Breaking News

Jose Flores, a Pennsylvanian jockey who earned $64 MIL in his storied career, is dead at 57 after a headfirst fall during a race Monday in Philly.

Flores suffered major head and spine injuries as a result of the accident ... and was pulled off life support on Thursday.

The tragic incident happened Monday at Parx Racing in Bensalem, Pennsylvania ... when Jose's horse, Love Rules, went down -- launching him from his saddle.

Flores had compiled 4,650 wins across 3 decades in the sport ... and was reportedly going for the magic number of 5,000.

Jose is the 157th North American rider to die from a horse-racing accident since 1940.

Charles Lazarus, the man who founded Toys 'R' Us in 1948, has died, just days after the company went belly up.

After Lazarus returned from WWII, he realized quickly the baby boom generation was ripe for a cool, interactive toy superstore. Barbie Dolls, Hula Hoops and Slinkys were all the rage, and he had the idea to create a fun experience for kids and parents.

He experimented with a nondescript children's store, Children's Bargain Town, but then in '57 opened the first Toys 'R' Us in Maryland. Fast-forward ... at its height there were 1,600 stores around the world.

Toys 'R' Us just released a statement ... "There have been many sad moments for Toys'R'Us in recent weeks, and none more heartbreaking than today's news about the passing of our beloved founder, Charles Lazarus. Our thoughts and prayers are with Charles' family and loved ones."

Charles was 94.

RIP

Donald Trump definitely has big regrets about being President, based on the advice he says he'd give his much younger self.

Trump was either joking -- or echoing the thoughts of at least half of the country -- during an interview Thursday at D.C.'s Generation Next Summit ... where he said he'd warn 25-year-old Donald not to run for office. The comment definitely landed with the audience.

Johnny Manziel just put on a show in SoCal -- rippin' passes in front of NFL scouts to prove he's ready for another crack at the big show.

It all went down at the University of San Diego's pro day ... where Manziel put on his 1st public showcase since getting cut by the Browns in 2016.

Johnny Football fired off a few dozen passes in front of a larger-than-normal crowd (wonder why?) ... including some end-zone bombs that he uncorked from about 40 yards out!

He also took the time to do a quick Q&A with Fernando Ramirez of NBC San Diego afterwards ... addressing how he's "changed drastically" and is focused on becoming the best version of himself.

Great stuff -- but let it be known that TMZ Sports got his first comeback pass on camera!!

LeBron James switched gears from Basketball God to animated movie star in just a matter of hours Thursday morning ... showing off a voice over session for an upcoming flick!!

James -- fresh off an insane 35 points, 17 assists, and 7 rebounds in a win against the Raptors Wednesday night -- took his talents to the studio to put in work for his role as Gwangi in "Smallfoot" early Thursday.

The movie is about a yeti who finds out humans exist (think Big Foot, but the other way around) ... and features other huge stars like Channing Tatum, Zendaya and Common.

So, LeBron can do his Hollywood thing AND play in Cleveland ...

Just sayin'.

Canelo Alvarez is pissed GGG publicly blasted him as a longtime steroids user -- and the Mexican boxing star is firing back with some good ol' fashioned American trash talk.

"I'm gonna kick your f**king ass ... little bitch," Canelo wrote on social media.

Alvarez ain't just talking ... he's also showing Gennady Golovkin how he plans to do it with some lightning-fast shadow boxing!!

FYI, GGG destroyed Canelo in an interview on Wednesday ... calling his tainted beef excuse a bunch of BS -- "It’s not Mexican meat. Canelo is cheating. They’re using these drugs, and everybody is just trying to pretend it’s not happening."

Donald Trump apparently can't figure out when someone is clearly joking, because he took Joe Biden's sardonic, high school-like pugilistic challenge as serious, and the President of the United States just responded by saying he could kick the former Veep's ass.

Biden joked Tuesday at the University of Miami, "If we were in high school, I'd take him behind the gym and beat the hell out of him," adding, "Any guy that talked that way was usually the fattest, ugliest S.O.B. in the room."

Trump just went nuts on his social media platform of choice, firing back, "Crazy Joe Biden is trying to act like a tough guy. Actually, he is weak, both mentally and physically, and yet he threatens me, for the second time, with physical assault."

But that wasn't the end ... get this: "He doesn't know me, but he would go down fast and hard, crying all the way. Don't threaten people Joe!"

Send in THE clown ... to God.

Frank Avruch, TV's original Bozo the Clown, died Tuesday in Boston after a long battle with heart disease ... according to his family. He was 89.

The Boston legend created Bozo back in 1959, and played the lovable clown until 1970. Although Frank wore a lot of hats -- as a local host on radio and WCVB-TV -- he'll most be remembered for wearing that red-orange wig, oversized red shoes and pajamas with the frilly collar.

Avruch is an inductee of the National Television Academy's Gold Circle. Bozo's survived by his wife Betty, 2 sons, grandchildren, and, of course, his cousin Homey.

After Frank had the role some other clown, Larry Harmon, slipped into Bozo's famous getup. Harmon died in 2008.

Give Ben Simmons the Rookie of the Year award RIGHT NOW ... 'cause the NBA star has finally gone Instagram official with smokin' hot pop singer Tinashe!!

As we previously reported, the "No Drama" singer told us earlier this month that Simmons was her "little boo thang." Things appear to have heated up since then ... with the couple posting identical pics on IG.

Simmons -- who's averaging damn near a triple-double this season -- captioned his romantic pic with the clever line "This is a dime I can’t pass."

But the winning didn't stop for the 21-year-old phenom ... Philly ended up beating up on the Grizzlies, too, and his Sixers are now tied for the 4th spot in the East!!

Don't turn it over, Ben.

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Zay Jones is home with his parents and going to be okay after the penthouse meltdown that led to his arrest Monday night ... this according to Jones' dad.

We broke the story ... Jones was busted for felony vandalism after a bloody, naked struggle with his brother at a downtown L.A. apartment. We're told Zay smashed a hole in a balcony window on the 30th floor of the apartment ... and his brother Cayleb was fighting to save him from jumping.

Robert Jones -- who played 10 seasons in the NFL -- tweeted the update Wednesday afternoon ... thanking his followers for praying for his son.

Zay -- a 2nd round draft pick in 2017 -- was released from custody earlier this morning. He's due in court next month.

The Bills released a statement Tuesday night, saying "We are still in the process of gathering more information on the matter. At this point, we will have no further comment.”

Tom Brady's crazy-strict diet might work for him, but David Ortiz says he'd never touch the TB12 Method 'cause it's straight-up torture!

Big Papi went deep on his post-MLB eating habits in a recent interview ... admitting he CRUSHES everything his wife, Tiffany, puts in front of him (especially seafood).

But when it came to Brady's high-H2O, low-fun diet -- Papi letarip!!

"I was born one day and I know I'm gonna die another, so I'm gonna enjoy life," Ortiz told the Barstool Sports guys on "Pardon My Take."

"You're gonna tell me my boy, Brady, he's not suffering because of the diet?"

Gotta side with Papi on this one -- Tom's daily regimen consists of 3 waters after every beer, plus zero white salt/sugar, olive oil, caffeine, dairy OR fruit, except for bananas!!

7:43 AM PT -- It is now being reported that Conditt used an "exotic" and foreign battery in his explosives which allowed authorities to link the bombings together. Crux Manufacturing touts on its website that it specializes in handling "exotic materials."

7:00 AM PT -- Conditt graduated from Austin Community College. There might be a clue as to how he developed expertise in bomb making. He reportedly worked as a computer repair tech and also as a "purchasing agent/buyer/shipping and receiving" at Crux Manufacturing in Austin. The company is involved in robotics, mechanical repair ... it builds a variety of metal products.

Austin bomber Mark Conditt was apparently homeschooled by his mom, who proudly announced on social media back in 2013 she graduated him from high school.

Conditt, who was 23 at the time of his death, seemed to be contemplating going on some sort of mission. His mom wrote, "He's thinking of taking some time to figure out what he wants to do ... maybe a mission trip."

His mom also posted a pic of Conditt snowboarding in 2013.

Police say Conditt is responsible for the string of bombings that left 2 dead. So far, authorities are in the dark as to motive. He died early Wednesday morning after police tracked him to his hotel. When authorities approached his vehicle, Conditt detonated a bomb and died.

Quavo just dropped the never-before-seen highlight package of his days as a high school QB -- and we gotta say, Huncho's GOT GAME.

In the tape, the Migos rap star shows why he used to be Gwinnett County, Georgia's all-time single-game completions leader ... breaking tackles, juking pass-rushers, and, of course, finding his WRs with the deep ball!

Quavo -- or Quavious Marshall back in his Berkmar High days -- says he's releasing the video to hype his upcoming celeb flag football game, which is set for Easter Sunday ... but there ain't too many details out right now.

YES! YES!! YES!!!

Four-time WWE world champ Daniel Bryan is BACK -- medically cleared to return to the ring after over 2 years away from pro wrestling ... the WWE just announced.

The 36-year-old was forced into an early retirement in Feb. 2016 after suffering "at least 10" concussions and post-concussive seizures ... but the WWE says he's got the green light to strap on the boots after seeing a number of leading neurosurgeons and neurologists, as well as WWE's Medical Director.

Bryan has been serving as the General Manager of 'SmackDown Live' ... but this effectively opens the door for him to be an active competitor at WrestleMania 34 in April.

Karma is a bitch -- just ask Draymond Green, who got hit with a groin shot 2 years in the making last night!!

You remember the play ... in Game 3 of 2016's Western Conference Finals, Draymond's leg punted OKC Thunder big Steven Adams square in the nuts.

Dray's always maintained it was accidental ... but it looked pretty bad.

Fast forward to Warriors vs. Spurs Monday night -- when Draymond met Danny Green at the rim and took a knee right around the ball bag!

He immediately keeled over and went to the locker room ... and was later diagnosed with a pelvic contusion -- a fancy way of saying a deep, painful bruise.

Green now joins Steph, KD and Klay on the injured list ... and ya gotta think Adams (and all of OKC) is smiling right now.

You can officially put a "Sir" on it -- Ringo Starr took a knee Tuesday morning and received his Knighthood, a mere 21 years after Sir Paul McCartney ... but no one's counting, right?

The Beatles drummer was dubbed into the club, of royal knights by Prince William at Buckingham Palace. Aside from Paul ... he joins Elton John, Rod Stewart and Mick Jagger as the biggest rock stars to get the honor. Bono got an honorary knighthood ... that's why he doesn't get the Sir treatment.

Of course, it's debatable why it took so long for the 77-year-old Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Famer to get knighted.

John Lennon and George Harrison won't get it at all -- current rules require honorees to be living. Mostly everyone would agree Paul deserved it in 1997, and would also buy Ringo getting it AFTER Paul ... but TWO decades after???

Sure, Paul wrote the songs, but someone played the drums on those hits ... someone had to lay down the beat for The Beatles!

We're sure Ringo ain't complaining. Just peace and love, peace and love, baby.