TMZ Sports - Page 50

Boston marathon bombing survivor Adrianne Haslet was deeply offended over a makeshift memorial that was placed at the WRONG SPOT this weekend ... calling those responsible, "F**king a**holes."

Haslet lost her left leg in the 2013 blast and returned to Boylston Street over the weekend -- only to see a wreath incorrectly placed in front of a Starbucks instead of the old Forum restaurant, one shop over.

"Nice work, Boston," Haslet said sarcastically ... "Real good job of laying the wreath in front of the wrong place. That's real offensive to everyone. Appreciate it."

Haslet ended up taking the matter into her own hands and moved the wreath to the correct spot.

She added this comment -- "I bet if we had a permanent memorial people would remember where the actual attack happened."

Haslet famously returned to the course last year -- as a runner -- and completed the race with a prosthetic leg.

Big win for J.R. Smith this weekend -- and it happened BEFORE the Cavs' playoff game!

J.R.'s micro-preemie daughter -- born at only 1 pound -- made another huge stride on Friday and had her very first bottle!

As we previously reported, Smith's wife, Jewel, gave birth to Dakota "Kota Bear" Smith in early January almost 5 months before her due date.

Though the odds were stacked against her, Kota is continuing to fight -- and being able to feed from a bottle instead of a feeding tube is a pretty big deal!

J.R. posted about the experience -- "My boo got her first bottle today! #proudofyoubaby #kotastrong."

It's just the latest in a series of impressive feats from the littlest Smith -- her breathing tube was removed last month and she's continuing to gain weight.

Keep fighting!

Todd Marinovich says he's concerned LaVar Ball is putting too much pressure on his son, Lonzo ... telling TMZ Sports, "I wish people would just step back and just let these kids have fun."

Russian boxing star Sergey "The Krusher" Kovalev loves him some Vladimir Putin and he's not ashamed of it ... telling TMZ Sports he thinks Putin is the greatest Russian prez EVER.

We got Kovalev out in L.A. and asked him his thoughts on Putin ... who's a pretty polarizing figure these days, with some saying he's a great leader, and others saying he's a threat.

Kovalev definitely is the former ... telling our guy not only does he think Putin is a "good" president, but the best president Russia has ever had.

There's a only handful of holidays that make waves in Hollywood, and Easter is definitely one of them ... as seen here.

Tons of celebs celebrated Easter Sunday with their loved ones, including Donald Trump and Melania Trump, Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon, John Legend and Chrissy Teigen, Rob Gronkowski, Victoria and David Beckham, Beyonce and Blue Ivy, Kim and Kanye, Colton Haynes and Jeff Leatham, The Rock, Snooki, Snoop Dogg ... and everyone else and their cousin.

Jennifer Lopez is an amazing multi-tasker ... dividing her attention between ex-hubby Marc Anthony and current BF A-Rod.

JLo was rehearsing with Marc at an historical amphitheatre in the Dominican Republic Saturday, while Alex watched/kept a watchful eye in the VIP section.

There were rumors JLo and Marc had hooked up recently but we're told that's all BS. Fact is ... together and separately, they sell out stadiums.

JLo's main singing gig now is Vegas, where she'll be appearing during the summer.

Ex-NBA superstar Steve Francis called police "groupie motherf**kers" during his DWI arrest back in November ... and DARED cops to lock him up after they confiscated his gold chain.

It won't matter if Aaron Hernandez's murder conviction is overturned -- he'll NEVER get another shot in the NFL ... so says Cris Carter.

Here's the thing ... Hernandez's lawyer, Jose Baez, says he truly believes the ex-Patriots tight end is innocent in the murder of Odin Lloyd and will eventually get out of prison after he appeals.

Hernandez is only 27 -- and when he was playing, he was one of the best tight ends in the game.

But Carter says it won't matter if he's exonerated -- no NFL team will touch him.

Legendary boxing promoter Bob Arum has a message for Sergey Kovalev ... stop complaining about American judges, saying officials from the USA are just fine for Kovalev's rematch with Andre Ward.

Sergey's team has asked for "neutral" judges in the June fight ... meaning neither from America nor Russia ... with the implication being Andre got some home cooking in their first fight.

We got Arum out in L.A. and asked about the request ... and he thinks it's a bunch of hogwash, and actually seems a little miffed at the thought judges from 'Murica weren't on the level.

One of the biggest producers in rap says it's no accident LeBron James got Kendrick Lamar's album early ... telling TMZ Sports he's done the same thing for 'Bron ... out of respect for his hip-hop ear.

Rudy Gay is taking Jay Z all the way in a lyrical battle of the Carters ... telling TMZ Sports even though Lil Wayne is part of the Roc Nation family now ... Hov is still the best lyricist down with the crew.

Tunechi recently announced he was joining Roc Nation (even though he's still under contract to Birdman) meaning he's now on the same team as Rudy, who's down with Roc Nation Sports.

We got Rudy out in L.A. and asked him if there's a new top rap dawg at the Roc now that Wayne is throwing his diamond up, and Gay does the smart thing ... he goes with the boss.

Tim Howard clapped back at a heckling fan at a game last Sunday and went a little too far ... so it's going to cost him 3 games.

The Colorado Rapids goalie lost his cool when a Sporting Kansas City fan started razzing him ... and replied by shouting something that sounds a lot like "F*** your mother!"

MLS issued a 3-game suspension on Friday for Howard's "inappropriate fan interaction" ... which includes the foul language in the video and another altercation with a fan following the game. No word yet on exactly what happened then.

Shaquille O'Neal is helping ease the pain for a Georgia family struck by tragedy ... he's paying for the funeral of a boy who accidentally shot and killed himself.

13-year-old Malachi Hemphill was showing off a gun on Instagram Live when it accidentally went off. His family heard a loud boom ... and his mother and sister found him in his bedroom in a pool of blood. He died Wednesday.

Shaq heard the sad news and visited the family's home in Atlanta Thursday night and offered to pay for Malachi's services.

The NBA legend says he wants to help the family deal with the tragedy.

The boy's grandmother said the family didn't have insurance for Malachi, so Shaq's gesture is "a blessing and very touching" and she appreciates everything he does for the community.

Aaron Hernandez will NOT spend the rest of his life behind bars ... so says his attorney, Jose Baez, who tells TMZ Sports he believes he can overturn the ex-NFL star's murder conviction.

A Washington Redskins linebacker has been cast to portray slain Redskins legend Sean Taylor in a new TV show about his murder ... TMZ Sports has learned.

We've learned 25-year-old Khairi Fortt will star as Taylor on a June episode of "The Perfect Murder" on Investigation Discovery ... which will explore how cops helped solve Sean's tragic 2007 home invasion murder.

The show is a combination of real-life interviews with investigators and family members, and scenes dramatizing the actual events.

But get this ... the role of Taylor's father will be played by Fortt's father, Guy Fortt -- who was an actor working with producers on the show last year when he suggested they consider Khairi to play Sean.

Khairi got the audition and executive producers Kevin Kaufman and Rick Tirelli tell us it was an obvious fit.

Break a leg (or don't, the Redskins wouldn't like that).

Daniel Cormier says he definitely wants in on the Mayweather vs. McGregor fight ... telling TMZ Sports he'd be cool taking 2nd billing in exchange for "life-changing money."

Of course, the fight would be Cormier vs. Jon Jones -- a rematch that would headline any other card.

Cormier says he hasn't been involved in any talks to appear on the card (probably because the main fight hasn't been made yet) ... but if it comes to fruition, he wants in.

"Any human being that gets part of the Pay-per-view would definitely want to be a part of that," Cormier says, "If you are on a card with Mayweather and McGregor, and me and Jon Jones. It would do ridiculous numbers. You'd get paid."

Regardless if the mega fight happens ... D.C. says there's 1 thing he's gotta do to cap off his career ... beat Jon Jones.