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Charles Barkley WENT OFF on Jussie Smollett on "Inside the NBA" on Thursday -- saying if the actor really wanted to be a hate crime victim, he shoulda just gone to Liam Neeson's neighborhood.

It's just one of SEVERAL shots Barkley took at the "Empire" actor during the show -- but it was definitely the strongest.

Remember, Liam Neeson recently revealed that he once grabbed a weapon and went hunting for a "black bastard" in Northern Ireland after a friend of his claimed she was raped by a black man.

People RIPPED Neeson for the comments -- because it's racist as hell -- but now he's become the punchline for Barkley's Jussie Smollett jokes.

"Jussie ... you wasted all that damn time and money! You know what you shoulda did? Just went out into Liam Neeson's neighborhood! Coulda solved all your damn problems."

The guys also aired a fake $3,500 check -- like the one Jussie supposedly gave to two brothers to beat him up. Barkley laughed wildly while that one aired.

There's more ... Charles addressed the viewers:

"America, let me just tell you something. Do not commit crimes with checks! If you're gonna break the law, do not write a check! Get cash man!!

That's when Shaq finally stepped in and told Barkley to shut it down.

Remember that disgusting bone-snapping injury Bengals tight end Tyler Eifert suffered in 2018???

Dude's doing MUCH better now ... crushing foot drills with a big smile on his face as he preps for his big comeback in 2019!!!

TE suffered a gruesome injury on Sept. 30 against the Falcons, when he got pummeled by linebacker De'Vondre Campbell, who awkwardly fell on Tyler's right ankle and snapped it sideways.

Relive the experience below (or don't. We wouldn't blame you one bit. It's so nasty).

Eifert appears to have put the horrific experience behind him ... rippin' through a set of drills in a workout vid he posted Thursday.

"Looks a lot better than the last time you saw my ankle! #LETSGO," Eifert says.

Jussie Smollett sent a text to the Osundairo brothers 4 days before the allegedly staged attack went down ... then met with them to go over details, including dousing the actor in gasoline.

Prosecutors detailed the evidence they've gathered against Jussie in docs filed for his bond hearing -- and it's jaw-dropping. In the docs, prosecutors say Smollett received the now-infamous hate mail -- with homophobic and racial epithets -- on January 22 at the Chicago studio where "Empire" is shot.

The letter contained an "unknown white powdery substance." It would appear that was intended to make people think it was Anthrax or some other dangerous chemical ... but prosecutors say it turned out to be crushed Ibuprofen.

Then on January 25, Jussie fires off the text to Abel Osundairo, saying ... "Might need your help on the low. You around to meet up and talk face to face?" Cops say Abel and Jussie had been friends since the fall of 2017, and that Jussie sometimes scored ecstasy from him.

Later on the 25th, they did meet face to face outside Abel's Chicago apartment and talked in Jussie's car about staging the attack. Cops say this is when Ola was brought onboard. The original plan, according to cops, was for Ola to place a rope around Jussie's neck, pour gasoline on him and yell, "This is MAGA country." At that point, they say Jussie gave them a $100 bill to go purchase necessary items for the "attack."

On January 27, they meet again and drive around Chicago to scout locations. Cops say Smollett told them to leave their cell phones and pointed out the surveillance cam near Jussie's residence that he believed would record the incident.

They made a late change from gasoline to bleach -- although cops don't say why -- and Smollett also handed them the $3,500 check payable to Abel and backdated to Jan. 23. As we've reported, Jussie noted in the memo line that the check was for training.

On January 28, the brothers bought the materials and Abel deposited the check.

Now to the "attack" ... at 12:49 AM, on January 29, cops say there was a 3-minute call between Smollett and Abel, and Jussie told him the "attack" would go down at exactly 2 AM.

Interestingly, police are now revealing they do have surveillance video of the brothers waiting on a bench near the predetermined staging location around 2 AM. Cops say Jussie was running late.

As you know, the Osundairos boarded a flight for Nigeria later on the 29th -- but police say Jussie spoke to Abel on Jan. 30. They say Jussie called him for 8 minutes and 48 seconds, while Abel was in Turkey.

And, there's this ... you'll recall Smollett's camp told TMZ the day of the attack, he believed his attackers were white. Cops say he also told them, "he could see that the area around this person's eyes was white-skinned."

Of course, we now know nothing could be further from the truth.

R. Kelly's just been accused of sexual misconduct by two women who told their story for the first time ... because they want to encourage other victims to come forward as well.

The women -- Latresa Scaff and Rochelle Washington -- are represented by Gloria Allred, who came out strong against the singer at the NYC press conference by accusing him of using his fame to manipulate 2 starstruck teenagers in 1995. She claims he plied them with drugs and alcohol to take advantage of them sexually.

Allred says the women's story fits a pattern of predatory conduct by Kelly, and delivered a stern message to him -- you have nowhere to run or hide, and you're not going to get away with this anymore.

Latresa and Rochelle also spoke, and Latresa gave a detailed account of the night she claims she was sexually abused by Kelly. She says she was 16 and Washington was 15 when they went to an R. Kelly and LL Cool J concert and after-party in Baltimore.

She claims Kelly singled them out and someone in his crew gave them drugs and alcohol despite being underage. They were then invited to Kelly's hotel afterward and their cab fare was paid for to get there.

Scaff alleges the 2 called a local radio show to tell them they were sitting in R. Kelly's hotel room and even made it on the air ... before the singer arrived. When he did, Scaff claims his penis was exposed and he quickly got the teenage girls on his bed and tried to coax them into a threesome.

Latresa says Rochelle declined and went to hide in the bathroom, and that's when Kelly had sex with her without her consent. She says Kelly left the room shortly afterward and they never heard from him again.

As we reported ... a grand jury has been convened to investigate the alleged sex tape that Michael Avenatti handed over to Cook County's State Attorney's Office. Avenatti says the VHS tape shows Kelly having sex with a girl who seems to be 14 years old.

Denver Nuggets star Isaiah Thomas is now Zion Williamson's unofficial career adviser now -- telling the Duke star to STOP PLAYING COLLEGE BALL ASAP ... and wait for the NBA.

Actually, IT was much more to the point -- "Zion sit yo ass down lol and we will be ready for you in the big boy league."

Thomas has a real issue with NBA rules that forbids top players from entering the NBA Draft right out of high school. The rule has forced players like Zion to go the 1-and-done route at schools like Duke.

Enter Thomas ... who hates the whole system.

"Let these kids go straight out of HS!!! Too much on the line to be messing with college if you got a legit chance to turn pro," Thomas said on Twitter.

"If they not tryna pay these college athletes then the nba should let them come straight outta HS. If college was paying these athletes then it would be a different story but since they not let these kids go get this money if they have the chance too."

There are some people who say stars like Zion should simply sit out the year -- thereby minimizing the risk of injury. But, Thomas doesn't like that option either.

"I don’t like the sitting out part. Even the sitting out part of the combine. I’m just saying let the kids make a decision what they want to do and then you go from there. You know we don’t want any handouts we GO TAKE what’s OURS."

Boogie Cousins is siding with IT ... teeing off on the NCAA at practice on Thursday, saying college basketball is "bullsh*t" and thinks Zion should prep for the next level.

Not everyone feels the same way ... ex-NBA star Kenny Smith says top players like Zion SHOULD play one year of college ball because "iron sharpens iron."

The Dodgers will pay tribute to the late Don Newcombe this season ... stitching a special No. 36 patch on their uniforms for all of 2019 -- the team announced Thursday.

The legendary pitcher -- one of the most important black athletes in MLB history -- died Tuesday at the age of 92 ... and the team says they plan to honor him on their jerseys.

Team president Stan Kasten says the patch will be on every uniform beginning on Opening Day next month ... with Newcombe becoming just the 7th Dodger player EVER to receive that honor.

Newcombe played 8 seasons for the Brooklyn-Los Angeles Dodgers from 1949 to 1958 ... winning Rookie of the Year honors, the Cy Young AND the NL MVP during his career.

Athletes all across the globe were devastated to learn of his passing from an undisclosed illness ... and current Dodgers paid tribute to the man all over social media this week.

"I learned so much from this man," star closer Kenley Jansen said ... "Sitting together, knowing his stories, his storytelling, what he, Jackie and Roy Campanella had to go through for us to be here today."

"He taught me about the history of the game."

Nobody in the history of dating has ever screwed up THIS badly ...

A man at a Colorado Avalanche game elbowed his girlfriend in the head trying to catch a puck ... and then gave the souvenir to another woman -- and his GF was PISSSSSEEDDD!!!!

It all went down at the Avs-Jets game in Denver on Wednesday night ... when Colorado star Gabriel Landeskog flipped a puck in the stands to give fans a shot at some memorabilia.

That's when a guy committed the ultimate dating foul -- not only catching his GF with a flying 'bow ... but GIVING AWAY the prize to another woman!!

His date could not have been any less pleased with him ... but there was some good news -- the Avs went on to win 7-1!!

It's over ... UFC legend Georges St-Pierre just officially announced his retirement from mixed martial arts -- saying, "It takes a lot of discipline, though, to retire on top."

The 37-year-old is widely considered one of the greatest UFC fighters of all time -- some say the best -- racking up a 26-2 record and 3 UFC titles in his 17-year career in the Octagon.

GSP has signature victories over stars like Nick Diaz, Matt Serra, Matt Hughes, Carlos Condit, B.J. Penn (twice)... and most recently Michael Bisping.

During his press conference, GSP thanked Dana White, Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta and other key UFC people.

He also thanked UFC legend Royce Gracie for inspiring him to start MMA back in the day, and thanked Wayne Gretzky for being such an influential Canadian role model.

"I always wanted to be like Wayne Gretzky."

GSP says he's not sad about retiring -- "No tears, I'm very happy to do it."

"It takes a lot of discipline to retire on top ... you should retire on top and that is very hard to do."

As for one final fight with Khabib Nurmagomedov, Georges said he started negotiating with Khabib's camp but "the UFC had other plans."

"I wish Khabib the best of luck. I think he's the best fighter right now ... he's a great guy. I love to watch him fight and I can't wait to see what's next for him."

President Barack Obama was quick to show love for Zion Williamson after watching him suffer an injury 30 seconds into the Duke vs. NC game ... wishing the college star a speedy recovery.

You've heard about it by now ... Zion's Nike shoe blew out shortly after tip-off Wednesday night, resulting in a mild knee sprain. Obama was sitting in the front row when it all went down.

"Zion Williamson seems like an outstanding young man as well as an outstanding basketball player," #44 tweeted after the game. "Wishing him a speedy recovery."

It didn't take an expert lip reader to figure out Obama's reaction to the injury -- cameras captured Barack's shocked look while he mouthed the words, "His shoe broke!"

LeBron James -- who's also a big fan of Zion -- tweeted out support for the young star as well, saying, "Hope young fella is ok! Literally blew thru his [shoe]."

The freak injury didn't stop Obama from being fan-friendly with the Cameron Crazies ... dappin' up all the folks who packed into the crowded arena for the big game.

Check out the footage we got from inside the arena showing Barack posing for pics before the game -- and meeting fans throughout the night.

The Blue Devils ended up losing 88-72 without their superstar ... and Zion's status will be evaluated on Thursday.

2:15 PM PT -- Syracuse PD says Boeheim did exactly what he should've done after the accident by calling 911 and using his cell phone flashlight to flag oncoming drivers away from the scene.

9:14 AM PT -- Jim Boeheim issued a statement saying he's "heartbroken that a member of our community died as the result of last night’s accident."

"Juli and I extend our deepest sympathies to the Jimenez family. Out of respect for those involved, I will not be providing further comment at this time."

7:15 AM PT -- The Syracuse PD issued a statement saying, "It was revealed that the victim was an occupant in a vehicle that had lost control on the highway striking a guard rail."

"The occupants then exited the vehicle and proceeded to walk on the highway within close proximity to that vehicle."

"An oncoming vehicle noticed the disabled car and tried avoiding the vehicle which was in the middle of the road. As a result, the driver, James Boeheim 74, of Fayetteville NY struck the victim who was standing on the side of the road."

"Both drivers remained on scene and are cooperating with this investigation. Field sobriety and alco-sensor tests for both drivers were negative for any signs of impairment."

"Reconstruction of the scene will be performed and speeds cannot be determined at this time. No Uniformed Traffic Tickets have been issued at this time."

7:13 AM PT -- Boeheim is "devastated" ... according to his good friend, Adam Weitsman, who spoke with the coach Thursday morning.

WTVH reporter Michael Benny spoke with Weitsman who says Boeheim is clearly affected by the crash.

"He says the man was in the middle of the road, not along the side or anything like that," Weitsman told Benny.

Syracuse head basketball coach Jim Boeheim is cooperating with police after hitting a man with his car on Interstate 690 late Wednesday evening. The victim has died from his injuries.

Officials say Boeheim was NOT drunk and will NOT be charged with a crime.

The victim has been identified as 51-year-old Jorge Jimenez -- who was walking on the Interstate around 11:30 PM when he was struck by Boeheim's vehicle.

Cops believe Jimenez had been riding in another vehicle with other passengers -- and that vehicle had crashed before the Boeheim incident. At some point, Jimenez got out of the car and began to walk.

Cops say the 74-year-old coach underwent a field sobriety test -- and officers determined he did not show signs of intoxication. Syracuse.com reports Boeheim had a .00 blood alcohol level.

The coach is cooperating with the investigation.

Officials say the roads were ice Wednesday night -- but it's unclear if the conditions played a role in either crash.

Boeheim coached the Syracuse basketball team earlier in the evening -- leading the Orangemen to a 69-49 victory over Louisville at the Carrier Dome.

We reached out to the Syracuse Athletic Dept. for comment -- but so far, they're not saying anything.

Story developing ...

Vinny Vella -- who starred in "Casino" and several other gangster movies -- has died after battling cancer.

His rep posted a message late Wednesday night, saying ... "We are saddened to report that Vinny Vella has passed and I'm sure that no one is more saddened than himself. Vinny loved life from his family to his friends and fans he was easily one of the funniest, endearing actors to have ever graced the screen."

Vinny's son, Vinny Vella Jr., tells us his father had liver cancer.

Vinny, who has 74 acting credits to his name, memorably played deli owner/mobster Artie Piscano alongside Robert De Niro in "Casino." He also acted with De Niro in "Analyze That."

He had smaller roles in other films like "Donnie Brasco," "Kissing Jessica Stein," "Kill the Irishman," "Mambo Cafe," "This Thing of Ours" and "Find Me Guilty."

Vinny's rep added, he was "Arguably the fastest on the draw, king of the comebacks. His verbal jousting was legendary but many know Vinny for his favorite saying - 'Who's better than you?' Well Vinny, I think we all can agree on the answer to that, it was you, it always was you! We miss you my boy!"

His son also commented, saying ... "RIP to my father. I love you so much and I’m so heart broken. You are no longer in pain- no more suffering pops. I love you."

He's survived by his son and his wife, Margaret.

Indiana's AD just went scorched earth on the basketball team's student fanbase ... saying a "F*ck you" chant that rained down at Assembly Hall was "embarrassing and unacceptable."

IU students and supporters heckled Purdue sophomore Matt Haarms relentlessly during a home game Tuesday ... clapping along to a "F*ck You, Haarms" chant throughout the night.

The cheer was so loud ... it could be heard on the television broadcast -- which REALLY pissed off school AD Fred Glass.

"The profane chants directed at a specific Purdue player were not part of your positive contributions," Glass said in a letter to student ticket holders Wednesday.

"They were embarrassing and unacceptable and reflected poorly on you and the Indiana University. Knock off the profane chants, and please help those around you do the same."

Glass added, "You and Indiana University are better than that."

For Haarms' part ... dude clearly wasn't bothered by the obscenities -- the 7-foot-3 center tipped in the game-winning basket with just 3 seconds left to play, giving the Boilermakers the 48-46 W.

3:21 PM PT -- More footage has emerged of the brothers reportedly leaving a store after buying items allegedly used in the attack.

2:20 PM PT -- Chicago PD says Jussie is now "officially classified as a suspect in a criminal investigation" ... and detectives began presenting evidence Wednesday afternoon to the grand jury.

The brothers who say Jussie Smollett hired them to stage the alleged attack were caught on surveillance camera buying a bunch of items they used during the incident.

The video -- first posted by CBS2 in Chicago -- shows Ola and Abel Osundairo at the checkout counter as they pile up the items, which include ski masks, gloves, bandanas, sunglasses and red hats.

At one point Abel pulls his hoodie over his head, perhaps attempting to hide his face, but he'd already been seen clearly on the video.

CBS2 says the brothers bought these items the day before the "attack" on Jussie.

The items are interesting ... we know Jussie said his attackers were wearing ski masks, and we also know police seized red hats when they raided the brothers' home in Chicago. The surveillance image police had released last month appears to show Abel and Ola with their faces still concealed under the ski masks.

As we first reported, the brothers were at court Tuesday, ready to testify for the grand jury -- but were called off at the last minute because Jussie's attorneys are going to speak to police.

We're told they will go before the grand jury when it finally convenes.

Le'Veon Bell just compared NFL free agency to the civil rights movement -- using Martin Luther King's most famous quote to celebrate becoming "free at last."

Hours after Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert announced the team would not use a franchise or transition tag to force Bell to stay with the team, the disgruntled running back spoke out on Twitter.

"Free at last, Free at last, Thank God Almighty I am free at last."

Of course, the quote comes from MLK's legendary 1963 "I Have a Dream" speech -- in which he imagines a future of racial equality.

Bell has been at odds with the Steelers for years -- claiming he has been wildly underpaid and unfairly treated by the team ... despite the fact, he made $12 mil in 2017 and sat out in 2018 when he was supposed to make $14.5 mil.

Russell Wilson could be the guy who replaces Eli Manning as QB of the NY Giants ... and it's all 'cause of Ciara -- so says Colin Cowherd.

The FS1 star reported on his show, "The Herd," that he's hearing from sources "in the entertainment agent world" that Russ' wife would absolutely prefer New York over Seattle.

And, with Wilson's Seahawks contract expiring after the 2019 season ... he says it all makes too much sense -- and thinks the deal could actually go down.

"[Ciara] would prefer to live in New York, and the Giants need a quarterback. And there's nobody in the draft they love."

Cowherd added, "A lot of things add up."

Cowherd says because Eli's career is all but over ... and since Wilson can essentially force his way out of Seattle after his deal ends -- he thinks Ciara could get her way.

Colin also thinks it'd be a winning move for Wilson on the field too -- saying the 30-year-old could become a much bigger star than he ever was in the Pacific Northwest.

Khabib Nurmagomedov ain't happy with reports about Georges St-Pierre retiring from MMA on Thursday -- and wants the UFC legend to enter the Octagon one last time ... so they can finally fight!!!

ESPN's Ariel Helwani says GSP has made up his mind and will end his 15-year run with the UFC -- during which he racked up an amazing 26-2 record while winning multiple titles.

But, Khabib wants him to reconsider -- saying, "Let’s do it in November. After this fight you can retire."

Khabib added, "I grow up on your fights, and have nothing but respect for you, and I believe showed that to you George when you were in Moscow."

"But, it would be honor for me to share Octagon with one of the greatest fighters of all time."

"Let’s do it 155 lbs, or I give away 5lbs to you, cause you newer done 155. Well, it’s your choice 155 or 160, Montreal, NYC, Moscow or Abu Dhabi. Send me location my Friend."

Helwani says GSP had hoped to get a fight deal done with Khabib -- but it never materialized. And, instead of looking for another opponent, Georges decided to retire.