'Last Chance U' Coach Jason Brown Resigns ... After Hitler Text

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Jason Brown -- the head football coach featured on seasons 3 and 4 of "Last Chance U" -- has resigned after sending texts to one of his players saying, "I'm your new Hitler."

The scandal broke last week after the Montgomery County Chronicle newspaper published text messages Brown sent to freshman Alexandros Alexiou, who was born in Germany.

Brown's controversial career at Independence Community College in Kansas has been documented on the Netflix series "Last Chance U" for the past 2 seasons ... where he often used strong, explicit language to chew out players.

Regarding Alexiou, Brown had reached out via text to scold the player for racking up more "points" in the team's disciplinary point system -- in which players get dinged every time they violate team rules.

"410pm on field u German f*ck," Brown texted to Alexiou ... “u have 17 points toward your 25 points. U got an extra point for not hanging the lion poster as instructed."

"I’m your new Hitler," Brown added ... "Figure out your life.”

The school launched an investigation into Brown last week -- but on Sunday, the coach announced his resignation.

"It is with strong emotions that I announce my decision to resign as Head Football Coach at Independent Community College," Brown said in a statement.

After listing his accomplishments, Brown said ... "The events of the past few weeks has led me to resign."

"Given what has most recently been allowed to transpire, it is clear, that it will be nearly impossible to stay here."

"More plainly, the Montgomery County Chronicle has greatly diminished my ability to do my job, and has set this football program back significantly, and the cumulative effect of all these detrimental factors I believe clearly constitute a constructive discharge of my employment."

Brown added, "I urge all the naysayers on campus and in town to really look at yourself in the mirror and do a self-evaluation of yourself before so harshly judging others."

Brown has coached at ICC for 3.5 years.

Story developing ...

R. Kelly Bail Set at $1 Million But Could Be in Jail 'Til Wednesday

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2/24/19 -- Sources connected to R. Kelly tell us the singer could be behind bars until at least Tuesday, if not Wednesday. The reason ... the slow-moving wheels of bureaucracy. We're told R. Kelly's lawyers plan on heading to the Child Support Bureau on Monday to figure out exactly how much their client owes in back pay. Once they do that, they'll head to the bank, pull out the necessary funds and pay off his bail and child support payments in one shot. That technically would lift the hold on his bond, but our sources say it could take 24 to 48 hours to process the paperwork. In other words ... Kels might be sitting in a jail cell 'til mid-week.

7:30 PM PT -- R. Kelly reportedly failed to post the $100k bond by the cutoff time of 9 PM in Chicago, so he'll have to spend the night in jail.

2:10 PM PT -- We're told until R. Kelly makes bail, he's being held in a holding pen by himself because the jail doesn't want him interacting with other inmates for safety reasons. R. Kelly's considered a "high profile individual," and if he doesn't bond out tonight he'll be placed in his own cell.

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NO COMMENT

TMZ's also obtained video of Joycelyn and Azriel leaving the courthouse. Neither woman had anything to say about Kelly's case or their relationship with their parents.

1:15 PM PT -- As we told you ... Joycelyn Savage and Azriel Clary were both in the courtroom for R. Kelly, and were reportedly sitting in the first row reserved for friends and family during his hearing. The women are allegedly the singer's "sex slaves," but both have denied that. They were seen holding hands entering court together.

12:25 PM PT -- TMZ's obtained a courtroom sketch of R. Kelly and his lawyer, along with the State's Attorney, in front of Judge John Fitzgerald Lyke Jr.

12:00 PM PT -- R. Kelly's lawyer just had a heated exchange with a reporter, who called him out for allegedly misquoting one of the victims. The lawyer shot back and accused the guy of trying to sell books, and that's when it got really testy ... and an F-bomb was dropped.

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TEMPERS FLARING

Greenberg also says R. Kelly should be able to bond out, but it might take a while because his financial situation is complicated ... and it's Saturday. As far as R. Kelly's defense, Greenberg says he's not ready to divulge info about that yet because he's in the process of reviewing all the evidence.

He did raise eyebrows at the end of his Q&A, though, when he said about R. Kelly -- "He's a rock star, he doesn't have to have nonconsensual sex."

11:35 AM PT -- Cook County District Attorney Kim Foxx just gave more details of the alleged sex crimes to the press outside the courtroom, and says 2 of the 4 alleged victims turned in physical evidence -- shirts with R. Kelly's semen on them -- to prosecutors.

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NEW EVIDENCE

Avenatti also spoke to reporters and started by blasting R. Kelly's lawyer, Steven Greenberg. Avenatti says Greenberg has referred to all of the alleged victims as "liars" and insists the new sex tape is the same as the one from 2008, which Avenatti says is a lie.

He also claims R. Kelly's handlers were at the courthouse to keep Azriel Clary's parents away from her and believes Azriel has been brainwashed.

R. Kelly just appeared before the judge, who set his bail at $1 million ... meaning the singer can be released -- but only if he can afford it.

Prosecutors laid out the details of R. Kelly's 4 separate indictments Saturday at the Leighton Criminal Court Building in Cook County, and requested the R&B singer not be granted bail ... but the judge disagreed and set bail at $250k for each indictment.

The judge also ordered Kelly to surrender his passport.

R. Kelly's lawyer reportedly said the singer's finances are a mess, so he can't bond out just yet. However, a source close to Kelly tells us he'll be able to gather up $100k soon and post bail. If he does, he'll be released from jail ahead of his trial.

As we reported ... R. Kelly surrendered to police in Chicago Friday night, turning himself in at a police station after being charged with sexual abuse of 4 girls, at least 3 of whom were minors.

Prosecutors hit R. Kelly with 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse Friday morning, and 9 of the 10 counts involve alleged victims ranging in age from 13 to 16 years old. There are 4 alleged victims in total, and according to the criminal complaint ... the graphic allegations include oral and vaginal sex with a girl between the ages of 13 and 17.

Attorney Michael Avenatti -- says he's representing at least 1 of the alleged victims in the R. Kelly indictment -- was on hand for Saturday's court hearing. He arrived with the parents of Azriel Clary, one of R. Kelly's alleged sex slaves.

Both Azriel and Joycelyn Savage -- another one of R. Kelly's alleged sex slaves -- were inside the courtroom for the hearing ... but it's unclear if they had any contact with their parents.

As we reported ... Avenatti also claims the new sex tape he turned over to prosecutors shows R. Kelly engaging in sex acts with a 14-year-old girl. He released images from the video Friday, showing what appears to be R. Kelly.

Originally published -- 2/23/19 11:15 AM PST

Brody Stevens Comedian Dead at 48 Apparent Suicide by Hanging

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Stand-up comedian Brody Stevens was found dead Friday after an apparent suicide at his home in Los Angeles.

Law enforcement sources confirm to TMZ ... Brody was found hanging in his home Friday afternoon, shortly after 1 PM.

Brody -- who co-created his own Comedy Central series, "Brody Stevens: Enjoy It!" with his friend Zach Galifianakis -- had struggled with mental health issues in the past. He was hospitalized in 2011 after suffering a bipolar episode.

He was a mainstay at huge comedy events like the Montreal and Vancouver Comedy Festivals -- and just 2 days ago he was at the Festival of Friendship in Burbank.

Later that night he did a set -- which appears to have been his last -- at the famed Comedy Store on the Sunset Strip.

Brody also had several roles in movies, such as "The Hangover" and "The Hangover II."

He was also an avid baseball fan. He pitched in college at Arizona State University until he suffered an elbow injury.

Reps for Brody tell us, "Brody was an inspiring voice who was a friend to many in the comedy community. He pushed creative boundaries and his passion for his work and his love of baseball were contagious. He was beloved by many and will be greatly missed."

We had a lot of fun run-ins with Brody over the years -- he always turned it on for our camera guys.

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LAST TIME WE SAW HIM ...

However, the last time we saw him, in 2018, we had a serious conversation with him about Kanye West and mental health.

Brody was 48.

RIP

Robert Kraft Alleged Sex Spa ... Naked Tourist Hot Spot!!!

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Forget Disney World ... Robert Kraft's alleged sex spa is now the HOTTEST tourist attraction in Florida -- 'cause people are lining up to see the place!!

Oh, and some didn't even bring clothes.

Orchids of Asia Day Spa in Jupiter, Florida was named by police Friday as the place where the Patriots owner allegedly paid for sex acts on at least 2 separate occasions.

Now ... the closed-down building has transformed into a must-see spot for tourists -- with people parking out front to catch just a small glimpse of the place!!

There was a Giants fan ... TV camera crews ... a sweet old couple ... and some dude who decided to show up naked!!!

Officials say Kraft was driven to the spa by a chauffeur at least twice in the last month or so ... and say they have video of the Pats owner "that shows the act that took place" with him inside of the spa.

Cops say the average cost for services at the spa was $59 for half an hour or $79 for an hour.

The Pats owner is facing 2 counts of soliciting another to commit prostitution, Jupiter Police Chief Daniel Kerr announced.

Christian Pulisic I Got Hands Too!!! Busts Out Fortnite Celly

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CELEBRATION SHOW OFF

Christian Pulisic never has to use his hands ... but now we know they work if he needs them, 'cause the US soccer superstar put his football skills on display ... and TMZ Sports has the vid!!!

The Dortmund midfielder teamed up with Gary Barnidge's American Football Without Barriers camp this week ... catching a quick pass and busting out his favorite Fortnite (or Blocboy JB, depending on who you ask) dance to cap it off.

For those not hip to soccer -- the 20-year-old is the future of Team USA ... he's currently on loan from Chelsea and is the most expensive American player of all time.

FYI -- AFWB is a camp designed to spread football knowledge with fans all over the world.

It's been a big hit for years ... with memorable moments like Marshawn Lynch ridin' camels and ice swimming in Finland with DeAngelo Williams.

Check out the vid ... dude's got hands AND moves ... but not as good as Roosevelt Nix's Blueface impression.

Robert Kraft Prostitution Sting Cops Have Graphic Video From Inside Spa

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12:16 PM PT -- President Trump has weighed in on Kraft ... telling reporters in the Oval Office that he was "surprised" to learn about Kraft's prostitution charges ... but stressed the Patriots owner has denied doing anything illegal.

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BUMMED FOR ROBERT

11:29 AM PT -- Investigators say they have videos of the men who paid for sex at the Asian massage parlor that Robert Kraft allegedly used ... and the footage is graphic.

According to police documents obtained by TMZ Sports, officials were able to get a covert surveillance camera inside the Orchids of Asia Day Spa in Jupiter, Florida to record illicit activity.

Cops list a variety of sex acts performed on 26 men who entered the business -- one of whom cops say is Robert Kraft. Kraft is not identified by name in the police documents.

The police documents describe the surveillance video in graphic detail -- noting a pattern of behavior from the alleged Johns.

The men would enter the spa and pay up front (some used cash, others used credit cards) before being escorted back into a private massage room.

In almost every case, an Asian woman would tend to the client -- sometimes two women -- and perform sex acts using their hands and mouths.

It does not appear any of the suspects engaged in vaginal intercourse.

Cops say the surveillance videos capture every single detail of the encounters -- including ejaculation and subsequent cleanup.

11:10 AM PT -- The NFL has addressed the allegations ... saying "The NFL is aware of the ongoing law enforcement matter and will continue to monitor developments.”

9:17 AM PT -- A spokesperson for Kraft tells TMZ Sports the NFL owner denies the allegations.

"We categorically deny that Mr. Kraft engaged in any illegal activity. Because it is a judicial matter, we will not be commenting further."

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft is a wanted man -- cops say they've issued a warrant for his arrest as part of a recent prostitution, human trafficking sting operation in Jupiter, Florida.

Cops say 77-year-old Kraft will be charged with 2 counts of "soliciting another to commit prostitution," according to Jupiter Police Chief Daniel Kerr.

Chief Kerr says he was "stunned as everybody else" when he saw Kraft's name as a suspect.

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THE CASE AGAINST KRAFT

Officials say Kraft is accused of soliciting a prostitute on at least 2 separate occasions at a massage parlor in Florida roughly "a month ago."

Cops say the name of the establishment that Kraft visited is Orchids of Asia Day Spa in Jupiter.

Cops say they have obtained evidence from body cam video and surveillance that has been conducted over the last several months.

Officials say Kraft was driven to the spa by a chauffeur ... and say they have video of the Pats owner "that shows the act that took place" with him inside of the spa.

The average cost per visit for services was $59 for half an hour and $79 per hour, according to police.

As for the next steps, officials say the State's Attorney has the warrant and it will be sent to Kraft's home in Massachusetts.

Kraft has been charged with a misdemeanor and will have to appear in court.

So far, no official comment from either Kraft or the New England Patriots. We've also reached out to the NFL, as he will likely face discipline from the league.

Multiple law enforcement agencies were involved in the operation -- including Homeland Security, the IRS, the Jupiter P.D., Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office and more.

Officials say the women accused of running the sex trafficking ring operated out of local spas which touted themselves as massage parlors.

The investigation took roughly 8 months and officials say they've identified more than 100 men suspected of being "Johns."

Robert Kraft bought the Patriots in January 1994 -- and has led the team to 6 Super Bowl championships and 10 AFC championships.

Kraft is also the owner of Major League Soccer's New England Revolution -- which has been to the MLS Cup Finals in 5 different seasons.

Kraft was married to Myra Kraft from 1963 to her death in 2011. He dated Ricki Noel Lander since 2012. Ricki has a child but she says Kraft is not the biological father.

Kraft is reportedly worth more than $6 BILLION according to Forbes, a fortune that stems from a paper-manufacturing conglomerate, which includes the Rand-Whitney Group.

Story developing ...

Originally Published -- 8:47 AM PT

Arkansas Teen Kalin Bennett First Autistic College Athlete to Land D1 Scholarship

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He was told he was never going to walk or talk ... and now he's going to be a D1 college basketball player.

18-year-old Kalin Bennett is the first autistic hoops player to land a Division 1 scholarship. He's a BEAST on and off the court, and his story is absolutely incredible.

The 6'10", 290-pound center just signed to play at Kent State next season -- and is opening up about how he overcame the odds to get there.

Kalin was non-verbal until he was 7 years old -- and was diagnosed as autistic.

But, he loved basketball and refused to let his condition get in the way of his dreams -- joining his high school basketball team in Arkansas and balling out like a stud. MaxPreps named him the 12th best player in the state.

He eventually enrolled at Link Year Prep junior college in Missouri where he's been playing so well, he caught the attention of Kent State, which formally offered him a basketball scholarship. Amazing!

"I embrace who I am and I will decide my future," Bennett said in an incredible interview with Overtime.

It wasn't always easy for KB -- he suffered from separation anxiety during his time at Link Year, so his mom moved to Missouri to be closer to him. Hey, teamwork makes the dream work, right?!

"A lot of people have told me what I can't do ... when I get back in the house, my mom says 'if ever say 'can't', you won't be able to do it anyway.'"

"No one expected I'd be where I am today."

Check out the whole thing ... it's impossible to not be inspired by this kid.

UFC's Mackenzie Dern I'm Pregnant ... But I'll Fight Again Soon!!!

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UFC rising star Mackenzie Dern just revealed she's PREGNANT -- but assures her fans she'll get back in the Octagon to fight again after the baby is born.

The 25-year-old is 7-0 as a pro MMA fighter -- with 2 of those wins in the UFC -- and she's been hailed as "the next Ronda Rousey" because of her dominant ground game.

But, her career will be put on hold for a while because Dern -- who's dating Brazilian pro surfer Wesley Santos -- is now with child.

"God makes everything so perfect! I am so happy to be able to share this news! I’m going to be a Mom," Mackenzie posted.

"I love so much our family and now I have one more HUGE motivation for inside and outside the ring!! Thank you God for this blessing."

As for her fighting future, Dern says ... "I can’t wait to be back in the ring!"

Congrats!

Dern is considered one of the top female jiu-jitsu practitioners in the world. She famously defeated Gabi Garcia at the 2015 World Pro Open.

Dern made her UFC debut in March 2018 -- defeating Ashley Yoder at UFC 222. She fought again in May 2018, beating Amanda Cooper in the 1st round at UFC 224.

During her May fight, Dern weighed in 7 pounds over the strawweight limit of 116 and she was fined 30% of her purse.

Unclear when the baby is due and when Dern expects to return to the Octagon.

Rihanna Takes Rich BF to Lakers Game ... Team Delivers Comeback Victory

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You think LeBron James and the Lakers were gonna let Rihanna down on the night of her birthday celebration???! Hell no!!

RiRi took her superrich Saudi boyfriend to Staples Center on Thursday to cheer on her favorite NBA player on the night after her 31st birthday ... and the team delivered one heck of a gift!!!

Check out the pics of Rihanna and Hassan Jameel in a private box -- going berserk as the Lakers came back from 19 down to beat the Houston Rockets ... one of the hottest teams in the NBA.

Of course, Jameel is a bit of a baller himself -- in 2017 his family was reportedly worth $2.2 BILLION -- which made them the 4th richest family in the Arab world.

Jameel started dating Rihanna in 2017 and by the looks of these pics, they're still going strong.

Other huge stars at the game -- "Wheel of Fortune" star Pat Sajak, Denzel Washington, French Montana and Jimmy Iovine.

They picked a great game to attend -- the Lakers were getting destroyed for the first 3 quarters before LeBron activated "playoff mode" and went nuclear on everyone ... exploding for 29 points, 11 rebounds and 6 assists.

The Lakers ended up winning the game 111 to 106 -- boosting the Lakers' record back to .500.

Meanwhile, the Rockets' James Harden extended his 30-point game streak to 32 games, the 2nd longest 30-point streak in NBA history.

By the way, Lakers officials gifted Rihanna her very own customized "Bad Girl RiRi" Lakers jersey, but she didn't wear it ... instead, opting to rock her #23 LeBron James threads.

One last thing ... every year LeBron has won an NBA title, Rihanna has dropped a new album -- and there are rumors she's working on a new album right now.

So, good juju for the Lakers?

Charles Barkley Rips Jussie Smollett 'Shoulda Just Went to Liam Neeson's Neighborhood'

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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.

NFL's Tyler Eifert Flaunts Surgically Repaired Ankle After Bone-Snapping Injury

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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.

Tyler's been dealing with injuries every season since 2014. Here's hoping he ends the streak in 2019!!!

Jussie Smollett Cops Say 'Attack' Plans Started with Text ... 'Might Need Your Help on the Low'

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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 2 New Accusers Come Forward Allege Sexual Misconduct When They Were Teens

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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.

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TIME TO TELL MY STORY

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.

It's unclear if the women who spoke today are among the women prosecutors flew to Chicago to watch the new tape to see if any of Kelly's surroundings looked familiar ... or to identify the girl.

Isaiah Thomas Hey, Zion ... 'Sit Yo Ass Down' and Wait for NBA

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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."

Meanwhile, Scottie Pippen agrees with Thomas ... saying Zion has TOO BIG OF A CONTRACT waiting for him in the NBA to be messing around in college games for no paycheck.

L.A. Dodgers Honoring Don Newcombe ... With Uniform Patch

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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."

Added Justin Turner, "On and off the field, one of the most sincere, respected, & knowledgeable gentlemen I have ever had the chance to be around. Thank you for the lessons in baseball and life."

Avalanche Fan Worst Boyfriend Of All Time ... In Puck-Catching Incident

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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!!

The bad news?? We're pretty sure that dude slept alone last night ... and will probably keep doing so for the next few nights too.