TMZ Sports - Page 50

Browns LB Tae Davis says he was absolutely crushed after his great aunt and uncle tested positive for coronavirus ... and tells TMZ Sports their battle inspired him to step up and give back in a huge way.

"At the time when I first heard of it, I was devastated," Davis tells us. "It was just like a blow to me. I just remember just kinda freezing up, not really saying anything and just my mind went racing."

Davis tells us his family members played a pivotal role in his journey to becoming an NFL player ... and following the news, he knew he had the resources to do whatever he can to help those in need.

We're told the 23-year-old donated 500 meals to Meals on Wheels with his grandmother in mind ... knowing there are so many elderly people in need of food during the global pandemic.

When we asked Davis how it felt to give back during the crisis, he points out his loving family kept him focused on helping out whenever he could ... especially after making it big time.

"Without them, they all played a part of me being here today. As a kid, I always felt that if I was ever to have some type of platform, I would try to give back and help out any way I could and this was just the perfect opportunity to reach out and just try to help," Davis says.

May 9. May 16. May 23.

UFC star Tyron Woodley says he's ALL THE WAY DOWN to fight 3 Saturdays in a row -- as long as it gets him the title fight he's been craving.

Remember, Woodley was supposed to fight Leon Edwards on March 21st -- but the fight was scrapped due to complications from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since then, Tyron says he's been busting his ass to stay in fight shape so he can get back into the octagon as soon as the UFC gets back in business.

Now, Woodley says he's so fired up about going back to work, he's daydreaming about ways get his welterweight championship belt back from Kamaru Usman ASAP ... even if it means fighting 3 weeks in a row.

Tyron spells the whole thing out on "The Hollywood Beatdown" -- saying he's already been in contact with the UFC to try and get on the May 9th card.

And with most sports shut down around the world, Tyron thinks the opportunity to get on a major UFC card would be HUGE.

If he pulls off "back to back to back" victories, Tyron says he would HAVE to be recognized as the UFC G.O.A.T.

UFC star Tony Ferguson has cut his weight all the way down to 155 lbs -- which would be GREAT ... if the fight wasn't postponed!!!

Remember, Tony was supposed to fight Justin Gaethje in the main event at UFC 249 this weekend for the interim lightweight title (155 pounds).

But the April 18 fight was called off and Dana White is now looking at rebooking the event for May 9th.

Despite all those facts, Tony Ferguson has decided to continue his pre-fight training AS IF the fight were to happen on Saturday ... weight cut and all.

T-Ferg even hit the scale Friday morning to prove how serious he is about his process -- and yeah, it's a perfect 155 lbs.

The issue, of course, is that Tony will likely have to repeat the weight cutting process again next month if the UFC gets the green light to hold the event ... and that's A LOT of stress to put on your body in a short amount of time.

That said, it's still super impressive and shows how badly Tony wants the fight.

Stay safe, stay hungry -- and hopefully, we'll get to see the title fight we've all been waiting for sometime soon!

Sorry perverts, Joe Buck has just shot down a $1 MILLION offer to narrate sex tapes ... but says, "I'm flattered."

Some backstory ... Buck and several other high profile sportscasters have been keeping their skills sharp by calling random non-sports videos for people stuck at home during the pandemic.

He's done everything from cooking to marble racing (and everything in between) in exchange for good cause donations to support worthy charities.

A few weeks ago, Buck also said he was getting some requests to add his voice to some adult videos ... but explained he wasn't ready to go down that road -- yet.

"Maybe later in life, but not now."

Now, one adult site is hoping $1 MILLION will change his mind -- with "ImLive" putting together a proposal for 6 weeks of work.

Basically, Buck would have to commentate 25 live cam shows per week through the end of May ... and in return, boom -- 7 figures.

And, get this ... the company says the audio work would all be for a good cause because it would help visually impaired people enjoy the site!!

But, bad news for the sex site ... Buck has considered the offer and says unlike the people in the videos, he won't take it.

"Depending on the site they could just be handing some of my money back to me," Buck joked.

"So I’ll hold out for a better offer and try to hold on to my day job. But I have to say I’m flattered."

Pro hockey player Akim Aliu is taking the high road with his old coach, Bill Peters ... saying the man deserves his new opportunity to work, despite the racist remarks he made more than 10 years ago.

Remember, Aliu opened up this past November and claimed Peters "dropped the N-bomb several times" toward him during his rookie year with the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2008-09 season.

The NHL opened an investigation into the accusations and Peters quickly resigned from his then-gig with the Calgary Flames.

Now, Peters has found new work with the Kontinental Hockey League Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg ... a move that Aliu is surprisingly okay with.

"Only with the past behind us can we focus on the future," Aliu said in a statement.

"Hockey is for all. I believe in second chances for everyone, that we can all find forgiveness in our heart and that real positive change is coming if we continue to push forward together."

"I don’t resent a man for finding work," Aliu said. "But I will fight to make sure those same opportunities are available to everyone, on and off the ice, regardless of race or ethnicity."

It's a powerful statement from Aliu ... who's made it his goal to help minorities feel more welcome in the sport.

As for Peters, he said he's learned from his mistakes, saying, "I think as times goes on, we all grow and improve and become better versions of ourselves."

Two O'Neals are better than one ... just ask the LSU hoops program!

Shaq's 18-year-old daughter, Amirah O'Neal, announced she's headed to Baton Rouge to play basketball for the Tigers next season ... just months after her big bro, Shareef, committed to LSU.

"I am excited to say that I have decided to commit to being a student athlete at LSU along side my brother @shareefoneal," Amirah said on IG.

"I am Sooooo grateful to spend my next 4 years as a Tiger."

Of course, both O'Neals are following in their father's famous footsteps -- Shaq is an LSU legend who balled out in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center from '89 to '92 before lighting up the NBA.

As for Amirah (who's 6'3" tall) -- SHE'S LEGIT -- averaging 17.2 points per game during her high school career at Crossroads in Santa Monica.

She was also an Honorable Mention to the MaxPreps 2019 California All-State Girls Basketball Team.

Shareef -- who recently announced he was transferring to LSU after a short stint at UCLA -- he's VERY excited about Amirah's decision.

"THE BROTHER SISTER DUO," Shareef posted on social media ... "Congrats to my sister on committing to LSU."

The 6'9" Shareef was a top-ranked high school player before heading to UCLA in 2018  -- but his freshman season ended before it began after doctors discovered an irregularity with his heart.

Bill O'Brien is sick and tired of hearing about his awful DeAndre Hopkins trade ... and now he's begging fans to stop ripping him for the inexplicable move.

"The best thing I can tell the fans is to please ... I think we have to let it all play out!" the Houston head coach said Thursday. "Let it play out. Let the whole thing play out!"

O'Brien has been slammed for jettisoning D-Hop and a 4th-round pick to Arizona for David Johnson (plus his terrible contract) and some other draft picks ... with fans wondering what the hell he's doing with the Texans' roster.

FYI, Hopkins is arguably the best receiver in the league -- AND he's on a team-friendly deal -- while Johnson hasn't rushed for more than 1,000 yards since 2016.

But, Bill says he's got a master plan going ... and is pleading for patience.

"I would say let's review it a year from now," O'Brien says. "Two years from now. Three years from now. Let's let it all play out."

Bill told reporters he's seen some analytics that have made the trade make sense in his mind ... saying he feels "very good about the value that we got for the trade."

THIS IS AWESOME!!!

Check out Mike Beltran -- one of the top referees in MMA -- turning his legendary facial hair into a coronavirus mask ... just for fun!

Of course, Beltran -- who's reffed fights for everyone from Henry Cejudo to Demetrious Johnson and Nate Diaz -- is famous for that long, flowing mustache.

So, with the COVID-19 pandemic in full swing, Beltran decided to have fun ... and show off his version of nature's mask!

"Well, my friends, I think this works. I don't think anything will penetrate the 'state," Beltran joked.

Obviously, he's just kidding around (USE A REAL MASK, PEOPLE!) but ya gotta love it!

"Hope you guys had a good laugh at my expense," he added (assuming with a smile on his face?).

Awesome gesture by Kirby Smart ... the UGA football coach was one of hundreds of people at a local hospital Thursday who cheered on a Dawgs staffer that beat coronavirus after nearly dying from it.

The incredible scene all went down at Piedmont Athens Regional Hospital in Georgia ... where football team video coordinator Jeremy Klawsky had been the past few weeks fighting COVID-19.

Klawsky reportedly checked into the facility roughly 6 weeks ago, and, according to the Athens Banner-Herald, needed to be intubated shortly after because of complications with the virus.

The 32-year-old battled through it all, though ... and the scene at the hospital when he was finally released Thursday was moving.

Nurses, doctors, Smart and even UGA's athletic director all gave the guy a round of applause as he made it out of the treatment center.

"We are just thrilled that he is home," his mother, Sherry Klawsky, told the Athens Banner-Herald. "The hardest part of when he was on the ventilator is over. He's home now and he can start to get stronger and really move forward."