TMZ Sports - Page 50

NBA forward Alize Johnson's mom says she was at a loss for words when she was gifted with a new house ... telling TMZ Sports she was BLOWN AWAY by her son's huge gesture.

As we previously reported, the 24-year-old Indiana Pacers player surprised his whole family with a new home in Williamsport, PA ... as a "thank you" for helping him reach his dreams as a professional NBA player.

We spoke with Johnson's mom, Chanelle, about the incredible moment ... and she broke down exactly what it was like to be surprised with the new digs!!

"I'm very proud, very proud and just speechless," Chanelle told us. "Speechless for the things that he's done and just his heart and his humility through the whole process."

"But, he's always been a humble kid but just to see him take care of us before his self is just -- it's mind-blowing."

As for who gets to decorate the new crib, the hooper says he only has a few requests.

"I told them, 'When we move in, listen. I don't care about anything but just let me deck the basement out and the outside pool and stuff like that,'" Johnson tells us.

"That's the only thing I was concerned about but beautiful house, beautiful neighborhood and we're gonna have some good memories there and I'm looking forward to my siblings getting in there and having it to remember growing up."

The San Francisco 49ers are the latest team to shut down their facility due to COVID-19 ... just one day before they're supposed to take the field for "Thursday Night Football."

The news broke minutes ago ... with ESPN's Adam Schefter saying Niners wide receiver Kendrick Bourne tested positive for coronavirus one day before their game against the Green Bay Packers.

The decision to shut down the team's facility was made as a "precaution," per the report ... and the organization will now go through the process of contact tracing to prevent further spread.

The report comes on the heels of the Pack's own COVID-19 nightmare -- running back AJ Dillon tested positive earlier this week ... and linebacker Kamal Martin and running back Jamaal Williams were placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list after being deemed close contacts.

The NFL has yet to comment on the status of 'TNF' ... but it's not looking great.

LeBron James is pleading with citizens of Akron, Ohio to help police in a murder case involving his good friend's sister ... saying Wednesday, "My city I need y’all to go to work."

Bron's lifelong pal, Brandon Weems -- who's the Cleveland Cavaliers' director of scouting -- lost his sister earlier this week in what officials have ruled a homicide.

According to News 5 in Cleveland, 37-year-old Ericka Weems was found by family members in Akron on Monday with a gunshot wound to her head.

Cops say they've launched an investigation ... but so far, they've made no arrests and say they've yet to identify any suspects.

LeBron is pleading for help to change that ... begging people of his hometown of Akron to come forward if they have any knowledge of the case.

"AKRON OHIO!!" LeBron wrote Wednesday on Twitter. "My brother’s sister was murdered this past weekend in her home! My brother family need answers to why and by whom."

"My city I need y’all to go to work and find out who did this awful, shameful, disgusting thing to such a caring, loving angel! #Justice4EricaWeems."

LeBron and Brandon's friendship goes back decades ... with MLive reporting the two met at Pee Wee football when they were little kids.

The two went on to become teammates on their St. Vincent-St. Mary H.S. basketball team ... and Bron grew so close to Brandon, he's called him his "brother" repeatedly in interviews over the years.

Akron detectives are urging people to call 330-375-2490 or 330-375-2TIP if they have any information regarding the case.

A reward of up to $5,000, meanwhile, has been offered for information by Summit County Crimestoppers as well.

NY Giants star Logan Ryan says team trainers saved his wife's life after the Bucs game on Monday night -- identifying a major medical emergency before it was too late.

Ryan -- a free safety who just signed with the Giants this season -- says he was being checked out by the trainers after losing to Tampa Bay on Monday night ... when his wife, Ashley, complained of stomach pain.

Ashley says she thought she was just having a stomach ache and was planning on popping some Tums and sleeping it off ... but the Giants' trainers felt the situation was more serious and urged her to head to the hospital.

Ashley listened (thankfully) ... and after undergoing tests at the E.R., she learned she was pregnant -- despite having a "fully functioning IUD."

The bigger issue ... Ashley says she was told the pregnancy was ectopic and had implanted in her Fallopian tube.

Ashley was told the pregnancy was not viable -- and to make matters worse, the tube had ruptured, requiring emergency surgery.

"They ended up saving her and ended up preventing a lot of what could've been done," Logan explained.

Ashley opened up about the situation on IG, saying the pain was "unbearable" -- but it seems the surgery was successful and she's currently recovering in Florida.

Logan is praising the NY Giants training staff -- saying, "Our trainer, Justin Maher, telling my wife going to the ER at 1 AM ending up could've saved her life or saved a lot of internal bleeding there."

Logan says Giants' head coach, Joe Judge, couldn't have been more understanding and helpful -- and says he can't thank him enough for his support throughout this ordeal.

The NBA is one vote away from starting the upcoming season on Dec. 22 ... with owners and players reportedly set to approve the proposed 72-game plan on Thursday.

The decision to start the season before Christmas Day will save the league between $500 million and $1 BILLION, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

The NBPA will meet to officially agree on the quick turnaround -- remember, the Los Angeles Lakers just won the 2020 championship on Oct. 12 after the league initially delayed the season due to COVID-19. back in March.

As of right now, the 2020 NBA Draft is set to go down Nov. 18 ... with training camps opening up Dec. 1.

Antonio Brown is opening up on his bromance with Tom Brady ... praising the QB for not only helping him be great on the field -- but off it as well.

AB made his official return to the practice field with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Wednesday ... and spoke at length with reporters about his relationship with TB12.

"Tom is my boy," Brown -- sporting a TB12 hat -- said after practice. "One of the greatest leaders to be around. He’s encouraging, always inspiring. He brings out the best out of people around him. He wants the best for everyone around him."

As we previously reported ... Brady invited AB to live with him in Derek Jeter's mansion after inking his one-year deal earlier this week ... and even got him in touch with Tony Robbins.

While Brady inviting AB to live with him could be considered questionable to some -- given his rape and sexual misconduct allegations (which Brown denies) -- the receiver makes it clear the mansion is a judgment-free zone.

"Nothing that I’ve done in the past matters," AB added. "He’s always getting better, day in and day out. And I just learn a lot from him -- how he trains, how he takes care of himself professionally, his discipline, his work ethic, his approach."

Israel Adesanya says his wonky pec at UFC 253 was NOT due to steroids or some sort of medical issue ... rather, the MMA star says it's simply 'cause he smokes too much weed!!!

"It might have just been unhealthy living a little bit -- like, smoking weed," the 31-year-old said on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show this week. "That's what the doctor from the UFC said."

If you missed it ... while Adesanya picked apart Paulo Costa on Fight Island on Sept. 26, his right pectoral muscle flopped around far lower than his left one.

Viewers were concerned something might be horribly wrong ... and critics suggested it could be "juice" related.

But, Adesanya said he got everything checked out recently -- including getting an ultrasound and a mammogram -- and he claims docs told him everything was likely due to too much devil's lettuce.

"After a performance like that, I'd think I was on steroids too," Adesanya joked.

Adesanya says docs explained the disfigurement was nothing more than "a fat deposit" ... and he added he's now feeling -- and looking -- much better.

"It calmed down," Adesanya said. "Not as sensitive."

As for Adesanya's plans for weed now ... he says docs advised him to stop -- but he's laughing about that idea.

Great photo of Ole Miss tight end DaMarcus Thomas -- who was back on campus and SMILING one day after being discharged from the hospital.

The 18-year-old freshman football player had suffered a frightening injury during Monday practice -- with coach Lane Kiffin saying the player initially couldn't move and lost all feeling in his body.

Thomas was airlifted to a nearby hospital for treatment -- and fortunately, Thomas began to regain feeling and movement.

University officials later told the media Thomas was on the mend and they were hopeful he would make a full recovery.

Fast-forward to Wednesday morning ... when Thomas was back at the Ole Miss training facility -- smiling with Katie Bason, director of player development (and another woman).

Worth noting ... Thomas appears to be sitting up without assistance, an unbelievable sight considering he's just 2 days out from the injury.

Bill Belichick believes the 2020 NFL season is a "joke" because of the toll the COVID pandemic has taken on the league ... at least, that's what ex-Pats lineman Matt Light thinks.

The retired Super Bowl champ says he's convinced Belichick doesn't give a DAMN about New England's horrible 2-5 record ... arguing that with all of the canceled practices, missed training camp, mandatory quarantines and rescheduled games, no one is taking the 2020 season seriously anyway.

"This is not the game of football we all know," Light said Tuesday on WEEI's "The Greg Hill Show."

"It’s something other than that. Bill recognized it early on. I firmly believe that."

The Patriots look pretty terrible right now -- and would be last in the AFC East if not for the NY Jets being a complete dumpster fire.

Light -- who played under BB from 2001 to 2011 -- says he's convinced Belichick is focusing on building a better team for the future when "we can play for a real championship, with real players getting after it, fully prepared, getting ready to go."

"5 years from now, when we look back on this season, are we going to be talking about it?" Light asked.

Eddie Johnson -- a former NBA All-Star turned convicted child sexual predator -- has died, officials confirm.

At the time of his death, the 65-year-old was serving a life sentence in Florida stemming from a 2006 sexual assault of an 8-year-old girl.

Johnson died on Oct. 26 after a battle with an undisclosed illness, but officials didn't confirm his death until this week.

"Fast Eddie" was a solid player for the Atlanta Hawks from 1977 to 1986 -- making two All-Star teams (1980, 1981). He also played for Cleveland and Seattle.

But, Johnson had major issues off the court ... he was reportedly arrested more than 100 TIMES in his life for everything from cocaine possession to burglary and robbery ... even assault on a police officer.

Johnson was banned from the NBA for LIFE in 1987 due to cocaine use ... and things got worse from there.

Johnson was arrested in August 2006 after officials say he broke into an apartment complex and followed an 8-year-old girl to her room, where he forcibly committed sexual assault.

Johnson denied wrongdoing -- but a jury found him guilty of sexual battery and molestation after less than 2 hours of deliberating.

He received a mandatory life sentence -- and spent the rest of his days behind bars.

The Huntington Beach Bad Boy is now a Huntington Beach City Council member.

MMA legend Tito Ortiz dominated the competition in Tuesday's election -- clinching 1 of the 3 available City Council seats in his home town.

The 45-year-old UFC Hall of Famer finished with 34,901 votes (14.3%) -- the most amount of votes out of the 15 candidates running for the open seats.

The next closest was Dan Kalmick, Huntington Beach Planning Commissioner, who finished with 11% of the vote.

Ortiz celebrated with a small gathering in Huntington Beach -- passionately thanking the locals for supporting him.

Tito is a hardcore Trump supporter who previously told TMZ Sports he received political support from the Trump family.

Before the election, Ortiz pushed a COVID conspiracy theory -- explaining why he believes the virus was created by man and is being weaponized by "the left."

"It's population control by the left," Tito said last month on the "I Only Touch Greatness" podcast.

"They’re trying to take out all of the older people who are getting social security and so forth."

Soccer legend Diego Maradona has been diagnosed with a blood clot on his brain and his doctors say they will perform emergency surgery ASAP.

The 60-year-old Argentinian star was hospitalized Monday in his home country because he wasn't feeling well -- complaining of dehydration and depression.

Doctors began running tests, including an MRI, which revealed a subdural hematoma -- also known as a brain bleeds -- usually caused by a traumatic head injury.

If not treated, the bleeding and added pressure on the brain from the hematoma can be fatal, according to WebMD.

Maradona's doctor, Leopoldo Luque, will perform the surgery and seemed to be optimistic about Maradona's chances, when he spoke with the media.

"This is a routine surgery that even [Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, Vice President of Argentina] has undergone," Luque said.

As for how Maradona suffered the injury, Dr. Luque believes it likely happened over the past month.

"We did an MRI one month ago and everything was normal. We repeated the study and we saw the subdural hematoma. These types of injuries are tough to spot, I don't know if he suffered some kind of hit or fall."

Dr. Luque says Maradona is "alert" and "not upset" -- and has signed off on the surgery.

Back in the day, Maradona was considered one of the best soccer players in the world -- leading Argentina to a World Cup in 1986.

After his playing career, he struggled with drug addiction, alcohol abuse and health issues -- and has been hospitalized multiple times.

Kelly Loeffler -- the Atlanta Dream co-owner who bashed the WNBA's support of the Black Lives Matter movement this summer -- is headed for a runoff reelection in Georgia to keep her senate spot.

The 49-year-old Republican, who advocated for WNBA players to wear U.S. flags instead of BLM apparel in the league's Florida bubble back in July, will face off with Democrat Raphael Warnock for the position.

Loeffler was appointed to the spot by Georgia Governor Brian Kemp in Dec. 2019 after Senator Johnny Isakson resigned due to health concerns. She'll now need to win a January runoff to finish out the final 2 years of Isakson's term.

Loeffler had a chance to win the position outright Tuesday night ... but after she and no other candidate received the required 50% of the vote to claim the win -- the race is now headed to a runoff on Jan. 5.

The reported results of Tuesday's vote had Warnock at 31.9%, Loeffler at 26.5% and Republican Doug Collins at 20.4%.

Loeffler was HEAVILY criticized by WNBA players this summer after she wrote a letter to league commissioner Cathy Engelbert saying, "I adamantly oppose the Black Lives Matter political movement."

In the letter, Loeffler explained, "The truth is, we need less -- not more politics in sports."

"In a time when polarizing politics is as divisive as ever, sports has the power to be a unifying antidote. And now more than ever, we should be united in our goal to remove politics from sports."

Props to Patrick Mahomes -- who, along with his foundation, split the $100,000 cost to turn Arrowhead Stadium into a polling place.

Mahomes said he brought up the idea to Chiefs' president Mark Donovan -- but one of the issues they faced was funding the cost of additional voting machines.

So, Mahomes (along with his 15 and the Mahomies foundation) and the Chiefs reportedly agreed to split the $100,000 cost to turn Arrowhead into a voting location.

"I thought it was very important, not only just to get as many people out to vote as possible, but also to use a place as Arrowhead where we have a lot of fun, show a lot of love and unity with people are coming together, and use it as a place where we can come together to vote and use our voice," Mahomes said Tuesday to Jim Trotter on the "Huddle & Flow" podcast.

"I thought Arrowhead was the perfect place for it, and the Chiefs were all aboard with it and some other guys on the team, we all just made our efforts strong and really got it to be a central point for everybody to go vote."

The good news ... Arrowhead got a pretty decent turnout -- with multiple Chiefs players and head coach Andy Reid stopping by to cast their votes.

Tommy Tuberville -- the former college football coach -- is now a U.S. Senator (elect) after winning a seat in Alabama in a landslide.

The 66-year-old ran as a Republican -- and on Tuesday, he defeated Senator Doug Jones by a HUGE margin, flipping the seat back to red.

"Alabama, welcome back to the Republican U.S. Senate," Tuberville told his supporters during his victory speech.

"Tonight the liberals of California, New York and Washington D.C. learned the hard way that Alabama's Senate seat cannot be bought."

"If you allow me to quote my opponent's many campaign ads, they can all go to hell and get a job as far as I'm concerned."

Jones had won the seat in 2017 in a special election following sexual misconduct allegations against Roy Moore.

As for Tuberville, he earned Donald Trump's endorsement after defeating Jeff Sessions in the primary ... despite never previously holding public office.

"[Tuberville] will be a GREAT Senator for the incredible people of Alabama," Trump tweeted back in July ... "Doug Jones is a terrible Senator who is just a Super Liberal puppet for Schumer & Pelosi. Represents Alabama poorly."

Before turning to politics, Tuberville was a pretty successful college football coach -- going 85 and 40 in 9 seasons at Auburn (1999 to 2008).

Before that, Tuberville coached at Ole Miss from '95 to '98.

During his 21 years as a coach, Tuberville also spent time at Texas Tech and Cincinnati.

After declaring victory, Tuberville addressed his supporters:

"I promise I'm going to do everything for you and your family -- for your kids and grandkids -- so that they can have the opportunity of the American dream for years to come."

The victory speech was actually interrupted by a congratulatory phone call from Vice President Mike Pence ... and Tuberville was fired up about it.

Carolina Panthers safety Tre Boston's family is now the most ICED OUT in the league ... with the NFL vet gifting his wife and son matching #33 diamond pendants!!

TMZ Sports has learned ... the 28-year-old safety wanted to do something extra special for his wife, Cierra, and 1-year-old, Tre Jr. ... going above and beyond by getting them ice featuring his jersey number.

We're told Boston hit up Ari The Jeweler in Manhattan for the job -- coming up with two pendants made of 70 grams of gold each and 12 carats of diamonds for mom and pop.

But, Tre couldn't forget about his Mini-Me -- getting the baby boy a similar pendant with 2 carats of diamonds and 15 grams of gold!!

No word on how much Tre shelled out for the big gifts ... but we're told the bigger pieces are appraised at $20k and the boy's pendant is valued at $5k.