TMZ Sports - Page 5

Everyone's favorite World Cup superstar is celebrating his 26th trip around the sun ... and Erling Haaland says he's feeling a ton of love on his birthday -- 'cause his life has changed forever!!

The Norwegian striker hopped on a yacht with his girlfriend, Isabel Haugseng Johansen, and friends this week ... and it was all in honor of the birthday boy.

There was plenty of good food, vibes, and some golf ... and Haaland even rocked a viking hat at one point. They then wound up at a day club, where the athlete was spotted jamming out at the DJ booth.

Ryan Clark getting sent packing from ESPN isn't sitting well with the network's biggest star -- Stephen A. Smith voiced his frustrations over the move in a lengthy video on Tuesday ... saying his now-former colleague is the best in the business.

"I'm gonna miss him," SAS said. "I am not happy about this decision one bit. The bosses know I'm not happy about this decision. I've made that very, very clear."

The "First Take" host acknowledged it's part of the business ... and it's something he's experienced several times at ESPN, but this one is different due to his personal connection to Clark.

A Chicago Cubs fan who went viral after smacking a younger man in the back of the head for sitting during the national anthem is breaking his silence ... and he tells us the video's missing a key ingredient.

Here's the deal ... over the weekend, an older gentleman in a Cubs jersey barked at a younger fan in front of him to get off his butt for the Star-Spangled Banner at Wrigley Field ... and when the person kept sitting, the Cubs fan smacked him in the head.

TMZ tracked down the Cubs fan -- Robert "Bob" Chavez -- and he tells us he lost his cool in the moment because he is a Vietnam veteran who had numerous buddies killed in the war.

Bob says he told the young man his veteran status and war stories when asking him to stand ... but the guy just kept sitting down, so Bob let loose a slap.

Ryan Clark was let go by ESPN yesterday in the middle of a live show ... and TMZ has learned how it all went down.

A source with direct knowledge tells TMZ ... Ryan was going to be notified on Tuesday that he was part of a mass layoff, but on Monday ... the network was made aware that a report was about to drop about the former NFL player being laid off. The report was going to be published while Ryan was filming "NFL Live" and a call had to be made ... how should he find out?

We're told ESPN honchos decided to get ahead of the news and tell Ryan during a commercial break, rather than him see an alert on his phone.

Ryan did not come back on the air after being informed he was being let go ... obviously, the news rattled him, and we're told both Ryan and ESPN agreed it was better not to return.

According to court docs obtained by TMZ, a Georgia judge ordered the Minnesota Timberwolves star to pay $3,222 a month in child support. 

In 2023, Anthony signed a 5-year deal with the Timberwolves worth over $200 Million. Ayesha’s monthly income was listed as zero. 

Cam Newton is out at the World Wide Leader ... the latest casualty in a round of cuts that claimed the jobs of some of the most prominent figures in sports media.

The former NFL MVP was laid off this week, according to TMZ Sports' sources ... a surprising move from the powers that be in Bristol.

Newton was only with ESPN for a few years -- he signed on in late 2024 -- but found success opposite Stephen A. Smith during the NFL season, where he was SAS' main debate partner on "First Take."

Newton was elevated into the premiere spot after Shannon Sharpe parted ways with ESPN last year.

Ryan Clark is sending some words of encouragement to all his coworkers getting axed from ESPN ... saying he hopes they all land on their feet -- while admitting he knows exactly what they're going through.

The former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back and ex-ESPN talent went to X to share his kind message on Tuesday ... saying, "Sending prayers and love to all those laid off today by ESPN."

"So many of you have poured your life into that company, & I know how you’re feeling right now. My hope is as this door closes another opens for you all. God bless!"

It's no secret Aaron Rodgers has been on the outs with his family for many years ... but all that's come to an end now because they just reunited ... for the most part.

That's right ... On Monday, the Pittsburgh Steelers star quarterback posted a series of Instagram photos showing Aaron bonding with his mom, Darla, his dad, Ed, and his brother, Luke. But his other brother, Jordan, was MIA, so it's unclear where that relationship stands.

In the caption, Aaron wrote, "Another bonding week #fam."

Ryan Clark was doing his job when he found out he no longer had one -- the NFL player-turned-ESPN analyst disappeared from "NFL Live" mid-show after a report was published stating he was impacted by a round of layoffs at the network.

The Athletic dropped the news on Monday, stating the former Steelers defensive back was being let go ... but there was one problem -- the network wasn't planning to break it to Clark himself until Tuesday morning.

With the cat out of the bag and Clark's phone likely blowing up over the development, producers elected for a lengthy commercial break.

Stefon Diggs’ male sexual assault accuser, Christopher Griffith, says he now has hard evidence proving the NFL star coordinated the L.A. beatdown on him ... TMZ has learned.

Christopher filed court docs saying he plans to add new allegations to his lawsuit against Stefon using the evidence handed over by Diggs during discovery in the case.

He said he now has text messages and phone records from Stefon’s assistant showing the coordination of the attack ... including logistical correspondence about booking flights and hotel arrangements with one of Chris’ assailants on the day he was attacked.

LeBron James still has the NBA in a holding pattern as he ponders his next move ... but Paul Pierce tells TMZ Sports the answer is simple -- go home!

The rumor mill is still swirling weeks after the 4x NBA champ parted ways with the Lakers and it seems as if The King has narrowed down his next kingdom to the Philadelphia 76ers, Miami Heat, Golden State Warriors, and of course, his old team (twice removed), the Cleveland Cavaliers.

We chopped it up with The Truth at Derek Fisher's 3rd Annual Be Better Foundation Celebrity Golf tourney, and asked him where he would like to see LeBron go.

A Chicago Cubs fan's smack heard 'round the internet isn't leading to a police investigation ... at least not yet.

Chicago Police tell TMZ ... they're aware of the viral video showing an older Cubs fan slapping a younger spectator on the back of the head during the national anthem at Wrigley Field ... but so far, no police report has been filed.

The clip, which exploded on social media after Sunday's Cubs-Twins game, shows the older man, who's decked out in Cubs gear, yelling at the younger fan seated in front of him to stand for "The Star-Spangled Banner."

A Chicago Cubs fan is going viral after he smacked a younger spectator upside the head for not standing during the national anthem ... but not everyone thinks this is patriotic.

Check out the video ... an older gentleman in a Cubs uniform barks at a younger fan in front of him to get off his butt for the Star-Spangled Banner at Wrigley Field ... and when the guy keeps sitting, the Cubs fan reaches back and slaps the back of his head.

Other folks in the stands turn around to see the fuss, and at least one man who saw it all go down raises an issue.

50 Cent was performing "In Da Club" when Knicks star Jordan Clarkson looked ready to take somebody out of it in this wild footage of the fight that led to security booting the NBA champ outta one of NYC's hottest private clubs.

The video, obtained by TMZ, shows Jordan hanging out near Travis Scott -- dressed in red -- before making his way toward the stage as chaos erupts in the packed room.

It’s tough to tell exactly who Jordan is trying to reach, but he appears focused on someone near the stage as several people attempt to hold him back.

The commotion eventually catches 50 Cent's attention ... prompting him to stop the music mid-performance.

Former NFL linebacker Thomas Davis's ex-wife cut a deal in her assault case ... avoiding a criminal trial over an alleged attack on a woman she believed had hooked up with the athlete.

Kelly Davis entered a pretrial diversion program Monday and agreed to complete a Cognitive Behavioral Intervention course, stay away from alleged victim Laura Watterson, and pay $1,380 in restitution, according to North Carolina court records obtained by the California Post.

Kelly's attorney, James J. Exum, told the outlet the charge will be dismissed if she completes every condition of the program ... calling it a "very fair resolution" for someone with no criminal history.

Former NFL player Josh Mauro allegedly went on a four-day drug and alcohol bender before his fatal overdose ... partying with multiple women right up until his final hours.

Josh began binge-drinking and using cocaine at his Arizona home days before his April death ... according to the California Post, citing a newly released Maricopa County Medical Examiner report.

Investigators reportedly reconstructed Josh's final days through interviews with several women who came and went from his home ... with the women describing a party that continued into the hours before he was found dead.