Ryan Reynolds Fans Inspired New Biz Opportunity!!!

Ryan Reynolds is doubling down on his investment in the sports world, and it's in large part due to fans of his 2 biggest franchises ... TMZ has learned.

The actor's investment firm, Maximum Effort, announced Thursday it's spending big to become one of the leading investors in Homage, a sports apparel company with a specialty in vintage-style getups.

Sources with direct knowledge tell us ... RR is thrilled about the new addition to his portfolio because of his experiences with his English soccer club and the 'Deadpool' movies.

Victor Conte Ryan Garcia's Full Of 💩 ... I Had Nothing To Do W/ Positive PED Test!!!

SPEWING MISINFORMATION
TMZSports.com

Ryan Garcia placed blame for his failed PED test squarely at the feet of Victor Conte ... but the former BALCO mastermind turned anti-doping advocate says that's pure BS, telling TMZ Sports he had absolutely nothing to do with the flunked test!

"His conspiracy theory is completely wrong and debunked. I have nothing to do with this. I'm completely independent of VADA," Conte told us on Thursday, addressing Garcia's allegation.

If you missed it, after news broke that King Ry flunked multiple tests for Ostarine, the 25-year-old fighter lodged this allegation.

Kendrick Lamar Drake Diss Hits Primetime in NBA Playoffs!!! TNT Crew Stays Switzerland

IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BEEF
NBA on TNT

Kendrick Lamar's Drake diss track, "Euphoria," is popping up everywhere ... even in the middle of the NBA Playoffs, but it's making some NBA legends uncomfortable.

The song opened up TNT's "Inside the NBA" halftime broadcast of the Clippers vs. Mavericks Game 5 showdown, and Kenny Smith and Shaq couldn't believe their ears!!!

Ernie Johnson attempted to unfold the first 2 quarters of play, but the pair of NBA champs were too distracted by Kendrick's onslaught blasting in the studio.

Kirby Smart Inks $130 Million Deal W/ Georgia ... Richest In College Football

Kirby Smart is college football's first-ever $13 million man -- the Georgia Bulldogs coach just inked a massive, 10-year, $130 million deal ... making him the highest-paid staffer in college football.

The University of Georgia's board of directors approved the huge chunk of change during a meeting on Thursday ... improving Smart's already impressive salary from the $10.75 million he was slated to get under his old contract.

The deal is guaranteed through five years ... and will run through the 2033 season.

Charles Barkley Trolled With Billboards ... After Dissing Galveston

Charles Barkley's feud with Galveston, Texas is far from over -- the NBA legend was just targeted with a bunch of billboards throughout the city after dissing it on national television!!

As we previously reported, Chuck ruffled some feathers in the Queen City of the Gulf after claiming it had "dirty ass water" on TNT's "Inside the NBA" ... which prompted a response from the Visit Galveston tourism organization.

The back-and-forth didn't stop there ... 'cause now, a bunch of shots directed at the Round Mound of Rebound have started popping up all around the area -- and they ain't too nice.

Austin Vanderford I'll Fight You, Dillon Danis!!! ... After Paige VanZant's Comments Spark Drama

UPDATE

I GOT NEWS FOR YOU !!!

3:07 PM PT -- Paige is now firing back at Danis ... unloading on the guy and claiming his whole Vegas affair story is complete B.S.

Former Bellator MMA star Austin Vanderford just publicly called out Dillon Danis for a fight ... telling Logan Paul's nemesis he's ready to throw hands for going after his wife, Paige VanZant.

The drama started earlier this week ... when PVZ claimed Danis is not a "real fighter" during an interview for her upcoming Misfits boxing match against Elle Brooke.

NOT A FIGHTER
Misfits Boxing

Danis got wind of Paige's comments ... and clapped back by threatening to air some dirty laundry that he claimed would ruin her marriage.

"How fast they forget!" Danis (2-0 in MMA) said on X. "Haha, relax, Paigey baby, just because I didn’t wife you doesn’t mean you have to be petty. Don’t make me bring up our two trips to Vegas and ruin your marriage."

Enter Vanderford (11-2) ... who came to his partner's defense on Thursday -- telling Danis he's willing to settle things in the cage or the ring.

"Dillon, guy ...," Vanderford said on Instagram. "Let's just fight. Paige's comments seemed to upset you. We are the same weight. We can box or do whatever you want."

Vanderford already predicted Danis' potential responses ... saying the guy will probably say he doesn't have enough of a following to make it worth his time.

Danis is known for being ruthless on social media -- as we previously reported, Paul's fiancée, Nina Agdal, sued him leading up to last year's fight ... saying the incessant trolling and posting about the Sports Illustrated model resulted in humiliation, emotional distress and reputational harm.

Vanderford clearly wants Danis to put an end to the Twitter fingers and put his money where his mouth is ... but no word on whether he'll take the guy up on his offer.

Report: K.C. Chiefs Expecting Half Season Ban For Rashee Rice ... 'At Least'

Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes are reportedly expecting to be without Rashee Rice for "at least" half of the 2024 NFL season ... due to his role in that wild March 30 car crash in Dallas.

James Palmer, a former NFL Network on-air talent, made the report while chatting about the Chiefs' wide receiver room with Steve Smith on the ex-Carolina Panthers star's podcast on Wednesday.

HALF A SEASON AT LEAST
Underdog Fantasy Sports

Palmer said he knows for a fact Rice will receive a punishment from Roger Goodell after admitting to being behind the wheel of one of the cars that caused the accident. He then added that Reid, Mahomes and K.C. are bracing for, at minimum, an eight-game ban for the second-year wide receiver.

Floyd Mayweather Gifts $30k To Group Of Homeless Men ... Before Clippers Game!

Floyd Mayweather was courtside for last night's pivotal Clippers vs. Mavericks game ... but before "Money" got to the arena, he was handing it out, blessing three homeless men with $30k!

Our sources say Mayweather was leaving the downtown L.A. Ritz last night -- headed down the block to Crypto.com Arena for game 5 -- when he saw several men on the street.

We're told Mayweather began talking to the guys, and decided he wanted to help ... so he busted out his backpack, and blessed each guy with 10 racks.

"I don't want to show my face, but [Floyd] just gave us $30,000," Reynolds, one of the men, said after receiving the gift.

The guys didn't want any photographs released, fearing they'd be targeted for carrying the cash.

"We do not want to get robbed. We will go find a motel."

FYI, California has the largest homeless population in America ... with U.S. government data indicating there are over 180K unhoused people in the state. The country, as a whole, has around ~650K experiencing homelessness.

We're told the hope is the money can get the guys on their feet, allowing them to improve their situation.

Floyd's charity didn't end with the guys he met outside the luxury hotel ... the 50-0 fighter also hooked up a few kids with $500 who were selling candy outside.

Mayweather ultimately made it to his courtside seats where he watched the Luca Doncic-led Mavs handle the Clippers, 123-93, taking a 3 games to 2 lead in the first round series.

Doncic, who is dealing with multiple ailments, including sickness and injury, had a tremendous game, dropping 35 points, 7 rebounds, and 10 assists in the win.

The Mavericks will now look to close out the series Friday night in Dallas.

Jimmy Kimmel Calls Travis Kelce Taylor's 'Broke BF' ... After New NFL Contract

CONGRATS, BUT ...
ABC

Travis Kelce may be the highest paid NFL tight end, but it's chump change compared to what his girlfriend, Taylor Swift, makes ... something Jimmy Kimmel pointed out.

JK poked fun at the Kansas City Chiefs player's 2-year contract extension during the opening monologue for his show this week. While Travis is raking in $34 mil with his new deal, Jimmy rightly notes ... it's "gum money" to Taylor and her billion-dollar net worth.

Jimmy quipped ... "Can you imagine being in a relationship where you make $34 million and you’re still the broke boyfriend?"

Charles Barkley Slams Darvin Ham, Frank Vogel Critics ... Blame 'Trash-Ass' Players!!!

THE PLAYERS SUCK
NBA on TNT

Charles Barkley went scorched earth on the people throwing coaches Darvin Ham and Frank Vogel under the bus for the Lakers and Suns' early exit from the NBA playoffs ... saying the real blame for their woes should go on the folks putting together these "trash-ass" teams.

Ham and Vogel have been at the center of criticism following the first round of the postseason ... with many claiming their two squads would be better off with someone else at the helm.

Chuck's clearly heard enough ... 'cause the Hall of Famer unloaded on the notion during TNT's "Inside the NBA" on Wednesday -- calling out other outlets for pushing the narrative.

Brittney Griner I Contemplated Dying By Suicide ... During Russian Imprisonment

Brittney Griner says while she was locked away in a prison cell in Russia, she contemplated dying by suicide several times.

The WNBA superstar told ABC News' Robin Roberts in a lengthy interview that aired Wednesday night the thoughts crept into her mind just after Russian authorities threw her behind bars for packing vape cartridges in her luggage at a Moscow airport in February 2022.

"I wanted to take my life more than once in the first weeks," Griner said. "I felt like leaving here so badly."

Miami Madness Woman Throws Bowling Ball at Lady's Head ... Massive Brawl Pops Off

the brutal attack
TikTok/@HoneyMilanMusic

A massive brawl at a bowling alley in Miami erupted this week -- which ended in a brutal attack on a woman who took a heavy ball to the head ... something that was caught on video.

This footage is making the rounds -- capturing an insane fight between multiple people who got into the gutter somewhere in the Brickell neighborhood ... and where bowling balls started being used as straight-up weapons, with at least one person getting clocked.

Unclear what exactly precipitated all this ... but in any case, several different parties were going at each other -- and eventually, one woman started throwing balls around.

O.J. Simpson Executor Invites Goldmans, Browns to Meeting ... No Payment Guarantees

O.J. Simpson's executor is ready to talk money with the people to whom Simpson died owing tens of millions of dollars -- but he's not making any promises about what the estate will pay them ... TMZ has learned.

Malcolm LaVergne -- O.J.'s longtime lawyer and now executor of his estate -- sent a letter, dated April 25, to lawyers for the Brown and Goldman families regarding their civil judgments against O.J. ... and inviting them to a meeting this month to discuss their probate claims against the estate.

Among the topics LaVergne says he wants to share with Nicole Brown and Ron Goldman's families -- O.J.'s living revocable trust, his last 2 years of federal tax returns, federal tax liens, cash and jewelry LaVergne took from O.J.'s house after he died and videos he shot of Simpson's residence.

NBA's Dorian Finney-Smith Opens Up On Dad's Prison Release ... Spent 29 Years Behind Bars

GLAD TO HAVE DAD BACK
TMZSports.com

Brooklyn Nets hooper Dorian Finney-Smith is opening up about his father's return home after a lengthy, near three-decade prison bid ... telling TMZ Sports pops is making up for lost time by spending time with his family!

Elbert Smith was reunited with his son in December after he was paroled ... following a mid-90s second-degree murder conviction. 52-year-old Smith was able to see his NBA player son ball as a pro for the very first time ... when he attended a home game in BK in April.

"It was exciting, man! I wish I probably would've played better that game, but we got the win, and he was just happy to be there," the 30-year-old forward joked at LAX.

TMZ TV Hot Takes Britney & Jamie Lynn Spears ... George Santos, Travis Kelce

It's the middle of the week, and TMZ's got a whole bunch of clips to get you over the hump (day).

TMZ Live

BLASTING LITTLE SIS
TMZ.com

On "TMZ Live" ... Harvey and Charles analyze Britney Spears calling her sister Jamie Lynn a "bitch" in a rambling, somewhat incoherent video.

Ryan Garcia Tested Positive For PED Before Devin Haney Fight ... Boxer Calls BS!

UPDATE

5/2 -- 6:00 AM PT -- Devin Haney addressed the reports of Ryan Garcia's test results ... saying it's "unfortunate Ryan cheated and disrespected both the fans and the sport of boxing by fighting dirty and breaking positive not once, but twice."

Haney -- who said he is "an advocate for clean fighting" -- added Garcia owes fans an apology ... as his recent posts suggest he finds it all to be funny.

"We put our lives on the line to entertain people for a living," Haney said. "You don't play boxing."

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