TMZ Sports - Page 50

Darren Waller says he's 100% there for Aldon Smith in his transition back to the NFL if the new Dallas Cowboy needs him ... telling TMZ Sports, "I'd definitely be open to talking to him."

Waller, like Smith, battled substance issues early in his NFL career ... but got sober and turned into a dominant force with the Oakland Raiders this past season.

30-year-old Smith is trying to replicate that accomplishment with the Cowboys after being out of the league since 2015 ... and Waller says if the former All-Pro needs advice, his phone line is open.

"I'm sure he's definitely got a program in place, people in place, but if he ever needs someone, I'm definitely available for anyone that may be struggling with anything," Waller says.

Waller tells us even if he's unable to personally help Aldon when the guy gets back in the league ... he's confident just being a part of a team again will keep Smith on the straight and narrow.

"I feel like he can kind of relate to the same thing as me," Waller says. "It's like once you get that chance again, you realize how valuable it is to be a part of a team -- be a part of something that's bigger than yourself."

Formula 1 racing mogul Bernie Ecclestone is gonna be a dad ... AGAIN!

Oh, and did we mention he's 89 years old?

DO YOU REALIZE HOW OLD THAT IS?

"Hey, Dad, what was it like to be alive before the Nazis came into power?" "Hey, Dad, what was the Spanish Civil War like?"

Bernie Ecclestone was born BEFORE CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES WERE INVENTED!! (Shout out Ruth Graves Wakefield).

But alas, Bernie's 44-year-old wife, Fabiana Flosi, is with child, the racing tycoon confirmed to a Swiss media outlet.

"Yes, it is due in the summer," Ecclestone told Blick ... "Hopefully he'll learn to play backgammon soon!"

Guess that means he's having a boy?!

By the way, the baby is reportedly due just before Bernie turns 90 in October.

Ecclestone already has 3 children -- 65-year-old Deborah, 35-year-old Tamara and 31-year-old Petra.

Bernie met his wife Fabiana in 2009. They married in 2012.

Anyway, more like Baby Formula 1 now, right!?!?!

This might be the biggest baller move yet ... LaMelo Ball and his manager, ex-NBA player Jermaine Jackson, just teamed up to buy the Australian pro basketball team Ball suited up for this past season.

BIG BALLER!!!!

18-year-old Ball was a beast in 12 games for the Illawarra Hawks last year ... averaging 17 points, 7.5 rebounds and 7 assists a game before a foot injury sidelined him for the rest of the season.

Jackson -- who played 5 seasons in the NBA -- explained the move to ESPN, saying Ball loved his time in the Australian NBL so much that he decided to take charge.

The Hawks were reportedly facing financial issues while Ball was on the team ... and now the top NBA prospect is hoping to keep the shop open for his teammates and future players.

"Melo loves the Illawarra fans," Jackson said. "He loves that community. They opened their arms to him. They made us feel like we are at home. When we started hearing about the issues they were going through, we talked about it and decided, 'Let's own the team.'"

Jackson insists the move won't affect Ball's bright NBA future ... saying the plan is to hire the right people to keep the team running.

"He wants to create the best basketball program possible for that community there."

No word on how much it cost to buy the team ... but it can't be cheap.

Conor McGregor is going after Khabib Nurmagomedov again ... this time blasting The Eagle for "chickening out" of his UFC 249 fight with Tony Ferguson later this month.

"The fact of this matter is, both Tony and Khabib where engaged in a game of chicken here towards the fight bell," The Notorious said Thursday. "With Khabib chickening out first."

Of course, this is the FIFTH time the Khabib-Ferguson fight has been canceled over the years ... and Conor is now deeming Tony the winner after Khabib's latest withdrawal.

"Khab scurried out of the U.S to home, and amid the crisis. Very high risk," McGregor said. "Congrats Tony."

Nurmagomedov clearly ain't laughing at Conor's ribbing ... the UFC star said Wednesday he had legitimate concerns about fighting amid the coronavirus pandemic.

In fact, Khabib expressed frustration over the pressure he's been receiving to fight.

"Famous people around the world urge people to follow all safety requirements in order to limit the spread of the disease," Khabib wrote, "to save people, and Khabib is the only one relieved of all obligations and must demonstrate free will and train flying around the world, for the sake of fight?"

Khabib added that he was super disappointed ... but it ain't like Conor cared.

"I am in shape to fight right now!" McGregor said. "At the beginning of all this, I said to myself -- I’m happy I don’t have an official fight booked."

"If I did, I would have consumed all the incorrect data to support me taking part in the bout, and I would have followed through, competed. And won."

The last time Conor fought Khabib back in 2018, it wasn't even close -- the Dagestani dominated McGregor and ultimately got him to tap out in the 4th round.

If it's good enough for Derek Jeter, it's good enough for Tom Brady!!

The newest Tampa Bay Bucs QB has picked his Tampa Bay-area home, according to the Tampa Bay Times -- and it's the 32,000-square-foot mansion Jeter built!!

TB12 has already begun to move into the sprawling waterfront estate in the exclusive and super private Davis Islands neighborhood.

The home is siiiiick -- 7 bedrooms, 9 bathrooms, an entertainment room -- and a billiards room that wraps around a pool! There are also two boat lifts which allow access to Tampa Bay.

Jeter reportedly built the home in 2011 -- and it's the biggest mansion in a celeb-packed area. We're told Brady will have a bunch of famous and rich neighbors including a bunch of players from the Tampa Bay Lightening hockey team.

Fire back up the NFL return rumors for Rob Gronkowski ... after he was cut from "The Masked Singer" Wednesday, he refused to close the door on his football career once again!!

Gronk had been participating on the blind singing show this season ... and it was pretty damn obvious the former Patriots tight end was rockin' the "White Tiger" outfit the whole time.

His dance moves -- even in full costume -- were very Gronk-esque ... there was plenty of twerking, flossing and overall spasming on the stage weekly!!

Surprisingly, only two of the judges were able to correctly guess it was him ... but when Jenny McCarthy was interviewing him after the reveal, she made a comment about his NFL career.

"We hope we see those moves back in the locker room soon," she said.

Gronk's reply?? "Oh. You never know!"

BOOM!!! GET THOSE #87 JERSEYS READY IN TAMPA!!!

In all seriousness, 30-year-old Gronk hasn't given much indication he will, in fact, make a comeback to the league ... with his brother, Chris, even telling TMZ Sports last month he'd be SHOCKED to see Rob return.

Chicago White Sox radio announcer Ed Farmer -- who played 11 seasons in the Majors -- died Wednesday night, the team announced. He was 70 years old.

Details surrounding his death have not been revealed. We're working on it.

Farmer was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 5th round of the 1967 Draft -- and went on to pitch for the Tigers, Phillies, Orioles, White Sox and more. He made the American League All-Star team in 1980.

He eventually transitioned over to the broadcast booth in 1992 where he spent nearly 30 years calling games for his beloved White Sox.

During his life, Farmer suffered from polycystic kidney disease -- in which cysts cluster around the kidneys, sometimes affecting their ability to function properly.

On the field, you might remember Farmer's issues with Al Cowens.

Famer hit Cowens with a pitch in a game in 1979 -- breaking his jaw and messing up his teeth.

Farmer insisted it wasn't intentional, but Cowens didn't buy it -- and when they played against each other the following season, Cowens charged the mound and attacked Farmer.

Farmer filed assault charges against Cowens -- but later agreed to drop the case if Cowens would shake his hand. Wild stuff.

As for the White Sox, the team issued a statement about Farmer's passing saying, "We mourn the death of Ed Farmer who passed away Wednesday night."

"Farmer worked as a radio broadcaster for the Chicago White Sox for nearly 30 years, played 11 seasons in the major leagues, including three with his hometown White Sox, and was a strong advocate for organ donation."

Ed Orgeron is calling things off with his wife, Kelly ... the LSU head coach filed for divorce a little more than a month after he led the Tigers to a National Championship.

The 58-year-old filed the court docs in Louisiana back on Feb. 26, according to The Advocate ... and in them, he says he and Kelly officially split on Feb. 24.

The two had reportedly met on a blind date in 1996 ... and were married shortly after on Feb. 19, 1997, the docs say.

Orgeron and Kelly raised three sons together ... including twins that they had on Feb. 9, 1998.

Orgeron had praised Kelly several times during LSU's championship run this past winter ... and had called her an inspiration multiple times in the years leading up as well.

In fact, the two were inseparable during Orgeron's victory celebration over Clemson on Jan. 13, sharing kisses and hugs as confetti rained down at the Superdome.

In the divorce filing, Orgeron says he wants exclusive use of the couple's home in Baton Rouge ... and claims to have no objection to letting Kelly have their house in Mandeville, La. until court proceedings mete out their situation.

Everybody loves him as the expert giving Americans a glimmer of hope in the coronavirus pandemic ... but did you know White House advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci was a basketball superstar!?

He sure was!! ... and President Trump gave the guy a major shoutout in the W.H. press briefing on Wednesday ... praising the dude for being a total baller on the court back in the day.

Of course, the entire country has fallen in love with Dr. Fauci as he's become the voice of wisdom during this scary time ... and his leadership skills date back to 1958!!

Trump brought up Fauci's high school playing days at Regis HS in New York ... saying he inspired his team to win when they were major underdogs.

"He was a great basketball player. Did anybody know that?" Trump said.

"He was little on the short side for the NBA but he was talented. He won a game, I read the story, he won a game that was un-winnable against a great team."

"That was a couple of years ago. The head never changed. The attitude never changed."