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Prosecutors in Massachusetts don't think Aaron Hernandez should die an innocent man and just filed a motion to stop his murder conviction from being dismissed.

As we previously reported, Hernandez's legal team asked a judge to throw out his 2015 murder conviction citing a Mass. legal doctrine called abatement ab initio -- which means if a person dies while appealing a criminal case, the conviction is thrown out.

However, the Bristol County D.A.'s Office is opposing, saying Hernandez should not be "rewarded" for killing himself, and the abatement law shouldn't be recognized in this case.

In docs, the D.A. says the law is outdated and not recognized in several states. They also claim it's not applicable if someone dies by suicide instead of natural causes.

Further, the D.A. says the dismissal would be disrespectful to the victim's family, and screw up the civil suits pending against Hernandez.

LeBron James(briefly) stole the show at a youth basketball tournament this weekend ... throwing down a 2-handed slam to remind everyone in attendance why he's called the King.

It all went down at the Dru Joyce Shooting Stars Classic in Akron ... where hundreds of the most talented kids in the country -- including LBJ's own boys -- compete in a huge tournament.

Bron showed the youngins how to really rock the rim ... and quickly left the court to bring the focus back to the kids.

Joe Mixon has found an NFL home.

The Cincinnati Bengals selected the ex-Oklahoma star in the 2nd round of the Draft Friday night -- 48th overall -- despite the running back's troubled past.

Mixon wasn't invited to the NFL combine after video was released showing him brutalizing a female student back in 2014 ... but many experts predicted he could be picked as high as the 2nd round, or fall off the board completely.

Mixon and the female student met privately last week and settled her lawsuit she had filed against him, both agreeing to move past the situation.

Ja Rule's broken his silence hours after his Fyre Festival was called off following a disastrous start ... and he insists it was NOT a scam.

The rapper said Friday his main priority is "getting everyone [off] the island SAFE" and he'll elaborate on the calamity that unfolded just days before his first ever festival kicked off at the Bahamas this weekend.

Ja Rule also said, "I'm heartbroken ... it was NOT A SCAM as everyone is reporting. I don't know how everything went so left but I'm working to make it right by making sure everyone is refunded."

The rapper went on to say he apologizes but says, "this is NOT MY FAULT," but is taking responsibility.

A U.S. State Department official tells us they're monitoring the situation and "stand ready to provide appropriate consular services to any U.S. citizens in need."

As we reported ... Ja's festival looked more like a refugee camp and ticket holders who paid between $1k to $12k walked into living accommodations which looked like they had been used in previous disaster relief efforts, empty beer stands and "gourmet food" that turned out to be 2 pieces of bread and 2 pieces of cheese.

Has anyone EVER been this excited to be drafted by Cleveland?!

Here's ex-Michigan star Jabrill Peppers celebrating his name being called with the 25th overall pick in the NFL Draft ... busting out his fraternity's signature 'party hop.'

Peppers was a Heisman trophy finalist last season with the Wolverines, but many predicted his draft stock would fall after he reportedly failed his drug test at the combine.

That wasn't the case, and Breezy is clearly happy about it ... smiling from ear to ear as his family and friends bark and cheer like they're in the middle of the Dawg Pound.

The second half of the Waffle House empire is no more -- co-founder Tom Forkner has died ... one month after the death of his partner, Joe Rogers Sr.

Waffle House confirmed Forkner's death. Co-founder Joe died in early March.

Waffle House was founded in 1955 in Georgia. It's one of the only restaurant chains that's open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It has more than 1,500 locations across the country.

Tom -- who was 98 years old -- joins Joe, at 97, in the big waffle house in the sky.

RIP

United Airlines will cut a huge check with Dr. David Dao -- the airline and disgruntled passenger have settled the looming lawsuit.

Dao's lawyers just said they've reached "an amicable settlement" with UAL for the injuries Dao received when he was savagely dragged off a jet in Chicago.

Attorney Thomas Demetrio says the amount of the settlement will remain confidential ... but there's no doubt United cut an enormous check. A trial would have been a disaster for the airline.

Demetrio praised United's CEO, saying, "Mr. Munoz said he was going to do the right thing, and he has." The lawyer added United has taken "full responsibility."

United confirmed the news ... adding the new improvements "will put our customers at the center of everything we do."

The airline made fundamental changes since the April 9 incident.

The Indianapolis Colts lineman who threatened police and spewed homophobic insults after allegedly stealing a golf cart has pled guilty in the case ... and now faces 3 years behind bars.

As we previously reported, 25-year-old David Parry went on a crazy drunken bender in Scottsdale, AZ on Feb. 25 -- that culminated with the 300-pounder puking his guts out in a jail trash can.

During the incident, Parry called police "f**king f**gots," "fat f**ks" and "p**syboy."

Now, we've learned he's pled guilty to 1 count of misdemeanor disorderly conduct and 1 count of felony attempt to commit unlawful means of transportation.

He'll be sentenced next month -- and faces up to 3 years behind bars.

We've also learned he's been charged with two counts of extreme DUI -- including having a BAC of over .20 -- stemming from the same incident. We're told that case is being handled in another court.

It was stank on a plane for the Toronto Raptors ... when 7-foot center Jonas Valanciunas blew a fart on the team jet and nearly killed all of his teammates.

P.J. Tucker captured the aftermath (asstermath) on video -- showing stars like Demar DeRozan, Kyle Lowry and others struggling to breathe.

But the funniest reaction is Serge Ibaka -- who looks genuinely pissed about the ass gas at 30,000 feet.

P.J. says the fart was so bad the team needs to burn the seat.

Cody "No Love" Garbrandt may have to change his nickname ... 'cause he's engaged!

The UFC star popped the question to his girlfriend, Danny Pimsanguan, in Sedona, AZ on Wednesday -- and sealed the deal with a pretty solid diamond ring!

The undefeated bantamweight champ and Wet Republic model have been dating for over a year now -- and they seem to be inseparable based on their social media pages.

Danny posted on social media about the engagement saying, "I'm so happy! We're engaged!"

Cody called her the "future Mrs. Garbrandt."

Congrats!

Oscar winning director Jonathan Demme died in New York Wednesday morning.

Demme reportedly died after battling esophageal cancer and also suffered complications from heart disease.

Demme directed blockbusters like "The Silence of the Lambs," "Philadelphia" and "Beloved" ... but also worked with music greats David Byrne and Chrissie Hynde. He directed the Talking Heads documentary film, "Stop Making Sense."

His most recent studio film was 2015's "Ricki and the Flash" with Meryl Streep.

Demme won the Oscar for directing "The Silence of the Lambs." He was 73.

The University of Louisiana Lafayette football program is in full meltdown mode right now after THIRTEEN PLAYERS were arrested Tuesday night in an alleged dorm room theft.

Among the 13 arrested are 8 guys who were projected to be STARTERS this season -- including linebacker Joe Dillon -- who was a freshman All-American last year.

The two guys expected to battle it out for the starting RB job -- Jordan Wright and Trey Ragas -- were also included in the bust.

So, what happened?

Officials say the 13 Ragin' Cajuns players went to a dorm room on April 5 and jacked $2,400 worth of stuff belonging to a student. There's apparently VIDEO of the incident.

All 13 players have been charged with criminal conspiracy to commit felony theft. They've been released from custody.

The school issued a statement saying all of the players have been suspended for a violation of team rules.

Ric Flair's fiancee, Wendy Barlow, was hospitalized after a bad car crash Tuesday night -- but the pro wrestling legend says it appears she'll be okay!!

Flair revealed the scary news around 6 PM -- saying, "Please Pray for my Fiancé who was just in a serious car wreck. She is at the Hospital."

Barlow is a former pro wrestling star who became famous as Fifi the Maid.

The good news ... Flair delivered an update Wednesday morning showing Barlow smiling in her hospital bed while wearing a neckbrace.

He added, "Wendy Will Be Ok! Thank You For All Of Your Messages And Prayers!!!!."

"The French Maid Will be Back Soon."

Katherine Jackson just got shot down by a judge in her bid to get a restraining order against nephew Trent Jackson on grounds he abused her and stole from her.

The judge just booted the case after Katherine's lawyers essentially threw themselves at the mercy of the court, claiming their client was unprepared to go forward. The lawyers asked the judge if the case could be dismissed "without prejudice," meaning it could be refiled. The lawyers also said Katherine never realized this would turn into a full-blown trial.

The judge said today was judgment day, and if she wasn't ready it's case closed forever.

What's interesting ... Katherine has been MIA from almost everyone -- she hasn't even seen her grandchildren since January and she's the one with legal guardianship.

Trent and other members of the family believe Katherine is being manipulated by some of Michael's brothers and sisters so they could gain some control over the MJ Estate.

That was quick!

Just days after Aaron Hernandez's death, his legal team has already filed a motion to have his murder conviction officially dismissed ... as part of a Massachusetts law that everyone's talking about.

Erin Moran swiftly succumbed to cancer after the first symptoms appeared, according to an open letter written by her husband, Steve Fleischmann.

Steve, who was with Erin for 25 years, says she first noticed the signs of her cancer right before Thanksgiving when she woke up to a dime sized blood stain on her pillow.

Steve thought the blood was coming from her tonsils, but by December ... Erin had been diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma, a type of skin cancer.

In the letter, which Erin's co-star Scott Baio posted on Facebook, Steve says by February Erin couldn't speak and eventually needed a feeding tube. According to the coroner the cancer had spread to her spleen, and she had a lot of fluid in her lungs when she died.

TMZ broke the story ... Erin died on April 22 at the age of 57. Steve says she died in bed holding his hand.