TMZ Sports - Page 4

There isn't any love between Bryce Harper and the Nationals fanbase, but the 2x N.L. MVP says he did NOT give them the middle finger, despite what the video appeared to show!

The 33-year-old MLB star was back at his old stomping grounds Thursday night and was welcomed with "F*** Bryce Harper" chants.

The home team jumped out to a 5-0 lead, but the Phillies came storming back ... and the game was tied when Harper stepped to the plate in the top of the 9th inning, and stunned the hostile crowd.

Bryce put a charge into a 1-0 pitch, sending it the other way over the left field fence, putting the Phillies up 7-5.

As he rounded first base, Harper seemed to flip off the Nationals faithful ... but it turns out it wasn't what it appeared.

"Ring finger, though, just want to make sure that's out there," Bryce told media from the visitors' clubhouse, making it clear it wasn't his middle finger.

If you really look at the images, he wasn't lyin' ... it's his ring finger.

The purpose of the taunt isn't clear.

Bryce hasn't won a World Series ... but the Nationals did without him in 2019, the season after he left for Philadelphia, where he signed a $330 million contract.

Harper says he was perplexed by the treatment he received from the fans throughout the series, after all he did in D.C.

“It's all part of it. It’s weird coming from a fanbase, obviously, that I sweated for, for seven years, but there’s a lot of people around here that enjoy me. So it’s all part of it. It’s all fun.”

Andy Cohen got choked up on-air Thursday night ... shedding tears for a former employee and friend who died after a battle with brain cancer.

The TV host took on a serious tone during "Watch What Happens Live" ... revealing Kyra Samson -- a former production manager for Bravo -- died Tuesday at 28.

Andy said Kyra spent 4 years with Bravo and was "known for her sweet smile and gentle demeanor" ... though she could also use her mighty voice to corral huge BravoCon crowds when necessary.

LaVar Ball is being dragged off one court and into another ... because a contractor who built him an at-home basketball court is now saying he was stiffed on the $200K bill.

The father of basketball stars Lonzo and LaMelo Ball is getting sued by MD Steel Inc. for unpaid labor expenses for the installation of a basketball court and subsequent home renovations.

TMZ obtained docs that detail the various work expenses MD says amounted to roughly $970K ... and in the filing, the company claims LaVar paid roughly $750K but never paid off the balance! He's now asking the court to help him collect the remaining $221,928!

ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller's colleagues are helping out after he lost his arm in a serious car accident earlier this month ... with names like Pat McAfee and Adam Schefter donating to his recovery.

Miller's loved ones are raising money to ease the financial burden the draft expert will face after multiple surgeries and impending rehab, medical care, travel, and prosthetic planning ... and the former Indianapolis Colts punter wasted no time contributing $5,525 to the cause.

The goal is now $55,000 total ... and Schefty, Pete Thamel, Jeremy Fowler, Mina Kimes, and more have also put up money for Miller's cause.

Doug Martin's family claims excessive force by police played a "substantial" role in his death last year ... and they're taking the matter to court.

Douglas and Leslie Martin filed a lawsuit against the city of Oakland, responding officers, and an ambulance company this week ... saying they want to get to the bottom of exactly what happened to their 36-year-old son back on October 18.

"Unfortunately the litigation is a mechanism to best get that done," attorney John Burris said.

Taylor Swift sounds like she said "yes" to more than one dress ... she's expected to have several wardrobe changes during her upcoming wedding celebration

Taylor will switch up her look multiple times during her and Travis Kelce's wedding festivities next weekend ... according to Page Six.

She's said to be wearing multiple designer looks ... with custom dresses by Monse designers Laura Kim and Fernando Garcia, who were currently the co-creative directors of Oscar de la Renta.

The pop superstar actually wore Monse this week when she hopped on stage during Travis' Tight End University event in Nashville. We told you all about the exciting surprise performance ... and Monse designed the black strapless asymmetrical dress she rocked.

The celebrities poured into Los Angeles Stadium Thursday night to cheer on Team USA during their FIFA World Cup match against Turkey!

Check it out -- Paris Hilton, Brad Pitt, Ashton Kutcher were just a few of the big names who showed up to support Team USA.

Leonardo DiCaprio was also spotted in a VIP suite ... carefully looking on as if the outcome of the game determined if he's score some tickets on the Titanic!

Will Ferrell put on a show for cheering fans ... dancing in his spot when the camera panned to him.

Even second lady Usha Vance showed face ... she was spotted grinning with pride as "The Star-Spangled Banner" was sung before the big game.

Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade, Owen Wilson and Jessica Alba also watched from the stands ... just check out our gallery!

Mike Woodson is super pumped to see the New York Knicks win it all ... telling TMZ Sports it's not a bittersweet feeling, 'cause "once a Knick, always a Knick."

Woodson -- who played for AND coached the Knicks once upon a time -- said it was "unbelievable" to watch Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, and the rest of the squad handle business against the San Antonio Spurs ... especially after decades of failing to get over the hump.

The one guy Woodson made sure to shoutout was Knicks owner James Dolan ... adding he's "truly, truly happy" to see him add a Larry O'Brien in his trophy case.

JWoww's making it crystal clear ... if you're upset you didn't score an invite to her surprise wedding, you're only proving why you didn't make the cut.

The "Jersey Shore" star is firing back after we broke the story Angelina Pivarnick and Ronnie Ortiz-Magro were left off the guest list for her wedding to Zack Carpinello.

JWoww says her social media has been flooded with comments over the guest list ... and she's calling out what she describes as fake friends and even family members for leaking details about her private day.

Absolute chaos erupted in Mexico after a car plowed through a crowd celebrating the country's World Cup win -- leaving multiple people injured in a terrifying scene caught on camera.

Check out this video, filmed by TikTok user @verodejesus4 in Cabo San Lucas ... fans were out celebrating Mexico's World Cup victory over Czechia Wednesday night when a black car suddenly barreled through the packed street. You can see the jubilation transform into fear and anger ... as people started chasing after the driver.

Seventeen people were hurt, and authorities say the driver was detained at the scene before being taken to a hospital in police custody.

Antonio Freeman says his son Alex Freeman, the youngest player on the United States soccer team, is living out his dreams on the soccer pitch, playing in the FIFA World Cup ... and his former Packers star pops couldn't be happier!

"I'm a proud dad, I'm proud of Alex. You know, this was his dream. This was his journey," the retired NFL star told TMZ Sports Wednesday night, on the eve of the team's last Group Stage match.

"And, man, [Alex] worked tirelessly when no one was watching, when everybody else was partying. You know, he was looking forward to those training sessions. And as a dad, to say I'm proud is an understatement. This is unbelievable. Unimaginable."

Trevor Ariza’s ex-wife, Bree Anderson, slammed the former NBA star for failing to pay child support while his new girlfriend flaunts their lavish lifestyle ... TMZ has learned.

Bree filed court docs claiming she believes Trevor pulls in over $50K per month, despite his claims that he only makes around $6K a month. She said she makes around $11K per month but lists monthly expenses totaling $29K.

In her filing, Bree claimed Trevor has failed to pay support owed in their divorce deal.  She also alleged he failed to provide his updated financial docs.

The WNBA just punished Alyssa Thomas for putting her fist on Caitlin Clark's throat during Wednesday night's game.

The league dropped the news minutes ago ... saying it reviewed footage from the Indiana Fever vs. Phoenix Mercury matchup and determined Thomas deserved a flagrant foul 2 penalty and one-game suspension for "recklessly making contact with her fist" to Clark's throat area.

The moment was deemed to be a "non-basketball act" ... which went down with 6:52 remaining in the second quarter of the contest.

Bode Miller just skied right past a criminal case ... because prosecutors are dumping all charges against him.

Attorney Jeromy Stafford tells TMZ that Fremont County Prosecutor Lindsey Blake has agreed to dismiss the misdemeanor drug possession and paraphernalia charges that stemmed from Miller's June 6 arrest following a traffic stop in Idaho.

Prosecutor Blake tells TMZ ... "I can confirm our office is dismissing the misdemeanor charges against Mr. Miller. Although the deputy had sufficient probable cause to arrest Mr. Miller at the beginning of June, we recently received information which resulted in our office determining it is in the interest of justice to dismiss Mr. Miller's misdemeanor charges. I will not be discussing the specifics of this recent information due to it being related to another active case." 

Floyd Mayweather's return to the boxing ring will have to wait 'cause Saturday's bout against Mike Zambidis has been canceled after an events company sued the legendary pugilist, claiming he took a multi-million dollar advance, and then ghosted them.

Mayweather vs. Zambidis, a Greek kickboxer, was just hours from going down in Athens when Floyd's attorney informed the court they were pressing pause on the event over litigation in the States.

It all goes back to a story that TMZ Sports broke last week.

CSI Entertainment, a company that puts on big events, sued Floyd in New York, claiming they inked a deal with the 50-0 fighter for the exclusive rights to fights with Mike Tyson and then Manny Pacquiao.