Esteban Loaiza Moved To Federal Detention Center Awaiting Cocaine Trial
Esteban Loaiza -- accused of possessing over 40 lbs. of coke -- was sprung from county jail in San Diego ... but he ain't goin' home, 'cause the ex-MLB star was moved to a federal jail.
Loaiza -- a 2x MLB All-Star who played 14 seasons in the big leagues -- has been behind bars at San Diego County Jail since being arrested February 9 on multiple felony drug charges.
After consulting with federal prosecutors, the San Diego D.A.'s office tells us they decided to drop all charges against the former White Sox pitcher, so he could instead be charged federally.
Yesterday, U.S. prosecutors charged Loaiza with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute ... and he was transported to Metropolitan Correctional Center in San Diego -- a federal facility primarily used to hold inmates awaiting trial.
MCC currently holds about 900 inmates -- male and female -- of all security levels.
Loaiza -- who is facing 10 years to life in prison, if convicted -- is due back in court March 12.
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Jon Jones Rages w/ Steve Aoki ... After Steroid Punishment
Jon Jones isn't gonna let the whole potential loss of his UFC career thing get him down ... and he's proving it -- raging onstage with Steve Aoki in New Mexico!!
It was just last week that Jones got his fighting license revoked by the California Athletic Commission, and the speculation is USADA could hit him with a multi-year ban.
Jon put his blues aside on Monday night, hitting up Aoki's Kolony Tour when it came through Albuquerque ... going shirtless and hopping onstage with Steve (who's kinda shredded).
Not sure what it means that Jon's partying -- his USADA hearing's upcoming -- but before you drill him for being out, check out what he did for a kid in the audience!
Savvy, Jon.
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Arianny Celeste Floyd Could Take Conor ... He's Hotter, Too!
Arianny Celeste LOVES Floyd Mayweather -- and not just for his ass-kickin' abilities!
We got the UFC's baddest Octagon girl up in the Bev Hills, and hit her with some questions on the UFC rematch that's got everyone talking -- Floyd vs. Conor 2.
Going off her answers ... it's safe to say Arianny's on The Money Team!!
-- Would you wanna see Floyd in the UFC? "I'd love to see that happen."
-- Could Floyd beat Conor? "I'd give him a chance, yeah."
-- And the big one ... Who's hotter? "I'd have to go with Floyd ... Floyd's swag is on another level."
Celeste even let it slip that she'd be rooting for TBE -- even though he's the outsider.
If this won't motivate Floyd to step inside the Octagon ... we don't know what will.
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Tinashe Ben Simmons is My 'Boo Thang'
Chalk this one up as a HUGE win for Ben Simmons ... 'cause the 76ers rookie is officially R&B star Tinashe's "boo thang" -- this according to Tinashe herself!!
TMZ Sports spoke with the smokin' hot "Faded Love" singer at Craig's in WeHo Wednesday night ... and we asked her to address the obvious IG flirting going on with Ben earlier this week.
"That's my little boo thang" the 25-year-old revealed with a smile.
While Tinashe didn't get into much detail with us ... the paper trail has been there for about a month -- from even more social media flirting to gushing about B.S. being her favorite Sixers player in a recent radio interview.
Simmons has been balling out this season -- he's in the running for Rookie of the Year.
And now that we have the confirmation of his new girl ... this dude really is winning all around.
Good for you, Ben.
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Johnny Manziel Pulling For Saquon Barkley ... 'He's A Beast'
Forget Mel Kiper or Todd McShay, it's time for Johnny Manziel's draft analysis -- on a street corner in West Hollywood.
Manziel was leaving Craig's with his fiancee Bre Tiesi (in a sick car, BTW) and we asked him who should go #1 in the upcoming NFL Draft.
Johnny is clearly a fan of Saquon Barkley -- the star running back from Penn State -- with Manziel telling us ... "He's a beast. I'm pulling for him."
We also asked Manziel about his push for the NCAA to finally pay college athletes -- something Johnny has been very vocal about on social media lately.
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O.J. Simpson I Was Angry at Her During Her Funeral
O.J. Simpson was still angry at Nicole Brown Simpson at her funeral, and although he doesn't remember what he said to her when he kissed her goodbye ... he describes what he WANTED to say in this never-before-seen video from the upcoming FOX special, "O.J. Simpson: The Lost Confession?"
It's all very strange and chilling, as O.J. elaborates to book publisher Judith Regan about the feelings he had toward his ex-wife ... and how his anger toward her didn't disappear after her death.
Simpson then oddly brings Nicole's infamous 911 call up -- where he could be heard yelling at her in the background -- as a way of explaining how he warned her of ... something. He talks in circles, but expresses regret he'll never be able to "have an effect on this person again."
O.J.'s asked what he said to Nicole when he leaned over and kissed her, but says he can't remember. He DOES remember people heard him say, "I'm sorry."
The FOX special also features what seems like a confession to the murders of Nicole and Ron Goldman in 1994, with the premise being it's only "hypothetical."
'The Lost Confession?' airs Sunday at 8 PM.
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Rampage Jackson to Manager: Here's Your New $100k Car! Manager: 'Shut the Eff Up!'
It PAYS to work for MMA star Rampage Jackson -- just ask his manager, Tiki Ghosn, who just got a $100k Range Rover on the house!!
Rampage filmed the late bday surprise earlier today ... when Tiki pulled up on Rampage's fleet of whips -- including the Range Rover Sport Autobiography Dynamic, which retails for over 6 figures after taxes and fees.
Tiki was already shocked to see more new cars in Rampage's collection ... but once he realized the Range was his, dude lost his mind.
"It's what? Shut the f**k up. Are you f**king serious? This is my car. Oh, f**k, are you kidding me?!"
Rampage said it was a gift for negotiating "the best fight contract I ever had" -- a deal he inked with Bellator back in November.
Congrats, Tiki! Ya lucky SOB ...
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Paige VanZant Guarantees UFC Return In 6 Months ... I'm Still a Contender!
She's still nursing a broken arm -- but Paige VanZant says she'll be healed up and ready to knock people out again in 6 MONTHS.
"I know I'll have a fight in 6 months and that's guaranteed," Paige told us on the "TMZ Sports" TV show (airs weeknights on FS1).
Paige even showed off her scars from the surgery -- where she got a titanium plate and 7 screws -- to repair the broken arm she suffered in her UFC Fight Night 124 loss to Jessica-Rose Clark.
Paige says she doesn't have an opponent in mind for her comeback -- but feels she's still in a title contention spot in the 125-pound division.
"So, we'll just pick somebody from the list and take 'em out!"
Paige was joined on the show by her fiance, Austin Vanderford -- who's also a pro MMA fighter -- and the two explained what it's like to train (and trade punches) with your significant other!
Make sure to catch the whole thing tonight on FS1!
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NFL's Alvin Kamara Pulls Weights, Weight Rack & Truck!! ... Insane Training!!!
Unless you bench press live African elephants, New Orleans Saints star Alvin Kamara is about to make your workout look like trash with his RIDICULOUS, new training session!
Kamara is down in Louisiana getting ready for next season and decided to share with the world how the 2017 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year gets ready for his sophomore campaign.
Answer? INTENSELY.
Check out Kamara pulling four 45-pound weights (still racked on the rack) tied to a freaking truck ... and nuking the workout with ease.
James Harrison ... step your game up, bro.
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Khloe Kardshian & Kris Jenner Say Hello to the TMZ Tour Bus!!!
Super pregnant Khloe Kardashian and super momager Kris Jenner just gave fans on the TMZ Celebrity Tour bus a huge thrill and, we'll be honest, they gave us what's known as a money shot.
Khloe and Kris were out Wednesday in WeHo flanked by security as they hit up a couple of baby stores -- on account of the whole fam being in birthing mode. We asked Khloe if she and Tristan Thompson are going with a "K" baby name, and just then it happened -- the TMZ tour bus pulled up, shocking everyone on the scene.
Check out the vid ... we talked Kim and Madonna with Kris, who seemed to have a case of the giggles. Khloe was also amused when he talked about her Kardashian kid being a family record-setter.
The TMZ tour bus, hooking you up with celebs -- and occasionally burglary suspects -- since 2010.
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Marshawn Lynch Sacks U.S. Ambassador!!! ... on Portugal Trip
Beast Mode has touched down in Portugal to be an ambassador for American football ... and his first order of business -- SACKING THE COUNTRY'S U.S. AMBASSADOR!!!
As TMZ Sports reported last week, Marshawn Lynch is on a trip to Cristiano Ronaldo's digs to show 'em what's up with Murca's brand of footy ... as a part of ex-Browns star Gary Barnidge's American Football Without Barriers organization.
On Tuesday night, Marshawn lined up opposite U.S. ambassador George Glass ... and took an honorary snap in front of all the boys.
Lynch didn't go full beast ... but he didn't exactly go light, either (watch the dining chairs, bro!).
George didn't seem to mind ... probably 'cause Marshawn also hit Browns QB Kevin Hogan with the sauce!!
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Team USA's Jermaine Jones Ditching MLS to Retire in Europe ... Then Coach!!
Jermaine Jones, one of Team USA soccer's biggest stars, says he's done ballin' in America (unless it's with the USMNT) ... telling TMZ Sports he wants to finish his career in Europe!
Backstory -- JJ grew up in the U.S. and Germany ... but played his best ball in Bundesliga, one of Europe's top leagues.
His MLS stint with the L.A. Galaxy didn't go nearly as well ... so Jermaine says he wants to pull a reverse David Beckham and go back to where the "best soccer" is at.
Before the 36-year-old tries to turn back the clock, Jones says he's got some other business to attend to -- including getting certified to coach!!
As for where JJ wants to hold the clipboard once he retires ... sounds like he's keeping his options open.
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Rip Hamilton Pistons Advice for Blake Griffin: Get a Heavy Coat, Bro
Rip Hamilton spent 9 years ballin' out in Detroit -- so what's his advice for the newest Pistons star Blake Griffin?
Bundle up.
The ex-NBA star was kinda laughing at the fact that Griffin went from sunny California to the frozen tundra of Detroit ... and said Blake's got no choice but to make it work 'cause he signed up for 5 seasons!
"Make sure he get a heavy coat out there 'cause trust me, it gets cold!"
We also asked Rip if he thinks Blake and Kendall Jenner will have a shot at making a long-distance relationship work now that he's a 4.5-hour flight away!
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Dwyane Wade Visits Stoneman Douglas H.S. 'I'm Inspired By All of You'
Dwyane Wade personally greeted the students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Wednesday as they returned to the school for the first full day of classes since the shooting.
Wade posed for photos and hung out with the kids as they tried to resume their education. It's the first time the school has had a full day of classes since the Valentine's Day shooting.
Wade also gave a speech and told the kids he's proud to live in Florida and praised them for the strength they've shown after the incident.
"I just wanted to come here today, hopefully for a moment, for a second ... bring a little excitement, bring a little joy," Wade says.
"What you guys have been going through, and I was hearing you guys have been amazing from afar, and I just wanted to come and say I'm inspired by all of you."
DWADE JUST PULLED UP AT DOUGLAS BROOOOOOOOOO WHAT pic.twitter.com/YYTaG5GFa5
@sebiloveschoco
Wade tweeted about the visit, saying "I just had a great conversation with some of the students at Stoneman Douglas High School about some important/impactful things that they have planned."
"I’m looking forward to being more involved in the change that they WILL create."
"Our conversation about bridging the gap between the students from Parkland, Florida and Chicago was really impressive. These young adults GET IT. They understand the power of their voices for the ones that often go unheard!"
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Paige VanZant & Fiance Trading Punches The Couple That Spars Together ...
UFC star Paige VanZant and her fiance spent their Tuesday punching each other in the face -- but don't worry, it was consensual.
Paige is engaged to undefeated welterweight MMA fighter Austin Vanderford -- and the two train together at a gym in Portland.
Tuesday was boxing day -- so they paired up, strapped on the gloves and let each other have it!
Paige was able to land a few shots -- so was Austin -- but when it was all said and done, there was no bad blood. In fact, PVZ suggests the workout helps them bond.
"Find someone who shares your passion and grow together ❤️ (we both signed waivers, were allowed to do this 😝)."
Still, don't try this at home ...
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Andre Berto Canelo's Meat Excuse Smells Fishy
Here's another episode of "Reading Between the Lines," starring Andre Berto ... who's basically calling BS on Canelo Alvarez for blaming his failed steroids test on contaminated cow meat.
Look, Berto gets it -- beef from Mexico has a history of making athletes piss hot. The boxing star tells TMZ Sports he was even warned about the juicy cows south of the border before competing in the '04 Olympics.
That said, there's 1 reason Berto ain't buying it -- "[Canelo's] been living in Mexico all his life. He's been tested plenty of times and this has never happened."
So, does that make Canelo a cheater? We asked ...