TMZ Sports - Page 50

Rob Gronkowski is "deep in talks" to sign a contract with WWE -- and reportedly could make his first official appearance with the company later this month.

The 30-year-old ex-New England Patriots star has been talking about a career with the WWE for years -- but now that he's seemingly closed the door on an NFL comeback, it's becoming real.

In fact, ProWrestlingSheet's Ryan Satin appeared on FS1's "WWE Backstage" and cited multiple sources who say Gronk's very close to finalizing his deal.

Satin says if things move according to plan, Gronk is expected to appear on "Friday Night Smackdown" in New Orleans on March 20.

Gronk LOVES pro wrestling -- and the McMahon family. Just last month, he was pictured with Triple H during Super Bowl weekend in Miami.

And, don't forget when he famously jumped in the ring to help out his pal, Mojo Rawley, at Wrestlemania 33 in 2017 -- and looked like a natural.

In fact, Gronk even told us a short time after that bout he wanted a WWE match of his own with Rawley!!

If Rob does ultimately get into the sport full-time ... he'll have no shortage of rivals -- everyone from Becky Lynch to Lio Rush and Bobby Lashley have talked smack about the 30-year-old.

As for Gronk's ability to wrestle full-time despite having no real background in the WWE world ... Rawley told us last year, "All I know is whatever he does next, or what he's doing currently, he's gonna be the best at."

Gronk famously retired from the New England Patriots back in 2019 ... finishing his career with 3 Super Bowl rings and 79 total receiving touchdowns.

Michael Strahan is going to war with one of his ex-wives over custody of their twin girls ... and he claims his ex is abusing their kids.

Michael claims his second ex-wife, Jean Muggli Strahan, is physically and emotionally abusing their teenage daughters, Sophia and Isabella, and the ex-NFL star is gunning for a judge to strip Jean of primary custody and give it to him ... according to new legal docs obtained by TMZ.

Michael claims Jean's been engaging in a "pattern of abusive conduct towards the children for years" ... he claims he's got proof of the physical and emotional abuse and says he's gonna detail it in sealed docs.

Strahan paints his ex as a bad parent ... claiming Jean's not taking their kids to court-ordered therapy sessions and says she's the reason Sophia and Isabella keep missing their volleyball matches and equestrian events.

Michael, who has visitation rights, wants the girls to move in with him in New York ... and he wants his ex held in criminal and civil contempt for her alleged actions. As for Jean, who currently lives in North Carolina with the 15-year-old girls, he wants her to have the same visitation he currently has, but that's it.

Conor McGregor is being hailed as a HERO by a foundation that helps the families of emergency responders who died in the line of duty ... claiming CM's $1 million donation will have a REAL impact on families in need.

The UFC star, along with Proper Twelve Whiskey company, officially wrote a $1 million check to the Tunnel To Towers Foundation ... which was founded by the brother of FDNY hero Stephen Siller, who was killed in the World Trade Center attack.

We spoke with Stephen's brother Frank Siller ... who tells us McGregor's gesture is nothing short of incredible.

"What we do as a foundation is that we relieve the mortgages of the first responders who died in the line of duty that have young kids left behind," Siller tells us.

"So, this will go to many, many houses, depending on what part of the country it is -- but that's what Conor wanted."

Siller even offered up an emotional personal message to McGregor ... and warning -- you might wanna get some tissues ready.

"Conor, you're gonna change the lives of many great heroes and the families left behind."

"You're telling them that people care, that America cares. And, that if somebody goes out there and gives their kids a kiss goodbye and doesn't come home, Conor McGregor is gonna make sure that those families are taken care of."

"Thank you and God bless you, Conor.

There could be a baseball Hall of Famer between the pipes when the Colorado Avalanche plays on Sunday ... 'cause none other than Larry Walker will be the official emergency goalie!!!

Of course, the chances are slim the 53-year-old ex-MLB slugger will see any PT ... but it's not impossible. Walker would just have to beat out the other 2 goalies on the roster.

Remember, just 2 weeks ago, 42-year-old David Ayres -- the Carolina Hurricanes Zamboni driver -- had his name called after the team's 2 goalies got injured ... and the dude helped secure the win!!!

As for Walker, the guy ended up playing a sport with a different kinda stick and was damn good at it -- he won the National League MVP in 1997, 7 Gold Gloves and 3 Silver Sluggers.

But, baseball wasn't the only first love for the Canadian ... he grew up playing street hockey and had dreams of being an NHL goalie.

Former L.A. Sparks GM Penny Toler says her firing in 2019 is complete B.S. ... and now she's suing the team claiming she was only axed because she complained about fellow executives' inappropriate behavior.

Remember, Toler was canned during last year's WNBA postseason ... after she used the n-word during what she claims was a pump-up locker room speech.

At the time, it was reported the Sparks had fired her over the speech ... but in a new lawsuit, obtained by TMZ Sports, Toler claims that wasn't the case at all.

Toler says the REAL reason she was 86'd has to do with complaints she filed about multiple key personnel within the Sparks organization ... including the head coach.

In her suit, Toler says players had complained to her about Brian Agler -- the head coach at the time --  claiming he had made them uncomfortable with "sexually predatory conduct."

Toler says she pushed for the team to investigate ... but said her boss refused to.

Toler also claims she tried to blow the whistle on an extra-marital affair involving high-level team execs -- but her complaints went nowhere.

In her suit, filed by attorney Dawn Collins, Toler also says she wanted to trade Sparks star player Candace Parker -- but former team president Christine Simmons intervened and used her influence to stop the trade talks and get Toler fired.

Why? Toler claims Simmons and Parker are close personal friends and it was more important to keep Parker in L.A. than to do what was in the best interests of the team.

Toler's rep, Holly Baird, tells TMZ Sports ... "It's ridiculous that the organization used Toler's use of the word 'n***a' during a locker-room speech to rally the team against her when during practices and workouts songs played from Spotify, were laced with the same slang expletives or worse."

'Mighty Ducks' goalie Shaun Weiss is inching closer to getting the help he desperately needs ... he'll soon be released from jail and go straight to rehab.

On Tuesday, a judge in Yuba County, CA approved a motion to release the child star from jail ... according to the D.A.'s Office there. Shaun's being released specifically so he can check in to a recovery facility.

We're told he could be released as early as Thursday and will head to a hospital in Orange County where his treatment will begin with one week of detox. The plan is for him to spend 90 days in a SoCal rehab facility.

Our sources say that will be followed by an intensive outpatient/partial aftercare sober-house program before Shaun goes to a sober-living home.

All of this, of course, is expensive treatment and Shaun will not go at it alone. We're told a prominent TV show reached out to Shaun's team and introduced them to the rehab facility, which will sponsor his recovery.

As we first reported ... friends said they were desperate to get the troubled child star help before it's too late. Shaun had been living on the street and dealing with several life-threatening problems before his meth and burglary bust.

The shocking arrest prompted a wave of support ... from friends and even those who didn't know him, like Michael Lohan. As we first reported ... Michael, who is no stranger to rehab, pulled some strings and got a rehab facility in Texas to sponsor Shaun's recovery.

Claressa Shields' brother has just been sentenced to 1 year behind bars for attacking a man at the boxing superstar's weigh-in event back in October.

As you'll recall ... the scene was wild at the Shields-Ivana Habazin pre-fight ceremony in Flint, Mi. -- with Habazin's trainer needing to be rushed to the hospital after witnesses say he was sucker-punched.

The guy -- 68-year-old James Ali Bashir -- was seriously hurt in the attack ... with his face and mouth both swollen and bloodied.

Authorities eventually said the attacker was Artis Mack -- Shields' 28-year-old brother -- and charged him with felony assault with intent to do great bodily harm.

The charge, if convicted, carried a maximum of 10 YEARS in prison.

But, Mack cut a deal with prosecutors last month to avoid that fate ... agreeing to plea to a lesser charge of misdemeanor aggravated assault in the case.

And, according to court docs obtained by TMZ Sports, a judge ordered Mack on Tuesday to serve 365 days behind bars ... but gave him 158 days credit for time served.

We reached out to Mack's attorney for comment ... but so far, no word back yet.

DeMarcus Ware gave playing with the Cowboys a whole new meaning Sunday ... the ex-Dallas star got a lap dance from a shirtless dude in rodeo gear -- and the vid is hilarious!!

The future NFL Hall of Famer took in the "Dancing With The Stars: LIVE!" show in Grand Prairie, Texas ... and at one point during the event, he was invited on stage for a special performance.

FYI, Ware was on season 27 of the 'DWTS' show -- famously dancing with pro Lindsay Arnold -- and she was the one that pulled him up from the crowd.

But, what happened next was TOTALLY unexpected for the 6'4", 260-pound former pro-bowler ... 'cause he got grinded on by a shirtless dancer dressed as a cowboy!!

You can see in the clip ... Ware was completely shocked -- but he took the whole thing in stride, playing along with it after the initial surprise!!

Afterward, Ware told the crowd the whole thing was a set-up from Arnold.

"Oh, my God," DeMarcus said. "I cannot believe she put me on stage. She said she was going to play a prank on me, and she got the guys to dance and I am so embarrassed right now! Very, very embarrassed!"

Evander Holyfield's son is proving he's also "The Real Deal" -- scoring another decisive victory in the boxing ring ... while his dad watched from the stands.

22-year-old Evan Holyfield -- aka "Young Holy" -- took on Dylan Carlson at the Ring of Hope fundraiser at the Toyota Music Factory in Irving, Texas over the weekend ... and he looks good!

Holyfield opened up the fight by throwing some effective combos -- and essentially landed at will for the rest of the fight.

Ultimately, Evan won by unanimous decision ... and his Hall Of Fame dad was super-proud.

Evan is now 4-0 as a pro, with 3 KOs on his record. When we spoke with him recently, Young Holy told us the goal was to become a better fighter than his father.

Of course, Evander is one of the all-time greats ... he's the only boxer in history to be the undisputed champion in TWO weight classes.

He also famously beat legends like Mike Tyson, George Foreman, Michael Moorer, Buster Douglas, Riddick Bowe, Ray Mercer and more.

Usain Bolt threw a massive gender reveal party in Jamaica -- with huge fireworks, a crazy dance party and TONS of people ... oh, and he's having a little girl!!!

"Yo, I just did the reveal and I'm a girl dad," Bolt said before threatening future suitors ... "Any man! Any boy! Don't play with me!"

The Olympic legend and his longtime girlfriend, Kasi Bennett, threw the bash at Peter's Rock in Kingston Monday night ... where guests got all sorts of cool Baby Bolt swag -- hats, shirts, etc!

There were tons of people at the party, including fashion stylist Neko Kelly who did a pretty great job documenting the action!

When the fireworks exploded -- they lit up the sky with bright pink flashes -- and the crowd went nuts!

Event planners handed out pink Baby Bolt hats -- and Usain got a special custom Girl Dad sweatshirt, which he proudly rocked around the party.

Usain and Kasi have been dating for roughly 6 years -- though, as you might recall, she famously gave him a hall pass during the 2016 Olympics in Rio.

Texas Rangers outfielder Willie Calhoun has been hospitalized after getting hit square in the kisser with a fastball nearing 100 MPH.

The left fielder got up to bat in the first inning Sunday against the Dodgers for a Spring Training game, and pitcher Julio Urias sent a heater from the mound that apparently got away from him and swerve up to Calhoun's face. It hit him flush in the mouth.

You can clearly see it was mistake on Urias' part -- he reacts as if he's upset with himself and the situation as Calhoun's teammates come out to attend to him. It was a pretty frightening scene, especially after you see it from different angles ... and in slow motion too.

Luckily, reporters on the ground say he was able to get to his feet and was then carted off the field while holding a towel on his face. He was later taken to a nearby hospital for further evaluation. His condition is unknown at the moment, but hopefully he's okay.

Crazy enough ... Callhoun used to be Dodger prospect, but was traded to the Rangers in 2017. So a lot of those guys are probably pulling for him right now.