TMZ Sports - Page 8

The WWE shut down Logan Paul's dream of brawling with NFL players, but Nikki Bella is still excited to see him face off with them in an approved flag football game ... and it sounds like she's still expecting some fireworks between both sides.

The WWE Hall of Famer spoke with TMZ Sports earlier this week in NYC about Logan’s viral challenge to football stars … where the YouTuber-turned-WWE Superstar has been claiming he’d put up $1 million to fight NFL players in the ring.

While several players barked back at the idea -- and Logan saying WWE execs later shut it down -- Nikki says she’s still curious about how the whole spectacle might play out ... especially factoring in the upcoming Fanatics Flag Football Classic.

Travis and Jason Kelce might need to make way for a new celebrity endorser in their family ... because Donna Kelce is in high demand now that we've got America clued in on her upcoming home renovation.

Here's the deal ... Donna was on Travis and Jason's "New Heights" podcast Thursday when they asked her about TMZ breaking the story on her window and door replacement at her modest Florida condo, and she mentioned the company replacing her windows ... NewSouth Window Solutions.

Jeff Beck, the CEO and President of NewSouth Window's parent company Window Nation, tells TMZ ... he's from Cleveland, Ohio and he almost wrecked his car on his way to work after finding out Donna name-dropped his company on the popular podcast. He had no idea his company was contracted for the remodel.

President Trump got himself some new hardware on Thursday during a White House event honoring women, courtesy of a U.S. Olympic bobsledder ... and while it may not be a Nobel Prize, it's an awesome honor!

The scene unfolded at a POTUS-thrown Women's History Month celebration at 1600 Penn. Avenue, attended by Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Press Sec. Karoline Leavitt, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Second Lady Usha Vance, and others.

U.S. Olympian Kaillie Humphries, a 6x medalist, was also in the building, and didn't squander the moment when she stepped to the mic, gifting 45/47 one of her medals.

Not one of those medals ... no gold, silver, or bronze here. Instead, Humphries gave Trump something that's arguably more special.

Erik Spoelstra is clapping back at everyone criticizing Bam Adebayo's journey to 83 points ... essentially saying it'll be a cold day in Hell when he apologizes for the performance.

There has been a ton of backlash surrounding the big man's historic Tuesday night ... with some purists claiming it wasn't an "ethical" approach to stuffing Adebayo's stat sheet, like when the Heat intentionally fouled Washington Wizards players despite being up big.

Fast forward to Thursday night ... and Spo weighed in on the reactions with an almost Conor McGregor-esque take.

Social influencer Livvy Dunne is setting her sights on Hollywood and has joined the "Baywatch" reboot with Shay Mitchell and Brooks Nader, TMZ has learned. 

Sources tell TMZ ... Livvy -- who is with MLB star Paul Skenes -- will be playing Grace.

The other cast members previously announced include Stephen Amell as “Hobie,” Jessica Belkin as “Charlie,” Noah Beck as “Luke,” Shay Mitchell as “Trina,” Hassie Harrison as “Nat,” Thaddeus LaGrone as “Brad,” Brooks Nader as “Selene,” and David Chokachi as “Cody.” 

We're told the cast currently in place had the first table read last week. Sources tell us they are excited about how the project is coming along.

Atlanta Falcons defensive end James Pearce Jr. is no longer facing a charge of aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer after his alleged domestic dispute with Rickea Jackson, TMZ Sports has learned.

Court documents we obtained show that prosecutors have dropped the charge against the 22-year-old. A spokesperson for the DA said in evaluating all the evidence, they didn't believe they could prove it beyond a reasonable doubt.

It's a small break for Pearce -- the charge comes with up to five years behind bars.

He isn't out of the woods at all, though ... as prosecutors filed a handful of other charges in the incident -- including stalking, fleeing and eluding police, resisting an officer with violence, and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.

President Donald Trump threw his full support behind Jake Paul running for office "in the not-too-distant future" ... but the YouTuber-turned-boxer floated the idea of a political career moments before the two took the stage at the President's rally in Kentucky.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... Trump and Paul sat down for around 45 minutes backstage at Trump's rally Wednesday -- for what we're told will be the first episode of a new podcast Jake is launching soon.

We're told Trump was riffing to Paul about the "lore" of his backstory and rise before entering politics. Jake's fiancée, Olympic gold medalist Jutta Leerdam, was also there.

Olympic gold medalist Alysa Liu got a hero’s welcome in her hometown Thursday -- with Oakland handing the figure skating superstar the Key to the City during a massive celebration packed with Bay Area royalty.

The event -- emceed by legendary radio personality Sway Calloway -- brought together a who’s who of the Bay’s sports and music worlds to honor the 20-year-old after her historic performance at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Among those showing love were Bay Area music stars G‑Eazy, P‑Lo, Kehlani and Jwalt ... while Olympic legends Andre Ward, Brian Boitano and Kristi Yamaguchi also congratulated Liu on the huge achievement.

There's a whole lot of legal drama in Dwight Howard's life these days ... we've learned the former NBA superstar is being sued for emotional distress and unpaid wages by someone claiming to be a former assistant ... in the midst of recently filing for divorce from his estranged wife, Amber Howard.

Us Weekly was first to break the news.

Here's the deets -- Terrence Hudson says he worked for the former NBA pro and Amber as a home security guard, domestic manager, and Dwight's personal assistant, from June 25, 2025 to October 8, 2025 ... this according to court documents obtained by TMZ.

Terrence says in the docs -- filed in December 2025 -- he agreed to $2,000 per week in pay, but claims he only received "inconsistent payments totaling $8,137.54" throughout his employment.

Team USA manager Mark DeRosa tried to clear up his World Baseball Classic controversy -- but in doing so, he accidentally added another mix-up to the pile.

The skipper was already under fire after suggesting the U.S. clinched a quarterfinal spot before its matchup with Italy -- a comment that looked even worse after the Americans were stunned 8–6.

When DeRosa addressed the situation publicly on Thursday, he owned the original comment he made during a TV appearance on MLB Network after a big win over Mexico in the game prior.

But while explaining the situation, DeRosa misspoke again -- saying both teams entered the matchup 2–0, when in reality the U.S. was actually 3–0 heading into the game.

Michael Chandler is packing his bags for Quantico to train FBI agents ... and he joined "TMZ Live" ahead of the trip to give Kash Patel some comfort in case the director plans to be in attendance -- saying he's not looking to break anyone's bones.

The 13th-ranked UFC lightweight chopped it up with Harvey and Charles on Thursday ... and he hopes to take a "white belt mentality" to the FBI training facility when he gets boots on the ground this weekend.

You may ask, what's a white belt mentality? Well, in Chandler's own words, it's all about wanting to get better.

Dwight Howard called the cops on his wife, Amber Howard, claiming she took off with several of his prized personal belongings ... including jewelry, his wedding ring, and even his phone.

In new 911 audio -- obtained by TMZ -- Howard is heard telling a dispatcher about an apparent theft at his Georgia mansion ... saying a "female" left the home with the items "in a gray Camaro."

Howard told the dispatcher he was no longer at the house because he had to leave to pick up his child.

Dwight Howard is officially walking away from basketball ... claiming while he still has gas left in the tank, the sport made the decision for him -- and now it's time for family.

The 40-year-old No. 1 overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft released a lengthy statement on Thursday ... acknowledging that most folks might think he already handed in his retirement papers, but that wasn't the case.

DH12 -- who last played in the NBA in the 2021-22 season before taking his talents overseas -- is now going to put all his energy into his family and the community.

Patrick Mahomes and his wife, Brittany, are celebrating their fourth wedding anniversary on Thursday ... and the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback shared a throwback pic to prove she's always been his "day 1," even before his rise to NFL superstardom.

The three-time Super Bowl champ posted a series of pics on Instagram set to J. Cole and Burna Boy's "Only You'' song ... and included a photo from their teenage years.

"My Day 1 ❤️," Mahomes said in the caption. "Happy Anniversary!"

Dwight Howard's wife Amber Howard brutally ripped into him during a recent 911 call -- claiming he locked her out of their Georgia mansion ... and telling the dispatcher the home is packed with weapons.

In new 911 audio -- obtained by TMZ -- Amber says she's standing outside in the rain after Dwight locked the gate entrance of their 35,000-square-foot home ... something she claims he frequently does when he gets "upset" following their arguments.

She also name-drops him ... telling the operator her hubby is "Dwight Howard from the Lakers."

Amber also alleges Dwight lost custody of his daughter the night before -- something she also claimed on Instagram, but we have not confirmed -- and says he "took it out on me."

Tom Brady doesn't have to worry about the so-called "bro code" when it comes to hooking up with Yael Cohen Braun, the ex-wife of one Scooter Braun ... TMZ has learned.

A source connected to all of the involved parties tells us ... Scooter has no issue with the news Tom and Yael got cozy at a recent Hollywood bash -- and eventually left together -- even though Scooter and Tom have become pretty good friends.

We're told Scooter's totally "unbothered" and considers Tom a good guy.