TMZ Sports - Page 2

Ex-NFL star Shawne Merriman is being taken to federal court for fraud by a company claiming he owes more than $2.5 million ... TMZ has learned.

According to court docs, obtained by TMZ, a company called ARI Agent LLC claims Shawne took millions of dollars in financing but has not repaid a single cent. The investment firm says the former NFL star borrowed the money for his company, Lights Out XF, which is focused on mixed martial arts and entertainment.

ARI says this is no "routine default or simple contract dispute, but a deliberate, coordinated, multi-step scheme by Merriman to commit fraud, coercion, misrepresentation, and obstruction -- all designed to avoid repayment and accountability."

Jake Reiner is leaning on Dodgers baseball to help carry him through unimaginable grief ... returning to cohost his podcast this week for the first time since the shocking murders of his parents, Rob and Michele Reiner.

The emotional comeback episode of "The Incline: Dodgers Podcast" dropped Wednesday ... with Jake opening up about the overwhelming support he's received since the tragedy -- you can check out how he's been flooded with love from friends, family and even the Dodgers fan community online.

"I’ve seen all the love, all the support out there," Jake said. "I really feel the love."

The internet is running wild with Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini theories ... but one can be put to rest -- the NFL reporter did NOT name her first son after the coach, TMZ Sports has learned.

Cyber sleuths have been looking into both Vrabel and Russini ever since their cozy resort pics dropped last month ... and it didn't take long for them to highlight the fact that Russini's son and Vrabel share the same moniker.

The chatter intensified after we posted a story about the two enjoying a private trip on the water in June 2021 ... weeks before she welcomed her child with her husband, Kevin Goldschmidt. On top of that, she also had an old post where she mentioned her infant son and questioned the best Mikes in NFL history to play and coach.

Raja Jackson struck a sweet plea deal in his wrestling ring beatdown of Syko Stu ... with the son of MMA legend Rampage Jackson avoiding a lengthy sentence behind bars.

Jackson, 26, pled "no contest" to one count of battery with serious bodily injury, a felony, according to the L.A. County D.A.'s office, and will be officially sentenced in June.

It is expected that Raja will spend 90 days in a cell before going on probation for two years. He'll also be ordered to pay nearly $82K in restitution.

5/7/2026 10:04 AM PT -- TMZ Sports obtained a clip showing the pair together on the dock of a private rental company back in June 2021 ... as the NFL coach and reporter prepared to head out onto a lake in Putnam County, TN.

Add a new chapter to the Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini saga, because TMZ Sports has learned they rented a private boat together for a day on the water ... just the 2 of them.

The NFL duo booked the vessel in Putnam County, Tennessee back in June 2021 ... according to a source with direct knowledge, who also says the then-Tennessee Titans head coach and the journalist were the only people onboard for their 2-to-3-hour rental.

The timing of that outing might raise a few eyebrows, because Russini was pregnant at the time with her first child.

You can tell Timothée Chalamet feels like he hit the relationship jackpot with Kylie Jenner ... 'cause the two were putting on a full PDA playbook courtside.

Check out these super cute snaps of the pair all wrapped up together at the New York Knicks game at Madison Square Garden Wednesday night -- staring into each other's eyes, grinning ear to ear ... with Timmy even leaning in for a kiss at one point.

Basically, they looked very locked in and very in love ... and just in case it wasn’t obvious enough, the duo even pulled up in matching Knicks colors.

Eric Bischoff, one of the most successful and influential figures in pro wrestling history, wouldn't be who he is without the late, great Ted Turner ... EB himself tells TMZ Sports.

"When I first heard the news this morning," Eric explained, "I was talking to my wife, and I live in a beautiful home here in Wyoming. I look out over the mountains, up the valley into Yellowstone National Park. I live in a postcard. And I wouldn't be living here had it not been for the opportunity that Ted gave me."

That opportunity was running Turner's wrestling promotion, World Championship Wrestling (WCW) ... as Executive Producer, starting in 1993, following an internal shakeup in the company.

Lil Yachty doesn't need a fancy hat for the Kentucky Derby ... he's got a new $90K chain for the occasion.

A rep for the rapper tells TMZ ... jeweler Erin Barnett hand-delivered the expensive ice -- a custom diamond chain and racehorse pendant -- at SoCal's Santa Anita racetrack on Derby Day.

Yachty was flashing the new bling at an owners-only party for Run Fast Racing app users on Saturday.

He's a partner of the Run Fast Facing app -- where fans can co-own racehorses and make money when they win. Yachty owns 16 horses himself.

Blueface is admitting he played along with the idea that his on-again, off-again girlfriend Chrisean Rock's son was his ... because, well, the daddy narrative was all part of the play.

Check it out ... Blueface sat down on BET’s "The Jason Lee Show" and told Jason Lee he's doubling down on his claim that 2-year-old Chrisean Jr. is NOT his biological child. When Jason flat-out asked why he publicly claimed the boy if he knew otherwise, Blueface didn’t exactly dance around it.

"You know, we were making money -- it was a good storyline," he said. "The biological father ... he didn't fit the storyline, to put it that way. So I went along with it."

Media mogul and CNN founder Ted Turner has died after battling dementia.

Turner Enterprises announced Ted died Wednesday morning. Back in 2018, he announced he'd been diagnosed with Lewy body dementia. That announcement came shortly after his 80th birthday.

In addition to launching the world's first 24/7 news channel, the Cable News Network, in 1980 ... Ted created a media empire that included TBS Superstation, TNT, Cartoon Network, Turner Classic Movies, and at one time, most of MGM Studios' film library.

Jane Fonda has shared a loving goodbye to her ex-husband Ted Turner ... saying he had a big life and brilliant mind.

The actress posted to social media Wednesday following CNN's announcement of their founder's passing ... and she shared a photo of the two holding one another.

She dropped a long caption in which she heaped praise on her ex-husband ... noting he was the first man who could really take care of her.

Kim Kardashian enjoyed a night out at the theater before rushing faster than Lewis Hamilton on an F1 track with him to their waiting SUV ... hands clasped tight.

The reality star and the race car driver were spotted leaving "Fear of 13" -- the Broadway show she's producing -- Tuesday night ... walking swiftly hand-in-hand to a waiting black SUV.

Ever the gentleman, the British Ferrari driver stepped back to let KK in first ... offering his hand to help her into the backseat before jumping in himself.

President Trump had some special, albeit very dangerous, guests at the White House on Wednesday ... the main and co-main event fighters from the Freedom 250 card, which is only 39 days away!

POTUS welcomed Justin Gaethje and Ilia Topuria, who are headlining the highly anticipated card, as well as Alex Pereira and Ciryl Gane, who will anchor the co-main on the South Lawn next month.

"On June 14th, we're having a big fight. It's never going to happen again. It's never happened before," Trump said from behind the Resolute Desk.

"It's all the best fighters, the best four fighters standing right behind me, all champions, and it's going to happen right in front of the white House."

Trump then showed off a book of renderings of the event setup ... from the Octagon to the thousands of seats on the White House grass.

45/47 also gave fans a look at the specially designed Freedom 250 championship belt -- it's very patriotic -- which will presumably be awarded to the victor of the championship bouts.

The Kentucky Derby winner is slowing its "tempo" -- the horse's trainer just announced Golden Tempo will not attempt a Triple Crown and bypass the Preakness Stakes on May 16.

Cherie DeVaux Racing announced the move on Wednesday ... saying the decision was made "after much thoughtful discussion as a team."

"We are incredibly appreciative of the excitement and support surrounding the possibility of a Triple Crown run. The enthusiasm from racing fans, our owners, and our entire team has meant more to us than we can properly express."

The leaks just keep coming for West Wilson ... he says someone posted his nudes the day of the infamous "Summer House" reunion taping.

West told Sophie Cunningham on Wednesday's episode of their "Show Me Something" podcast that his "f***ing nudes leaked."

He said ... "They're not even sexual, they look medical. I'm soft in all of them. I don't even know if the other two are me."

WNBA star Arike Ogunbowale is in the clear ... the battery charge against the hooper has been dropped, two months after she allegedly socked a security guard in his face at a famed Miami nightclub.

Ogunbowale, 29, was celebrating her team's championship in the Unrivaled 3-on-3 league -- her side gig when she isn't playing for the WNBA's Dallas Wings -- into the early morning hours at E11EVEN in South Beach ... when she was said to be involved in a dispute with other people at the club, prompting security to *attempt* to kick out a group that included the 4x WNBA All-Star.

That's when Arike was accused of hauling off on the guard, punching him in his grill, and causing him to fall to the ground.