TMZ Sports - Page 50

Mark Cuban says there's "no chance" he's trying to campaign his way into the White House ... following speculation he might run for President in 2024 after selling a majority stake in the NBA's Dallas Mavericks.

Comments of the supposed political move flooded in on X ... though the billionaire tells TMZ that a presidential campaign trail for next year was "galaxies off" and adding, "family would disown me."

Remember ... after years of building his empire, Mark is putting family first -- announcing on the Showtime podcast "All The Smoke" Monday he was leaving "Shark Tank" after 16 seasons as it conflicts with his personal time.

And of course ... becoming President -- arguably the busiest job in the world -- wouldn't do a whole lot to clear up his schedule.

However, he's entertained the idea before, divulging to Harvey on "OBJECTified" in 2017 that he'd run as a Republican to challenge Donald Trump. In 2019, Mark told us his family "voted down" his serious desire to run for President in 2020.

The renewed political chat gained traction after TMZ Sports confirmed Mark was selling his majority stake, reportedly valued at $3.5B, to Miriam Adelson ... getting a massive return on the investment after buying the team in 2000 for $285 million.

He'll retain some shares and be the lead decision-maker when it comes to basketball ops -- but billionaire widow/heiress Adelson has some plans of her own for the Mavs ... mainly building a new arena and casino -- if a gambling bill passes in Texas.

11:33 AM PT -- The NBPD just released a statement on the Josh Giddey investigation ... saying officials are actively seeking more information and pursuing all leads and evidence to get the facts of the case.

NBPD says the investigation remains active ... and is working to conduct a "fair and thorough" process.

The inquiry into whether Oklahoma City Thunder guard Josh Giddey had an inappropriate relationship with a minor has hit a roadblock -- TMZ Sports has learned the alleged teen and her family are refusing to cooperate with officials.

Law enforcement sources tell us police would obviously like to speak with the purported female and those close to her to gather more information regarding the social media claims that made rounds over the weekend ... but as of right now, no one is talking.

It's a significant component to the whole situation ... as a lack of cooperation will make it much more challenging for officials to determine whether any laws were broken.

As we previously reported, Giddey is being accused of having an intimate relationship with an underage girl from California ... with photos and videos allegedly depicting them together.

The NBA is "looking into" the matter ... but Giddey has continued to play for the Thunder following the bombshell allegations.

The 21-year-old was asked about the claims at practice on Friday ... but elected not to speak on it.

Thunder coach Mark Daigneault also shot down a question regarding the inquiry prior to Tuesday night's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves ... saying he would not discuss anything off-court related in reference to Giddey, and he will continue to play.

Giddey played 28 minutes and scored 10 points in the loss to the Wolves ... and fans at the Target Center showed their disproval by booing him relentlessly throughout the contest.

It wasn't even a milestone birthday, but don't tell Patriots DT Davon Godchaux ... he gifted his fiancée Chanel Iman with a brand new Mercedes Benz G-Wagon for her upcoming 33rd birthday, and it literally brought the model to tears!

The 7-year NFL pro shocked Iman with the 4-wheeled gift on Tuesday -- three days before her actual birthday (December 1) -- and shared the surprise on his Instagram story.

You can see the bright blue whip, which starts around $140k, sitting in the driveway with a massive red bow on the hood ... as the Victoria's Secret Angel stood next to the Benz, smiling ear to ear.

"Thank you so much, honey!" Iman yelled. "This is the best gift ever! I love you!"

Chanel was super excited ... there was even dancing and some (very happy) screaming.

"She was crying lol," Godchaux said in the caption. "Big baby!"

Making the whole scene even sweeter ... the couple's little newborn daughter got to witness mom and dad's joy from the baby stroller.

"Happy early birthday to you baby! Thank you for always holding it down," Godchaux said.

"Real ones do real things."

Godchaux -- who signed an extension with the Pats last year -- and Iman went public with their relationship in 2022 ... before revealing they were having a baby in May.

The 29-year-old proposed to Iman shortly after the pregnancy announcement ... and the couple welcomed Capri in September.

"I never thought I would be getting down on one knee," Godchaux said in May, "but LOVE will make you do some amazing things in life!"

Diontae Johnson is owning up to his lack of effort in the middle of the Steelers' matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals ... saying he addressed the situation with his teammates and vowed to do better moving forward.

The 27-year-old wide receiver faced a ton of backlash for seemingly giving up in the middle of a play during Pittsburgh's 16-10 win on Sunday ... with game footage showing him appearing uninterested in going for the ball after Jaylen Warren fumbled in the first quarter.

Johnson spoke with reporters about the now-viral lowlight on Wednesday ... and he's looking to get past the whole ordeal.

"I addressed the situation with my teammates," Johnson told the media. "They know how I feel and how I feel about the situation. I'm not perfect. All I can do is move forward and just keep playing football."

Johnson -- who was pissed he messed up on a potential touchdown catch on the previous play -- explained he does not want to be judged based on one moment ... and he promised to prove it with his play from here on out.

Producers of The Match might want to get a load of this ... Tom Brady says he's super down to get a round of golf in with country music superstar Morgan Wallen!!!

The "Last Night" crooner first initiated the offer to the NFL's G.O.A.T. on Wednesday morning ... after Brady had posted a highlight reel of golf shots to his Instagram page with some of Wallen's most popular songs playing in the background.

And, following Morgan's comment ... it only took a matter of minutes for Brady to accept the musician's challenge.

"LFG [let's f***ing go] @morganwallen," Brady wrote.

Wallen hasn't been spotted golfing publicly often -- so it's unclear how good his game is -- but odds are, Brady would be the overwhelming favorite if the two got in 18.

Brady, widely believed to be a scratch golfer, has put on a bit of a show each time he's participated in The Match -- and you've gotta think he'd do the same against Wallen.

A Kansas City Chiefs fan's mom is coming to his defense ... claiming that all of the haters who are saying his gameday outfit was offensive need to kick rocks.

Holden Armenta caused a big stir online on Sunday when TV cameras at the Chiefs vs. Raiders game in Las Vegas showed him donning a headdress with a painted face.

Some, including Deadspin, thought the boy was wearing blackface ... and urged the NFL to speak out on the matter -- calling his feathered attire inappropriate as well.

Armenta's mother, however, said on her Facebook page this week there was simply no need for the outrage ... explaining the boy's face paint actually consisted of both black and red colors -- in order to match his favorite team's hues.

As for the headdress, she said Holden is Native American.

"People are ridiculous," Shannon Armenta wrote in one post.

She also shared a few other snaps of Holden from the game ... and said, "Everyone asked to take a photo with him."

"The players even loved it!"

Holden's dad added on his Facebook page that his son is simply "The biggest Fan" of the Chiefs.

Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra and his wife, Nikki, are calling it quits -- the couple just announced they are getting a divorce after a seven-year marriage.

The Spoelstras released a joint statement to the Miami Herald on Wednesday ... saying it was a difficult decision to call it quits.

"We are both grateful for our relationship and remain fully committed to co-parenting our children and continuing to make them our shared priority," they said.

"We appreciate everyone’s support as we move to the next stage of our lives and thank you for respecting our family’s privacy."

Spoelstra -- who became head coach for the Heat in 2008 -- met Nikki when she was a dancer for the Miami organization at 18 years old.

Erik proposed to Nikki during the summer of 2015 ... and they got married at the Vizcaya Museum & Gardens in Miami a year later.

The couple have two sons, Santiago and Dante, together and recently had a daughter, Ruby, who was born in 2022.

Neymar and his longtime girlfriend Bruna Biancardi have called off their relationship ... just a few weeks after their baby daughter was born.

Biancardi announced the news in a social media post early Wednesday morning ... saying in her native tongue, "This is a private matter."

"But," she continued, "as I am exposed to news, assumptions and jokes on a daily basis, I inform you that I am not in a relationship."

"We are Mavie's parents, and that is the reason for our bond. I hope that this way they will stop relating to the frequent news. Thank you."

The split comes just days after Neymar was accused of sending X-rated messages to a Brazilian OnlyFans model. The soccer superstar, however, denied wrongdoing in the case ... saying on his social media page the leaked DMs were from "years ago."

But, the messages were certainly not the first time the Al-Hilal striker had allegedly been unfaithful toward Bruna -- as he was spotted on camera in a nightclub earlier this year getting close to two women.

Despite the allegations, Neymar and Bruna had seemed to be going strong ... with the two sharing loving pictures together often over the last few months.

Chicago Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson addressed the wild rumors surrounding Corey Perry shortly after he was kicked off the team ... saying the winger's contract termination had nothing to do with superstar Connor Bedard's mother.

Perry was placed on unconditional waivers following an internal investigation on Tuesday ... in which the team determined he "engaged in conduct that is unacceptable" and violated the terms of his contract and the Blackhawks' internal policies.

The move came on the heels of speculation Perry was involved in a personal relationship with Bedard's mom, Melanie ... and while the talk didn't hold much weight, many ran with it on social media.

Davidson cleared the air after the team washed its hands of Perry ... and even though he did not mention Bedard by name, it's clear that's what he was addressing.

"This does not involve any players or their families and anything that suggests otherwise or anyone that suggests otherwise is wildly inaccurate and, frankly, it's disgusting," Davidson said.

"This has been a tough situation and I understand you wanted answers. It was important that we took all the necessary steps before sharing more. I hope you understand that I may not be able to answer everything today, but I am going to be as open and honest as I can be given the situation and out of respect for those involved."

Davidson referred to the nature of Perry's violation as a "workplace matter."

Josh Giddey didn't exactly get a warm welcome at the Thunder-Timberwolves game in Minnesota on Tuesday ... 'cause fans booed the NBA guard/forward all night long amid allegations he had a relationship with an underage girl.

TMZ Sports broke the story ... police in Orange County (CA) have launched an "inquiry," with the mission of finding out what, if anything, went down between now-21 year Giddey and the teen.

Despite cops looking into things, and the NBA launching its own investigation, Giddey is still active and in OKC's starting lineup ... but the fans weren't exactly welcoming when he pulled up for their In-Season tournament game against the T'Wolves Tuesday night in the Twin City.

Several fans took videos, and you can hear the crowd voicing their disapproval of the Australian-born hooper every time he touched the ball at Target Center court.

He was also booed during player introductions.

Thunder's head coach Mark Daigneault was asked about our report during a pre-game press conference ... and refused to comment on "anything as it relates to Josh off the court."

Giddey dropped 10 points and grabbed 6 rebounds, but it wasn't enough ... the Thunder lost to the Timberwolves, 106-103.

Mark Cuban is bidding farewell to "Shark Tank" after 16 seasons ... and he's already circling the waters for his ideal successor.

The billionaire businessman tells TMZ that Emma Grede -- the co-founder of the Kardashians' fashion empires SKIMS and Good American - would be "insanely good" as a full-time Shark ... having guest-starred on the show before.

Mark heralds the 41-year-old as a brilliant entrepreneur ... with an extraordinary knack for helping companies grow with her experience.

What's more ... he's impressed with her natural ability to connect with others ... and says her television charisma also makes waves -- though, as of yet, auditions to find his replacement haven't begun.

Mark also gives us a splash of context on departing 'ST' -- which he first announced on the Showtime podcast "All The Smoke" Monday ... telling us his decision is rooted in wanting to hang out with his brood as he usually films every summer during family vacation.

He says at 14, 17, and 20, it's not long before they leave the nest ... so it's understandable he's cutting back.

As we previously reported ... Mark's also selling his majority stake in the NBA's Dallas Mavericks after buying the team in 2000 and overseeing the franchise's most successful run and only NBA title ... so the 'Tank' isn't the only thing Cuban's leaving behind.

Despite "Shark Tank" nibbling away at his personal time, he's cherished every aspect of the show ... from what it represents to the impact it's had on the next generation of entrepreneurs.

Jevon Holland didn't just make the Dolphins and their fans happy with his 99-yard touchdown last week ... he also got to upgrade his entertainment room AND line his pockets with some extra cash for the score too!!

The Dolphins safety broke the whole situation down with Michael Babcock on the "TMZ Sports TV Show" on FS1 on Tuesday ... revealing he had no idea what was about to come his way after he scored the improbable TD in a win over the Jets on Black Friday.

It turns out, as part of a preseason promo called the "Ultimate Gameday Upgrade," TCL was offering to hand out a million dollars worth of 98-inch TVs if a player scored a 98-yard-or-longer touchdown during the Friday Night Football contest.

And, after Holland did it ... TCL decided to make him a spokesperson as well as give him one of their 98-inchers -- things he was very clearly thrilled about.

"It was cool!" said the 23-year-old former second-round pick, who's still on his rookie contract. "I was excited."

Holland said all weekend he heard from fans who also received the 98-inch TVs as part of the promo ... and he thought all the love "was awesome."

In even more fortunate news for Holland, he also said he happens to have a wall big enough to fit the TV -- though just barely!!

Big news out of Big D ... Mark Cuban is selling his majority stake in the NBA's Dallas Mavericks, while still holding onto the reigns in basketball operations.

The billionaire is selling his majority stake to Miriam Adelson ... TMZ Sports has confirmed.

While Mark is selling a stake reportedly valued at $3.5 billion, he will retain some shares in the team and be the lead decision-maker when it comes to basketball ops.

Cuban bought the team in 2000 for $285 million, so he’s getting a huge return on investment!

Miriam is the billionaire widow and heiress of Sheldon Adelson and his Las Vegas casino empire ... Forbes has her net worth at $32.3 billion, making her the fifth richest woman in the world.

Our sources say Adelson has plans to build a new arena for the Mavs, and, if a gambling bill passes in Texas, we’re told she might also build a casino in Dallas.

Miriam is reportedly selling $2 billion of her shares in Las Vegas Sands Group to make the Mavs purchase.

Under Cuban, the Mavericks have been perennial contenders in the NBA's Western Conference, winning the franchise's first and only NBA championship in 2011, defeating LeBron James and the Miami Heat.

Earlier this week, Cuban revealed he's leaving ABC's "Shark Tank" after the upcoming 16th season.

Lots going on in Mark’s world … including cohosting “TMZ’s Merry Elfin’ Christmas” special, premiering Dec. 5 in primetime on Fox!

4:00 PM -- Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault was just asked about our report prior to Tuesday's matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves ... and while he stated he will not comment on Josh Giddey's off-court situation, he reaffirmed Giddey will be available for the game.

Police are doing their due diligence on the recent troubling allegations surrounding Oklahoma City Thunder player Josh Giddey ... with officials opening an inquiry into whether he had an inappropriate relationship with a minor.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ Sports ... Newport Beach PD is currently investigating the allegations involving Giddey made on social media over the past week ... to see if there is any validity to the claims and if any laws were broken.

As we previously reported, anonymous X accounts accused the 21-year-old Australian athlete of having an intimate relationship with a minor based in California ... and pictures and videos of Giddey with an alleged underage girl quickly spread online.

The NBA announced on Friday it was "looking into" the matter ... but so far, Giddey -- who has remained active with the Thunder following the allegations -- has declined to speak on it.

Of course, Giddey could be in trouble both criminally and professionally -- the age of consent in California is 18, while it is 16 in Oklahoma.

Giddey is currently averaging 12.1 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists in 16 games this season.

We covered the story on the latest episode of The TMZ Podcast, available on all podcast platforms.

Bradley Cooper says he'd trade away not one, not two -- but THREE Oscars in 2024 if it meant Jalen Hurts and the Eagles were this season's Super Bowl champions instead.

The A-list actor -- whose Oscar-worthy film, "Maestro," is set to drop next month -- made the stunning claim to Howard Stern earlier this week ... after the radio host posed a "Sophie's Choice" style question on-air.

"I really want you to answer this in a serious manner," Stern said to Cooper. "You win the Oscar not only for Best Director [for 'Maestro'] but Best Actor, and Carey Mulligan wins Best Actress."

"Or," Stern continued, "the Eagles have a Super Bowl victory."

Without hesitation, Cooper said, "Eagles Super Bowl victory. Eagles."

"I know," he added while shaking his head. "I'm sick."

When Stern asked if Cooper was lying, he repeated that he truly wasn't fibbin'.

It's an eyebrow-raising statement, to say the least ... considering Cooper's never won an Academy Award despite being nominated nine times -- and the Eagles just won a ring in 2018 (which he got to witness in person).

But, Bradley was adamant he'd still take a title for his beloved team over some golden hardware for his mantle.

Of course, it really might not be farfetched to think Bradley was telling the truth ... after all, he's been seen at Philly games regularly this season, including on Sunday, when he went crazy celebrating their overtime win against the Bills.

Kim Zolciak and Kroy Biermann's financial situation is so dire the family is turning to trick pregnancy announcements involving Brielle Biermann as a way to make money.

Here's the deal ... in a social media post, Kim strongly suggested daughter Brielle was pregnant, sharing a sonogram and saying she was "SO EXCITED TO BE A GRANDMA."

Kim turned comments off on the post and it links back to a clickbait news article reading, "Oh baby! Brielle Biermann spilled to us about having kids and how she feels about her mom Kim Zolciak becoming a grandma."

Turns out, it's all bogus and just a way for Kim to make a quick buck.

Sources familiar with the situation tell TMZ ... Brielle isn't actually pregnant despite Kim's post suggesting otherwise, and Kim is getting a financial kickback from the clickbait article.

Kim and Kroy's financial struggles have been well documented ... starting with the alleged $1 million they owe the IRS and various lawsuits against them for unpaid bills.

As we first told you ... earlier this month Kim was sued by Bank of America for over $50K in credit card debt. Kim was also sued in August by SAKS/CAPITAL ONE for failing to pay a $156K credit card bill.