TMZ Sports - Page 50

Tom Brady's cryptic photo at the stadium was cleared during the Super Bowl -- he's getting paid by Hulu, and probably not retiring from the NFL ... the latter, we already sorta knew.

TB12 was the star of a new Hulu commercial that was a red herring for his future in the NFL. He plugged the hell out of the streaming service, but ended the ad with a pretty declarative statement ... "I'm not going anywhere," which could be interpreted a couple ways.

So yeah, all that in/out of the tunnel intrigue he sparked turned out to be nothing more than promoting Hulu ... and, at the very least, he'll likely play again next year.

That's not really news though -- tons of folks, including NFL insiders and reporters, suspected he wouldn't hang it up this year. The question now ... where's he gonna play???

The Hulu ad didn't offer much in terms of an answer, and Tom himself was pretty tight-lipped about the subject when we ran into him heading into Hard Rock Stadium Sunday. He was gracious with us, saying he just wanted to watch football today. So be it, G.O.A.T.

Of course, the guy's got options. Reports surfaced this weekend that the Los Angeles Chargers and Las Vegas Raiders would be in the hunt for Tommy if he became a free agent.

Demi Lovato fulfilled her own 10-year prophecy by belting out the National Anthem at Super Bowl LIV -- and she handled it like a pro.

The singer was decked out in all white Sunday at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami ahead of kickoff and with a line of troops behind her bearing our country's flags ... she let it rip on the mic. Demi did a pretty standard version of "The Star Spangled Banner" ... it was great.

What's funny though is that before her performance, an old tweet of hers surfaced online from 2010, which reads ... "One day, I'm gonna sing the national anthem at a super bowl. Onnnee dayyy...." Welp, she can definitely check that off the list now.

She's got her sights on a bigger Super Bowl gig down the road. Demi followed up with another tweet in the same vein as her old thought, saying ... "One day, I’m gonna perform the halftime show at the super bowl. Onnnee dayyy...." That's a 10-year challenge!

BTW, we gotta give props to DL for her take on the National Anthem ... very Whitney Houston-esq and just a powerhouse performance.

Tons of stars descended on Miami Saturday for the Super Bowl, but first things first -- PARTY!!!

Who wasn't there? Check out Russell Wilson, Ciara, Bill Belichick and GF Linda Holliday having a great time.

Floyd Mayweather was there in all his glory, enveloped in his TMT security team while grabbing some grub art Prime 112.

And, the OG lifestyle guru and Snoop sidekick Martha Stewart showed up ready to fight in camo.

Gayle King looked great and flashy as she arrived at ... where else, Prime 112.

Paris Hilton sparkled as she left the Rolling Stone Party at the SLS Hotel.

Good times.

Brian McKnight is honoring his late friend, Kobe Bryant, with a new song that's guaranteed to get you crying all over again over the passing of a Los Angeles legend. Be warned ...

The R&B crooner wrote a tune specifically dedicated to Kobe -- and by extension, to the basketball star's daughter, Gianna -- called "Can't Say Goodbye." We got a video of Brian playing it on guitar, and it's incredibly touching and sweet. Check it out for yourself ... but again, waterworks.

In the video, Brian says he wrote the song ... but can't really take credit, because it wrote itself. The lyrics touch on saying other versions of "goodbye" without actually uttering the words themselves because it's just too hard and so final. Frankly, it's beautiful.

We're told, Brian put this together in the hopes that it will help people begin to heal from the loss.

Of course, Brian and Kobe had a relationship. The NBA superstar was once featured on one of Brian's songs back in 1997 called "Hold Me." KB had a rap verse on it toward the end.

He's also a huge Lakers fan in general and included a ton of footage of Kobe in a tribute video he put together to honor the City of Angels. That track's called "I Love LA."

With all that said, it's no wonder the death of Kobe has affected Brian the way it clearly has. No word if this song will make its way onto an album of some sort, but we expect it'll reach the masses eventually.

E-40 has a little treat for the San Francisco 49ers after Super Bowl LIV -- a bottle of his very own tequila for everyone on the staff ... who he thinks are gonna kill it.

We got Forty Water in Miami Sunday just hours before kickoff, and he was decked out in some fresh Niner gear, custom chain included. Our photog asked if he bet on the game at all, and 40 says he didn't ... even though he made a proposition to them right on the spot.

If the team beats the Chiefs, the Bay Area legend's got a bottle of his very own E. Cuarenta tequila for each and every person in the locker room. And, if they lose ... the homie's still gonna hook them up!!! That said, he very strongly feels they're about to take this.

There might be more on the line for the squad if they pull through with a victory ... 40 says he'd even consider putting them in a music video of his. It'd be a lot of heads, but he's got experience with bigger production videos and tons of extras.

Well, this is a big deal ... Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban says he's on board with the movement to change the NBA logo to Kobe Bryant -- telling TMZ Sports, "I would support it."

Not only have MILLIONS of people signed a petition to have the league swap out the current logo which features an image of Jerry West, but a bunch of NBA stars have backed it as well ... from Paul Pierce to Jamal Crawford and more.

Outside of basketball, stars like Justin Bieber, Julian Edelman, Snoop, Usher, Meek Mill and more have joined the #ChangeTheLogo movement.

As for Cuban, he's already honored Kobe by retiring the #24 jersey in the Mavs organization (despite Kobe never playing for Dallas) ... and now he's down for an even bigger tribute.

"I just think it's so much more than basketball," Cuban told us ... "He brought so many people together."

Unclear exactly what it would take to get the league to make the move, but having one of the league's most influential owners get behind the push seems pretty significant to us.

Antonio Brown is adamant his apology letter to the Hollywood PD was sincere -- part of a larger apology mission -- and he's hoping he can get back in the NFL.

We got Brown at one of the hottest restaurants in Miami, Prime 112, and he told our photog he's had an epiphany and he's trying to make amends with everyone he's hurt recently, including the cops.

The Hollywood Police Dept. recently cut ties with Brown, returning a donation he made to the Dept.'s youth flag football league. As we reported, Brown berated cops who responded to an altercation he was having with his baby mama.

AB wrote an emotional letter to the Hollywood PD for being a massive headache the last few months.

Brown wrote an emotional letter to the police, asking for forgiveness ... "To everyone who I may have offended or Disrespected at the @hollywoodflpd Of the state of Florida, I would like to sincerely give you all my apology from the top and bottom of my heart."\

The P.D. made it clear ... "We will not take money from a donor that we cannot have our youth be proud of or represent the organization."

As for the NFL, Brown suggests there are teams he's targeting who might be interested -- but he stopped short of naming names.

Lady Gaga lit up Miami Saturday night with a spectacular performance.

Gaga hit the stage at the AT&T Super Saturday Night concert on the eve of SB 54. She was slick as hell, glittering up the venue with a bunch of costume changes during her set.

She strummed the guitar with her boot, played piano while standing on a bench ... the works.

Judging by the encore ... Gaga did not disappoint anyone.

Descending from the air, Gaga mimicked the entrance to her Super Bowl halftime performance three years ago.

And, this is pretty hilarious ... she sent a message to J Lo and Shakira -- “I better hear no lip-syncing tomorrow!” But, then she recanted with some love ... "I love you J Lo. I love you Shakira."

She went on ... “I wish so much love and so much luck to everyone that’s doing the halftime show, to both the teams that are playing each other in the Super Bowl,” she said. “They’re all champions.”

Teary-eyed, she thanked the audience for their support and for allowing her to perform at the halftime show in 2017 -- “Thank you so much for believing in me. I remember when I played the halftime show and it was one of the most special, beautiful things that’s ever happened to me. So, thank you,” said Gaga, who also wowed audiences at the 2016 Super Bowl when she sang the national anthem. “And once again, all my love to everyone that’s performing and playing tomorrow. I hope they all feel as lucky as I do right now.”

Gaga performed a 2-hour set, which included “Just Dance,” “Poker Face,” “Born This Way,” “Bad Romance” and “Telephone.”

One fan threw a letter onstage, which Gaga read to the crowd ...  “In 2014 I fought for my life due to mental illness that stemmed from my own insecurities and life experiences. Without your radiant positivity and encouragement, I don’t know if I would have had the strength to continue to fight to recover my life back,”

She invited the fan up on stage and hugged her.

Andy Reid could punch his ticket to Canton this weekend ... so says Brett Favre, who tells TMZ Sports the Chiefs coach is "certainly" a Hall of Famer with an SB win Sunday.

"He's one of the great guys and definitely a Hall of Fame coach," Favre says. "Certainly, if he wins this game."

Of course, Favre's biased ... Reid was Brett's QB coach with the Packers in 1997 and 1998 -- but Favre clearly thinks the guy is a legendary head man regardless.

"Wherever he's gone, he's won," Favre says. "That's hard to do."

As for the one criticism of Reid -- aka his lack of a Super Bowl victory -- Favre says that shouldn't weigh in when it comes to people's opinions of him.

And, why? Favre says Reid's like Dan Marino and Jim Kelly -- who are both considered legends, despite never locking up a Super Bowl win.

Regardless, Favre says he'll still go to bat for the coach no matter what happens in Miami.

Miami is overrun with celebs for the Super Bowl ... which means the city's top hotels will be filled to the brim, and we got a peek into how the rich will live it up for the big game.

The Versace Mansion -- now called Casa Casuarina -- is an iconic Miami landmark ... the designer's former home -- where he was murdered back in 1997 -- was converted into a hotel with 12 suites for guests to choose from.

You can hit up the famous restaurant, take a dip in the pool or simply mosey around the grounds. A typical night costs upwards of $1,000 ... but SB weekend runs MUCH higher than that. The hotel staff won't say what they're charging, but it's a pretty penny.

Fontainebleau is the perfect choice for party people. LIV Nightclub -- one of the hottest in the country -- is located inside the hotel. There's also a legendary pool. A basic room will run you around $1,500 a night.

A-listers looking for something a little more chill can check out The Four Seasons Surf Club. The hotel is only steps from the beach, with a beautiful pool and plenty of ways to relax. The stay doesn't come cheap -- secondhand sites are hawking rooms for $2k to $3k a night.

1 Hotel South Beach has become a celeb hot spot too ... located right on the beach with an incredible rooftop pool. The joint will set you back up to $15,000 a night.

NFL star Maurkice Pouncey was one of Aaron Hernandez's closest friends -- and tells TMZ Sports the Netflix documentary about the troubled NFL star is "all bulls**t."

The documentary -- "Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez" -- has made headlines for several claims about Aaron ... from gay sexual relationships to prison fights to alleged gun violence.

Both Maurkice and his NFL star brother Mike Pouncey were super close with Aaron for years -- and even visited him in prison -- and it's clear they don't believe ANY of the claims from the documentary.

When asked specifically about the gay claims, Maurkice echoed the comments from Aaron's fiancee ... who said they NEVER knew about that side of Aaron but would have loved him the same if it was true.

"What I know there ain't no truth to it," Pouncey says ... "We know nothing about that."

There's more in the clip ... including Pouncey's feelings about Cleveland Browns star Myles Garrett.

Remember, it was Pouncey who first attacked Garrett after Myles swung a helmet at Pittsburgh Steelers QB Mason Rudolph during a game back in November.

Pouncey was suspended for 2 games and fined for going after Garrett -- while Myles was suspended indefinitely.

L.A. Dodgers superstar Cody Bellinger surprised a bunch of officers at an LAPD station earlier this week ... and he hooked everyone up with merch, autographs and tacos!!!

TMZ Sports has learned ... the 24-year-old slugger hit up the North Hollywood station and dropped in on all the officers on duty to get to know the folks protecting his city.

We're told Belly brought Dodgers hats for everyone, took pics and signed autographs ... and stayed for about 3 hours.

The dude even fed the officers some grub from King Taco ... and later on in the visit, tried out the officer-involved shooting simulator, where Bellinger got to use a gun that didn't use real bullets, but acted as one, to see just how hard it is to make life and death situations.

All in all, it looked like a good time and we're sure Bellinger will be invited back -- as long as he brings more tacos.

Gary Sheffield says it's a downright stupid move for the Red Sox to trade Mookie Betts ... but the MLB legend says if the Dodgers get the OF, it could lock up a World Series title!!

"Mookie is that guy that can be a difference maker," Sheffield tells us.

Of course, Boston is considering moving Betts -- the 2018 AL MVP -- for prospects because of his high salary demands ... and the Dodgers are reportedly more than willing to tango.

Young L.A. stars like Alex Verdugo, Dustin May and even Gavin Lux have been rumored to be in play for the trade ... and Sheffield sure seems to think it'd be worth the price to get Mookie.

"A lot of teams have good offenses," Sheffield says, "But, if you got a certain player in your lineup, he can take you over the top and [Betts] is that guy."

We also talked with Sheffield about the Astros hiring Dusty Baker to be their next manager ... and Gary LOVES the move, saying the 70-year-old will be able to clean up the clubhouse after it was rocked by the cheating scandal.

The 49ers and Chiefs are facing off in Super Bowl LIV on Sunday ... so naturally, TMZ Sports is here to present the beautiful wives and girlfriends backing their men on the field!

This is not hyperbole -- these gorgeous ladies might be the most impressive batch of WAGs we've seen to date ... with absolute bombshells across the board.

Over on San Francisco's side, ya got Claire Kittle -- George Kittle's wife -- who doesn't need a neon bikini to stand out, but she sure can rock it!!!

To keep it in the TE category, Levine Toilolo's wife, Stephanie, doesn't mind loungin' around in a red-hot 2-piece.

As for the Chiefs ... you're probably well aware of Patrick Mahomes' super-supportive bae, Brittany Matthews, who will most certainly be heard throughout Hard Rock Stadium during the big game ... and Travis Kelce's incredibly smokin' GF Kayla Nicole, who's been one of the biggest highlights of Kansas City's playoff run.

Gervonta Davis got into a physical altercation with a woman at a charity basketball game in Miami ... and it's all on video.

Davis -- one of the hottest rising stars in boxing -- was at a charity basketball game in Miami with a female companion when things started to go awry.

Witnesses tell us the two began yelling at each other and things turned physical -- although it's unclear who put hands on who first. But you can see in the video it's a heated situation -- and the two were both escorted out.

We're told no one has been arrested

But we're told the people behind the event are extremely upset at Davis. We're reaching out to Gervonta's camp for comment ... so far, no word back.

Steve Young sure did score with these good looks!

Here is a 33-year-old version of the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback and 3x Super Bowl Champion who played 15 seasons in the NFL total ... 13 of which were spent with the 49ers. Young was named the NFL's Most Valuable Player twice in his career, one of which was in 1995 after Super Bowl XXIX (left).

And, 25 years later ... the now 58-year-old athlete who now spends his time as an analyst ... was recently showing off his on-camera looks while covering the AFC wild-card playoff game (right).

He just keeps getting Young-er!

The question is ...