TMZ Sports - Page 50

Twitch -- one of the biggest live streaming gaming platforms on the planet -- is following NASCAR's lead ... and officially BANNING the Confederate flag.

The streaming giant announced its updated Hateful Conduct and Harassment Policy will go into effect on Jan. 22 ... in hopes to sustain a more inclusive environment.

"Communities on Twitch are diverse and are growing rapidly, representing nearly every interest, background, and language around the globe," Twitch said in a statement Wednesday.

"As we evolve, it’s necessary to revisit and update policies to make sure all streamers and all communities can create together safely on Twitch."

The platform added ... "We know that many people on Twitch -- particularly women, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, Black, Indigenous, and people of color --unfortunately continue to experience a disproportionate amount of harassment and abuse online, including on our service."

"Not only is this blatantly unacceptable, it also undermines the community we’re building on Twitch and threatens the long term viability of streaming as a career for everyone who wishes to pursue it."

Twitch specifically notes the Confederate flag will not be allowed on its platform, citing its "historic and symbolic association with slavery and white supremacist groups in the US."

As we previously reported ... NASCAR announced its decision to ban the Confederate flag after Bubba Wallace publicly called for its removal from events ... saying, "No one should feel uncomfortable when they come to a NASCAR race."

Among other prohibited actions on Twitch include repeatedly making unwelcomed comments on a user's attractiveness or sexuality, as well as sending unsolicited nude pics and videos.

Louis Nix III -- a former star Notre Dame defensive lineman -- was shot in the chest in a horrifying incident in Florida ... but thankfully, he says he's doing alright now.

Cops in Jacksonville, FL say they responded to a gunfire call at around 9 PM Tuesday at a local gas station ... and found Nix lying wounded on the ground.

Officers say emergency medical personnel immediately rushed Nix to the hospital ... and there, a doctor told them Nix had said he appeared to be the victim of an attempted robbery.

In the police report, obtained by TMZ Sports, cops say doctors told them Nix said, "the suspects put a flashlight into his face" and said something along the lines of "give me..." to him.

Officers say doctors told them Nix felt a gunshot to the chest when he pushed one of the suspects away.

In a video Nix recorded and posted to social media shortly after the incident ... you can see he was terrified about possibly losing his life due to the injuries.

In the clip, Nix -- who had a heavy bandage on his chest -- said, "If I don't make it, I really do love everybody."

Thankfully, in an update Nix posted to his official Facebook page on Wednesday, the 29-year-old said he's doing better.

"I'm alive everyone," Nix said. "The bullet that hit me ricocheted off my sternum into my lung. Surgery is the next step so keep praying for me."

Nix balled out in his 3 seasons as a starter for Notre Dame from 2011 to 2013 ... and he was eventually drafted by the Houston Texans in the 3rd round of the 2014 NFL Draft.

Nix played for Houston, the Giants, Washington and Jacksonville up until the 2016 season.

According to the report, one witness said the suspects fled from the scene before officers arrived. No arrests have been made yet, and the investigation is ongoing.

Ain't no party like a Hollywood party ... especially when it's bright and early in the morning at the actual Hollywood sign.

This is pretty wild, but popular pro gamer FaZe Banks and a small group of his peeps got to rage right next to the famous landmark Wednesday morning ... while Israeli DJ Itay Galo pumped the dance music.

Keep in mind, this was all going down just shortly after 7 AM ... amid the coronavirus pandemic and recently renewed L.A. County lockdown orders.

Tomer Shmulevich and The Hosts Group produced and organized the event with FaZe and other influencers, and tells us it obtained all the proper permits and ensured proper COVID-19 precautions were taken.

The entertainment company says everyone involved in the Hollywood sign shindig had to be tested and quarantine beforehand, and there were temperature checks on site.

Law enforcement sources tell us ... some people in the neighborhood called police on the party, but cops did not respond because the event was for a shoot and had acquired all the necessary permits.

Neymar and his Paris Saint-Germain teammates all walked off the pitch during a Champions League game Tuesday -- protesting racial language a ref used about a Black coach.

Here's the deal ... PSG was taking on the Turkish team Basaksehir at a match in Paris when the head ref went to hand out a red card over an incident during the game.

The head ref asked the other officials who should get the red card -- and the 4th official, Sebastian Coltescu, allegedly replied, "The Black guy."

He was referring to Basaksehir asst. coach Pierre Webo -- a Black man from Cameroon.

One of the star players on the Basaksehir team -- named Ba -- could be heard arguing with the official about the comment ... saying, "When you mention a white guy, you never say 'This white guy', you just say 'this guy.' So, why when you mention a Black guy do you say 'This Black guy?’"

Players and staff from both teams were so upset at the alleged comment -- they ALL walked off the pitch and refused to come out.

But now, UEFA (The Union of European Football Associations) announced the 4th official will be removed from the match and replaced ... and the game will continue.

“Following an alleged incident involving the 4th official, the match was temporarily suspended," UEFA said in a statement.

"After consultation with both teams, it was agreed that the match would restart with a different 4th official."

UEFA says it will launch an investigation immediately.

Racism is a huge issue in international soccer -- and has been for years. Top teams and players across the globe have vowed to protest games over racist language and gestures and clearly, they're showing it's not just tough talk.

Ohio State vs. Michigan is officially off -- after the Wolverines announced their COVID situation is so bad, they can't field a team to play this weekend.

The #4 ranked undefeated Buckeyes were scheduled to host the 2-4 Wolverines in The Game on Saturday -- one of the most anticipated rivalries in college football and really, all of sports.

But, the Michigan football program has been badly impacted by the pandemic -- and the school says it can't pull together enough healthy players to take the field on Saturday.

"The number of positive tests has continued to trend in an upward direction over the last 7 days," Michigan AD Warde Manuel said Tuesday.

"We have not been cleared to participate in practice at this time. Unfortunately, we will not be able to field a team due to COVID-19 positives and the associated quarantining required of close contacted individuals."

"This decision is disappointing for our team and coaches but their health and safety is paramount, and it will always come first in our decision making."

Michigan also canceled last week's game against Maryland after at least 12 members of the program tested positive for COVID.

The situation is especially bad for Ohio State which is still in the college football playoff hunt.

They need to schedule another opponent ASAP -- and hopefully against a top opponent -- if they want to qualify for the post-season.

The NCAA says teams have to have at least 6 wins to be bowl eligible -- and OSU is currently 5-0.

One potential matchup could be Texas A&M ... since their game against Ole Miss was scraped because Ole Miss couldn't field a team.

Texas A&M is also 7-1 and ranked #5 in the country.

Ohio State has won 8 in a row against Michigan -- with Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh 0-5 against his rivals.

The first Ohio State vs. Michigan football game took place in 1897 -- and it's been a heated rivalry ever since.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is opening up about his personal health struggles -- revealing he's had TWO bouts with cancer AND a major heart surgery.

The 73-year-old NBA legend spells it all out in an essay for WebMD in which he argues about racial inequality with the current health care system in the U.S.

In his article, KAJ goes into detail about his own health issues -- admitting his fame and wealth have given him advantages that "many others in the Black community do not have."

As Kareem points out ... "I’ve been fortunate because my celebrity has brought me enough financial security to receive excellent medical attention."

"No one wants an NBA legend dying on their watch. Imagine the Yelp reviews."

In his article, Kareem says he was diagnosed with leukemia in 2008 -- but doesn't specify when he battled prostate cancer or underwent heart surgery.

Kareem says he's also "lucky" one of his sons is an orthopedic surgeon and another is a hospital administrator ... which means, "Dad gets to nag them for medical advice whenever he wants."

As for the racial issues with health care, Kareem says Black Americans are "most in need of medical services" but "they actually receive the lowest level."

Kareem says the issue of insufficient health care for Black people is a "more insidious and damaging threat" to the community than police brutality.

He points out the COVID-19 pandemic as an example ... claiming the death rate among Black people is 3.6 times higher than white people.

Part of that reason, KAJ says, is the underlying conditions Black people experience due to the systemic racism that still exists today.

"Having lesser education, and less financial resources, means less opportunity to compete for higher education, which means less opportunity for better paying jobs."

The solution?? Abdul-Jabbar says we must continue to fight systemic racism on a daily basis ... and not let the foot off the gas.

Formula 1 driver Nikita Mazepin is apologizing for his "inappropriate behavior" in a video he posted on social media ... in which he gropes an unsuspecting woman's chest.

In the video, which was posted (and since deleted) from Mazepin's Instagram page ... you can see the 21-year-old reach over and grab a female's chest while the two are riding in a car together. The woman reacts by trying to block her chest and then she flips him the middle finger.

"I would like to apologize for my recent actions both in terms of my own inappropriate behavior and the fact that it was posted onto social media," Mazepin said in a statement.

"I am sorry for the offense I have rightly caused and to the embarrassment I have brought to Haas F1 Team."

He continued, "I have to hold myself to a higher standard as a Formula 1 driver and I acknowledge I have let myself and many people down. I promise I will learn from this."

His bosses on the Haas F1 team ripped the driver over the video -- calling the footage "abhorrent."

"Haas F1 Team does not condone the behaviour of Nikita Mazepin in the video recently posted on his social media," the racing team said.

"Additionally, the very fact the video was posted on social media is also abhorrent to Haas F1 Team. The matter is being dealt with internally and no further comment shall be made at this time."

Mazepin is an up-and-coming driver in racing -- or at least he was before this incident.

He's been driving in Formula 2 -- and Haas had planned on moving him to F1 for the 2021 season.

Tim Tebow would NOT be the best ex-NFL star in MLB if Russell Wilson changed sports ... so says the Seahawks QB himself, who explained Wednesday he thinks he's a better baseball player than Tim!!

"I always feel like baseball was actually my best sport," Russ said.

The 32-year-old Seattle star made the bold claim on Barstool Sports' "Pardon My Take" podcast this week ... saying he could have been a LEGIT MLBer if he had focused on that instead of football.

"Baseball was actually my love," Russ said. "I played that since I was young. That was probably the sport -- was probably one of my best sports."

So, when it comes down to Wilson vs. Tebow on the diamond ... Russ said he hasn't actually seen Tim play with the Mets -- but he's just that confident in his abilities.

"I'ma go with me," Russ said. "I'ma go with me. I can turn a mean double-play, Tim."

FYI -- Russ was a legit baseball STAR back in high school ... he was a projected top-10 round pick in the 2007 MLB draft who fell to the 41st round because he had told teams he was going to forego a baseball career for college.

Russ -- a middle infielder -- kept playing at N.C. State ... and actually got drafted AGAIN in the 4th round of the 2010 MLB draft.

Russ dabbled in the sport, playing in some minor league games for various MLB teams' affiliates ... but, obviously, football took precedent.

Wilson has done some celeb MLB appearances since ... remember, he famously got in a spring training game for the Yankees back in 2018 -- but he struck out in his lone plate appearance.

"I guess God had different plans for me," Russ said of his sports career. "Now I get to spin the rock and throw deep go balls to our guy DK Metcalf."

"He farted by my face. And, walked away."

That's NY Giants running back Wayne Gallman with a seriously stank allegation against Eli Manning ... claiming the QB hit him with one of the most aggressive crop-dusts of all time.

The 26-year-old RB blew the lid of Manning's putrid secret during a Q&A with NY Post columnist Steve Serby ... when he was asked to recall his favorite Eli memory during their time together in NY.

That's when Gallman dropped this [butt] nugget ...

"I wouldn’t say it was my favorite, but this is my most memorable -- we’re in the locker room before a game, he was doing his stretching while I was sitting in my chair listening to music, and he walked by and he farted by my face. And walked away."

IT WAS A HIT AND RUN!!

Serby asked, "You didn't get him back?"

To which Gallman replied, "There was no way I could get him back after that. Had to do something real nasty."

Serby again pressed ... "But, you didn’t do anything?"

Gallman -- "I didn’t get a chance to (chuckle)."

FYI, schoolyard rules state if Gallman would have yelled "doorknob" before Eli yelled "safety" ... everyone would have been allowed to punch Eli without consequence until he touched a doorknob. Everyone knows this.

Manning retired after the 2019 NFL season and has spent his time relaxing and hanging with his family.

You make it to the NBA, you get iced out ... and that's exactly what LaMelo Ball did -- copping an incredibly shiny diamond grill to kick off his rookie season!!

Of course, the youngest Ball bro. already knows how to be a pro -- he played in Lithuania and Australia before going #3 overall to the Charlotte Hornets last month.

But, making it to the Association calls for a BIG "treat yo self" moment ... so the 19-year-old enlisted AP The Jeweler from Atlanta to come up with an unforgettable piece.

AP tells TMZ Sports ... Melo eventually decided last month it was time to get his first grill, so he got Ball's mold and went straight to work.

The finished product is a pair of 14k white gold chompers (8 top teeth, 8 bottom) with VVS diamonds in a honeycomb set.

As for how many rocks?? AP tells us it's "The most diamonds I've ever put in a grill."

We're told AP personally flew to Charlotte to hand-deliver the finished product on Monday ... and the dude is jacked about the finished product.

Lamar Jackson says coronavirus hit him hard as an NFL linebacker ... telling reporters Tuesday night he was sick as a dog with COVID and he "wouldn't wish that on nobody."

The league's reigning MVP was diagnosed around Thanksgiving after displaying some symptoms ... and when Jackson was asked about his ensuing battle with the virus, the QB said it was all rough.

In fact, the 23-year-old Ravens star says he's STILL having a hard time tasting and smelling things.

"I had flu-like symptoms," LJ said after dominating the Cowboys, 34-17 ... "I guess my sense of taste and smell is going to come back sooner or later."

"But, I'm good now. I wouldn't wish that on nobody, though. It's not good to have."

Jackson took about two weeks to beat the virus ... and based on his play against Dallas on Tuesday -- it doesn't seem it should affect his game too much going forward.

LJ scored 3 touchdowns in the Ravens' rout ... and ran for 94 yards on just 13 carries.

Pro Bowl QB, one of the NFL's best broadcasters ... and now, an insane impressionist?!

Yup, Tony Romo really can do it all ... 'cause the former Dallas Cowboys superstar showed off his imitations of Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Brett Favre this week -- and they were all AWESOME!!!

TR joined Jimmy Kimmel on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" ... when the comedian asked Romo to show the world his impersonations of some of the NFL's most notable quarterbacks.

Tony was initially pretty bashful about it all ... but when he got going -- it was hilarious!!

Romo started with Brady, and it drew a HUGE laugh from Kimmel and the audience. The 40-year-old then went on to Manning and Favre, and they were equally as good!!!

"You could be in Vegas in the offseason doing this stuff!" Kimmel told Romo after the bit. "Think about it, Tony!"

"Well, I could be," Romo fired back. "And then my wife would say, 'Then go ahead and stay there!'"

Not everyone thinks Floyd Mayweather vs. Logan Paul is a joke ... the head of the WBC says he supports the fight "100%" -- insisting it will be GREAT for the sport of boxing.

"This is going to be something good for boxing," World Boxing Council president Mauricio Sulaiman said this week on SiriusXM's "The Ak and Barak Show."

"This is going to bring millions of eyes to our sport."

The Feb. 20 exhibition match has been criticized by some boxing experts -- and even some top boxers -- as a circus act.

In fact, Yahoo Sports' combat sports writer Kevin Iole described the match as "another low blow to the boxing world."

He added, "No thank you, Floyd Mayweather. Hard pass, Logan Paul."

But, Sulaiman says he doesn't agree -- "I appreciate Logan and Jake, they have worked hard. I will support Floyd vs Logan 100%."

As we previously reported, 50-0 Mayweather will take on 0-1 Paul in an exhibition that will NOT count on their pro records.

Floyd is 43-years-old. Logan Paul is 25.

The rules of the exhibition -- including how many rounds and how it will be scored -- have not been released yet.

There won't be a revenge game OR a comeback season for Dez Bryant ... the Ravens WR just quit the remainder of the 2020-21 campaign after testing positive for COVID-19 minutes before kickoff against the Cowboys.

The 32-year-old vet documented the bizarre chain of events on Twitter minutes ago ... saying he was warming up for Tuesday night's game when he was pulled off the field for a coronavirus test -- and it came back positive.

"Tell me why they pull me from warming up so I can go get tested... my s**t come back positive," Dez tweeted. "I tested positive for Covid WTF."

"The crazy thing is i have the same damn routine.... this s**t do not make sense to me."

It's already been a tough road back to the gridiron for the former All-Pro receiver -- he suffered an Achilles injury in his first practice with the New Orleans Saints in 2018 ... and was hoping to make an impact in Baltimore.

So far, he's had 3 game appearances and 4 receptions for 28 yards for the Ravens.

And, that may be all he'll rack up for the season ... 'cause Dez just tweeted he's done.

Thom Brennaman will be back in a baseball broadcasting booth ... just 4 months after he resigned from his last gig for using a gay slur on-air.

MLB Network insider Ken Rosenthal reported Tuesday the Roberto Clemente League -- which kicks off its season Tuesday -- has hired the former Reds play-by-play man to announce its games in 2020-21.

Of course, it's a huge deal for 57-year-old Thom ... just seconds after a hot mic picked up his homophobic comment during his broadcast of the Reds-Royals game on Aug. 19, he said he wasn't sure if he'd ever get another job in the industry again.

"I don't know if I'm gonna be putting on this headset again," Brennaman said at the time.

While the Roberto Clemente League isn't exactly the MLB ... it's still a respected gig in sports media.

The league -- which consists of 5 teams in Puerto Rico -- has current and former MLB players scattered throughout its rosters.

Los Angeles Dodgers scout Jairo Castillo died Sunday due to complications from COVID-19, the team confirmed Tuesday. He was 31 years old.

Castillo -- who was signed by the New York Mets at age 16 -- was a crosschecker for the Dodgers in the Dominican Republic ... and previously worked with the Toronto Blue Jays and Milwaukee Brewers.

Dodgers president Andrew Friedman spoke about Castillo's passing to the L.A. Times -- "We are heartbroken over the loss of Jairo Castillo, who recently passed away in the Dominican Republic."

"Tragically, Jairo’s promising baseball career was just getting started and his death will be felt deeply by everyone who crossed paths with him."

Castillo is survived by 2 baby boys ... and a GoFundMe has been set up to support Castillo's family during the tragedy.

Friedman continued ... "Our deepest sympathies go out to his family and loved ones."