TMZ Sports - Page 50

Taylor Swift is leaping into 2024 presidential politics on Super Tuesday, but she's stopping short of that coveted endorsement of President Joe Biden ... or any candidate, for that matter.

Taylor sounded the alarm early Tuesday morning with a post on her IG story, writing a note that says, "I wanted to remind you guys to vote the people who most represent YOU into power. If you haven't already, make a plan to vote today."

Political pundits have had a field day discussing the potential power of Taylor to swing campaigns this election season, having seen the power of her extremely loyal fan base. Just ask NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell about it.

The Biden administration's been open about its desire to get an endorsement from Taylor -- as she did in 2020 -- and Joe himself has leaned into the possibility of her backing him.

Donald Trump's camp, meanwhile, has reportedly declared "holy war" on the singer and Swifties ... insisting the former prez is "more popular" than her, with more loyal fans.

Taylor's not endorsing anyone today, and most political analysts don't expect her to do so until we get closer to election day in November.

In her IG call out to Swifties, Taylor urged everyone to hit up vote.org to find info on polling places and times ... if you're in one of the 16 states or territories voting in today's primaries.

Solid advice.

For the first time in the history of the franchise, "MLB The Show 24" will have a story mode dedicated to female athletes ... with the hit video game announcing the groundbreaking addition on Tuesday.

The new feature -- titled "Road to the Show: Women Pave the Way" -- allows users to create and play as a woman in the Major League Baseball simulation game ... with a unique narrative and scenes separate from the usual RTTS experience.

The mode's narrative designer, Mollie Braley, said the story was inspired by real-life stories from women in baseball ... including star athletes like Toni Stone and Kelsie Whitmore.

Braley explained to the PlayStation Blog the importance of inclusion for women in baseball as the fan base continues to rise ... and she's hoping it will shine a light on the adversity many have faced within the sport.

Whitmore -- who provided insight for the project -- added she hopes the story mode helps inspire gamers to pursue their dreams ... and educate them on what women and girls are able to do on the baseball diamond.

Anthony Edwards didn't start against the Trail Blazers on Monday night because he was late for tip-off ... but he insisted after the game his tardiness had nothing to do with any sort of lengthy trip to the can.

As Minnesota was preparing to take on Portland at the Target Center ... Edwards was nowhere to be found -- forcing the T-Wolves to start Nickeil Alexander-Walker instead.

Edwards eventually made his way to the floor as action got underway -- but he had to wait at the scorer's table until he could finally check in at the 11:25 mark of the first quarter due to his pregame absence.

Many online suspected the NBA superstar had a bit of a toilet emergency -- and even the game's broadcasters hinted at it too ... saying, "Long lines at the bathroom!"

But, Edwards explained following the contest that he merely "lost track of time."

The whole snafu didn't seem to bother the 22-year-old and his teammates regardless ... Edwards ended up playing 34 total minutes, logging 13 points, four rebounds and six assists -- as the Wolves won, 119-114.

Edwards was able to have a laugh about the situation with reporters amid it all ... joking that he was trying to take teammate Naz Reid's Sixth Man of the Year honors.

Sounds like Isaiah Stewart's got a mean right hand ... at least according to Drew Eubanks, who told cops his Valentine's Day fight with the Detroit player left him with bloody gums and loose teeth.

According to a Phoenix Police Department incident report, obtained by TMZ Sports, Eubanks made the complaint roughly five hours after he and Stewart were involved in an altercation at the Footprint Center just prior to the Pistons vs. Suns Feb. 14 matchup.

Eubanks, cops wrote in the report, said Stewart confronted him while he was entering the arena due to interactions the two had previously had while playing in a game three months prior.

"He got off the bus and he started, um, just talking s***," Eubanks told cops. "He said something along the lines of, 'You wanna run it back? We're right here. We can do it right now.'"

Cops say Eubanks told them he tried to walk away from the situation, but Stewart kept advancing toward him ... until they were face-to-face inside of a tunnel in the arena.

Eubanks told cops, according to the report, Isaiah then said, "We can do this s*** right now" ... before he threw "a sucker punch."

Eubanks stated the blow landed in the center of his mouth, causing his gums to bleed. He added, the report states, "My teeth definitely are like looser and they hurt."

When pressed more about why he believed Stewart was so upset, Eubanks stated nothing out of the ordinary happened between the two in their previous matchup.

"Just basketball stuff," the Phoenix center said. "It was, you know, lowering your shoulder. Trying to hit, hit somebody for a box out. Being physical. Talking on the court. That's all it was."

At the time, Eubanks told cops he wished to prosecute ... and Stewart was issued a citation.

However, the report states that on Feb. 17 -- three days after the encounter -- Eubanks called cops and said he no longer wished to press charges.

On Feb. 19, cops say Eubanks told them "he had been thinking about the incident for a couple days and at the time, he was upset, but had time to think about it."

Stewart was still suspended by the NBA for three games. After serving the ban, he apologized to his team during a meeting with media members.

We're starting the week strong here at TMZ, and that always kicks with fire TV segments!

Let's begin on "TMZ Live," where Charles and Babcock talked about a brewing international incident out in Southeast Asia -- where Taylor Swift is currently performing in Singapore for a string of 6 shows ... to the chagrin of neighboring countries, who are pissed about her deal.

Short story long ... the Philippines and Thailand seem to think they got screwed out of her being able to visit their nations due to the reported lucrative contract Singapore struck.

Next up, we got "TMZ on TV" ... where the gang talked about Kate Middleton surfacing this week in the UK, marking the first time we've seen her out publicly since at least December.

There's been a lot of conspiracy theories on her whereabouts, and it appears the Royals finally realized ... yeah, we gotta show her face a little to tamper down all the madness.

Last but not least, we're on "TMZ Sports" ... where the guys talk Ryan Garcia's recent drama.

Check your local listings for when TMZ is on in your area or catch up on past episodes!

Ryan Garcia has regained access to X, though perhaps he wishes he didn't ... the boxing star is now beefing with Sean Strickland, and it sounds like the former UFC champ isn't content with keeping things on the internet.

"Las Vegas my man.... roll through" ... was 33-year-old Strickland's ominous message to 25-year-old King Ry at the culmination of their online back-and-forth.

It all started when Garcia, "clearing things up," posted a video message to his fans on Monday -- a response to fans who were worried about his welfare -- however, the message wasn't well-received by the middleweight contender, who lashed out against the boxer.

"God I hate famous people. Bro you are f***ing RICH.... They're kids in salt mines, kids dying of cancer begging for one more day on this earth and you're having a mental break down on social media..  You f***ing p****..." Sean wrote to Ryan on X.

Garcia responded, attacking Strickland for his sparring sesh with YouTuber Sneako, writing, "If you knew God you wouldn’t hate anyone. You went on and Took advantage of a streamer who was someone with no exp. And you gave him a concussion. You think you are doing a service but really you are just a bully coming in the name of a hero."

Sean fired back, calling Ryan a "f***ing woman" ... prompting the following response from RG.

"I lost brain cells reading that! Please show me how serious you are to actually handling this like men!! But let’s actually be serious no internet stuff"

'No internet stuff' might as well be Strickland's middle name ... and that's when the former champ extended an invite to fight in Sin City.

FYI, Sean's 6'1", 185 lbs. (in reality he's ~20 lbs. heavier), while Ryan's 5'8", 140-ish lbs. ... so, there's a large size difference.

Russell Wilson's ride in Denver has come to an end ... the Broncos just announced they're cutting their quarterback.

In a statement posted to the team's X page, head coach Sean Payton and general manger George Paton said following a talk with the 35-year-old on Monday morning, they decided they were moving on.

"We thank Russell for his contributions and dedication to our team and community while wishing him the best as he continues his career," the two said.

The release will become official once the new NFL year starts on March 13.

As shocking as it is to see a nine-time Pro Bowler and one-time Super Bowl champ hit free agency ... the decision was not surprising at all. Remember, Payton had benched Wilson back in December, following two years of mediocre play.

Plus, Wilson's contract wasn't team friendly, to say the least.

For his part, Wilson took the news in stride, saying in a lengthy statement on his own X page that he was grateful for his time in Colorado.

"Over these last two years," he wrote in a message to Broncos fans, "you have welcomed my family and me with open arms and have embraced us as members of the community. This city will always hold a special place in my heart. Our family grew here, we made countless memories and friendships, and formed relationships that will last a lifetime."

It's unclear where Wilson will go next. Some pundits have suspected he could end up being a backup in 2024 -- while others think he could start in places like Pittsburgh, New England or Atlanta.

"Tough times don't last, but tough people do," Wilson added in his statement Monday.

Just days after opening up on her split from NFL superstar Josh Allen, Brittany Williams is sharing more of herself -- posting some sexy bikini shots from her trip to Mexico.

The former Fresno State cheerleader -- who was Allen's ride-or-die GF through his first five seasons in Buffalo -- posed for the pics with a pal while the two were poolside at a resort in Cabo.

And, yeah, as you can see ... they're steamy.

"Woke up in Cabo 🤎," she wrote in a caption on the pics.

Williams has been revealing more about herself and her personal life recently ... breaking her silence on her breakup with Allen on the latest episode of the “Martinis and Bikinis” podcast last month.

While she never addressed Allen by name or revealed when the two officially called things quits, she said the duo dated for roughly a decade on and off -- and it was clear during the interview, she thought they would end up getting married.

She added that dating in the aftermath of the separation was "very, very difficult" -- although she's finding it much easier now.

"Dating life in New York is absolutely crazy," she said.

A few NFL WAGs supported her pics on Instagram on Monday ... with the significant others of Mitch Trubisky, George Kittle and Kyle Allen all leaving love.

Congratulations are in order for Dak Prescott -- the Dallas Cowboys' star quarterback and his girlfriend just welcomed their first child together ... their daughter, baby MJ!!

The three-time Pro Bowler announced the exciting news with reporters on Monday ... saying mama and the baby are both happy and healthy.

Prescott revealed baby MJ was born on Thursday ... which, of course, means her birthday falls on leap day!!

#4 has already taken on some important responsibilities in fatherhood ... confirming he's taken on diaper duty, but admitted he's hoping to hand off those duties from time to time.

Dak also got real about fatherhood ... saying seeing the baby every morning helped him understand the fact that he wants to do whatever he can to make sure she is taken care of.

Dak and Sarah Jane revealed back in November they were expecting their first child together ... and he explained at the time he was especially excited to have a girl.

Ryan Garcia wants his family and fans to know he is alive and "okay" ... but his current situation is far from pleasant -- claiming he has been stripped of access to his phone, Instagram and finances.

TMZ Sports has obtained a video statement from King Ryan himself ... where he explains he has no idea what is happening, but he believes he's being exploited.

"Hey guys, it's Ryan," the 24-1 boxing superstar says in the clip. "I'm coming on here to explain what's going on. I'm not in possession of my phone, I can't get access to my Instagram. My cards are locked. I'm being really taking advantage [of]."

"I would personally want to just send out a video to the people that love me and my fans, family that's concerned that I'm okay. I'm not dead, I believe in Jesus, all those [rumors] are lies."

Ryan goes on to state an unidentified party is trying to put him in jail ... and when he's reached out to people for help, he's been met with radio silence.

"I don't know what's going on but just know I'm okay," he continued.

The video comes following genuine concern from fans who have grown worrisome over Garcia's recent odd social media activity -- including a video that claimed something bad had happened to Ryan.

Jason Kelce's NFL career is over.

The Philadelphia Eagles superstar just revealed he's officially retiring ... saying at an emotional news conference Monday afternoon he's done.

Jason cried while making the announcement ... in fact, tears streamed down his face even before he began speaking at the event. Several times during his speech, he needed breaks to compose himself.

Plenty of family and friends turned out to watch the 36-year-old center say goodbye ... including Travis Kelce, who was also emotional as his big bro addressed the crowd.

Throughout his speech, Jason thanked a ton of people -- namely coaches and ex-teammates. He also referenced losing the Super Bowl to Travis.

Jason talked about meeting his wife, Kylie, as well. And, he drew some big laughs, too, when he talked about Nick Foles' "big d***" and Darren Sproles' "4-foot-8" height.

After he thanked the city of Philadelphia one more time, he left the podium without taking questions -- and gave a big hug to Travis.

Jason got his start in the league back in 2011, when the Eagles took him in the sixth round of the NFL draft. He went on to play in every game for Philly that season -- and three years later, in 2014, he earned his first Pro Bowl selection.

Jason went on to make the Pro Bowl six more times ... while recording All-Pro honors six total times as well.

In 2018, he won his first Super Bowl when he helped the Birds beat Tom Brady and the Patriots. Jason nearly logged another SB win in 2023, but his younger brother and the Chiefs came out on top in an epic matchup.

While Jason was a star on the field for nearly the entirety of his 13 seasons ... his off-the-field career really exploded this past season.

After Travis began dating Taylor Swift, the duo's "New Heights" podcast took off. Jason also got a bunch more camera time on various networks while the Eagles were on off days.

A youngster at the USA vs. Colombia CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup matchup apparently needed something stronger than milk ... 'cause the baby was spotted adorably trying to drink a Truly hard seltzer!!

The hilarious moment was caught on the CBS Sports broadcast on Sunday ... showing a dad and his kid soaking in the 3-0 win for the Red, White and Blue in the 73rd minute of the contest.

All eyes were on what was in the little one's hands ... which appeared to be a wild berry Truly (which contains 5% alcohol).

But judging by the fact the kiddo was able to pull the can up to its lips, we're assuming the thing was empty ... so no need to destroy the kid's future with an underage.

Even though the baby was probably teething, some folks thought it was a bad look to let it even hold the can in the first place ... while others felt it was the perfect visual representation of 'Merica.

As for the game, the USWNT won the quarterfinal matchup at BMO Stadium in L.A. with ease ... punching a ticket to the semis against Canada.

Here's hoping if the kid makes it to San Diego for that game, it sticks to the non-alcoholic bevvies.

Sting was the man of the hour at AEW's Revolution, but Darby Allin at least momentarily stole the show, executing one of the craziest moves you'll see inside the squared circle, front flipping off a 12-foot ladder, before crashing through a glass panel way below on the floor!

It was probably a 13-foot drop from where he stood ... to the glass. Truly insane!

31-year-old Allin got up, back and arm bloodied, body bruised ... but you already know that wasn't going to stop Darby, who is known for his gravity-defying stunts, both inside and outside of the ring.

Darby continued to wrestle ... while occasionally receiving medical attention on the fly.

After the match, DA assured fans he was okay.

"I wanted to come here to let people know I was still alive," Darby said post-match.

"I was in the middle of getting stitched up but I wanted to show everybody that the doctors are on top of it. I'm still breathing," Darby added, "It was crazy because I flipped through it, [the doctors] are like, 'Are you going to be able to continue?' F*** yeah, dude.'"

Back to the ring, despite being banged up, Darby and 64-year-old Sting defeated The Young Bucks and retained their AEW tag team title ... closing out one of the greatest careers in the history of professional wrestling.

And, it's no surprise Allin carried on for Sting ... we talked to Darby last week and he made it clear he was willing to do anything to allow Sting to go out on a high note.

Mission accomplished.

Ryan Garcia's recent social media activity has fans worried for his mental well-being ... but according to his dad, Henry, the boxing star is doing just fine -- claiming it's all the result of some bad trolling.

Garcia's seemingly been living on Instagram lately ... posting over 20 times in the past week alone, with a handful so bizarre in nature, it's led to many followers wondering if he's going through something behind the scenes.

In fact, King Ryan raised eyebrows after he shared a puzzling video that featured the caption, "We got him boys. RYAN GARCIA RIP BITCH" ... and fighters like Mike Perry and Dillon Danis hit the comment section to voice their concern.

Some folks also wondered if Garcia had been hacked ... but the video is still live on his page, so it didn't seem likely.

Henry -- who also coaches Ryan -- adamantly denied there are any issues going on ... saying the 24-1 fighter is just looking to get people talking.

"Yes Ryan is ok," Henry said in response to a fan's question, "he's just trolling the wrong way."

Garcia is slated to fight Devin Haney on April 20, but he shifted his focus to Jake Paul on Saturday ... taking blame for the Problem Child's boxing career and promising to put an end to it.

He's also professed his love for multiple women ... hinting he wants to give marriage another shot after his recent divorce.

Tom Brady's apparently moved into his new megamansion in Miami ... and based on a snap he shared of the pad's backyard on Sunday, he's loving the digs so far.

The NFL legend posted the pic to his Instagram page ... showing him getting a little R and R by his new pool.

You can see in the photo, in addition to the small body of water, Brady's new place has a bunch of palm trees, a large patch of grass, plenty of seating ... and perhaps most importantly for the A-list celeb, a ton of privacy.

"Home is where the heart is ❤️❤️❤️," Brady said in a caption on the post.

TB12 bought the property while he was still married to Gisele Bündchen in 2020 for a reported $17 million ... and almost immediately, he began constructing a place fit for the greatest football player of all time.

The home has all the bells and whistles ... a basketball court, a dock, multiple gyms and, of course, plenty of garage space for all of his cars.

Unclear when exactly he moved in -- back in December, workers still appeared to be putting the finishing touches on the mansion.

Becky G and Sebastian Lletget are looking awfully cozy and coupled up in Frisco, TX  ... despite dealing with cheating drama last year.

All signs point to them still going strong, based on these images shot Monday -- and obtained by TMZ -- while they were outside Summer Moon Coffee.

The "Fulanito" singer and the soccer star looked pretty damn happy while enjoying a bit of coffee amid a cuddle session on a park bench. Becky warmly smiled at her midfielder boo as he draped his arm around her shoulders.

This show of PDA comes after months of laying low -- the last time the pair was seen out and about was all the way back in November, which also involved a coffee date.

It seems 2024 is starting off on a better note for Becky and Sebastian ... who hit a snag in their relationship after the professional athlete was the alleged victim of an "extortion plot" amid cheating rumors in March.

Though the FC Dallas star admitted to "a 10-minute lapse in judgment" ... he hinted his accuser's infidelity allegation was filled with lies and falsities.

He did apologize to Becky, however -- who announced their engagement in December 2022 -- vowing to do better.

The couple wasn't doing well in the initial aftermath of the cheating drama, but reportedly got back on track by the end of 2023.