Ja Morant Cops Do Welfare Check After Concerning Posts ... Claims He's Taking Social Media Break

Police tell TMZ Sports officers did a welfare check on Ja Morant following his cryptic social media posts on Wednesday ... and, thankfully, they discovered he is not in any danger.

A spokesperson for the Shelby County Sheriff's Office said cops went to the NBA star's home in Tennessee shortly after Morant shared the concerning messages on his Instagram page ... and they say he told them simply "that he is taking a break from social media."

"He is fine," the spokesperson added.

In Morant's posts, he shared pictures of him with his mom, dad, and daughter ... before writing a caption that said nothing more than "bye." The posts were deleted a short time later.

Of course, given the turmoil that's surrounded him since he was seen brandishing a gun on video for the second time in less than three months ... his fans expressed big worry for the 23-year-old basketball player.

Fortunately, though, seems everything is OK.

5/14/23
CAUGHT RED-HANDED
Instagram / @_dtap2

Morant has said very little publicly since the second gun video was posted ... releasing just one statement that read, in part, "My words may not mean much right now, but I take full accountability for my actions. I’m committed to continuing to work on myself."

An NBA investigation into the clip remains ongoing.

Dana White On Power Slap 2 Hired 2 Strongmen As 'Catchers' ... Heavyweight Slappers Are Huge!!

READY FOR ANYTHING
TMZSports.com

Dana White brought in some reinforcements ahead of Power Slap 2's super heavyweight matchup, hiring two of the strongest men in the world to serve as "catchers" for a matchup pitting two huge slappers, weighing nearly 900 lbs. total, against each other!

The Power Slap founder joined Babcock on the TMZ Sports TV show (airs weeknights on FS1) where he previewed Wednesday night's Power Slap 2 event ... which opens with 470 lb. "Slap For Cash" trying to sleep 383 lb. Dayne "Da Hawaiian Hitman" Viernes.

That's 853 lbs. of man, hitting each other as hard as they possibly can ... and Dana says he wanted to make sure there were prepared for everything that could go wrong, including making sure they have someone on hand to catch a suddenly unconscious competitor.

"These guys are so big, you know those world strongman guys? We had to bring two of those guys in as catchers. Like two of the best, World's Strongest men are coming in to be the catchers for that match."

IT'S BACK
Power Slap

FYI, "catchers" do exactly what you think ... they're there to catch, or cushion the fall, of an unconscious competitor.

As for the men doing the catching ... the strongmen are Evan Singleton and Trey Mitchell. Singleton, 30, is 6'6", and weighs around 350 lbs. himself. Evan won the 2021 Arnold UK strongmen event, and finished 5th in this year's World's Strongest Man competition.

Mitchell, at 6'4" and 355 lbs., is just as huge. Trey holds the record for Thor's Hammer hold, gripping the 65 lb. weight at arm's length for 63 seconds. TM won the 2021 and 2022 Shaw Classic, and finished 4th in the 2023 WSM competition.

Dana says they also needed to make sure the equipment on stage could stand up to these 4 massive men, totaling over 1,550 lbs.

"We had to make sure [the stage] will hold that amount of weight, and it will. And the other thing, we actually had to have a backup in case they fall forward, and crush the table or break the table, we had to have a backup plan for the table in case that happens."

"These are all the things I had to think of for this thing!", Dana said.

In addition to the big dudes, Power Slap 2, airing Wednesday night on Rumble, also features not one, or two, but three title fights! 🤚

Devin Haney Rips Loma's Team For Being A 'F***ing Sore Loser' ... 'Stop Crying'

"Take your lost like a man & stop crying."

That's Devin Haney ripping Vasiliy Lomachenko and his team days after winning a controversial decision against the future Hall of Famer in Las Vegas ... a fight many fans believe Loma should've won.

ICYMI, Haney won via unanimous decision ... with two judges scoring 115-113 (7 rounds to 5) and another giving it 116-112 (8 rounds to 4).

While the fight was razer close, Loma's team believes he clearly won ... and they wrote a letter ripping the judging for what was a fantastic night of boxing.

"Loma was denied this victory in the ring on Saturday," Vasiliy's manager Egis Klimas wrote. "He deserves the opportunity to be ranked #1 and to get another chance at realizing his goals as soon as possible."

Haney, the undisputed lightweight champ, caught wind of what Klimas said ... and he responded, using harsh words, and a photo of Loma crying after the fight.

"This guy is a f***ing sore loser," the 24-year-old said on Twitter. "Get this privilege sore loser out of boxing he makes excuses as he goes!"

"Take your lost like a man & stop crying.. it was set up for you to win for the 3rd time in your career & you failed!"

Haney (30-0, 15 KOs) also seemingly revealed that he was fined for pushing Lomachenko at weigh-ins ... and it was a 6-figures!!!

"Tell the commission to give me my 400k back for that push!" Haney demanded.

A rematch between the two boxers would settle the score, and any doubts fans may still have ... though, if you listen to Devin's dad and trainer, Bill, it seems very unlikely the men will ever scrap again.

Ja Morant Cryptic Post Amid Gun Vid Backlash ... 'Bye'

Ja Morant has fans concerned over a cryptic note shared to his social media account on Wednesday ... after the Memphis Grizzlies star showed love for his family before simply saying, "bye."

The messages were quickly deleted from the All-Star's Instagram page just minutes ago ... but screenshots have been shared all over, which have sparked thoughts and prayers being sent from his supporters.

Ja posted four different Instagram stories ... with tributes to his mom, dad and daughter before sharing the farewell note.

It's unclear if the post is a goodbye to social media or something much more serious ... as there's speculation he could be on hard times following his second gun-flashing video in just a few months.

5/14/23
CAUGHT RED-HANDED
Instagram / @_dtap2

23-year-old Morant was suspended last weekend after the second video surfaced ... and the NBA is currently investigating the matter. There's belief he could be facing a lengthy punishment from the league.

Commissioner Adam Silver said he was "shocked" by Morant's actions ... and while the league's still looking into the video, he's "expecting the worst."

We've reached out to reps for Morant, as well as local authorities -- so far, no word back.

Derek & Hannah Jeter Date Night At Heat Playoff Game ... 18 Days After Son's Birth

Derek Jeter's on full-time daddy duty, but that didn't stop him from catching some playoff basketball, pulling up to Game 4 of the Heat vs. Celtics series in Miami with his wife Hannah ... just 18 days after their son was born!

And, HJ looks amazing!

Cameras captured The Captain throughout the evening ... as he chatted with his wife as the Celtics looked to avoid the sweep at the hands of Jimmy Butler's Heat squad.

Of course, DJ and Hannah -- who got married in 2016 -- have been on cloud nine since announcing their son, Kaius Green Jeter, was born on May 5.

Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media.

The couple now has 4 kids.

Derek and Hannah weren't the only celeb in the building ... PGA Champion Brooks Koepka, actor Jeremy Piven, and Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards were there, too.

Derek's former Yankees teammate, Alex Rodriguez, a minority owner with the T-Wolves, was also at the game.

What's interesting ... no NBA team has ever come back from a 3-0 series deficit, but it has happened in baseball.

Ear muffs, Yankees fans.

Jeter and A-Rod starred on the infamous 2004 NYY team that blew a 3-0 lead to the Boston Red Sox, the first time in MLB history.

The Celtics defeated the Heat 116-99, forcing a Game 5 in Boston on Thursday ... and C's fans are hoping they can recreate some of the Red Sox magic from '04.

New York Yankees Squirrel Terrifies Fans At Game!!!

Several Yankees fans nearly got a lapful of peanuts, Cracker Jacks and squirrel out at the old ballgame Tuesday night -- and the Pinstripes supporters couldn't have been more mortified by it!!!

The Animal Planet-like scene all went down during New York's tilt against the Baltimore Orioles ... when, somehow, a squirrel broke into Yankee Stadium and took an in-game jaunt around the outfield.

First, it was seen posted up near the Yanks' bullpen ... then it was spotted in the center field grass. But, when it made its way near the stands, that's when all hell broke loose.

Check out video of rodent's run across an outfield wall -- fans were absolutely terrified to be so close to the creature!!

You can see most of the guys in the area had alarmed looks on their faces -- which is not too surprising ... considering New York is, after all, known as a concrete jungle.

Don't worry, no one was bit by the creature -- and as far we know, no squirrels were harmed during the game. Plus, the Yanks seemed to get some good mojo by it all ... going on to beat the O's, 6-5, in a walk-off thriller.

Go nuts, Yankees fans!!!

Wayne Gretzky Record-Setting Jersey Hits Auction ... From Final NHL Game

Brace yourself, hockey fans ... the last jersey NHL legend Wayne Gretzky wore during the final game of his historic career is being offered publicly for the first time, and the threads could be yours -- if you've got deep pockets!

TMZ Sports is told Gretzky's jersey -- which he had on in 1999 when he racked up his 2,857th point with an assist -- is now up for grabs at Grey Flannel Auctions.

Gretzky wore the jersey, which features his handwritten signature on the tag and the game date, "4-18-99", against the Penguins at Madison Square Garden, and although Wayne's Rangers team came up short, losing 2-1 in overtime, it was the "Great One's" emotional farewell that stole the night.

GFA says the iconic blue #99 jersey -- complete with the word "Rangers" on the front and "Gretzky" on the back -- shows signs of game use. John Rosasco, the Rangers' long-time Senior Vice President of Public Relations, authenticated the jersey with a letter to GFA.

Of course, Gretzky, who made 18 All-Star games, is widely considered the greatest hockey player of all time ... and one of the best athletes to ever play a sport.

Just how amazing was he?

Wayne, the only player to score over 2,000 points, was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame just months after retiring ... after officials waved the usual 3-year waiting period. The NHL also retired number 99 leaguewide ... making WG the only player in the NHL to have achieved that honor.

Bidding has already started. Good luck!!

Michael Jordan Cops Custom $3.5M Venom F5 Roadster ... Goes Over 300 MPH!!!

Michael Jordan's giving Floyd Mayweather's car collection a run for his money ... His Airness plunked down $3.5 MILLION on one of the rarest hypercars in the world, a Hennessey Venom F5 Roadster that goes OVER 300 MPH.

60-year-old Jordan got the special ride this week from Hennessey founder and CEO, John Hennessey, who posted photos with the NBA immortal on Instagram ... and the car is amazing.

"Today was a special day," Hennessey, one of the most respected minds in the automobile industry, said in the IG caption.

"Such an honor to build a special Venom F5 for a special friend 🐐"

The 2-seated Roadster -- which is based on the Venom F5 coupe -- is souped up with a massive twin-turbocharged, 6.6-liter, 'Fury' V8 engine that packs an incredible 1,817 horsepower.

The Texas-made car also has a tempered glass engine viewing window and according to the site, "can withstand aerodynamic forces exceeding 300 mph and temperatures beyond 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit."

"This panel, in the middle of the rear engine cover, spotlights the massive ‘Fury’ V8 engine in all its glory," the company said on the site.

"Its engineering was no simple task – developed and certified for use in jet aircraft."

The ride -- known as a hypercar -- also comes with lightweight, aluminum wheels that have the words "Hennessey" and "Roadster" scripted on the outer face of each rim.

Jordan's new Venom F5 is one of 30 made ... and Hennessey expects it to be the "world's fastest convertible."

The current record is held by the Hennessey Venom GT Spyder at 265.6 mph.

"The Roadster version takes the Coupe’s speed, exhilaration, and awe, plus a sprinkling of respect-inducing fear, to a new, truly visceral level that brings owners closer to the Venom F5®’s extreme performance," Hennessey said.

Of course, Jordan is known to purchase expensive cars ... and one of them -- his 1996 Mercedes Benz S600 Lorinser -- actually hit the auction block in 2020.

Aaron Rodgers I Love 'Jersey Shore' ... 'One Of The Greatest Shows!!!'

JERSEY JETS
New York Jets

You knew Aaron Rodgers liked ayahuasca, darkness retreats, and crystals ... but did you know the quarterback got down with gym, tan, laundry, and T-shirt time too?!?

It's true ... the new NY Jets star admitted Tuesday out at organized team activities that he was, indeed, a superfan of "Jersey Shore."

In fact, the 39-year-old called it "one of the greatest shows" ever!!!

Rodgers' talk with reporters about the classic MTV hit all came about because he said he knew next to nothing about New Jersey prior to his trade from Green Bay -- outside of what he had seen Pauly D, Snooki, and The Situation get into on the NJ-based show.

"The only Jersey I kinda knew about besides Teterboro was 'Jersey Shore,'" Rodgers said with a laugh. "I was assured that was not a proper representation of this state."

Then he explained he couldn't have been a bigger consumer of the reality TV hit -- telling media members he had actually chastised his 30-year-old teammate, C.J. Uzomah, earlier in the day for not being aware of JWoww, Ronnie, Sammi Sweetheart, and all the other cast members who made the show legendary.

"I said 'How can you not watch the show?!'" Rodgers said.

Rodgers went on to say he was such a big supporter of it all, he used to go see Pauly D perform DJ sets in Las Vegas back in the day.

For now, Rodgers' focus is all on offseason workouts with his new team ... but there will be a lull coming soon just before training camp -- which means plenty of time to bring back the fist pumps?!?

Sanchezos Jeff Popped the Question in Spain!!!

Jeff Bezos clearly timed his big proposal to Lauren Sanchez to align with the maiden voyage of his spectacular superyacht and their grand arrival in the French Riviera ... because shortly after landing in Spain last week, he did the deed!!!

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... Jeff pulled out the 20-carat sparkler on dry land, somewhere in Spain ... we believe either Ibiza or Mallorca. We're told the proposal was private -- just the 2 of them -- and boy, did they keep a secret for a few days.

Check out our gallery. Sanchezos arrived in Mallorca by private jet on May 15 and that's where they first boarded the ship.

They headed to Ibiza May 17 ... check out the photo -- she has a ring, but it's turned around so you can't see the enormous rock.

Fast forward to May 20, when the yacht pulled into French waters, where they headed to Antibes. This is the now-famous butt-slapping pic with the newly-engaged couple.

From there they headed the next day to Cannes, and this is where we see Lauren with her hand on the railing of the ship. The ring is impossible to miss.

As for why Lauren finally turned the ring so the rock was visible ... the secret was out once their guests arrived ... guests including her ex, Tony Gonzalez.

Sanchezos celebrated Monday night on dry land, looking very much in love and super swanky.

CONGRATS!!!

Odell Beckham Jr. Prosecutors Decline To Charge NFL Star ... Surveillance, Witness Contradicts Women's Story

Odell Beckham Jr. is off the hook in his assault case ... prosecutors said this week they will NOT hit him with criminal charges after concluding their investigation into the allegations against the NFL star.

The probe initially kicked off back in April -- after a woman alleged Beckham put his hand around her neck during an encounter at Delilah, a popular restaurant in Los Angeles.

The woman, according to law enforcement, claimed the 30-year-old Super Bowl champion went up to her and grabbed her throat with light pressure.

But, prosecutors said on Tuesday surveillance video from the lounge "contradicts the complaining witness' account of events."

"The video does not capture any battery," prosecutors added.

Officials also said there were no other witnesses who could corroborate the alleged victim's story ... explaining that even a friend of the complainant -- who they said was standing next to Beckham and the woman during the alleged incident -- did not see an assault take place.

According to prosecutors, there was simply "insufficient evidence to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt."

As we reported, Beckham was adamant all along that he had done nothing wrong. The restaurant's owner, John Terzian, called the claims bogus as well.

Beckham can now turn his full attention toward performing for the Baltimore Ravens -- as he tries to return to the field for the first time since tearing his ACL in Super Bowl LVI.

Damar Hamlin Puts In Work At Bills Practice ... Looks Sharp!!!

Damar Hamlin is continuing to make steps in his road to returning to NFL action -- on Tuesday, the defensive back got in some work at Bills practice ... and he looked GOOD!!!

Just over four months after he went into cardiac arrest on the field during a "Monday Night Football" game ... Hamlin was out at Buffalo's organized team activities -- and while he didn't fully participate in the practice, he still showed off some athleticism at the workout nonetheless.

According to reporters on the scene, Hamlin did some calisthenics with his teammates, got in some agility work ... and even hit some drills with his fellow DBs.

Video from the sidelines shows the guy doesn't appear to have lost a step at all since his Jan. 2 medical episode ... he caught the ball with ease and flashed some big-time burst.

Following the practice, Bills head coach Sean McDermott insisted Hamlin didn't do a whole lot on the field ... telling reporters they're taking things very slowly with the 25-year-old.

"We're taking it one day at a time and just support Damar in every way possible," McDermott said.

ONE DAY AT A TIME
Buffalo Bills

For now, there's no public timetable for an official return to practices -- or games, for that matter -- for the Bills safety ... though docs have cleared him to play, and it seems like only a matter of time before he's got a helmet and shoulder pads strapped on.

That's a sight we're sure everyone -- not just Bills fans -- will be very happy to see once again.

Foster Moreau Practices For 1st Time Since Cancer Diagnosis ... Catches Passes From Carr

Foster Moreau is back doing what he loves ... the Saints tight end took the field for New Orleans offseason workouts on Tuesday -- the first time he's been able to practice since his March cancer diagnosis.

The 26-year-old participated in Day 1 of the Saints' organized team activities ... and he looked like he hasn't lost a step whatsoever.

The former Raider caught balls, ran crisp routes ... and got in some blocking work too.

Of course, he spent a lot of the afternoon snagging passes from new Saints quarterback Derek Carr ... and the former Las Vegas teammates sure appeared to have some great chemistry.

Saints head coach Dennis Allen spoke with reporters following the workout about Foster -- who signed a three-year, $12 million deal with New Orleans earlier this month -- and he praised the tight end, saying the guy "looks good physically."

EXCITING ADDITION

The whole scene is pretty incredible ... considering in early March, doctors discovered Moreau had Hodgkin's Lymphoma, a type of cancer that affects the body's immune system.

Moreau, though, has been fighting it valiantly ... and, clearly, he's on his way to making an impact for his new team right away.

Stefan Wilson Suffers Broken Vertebrae ... In Indy 500 Practice Crash

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HOSPITAL UPDATE
UPDATE

9:23 AM PT -- 5/23 -- Stefan Wilson just shared an update from his hospital bed ... saying he's "doing well, all things considered."

UPDATE

He thanked his fans for their support ... and vowed to try to make a full recovery in time for next year's Indy 500.

UPDATE

6:40 AM PT -- 5/23 -- Awful news for Stefan Wilson ... the driver's team revealed he suffered a fracture of the 12th thoracic vertebrae in the crash and will now be forced to miss this weekend's big race.

UPDATE

The team added that Wilson stayed overnight at the hospital "for further tests and observation."

Scary moment at Indianapolis 500 practice on Monday ... Stefan Wilson was taken off the track on a stretcher after his car violently collided with a wall during a wild wreck.

The crash happened just moments ago at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway ... when Katherine Legge got into Wilson's ride in Turn 1.

You can see in video of the accident, Legge struck Wilson with so much force ... both of their cars skidded into a nearby wall -- with Wilson's vehicle seemingly getting the worst of the impact.

Trainers immediately raced to tend to both drivers ... and, eventually, Wilson was strapped to a backboard and loaded into an ambulance.

Thankfully, Wilson was able to give a thumbs up just before he was transported to a nearby hospital ... and, according to IndyCar medical director Dr. Julia Vaizer, he's now "doing well" and is "in good spirits."

Legge, meanwhile, was evaluated by medics following the crash -- but has since been cleared to drive again.

The scene couldn't have been scarier for the 33-year-old Wilson and his family ... as Wilson's older brother, Justin, tragically died in an on-track accident back in 2015.

It's unclear if Stefan or Legge will now be able to race in the 107th iteration of the Indy 500 on Sunday.

Originally Published -- 5/22 2:08 PM PT

Carmelo Anthony Doesn't Regret Not Winning NBA Ring ... 'I've Won At Life!'

Carmelo Anthony says he's unbothered that he's retiring without an NBA championship on his resume ... 'cause, at the end of the day, he feels he's "won at life" by simply making it to the league!

The 38-year-old forward announced his retirement on Monday after 19 seasons in the NBA, and despite all his accomplishments, including becoming a 10x All-Star and scoring champ, he never won a ring.

Many sports fans and even some media refuse to label a player an all-time great if they haven't won a ring. For years, it's been said about guys like Patrick Ewing and Charles Barkley, because neither earned a chip.

Obviously, if you watched Chuck play, you know he's one of the best players to step foot on a basketball court.

Championships are also used to compare players ... like Michael Jordan (6 titles in 6 appearances) and LeBron James (4 titles in 10 appearances).

"I’m at peace," Melo said to Sports Illustrated after the announcement.

"That doesn’t bother me no more; that idea that you’re a loser if you don’t win a championship."

But, Melo -- who won an NCAA Championship with Syracuse 20 years ago -- said he's been a winner since the day he was selected as the third overall pick in the NBA Draft, making it out of Brooklyn.

“For me, I’ve won. I won back in 2003, the night I shook David Stern’s hand on that [draft] stage," Anthony said. "I made it out of Red Hook. I’ve won at life."

"The ring is the only thing I didn’t get. It would’ve been a great accomplishment, but I don’t regret it, because I feel like I did everything I could to get it."

Melo said he's now focused on his 16-year-old son, Kiyan, who received several offers to play college basketball ... including from Melo's alma mater, Cuse.

In fact, Melo admits Kiyan is the only reason why he signed with the Lakers for the 2021-22 season ... or he would've retired back then.

"I always told him, ’When you get to high school, I’m retiring.’ That was always our thing," Melo said.

"Then [as he started high school] the Lakers called, and he told me, ‘Dad, I’ll be O.K., you should go.’ Even with LeBron there, I wouldn’t have done it without Kiyan pushing me."

"So to be able to spend time with him in the gym, on his work ethic? With school? I can be a father to him every day. It’s perfect timing.”

Happy retirement, Melo!!!

WWE Legend Goldberg Suffers Bloody Head Wound ... In Tractor Accident

No, Goldberg didn't get into a WWE hardcore match on Tuesday ... but he certainly looked like he did -- suffering a gnarly head wound while out on his farm in Texas.

A rep for the wrestling legend tells TMZ Sports ... Goldberg was getting work done on his property, when he accidentally knocked his noggin on his tractor -- opening up a big gash near his forehead.

In photos of the injury that the 56-year-old shared on his social media page ... you can see the cut was so bad, it poured blood everywhere.

Fortunately, Goldberg told us it was nothing serious ... explaining it was all "just a flesh wound."

In fact, in true Goldberg fashion, he said he's simply super gluing the thing shut!!!

Of course, bleeding profusely isn't anything new for the WWE Hall of Famer ... he's found himself leaking in the squared circle more often than not over the years.

Tough dude!!!

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