TMZ Sports - Page 2

Drake is honoring Kobe Bryant once again ... this time the rapper laid out the Mamba's Lakers jerseys in his new "Toosie Slide" music video -- and the tribute is pretty awesome.

Drake debuted the vid for his soon-to-be-smash-hit song Thursday ... and it didn't even take a full minute into the footage before the NBA superfan paid homage to Kobe.

You can see in the video ... Drake laid out Bryant's #8 and #24 jerseys on the table, and he let the camera pan to them as he danced around his Toronto-area mansion.

Of course, Drizzy is a HUGE Kobe fan despite his Raptors roots ... and after Bryant's death in January, Drake's paid homage to the L.A. legend every chance he's had.

In an Instagram post, just hours after Kobe's helicopter crashed on Jan. 26, Drake threw up a picture of him in a "Farewell Mamba" jacket with the caption, "It can't be."

Drake also painted the numbers 8 and 24 on his in-home basketball court just a few weeks ago as well.

Richard Simmons is helping people struggling through these days of self-isolation -- an area of expertise for him -- by making a comeback of sorts ... strictly online.

The beloved, former fitness mogul has been out of the public eye since February 2014, but 3 weeks ago his YouTube channel began posting for the first time in 6 years ... right around the time Americans began getting ordered to stay inside to stop the spread of coronavirus.

The material is nothing new -- it's old 'Signature Moves' clips, workouts and motivational messages -- but sources close to Simmons tell TMZ ... the revival is due to fans clamoring for him to return and lead them through at-home exercise routines again.

The need for this doesn't get much greater than during a pandemic ... so we're told Richard's team obliged with the new video posts.

Our sources say Simmons' team is also working on a new line of licensed products to be released later this year. It's unclear exactly what it will include, but in 2018 he released a calendar and some classic exercise merch ... so maybe something similar.

Remember, Richard hasn't been physically seen since we got a partial glimpse of him returning home from the hospital in April 2017 ... and there's only been Bigfoot-esque sightings of him for years before that.

So the mystery -- and it's a big mystery -- where is Richard?  He's not in the videos, which are year's old.  Cops did a few welfare checks several years ago and said he was ok, but why isn't he at least introducing the videos?

We're told despite the flurry of Richard's YouTube vids, he's still not decided when or if he'll make a return to the spotlight ... but the recent activity is giving his fans hope.

Mississippi State football coach Mike Leach issued an apology Thursday after posting a stupid coronavirus meme of a woman making a noose.

"After 2 weeks of quarantine with her husband, Gertrude decided to knit him a scarf," the caption on the meme said.

Get it? The woman wants to kill herself after having to spend time with her husband?! Wacka, wacka, wacka!

Yeah, Leach's players weren't laughing. In fact, two Mississippi St. players actually called Leach out on social media.

Defensive lineman Fabien Lovett responded to the tweet with "WTF." Senior defensive end Kobe Jones added to Lovett's tweet, saying, "Facts. He tripping."

Leach, ultimately realizing how dumb it was to post the meme, apologized.

Bored as hell during quarantine?? Hey, it could be A LOT worse ... 'cause a Texas Rangers pitching prospect just suffered a nasty knee injury tripping on his son's toy while at home.

The MLB farmhand -- former Seattle Mariners 4th-round pick James Jones -- was staying at his place Monday in Arizona when he reportedly tripped on his kid's toy and landed awkwardly.

Jones ended up shredding the patellar tendon in his right knee ... and immediately underwent season-ending surgery.

It's a brutal break for the 31-year-old lefty ... he was expected to compete for a bullpen spot on the Rangers' roster this year once MLB resumed play after its coronavirus suspension.

Of course, Jones is no stranger to surgery adversity ... the outfielder-turned-pitcher has already dealt with Tommy John surgery in his career and bounced back from that.

Darren Waller says he's 100% there for Aldon Smith in his transition back to the NFL if the new Dallas Cowboy needs him ... telling TMZ Sports, "I'd definitely be open to talking to him."

Waller, like Smith, battled substance issues early in his NFL career ... but got sober and turned into a dominant force with the Oakland Raiders this past season.

30-year-old Smith is trying to replicate that accomplishment with the Cowboys after being out of the league since 2015 ... and Waller says if the former All-Pro needs advice, his phone line is open.

"I'm sure he's definitely got a program in place, people in place, but if he ever needs someone, I'm definitely available for anyone that may be struggling with anything," Waller says.

Waller tells us even if he's unable to personally help Aldon when the guy gets back in the league ... he's confident just being a part of a team again will keep Smith on the straight and narrow.

"I feel like he can kind of relate to the same thing as me," Waller says. "It's like once you get that chance again, you realize how valuable it is to be a part of a team -- be a part of something that's bigger than yourself."

Formula 1 racing mogul Bernie Ecclestone is gonna be a dad ... AGAIN!

Oh, and did we mention he's 89 years old?

DO YOU REALIZE HOW OLD THAT IS?

"Hey, Dad, what was it like to be alive before the Nazis came into power?" "Hey, Dad, what was the Spanish Civil War like?"

Bernie Ecclestone was born BEFORE CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES WERE INVENTED!! (Shout out Ruth Graves Wakefield).

But alas, Bernie's 44-year-old wife, Fabiana Flosi, is with child, the racing tycoon confirmed to a Swiss media outlet.

"Yes, it is due in the summer," Ecclestone told Blick ... "Hopefully he'll learn to play backgammon soon!"

Guess that means he's having a boy?!

By the way, the baby is reportedly due just before Bernie turns 90 in October.

Ecclestone already has 3 children -- 65-year-old Deborah, 35-year-old Tamara and 31-year-old Petra.

Bernie met his wife Fabiana in 2009. They married in 2012.

Anyway, more like Baby Formula 1 now, right!?!?!

This might be the biggest baller move yet ... LaMelo Ball and his manager, ex-NBA player Jermaine Jackson, just teamed up to buy the Australian pro basketball team Ball suited up for this past season.

BIG BALLER!!!!

18-year-old Ball was a beast in 12 games for the Illawarra Hawks last year ... averaging 17 points, 7.5 rebounds and 7 assists a game before a foot injury sidelined him for the rest of the season.

Jackson -- who played 5 seasons in the NBA -- explained the move to ESPN, saying Ball loved his time in the Australian NBL so much that he decided to take charge.

The Hawks were reportedly facing financial issues while Ball was on the team ... and now the top NBA prospect is hoping to keep the shop open for his teammates and future players.

"Melo loves the Illawarra fans," Jackson said. "He loves that community. They opened their arms to him. They made us feel like we are at home. When we started hearing about the issues they were going through, we talked about it and decided, 'Let's own the team.'"

Jackson insists the move won't affect Ball's bright NBA future ... saying the plan is to hire the right people to keep the team running.

"He wants to create the best basketball program possible for that community there."

No word on how much it cost to buy the team ... but it can't be cheap.

Conor McGregor is going after Khabib Nurmagomedov again ... this time blasting The Eagle for "chickening out" of his UFC 249 fight with Tony Ferguson later this month.

"The fact of this matter is, both Tony and Khabib where engaged in a game of chicken here towards the fight bell," The Notorious said Thursday. "With Khabib chickening out first."

Of course, this is the FIFTH time the Khabib-Ferguson fight has been canceled over the years ... and Conor is now deeming Tony the winner after Khabib's latest withdrawal.

"Khab scurried out of the U.S to home, and amid the crisis. Very high risk," McGregor said. "Congrats Tony."

Nurmagomedov clearly ain't laughing at Conor's ribbing ... the UFC star said Wednesday he had legitimate concerns about fighting amid the coronavirus pandemic.

In fact, Khabib expressed frustration over the pressure he's been receiving to fight.

"Famous people around the world urge people to follow all safety requirements in order to limit the spread of the disease," Khabib wrote, "to save people, and Khabib is the only one relieved of all obligations and must demonstrate free will and train flying around the world, for the sake of fight?"

Khabib added that he was super disappointed ... but it ain't like Conor cared.

"I am in shape to fight right now!" McGregor said. "At the beginning of all this, I said to myself -- I’m happy I don’t have an official fight booked."

"If I did, I would have consumed all the incorrect data to support me taking part in the bout, and I would have followed through, competed. And won."

The last time Conor fought Khabib back in 2018, it wasn't even close -- the Dagestani dominated McGregor and ultimately got him to tap out in the 4th round.

If it's good enough for Derek Jeter, it's good enough for Tom Brady!!

The newest Tampa Bay Bucs QB has picked his Tampa Bay-area home, according to the Tampa Bay Times -- and it's the 32,000-square-foot mansion Jeter built!!

TB12 has already begun to move into the sprawling waterfront estate in the exclusive and super private Davis Islands neighborhood.

The home is siiiiick -- 7 bedrooms, 9 bathrooms, an entertainment room -- and a billiards room that wraps around a pool! There are also two boat lifts which allow access to Tampa Bay.

Jeter reportedly built the home in 2011 -- and it's the biggest mansion in a celeb-packed area. We're told Brady will have a bunch of famous and rich neighbors including a bunch of players from the Tampa Bay Lightening hockey team.

Fire back up the NFL return rumors for Rob Gronkowski ... after he was cut from "The Masked Singer" Wednesday, he refused to close the door on his football career once again!!

Gronk had been participating on the blind singing show this season ... and it was pretty damn obvious the former Patriots tight end was rockin' the "White Tiger" outfit the whole time.

His dance moves -- even in full costume -- were very Gronk-esque ... there was plenty of twerking, flossing and overall spasming on the stage weekly!!

Surprisingly, only two of the judges were able to correctly guess it was him ... but when Jenny McCarthy was interviewing him after the reveal, she made a comment about his NFL career.

"We hope we see those moves back in the locker room soon," she said.

Gronk's reply?? "Oh. You never know!"

BOOM!!! GET THOSE #87 JERSEYS READY IN TAMPA!!!

In all seriousness, 30-year-old Gronk hasn't given much indication he will, in fact, make a comeback to the league ... with his brother, Chris, even telling TMZ Sports last month he'd be SHOCKED to see Rob return.