riley Gaines, after she dared to criticize him for posting an A.I. image of himself looking like Jesus Christ.

Here's the deal ... Gaines, a former NCAA swimmer and current anti-trans activist, posted a message on X, asking Trump to show a "little humility" and refrain from mocking God.

That, of course, pissed off the Commander-in-Chief, who went after Gaines -- after he deleted the controversial image due to mounting pressure from his base and from Catholics, who saw the photo as blasphemous.

As you can see, the image depicts Trump in a Jesus-like robe, putting one hand on the forehead of a sick man in a hospital bed while a divine light shines in his other hand.

J. Cole is reflecting on his impressively brief Chinese basketball experience ... explaining his time with the Nanjing Monkey Kings was cut short due to visa issues.

The rapper and part-time hooper played just eight minutes of action in one game for the pro team ... but the initial plan was to make three appearances before the paperwork hiccup got in the way.

Cole said he waited in Hong Kong to get cleared to play in mainland China ... a process he didn't predict would take so long.

Shaquille O'Neal was running a full-court press in New York City -- and it had nothing to do with basketball!

The Big Diesel ran into our TMZ Sports' photog in the Big Apple, and while she tried her absolute best to steer the convo towards the NBA Playoffs, Shaq had a totally different game plan.

Instead of breaking down the X's and O's, O'Neal showered her with compliments as he flashed that trademark grin.

Devastating health update from Dick Vitale ... the college hoops legend revealed he's been diagnosed with cancer in his lung and liver cavity -- but Dickie V says he'll again kick the disease's ass!

Vitale, 86, shared the bad news Monday afternoon through ESPN public relations.

"Today, my oncologist, Dr. Brown, informed me that my biopsy results confirmed a diagnosis of melanoma in my lung and liver cavity. I will be starting immunotherapy shortly and I plan on winning this battle."

Dianna Russini might've been sidelined by her bosses, but it's quite literally "business as usual" in Foxborough for Mike Vrabel, according to the Patriots, who say the head coach is hard at work prepping for the NFL Draft.

Pats EVP of Player Personnel, Eliot Wolf, met with the media in New England, and was asked about Vrabel's participation as the scandal involving him and The Athletic reporter continues to be the most talked about story in sports. and media

"[Mike is] very involved. Business as usual," Wolf said. "He's been in there with us probably this round of meetings a little bit more than last year."

Rueben Bain Jr. was the driver in a fatal accident in 2024, according to a new report ... as the University of Miami star prepares for the NFL Draft, where he's a near lock first-round draft pick.

Bain, now 21, was driving a 2021 Land Rover SUV with three other passengers -- Canes teammates Nyjalik Kelly and Wesley Bissainthe, and a 22-year-old woman, Destiny Betts, on March 17, 2024.

Around 4 AM, Rueben rear-ended another vehicle, according to The Read Optional, sending his SUV careening into multiple concrete barriers.

Jorginho wants to "set the record straight" about what actually happened with Chappell Roan and that bodyguard.

The soccer star shared a lengthy statement on Instagram Monday ... chalking the blame game up to a "misunderstanding."

He wrote ... "I regret the impact this situation has had on Chappell Roan, Catherine, Ada and our family."

ICYMI ... Jorginho slammed Chappell last month, alleging her security guard was speaking "in an extremely aggressive manner" to the athlete's wife and 11-year-old daughter after the young girl allegedly walked by the singer's table at the hotel where they were staying.

MMA is in its comeback era ... but you can cross Michael Bisping off the list of fighters making huge returns in 2026 ... he tells TMZ Sports, while he can still whoop a ton of ass, he's staying retired.

That is, unless several Brinks trunks back into his driveway.

We caught up with The Count at LAX this week ... and asked with big names like Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano stepping back in the cage, could he be following suit??

President Trump took a break from the conflict in Iran to enjoy some UFC battles here at home Saturday night -- and, as usual, 47 made a grand entrance inside the arena.

The Commander in Chief walked out of a tunnel with UFC boss Dana White to massive applause from the crowd at UFC 327 in Miami's Kaseya Center.

Check out the video that shows Trump waving at fans who are cheering him on while taking cell phone videos.

Like father, like son could ring extra true in the May family ... 'cause fresh off winning a national championship with Michigan, Charlie tells TMZ Sports he's exploring a career in coaching -- just like his pops/coach Dusty!!

We caught up with the senior guard as he worked a celebratory shift with fellow hooper Nimari Burnett at Raising Cane's in Ann Arbor on Thursday ... and asked him what's next after the Wolverines cut down the nets against UConn earlier this week.

He explained his playing days are over ... and now he's going back to school in more than one way -- he'll be a graduate assistant at Georgia as he doubles up on his degrees.

Hidden behind these sexy shots is a 2026 Coachella headliner -- who knows how to work the camera in a bikini ... can you guess who she is?!

This ain't her first Coachella rodeo ... she performed in 2022. "Provenza" is one of her biggest hits, and she made a cameo during Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show.

TNA Rebellion is gonna be Cleveland to the max -- not only is hometown kid Nick Nemeth taking the ring, he's got Browns legend Bernie freakin' Kosar in his corner!!

TMZ Sports spoke with Nemeth -- FKA Dolph Ziggler in WWE -- ahead of Total Nonstop Action Wrestling's big Pay-Per-View event in northeast Ohio on April 11 ... and he said it's wild to know one of his childhood heroes will be right by his side for the big night.

Kosar is currently recovering well after undergoing a liver transplant ... and Nemeth said this is a great way to acknowledge the former superstar quarterback coming out on top in his recent health battle.

Dianna Russini has been put on ice ... her employer, The Athletic, is doing a deep dive into the cozy pics of Mike Vrabel and the reporter, TMZ Sports has confirmed.

It's an about-face for the NY Times-owned outlet, which initially vehemently came to the defense of Russini, calling the pics "misleading" and saying they lacked "essential context."

But, sources tell us based on new information, the outlet is conducting a thorough investigation ... and with it, they've decided to shelf Russini as the process plays out.

The situation was described to us like this ... "[Dianna's] coverage is being reviewed. That process is expected to take time. She will not be reporting in the interim."

Cardi B is asking for the judge to order sanctions against blogger Tasha K for allegedly violating a non-disclosure agreement by speaking about her and her exes, Offset and Stefon Diggs … TMZ has learned.

According to court docs, obtained by TMZ, Cardi claims Tasha has engaged in a “relentless course of conduct designed to target and harass [Cardi] and her family through thinly veiled commentary and strategic provocation all while knowing that her audience of over one million social media followers will immediately identify [Cardi] as the subject.”

Cardi said that when her legal team, led by attorney Lisa Moore, notifies Tasha of offending posts, she quickly deletes them, only to post another soon after. The rapper said she is tired of the “cat and mouse” game.

Browning Nagle, star QB at Louisville and second round NFL Draft pick, has tragically died after a battle with colon cancer. He was 57 years old.

Nagle burst onto the scene as a star at Louisville in 1989 ... throwing 32 touchdowns and 4,653 passing yards in his two seasons as a starter.

In 1991, he was named the MVP of the Fiesta Bowl after leading his Cardinals squad to a victory over Alabama.

Carl Crawford clearly has an eye for talent ... the former MLB star says he knew his son Justin Crawford, centerfielder for the Phillies, would be in the Majors years ago!

"He's just been determined. He had the eye of the tiger since he was a baby," the 4x All-Star told Babcock. "But really, when he got into high school and all that stuff, he still was being successful, playing really well, getting better. I just was like, yeah, I think it's going to be real for him. I think he's going to be a first-round draft pick."

And, sure enough, that's exactly what Justin was ... being selected with the 17th overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft.

Of course, the goal wasn't simply to get drafted, but instead make it to the big leagues ... and that's just what Crawford accomplished out of Spring Training this season.

"[Justin] likes to beat all my stats," Carl said ... and he's off to a good start!

JC's hitting .306 to start his career with the Phillies, with 11 hits in 36 at-bats. He's just 1,920 hits away from dad.

Carl hopes he does it one day.

"I want him to do it all, too, because it'll be great. I'm glad that what I did in the major leagues motivated him to become who he is today."