TMZ Sports - Page 50

LEAVE JOEL EMBIID ALONE!!!!

Caron Butler not only thinks the 76ers superstar was justified in crying after the 76ers heartbreaking loss to the Toronto Raptors, he thinks the NBA should change the media rules to allow players to deal with their emotions in private.

In case you missed it ... after Embiid missed his shot to swat Kawhi Leonard's game-winner, cameras captured Joel crying on the court ... and later in the hallway while being consoled by his girlfriend.

Butler says he understands Embiid's emotions ... and feels the league should step in to give him his privacy.

"That's the crazy part about the NBA. They say that players need that time to vent so it would be great if guys were able to go to the locker room, kind of depress, let that emotional time die down and then have an opportunity to go back out there and address the media."

Of course, the NBA will likely NEVER do this -- because those raw, emotional moments resonate with fans and people love it.

Butler also fires back at the jerks criticizing Embiid for shedding tears -- telling TMZ Sports players should be praised for caring about the game so much.

The Lakers finally have a coaching staff ... and rookie center Moritz Wagner says the locker room is totally pumped to welcome Frank Vogel and Jason Kidd to the team!

"We're excited," the 6'11" rookie from Germany told our guy with a smile.

22-year-old Wagner -- the 25th overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft -- insists things are still great in Laker Land and says he still feels like a "blessed man."

Of course, the Lakers coaching drama doesn't exactly LOOK like it was heaven-sent ... Jeanie Buss and Rob Pelinka had tried to land Ty Lue, but that fizzled. Vogel was the backup plan.

But, kudos to Wagner for staying positive about the situation ... the guy's got tons of potential and could make a real impact on the team in 2019 now that he's healthy.

Remember, he was a stud at Michigan (he was the BIG Ten tournament MVP in 2018).

There's more ... Wagner also weighs in on Kawhi Leonard's crazy series-winning shot over the Sixers -- and tries to explain why it was NOT the greatest shot of all time.

Here's A-Rod talking about how he and J Lo have gone to multiple strip clubs together and spent thousands on dancers ... but he SWEARS it had nothing to do with getting freaky.

It was all for "research" ... and Alex says it was the BEST work he's ever done!

Of course, Lopez is starring in the upcoming stripper flick "Hustlers" -- and Alex told the guys on "The Breakfast Club" he was more than happy to help Jen get ready for the role.

"I was out in L.A. She's in New York. She says, 'Baby, I'm going to the strip club.' I said, 'WHOA!! I'll be there on Thursday. We can go Thursday and Friday,'" Alex said.

"I mean, it's part of due diligence, right?"

Alex says Lopez was a total pro -- and tried to learn everything she could about dancers ... but Alex says he's kind of an expert when it comes to the booty club.

"She read and read and read [about strippers] ... I said, 'Baby, stop reading and just ask me. I got the info!'"

Alex says he almost knew "too much" about the stripper world -- "which was kind of scary."

Inside the clubs, Alex says the couple would pay THOUSANDS to women ... not to dance, but to talk.

"We sat down with the girls, and we literally just interrogate them, ask them questions. Then, we would hit 'em up with $400 or $500 or $600. We weren't there for dancing, we were literally there for work."

The Boston Red Sox are back ... and it's all 'cause of Donald Trump -- so says the President himself, who says it was White House visit magic that turned their season around!!

Of course, the Sox didn't get off to a great start this season -- they were just 2-8 in their first 10 games -- the worst opening record EVER for a team with 100-plus wins in the previous season.

But, Trump says their championship visit to the White House last week has changed everything -- saying, "Has anyone noticed that all the Boston @RedSox have done is WIN since coming to the White House!"

Boston has notched 3 straight victories since heading to 1600 Penn. Ave. last Thursday ... and now, Trump is claiming visits to the White House are an anti-curse!!!

"The White House visit is becoming the opposite of being on the cover of Sports Illustrated! By the way, the Boston players were GREAT guys!"

Teams haven't exactly been open to White House celebrations under Trump ... no NBA team has visited since he took office and even several Red Sox players themselves protested last week's trip.

But if the visits are now in fact good luck charms, could that change future champions' minds???

Russell Wilson won Mother's Day ... the dude surprised his mom with her very own house -- and she lost her mind when the Seahawks superstar handed over the keys!!!

The moment is amazing ... Russ passes Tammy Wilson the key ring to the new home's front door -- and when she asks what it's for, the QB tells her, "it's the key to your house."

When Momma Wilson realizes her son ain't playin' around -- she loses it.

She goes from shocked to elated to nearly peeing herself (for real, watch the clip) to bawling. It's incredible.

"All these years you have never asked me for anything... only thing you ever wanted is for me to LOVE," Wilson said of the gift afterward ...

"Well thanks for loving us the way you do. This ones for you. I love you momma. #HappyMothersDay #GodIsGood"

Russ' wife, Ciara, added, "What a beautiful day and moment. Tears of Joy! The perfect Mother’s Day. God you’re a good good father."

Unclear where the new pad is or what the specs are for it ... but you can bet the place is probably pretty awesome.

And, why? Wilson just inked a 4-year, $140-MILLION deal with the Seahawks -- the richest contract in NFL history!!!

Happy Mother's Day!!!

Drake harnessed the power of the "Drake Curse" on Sunday -- and used it as a WEAPON to help his Toronto Raptors beat the 76ers.

For some reason, the Canadian superstar wasn't able to attend Game 7 in Toronto -- so he watched the game with some pals instead.

But, when Kawhi Leonard hit that insane buzzer beater to sink Philadelphia in the 4th quarter -- Drake busted out his phone and aimed down ... showing he was wearing a pair of 76ers shorts the whole time.

He posted the whole thing on his Instagram story. Even though you can't see his face, you can hear his voice -- it's obviously him.

The Drake curse is legendary ... whatever team Drake has rooted for in a championship capacity has crapped the bed when it counts.

From Alabama to Kentucky to the Toronto Maple Leafs ... even Conor McGregor.

So, credit to Drake for acknowledging to curse and using his mystical powers to help his own squad.

One more thing ... Drake also posted a photo of Leonard during the buzzer beater -- and used it as an opportunity to diss Joel Embiid ... because he tagged the 76ers star, "SadPhillyBoy."

Aaron Rodgers was DEFINITELY in Sunday night's episode of "Game of Thrones" ... but the question -- did he die or what?!

The Green Bay Packers QB not only posted a photo showing himself in full #GoT costume, but he also participated in a promotional package for the episode.

Here's the problem ... Aaron's cameo (or cameos?) was so brief, there's a debate over whether he survived Daenerys Targaryen's dragon-led assault on King's Landing.

Rodgers was first spotted as an archer in the Lannister army -- but that doesn't match the costume from his IG photo.

There's also video of him helping (?) a woman during the assault on the city. And then, more footage shows a person who looks like Aaron getting consumed by a wall of flames while trying to escape.

So, was he an archer AND a King's Landing-er? Did he survive the fire attack?

Of course, Aaron ain't the only celebrity to make a cameo on the show -- Rob McElhenney from "It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia" got an arrow through the face earlier this season.

Ditto for Martin Starr.

Conor McGregor is off the hook in his Miami phone smashing case -- prosecutors have dropped the charges against the UFC star after the victim stopped cooperating with authorities.

"The victim of the crime does not wish to return to the United States and prosecute this case," prosecutor Khalil Madani said during a hearing on Monday.

As we previously reported, McGregor was captured on video getting into an altercation outside the Fontainebleau hotel in Miami on March with Ahmed Abdirzak -- who was visiting from the United Kingdom.

In the footage, you can see McGregor snatch the guy's phone, stomp on it ... and leave the hotel with it.

He was arrested hours later and ultimately charged with felony robbery and misdemeanor criminal mischief.

But now, prosecutors say Abdirzak has left the country and doesn't want to come back to aid in Conor's prosecution ... which everyone saw coming from a mile away.

Here's why ... Abdirzak had filed a civil lawsuit against Conor -- which McGregor ultimately settled out of court.

Translation -- Abdirzak probably got a huge payday and wasn't exactly motivated to help put Conor behind bars.

This now clears the way for Conor to negotiate his next UFC fight without having to worry about being unavailable because of incarceration.

Blake Griffin tells TMZ Sports that Zion Williamson can "100 percent" be the NBA's all-time best dunker ... saying of the former Duke star, "He's going to be a monster."

Of course, Zion has been legendarily rattling rims since he was a high school prodigy ... and now that he's on his way to the NBA, we had to ask Blake if Z can be one of the best dunkers ever.

Blake's opinion? He says there's no doubt in his mind Zion can be up there with Michael Jordan and Dominique Wilkins, telling us, "100 percent. 100 percent."

"If he keeps playing like he is, he's going to be a monster."

In fact, Blake seems to be a huge fan of Zion's game overall -- not just his dunking -- saying, "He's a really good basketball player ... he can do a lot of stuff. He's going to be really, really good."

As for Griffin's advice on how Zion should handle possibly participating in the dunk contest in his rookie season next year ... BG says the ex-Duke star should only do it if it feels right.

But, when Z eventually decides to compete ... Griffin says it'll be a show, telling us, "He's probably going to do some things that we haven't seen in a while."

#CantWait!

We wouldn't have Hollywood if it weren't for all the mothers who gave birth to such stars -- and their kids sure seemed to recognize that too on Mother's Day.

Tons of celebs posted touching tributes to their moms Sunday, throwing up some sweet throwback pics in the process. Some standouts -- Shaq and his mom, Lucille; Kris Jenner and her ma, Mary Jo; Jamie Lynn Spears and her mother, Lynne; and Tom Brady and Galynn.

A lot of other folks got in on the love too -- including Paris Hilton, Quavo, Ronda Rousey, Chris Hemsworth, Mariah Carey, D-Wade, Neymar and even Nas.

Even more of them shouted out the mothers of their own children -- such as Barack Obama praising Michelle, Kevin Hart doing the same for Eniko, Will Smith bowing down for Jada Pinkett ... and Chance the Rapper thanking Kirsten for being a mom for him at times.

Ben Affleck killed two birds with one stone by paying tribute to both Jennifer Garner and his mother, Christine. Looks like everyone was on that train today too.

Nothing could be more on the nose than breakout actor Darren Criss singing the signature song from Lady Gaga's "A Star is Born" at a bar. Seriously ... this dude's talented.

The lead star from the FX series 'The Assassination of Gianni Versace' -- a role that won him tons of accolades this past awards season -- took the stage early Saturday morning at Tramp Stamp Granny's in Hollywood ... a piano bar that he has an ownership stake in.

Check it out ... Darren takes on the role of Bradley Cooper with the first verse and does pretty damn well. Then, a female companion gets onstage for Gaga's verse ... and absolutely kills it. We're told Darren went on to sing "A Whole New World" too, all impromptu.

It's been about three months since the Academy Awards wrapped up, where "Shallow" won Best Original Song ... but people still seem to be completely enamored with the movie, and the tune.

Take the WWE wrestlers who sang it in the ring a couple months back, or Billy Porter taking a whack at it in January. Now, Darren and co. are doing their own rendition.

12:51 PM PT -- Shams Charania of The Athletic is now reporting that the Mavericks are investigating the incident Kristaps was involved in. He says the current understanding by the team is that he was jumped at a club, assaulted and hit with objects.

The Mavericks have yet to release an official statement.

Dallas Mavericks star Kristaps Porzingis was reduced to a bloody mess in his home country of Latvia after he was apparently involved in a brawl that left him wanting more.

Eyewitnesses tell TMZ Sports ... the Euro NBA player was in his hometown of Liepaja over the weekend, where we're told he was celebrating some occasion through a number of clubs and pubs in the area.

Our sources say that a handful of Russians confronted Kristaps, supposedly upset with the fact that he was traded from the Knicks to the Mavs ... and an all-out tussle broke out. It would appear to have been pretty violent, 'cause Kristaps was bleeding from his head.

This video appears to capture the aftermath of the fight ... which almost wasn't over if Kristaps would have had his way. You can see him -- again, bleeding and with a torn shirt -- being held back by a woman at first, who he shoves aside.

Kristaps charges another group that's off camera, but a couple police officers plead with him to calm down and stand down. The entire exchange seems to be going on in their native tongue, Latvian.

The Mavericks haven't said anything about the altercation, and Kristaps himself has been quiet too.

Former WCW wrestler Silver King, who also starred in the 2006 comedy "Nacho Libre" with Jack Black, died Saturday night in the ring ... and a kick may have triggered the coronary.

Silver King was playing his tried-and-true role of villain in London at the Roundhouse when he suffered a heart attack, collapsing and dying. Authorities say he died at the venue.

In the video, you see him get knocked down 3 times, kind of writhing on the ground look somewhat dazed. It doesn't really look odd -- just doing what wrestlers do when they choreograph matches. But, then he takes a kick to the chest, and that drops him to the ground. His face is planted into the mat and he never gets up.

It looks like Silver King was supposed to win the match, because the ref didn't count him out, holding on the second count. His opponent turned Silver King over, making it appear he's pinning him to end the match, but Silver King is unresponsive. The ref ends the match, but Silver King doesn't move.

The ref takes off Silver King's mask, and it's apparent something is terribly wrong.

The 51-year-old Mexican wrestler, whose real name is Cesar Barron, was part of the Lucha Libre event. He played the bad guy character, Ramses, in "Nacho Libre."

London Metro Cops say they're treating the death as "non-suspicious."

The WWE said in a statement, "WWE extends its deepest condolences to Silver King's family, friends and fans."

The fight that got him the most attention was back in '98, during a WCW Cruiserweight Championship when he lost to Juventud Guerrera.

Jack Black posted a Spanish tribute, translated ... "Go with God, brother."

He was 51.

Don't close the book on Carmelo Anthony's career ... because his wife Lala Anthony tells TMZ Sports he'll DEFINITELY be back on a roster next season.

Lala was out in NYC when we asked about her hubby's NBA status -- considering he hasn't been on the court since 2018 and some people think he's done for good.

But, Anthony is only 34-years-old and he's been training hard recently -- so, we had to know if Lala expects to see Melo back in the league when the 2019-20 season kicks off.

"Why wouldn't we?" Lala said ... adding, "Facts!"

So, where she think Melo will land???

"Whatever team is gonna appreciate him!"

There's talk Anthony could return to the Knicks -- where he played for 7 seasons before he was traded to the OKC Thunder in 2017.

Anthony later spent a minute in Houston in 2018 before being traded to the Chicago Bulls, where he was waived on Feb. 1.

Michael B. Jordan doesn't want Conor McGregor's people to call his people about a role in 'Creed 3' ... because it seems like MBJ ain't at all interested in sharing the screen with the Irish mega-star.

We got Mike out in NYC -- wearing a Game Of Thrones style shoulder sheath with an umbrella in it (pulled it off too) -- and asked him if he'd be into the idea of Conor popping up in the next flick.

"Eh, I don't know about that man."

Now we should say ... Adonis Creed (Michael's character) fights at heavyweight, and Conor is like 155 pounds, so without a hell of a weight cut, we're now sure how the two would fight.

Still though, interesting that MBJ didn't even sound excited at all to share the screen in any way with Conor ... is the shine coming off the Irishman's star?

BTW ... we also asked about Deontay Wilder's chances of popping up in the movie ... something that two other stars of the flick have already said they're down for ... and Michael seemed more receptive.

Rob Gronkowski will NOT be successful transitioning from the NFL to Hollywood if he doesn't take it seriously ... so says ex-NFL star Thomas Jones -- who says the move is hard as hell!!!

Of course, TJ knows first-hand what it takes to go from on-the-field stud to on-the-screen star ... he spent 12 years in the league before becoming a respected actor.

And, he tells us the only way Gronk is going to have similar success is if he truly devotes himself.

"Just commit yourself to the industry, man," Jones says of his advice to the future Hall of Fame tight end ... "You can't really halfway do this. You have to really, really buy into it."

The reason? Jones says football players have to train themselves to be "inhumane" to be a beast on the field ... but acting requires more vulnerability.

In fact, Jones says he took acting classes for 4 YEARS to get that all down ... saying, "I took the craft seriously."

The good news for Gronk? Jones says the ex-Patriot will be a natural once he decides to put all his energy into it.