TMZ Sports - Page 50

Indianapolis Colts punter Rigoberto Sanchez says he will undergo surgery Tuesday to remove a cancerous tumor -- but he's grateful doctors caught it before it spread to the rest of his body.

The 26-year-old says the procedure will force him to step away from the Colts -- but he's adamant he'll heal up and return to the team.

Sanchez announced the diagnosis on social media Monday -- praising his medical team and his family.

"So grateful to be surrounded by doctors that helped me catch the cancerous tumor before it spread all over my body," Sanchez said.

"I will be getting surgery on Tuesday and I know that it will not be an easy bump on the road, but I know I have my amazing wife supporting me along with family, coaches, and friends reaching out."

Sanchez admits he was not mentally prepared for the diagnosis -- who could be? -- but vows to "come back stronger than ever."

Unclear where the tumor is located and how long Sanchez is expected to be away from the Colts -- but the punter says he'll be following the team closely.

"Makes me sick that I’ll have to miss some time playing beside my brothers, but I know they will hold it down."

Sanchez signed with the Colts in 2017 as an undrafted free agent out of Hawaii. But, he's been so good, the team signed him to a 4-year $11.6 million contract in 2019.

Get well soon, Rigo.

Malik Beasley's wife had NO IDEA the NBA star was hanging out with Larsa Pippen in Miami last week until she saw photos online ... and she ain't happy about it!

Sources close to Beasley's wife Montana Yao tell TMZ Sports ... she was "blindsided" when she saw the pics of the Minnesota Timberwolves star arm-in-arm with Pippen during a Nov. 23 outing in Miami.

In the photos, 24-year-old Beasley and 46-year-old Pippen are wearing masks and holding hands while walking out in public. Larsa is wearing a pretty sexy outfit with no bra.

Our sources tell us Yao -- who has a child with Beasley -- had expected Malik to be home in Minnesota for his 24th birthday on Nov. 26 ... and she was disappointed when he didn't make it back.

Then, things got worse when she saw Malik was out galavanting with Larsa.

We're being told Yao is pretty upset about the whole situation -- and doesn't know if things will be salvageable with Malik.

L.A. Dodgers legend Tommy Lasorda is getting better by the day ... the 93-year-old is now out of the ICU, though he still remains hospitalized in Southern California.

The former MLB manager was admitted with heart issues in early November ... and shortly after, things took a turn for the worse.

Sources told TMZ Sports at the time ... Lasorda needed sedation and to be put on a ventilator -- but noted his condition was NOT coronavirus related.

An L.A. Dodgers spokesperson told the Associated Press last week Lasorda's condition was improving so rapidly -- noting he was able to field calls from friends and former baseball colleagues!

Now, on Tuesday, the Dodgers told the AP that Lasorda is continuing to make substantial progress -- and he's been moved out of the intensive care unit.

Seems Tommy's still got a ways to go before he's back home ... the Dodgers said he's still doing rehab at the hospital in Orange County -- but it's clear Lasorda's well down the road to recovery at this point.

Boxing superstar Claressa Shields says the boxing business is straight-up SEXIST -- with promoters screwing her out of paydays for years because she's a woman ... and that's why she's jumped to MMA.

25-year-old Shields -- one of the greatest female boxers ever -- just inked a 3-year contract with the Professional Fighters League, a global MMA promotion.

And, get this, Sheilds says one of the biggest reasons she made the move is because of PFL's biggest star, Kayla Harrison -- who's already won PFL's $1 million tournament, TWICE!

"Kayla, I watch all her fights," Shields says ... "She had a chance to fight for a million dollars [in MMA] before I had a chance to fight for a million dollars in boxing and I've accomplished everything there is to accomplish in boxing."

Claressa is right -- she's won every title imaginable and is widely regarded as the top pound-for-pound female boxer in the world.

But, despite her accolades and her talent on the microphone (she's entertaining as hell) -- Shields says she's been constantly low-balled by the shot-callers in her beloved sport.

"Boxing is so sexist," Claressa said ... claiming they treat her like a charity case instead of a world champion.

"These men are fighting for multiple millions that haven't accomplished half of what I accomplished but I'm supposed to just be happy?? Like yeah, go ahead and pay me $300k and then offer me $150k for the next fight?"

So, instead of bitching about it ... Claressa simply left the sport.

She's been training like a maniac and tells TMZ Sports the promoters at PFL aren't trying to turn her career into a circus by immediately booking her to fight Kayla Harrison.

Instead, Claressa says she'll start fighting opponents with similar MMA experience and she'll move up from there.

"I'm happy that they understood that this is not a ... 'Oh, I'm just coming over here like a Conor McGregor vs. Floyd Mayweather type of deal,'" Shields tells us.

"This is a 3-year deal we have together ... It's very lucrative. 160 different countries that they'll be showing my fights. I'll be able to grow my brand and just continue to be a bigger role model."

"And I'm just happy they understood that and just didn't come talking to me like, 'Hey, we want you to get in the cage and fight Kayla Harrison the first main event.'"

As for her training, Shields says she's been in the gym every day -- and has gone from bench pressing 135 pounds to 185 pounds since kick-starting her training in June.

"Just trying to get stronger and fast to be more explosive -- and really just treat my body like a temple so we can get ready to go through all these different changes we're about to go through having to be an MMA fighter."

There's more -- Shields says the MMA community has welcomed her with open arms ... and name-drops some huge stars in the sport who have offered to help her as she begins her new journey.

Kendall Hinton's run as starting QB for the Denver Broncos is over ... probably.

The team's top 3 QBs -- including starter Drew Lock -- have been cleared to return Wednesday after testing negative for COVID on Tuesday, according to ESPN.

Remember, Lock -- along with backups Brett Rypien, Blake Bortles -- were all placed on the team's COVID list over the weekend after being deemed "close contacts" with QB Jeff Driskel, who had tested positive for the virus on Thursday.

The QBs reportedly did not wear masks around Driskel during an informal film session on their day off -- which led to all FOUR players being blocked from playing on Sunday against the Saints.

The team was so desperate for a QB, they turned to Hinton -- a practice squad WR who hasn't played a snap at QB since his college days at Wake Forest.

He tried his best ... but the Broncos got smashed in a 31 to 3 blowout.

Broncos head coach Vic Fangio said the team is still mulling a possible punishment for his top 3 QB, including a fine.

Broncos president and CEO Joe Ellis -- who also tested positive for COVID this season -- issued a statement Tuesday saying, "We share in the disappointment of our fans for the challenging and unique situation our team faced at the last minute this weekend."

"While it's easy to point fingers, all of us must take responsibility and work together to prevent it from happening again.''

Cleveland Indians pitcher Cam Hill was hospitalized Monday after a violent car crash in Oklahoma -- requiring surgery on his throwing wrist.

... yet somehow, he's still smiling through it all.

The 26-year-old right-hander -- known for his curveball -- did not release details about the crash, only saying he was "blessed to only bang up my wrist."

The Indians said a hand-specialist in Tulsa performed the procedure to repair damage to Hill's lunate bone -- which is involved in the movement of the wrist.

It's a miracle Hill escaped relatively unscathed considering the photos of his wrecked car. The whole front was smashed in.

"Surgery went really well," Hill said ... "Most importantly the others involved in the accident were all okay."

Hill just made his MLB debut with the Tribe in July 2020 -- and went on to record 16 strikeouts in 18.1 innings pitched.

He currently holds a 2-0 record with a 4.91 ERA.

The team did not say how long the expected recovery will take -- but Hill is clearly hoping to heal up by Opening Day.

"My girlfriend Kayla."

BOOM. THERE IT IS -- Travis Kelce confirming he's back together with Kayla Nicole ... and just in time for the holidays!!

The Kansas City Chiefs tight end raved about Kayla during a Q&A sesh Monday with WNBA superstar Chiney Ogwumike -- confirming they've officially reconciled after taking a few months off.

Remember, Kelce and Kayla broke up suddenly back in August -- weeks after an awesome couples trip to Lake Tahoe with Patrick Mahomes and his fiancée Brittany Matthews.

Neither side explained the reasons for the split -- though Kelce had said rumors of infidelity were simply not true.

But, get this ... Kayla was recently spotted at a Chiefs game (hanging out with Matthews again) -- sparking hope she and Travis were back on good terms.

AND IT'S TRUE -- not only did they make up, they're dating again! Travis made the status of their relationship crystal clear during his convo with Ogwumike calling her his "girlfriend" and promising to shower her with gifts for the holidays.

"She's the best," Kelce said about Kayla ... "She's the absolute best."

Kelce and Kayla are definitely fan favorites when it comes to celebrity couples -- remember when they raged together during the Super Bowl parade in K.C. back in February???

Finally, a possible light at the end of the pandemic tunnel for sports fans ... Dr. Fauci says according to his calculations, NFL stadiums could safely be at full capacity by next September.

"Oh, that's possible," the coronavirus expert told Yahoo Sports this week. "I think that's possible.”

Fauci says with COVID-19 vaccines on the way from Pfizer and Moderna ... the timeline for allowing NFL teams to hold games with 60,000-plus fans in every seat could line up with the league's opening day in Sept. 2021.

The bad news? The doc says there doesn't appear to be much hope for full, 20,000-plus seat arenas in the 2020-21 NBA season.

"We're gonna be vaccinating the highest-priority people [from] the end of December through January, February, March," Fauci said. “By the time you get to the general public, the people who'll be going to the basketball games, who don't have any underlying conditions, that's gonna be starting the end of April, May, June."

"So, it probably will be well into the end of the summer before you can really feel comfortable [with full sports stadiums] -- if a lot of people get vaccinated."

Of course, some teams -- like the Dallas Cowboys and Cleveland Browns -- have allowed fans in their stadiums this NFL season, although none has been anywhere remotely close to full capacity.

Jake Paul says he's already reached out to Conor McGregor's camp to start negotiating a boxing match with the Irishman ... saying, "I'm going in there to f**k Conor McGregor up."

The 23-year-old called out Conor after destroying Nate Robinson on the Mike Tyson undercard over the weekend -- and while many scoffed at Jake's comments, Paul tells TMZ Sports he's dead serious.

"My team is talking to his manager but that's all I'll say," Jake said with a smirk.

Then came the smack talk ...

"No other fighter with this big of a platform is calling out McGregor. My dogs have more followers than the guy he's fighting in January."

That's not exactly true ... Conor's next opponent is Dustin Poirier, a widely respected UFC fighter with 1.7 million followers on Instagram.

Jake's dogs, Lil Moo and Thor, have 1.6 million followers.

Jake has 13.9 million.

Paul says it's not a matter of "if" when it comes to Conor, it's a matter of "when" -- claiming, "It's gonna be legendary."

"I'm gonna win, too! That's what I want people to understand!"

Jake added, "I'm gonna dedicate my life to winning that fight because I'm not going in there just to say I did it -- I'm going in there to f**k Conor McGregor up."

There's more ... Jake also tells us he's reached out to Nate Robinson after the knockout and hopes to connect with him in the future.

A judge has thrown out a restraining order against NBA player Trevor Ariza -- after determining he did NOT physically abuse his 12-year-old son, TMZ Sports has learned.

As we previously reported, the Oklahoma City Thunder player has been locked in a custody battle with Lana Allen, the mother of his child.

Allen had previously filed court docs saying Ariza had physically abused their child on multiple occasions dating back to 2019 -- allegations Ariza strongly denied. She obtained a temporary restraining order earlier this year and was hoping to extend it.

The case went in front of a judge who got testimony from all of the people involved -- including both parents, the child, therapists and more.

Finally, on Monday the judge issued his opinion on the case saying Ariza has not -- and does not -- pose a threat to his child. Therefore, the temporary restraining order has been dissolved and the request for a permanent one has been denied.

"The court finds that while the relationship between Ariza and [his son] is clearly strained, his son is not in any physical or emotional danger with his father."

The judge raised some concerns about Ariza's "authoritarian and aggressive" parenting style ... but found that his actions do not reach the level of domestic violence.

The judge has ordered both Trevor and Lana to come up with a parenting plan in hopes they can create a more positive environment for their son.

Lana will retain primary custody but Trevor gets significant visitation -- with the goal of building a better relationship.

Jose Canseco is taking the old adage "talk sh**, get hit" for real ... 'cause just hours after Logan Paul made a sex joke about his daughter -- the ex-MLB star said he's dead serious about fighting the YouTuber!

If you missed it, just one day after Jake Paul ruthlessly KO'd Nate Robinson in their celeb fight over the weekend ... Jose threw his name into the hat to be one of the Paul brothers' next scraps.

"I will fight anyone of the Logan Brothers," Jose said, "they have enough for anyone with any type of talent yet or fighting skills."

Logan -- who used to date Jose's famous model daughter, Josie -- saw the tweet Monday ... and issued a SAVAGE response.

"no problem," Logan wrote, "i love smashing cansecos."

As you'd imagine, the Tweet got Jose fired up ... and he clapped back at the older Paul bro just hours later on Tuesday morning -- saying he wants a fight ASAP!!

"Okay since you like smashing Canseco Logan get ahold of my agent Mike Maguire let's get this done," Jose said. "And by the way no headgear needed for this fight I have a hard head."

Jose even went on to say he could tap Floyd Mayweather to train him for the bout!!

"Then you'll really be in trouble," Jose said.

Mike Tyson almost got into a second fight after stepping into the ring with Roy Jones Jr. -- because some wacko swung on him trying to prove something ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Sources familiar with the situation tell us ... Mike was leaving Staples Center Saturday night after his bout with Roy -- which was called as a draw -- and on the way out, he came across a small group of fans looking for autographs.

When he walked over to do some signing, we're told a man in the crowd yelled out to Mike ... asking why he wouldn't let the guy fight him. Our sources say Mike jokingly responded, joking with the dude that it probably wouldn't end well for him.

Next thing you know, we're told the dude swung at Mike ... and then proceeded to reach into his waistband, as if trying to pull out a weapon. Our sources say Mike's team jumped in right away before things got ugly.

We're told the guy took off -- and our sources also say some folks on Mike's team recognized him from a previous signing, where they say he also tried starting trouble.

Law enforcement sources tell us cops got a call about a possible battery involving Mike Tyson around 11 PM PT (well after Mike tussled with Roy) ... but when they responded to the scene, all parties had left and no report was taken.

President Obama just hit President Trump where it hurts -- right in the golf bag.

#44 basically called #45 a cheater during an interview on "The Later Show with Stephen Colbert" -- explaining how Trump has a reputation for fudging his scorecards.

"Listen from what I understand he’s actually a pretty good golfer," Obama said at first before dropping the cheating allegation.

"I understand that shockingly enough there’s sometimes problems with the scoring. And whether he’s keeping track of his strokes."

BOOM!!!

Hey, for Obama -- that's about a big of a shot as he's gonna take ... but look at the way he smirks as he makes the comment, he KNOWS it's gonna bother Trump!

Fact is, Obama's not the only person to accuse POTUS of cheating on the links ... remember, Oscar De La Hoya has said he's watched Trump cheat first hand.

"I witnessed it. He outright cheated," Oscar said in 2016 ... "not once, not twice but 3 times."

Sportswriter Rick Reilly has also publicly accused Trump of being a golf cheater -- saying the guy sometimes uses Secret Service agents to gain an unfair playing advantage.

Even Lewis Hamilton couldn't outrace coronavirus ...

The Formula 1 superstar announced he tested positive for COVID on Monday after experiencing mild symptoms -- and has already begun a 10-day isolation.

"Even though I returned 3 negative results this past week, I woke up yesterday morning with mild symptoms and requested another test which came back positive. I've immediately gone into self-isolation for 10 days," 35-year-old Hamilton said.

Of course, Hamilton raced -- and won -- at the Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday, sparking concerns other drivers could be infected as well.

Hamilton's positive test -- combined with the symptoms -- means he won't be allowed to race at this weekend's Sakhir Grand Prix in Bahrain.

"I'm gutted not to be able to race this weekend but my priority is to follow the protocols and advice to protect others," Hamilton said.

"I'm really lucky that I feel OK with only mild symptoms and will do my best to stay fit and healthy."

Hamilton says he's been working hard to follow all of the COVID safety protocols -- and wants his fans to know he wasn't taking stupid risks and being irresponsible.

Pitbull is climbing on board the fitness equipment train just like Jay-Z ... he's investing in the same startup and hooking up students in the process.

Here's the deal ... Pitbull is the latest celeb to invest and partner with CLMBR, and he's helping some charter school students gain access to one of the startup's flagship products, a vertical climbing machine.

Pitbull's collab with CLMBR calls for one climbing machine to be donated to each of the 11 Sports Leadership and Management public charter schools around the country.

There's about 1,000 kids in each SLAM charter school, and they're getting unlimited access to the on-demand, instructor-led fitness content available on the climbing machines. It's like Peloton, but instead of using a bike, you simulate climbing.

Pitbull's got a special connection to SLAM ... he helped start the first school, which serves K-12 students seeking careers in sports leadership and management, back in 2013 in Miami's Little Havana neighborhood, where he grew up.

WHOOPS!!!!

Detroit Lions interim head coach Darrell Bevell REALLY screwed up on his first day on the job ... he spoiled his daughters' wedding proposals in an epic slip-up with reporters!!

Bevell was explaining to media members on a Zoom call Monday why he had such a good weekend ... when he revealed that, in addition to being named Matt Patricia's replacement, two of his daughters' boyfriends asked for his permission to move forward with marriage proposals.

One of the soon-to-be son-in-laws actually did it in hilarious fashion ... Bevell -- whose daughter plays softball for BYU -- says they were getting in some batting practice when the BF took a ball right off his eye.

Bevell says when the dude was getting stitched up in the emergency room ... he actually asked if it'd be OK to marry the coach's daughter.

Cool story, right? But the problem ... by telling reporters all of that on a live-streamed call -- HE RUINED THE SURPRISE FOR HIS DAUGHTERS!!!

Bevell seemed to realize his screw-up toward the end of his newser, telling media members, "The two guys who asked me for my permission, they haven't officially asked them yet. So, that's where that was. That was just permission."

"So, I don't know when that's coming. Just to be clear."

SHEEESH!!!