TMZ Sports - Page 50

Pro wrestling legend Kevin Nash says his knee is finally fixed after surgery -- but you wouldn't know it looking at this GNARLY photo of the aftermath.

Nash just revealed that he went under the knife to replace a bum knee that's been bothering him for 33 years -- and what's left of it looks like something straight outta the "Saw" movies.

We counted 24 staples ... plus severe bulging that made us question if it was actually a knee.

The craziest part -- Big Daddy Cool says it was an "amazing process," and he's pumped to "let it heal and start training" at age 58.

Maybe take it easy for a few days??

Which Air Jordans does Michael Jordan wear on his fancy beach vacation?

You're lookin' at 'em ... but no one seems to know what they are -- or if they've ever been released to the public.

MJ is currently out in Barbados -- smokin' cigars and loungin' on yachts -- when we noticed the black and white sneakers a female friend (maybe his assistant?) was carrying out of the water.

We called multiple sneaker experts (including ShoeZeum founder Jordan Geller) to find out the make and model .... but no one had seen these particular kicks before.

We're told Jordan gets special custom shoes made -- and gets first crack at unreleased gear -- but it's unclear if these are one of a kind or a preview of things to come.

Side note ... MJ's lady friend also handed Jordan a bag of cigars for his boat ride -- because God forbid the NBA legend goes a couple hours without a fresh stogie.

Meghan Markle is going full Karate Kid ahead of her Royal nuptials -- because she's hired Michael Jackson's former bodyguard to learn how to defend herself ... TMZ has learend.

Our Royal sources tell us Meghan has hired celeb security adviser and trainer Matt Fiddes to teach her martial arts and self-defense -- as well as to get her in shape ahead of her wedding with Prince Harry in May.

Meghan just landed back in L.A. Wednesday to spend time with her mom ahead of the holidays -- and we're told Matt booked a last-minute flight to Hollywood this week, so the training could begin STAT.

Matt's a natural fit for Meghan. He owns one of the biggest martial arts franchises in the world -- Matt Fiddes Martial Arts -- and works with tons of celebs, including Tom Cruise.

He's also got close ties with the Royal Family -- MJ was tight with Princess Diana, and he became part of her inner circle. Plus ... he's a Brit, so he'll be geographically desirable.

We're told Meghan's endgame is not about fitness -- sources close to Matt tell us Meghan hired him specifically to learn self-defense. Sounds like she's supplementing her hostage training.

Hi-ya!

LiAngelo and LaMelo Ball are destined to be Lakers -- so says former UCLA star Shabazz Muhammad, who's got no doubt LaVar's master plan is gonna work to perfection.

We got Bazz out on Rodeo Drive before his T-Wolves crushed the Clippers on Wednesday ... and he told us he's known the Ball boys for years -- and thinks both Gelo and Melo have what it takes to team with Lonzo in L.A.

"Think so, man" Muhammad told TMZ Sports, when we asked if LiAngelo could cut it in the NBA. "I think they gonna play all on the same team, too."

Conor McGregor won't EVER fight for money again in his life -- instead, he's setting himself up for a BIG career as a movie star ... so says UFC champ Tyron Woodley.

"I never thought he was coming back," Tyron said on "The Hollywood Beatdown" ... explaining he's got way too much money to risk his health against killers like himself and Tony Ferguson.

But, Conor ain't going quietly into that good night ... Tyron believes all the crazy stunts McGregor has pulled over the past few months are part of a calculated plan to raise his profile for his next big career move.

Rita Ora ... the rumored bar fight ... the Irish courtroom drama -- Tyron says Conor knows exactly what he's doing.

But if Conor DOES decide to fight again, Tyron says he would "beat his ass any day of the week."

"I'll beat the brakes off that little thang!"

Wanna participate in a women's pro wrestling match in Abu Dhabi? Better trade out the skimpy spandex for a non-skin-baring costume ... just like Sasha Banks.

The pro wrestling superstar just threw down in WWE's very first women's match in the United Arab Emirates ... squaring up against women's champ Alexa Bliss.

But in order to get the green light, the women had to make extreme costume adjustments to meet the Muslim nation's strict laws on female attire. They did, and the show went off without a hitch.

Triple H hailed the match as an historic moment for the WWE -- and Banks got emotional ... saying, "I started crying because of how huge this is. It's bigger than me."

Banks added, "I want to empower women and let them know that their dreams are endless and they can achieve anything."

Think Kristaps Porzingis called it a night after his triumphant return at MSG on Wednesday?

Hell no ... KP put in OT at the club with a smokin' hot chick!!

The Knicks superstar kept it flowin' at Marquee ... cuddling up with a mystery blonde outside the venue before they bounced to the after-party.

Unclear if she's Zinger's GF -- but they look pretty cute together.

Either way, Kristaps was cool enough to make time for all the fanboys flanking him on the street ... talkin' hoops and droppin' high-5s like the true King of NY (sorry, LeBron).

LeBron James is making himself right at home in L.A. ... buying his second crib in the area. Hear that, Lakers?

The King has chosen yet again the ritzy area of Brentwood for his second crib in as many years. This time he dropped $23 million for a brand spankin' new 8-bedroom, 11-bathroom crib that features an elevator and sweeping views of DTLA.

The 15,846 square foot house was built in 2017 and it's truly fit for a king -- it's got a theater room, wine cellar, cigar room with air purifying technology and an onyx bar. The rooftop terrace also has elevator access.

This crib's considerably bigger than the other Brentwood pad he bought 2 years ago ... dropping nearly 21 million bucks for that traditional-style home.

16-year-old LaMelo Ball has signed with sports agent Harrison Gaines and will NOT play college ball at UCLA, his father told ESPN.

LaVar Ball had pulled LaMelo out of Chino Hills High School earlier this year and said he was going to train the kid himself to get him ready for UCLA.

But now, with LaMelo's older brother, LiAngelo Ball, in the middle of a nasty breakup with UCLA (after the China shoplifting incident) ... LaVar has decided both sons will play professionally overseas.

"I don't care about the money," LaVar Ball told Jeff Goodman ... "I want them to go somewhere where they will play them together on the court at the same time. The priority is for the boys to play on the same team."

LaVar told TMZ Sports this week that China is still a possible landing spot for the boys -- Chinese teams would be happy to have the Ball kids.

As for LaVar's oldest son, Lonzo Ball -- he claims the decision to pull LiAngelo out of UCLA was made by the entire family with LiAngelo's best interests in mind.

Dr. Larry Nassar is probably going to die in prison -- the disgraced former Team USA gymnastics doc just got 60 YEARS in his child porn case.

The 54-year-old was just sentenced by a judge in Michigan -- after being convicted of having more than 37,000 child porn images in his possession.

Prosecutors say they found the images on computer hard drives while investigating the sexual assault claims against him.

Of course, besides the child porn ... Nassar also sexually assaulted more than 100 female athletes while working with Team USA gymnastics and Michigan State University.

His victims include some of the most famous gymnasts in the world -- from McKayla Maroney to Gabby Douglas and Aly Raisman.

Nassar will be sentenced in that case in January.

Conor McGregor fueled Rita Ora dating rumors on Wednesday night ... shouting her out at the club while patting his heart BEFORE showing love to his baby mama, Dee Devlin.

C'mon bro ...

Remember, it was just a few days ago Conor was hanging out with Ora at the British Fashion Awards. She posted pics of the 2 of them together with the caption, "Date night."

Fast-forward to Wednesday night at Cirque le Soir in London ... where The Notorious was out with his bros, letting loose on the dance floor to The Notorious B.I.G.

Conor hopped on the mic and said, "What's up, Rita Ora!" ... and then put his hand over his heart.

Moments later, he shouted out Dee ... but no heart gesture that time.

McGregor's probably just trolling (since that's what he does) -- but he and Rita did look awful cozy Monday night ...

LiAngelo Ball WILL be an NBA player, so says rap superstar Flo Rida, who tells TMZ Sports he's so hyped on Gelo that he wants him on his favorite team, the Miami Heat.

We got Flo out at LAX and asked him the million dollar question for the Ball family right now (actually a lot more than $1 million) -- does Gelo actually have an NBA future now that he's left UCLA?

It's been hotly debated by all the sports people that hotly debate things, but Mr. Rida seems to think he's a lock, telling our guy Gelo will get it done, and he hopes it's with his hometown, Miami Heat.

Hey, Khloe ... Tristan Thompson called and he wants his trench coat back.

Khloe was out in Santa Monica Wednesday for a doctor's appointment and it just seems like she's wearing her 6-foot-9 BF's drab to hide what the world knows is a very obvious baby bump. It's clear she wanted to go to great lengths to hide the ever elusive sign of pregnancy.

She tried the ol' hide-the-bump-with-this-huge-bag-and-loose-sweater play the other day. But this is something else. C'mon, Khloe. You're pregnant. We know it and want to help celebrate!

TMZ broke the story ... Khloe's preggo with her first kid and her NBA star BF is the baby daddy.

No job? No problem!

Johnny Manziel is still living VERY large -- despite the fact he hasn't had an NFL paycheck in a very long time.

The embattled QB pulled up Wednesday to Barneys in Beverly Hills -- one of the most expensive stores in town -- in the driver's seat of a custom Rolls-Royce.

Later that night, he hit up Warwick in a Givenchy sweatshirt, which retails for more than $1,000.

He's also planning a wedding, renting expensive places to live and traveling. So, the question is ... how can he still afford to live so lavishly?

The answer? Manziel is said to have raked in about $7.8 mil from his rookie deal with the Cleveland Browns -- plus, he made a ton of cash from endorsement deals with companies like Nike and Snickers.

Plus, the family reportedly has oil money -- though it's unclear if Manziel has access to it.

The Minnesota Timberwolves still had so much energy left after beating up on the Clippers Wednesday night, they hit the Hollywood club scene after the game ... and TMZ Sports has the video.

Karl-Anthony Towns and Taj Gibson hit up Warwick nightclub looking relaxed after the 112-106 victory over L.A. Towns had 21 points, Taj had 16.

They weren't the only big stars in the club -- Johnny Manziel also rolled through Warwick on Wednesday.

Fun Fact: All 3 guys rocked designer hoodies to the club -- and get this, Taj's Gucci sweatshirt ain't cheap ... $1,280 on the Gucci website!!!

Here's former baseball star Sammy Sosa keepin' things light at a huge festival in Miami Beach.

Sosa hit up DuJour's Miami Beach's Art Basel Kick-Off at The Confidante where he posed for pics on his way into the event ... weeks after T.I. blasted him for his alleged skin bleaching.

Sammy's complexion has very obviously changed over the years. We can only find one interview where he addressed it -- from 2009 -- saying the lightening was an unexpected result of a skin softening cream.

T.I. called B.S. and said it was more about "self-hate" -- but, judging by the way Sammy was smiling and laughing on the red carpet, he really doesn't seem to care what anyone else thinks.