TMZ Sports - Page 3

Jakob Butturff, an 8-time professional bowling champion with the PBA, has died suddenly, the association announced.

PBA Commissioner Tom Clark revealed he died "unexpectedly" Friday and remembered him as "one of the most unique players in PBA history." A cause of death was not given.

Tom's statement went on, "Fans marveled at his delivery, as he rode a wave of strikes into becoming a top player in the sport, capable of winning at any time, in any event. Jakob was kind, he was respectful, and he was a champion. He will never be forgotten."

Nikki Bella says her love life is down for the count these days ... joking she's become "like a nun" after taking a time out from being intimate with other people as she focuses on her busy schedule.

The pro wrestler opened up about her dating life to Us Weekly ahead of this weekend's WWE SummerSlam, noting ... "I'm pretty much like a nun at this point. Super celibate. I should just put on a ring."

She added, "I wish I was out there getting wild. I just don’t have energy for it."

Nikki is certainly a busy woman -- she unretired from WWE this year, has a wine company and podcast with her twin sister Brie, and is a single mom to 5-year-old Matteo, whom she shares with her ex-husband, Artem Chigvintsev.

Jake Paul won't just be running the new MVP MMA promotion after the merger with PFL ... he'll also be fighting, and he's got two big-name opponents in mind!

The Problem Child chopped it up with Babcock on Friday ... and was asked if he was targeting his longtime rival, Nate Diaz.

"Yeah, Nate Diaz. Mike Perry would be great," the 29-year-old fighter said.

"We love Mike Perry. The Nate conversation has been ongoing. It just never made complete sense. I think up until this moment, things just got a lot more serious with this announcement. So, I want the Nate Diaz MMA fight very, very bad."

NBA superstar Paul Pierce revealed his huge monthly income as part of his battle with his ex, Princess Santiago.

Paul filed court docs laying out his finances for 2025 and the first six months of 2026. 

TMZ obtained the docs, which note Paul’s average monthly income was $128K in 2025, and $165K per month in 2026. He was paid $1.5 million from Fox in 2025 and another $713K for a show he had on the network.

Olympian David Hearn was torched by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, who charged him with vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool ... but now she's eating her words and dropping the case, because the pieces that came apart were caused by shoddy installers.

President Trump made sweeping comments shortly after the Reflecting Pool started to fall apart, saying it was the result of "SICK, DERANGED PEOPLE."

Pirro claimed there were witnesses who saw Hearn reach down in the water and tear the lining. He insists he never did such a thing ... he just picked up a piece that was already dislodged.

Trump made all sorts of claims ... including that vandals cut a 300-foot gash with some sort of knife.

WGN is apologizing for airing a meme of Kyle Shanahan as Mitch McConnell during a news segment on the NFL head coach's recovery from a recent car crash ... telling TMZ the epic screwup was NOT malicious.

The station tells TMZ ... "On Wednesday's 'WGN Morning News Show' sports segment, we mistakenly aired a photo of Kyle Shanahan, coach of the San Francisco 49ers. The photo was an internet meme and not authentic, and we apologize for making the error. It was not intentional."

WGN's apology comes as the network continues to get dragged online.

Brittney Griner has filed for divorce from her wife, Cherelle -- the woman who stood by her when she was locked up in Russia -- after eight years of marriage.

The WNBA star filed the divorce petition Thursday ... and lists July 24 as the date of separation. She says their marriage is "irretrievably broken."

Brittney and Cherelle -- who share one child together -- tied the knot back in June of 2018 ... and remained together during the 10 months Brittney spent in a Russian prison.

Adrien Broner is firing back at his alleged sexual battery victim … claiming her "one-sided" lawsuit is full of "unproven allegations" ... TMZ has learned.

The boxer's lawyer, Richard L. Cooper, tells TMZ ... "We are aware of the civil complaint that has been filed. Mr. Broner unequivocally denies the allegations and intends to vigorously defend himself in court."

Adrien's lawyer said he was confident the facts and evidence will show the claims are without merit. He asked that the public not jump to conclusions and wait for the outcome in court.

Brittney Griner's wife seemed to have no idea a divorce was imminent ... or at least she was hiding the info well ... because she posted pics of their seemingly happy family weeks before the pair separated.

Cherelle Griner shared a bunch of pics and vids on July 1 for her 33rd birthday ... and the snaps are full of friends, fun and her fam -- including a photo where she held tightly to Brittney, their faces bunched together.

In a video, the two hold their son -- who was born in 2024 -- in front of a fish tank at an aquarium. Another clip shows the pair giggling as they do a skincare routine together.

Bebe Rexha and NBA star Jordan Clarkson are raising eyebrows after spending a packed Monday together in New York City ... starting with an art session and ending the night at a Vogue bash.

Photos posted by New York Vintners show Bebe and Jordan getting creative alongside artist Leopoldo Gout. In one shot, Jordan strikes a playful pose in front of a massive, brightly colored abstract painting as Bebe smiles behind him.

Another photo shows the trio posing with the finished artwork. Jordan towers over Bebe and Leopoldo with his arm around the singer, while the artist holds up a paint-covered hand.

Tony Romo's seemingly been punished from his TV gig after his Operating While Intoxicated arrest ... with CBS Sports telling TMZ Sports the former quarterback is "on leave" until further notice.

The update comes just over a week after Romo was arrested in Wisconsin after officers suspected him of driving drunk behind the wheel.

The NFL season kicks off in September ... so it's unclear if Romo -- who joined CBS as its lead analyst in 2017 -- will return from leave before Week 1. The network enlisted future Hall of Famer J.J. Watt to replace the former Dallas Cowboys star in his absence.

Just when you thought this summer couldn't get hotter ... here comes Cristiano Ronaldo, stripping down to his undies and flaunting his fit figure -- plus the bulge in his pants.

The soccer star was soaking up the sun Thursday on a yacht off the coast of Mallorca, wearing nothing but a pair of his CR7 briefs ... which did little to shield the outline of his penis, especially after he took a dip in the sea.

The famed footballer enjoyed the outing alongside his son, Cristiano Jr., and his smoking hot fiancée Georgina Rodriguez.

Tari Eason and his designer clothing can rest easy ... because the ex he claims destroyed all his stuff isn't legally allowed to go anywhere near him -- including his NBA games.

The Houston Rockets star's request for a temporary restraining order against his former flame Marilyn Maritza Melo Rodriguez was granted by a judge Thursday ... and she's been barred from going near Tari, his home, his work, his vehicle, or NBA facilities where the baller is playing or practicing.

A hearing -- at which a judge will decide whether the TRO should be extended into a long-term restraining order -- has been set for August 20.

San Francisco Giants player Harrison Bader allegedly rammed his scooter into the back of a fire truck early Sunday morning ... an accident that further injured his foot and solidified the end of his season.

Bader -- who has been banged up most of 2026 -- was scheduled to see a foot specialist this week to address his ongoing plantar fasciitis issues ... but the team announced on Tuesday his status worsened after crashing his scooter days prior, and he would need an MRI to understand the severity of the new ailment.

While the team didn't provide details on the incident ... the SFist reported the scooter crash happened in the Cow Hollow area around 1:50 AM near the Balboa Cafe. A witness told the outlet Bader collided into back of a San Francisco Fire Department truck ... and the scooter wheel then rolled over his foot, causing a "major injury."

Italian soccer icon Franco Baresi -- the former AC Milan defender who helped define Italian soccer's golden era in the 1980s and 1990s -- has died.

AC Milan -- where he served as honorary vice president -- announced his death Thursday, writing ... "The entire history of AC Milan is in tears following the passing of Franco Baresi. His example and integrity will be forever etched into the Club’s DNA, just as his iconic number 6 shirt is."

A cause of death has not been released.

AC Milan announced last year Baresi had undergone surgery to remove a pulmonary nodule that was discovered during routine medical tests. It was never confirmed whether or not the mass was cancerous.

Ex-NBA star Paul Pierce is fighting his ex Princess Santiago's plea for a massive monthly child support check -- claiming his income is about to drop drastically this year, TMZ has learned. 

Paul filed court docs opposing his ex's request for $30K per month in child support, plus another $100K for legal fees in the case. 

In his filing, Paul points out he hasn't played in the NBA since 2017 … and does not earn like he used to. His career earnings were over $200 million.