Phoenix Coyotes Cut Ties With 2020 Draft Pick ... Over Bullying History

Breaking News

The Phoenix Coyotes have severed ties with their 4th-round draft pick ... punting Mitchell Miller out of their organization over his bullying past.

The 'Yotes' selection in the 2020 NHL Draft has been accused of making one of his classmates' lives a living hell back when the two were in junior high in Ohio.

Isaiah Meyer-Crothers, a Black man who has developmental disabilities, told the Arizona Republic earlier this month that Miller beat him up and picked on him constantly.

"Everyone thinks he's so cool that he gets to go to the NHL," Meyers-Crothers said, "but I don't see how someone can be cool when you pick on someone and bully someone your entire life."

The harassment got so bad ... a police report was eventually filed, and in it, cops reportedly said Miller did some heinous things to Meyer-Crothers.

Officers in the report, per the Arizona Republic, said Miller called Meyer-Crothers racial slurs and made him lick a piece of candy that had been rubbed on a bathroom urinal.

18-year-old Miller reportedly admitted to the bullying in a juvenile court back in 2016 ... but the Coyotes still took him with the 111th overall pick in the NHL Draft earlier this month nonetheless.

And, initially, the team had stood by the pick, even in the wake of Meyer-Crothers coming forward with his displeasure over the selection. But, on Thursday, the team announced it's now officially moving on.

"Prior to selecting Mitchell in the NHL Draft, we were aware that a bullying incident took place in 2016," Coyotes' President & CEO Xavier Gutierrez said. "We do not condone this type of behavior but embraced this as a teachable moment to work with Mitchell to make him accountable for his actions and provide him with an opportunity to be a leader on anti-bullying and anti-racism efforts."

"We have learned more about the entire matter, and more importantly, the impact it has had on Isaiah and the Meyer-Crothers family. What we learned does not align with the core values and vision for our organization and leads to our decision to renounce our draft rights."

For his part, Miller apologized in a statement earlier this month for his disturbing past, writing, in part, "I am extremely sorry about the bullying incident that occurred in 2016 while I was in 8th grade. I was young, immature, and feel terrible about my actions."

Miller is committed to playing hockey at the University of North Dakota ... though it's unclear if the school still plans on allowing him to play in the wake of the Coyotes' decision.

Trump's Tampa Rally Fire Truck Sprays Supporters ... 'Are They Friend Or Foe?!?'

COOLIN' OFF THE CROWD
C-SPAN

President Trump's rally outside Tom Brady's office is a sweltering, hot mess ... but firemen are dousing Trump and his supporters to combat the heat.

Trump addressed a large crowd Thursday outside Raymond James Stadium -- home to Brady's Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the next Super Bowl -- and with folks crowded together under the baking hot sun, a fire truck opened up a hose to keep things cool.

The temperature's around 87 degrees, but that's a Florida 87, so the crowd was grateful -- some even turned their backs to Trump as they tried to get wet and cool down.

Trump noticed the water cannon during his speech, pausing to wonder if the commotion was friendly. If it wasn't he joked, "Let's take care of those son of a bitches." Not shockingly, the Prez couldn't hide his delight when the firefighters aimed at the media's cameras.

The water cannon reportedly sprayed folks as far as 100-yards away ... but some people have reportedly passed out in the sun, and medics are on the scene.

It's the second Trump rally this week dealing with weather issues. As we reported, supporters at Tuesday's Omaha rally were stranded in the cold and some ended up in the hospital.

Dana White Convinced Khabib Will Unretire ... 'We've Been Talking'

Breaking News

It hasn't even been a week ... and Khabib Nurmagomedov may already be coming out of retirement!!

HUGE NEWS!!!

Long story short, UFC boss Dana White told CBS Sports' Zach Gelb that he's been in touch with Khabib recently and he believes there's a good chance the Dagestani superstar will return to the Octagon sometime soon.

"Khabib and I have been talking," Dana said ... "He was completely emotional [at UFC 254] when he got through that fight. I have a feeling that he might go for 30-0."

When asked directly if he thinks Khabib will come back and fight again, White said -- "I do. His dad wanted him to get to 30-0, and I think he wants to honor his dads wish."

As we previously reported, Khabib defeated Justin Gaethje at UFC 254 this past weekend -- boosting his record to 29-0 -- and after the fight, Khabib announced his retirement from MMA.

Khabib's father passed away earlier this year from COVID complications -- and Khabib said he has no desire to continue fighting without his dad by his side.

They were super close. Khabib's dad had trained him since he was a child.

But, White says he may very well reconsider the retirement -- question is ... who is the opponent?

Khabib has recently said Georges St-Pierre is the only fighter that gets him excited for a fight ... and GSP seemed interested too.

So .... fingers crossed!!!!

Billie Eilish She's 'Destroying Our Country' ... Trump's Camp Has Beef!!!

Billie Eilish is destroying the very fabric of American life ... at least that's how officials in Donald Trump's administration view the pop sensation.

Here's the deal ... a top Trump administration official put a decidedly partisan spin on a $250 million campaign it wanted to roll out weeks before the election, aiming to "defeat despair and inspire" hope amid the COVID-19 pandemic. We say it was partisan because the official reportedly ripped celebrities known to oppose the Prez.

Billie drew much of the Trump administration's scorn ... in the docs, which the Washington Post says were obtained by Democrats in the House, the Trump official described the singer as "not a Trump Supporter" and accused her of "destroying our country and everything we care about."

8/19/20
VOTE HIM OUT

Billie's bad review makes sense ... she performed earlier this year at the Democratic National Convention, and she said the President was destroying the country. Guess her phrasing struck a chord with Trump's camp.

The ad campaign was reportedly seeking celebs to support Trump's response to the pandemic, and other famous folk like Jennifer Lopez and director Judd Apatow did not make the cut either.

J Lo famously bashed Trump's immigration policies during February's Super Bowl halftime show and officials ruled out Judd because he "believes Trump does not have the intellectual capacity to run as President."

The leaked docs reportedly outline lots of other Trump administration beefs with potential celebs for the ad blitz. Highlights include labeling Christina Aguilera and Adam Levine and Justin Timberlake liberal Obama-supporting Democrats who fight for gay rights.

Jack Black is reportedly referred to in the docs as a "classic Hollywood liberal" and Johnny Depp was passed over because he "appears to be aligned with the liberal left."

So, big shocker ... they found out most of Hollywood is liberal. Hope they didn't spend a ton of money on research.

Scarlett Johansson & Colin Jost They Said 'I Do!!!'

Scarlett Johansson and Colin Jost are now a married couple ... TMZ has learned.

Sources close to the couple tell TMZ ... Scarlett and Colin tied the knot over the weekend in Palisades, NY. She's familiar with the area ... Scarlett bought an iconic 4-bedroom crib there for $4 million back in 2018.

The couple made the announcement through Meals on Wheels America ... the org said the wedding was held with close family members and loved ones and that all CDC guidelines were followed.

Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media.

As we've reported ... the actress and 'SNL' vet got engaged back in May 2019 after 2 years of dating. ScarJo and Colin have been going strong since spring 2017 ... right after she made a guest appearance on the season finale of 'SNL.'

Fun fact about the house ScarJo bought ... it was designed by the same man commissioned by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to redesign the West Wing of the White House, including the Oval Office, back in the 1930s.

This is Scarlett's third marriage. She was previously married to Ryan Reynolds from 2008 to 2011 before tying the knot with journalist Romain Dauriac. They share a child together. This is Colin's first time going down the aisle.

Congrats!!!

Paul Rudd Thanks for Voting ... Have a Cookie!!!

WHAT A TREAT
Newsflare

Paul Rudd's showing his appreciation to Brooklyn residents braving the rain and chilly weather to stand in a long line to vote ... by providing a sweet pick-me-up.

The 'Ant-Man' star was handing out cookies to voters Thursday morning in NYC, telling each person, "Thank you for coming out and voting."

It appeared Paul was accompanied by a cookie-man with a backpack who was supplying him with the treats to disperse as they made their way down the line. It's COVID-safe generosity ... Paul and crew were wearing face masks and gloves.

Brian Rosenworcel, the drummer and cofounder of the band Guster, is the guy who recorded Rudd doing his good deed as he was waiting to vote himself.

As we've reported ... several other celebs have found their own unique ways to encourage Americans to exercise their right to vote in 2020. There was Lizzo's red, white and blue-themed music vid, Lil Dicky's nude breakdown of the 2 presidential candidates ... and of course, a lot more stars stripping down to raise awareness of proper mail-in ballot procedure.

Paul's going the Mr. Nice Guy route, which is right on brand -- but considering his face was covered, ya gotta wonder how many voters really knew who the cookie-man was.

Mike Tyson & Roy Jones Jr. We're Gonna Try and Kill Each Other ... Period.

Breaking News
THE REAL DEAL
Triller

Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr. say they're both on the same page about their upcoming "exhibition" fight -- it's not a game, they're going for blood.

The two boxing legends just addressed the media for their big Nov. 28 fight at Staples Center in L.A. (available through PPV on Triller) and clapped back hard at the suggestion it will be a friendly show.

"We got Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr. -- and I'm coming to fight," Tyson said Thursday ... "I hope [Roy is] coming to fight and that's all you need to know."

The issue is, the head of the California State Athletic Commission has said the guys will be going EASY on each other and WON'T be headhunting.

Here's what CSAC executive director Andy Foster told Yahoo Sports -- "This isn’t a situation where they’re going out there to try to take each other’s heads off. They’re just going to be in there moving around the ring and letting fans see these legends."

On Thursday, Roy assured the media that's just not the case.

"The last guy who did an exhibition with Mike got dropped in the 1st round. And if you don’t know that, there’s something wrong with you," Roy said.

Roy was referencing Mike's 2006 exhibition with former heavyweight boxer Corey "T-Rex" Sanders. Tyson was clearly goofing around and not trying to kill the guy.

This time, Roy says the fight will be competitive.

"Who goes in the ring with the great, legendary Mike Tyson and thinks, 'Oh, this is an exhibition?! 12-ounce gloves, no headgear? Really? This is an exhibition? Come on, bruh. Be for real."

Mike says he's been training like a maniac -- yeah, we've seen the videos -- and he's getting his killer mentality back.

TIP-TOP SHAPE
TMZSports.com

In fact, Mike says he's not staying with his family at the moment because "there's no way to live with me. They'd kick me out of the house."

Calgary Cop On Trial for Police Brutality ... Video Shows Horrific Face-First Bodyslam

THE VIOLENT TAKEDOWN

A Canadian judge has released video of a police officer slamming a woman in handcuffs face-first onto the concrete floor, resulting in serious injuries ... and now he's on trial for it.

Constable Alex Dunn is charged with assault causing bodily harm for a December 2017 incident with Dalia Kafi, who he had arrested for breaking a court-ordered curfew.

As you can see in the surveillance footage ... Dunn walks Kafi, already in handcuffs, into the police station for a booking photo ... but then it appears he attempts to take off a head scarf she's wearing.

Kafi flinches and leans away, and after a few seconds of struggling to remove her scarf, Dunn violently flips her forward ... slamming her face and head on the hard floor. Blood can be seen immediately dripping from her face onto the floor.

Staff Sgt. Gordon Macdonald, who witnessed the incident and tended to Kafi afterward, referred to Dunn's move as a "judo-style throw" ... and called it "the worst use of force" he had ever seen during his testimony this week in Dunn's case.

Macdonald testified, "There's only one type of sound when somebody's bone hits the floor and that's what I heard." Kafi was taken to the hospital and needed surgery for a broken nose and stitches in her lip.

Dunn was reportedly suspended with pay for a year after he was charged for the incident, but has been brought back in an administrative role with the Calgary Police Service.

CPS says it is awaiting the outcome of his trial to determine if there will take any additional action. However, they also tell us ... "Police officers are trained to deescalate conflict and to use the least amount of force necessary to safely resolve a situation. We expect them to follow the law, our policies and our training."

Yasiel Puig Sued for Alleged Sexual Battery ... at '18 Lakers Game

Exclusive

MLB superstar Yasiel Puig is being sued by a woman accusing him of sexual battery at an NBA game back in 2018, according to court docs obtained by TMZ Sports.

The woman behind the lawsuit is using the pseudonym Jane Roe to protect her identity -- but claims Puig assaulted her at Staples Center on Oct 31, 2018.

In the docs, the woman alleged, "she was forced into a bathroom and Yasiel Puig grabbed at her trying to take her clothes off, touched her sexual organs during this struggle, and eventually pinned her with 1 arm and used his other to stroke his own penis, exposing himself, and eventually ejaculating."

The woman says in her lawsuit, she was "simply heading to use the bathroom" -- and did not go to the restroom with the intention of having a sexual encounter with Puig.

In her lawsuit, the woman does not say whether she went to law enforcement after the alleged incident -- we're digging to find out.

The date of the alleged assault correlates with a Lakers vs. Dallas Mavericks game at Staples Center -- and there are pics of Puig sitting courtside at that game.

The woman is suing for sexual battery, assault, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence and false imprisonment.

The woman does not specify an exact amount she's asking for -- but notes it's more than $50,000.

The accuser's attorney has confirmed with TMZ Sports that the Yasiel Puig mentioned in her lawsuit is in fact the MLB star.

We're reaching out to Puig for comment -- but so far, no word back.

Jerry Falwell Jr. Sues His Dad's University ... I Was Extorted & You Fired Me!!!

Jerry Falwell Jr. says it's bad enough he was the victim of an extortion plot over a phony sex scandal, but then the university his own father founded gave him the boot over the matter ... according to a new lawsuit.

Falwell Jr. filed legal docs accusing Liberty University -- founded by his father in 1971 -- of forcing his resignation in the wake of a former acquaintance, Giancarlo Granda, alleging he had sex with Falwell's wife as Falwell watched.

In the suit, Falwell says he and his family became the targets of a malicious smear campaign incited by anti-evangelical forces ... after Liberty University used the allegations as an excuse to force him to step down.

Falwell even claims these were efforts by political operatives pissed about his support of President Trump.

Granda told Reuters back in August the affair with Falwell's wife started in 2012 and lasted until 2018. In docs, Falwell admits Granda had an affair with his wife that ended in 2014, but denies watching them for pleasure. He also claims Granda demanded enormous cash payments from the Falwells to stay silent. Falwell says he refused to pay, and that's when he claims Granda went to the media.

Falwell claims Liberty University accepted the salacious and baseless accusations against him and his wife at face value and then a day later forced his resignation as president after 13 years at the helm. He insists the school didn't conduct an investigation.

Falwell adds the school gave credence to Granda's allegations by announcing Falwell had engaged in "disobedient" behavior "in secret" that was "shameful" and a "sin." He's suing the school for defamation and breach of contract.

6-Year-Old Sam Watch Me Rap The ABCs of J-O-Bs

PROFESSION POETRY
More Sam / YouTube

The future is bright for this young man and his fellow youth ... he's rapping about careers A through Z with a fun take on the ABCs.

Ya gotta see the video ... 6-year-old Sam is running down a list of cool occupations using every letter of the alphabet, and he literally doesn't miss a beat.

Sam's got serious flow and he's inspiring kids to be anything they want when they grow up with his #YouCanBeABCs ... and his dad's hyping him up and laying down a solid beatbox.

Architect, biochemist, computer software developer ... it's all on the table. Heck, he even rhymed gastroenterologist!!! This kid is AWESOME.

Bill Maher RBG Didn't Take the Hint ... Obama Wanted Her to Retire!!!

Bill Maher's politics seem mostly aligned with the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg, but he thinks RBG messed up by not taking Barack Obama's "hint" to retire before he left office.

The 'Real Time' host was on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" and railed on the Dems for being a "loser party" that doesn't know how to do politics.

Jimmy gave Bill props for the way he handled RBG's death -- he was on the air when someone broke the news to him and he pivoted in expert fashion. But, Bill thinks we never should have been in this position where RGB rolled the dice Trump would not be elected and if he was elected she could outlast him.

The "Real Time" host said there was a reason Obama invited RGB to The White House, because he says Obama didn't just invite people over to shoot the breeze ... he invited her, he said, to nudge her into retirement, but she didn't take the bait.

Bill skewered the Dems for not pressing more, and when Jimmy said her death came as a shock, Maher scoffed and said she had a long history of cancer and she was very old, so it should not have been shocking that she finally passed. It turned into a bonanza for Trump, who secured Amy Coney Barrett's elevation to the High Court ... the Justice Maher calls it "Nutso."

Speaking of Trump ... Maher has a prediction for how the election and the aftermath will go down, and it's worth a listen.

Maskless Woman Goes on 'Kung Fu' Attack In Racist Outburst

MASKLESS MOVES
ViralHog

This woman's taking face mask tirades to the next level, adding a disgusting racist tirade that included her busting out alleged Kung Fu moves on an Asian employee.

This all went down at Shoppers Drug Mart in Ontario, Canada where the employee had told the customer she had to wear a mask while inside the store ... and that set off the so-called "battle" you see in the video.

The maskless customer claimed she was doing Kung Fu because, "I know you know martial arts. So do I!" The employee desperately tried to get the woman out of the store and threatened to call police.

As if the situation couldn't get more bizarre ... the maskless woman appeared to threaten the employee with her own blood. You can see her waving a tissue she claimed had her blood on it.

Security ultimately arrived but the woman had bolted.

Nick Jonas Our Magical Powers Help Athletes Win ... Opposite of Drake Curse!!!

Breaking News
THE JONAS BROTHER EFFECT

Forget the "Drake Curse," Nick Jonas says athletes should be lining up for the "Jonas Blessing" -- a PROVEN theory that the JoBros can help win championships!!!

Patrick Mahomes. Cody Bellinger. Lewis Hamilton.

They all attended Jonas Brothers concerts just MONTHS before they dominated their respective sports.

Coincidence? NICK THINKS NOT!!

"To fully understand this conspiracy, we have to back things up to Sept. 22nd, 2019," Nick says ... "That is the day of the Jonas Brothers show in Kansas City Missouri. You know who was at that show? Patrick Mahomes. Cut to a few months later, Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs won Super Bowl 54."

That checks out.

"Next up, Dec 10, Arizona. Who was there you might ask? Oh, Cody Bellinger. Cut to October 27th, the Dodgers win the World Series."

Also, accurate.

"Lewis Hamilton attended the Jonas Brothers concert in Paris on Feb. 22nd. Just last week, he won his 92nd Grand Prix, the most of all time."

SOUNDS SCIENTIFIC TO US!

"The key to success is to come to a Jonas Brother show," Nick explains ... "Basically the reverse of the Drake Curse. Let's call it the Jonas Blessing."

Nick says talent and work ethic are fine and all ... but if you REALLY wanna win, it's about Jonas bangers like "Year 3000" and "Sucker."

"Congrats to all you Jonas-loving athletes who were smart enough to come to a show. You deserve those championships!"

He's not wrong.

Leanza Cornett Former Miss America Dead at 49 After Suffering Brain Injury

Breaking News

Leanza Cornett, who was crowned Miss America in 1993, has died after suffering a traumatic brain injury earlier this month.

Cornett died Wednesday, according to a family spokesperson. Though no cause of death was given, Cornett was severely injured during a fall at home on October 12 ... which required her undergoing a decompressive craniectomy to treat swelling and bleeding on her brain.

The Miss America Organization confirmed her passing, saying it's devastated for this sudden loss and deeply sorry for her loved ones. It adds ... "Leanza had a bright and beautiful spirit and her laugh was infectious."

Leanza was a familiar face on TV in the mid and late '90s -- she hosted several shows, including "Entertainment Tonight" in 1994.

The Jacksonville native was first crowned Miss Florida in 1992 before winning her Miss America crown the next year. She also sang in a Christian music group called Area Code and performed as Ariel from "The Little Mermaid" at Walt Disney World MGM Studios.

Once she was Miss America, Leanza used her platform in the '90s to be a leading activist for AIDS awareness ... and was often seen wearing a reds AIDS ribbon to support the cause.

She was 49.

RIP

L.A. Dodgers 2-Week Team-Wide Quarantine Advised By L.A. County Health Dept.

Exclusive

The Dodgers are "working closely" with the L.A. County Health Department after Justin Turner tested positive for COVID … and officials are advising an immediate team-wide quarantine.

TMZ Sports spoke with Health Department officials who tell us they've already been in contact with the champs and have issued recommendations on the next steps "to prevent additional exposures."

The Dept. is wishing Turner a speedy recovery ... but reminded the slugger that he -- like anyone who is COVID positive -- MUST quarantine until they beat the virus.

But, they're not just singling out Turner ... the LACDPH says any Dodgers player or staff member "who has been a close contact of a person who has tested positive for the virus for 15 minutes or more over a 24 hour period must quarantine for 14 days."

Since Turner got up close and personal with most of the team during the World Series celebration -- even packing in close for a team photo -- the suggestion is everyone needs to isolate, ASAP.

As we previously reported, the Dodgers boarded a plane and flew back to L.A. on Wednesday.

Here's hoping they follow the recommendations and stop the virus from spreading any more than it already has.

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