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Former Denver Broncos running back Ronnie Hillman, a third-round pick in 2012, is in hospice fighting for his life ... his former teammates said Tuesday.

Orlando Franklin -- who helped block for Hillman for three seasons in Denver -- initially revealed the sad news on his Twitter page ... asking Broncos fans for prayers for the ex-tailback.

"He's in hospice and not doing well," Franklin said.

Another one of Hillman's former teammates, Derek Wolfe, said later Tuesday the 31-year-old is currently battling "bad liver cancer."

"It's not looking good," Wolfe said on 104.3 The Fan on Tuesday. "He has pneumonia and I'm putting it out there just to send positive vibes his way."

Hillman played for the Broncos from 2012 through 2015 -- and helped Peyton Manning and the rest of the team win Super Bowl 50. Wolfe remembered him as a "great football player, great person, great teammate" and "an all-around great dude" on Tuesday.

Hillman, who starred at San Diego State before his NFL career began, also played for the Minnesota Vikings, San Diego Chargers and Dallas Cowboys in his career.

Nothing is holy in 2022 -- not even a plastic baby Jesus around Christmas time ... just ask cops in Fort Worth, who are looking for a Grinch-y thief.

FWPD posted surveillance footage of what they say is a crook making off with the centerpiece of a life-size nativity scene Saturday morning that was set up downtown -- and sure enough, you can see the dude making a clean getaway with young JC himself!

The man casually strolls up to the outdoor exhibition around 2 AM, picks up the baby doll from its basket ... and then saunters away like nothing even happened.

Unfortunately for him, his mug shows pretty clearly on camera ... and the cops have a solid view of who they're looking for. Fort Worth police say he was later seen jumping into a tan or silver Chevy Tahoe (or a Pathfinder, perhaps) -- leading them to think he ain't alone.

They're asking the public for any help in identifying this fella, and go out of their way to call him a not-so-wise man. Tips can be sent to 817-392-3956, with Report# 2200325146.

Sonya Eddy, known for her work on "General Hospital," has died ... according to her close friend Octavia Spencer.

Octavia shared the sad news on social media Tuesday ... telling the world her friend passed away the night before. She says, "The world lost another creative angel" ... noting her "legions" of fans will truly miss her. The cause of her death is unclear.

Sonya was truly a staple of "General Hospital" starting in 2006, appearing in 543 episodes of the long-running soap opera. Fans remember her playing Epiphany Johnson, a no-nonsense head nurse that was the mother of the late Stan Johnson, who got wrapped up in the mob.

Apart from the soap, Sonya's been working in the industry for decades -- starting in 1995 on "The Drew Carey Show," and going on to appear in projects like "Seinfeld," "Patch Adams," "Reba," "Monk," "Joan of Arcadia," "CSI," "Glee," "Castle," and "Fresh Off The Boat."

She was 55.

RIP

Courtney Clenney, the OnlyFans model accused of murdering her boyfriend, couldn't believe it when police told her Christian Obumseli was dead ... new video shows.

Clenney was sitting in a Miami Police Department interrogation chamber when cops delivered the news that Christian did not survive the brutal stabbing ... and it appears to hit her like a ton of bricks.

In new video, obtained by Law & Crime, Clenney is talking to herself as she sobs and says, "God, Christian, be OK," while waiting to be interviewed by police. When interrogators finally arrive, Clenney asks how Christian is doing and she's told he's being monitored at a hospital.

Clenney appears to perk up at the news and asks if Christian is going to need surgery, but is told it's too early to know.

But, a few hours later, after leaving and returning to the interrogation room in a different outfit, Clenney is told point-blank Christian is dead ... and her reaction is emotional.

Clenney sighs, clutches her chest and puts a hand to her mouth ... seemingly in disbelief. She asks police if Christian is really dead, and says, "This is not real right?"

CC asks for a hug then declines when offered one ... and she tries to convince herself Christian is still alive, her voice breaking as she tries to process the news ... before it eventually sets in that Christian is gone.

Teresa Giudice has done both reality TV and a prison stint -- making her the perfect person to offer Todd and Julie Chrisley tips on how to come out the other side new and improved.

The 'RHONJ' star chatted it up with a photog Tuesday at LAX, where she was asked what sort of advice she might offer the patriarch/matriarch duo of "Chrisley Knows Best" ... and as it turns out, Teresa's got a lot of great insight that'll help pass the time.

Watch ... TG says the best thing to do is to stay engaged with their immediate family -- and a lot of that is going to depend on their children coming to visit them, like her family did when she served more than a year back in the mid-2010s for her fraud case.

Granted, Todd and Julie are due to be behind bars for a lot longer than that -- Todd 12 years and Julie 7 -- but even with that ... Teresa says there's more to be done in order to find peace amid the tense situation.

Other recommendations she has ... staying busy, either with a job or through exercise, and keeping your mind active. She also says a good meal might not be so hard to come by -- but it might require them to get their hands dirty.

Lil Wayne fired his personal chef at the drop of a hat, this after she ditched him in Vegas to deal with a pressing family emergency ... so claims the woman in a new lawsuit.

Morghan Medlock just filed suit against Weezy for what she claims is wrongful termination, retaliation and a number of unlawful practices that she says she was subjected to when he canned her earlier this year ... just because she went to go help her injured son.

According to the docs, obtained by TMZ, Medlock describes a trip to Vegas she tagged along for during Memorial Day weekend -- for which she says she was doing her job (AKA, cooking all LW's meals, etc). At this point, Medlock says she'd had the gig almost 2 years.

Things were going swimmingly, that is ... until Medlock says she was notified of a head injury her 10-year-old had sustained that left him hospitalized. Obviously, Medlock wanted to get back to L.A. ASAP -- but claims Wayne and co. were screwing up the flight back over shenanigans ... namely, that Weezy allegedly delayed things by toking up on the aircraft.

Instead of standing around and waiting for them to get their act together, Medlock says she hightailed it out of there on a separate flight -- notifying Wayne's assistant of the situation and assuming they'd understand. Instead, she claims she was terminated.

Medlock says after she left, Wayne's team kept asking her if she was quitting -- to which she says she clearly responded, "No." After her son was dealt with, Medlock says she tried getting back into the swing of things as head chef -- but claims she got the cold shoulder.

Eventually, Medlock claims somebody on Wayne's team texted her an ungraceful goodbye message, and she was later formally told she was being let go ... with a message from Wayne saying, "tell Chef Morghan this isn't going to work" -- or so she claims in the suit.

The women who took their tops off in Qatar following Argentina's World Cup win have made it out of the country unscathed ... avoiding arrest despite their risqué celebrations drawing the ire of many in the conservative state.

The Lionel Messi fans, ID'd on Instagram as Milubarbiie and Noe -- aka La chica del topless -- showed on Tuesday morning that they both made it to their respective homes without issues.

The two posted videos, revealing neither were arrested in Qatar ... despite speculation that they could be thrown behind bars for revealing a whole lot of skin after Argentina beat France in the World Cup final on Sunday.

Noe joked about being in the clear from her seat on an airplane ... saying in a caption on one of her vids that she wanted the flight to take off before people came looking for her.

Milubarbiie, meanwhile, said in a selfie video that she had made it back to Europe, a place she missed dearly while cheering on Argentina in the soccer tournament.

The homecomings were great news for the duo ... as Qatar officials had urged visitors to avoid wearing "excessively revealing clothing in public" in order to avoid potential conflict with authorities.

The cops working the grisly murder case of 4 Idaho college students were just alerted to the discovery of a white Hyundai Elantra nearly 500 miles away -- and are now working to see if there's any connection between the car and their investigation.

Detectives in Moscow, Idaho have been on the hunt for a vehicle of the same description that may have been at or near the crime scene on November 13.

An official for the Eugene, Oregon PD tells us someone called 911 over the weekend about a person sleeping inside a white Hyundai Elantra. Officers responded to the scene and made contact with the individual -- but no further report was made.

We're told Eugene alerted investigators in Moscow of the vehicle -- and a rep for Moscow tells us they're now working to see if there's any connection with the ongoing murder case.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle look like they teamed up with Kay Jewelers to shoot a commercial ... at least at first glance, but the actors are just dead ringers for the Sussexes.

The TV advertisement has been causing a stir online, with lots of folks saying they thought the man and woman hawking a necklace in the commercial were actually Harry and Meghan ... but it's not them.

The Duke and Duchess doppelgängers nuzzle up against each other before the man places a diamond necklace around her neck and then they share a kiss ... that's Kay's thing, of course.

But, the camera angles, editing and lighting certainly try to make the actors look like the real deal.

Kudos to the production crew, because it's no wonder so many people are doing double takes -- and the timing of Kay's move is no coincidence.

As you know, there's a new six-hour "Harry & Meghan" Netflix docuseries that's super popular right now ... plus, Harry's memoir drops next month.

San Jose police have made an arrest months after a teenage boy took his life -- this after being extorted for money when he sent a nude photo to someone he thought was a teen girl.

SJPD announced Monday 25-year-old Jonathan Kassi was taken into custody in Los Angeles to face charges of extortion and attempted disorderly conduct ... related to posting a photograph or recording without consent.

The cops are saying Kassi is connected to the death of 17-year-old Ryan Last -- who died by suicide in May when someone he'd been chatting with online demanded he send them $5,000 upon receiving an intimate picture they'd solicited from him or else the pics would go public.

Ryan apparently believed he was communicating with a girl his age -- and when a photo was sent to him that person asked for a similar naked photo in return, which he sent.

Once the fraudster got the photo of Ryan ... he demanded money on the threat of releasing the picture publicly among his friends and family members. Ryan didn't have anywhere near $5,000 but he did pay $150. It was at this point Ryan panicked and died by suicide.

Amid their investigation -- which ended up including the FBI -- law enforcement said they believed this was happening on a larger scale ... where crooks from overseas were tricking young people into sending compromising material, and then extorting them for quick cash.

The San Jose Crimes Against Children Task Force said they were looking into possible ties to a West African financial extortion scheme ... which could also connect to Southeast Asia.

The cops, thus far, have stopped short of explicitly connecting Kassi to any greater criminal enterprise -- but we're sure more info is due to be released as the process plays out. They're saying they suspect Kassi might've victimized other minors as well through multiple profiles.

The same day Kassi was arrested, the FBI and Dept. of Homeland Security issued a PSA about this phenomenon -- saying it was happening all across the country (mostly to boys) and that it had resulted in more than a dozen suicides. Scary stuff, to say the least.

Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver, who announced his intent to sell his team after an investigation concluded he'd used the n-word, amongst other awful behavior, has now finally found a suitor ... former Michigan State basketball player and billionaire businessman, Mat Ishbia.

The news comes via a report from Adrian Wojnarowski ... who tweeted Tuesday morning that the sides are putting the finishing touches on a deal.

"Billionaire mortgage lender Mat Ishbia is finalizing a purchase of the Phoenix Suns," Woj wrote, adding, "The deal, expected to be completed in the near future, would end the tumultuous tenure of owner Robert Sarver."

Ishbia is a former college basketball player ... he played 3 seasons under Tom Izzo at MSU. Although he didn't play much (2.4 minutes per game), Mat won a National Championship in 2000.

After college, Ishbia made a fortune in the lending business ... he owns a majority stake in United Wholesale Mortgage, a company founded by his dad in the mid-80s.

Ishbia is worth $5.1 billion, according to Forbes -- making him the 501st richest person in the world.

As we previously reported, Sarver was suspended for 1 year and fined $10 million by the NBA after an extensive investigation, spanning 320 interviews with current and former employees, found the Suns and Mercury owner used the n-word at least 5 times. FWIW, the league said his use of the word wasn't motivated by hate or prejudice, but instead, he was "recounting the statements of others."

The investigation also concluded Sarver didn't treat male and female employees equally. In addition, they found RS engaged in inappropriate physical conduct toward male employees.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver, as well as players like LeBron James (and many more around the league), came out against Sarver ... and he finally announced his intent to sell the team.

"I do not want to be a distraction to these two teams and the fine people who work so hard to bring the joy and excitement of basketball to fans around the world," Sarver, who bought the team in 2004, said when announcing he was going to sell back in September.

"I want what's best for these two organizations, the players, the employees, then fans, the community, my fellow owners, the NBA and the WNBA. This is the best course of action for everyone."

Now it appears he's found his buyer.

The Suns, Sarver, nor the NBA have addressed the reported upcoming sale.

Mason and Reign Disick were riding high at Mason's bar mitzvah, with partygoers hoisting the famous brothers up towards the heavens ... and new footage from the blowout party shows the epic moment!

Ya gotta see the video ... Mason and his younger brother are in the middle of a huge mob of people, with sparklers going off and Mason's bar mitzvah cake being carted over to him when suddenly he rises up ... hoisted on people's shoulders. FYI ... Jewish tradition is to hoist the bar mitzvah boy up on a chair, but hey ... lifting them outright is ok, too.

While it was Mason's bar mitzvah, he shares a birthday with Reign ... so they both got hoisted in the air ... even though Reign's still a few years away from becoming a man in the Jewish culture.

As you see, proud papa Scott Disick is beaming from the sidelines.

Scott rented out Offsunset lounge, a Hollywood hotspot on the Sunset Strip, for the bash.

There were 200 people at the party, including 100 of Mason and Reign's friends. Like any good bar mitzvah, the kids were on the dance floor all night partying with a disc jockey.

Meanwhile, our sources say the parents had a great time watching their kids dance ... all the Kardashians were there, but notable absences included Corey Gamble, Travis Scott, Travis Barker and Kanye West.

Scott's fingerprints were all over Mason's bar mitzvah ... the lettering on the cake and banners hung around the party mirrored the clothing brand Chrome Hearts ... duds Scott likes to wear around town.

"Hacksaw" Jim Duggan has had his fair share of battles inside and outside the ring ... but perhaps none scarier than when the WWE legend recently had to ward off an intruder at his South Carolina home.

68-year-old Duggan told the story in an interview with Wrestling Inc. ... saying someone broke into his SC home around 6:45 PM on Thursday, December 8.

Jim says he took the man, who was in his mid-20s, down to the ground, and then held the guy at gunpoint using a .44 caliber pistol.

Jim's wife, Debra, was also home at the time of the horrifying incident.

As if the guy breaking in wasn't scary enough, Jim and Debra heard other people in the neighborhood yelling, which made them fear more danger was on the way.

The intruder reportedly knocked on multiple doors seeking refuge from a separate legal matter ... before ultimately entering Duggan's house, through an unlocked front door, as a last resort.

"Thank God we didn't shoot him," the WWE Hall of Famer said, who declined to press charges on the intruder.

On Saturday, Jim -- who previously battled prostate cancer -- commended the Kershaw County Sherriff's Department in SC for responding and apprehending the intruder.

A triumphant return to Argentina on Tuesday nearly turned disastrous for Lionel Messi and a couple of his other star teammates ... who were all almost thrown off the roof of a bus by a low-hanging street wire.

The scary moment happened as Messi and the Argentinian national team were taking laps around Buenos Aires to celebrate their World Cup title over France.

Messi -- sitting beside Leandro Paredes, Rodrigo De Paul, Angel Di Maria and Nicolas Otamendi -- didn't see a power line coming his bus' way ... and it almost clocked him and his teammates right in the heads.

It actually ended up clipping Paredes -- who lost his hat in the collision -- but, thankfully, all of the guys were able to move out of the way ... and keep the World Cup party going.

The scene was WILD in Argentina as the guys made their way through Buenos Aires following the close call -- thousands of fans lined streets for the second day since the big win ... this time, with some climbing to the top of the city's Obelisco to cheer on the soccer team.

It was chaos around the guys' bus, too ... as everyone tried to get an up-close look at the new world champs.

Despite the scare earlier in the day and the pandemonium in the streets ... everyone made it back home OK -- including Messi, who took the World Cup trophy with him to bed.

"Buen día!" he said in his caption on the pic.

An apparently unhoused man is in police custody after an hours-long standoff sparked by the guy boldly taking over a woman's home while armed with a sword.

The scary intrusion went down Monday in Venice, CA, where resident Marcia Davalos told KCAL9 she arrived home to find the man already chilling inside, and claiming it was really his. Aside from trashing her place, he slammed the door in her face and locked her out.

What's more, the man reportedly had a knife and a massive sword ... which resulted in a huge LAPD response, swarming the block with the SWAT team and even sending in a robot to check out the situation.

After a 4-hour-long standoff, police used tear gas to force the man out of the home ... and, bizarrely, he emerged wrapped in a bath towel!

The guy had made himself so at home, he was taking a shower when cops decided his time was up.

Afroman is wading into the political fray for 2024 -- and not just for local office either ... the guy's going for the big enchilada to potentially become the next President of the United States!

The rapper made the big announcement this weekend at a concert of his in Poplar Bluff, MO ... where he told a packed house at the Black River Coliseum about his plan to run for POTUS, going up against the likes of Donald Trump and whoever else will be in the race.

When you see the video, it might seem like a joke, but we're told he's dead serious ... and the crowd loved it -- cheering Afroman on as he touted his first big policy -- the national legalization of weed. He reiterated this platform in yet another video, emphasizing this is no prank ... dude's got Oval Office aspirations.

Afroman's weed vision is cool and all, but not all that revolutionary these days. Frankly, the herb's already allowed recreationally in 21 states and medicinally in a lot of others.

It's still unclear where he lands on other domestic and international issues -- but we suppose we'll find out in due time. We're told he's running as an independent.

We don't see any record yet of Afroman filing paperwork with the Federal Elections Commission to make it official, but his camp says it's coming.

Of course, he wouldn't be the first MC to throw his hat in the ring -- Kanye West did in 2020, and seems primed to do it again in 2024 ... or as Afroman puts it, 20-20-FRO!!!