TMZ Sports - Page 43

The most famous couple in the world is NOT at the Met Gala ... but it's not because they didn't get invited.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce were invited to Monday's Met Gala in New York City, but they could not make it work as a result of their schedules.

Taylor knows what she's missing out on, but Travis doesn't. She was last at the Met Gala in 2016, when she was a co-chair ... that year, the theme was "Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology." Travis has never been to the event.

The Met Gala 2025 is officially in full swing -- the blue carpet has been rolled out, the flashbulbs are popping, and celebs are already turning heads as they try their hand at this year’s theme.

Sydney Sweeney led the charge at NYC’s Metropolitan Museum of Art Monday night -- serving her signature bombshell energy in a vintage-style gown that screamed old-school Hollywood glam for this year’s "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style" theme.

Zendaya? Always a Met staple. She nailed it in a cream suit and matching hat, effortlessly showing off the sharp tailoring.

Reinier de Ridder is fresh off handing previously undefeated prospect Bo Nickal the first loss of his MMA career ... and while the 3x NCAA champ was a dangerous opp, RDR is setting his sights a bit further up the rankings!

TMZ Sports spoke to the 34-year-old Dutch fighter after he knocked out Nickal with a brutal knee in the second round of Saturday's UFC Fight Night co-main event ... where we asked de Ridder who he's looking to mix it up with next.

"I want Sean Strickland," RDR said ... "That would be the coolest fight."

Pittsburgh Pirates fan Kavan Markwood is making strides in his recovery ... as he took his first steps since last week's terrifying incident at PNC Park, his loved ones announced on Monday.

The update was posted on the GoFundMe page created to raise money for his medical bills and the "financial hardships that this family is experiencing right now."

Jennifer Phillips -- the fundraiser's organizer -- shared the news of Kavan regaining the ability to walk ... saying, "Seeing him up and moving was a huge win and definitely lifted everyone's spirits."

Justin Tucker has just been released by the Ravens ... though the Baltimore organization is adamant his departure is strictly due to his between-the-sidelines issues.

General manager Eric DeCosta just announced his team has parted ways with its longtime kicker ... though in a statement, he made no mention of Tucker's alleged misconduct involving massage therapists.

DeCosta called the move "incredibly difficult" ... and explained the shape of their current roster was the reason for moving on from the perennial Pro Bowler.

Larsa Pippen and Jeff Coby just became boyfriend and girlfriend, but according to the reality TV star's new man -- they're about to be husband and wife soon.

Coby -- a 31-year-old former pro basketball player -- revealed to a gaggle of paparazzi outside of a swanky event in Miami on Sunday night he and Larsa are set to get married in November.

He made the announcement while hand-in-hand with Pippen ... proclaiming, "It's going to be a beautiful marriage."

The 2027 NFL Draft is gonna be monumental ... 'cause President Donald Trump just announced in the Oval Office the big event is officially coming to the nation's capital!!

Trump -- alongside NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, Washington Commanders owner Josh Harris and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser -- dropped the news Monday morning ... saying the National Mall is the perfect site to host the league's annual extravaganza.

LeBron James (knee) is officially listed as OUT for Monday's Met Gala.

The Los Angeles Lakers superstar broke the news himself just minutes ago ... stating the ailment he suffered in Game 5 of the first-round matchup with the Minnesota Timberwolves has forced him to miss the annual event.

"Unfortunately because of my knee injury I sustained at the end of the season I won't be able to attend the Met Gala in NY tonight as so many people have been asking and congratulating me on!"

Gregg Popovich spoke at length for the first time since his recent medical emergency ... saying he's getting better every day, but not fast enough to continue leading the San Antonio Spurs.

The five-time NBA Finals-winning coach took the podium before Mitch Johnson was introduced as his official replacement on Monday ... and had his two longtime players, Manu Ginobili and Tim Duncan, by his side.

76-year-old Pop -- who suffered a mild stroke in November and another health scare at a local restaurant last month -- spent the majority of his time thanking those who assisted him over his nearly 30-year tenure on the bench.

As former Olympic swimmer Gary Hall Jr. continues to rebuild from the devastating L.A. wildfires, he can now cross replacing his 10 Olympic medals lost in the tragedy off his list -- as the IOC presented him with replica medals during a private ceremony Monday morning.

Hall Jr. made the trip to the International Olympic Committee headquarters in Switzerland for the event ... four months after he lost his Pacific Palisades pad to the blaze.

It was an unprecedented gesture ... something Hall did not take lightly.

"Thank you for the medals," Hall said. "Never before have 10 Olympic medals been replaced. Probably because no one has lost 10 medals before. I will do a better job at taking care of these."

A California high school tennis star was tragically killed over the weekend after an alleged drunk driver struck him while he was out for a walk with a friend. He was only 18.

Manhattan Beach Police say they received a call at 12:46 AM on Sunday ... indicating a crash involving a pedestrian on the 100th block of Sepulveda Boulevard.

According to MBPD, they found the victim lying on the street next to the vehicle and transported him to a local trauma hospital.

Joe Burrow has Olivia Ponton working overtime ... with the Cincinnati Bengals superstar jetting to Florida with his "employee" for Miami Grand Prix festivities!!

The reported couple was spotted leaving the same Sprinter van at least twice during the Formula One weekend ... making sure to let others in their group exit in between them as cameras documented their arrivals.

While they're still seemingly trying to keep as lowkey as possible, People reported back in December the NFL hunk and S.I. Swimsuit model had been "hooking up" for months.

Jason Pierre-Paul says his luxury Richard Mille watch was jacked while he was partying in Florida on Saturday.

The two-time Super Bowl champion said in an Instagram post Sunday the heist went down while he was at DAER Nightclub in Hollywood.

JPP claims when he was trying to make his way through a crowd at the venue, he "got a bad feeling" someone might have taken something from him. He later said when one of his friends asked him for the time, he noticed his $400,000 watch was no longer on his wrist.

A couple young MLB fans got a REALLY close view of the action on Sunday -- as a family saw Nolan Arenado land right on top of them after making an insane catch in foul territory!!

The moment went down in the second game of the Cardinals' doubleheader against the New York Mets. During Juan Soto's at-bat in the eighth inning, he popped a ball up along the third base side of the diamond -- and Arenado made a dead sprint to attempt the highlight play.

He was able to make the catch  ... but his momentum carried him right into the netting meant to protect fans -- and he ended up sitting on unsuspecting spectators in the front row.

Cleveland Browns linebacker Devin Bush -- a top-10 pick in the 2019 NFL Draft -- was arrested on Sunday in Pennsylvania.

Court records -- obtained by TMZ Sports -- show the former Univ. of Michigan standout was thrown behind bars in Allegheny County on two separate charges ... simple assault and harassment.

According to the police criminal complaint ... Bush's girlfriend told cops the football player smashed her phone during a heated dispute Sunday morning.

The fashion elite hit the Pre-Met Gala Dinner -- and the style game was already fire before the main event even kicked off.

It all popped off at Vogue queen Anna Wintour’s pre-Met gala at her NYC home Sunday -- A$AP Rocky rolled in sharp as ever, while Serena Williams served full glam in a bridal-esque gown with a dramatic feathered shrug.

With A$AP in the building, you know Rihanna wasn’t far behind -- rocking an androgynous-chic look with a belted blazer, tailored slacks, and a poppin’ red lip.