TMZ Sports - Page 50

YOWWWCH!!!

Anthony Davis' foot had a meeting with Suns forward Jae Crowder's baby maker during Tuesday night's game ... and it looked just as painful as it sounds.

It all went down less than a minute into Game 2 of L.A. and Phoenix's 1st-round matchup in the NBA playoffs ... when AD kicked his right leg out while attempting a deep 2-point shot -- and made solid contact with Crowder's groin.

Understandably, Crowder immediately fell to the court in pain ... but to add insult to injury, the guy was called for a defensive foul while contesting the shot!!!

To even things out ... Davis also got called for a flagrant 1 foul, which gave Crowder 2 free throws and the Suns the next possession.

Of course, Davis' move looked similar to one of Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green's infamous groin kicks -- something TNT analyst Reggie Miller referenced during the game broadcast.

However, Miller pointed out he believed Davis' kick was unintentional ... which set Green off on Twitter.

"So it’s unintentional now @ReggieMillerTNT?," Green said Tuesday night. "You referenced me as if mines was also unintentional? None of y’all said that during the time. Clarify your point? Would love to know..."

He added ... "Because if you’re saying mines was unintentional, there’s a lot of cowards that just went silent? And if you’re saying it’s intentional on my behalf but not here, then I shouldn’t have been referenced @ReggieMillerTNT just curious."

Davis finished the game with 34 points and 10 rebounds as the Lakers tied up the series at 1 game apiece with the 109-102 win.

The Brooklyn Nets are heading to Boston to continue the playoff series with the Celtics ... and Kyrie Irving REALLY hopes the fans can cheer without being racist.

Yep. You read that correctly.

Of course, Kyrie spent 2 seasons with the Celtics from 2017 to 2019 and is pretty familiar with how the fans roll over there.

So, now that his Brooklyn Nets are heading to TD Garden for Game 3 of their NBA playoff series on Friday, Irving is hoping the fans in Boston -- which has a reputation for being one of the more racist cities in America -- will find something other than race to fuel their trash talk.

"It's not my first time being an opponent in Boston so I'm just looking forward to competing with my teammates and hopefully we can just keep it strictly basketball," Kyrie said.

"There's no belligerence or any racism going on, subtle racism and people yelling s**t from the crowd. But even if it is, it's part of the nature of the game and [we're] just gonna focus on what we can control."

When asked if he's heard racist trash-talking in Boston in the past, Kyrie responded -- "I'm not the only one that can attest to this but it's just, you know -- it is what it is!"

All hell broke loose in a minor league baseball game Tuesday night ... with players throwing violent haymakers at each other during an insane brawl that was all captured on video.

The melee went down in the 8th inning of a game between Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres minor leaguers in South Bend, Ind.

The Cubs' affiliate, the South Bend Cubs, was taking on the Padres' affiliate, the Fort Wayne TinCaps ... when the ending of the game turned ugly in a hurry.

Video from the broadcast shows all of the action initially began in the 7th inning ... when Cubs shortstop Delvin Zinn got into a heated argument with the TinCaps' bench.

You can see in footage from the game's broadcast, Zinn was clearly enraged by something TinCaps players had said ... and he needed to be held back by teammates.

Fast-forward just a few minutes later in the 8th inning, when a violent fracas broke out after a TinCaps player had struck out.

Check out the clip, the Cubs' catcher said something to the Ft. Wayne player after the pitch ... and then EVERYBODY rushed the field!!!

The benches cleared, and multiple punches were thrown and landed for several seconds.

Eventually, it was all broken up ... and according to the game's box score, FOUR players were ejected by umps immediately.

The Cubs went on to win the game, 12-10 ... but the fireworks might not be over there.

The two teams are set to play FIVE more times this week ... and even if suspensions are handed down -- more drama could unfold.

Aaron Rodgers couldn't care less about the drama back Green Bay ... he's too busy frolicking through the waterfalls of Hawaii with his girlfriend and Miles Teller!

Aaron and Shailene Woodley -- along with Miles and his wife, Keleigh Sperry, spent their Tuesday hiking around Maui ... exploring the lush green wilderness with massive smiles on their faces!

Of course, back home on the mainland ... Aaron is in a cold war with the Packers, which are currently holding OTA workouts with the team.

The workouts are voluntary and clearly, Aaron isn't torn about his decision at all -- just look at how happy he is on the islands!!

We know Aaron is a pro athlete who's been playing at the highest level for years -- but look at that physique, dude is jacked!

After the hike, the group decided to flex their pipes -- singing the Taylor Swift hit, "The 1."

Earlier this week, Aaron was on the guitar as they jammed to hits like "Wagon Wheel" ... good times!

Bottom line, Vacation Aaron is LOVING LIFE right now -- really feeling that Aloha spirit.

Forget Bitcoin ... Kevin Durant's Nets debut jersey could be the next hottest thing in the investment game -- it just hit the memorabilia stock market, and it could net ya a small fortune down the road!

Here's the deal ... the threads KD rocked in his first-ever game as a Net on Dec. 22, 2020 just hit the investment app Otis, and fans can now purchase shares of the uni for $10 apiece.

Reps for the app tell TMZ Sports once all of the initial shares are sold ... it'll go up for trading, and the owners who bought in can hold onto the shares or sell them -- just like a stock.

The current value of the jersey is estimated to be $47,600 ... but experts say it could go up way higher in just a matter of weeks.

After all, Durant's debut with the Nets was a special one ... he put up 22 points in a victory over his former Warriors squad -- and if he's able to win a ring with Brooklyn this summer, the uniform's worth could obviously skyrocket.

In fact, reps for Otis say it's not uncommon to see a 150% to 400% increase on pieces like these.

Tim Tebow's gonna need a miracle to make it in his NFL comeback ... so says Charles Barkley, who thinks it'll be "impossible" for the former quarterback to switch to tight end.

Chuck gave his honest opinion about the 33-year-old signing with the Jacksonville Jaguars with "Waddle and Silvy" on ESPN Chicago this week ... saying he likes Tebow as a person, but has serious doubts about his chances at making a real impact on the field.

"I think it's going to be very difficult for him to just pick up football, another position," Barkley said.

"Tim's such a good dude, but you know, a lot of people don't like Tim because his religion. He wears it on his sleeve. I don't care about that. I like the kid, but I don't think he can just come pick up another position."

Of course, Barkley has been outspoken about his hatred for the media frenzy that always surrounds the former Heisman winner -- he once admitted to being "Tebowed out" -- but regardless, the Hall of Famer thinks this is just too big of a challenge for Tebow.

"I think he'll just be disrespectful to jocks saying, 'Oh I haven't played football, but I can come and be a pro at it.' I just think that's impossible, personally," he said.

"Michael Jordan tried, he tried to play baseball. You can't just go play a pro sport."

The Cleveland Indians will be without star pitcher Zach Plesac for the foreseeable future ... and it's all 'cause the guy took of his shirt "aggressively."

For real.

Manager Terry Francona just made the bizarre announcement Tuesday ... saying Plesac broke the thumb on his throwing hand undressing earlier this week -- and is now going straight to the injured list.

"He was, I think, probably rather aggressively ripping off his shirt and he caught it on his chair,” Francona told media members.

"It was pretty swollen [Monday] so we sent him to get X-rays."

A broken digit on Plesac's throwing hand could cost the pitcher weeks -- if not months -- of the season, but Francona said they don't expect to have an official timetable for his return until the 26-year-old sees more specialists later this week.

"We're not going to know any more other than he is an [injured list]," Francona said. "We will get a lot more information [Wednesday]."

Of course, it's a weird injury ... but it's shockingly not that weird given the strange baseball injuries already this season.

You'll recall, Braves starter Huascar Ynoa broke his hand punching a bench in frustration ... while A's starter Jesus Luzardo injured his hand playing video games.

Emotional moment after the Packers' workouts Tuesday ... star RB Aaron Jones was asked how he's doing in the wake of his father's death, and he couldn't help but tear up talking about it all.

Jones' dad tragically passed away at 57-years-old from COVID-19 complications in early April ... and the Green Bay tailback took it very hard.

He and his father, Alvin Jones Sr., were super close ... and Aaron told media members Tuesday he owes his entire football career to the man.

In fact, Aaron said every time he plays a snap in the NFL for the rest of his life -- it's now getting dedicated to Alvin Sr.

"The rest of my career will be dedicated to my father," the 26-year-old said. "I mean, he's the reason I started playing football. He's what kept me going so many times when, as a kid, you want to give up, he's what kept me going."

"So, like I said, I'm going to dedicate the rest of my career to him."

Aaron was asked several more questions about his father and how his Packers teammates were helping him get through the tough time ... and that's when tears started flowing from his eyes.

"I have a locker room full of brothers here who are making sure I'm OK," Aaron said. "So, some nights I'm there with them on their couch and different things like that."

"So, that's what this game is all about. Having your brothers around you."

Ex-pro wrestling superstar Buff Bagwell -- a staple in WCW for a decade -- was arrested over the weekend in Georgia for an alleged hit and run incident.

TMZ Sports obtained the booking report for the 51-year-old -- real name Marcus Alexander Bagwell -- showing he was arrested around 1:25 PM on May 22 in Cobb County on a variety of alleged misdemeanor violations.

The report shows Bagwell is facing 5 counts in total including:

-- Hit and run
-- Giving false information to a law enforcement officer
-- Open container
-- Following too closely
-- License to be carried and exhibited on demand

We're working on getting more details surrounding the arrest.

Bagwell wrestled for WCW from 1991 to 2001 -- and was a 5-time WCW World Tag Team Champion.

He had a brief stint with WWE after that and later wrestled for TNA.

Bagwell has been involved in a series of serious car accidents over the years -- he was seriously injured in 2012 and was involved in another crash in 2020.

You hear that noise?? That's Who Dey Nation celebrating the sight of Joe Burrow making his big return to the practice field ... just 6 months after the star QB suffered a catastrophic knee injury!!

Remember, the 2020 #1 overall pick tore his left ACL and MCL and suffered partial tears to his meniscus and PCL in a Week 11 matchup on Nov. 22 ... putting an abrupt end to his solid rookie campaign.

But, 24-year-old Joey B has been rehabbing like crazy to get back to 100% before the start of the 2021 season ... and took his first steps towards that goal by participating in Cincy's OTAs on Tuesday.

The video's great news for Bengals fans. Burrow -- sporting a big knee brace on his left leg -- is shown dropping back and throwing darts to his teammates, including his old LSU teammate, Ja'Marr Chase.

Burrow spoke about getting back on the gridiron with reporters after practice ... saying he's feeling great and hoping to get the thumbs up to be ready in time for training camp.

"It felt really good today, it was optimistic," Burrow said of his knee.

"It was good to be back, good to see everybody ... It was fun being back on the field, that's for sure."

Burrow and the Bengals kick off their 2021 NFL season on Sept. 12 -- hosting the Minnesota Vikings.

There will be another Dallas Cowboys player in the #9 jersey in the post-Tony Romo world after all ... linebacker Jaylon Smith has just acquired the number -- and fans are PISSED.

The Cowboys hadn't let anyone use the digit since Romo retired after the 2016 season ... but Smith was just assigned it this week, and the outrage has been palpable.

While Dallas has NEVER officially retired a jersey number, Troy Aikman's #8, Emmitt Smith's #22 and Roger Staubach's #12 haven't been given out since their retirements ... and many thought Romo would get the same treatment.

But, the Cowboys let the #9 go on Tuesday ... and with Smith being one of the biggest disappointments for Dallas in the 2020 season, it hasn't exactly been a welcome sight in Big D.

Fans have blasted Jaylon and the team on social media for making the change ... but the 25-year-old sure seems happy as hell to have the number regardless.

It's meant a lot to him -- he wore it in high school and in college at Notre Dame -- and with the NFL adopting new jersey number rules this season ... he jumped at the chance to take Tony's old uni.

It's unclear how Romo -- who went 78-49 in his 13-year career with the Cowboys -- feels about the whole situation ... but it all might not even matter come September.

The Cowboys took two off-ball linebackers in last month's draft -- including 1st-rounder Micah Parsons -- and some believe it could lead to a Smith trade or even a Smith cut before the season begins.

Just when you thought the trash talk in the Hawks vs. Knicks series couldn't get any better ... here's NYC mayor Bill de Blasio throwing more fuel on the fire, shading the hell out of Trae Young!!

The 60-year-old -- rockin' a NY Knicks ball cap -- took time out of his daily press briefing Tuesday to take shots at the Atlanta star ... and it was aggressive!

The mayor accused Young of crying for calls ... and told him to straight-up stop.

"Stop hunting for fouls, Trae," de Blasio said. "I want to quote Steve Nash -- great player, great coach -- he says, ‘That’s not basketball.'"

de Blasio continued, "Trae, that hawk's not going to fly in New York City. Come on. Play the game the right way."

Of course, Trae ripped the soul out of the Knicks during the first game of their playoff series on Sunday ... hitting a game-winning floater and talking all kinds of smack to the crowd at Madison Square Garden afterward.

Even Trae's Dad got involved ... puffing out his chest and celebrating BIG-TIME after the shot.

NY fans -- who chanted "F*** Trae Young" throughout the game -- have since fired away all over social media ... and it's all getting REALLY good.

Clearly, de Blasio thinks his Knicks can back up all the talk, though ... he continued to Trae during his rant Tuesday, "I think the Knicks are going to teach you a lesson."

The sports world is honoring George Floyd on the one-year anniversary of his death .... with the NFL and NBA releasing powerful messages on continuing to fight for change throughout the country.

Both leagues paid tribute to Floyd and his family with statements on Tuesday -- acknowledging the work that has been done since he was murdered by a Minneapolis PD officer on May 25, 2020 ... and calling for more action.

"One year ago, the killing of George Floyd advanced a global reckoning around systemic racism and inspired a movement for social justice," The NBA said in a statement.

"Today, and every day, members of the NBA family stand united in working for change and a future that provides true equality."

The NFL added ... "As we mark one year since the murder of George Floyd, our thoughts are with the Floyd family and all who have been affected by his death."

"This has been a year filled with reflection and reckoning, one that has renewed our commitment to build and strengthen our communities. The work for equitable justice must continue and the NFL and its clubs are proud to work alongside NFL players to build a more just society."

The NFL also shared a video of stars like Texans safety Justin Reid and Saints linebacker Demario Davis, who reflected on the tragedy and the protests that followed.

Floyd's death sparked massive movements in both leagues over the past year ... with the NBA adding the words "Black Lives Matter" on the courts for the remainder of the 2020 season ... and allowing players to wear social justice messages on the backs of their jerseys.

The NFL followed by adding the words "end racism" and "it takes all of us" on the fields ... and allowing players to honor people impacted by police brutality by wearing the names of victims of their helmets.

An upscale Atlanta-area restaurant is now vowing to change its dress code policy and implement diversity training ... after Dominique Wilkins put the place on blast over the weekend.

The NBA legend said he was turned away from Le Bilboquet in Buckhead, GA. on Saturday ... claiming it was all due to the color of his skin.

The restaurant had initially said it had nothing to with race, but rather the designer casual clothing that Wilkins had worn to the place.

Now, though, after days of drama surrounding the incident, the restaurant is reversing course ... apologizing to The Human Highlight Reel and promising sweeping changes in the wake of the controversy.

In a lengthy statement, Le Bilboquet officials said, "We sincerely apologize to Dominique Wilkins for the events that occurred on May 22."

"No patron of our restaurants should be made to feel unwelcome or less than, and for that we are deeply sorry. It was never our intention to make Mr. Wilkins -- or anyone else for that matter -- feel that way at our restaurant."

Restaurant officials continued, "As an upscale, white table cloth, fine dining restaurant, we have a dress code in place to provide an experience that meets both our brand standards and our clientele’s expectations. While we will continue to have a dress code, we realize our current policy is subject to interpretation and can be unintentionally demeaning and divisive."

“Accordingly, we are immediately making changes."

The restaurant says it will now "provide diversity, equity and inclusion training to all current employees" as well as update their dress code policy to eliminate "any ambiguities that may lead to misunderstandings."

Restaurant officials added, "We will not tolerate implicit or explicit bias. We have done and will continue to do the work to ensure our restaurant is a place where all feel welcome."

Jordan Bohannon -- the University of Iowa's all-time 3-point shot-maker -- was sucker-punched in a bar Sunday morning in a brutal attack captured on video.

Now, school officials say the 23-year-old is "recovering well" after suffering a "serious head injury" during the incident ... and police are now involved.

The video shows Bohannon hanging outside at DC's Sports Bar bar in Iowa City when suddenly he was blindsided with a brutal shot to the face.

You can see Bohannon sprawled out on the ground in the aftermath of the attack and his friends and other patrons try to figure out what the hell happened.

There was some pushing and shoving as Bohannon slowly picks himself up off the ground.

Police are investigating the incident -- but so far, it's unclear if they've identified the attacker or made any arrests.

Iowa head coach Fran McCaffery issued a statement on the incident saying, "Thankfully, Jordan is recovering well after being attacked by an individual he did not see coming at him."

"We were made aware of the incident immediately. We are grateful that friends who were with Jordan at the time kept the incident from escalating. His health is our number one concern."

Bohannon made headlines before the attack when he announced he would be returning to Iowa for a 6th season -- since the NCAA is allowing athletes an extra year of eligibility due to the COVID pandemic.

The basketball star was named Iowa's Mr. Basketball in 2016 -- and during his college career, he set the record for career 3-pointers with 364.