TMZ Sports - Page 16

The New York Mets are in need of a new manager ... and former MLB star Jose Reyes has a name in mind -- Carlos Beltran!!

TMZ Sports caught up with the four-time All-Star this week ... and got his thoughts on his old squad days after they parted ways with skipper Carlos Mendoza due to a 34-47 start.

Reyes doesn't think Mendoza deserves all the blame for the lack of success -- he thinks he's a great guy and a good manager -- but agreed that a change had to happen due to the team's massive payroll.

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's wedding is shaping up to be crazy expensive ... and that's not even counting the roughly $160,000 it's going to cost for police assigned to work two events at Madison Square Garden.

Our high-ranking NYPD sources tell us there are going to be over 70 detectives from precincts all across the city assigned to Thursday's rehearsal and Friday's wedding ... and they'll be working 8.5 hour shifts at $80 to $90 an hour.

We'll spare you the math ... that's $95,200 on the low end.

In addition, we're told there will be over 50 police officers assigned to MSG as well ... they're mostly rookies making $70 an hour for a 9-hour shift ... which would be another $63,000.

Our sources say some NYPD higher-ups in will also be working ... so the salary figure should push over $160K.

Travis Kelce is getting his cardio in before heading down the aisle ... hitting the streets of New York City for a solo run ahead of wedding weekend with Taylor Swift.

TMZ obtained a photo of the Kansas City Chiefs star jogging through Tribeca on Tuesday, working up a serious sweat as he made his way through the neighborhood.

Call it the "runaway groom" ... but don't worry, Travis wasn't running from the altar.

Former NBA star Blake Griffin says his first experience with a sports psychologist was anything but a slam dunk ... claiming the shrink totally betrayed his trust.

Blake was on the "Friends Keep Secrets" podcast Tuesday with Lil Dicky, Kristin Batalucco, and Benny Blanco when recalled a nightmare interaction with a sports psychologist during his time with the Los Angeles Clippers.

He says the shrink came over to his place after practice one day and they chatted ... and then the shrink turned around and called up Blake's coach to spill about their convo.

3:18 PM PT -- TMZ obtained video of a giant white staircase being craned into Madison Square Garden -- and at first glance, it looks like it could be another piece of the fairytale castle set being built for her wedding to Travis Kelce.

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's wedding is already looking like America's answer to a royal wedding ... and now, TMZ has learned it'll even come with its own castle!

Sources close to the wedding tell TMZ ... a massive castle is being built inside a garden at MSG, with the legendary venue being transformed into a full-blown fairytale for the big July 3 wedding event.

What's more, crews were spotted unloading giant, covered scenic pieces labeled "Garden Party 1 (Scenic)" and spray-painted "GP" outside the venue ... all arriving, fittingly, at Madison Square GARDEN!!😱

Serena Williams' big Wimbledon comeback came up short on Tuesday -- as the tennis superstar was defeated in the first round of the singles tournament.

The 44-year-old took center court at the All England Club for the first time in four years ... facing off against Maya Joint in a three-set thriller.

After losing the first set 6-3, Serena fought her way back into it by winning a tiebreaker in the second ... but the 20-year-old Australian pro answered with another 6-3 effort to advance and end Williams' singles campaign.

Madison Square Garden is disappearing behind layers of fabric ... all in the name of Taylor Swift's fairy tale wedding.

Sources connected to the wedding setup tell TMZ ... the event crew got to work Monday, and nearly all of the effort so far has gone into draping the entire arena. We're told workers have been tirelessly hanging fabric from the ceiling and even wrapping the perimeter of the arena floor as they build out Taylor and Travis Kelce's vision.

The makeover is so extensive, sources say it's become clear Taylor didn't simply rent MSG -- she rented a giant, windowless space she could completely reinvent. In fact, we're told guests will walk inside and quickly forget they're even in the world-famous arena.

NBA big man Walker Kessler just touched down in Los Angeles for a free agency meeting with the Lakers ... and he tells TMZ Sports it would've been great to play with LeBron James, but Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves ain't too shabby!!

The 7'2" center is expected to be a hot commodity this offseason ... and the Lakers are reportedly super interested in bringing him on board after four seasons with the Utah Jazz.

We caught up with 24-year-old Kessler at LAX minutes after the news broke that James would not return to L.A. for the 2026-27 season ... and it's safe to say he's not canceling any appointments over it.

Dave Portnoy is taking us back to the "Call Her Daddy" civil war ... and says one alleged plan nearly turned into Barstool's worst nightmare.

The Barstool boss swung by "TMZ Live" Tuesday to revisit the podcast breakup that broke the internet ... and let's just say he's not buying every version of the story that's been told.

If you think you've heard the whole story that pitted Alex Cooper and Sofia Franklyn against Barstool, Dave says you haven't ... he's sharing new details he says never made it into the headlines.

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce don't want the red carpet rolled out for them for their wedding event at Madison Square Garden ... they want purple carpet instead, even if workers have to start from scratch.

The color change is underway right now at Madison Square Garden, where workers are pulling up the red carpet they laid down earlier today on a set of stairs outside the arena.

Our photog took this video and was told the carpet is supposed to be purple, not red ... hence the frantic change.

LeBron James is speaking out after leaving the Los Angeles Lakers ... thanking the organization for adding him to the family eight years ago.

The 41-year-old King went to X a few hours after the news broke ... and shared his heartfelt reaction to the team's statement on his departure.

"No, THANK YOU!" James said on Tuesday. "Truly a honor to wear the 💜💛 while trying to continuing the greatness & legacies that came before me! Hope I made a few proud during my stint. 🙏🏾🫡👑."

Madison Square Garden employees are being cut off from the outside world while setting things up for Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's mega-bash this week ... because they're not allowed to have their phones while they work.

Employees who work in event production for MSG tell us ... they can't have their phones during the shift, and while they haven't been told why, it's presumably so they can't take pictures of the setup.

We're also told employees are wearing wrist bands -- which is out of the ordinary -- and they have to go through an extra layer of security when they show up to work.

Luka Doncic is bidding farewell to LeBron James ... saying he enjoyed their brief time together on the Lakers.

The Slovenian superstar went to Instagram on Tuesday ... fresh off the news 41-year-old King James was officially on the hunt for a new home after eight seasons in L.A.

In his tribute post, Doncic, 27, shared a pic of the two embracing after a game ... including the caption, "An honor to play with and learn from you @kingjames."

LeBron James WILL play next season ... just not for the Los Angeles Lakers.

The four-time NBA champion's agent, Rich Paul, informed the team of his decision on Tuesday ... stating the King isn't hanging up his crown just yet, but he's done with the Purple and Gold.

There are rumblings 41-year-old James will team up with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green on the Golden State Warriors ... with Anthony Davis' name being thrown in the mix as well.

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's highly anticipated wedding party at Madison Square Garden is nearly upon us ... and it looks like the National Guard is being called in to help with security.

Check out the video ... tons of National Guard members showed up to MSG on Tuesday night ... closing off streets around the arena in preparation for what may be the biggest wedding party of the century!

There also appears to be a massive meeting between NYPD and National Guard happening just outside the Garden.

Phil Mickelson's wife is standing firmly in his corner ... as the embattled pro golfer is in the middle of a d*** pic controversy.

A rep for Phil told reporters his wife, Amy Mickelson, supports her husband with "with extraordinary grace" and "unwavering love."

The statement comes after pro golfer Pat Perez's ex-wife, Ashley Perez, claimed Phil showed her a photo of his erect penis and propositioned her back in the day.