TMZ Sports - Page 50

Kendall Jenner and Ben Simmons took advantage of the NBA star's off day ... to spend some time all over each other on a romantic dinner date.

Bendall hit up Cipriani in New York City Thursday night. She was fully embracing him and kissing her boo's face as they snuggled up in a corner table.

As you know ... Kendall's been spending a lot of time with Ben lately, and even sat courtside with his mom at one of his Sixers games last month. They've been dating on and off since last May, or as Kendall put it to Ellen ... they've been official "for a bit now."

Rocky fought Drago in the Soviet Union ... and Kelvin Gastelum's fighting Robert Whittaker in Australia -- and just like "Rocky IV," Gastelum says he's gonna beat the hell outta the home-country hero.

TMZ Sports talked to Gastelum -- whose favorite boxer is Rocky Balboa (yes, we all know he's a fictional character) -- days before fighting Whittaker, the UFC middleweight champ ... in his home country.

Gastelum lives in California ... and traveled 8,000 miles for this fight. So, he's expecting everyone on the continent to be rooting against him.

Sounds a lot like "Rocky IV" ... but Kelvin says he ain't worried.

"It's all good. Look what happens at the end. Rocky turns everybody over on his side, and he wins the fight."

Gastelum says that's precisely what he's gonna do ... but instead of a crushing knockout blow, he's gonna "rip his head off" and take his belt.

"I plan on taking that 12 pounds of gold. It's a long flight home. I don't plan on going empty-handed."

Wanna see an NFL superstar get dominated by a bunch of kids in dodgeball??

Good ... 'cause Antonio Brown took on a park full of children Thursday -- AND GOT DESTROYED!!!

It all went down at the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Monica ... where the Steelers receiver decided to pop by for some talks, laughs and competition.

AB spoke with the kids in a classroom -- one of his powerpoint slides read, "Shared Goals! Shared Victory!" -- and then he posed for some pics.

But then, they all went out to the blacktop ... and it was game on.

Brown decided to go one vs. everyone -- and seemed like he might hold his own.

But, the kids started firing away ... and yeah, it wasn't long before AB was relegated to the sidelines.

THE PLAYOFF BEARD IS GONE!!!

Julian Edelman parted with his legendary playoff face warmer this week -- and the person wielding the shears was none other than Ellen DeGeneres!

The New England Patriots superstar grabbed the Vince Lombardi Trophy and dropped by Ellen's show to talk about being named the MVP of the Super Bowl ... when things got a little hairy.

Ellen revealed a pop-up barbershop on her set, sat Jules in the chair and got her trim on ... and she actually did a pretty good job!

Edelman had been growing out the face fuzz as a thing pro athletes do in the playoffs -- and if you know anything about pro athletes, they're VERY into superstition.

In Edelman's case ... it worked (it also helped that his QB is Tom Brady).

Oh, also ... turns out Edelman's pretty good looking under all those whiskers.

Emiliano Sala -- an Argentinian soccer player -- has been confirmed dead ... coroner's ID'd a body that was pulled from a tragic plane crash as his, Dorset Police announced.

The 28-year-old had boarded a small plane in France with a pilot on Jan. 21 destined for Wales ... but it crashed in the English Channel shortly after takeoff.

The striker -- who was in the process of completing a transfer from FC Nantes to Cardiff City FC -- was reportedly concerned mid-flight, sending a cryptic audio message in Spanish to friends.

"I am now aboard a plane that seems like it is falling to pieces," Sala said [translated from Spanish] ... "I'm going to Cardiff now, crazy, and tomorrow we get going. I will train with my new team tomorrow."

"If you do not have any more news from [me] in an hour and a half, I don't know if they need to send someone to find me. I am getting scared!"

The plane disappeared from radar ... and after three days of trying to find it -- police called off the official search.

A private search was launched on Jan. 27 ... and the wreckage -- plus a body -- were found. Dorset Police announced Thursday the body had been ID'd as Sala's.

Sala was a star for Nantes before transferring to Cardiff City ... he led the team in goals the past three seasons.

His transfer fee was around $20 million ... a record signing for Cardiff City.

FC Nantes President, Waldemar Kita, said in a statement Friday [translated from French], "I do not have the words, it's a tragedy, I'm devastated."

"Emiliano left his mark, which is why, like many fans, I want to honor him again by retiring the number 9."

Bill Belichick, some Patriots players and the city of Boston all felt the same, weird abnormal feeling going through their bodies Thursday night ... LOSING!!!!

... and they can thank the Celtics.

The Pats coach -- sporting a snazzy checkered jacket -- sat up front at the TD Garden with his girlfriend, Linda Holliday, to watch the Celts take on the L.A. Lakers.

Sony Michel, Trey Flowers and Rex Burkhead were also at the game to support their Boston brethren.

Remember, the last time a Boston team took on an L.A. team ... it was boring as hell but also good for Beantown.

This time, it was the exact opposite -- a buzzer-beating thriller that ended in DEFEAT for the guys in green!

And, the guy who hit the game-winning dagger ... former Celtics star Rajon Rondo!

BTW, it's the first loss B.B. and the gang have felt since mid-December when they took an L to the Steelers in Week 15.

Obviously, Belichick don't care ... he's still got 6 rings (as a head coach) plus 2 more from when he was an assistant.

They want it?! They're gonna get it -- with Dana White saying he's 100% down to greenlight a Conor McGregor vs. Cowboy Cerrone fight in 2019.

In fact, Dana tells TMZ Sports ... that fight would probably happen before the Conor vs. Khabib rematch.

We spoke with the UFC honcho as he was gearing up for UFC 234 in Australia -- and asked about plans for Conor and Khabib now that they've been disciplined by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.

And, with Conor and Cowboy calling each other out on social media, we asked Dana if that's a fight he wants to make.

"If these two want to fight each other, they both deserve it. They've both earned it. Let's do it!"

White says he was VERY impressed with Cowboy's big victory last month over Alexander Hernandez and thinks Conor is the perfect reward.

As for Khabib ... Dana says he thinks the likely fight is with Tony Ferguson -- and if he gets through T-Ferg, it's POSSIBLE he could go up in weight and fight Tyron Woodley. MAYBE.

Jen Selter put her best assets on display in Mexico this week ... and TMZ Sports has the pics!!!

The 25 year old uber-popular fitness model (she has almost 13 million Instagram followers!!) put on a pink bikini and hit the beach in Cabo San Lucas ... and braved the waters for an impromptu photo shoot.

We're told Jen spent the past couple weeks on vacation in Mexico with her mom and sister ... but, as you can see, she took a break from her break to hit the beach for some snaps.

Selter's known to take her booty on tour around the world -- from Greece to Mexico to Miami -- and this batch is sure to heat you up during the polar vortex.

Enjoy!!!

Wanna see a very scary NFL star mocking President Trump? Well, here ya go ...

James Harrison -- the monster pass rusher who played with the Patriots last year -- says the thought of his former team visiting the White House is hilarious ... and he's pointing to that burger debacle with Clemson.

Remember, when Clemson won the National Championship in January, Trump treated the players to cold hamburgers and pizza from his favorite fast food joints ... including McDonald's, Burger King and Domino's.

So, we asked Harrison if he had any inside info on if the Patriots would be visiting Trump to celebrate the Super Bowl ... and out came the jokes!!!

"They got some Carl's Jr. waiting on them I think," Harrison goofed.

"I don't know what [Trump's] gonna do for them. He did McDonald's for them other boys or something right? Or Burger King?!"

"They might get some Burger King, they can have it their way then!"

Harrison says he doesn't really think the White House visit is a big deal -- he had 2 opportunities to go during his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers and passed both times.

"Once when Obama was in (2009). Once when Bush was in (2006). I just didn't feel the need to go."

"It wasn't gonna make or break my day if I went to the White House. It was another house."

We also talked to Harrison about his big debut in "S.W.A.T." airing Thursday night ... and he talks about starring alongside Shemar Moore and what's coming up next!!!

Cordarrelle Patterson is so grateful Tom Brady got him a Super Bowl ring -- he got the QB a thank-you gift ... a diamond TB12 chain!!!

Patterson just joined the Patriots this season after spending some tough years with the Minnesota Vikings and the Oakland Raiders.

So, when Brady took Patterson to the promised land ... the WR/RB went straight to his favorite bling beast, Al the Jeweler, to whip up a custom "TB12" chain for his QB.

We're told the piece is made with hundreds of diamonds and set Patterson back thousands of dollars. But don't freak, dude's in the middle of an $8.5 million contract.

Brady thanked Patterson for the kind gesture on Instagram Thursday morning ... saying his daughter, Vivian, already loves it!!!

Al's huge among NFLers -- he's made sick pieces for superstars like Stefon Diggs, Jarvis Landry and a bunch more. Now, he can add TB12 (who is rarely spotted wearin' ice) to his list!!!

It's good to be a 6-time Super Bowl Champ!!! And, possibly, the greatest football player to ever live.

Frank Robinson -- a Baltimore Orioles superstar and MLB's first-ever black manager -- died at 83 on Wednesday ... Major League Baseball confirmed.

Robinson was one of the greatest hitters in the game's history ... playing 21 seasons and batting .294 with 2,943 hits and 586 home runs.

The Hall of Famer's resume is legendary -- he was a 2-time MVP, a 2-time World Series winner, the MLB's Rookie of the Year in 1956 ... AND a triple-crown winner in 1966.

Before his playing days ended ... he was named player-manager of the Indians in 1975 -- making him the MLB's first-ever black manager.

He went on to manage the Giants, Orioles, Expos and Nationals -- piling up over 1,000 career wins.

“We are deeply saddened by this loss of our friend, colleague and legend, who worked in our game for more than 60 years," MLB commish Rob Manfred said in a statement.

Suicide prevention is a huge issue for Ronda Rousey -- both her father and grandfather took their own lives -- which is why she's so passionate about helping to open a new suicide prevention center in L.A.

The WWE superstar -- along with Melissa Rivers -- held a big event Thursday outside the building where the new Didi Hirsch Suicide Prevention Center will open on Feb. 22.

Ronda and Melissa stressed the importance of having a massive sign on the street -- to inform people struggling with suicidal thoughts that there's a place where they can go to get help.

The big message Ronda was pushing on Thursday was eliminating the stigma surrounding mental health -- so that more people feel comfortable reaching out for help.

"My message that I would give is reach out don't tough it out," Ronda told TMZ Sports.

Ronda has worked with Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services for years -- and was the recipient of the org's Erasing the Stigma Leadership Award in 2014.

Cam Newton and Odell Beckham teamed up Wednesday night ... for fashion!!

The superstar quarterback and the All-Pro receiver hit Harlem's Fashion Row Special Event during New York Fashion Week on Wednesday ... and yeah, they looked as swaggy as ever.

Cam donned a tan trench coat, a black hat, sunglasses and a bandana ... while Odell killed it in what appears to be a fit inspired by Dwayne Johnson's infamous fanny pack pic (sans fanny pack).

We know what you're thinking ... but this ain't a preview of a possible NFL trade -- both guys are locked into long-term deals with the Panthers and Giants.

So, enjoy the two greats in the same room together while you can!!

Tom Brady's not giving up any clues as to whether he'll visit President Trump at the White House with his teammates ... not any verbal clues, anyway.

A reporter from NBC asked Brady point blank Thursday morning if he plans to go to DC. Tom paused, looked at the crowd gathered at a Gillette event and simply said, "Next question."

So, if Tommy Terrific isn't gonna say anything ... his body language might have. He definitely seemed frustrated by the reporter's question -- even though he had to know it was coming.

Remember, Tom passed on the White House visit back in 2017 after he and Trump -- who were previously famous buddies -- had a falling out.

Back then, Brady's wife, Gisele Bundchen, was very vocal about her dislike of Trump and his policies. Brady even admitted after the 2016 election that Gisele had put the kibosh on his politics talk.

Although Brady didn't answer today ... sources tell us Gisele's position, if anything, has hardened against Trump since 2017.

We think you just saw the end result of that position -- Tommy ain't talking.

4:00 PM PT -- Beers wasn't Gronk's only enemy at the parade ... TMZ Sports has video of the tight end trying to catch a football with his face ... and it didn't work out well.

Rob Gronkowski paid the price for partying at the Patriots' parade Tuesday ... WITH HIS BEAUTIFUL FACE!!!

The tight end says while he was celebrating New England's Super Bowl title ... some people tossed a bunch of booze at his duck boat -- and a full beer can caught him near his eye!!!

Gronk -- who was speaking with Jimmy Fallon on Wednesday's 'The Tonight Show' -- says the aftermath wasn't pretty ... "I was bleeding all over on the parade on the duck boat."

In fact, the beer shot rattled the dude so much ... Rob says his dad had to step in to block other flying objects while his son recovered!!!

Good news for Gronk and Pats fans ... he says he's fine now -- nothing but a scratch.

Flying beer cans at Boston parades have struck before ... remember when the Red Sox World Series trophy was damaged by a rogue Bud Light????

As for the hits Gronk took during the Super Bowl -- Rob seemed more concerned about those ... saying he actually had to cancel his initial appearance on Fallon 'cause he was so banged up.

"That's for you, bitch!"

Those are the words CC Sabathia yelled at the Rays dugout after he was ejected in a game last season ... and now they're the words CC's autographed on baseballs you can own!!!

ICYMI ... the Yanks were in the middle of a blowout game last September -- when Sabathia retaliated after one of his teammates was nearly beaned in the head by a Rays pitcher.

Sabathia plunked Josh Sucre with a 92-mph dart square in the hamstring as payback ... and was immediately ejected.

On his way out, Sabathia pointed toward the Tampa dugout and famously yelled, "That's for you, bitch."

The craziest part of the story ... Sabathia only needed six more outs in the game to reach a $500,000 incentive in his contract -- but blew that off in order to have his teammate's back.

The Yanks later paid out the bonus anyway ... and to commemorate the whole incident -- Sabathia signed baseballs with the curse-word inscription for Steiner Sports.

CC only signed 52 of 'em (that's his jersey number) ... and they're going for $305 a pop.