Champion x coach

Courtesy of ESPN/NCAA Ugly scene following an NCAA women's basketball game on Thursday night ... a Bowling Green State Univ. player was socked in the face in a handshake line. The sucker punch went down just seconds after BGSU beat Memphis, 73-60, in a round of 16 game in the women's NIT. Broadcast cameras showed Bowling Green's Elissa Brett got into some sort of argument with Memphis' Jamirah Shutes ... before Shutes reared back and threw a straight right at Brett's face. The punch connected flush -- sending Brett crashing to the court. Shutes was immediately restrained by her coach. Ugly ending to the night after Bowling Green’s Elissa Brett was hit by a Memphis player in the handshake line after the game. pic.twitter.com/9QLFdguB9f — Kurt Steiss ⚔️ (@kurtsteiss) March 24, 2023 @kurtsteiss Brett stayed down for several moments -- eventually bursting out into tears. She was, thankfully, ultimately able to walk off the court under her own power. … [Read more...] about BGSU Women’s Basketball Player Socked In Face In Handshake Line After WNIT Game

UPDATE 3:41 PM PT -- The ACC has suspended Buddy one game for hitting Wilkes during their contest Wednesday. UPDATE The conference called Buddy's swing "a flagrant act" ... and said he will now miss the Orange's game against Duke on Thursday. UPDATE 12:47 PM PT -- Buddy just issued an apology for the incident, though he did not specifically admit to punching Wilkes. UPDATE "I swung my arm while turning to go back up the court," Buddy said. "It was wrong to act out in frustration. I apologized to Wyatt Wilkes multiple times in the handshake line." UPDATE Buddy added, "I pride myself in respecting the game and our opponent. I will not react that way again." Buddy Boeheim appeared to sucker punch an opponent in the gut during Syracuse's ACC Tournament game on Wednesday ... but his father, Orange head coach Jim Boeheim , says he believes the act was "inadvertent." The play happened in the middle of the first half of 'Cuse's blowout win … [Read more...] about Syracuse Star Buddy Boeheim Suspended For Hitting Opponent In Game

UPDATE: We're told Chuy's replacement is soccer star Brandi Chastain -- the chick who ripped off her jersey and flashed her sports bra when the U.S. won the 1999 World Cup ... which was cool. When you're Chuy from " Chelsea Lately " ... every foot counts, and we've learned after breaking one, he was forced to drop out of the ABC diving show, " Splash ." Sources connected with the show tell TMZ ... the diminutive sidekick did not know how to dive or even swim when he signed on. Greg Louganis -- a celebrity diving coach on the show -- taught him the ropes, and we're told he was actually good enough to compete. But fate was not good to Chuy. On Monday, during the very first taping, Chuy jumped up on a table in the lounge area near the pool ... and the table broke. Chuy fell through the table to the ground and fractured his heel bone. Chuy was treated by EMTs, and a series of X-rays revealed the fracture was such that he could … [Read more...] about Chuy Bows Out of ‘Splash’ After Suffering Small Leg Fracture

TMZSports.com NYC Mayor Eric Adams will always revere Knicks legend Willis Reed for the two championships he brought to the city of New York ... but he tells TMZ Sports that Reed's perseverance in the face of adversity is what makes him an icon in NY. We spoke to Mayor Adams just days after Reed passed away at 80 years old ... and asked what Reed's legacy means to him now that the NBA legend is no longer with us. "Willis Reed was my guy," Mayor Adams said. "He showed the resiliency of New York. Everyone remembers that championship game. Walking on one knee. His scoring the points. He's New York." "We may have lost him physically, but he will always be here spiritually," he added. Gallery Launch Gallery Getty Reed -- a seven-time All-Star and two-time NBA champion -- passed away on Tuesday ... and had been reportedly battling congestive heart failure. Willis -- affectionately known as "The Captain" -- won two titles with the Knicks … [Read more...] about NYC Mayor Eric Adams On Willis Reed’s Legacy, ‘He’s New York’

TMZSports.com UPDATE 7:06 PM PT -- Blount issued a mea culpa for his role in the fight on Monday evening ... apologizing to his players and the parents on his team -- "and also to the players and parents on the other team." UPDATE "As a leader, coach, father and a role model I understand my actions are unacceptable," he added. "I hope and pray for your understanding and forgiveness and plan to continue to be a positive impact in the lives of our youth." UPDATE Blount did say in his statement he believes there's more to the story than the footage shows ... but he explained, "Regardless of that, I take full responsibility for my part in it and for putting myself in this situation." Former NFL running back LeGarrette Blount was involved in a fight at a youth football game on Saturday ... throwing punches in a wild skirmish -- and now, TMZ Sports has learned cops are investigating it all. The altercation happened following the conclusion of a … [Read more...] about LeGarrette Blount Apologizes For Role In Youth Football Game Fight, Cops Investigating