TMZ Sports - Page 2

The NBA is standing by its partnership with Rwanda -- after two U.S. Senators asked several uncomfortable questions about the deal -- with the league's answer boiling down to this ... we follow Uncle Sam's lead.

NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum fired back a letter to Senators Jeff Merkley, a Democrat from Oregon, and Marsha Blackburn, a Republican from Tennessee, after they pushed the league to rethink its ties to the East African nation.

The politicians’ beef? Merkley and Blackburn questioned The Association cozying up with a regime known for human rights abuses and alleged war crimes, saying they were "increasingly alarmed" by the marriage. They also accused the government in Rwanda of sportswashing.

Erin Benavides -- the woman connected to the Tony Parker/Eva Longoria cheating scandal -- died by self-inflicted gunshot wound ... TMZ has confirmed.

The M.E. noted the full autopsy report won't be released for about a week.

As we reported ... Erin was found dead in her Texas home last month after police performed a welfare check prompted by an alarming text she sent to a friend of her husband.

Former WWE Superstar Eva Marie is single as a dollar bill ... and she tells us she's not currently looking for a man following her divorce.

Eva joined TMZ's "Inside the Ring" podcast and opened up about her dating life ... or lack thereof ... revealing she isn't currently seeing anyone and doesn't even have any prospects on the horizon.

The former "Total Divas" star finalized her divorce from Jonathan Coyle in August 2025 after nearly 10 years of marriage ... telling us she's now focused on herself and everything she has going on.

When asked if she was dating, Eva admitted she wasn't sure how to answer ... explaining that while she could technically say she was, that would require actually going on a date.

Tenerife striker Jesús de Miguel tragically died the day after a violent on-field collision with the opposing goalkeeper ... and now authorities in Spain have launched an investigation.

He was only 30.

The deadly play occurred Monday in a game between second-division CD Tenerife and FC Andorra at Tenerife's Estadio Heliodoro Rodríguez López. The contest was tied 2-2 deep in the second-half stoppage time.

De Miguel was chasing a long ball when Andorra keeper Jesús Owono charged out of his box -- all the way to midfield -- and slammed into Jesús, who immediately dropped to his knees, clutching his torso, before falling back, appearing motionless.

LeBron James' 76ers decimated the Chicago Bulls on Monday ... so much so that he even had time for a mid-game glass of red ... and his wine-sipping moment is on video!!!

The NBA legend ran the floor and ended up behind the basket at one point during the game ... and he grabbed a fan to keep from barreling through him.

LeBron kept him upright ... then grabbed his cup of wine, sniffed, and took a sip.

Joe Mixon is mourning the nine people who died in a horrific plane crash in Florida ... revealing he flew on the same jet with the same two pilots just weeks before the deadly disaster.

The former NFL running back shared the chilling connection on social media Monday ... saying he was "absolutely devastated" by Sunday's crash and had flown aboard the same aircraft just last month.

"They were incredible professionals and genuinely wonderful people," Mixon wrote of the two pilots, who were among those killed.

Three guns, multiple bullets and a disturbing warning call ... new details are emerging about the death of a woman linked to Tony Parker and Eva Longoria's infamous split.

According to a police report obtained by Page Six, officers found three firearms and multiple bullets inside the Texas home of Erin Benavides, who died by suicide on October 14.

The report also reveals authorities received a call around 7:08 PM from someone saying a woman had threatened to take her own life ... prompting police to respond to the Port Aransas home.

Kai Trump and University of Miami kicker Jake Weinberg have sparked dating rumors ... but TMZ has learned there's no romance between the two.

A rep for President Donald Trump's granddaughter tells TMZ ... Kai and Jake are just friends and they are NOT dating.

Jake previously played football at Florida State University before transferring to Miami, where Kai is a member of the women's golf team.

Michael Wilbon is suddenly stepping away from ESPN after two and half decades at the network to deal with "multiple health issues" ... and while he didn't specify the nature of the issues, he made it clear what they're not.

The 67-year-old "PTI" co-host announced the news in a statement to social media on Monday ... and in true form, he put it in sports terms.

"This isn't retirement, but it is a trip to the injured list," Wilbon wrote. "Hopefully not an extended one."

He's stepping away from both "Pardon the Interruption" as well as his NBA duties for ESPN and ABC.

Wilbon made it crystal clear these are health issues, and not ones related to alcohol or gambling. He even joked he isn't swearing off his now-and then Kir Royale ... while calling the rise of sports betting something he finds "loathsome."

Wilbon also owned up to waiting too long to make the move, despite doctors and people close to him -- Tony Kornheiser included -- seeing worrisome signs in recent years and begging him to take time off sooner. He didn't listen until now.

As one close friend put it to him, "the bill has come due."

Wilbon noted that he's loved sparring with Tony every day for a quarter of a century! He doesn't know how this will play out, but says the goal is to come back feeling much better.

And ESPN is in his corner.

Chairman Jimmy Pitaro said Wilbon has the network's full support, and he's looking forward to welcoming him back whenever he's ready.

Wilbon made his name at the Washington Post, where he started in 1980, before launching "PTI" with Kornheiser in October 2001. The show just celebrated its 25th anniversary.

The news hits less than a week after Ernie Johnson announced this season will be his last hosting "Inside the NBA" on ESPN ... as now a second voice sports fans listened to for decades steps away, at least for the moment.

There was a collective sigh of relief around the NFL after head coach Dan Campbell and the Lions delivered a "positive" update on Jack Campbell ... after the star LB went down with a frightening injury on Sunday, laying motionless on the field.

Coach kept it short on Monday when meeting with the media, reporting the prayers are working, and asking everyone to keep them coming ... before attempting to move on to football.

Fighting back emotions, coach admitted it's been hard for himself -- and his team -- to see such an integral part of the Lions in such a precarious and devastating situation.

A woman once linked to Tony Parker during his marriage to Eva Longoria has died by suicide ... years after the alleged affair rocked the San Antonio Spurs.

Erin Benavides, who was previously married to former Spurs player Brent Barry, was found dead at 54 inside a home in Port Aransas, Texas, on October 14 ... after police responded to a welfare check prompted by an alarming text message she reportedly sent to a friend of her husband.

According to the San Antonio Express-News, officers forced their way into the home and discovered Erin with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Authorities do not suspect foul play, though the investigation remains active.

Bill Belichick isn't exactly rushing to clear the air about his split from Jordon Hudson ... instead, he fired off a sarcastic jab when a reporter brought up TMZ's breakup bombshell.

The UNC football coach was asked during his Monday press conference about TMZ breaking the story about Bill and Jordon calling it quits ... with the local beat writer asking BB whether the split would have any impact moving forward.

"Do you work for a tabloid now?" Bill shot back ... prompting the reporter to reply, "Unfortunately, no."

Bill Belichick and Jordon Hudson called it quits last year ... but never-before-seen photos show the former couple was still spending time together months after their secret split.

The legendary football coach and his much younger ex were spotted together in Nantucket, MA on July 2 ... with Bill walking his bicycle alongside Jordon as they made their way through town.

In photos obtained by TMZ Sports, the 74-year-old kept things casual in a striped polo, blue shorts and a baseball cap ... while Jordon rocked leopard-print leggings and a black top.

Shilo Sanders had to cut a food review short in West Palm after a man got in his face over his famous dad ... and the whole thing played out on camera.

Shilo posted the footage to his YouTube channel Sunday titled "Shilo Gets Pressed in the Hood Doing a Food Review" ... and yeah, "pressed" is putting it lightly.

Shilo was at Hook Fish & Chicken -- a spot he'd tried and loved just days earlier -- and was ordering wings at the register when a random guy, who said he was from the neighborhood, started going at him.

It's unclear what got the guy so heated, but he was pissed ... and it only escalated from there.

The video shows the verbal altercation continue into the parking lot, where the stranger accused the Sanders family of not doing anything for the West Palm Beach community.

Not much later, the man allegedly reached into his car for something, and Shilo wasn't going to wait around and figure out what is was -- the bounced.

From the car, Shilo began describing what went down, but couldn't fully explain why the man was so angry.

Shilo said he didn't want to end up having to defend himself and deal with the potential paperwork, after ... or have "someone mess around and try to harm me or do something to me. So I had to just get up out of there."

Shiloh added ... "I don't understand what he got against Deion Sanders, but he tripping."

Since leaving the NFL, Shilo has transitioned to a full-time content creator, posting vlogs, pranks and food reviews. Usually, they go A LOT smoother than this.

Jessica Alba's Nancy Kerrigan costume put her on thin ice with some fans ... and it appears she's now trying to walk it back by ridding her social media of the controversial Halloween costume.

Here's the deal ... over the weekend, Jessica posted pics of herself and a friend dressed as Nancy and Tonya Harding.

Jessica's costume was complete with a bloody knee bandage ... a clear nod to when Nancy's knee was clobbered in an attack planned and financed by Tonya's ex-husband back in the day. Tonya was banned from the sport after pleading guilty to conspiracy to hinder prosecution.

Several followers raked Jessica over the coals for the costume ... and it seems she heard their complaints -- because the pics have mysteriously disappeared from her IG.