TMZ Sports - Page 6

Don't be surprised if U.S. Soccer is a force to be reckoned with in a decade ... 'cause Landon Donovan tells TMZ Sports America hosting World Cup games will inspire MILLIONS of kids to pursue the sport -- and he's living proof of it!!

We spoke with the legendary forward and midfielder ahead of the tournament ... and asked about the impact the next few weeks will have on the country, which has historically struggled to keep up with the rest of the world when it comes to futbol.

Donovan was certain it'll be felt ... and pointed to the time he was 12 years old and fell in love with the sport that ultimately became his career.

Before this cute kid smiling on the soccer field turned into a professional fighter, he was just doin' backflips in the backyard and growing up in Montana ...

He currently stands at #3 in the UFC bantamweight rankings and is gearing up to fight at UFC Freedom 250 ...

Talk about an awkward seating chart ... Taylor Swift found herself just a few rows away from Scooter Braun during Game 4 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday night.

Two of the biggest names from one of music's most public feuds found themselves in the same building -- and surprisingly close quarters -- as eagle-eyed fans noticed Taylor was spotted uncomfortably close to crossing paths with Scooter, who sat just rows away.

Video from inside the arena showed the music mogul sitting only three rows back from the pop superstar with his gleaming girlfriend Sydney Sweeney, the couple seemingly separated from Swift by a barricade.

Taylor Swift scoped out her and Travis Kelce's wedding venue Wednesday night ... because she rolled up to watch Game 4 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden.

Here's the catch ... she arrived at the game without her hubby to be and with her girls Alana and Este Haim.

Taylor is wearing a fitted blue Knicks tee with an adorbs matching bow and black jeans. Of course ... she is sporting her classic red lip, too.

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's wedding guest list isn't just packed with celebrities, athletes and Hollywood power players ... plenty of everyday folks made the cut too.

Sources familiar with the situation tell TMZ ... the couple invited people who aren't famous and, in some cases, barely know Taylor and Travis. We're told some guests have only crossed paths with Taylor a few times while working on various projects over the years.

In fact, we're told some invitees were even shocked when they got the call.

President Trump was at Madison Square Garden for Game 3 of the NBA Finals, but was he awake, or off in la la land?! James Dolan, who was sitting with the world's most powerful man in the World's Most Famous Arena, is clearing the air!

"Where do they get this from?" Dolan asked during a radio interview with Craig Carton on WFAN in New York, referencing the controversy, which blew up Monday night.

"I was with him the whole time. We were talking the whole time. Maybe he was sleep-talking. He was very much awake and very much engaged."

As you undoubtedly saw on social media, 45/47 was photographed in a luxury suite with JD, and many viewers accused POTUS of sleeping ... which Dolan says is simply not true.

Sleep-gate aside, the Knicks were riding a 13-game win streak heading into the game, and with DJT there, many fans placed blame for the 115-111 loss at Trump's feet.

Even with the L, the NYK owner doesn't seem to have any regrets about inviting his longtime buddy.

"That's the first sitting president of the United States to ever go to an NBA Finals. That is a huge honor, and he's a New Yorker. Whatever you think about him, he's a Knicks fan, and people don't want to hear this, I think he's a great guy," Dolan says.

The Knicks owner and the prez go way back -- when Trump was a real estate titan in the city, decades before he ran for the nation's highest office.

Dolan also continued his war of words with Zohran Mamdani, and while he clearly loves Trump, he has no love lost for the mayor of NYC.

Karmelo Anthony's murder trial was an emotional one for everyone involved ... and his grandmother seems to feel strongly that justice was not served ... blasting the outcome as racist, biased and prejudiced.

After Karmelo was convicted and sentenced for murdering Austin Metcalf, a crowd formed in the parking lot outside the courthouse ... gathering around Karmelo's grandmother, Toni Hayes, and other loved ones to show support.

While getting into a car to leave, Toni starts chanting "racist, biased, prejudiced" ... and the crowd eventually joins in.

Karmelo Anthony isn't done fighting his murder case just yet ... because we've learned he's planning to appeal after being convicted of murdering Austin Metcalf.

According to court records, obtained by TMZ, Anthony filed a notice of appeal. The move comes less than 24 hours after a Texas jury found him guilty of murder ... and he was subsquentially sentenced to 35 years behind bars for the fatal stabbing at a Frisco, TX track meet.

Karmelo's lawyer, Mike Howard, tells TMZ, "After the conclusion of the trial yesterday, we gave the court our official notice that Karmelo Anthony is filing an appeal. We believe there are several important issues for the appellate courts to consider. An appeal is the next part of the legal process and a right afforded every American.”

As we previously reported, jurors rejected Anthony's self-defense argument and returned a guilty verdict Tuesday following days of emotional testimony and closing arguments. He was then sentenced to 35 years in prison ... with the case drawing national attention from the moment of his arrest.

Game 4 of the NBA Finals is about to be a star-studded showdown ... because Taylor Swift is expected to attend the game at her upcoming wedding venue, Madison Square Garden.

According to Page Six, Taylor's a huge New York Knicks fan and is planning to roll up to the game with some friends.

Sources familiar with the situation tell TMZ … she’s expressed interested in going and is expected to be in the stands tonight. But it's unclear if Travis Kelce will be with her.

Alaric Jackson's alleged domestic violence victim says she pleaded with the Rams star not to hurt her because she was pregnant, but claims he coldly responded, 'I don't give a f***' while roughing her up during an argument earlier this week.

TMZ Sports obtained the 38-year-old woman's request for the TRO, where she goes into detail about Monday night's dust-up, which she says left her with several injuries.

"Verbal threats, scratches, bruises, took my phone & keys," Jackson's accuser wrote when asked whether the 6'7", 340 lb. athlete caused "any emotional or physical harm."

Austin Metcalf's father, Jeff Metcalf, did NOT befriend Collins County District Attorney Greg Willis and Judge John Roach Jr. ahead of Karmelo Anthony's murder trial, despite speculation to the contrary ... TMZ can confirm.

There's a viral photo showing Jeff with four other people at a winter celebration, and folks on the internet are convinced it's Willis and Judge Roach, who presided over Anthony's case ... but we're told it's NOT them.

The chatter has people PO'd, 'cause this would be a major conflict of interest in the trial ... if it were true.

Donations are flooding into Karmelo Anthony's GiveSendGo after being convicted of murder and handed a 35-year prison sentence.

Check it out ... Karmelo's crowdfunding page was just above $629,000 after he was found guilty of murder for fatally stabbing fellow high school student Austin Metcalf ... but now the pool of money is even bigger.

Sympathizers are continuing to send money Karmelo's way, with $4,000 pouring in overnight, and the number is still rising.

Livvy Dunne and Jessica Belkin hit the town for a night out at Chateau Marmont as they took a break from filming the "Baywatch" reboot ... and they clearly don't need swimsuits to look smoking hot.

Livvy and Jessica showed off their lifeguard-fit bodies while leaving the famed Los Angeles hot spot ... and it's easy to see why they were cast in the reboot.

Livvy, the former gymnast-turned-actress, is set to play Grace on the show, while Jessica stars as Charlie.

The reboot, which is set to debut in January 2027, also stars Brooks Nader, Stephen Amell and Noah Beck.

Karmelo Anthony's staring down more than three decades behind bars after being convicted of murder ... but he's not doing time with the general inmate population ... at least not yet.

A rep for Collin County Jail -- where Anthony was sent after a jury found him guilty of murder -- tells TMZ ... the 19-year-old's being housed in a more secure area of the jail, separated from other inmates.

We're told the jail is taking appropriate steps to ensure the safety and security of all inmates in the facility ... but the rep declined to comment on why Anthony specifically is being kept in isolation.

The UFC has infiltrated the FBI headquarters ... with fighters like Justin Gaethje using the agency's digs to prepare for Sunday night's Freedom 250 card at the White House.

The Highlight's setup was put on display in the promotion's new "Embedded" vlog that dropped on Wednesday ... when he casually said the FBI opened its doors to him ahead of his title fight with Ilia Topuria.

Gaethje said the makeshift gym has everything he needs to train -- mats and bags -- but it's gotta be extra cool rolling around on top of the FBI seal.

Austin Metcalf's father tore into convicted killer Karmelo Anthony ... making it clear he was full of equal parts rage and sadness over his teenage son's murder.

Yelling while slamming his fist into the podium during the victim impact statements ... Jeff Metcalf said a part of him was killed when his 17-year-old son was stabbed to death by Anthony -- and he demanded the 19-year-old look him in the eye, according to WFAA

Metcalf reportedly shouted ... "We were robbed! Don't look down! You can't look me in the eyes, but you can stab my f---ing son! You don't belong in this community!" Jeff also said the case was not about race, despite narratives ... it was about right and wrong.