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Antonio Brown's tenure as a football team owner is allegedly off to a horrific start -- the controversial former NFL star is being accused of running the organization into the ground ... making violent threats toward the ex-head coach and locking players out of their hotel rooms.

TMZ Sports spoke with two former members of the National Arena League's Albany Empire -- head coach Damon Ware and quarterback Sam Castronova -- and they both detailed their hellish experiences before leaving the team.

Ware said Brown's ownership was doomed from the beginning ... explaining it was a "hostile takeover" when the Super Bowl champ came on board in March, forcing other owners out by throwing money their way.

Ware said the main issue was getting everyone paid ... and his conversations with AB about the matter would get so bad, the receiver would resort to texting him violent threats.

According to Ware, Brown -- who now owns 95% of the team -- was a nightmare to work with ... as his ego got in the way of improving the squad and helping players move on to the next level.

"It became all about him, not the football team," Ware said. "We built a wonderful organization over three years -- he came in and killed it."

FYI -- the Empire are back-to-back champions in the NAL, but are off to a 1-2 start this season.

We're told team members usually expect their game checks the week after each contest ... but once the money hadn't hit their bank accounts for their past two contests in April, players contemplated sitting out.

Eventually, the athletes agreed to suit up when they were shown what appeared to be a payment confirmation. But, following Sunday's game, Castronova said players were still without their check ... and several captains decided to confront team officials on their bus ride back from North Carolina.

Once they got to their team hotel, Ware, the captains, and several other players discovered their room keys no longer worked -- and hotel staffers told them it was Brown's doing.

In fact, they had to fight like hell just to get their belongings out of their rooms ... dealing with housekeeping in order to make it happen.

Even though the team has followed up with one missed payment so far, Ware, Castronova and several other key players say they are fed up with the team ... and they're already looking forward to restarting their careers elsewhere.

"It's a happy day for me to be out of this crazy situation," Ware added.

"Goodbye, good riddance."

We covered the drama in a recent episode of the TMZ Sports Podcast, available on all podcast platforms.

Two California high school baseball teams got into a massive brawl during a game earlier this week -- and it grew into such a large melee on the diamond, cops tell TMZ Sports they're now investigating it all.

The fight erupted after Norwalk H.S. beat Mayfair H.S., 3-2, on Wednesday in Lakewood, which is about 25 miles south of downtown Los Angeles.

The victory meant the Norwalk Lancers swept Mayfair and would advance in the playoffs ... and in order to celebrate the occasion, one of the Lancers' players brought a broom to the postgame handshake line.

Fans in the crowd, though, didn't appreciate the sweep taunt ... and you can hear in footage from the scene, one person yelled, "Put your broom in the dugout! Respect the game!"

Mayfair players clearly didn't like it either ... and seconds later, an all-out brawl between both teams erupted.

At one point, parents even got in the middle of it ... with some calling players on the field derogatory names.

A different angle of the fight shows several players threw punches in the skirmish ... and on Friday, the Lakewood Sheriff’s Department told us officers did ultimately respond to the scene and an investigation is now underway.

The California Interscholastic Federation and officials from the two schools said they're still gathering information on the unfortunate incident ... and a punishment could come down at a later date.

Terrifying moment during an independent wrestling match last weekend ... a wrestler accidentally set himself on fire while trying to perform a stunt -- and suffered significant burns to his face and body in the process.

It all happened at XPW Wrestling's deathmatch event in Pomona, Calif. on April 22 ... when MASADA was attempting to blow a fireball at his opponent.

Video of the match -- a no-holds-barred contest where weapons are allowed -- shows MASADA grabbed a flaming torch, poured a substance in his mouth ... and then tried to blow the liquid and the ensuing flames at his counterpart.

The problem? The stunt somehow went awry ... and the fire went everywhere, swarming MASADA's entire upper body.

In footage of the match, you can see the flames engulfed the wrestler's face, chest and shoulders for several moments before they were mercifully extinguished.

Somehow, MASADA ended up finishing the contest ... but he raced to the hospital immediately afterward, and was diagnosed with first- and second-degree burns all over his body.

The 41-year-old told TMZ Sports on Friday he's still in the burn unit at a nearby medical facility recovering ... adding, "My face is healing up fast, just the rest is going to take a while."

As for what happened during the fire mishap, MASADA told us, "I've done that spot a lot when I wrestled in Japan, but it was rushed and I think being outside had something to do with it."

MASADA expects to be out of the squared circle for a bit ... but he said there are no plans to hang up his wrestling boots anytime soon despite it all.

Jerry Springer, one of the most influential and controversial figures in TV history, has died ... TMZ has confirmed.

Jerry hosted the smash hit syndicated talk show "The Jerry Springer Show" for 27 years ... and it was never a boring moment on the raucous and wild show -- which was known for its outrageous guests who usually got into crazy fights as the audience cheered, "Jerry, Jerry, Jerry, Jerry!"

A family spokesperson says Jerry was battling a "brief illness." Our sources tell us it was pancreatic cancer that was diagnosed a few months ago, and this week he took a turn for the worse.

The spokesperson says he died Thursday morning, peacefully at his home in the Chicago area.

Before TV, he was a politician who ran a failed campaign for U.S. Congress in 1970, got elected to Cincinnati's City Council in 1971 ... and became the city's mayor in 1977. He served one term.

But, Springer became a worldwide sensation with his show ... which debuted in 1991. Most people won't remember this, but when he started Jerry's show focused on political issues. Of course, it eventually became the exact opposite ... and a ratings smash.

Jerry's show was so popular in the late '90s, it even topped Oprah Winfrey's in several cities. 'Springer' finally went off the air in 2018.

He made one more run in TV, with his courtroom show, "Judge Jerry," which ran for 3 seasons.

Jerry's last TV appearance came last season on "The Masked Singer" ... where he performed as "The Beetle," singing a Frank Sinatra classic.

We're told his cancer battle got much worse about a month ago, and he finally had to stop working. He had been hosting a folk music show on a local radio station in Cincinnati.

He's survived by his daughter Katie Springer and his older sister Evelyn.

Jerry was 79. RIP

Up-and-coming Los Angeles rapper MoneySign Suede was stabbed to death in a California prison ... cutting his life short as his career was catching steam.

Prison officials for the Correctional Training Facility in Soledad, CA tell TMZ Hip Hop ... they're currently investigating MoneySign's death as a homicide after discovering he was absent from a headcount check Tuesday around 9:55 p.m.

According to our sources, the "Back to the Bag" rapper was found unresponsive in another area of the prison. Prison personnel attempted to administer emergency aid ... but were unsuccessful as he was pronounced dead around 10:00 p.m.

We're told the death has prompted officials to restrict prisoner movement while they conduct their investigation ... with assistance from the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office and the Monterey County Coroner, the latter of whom will determine MoneySign's cause of death.

Nicholas Rosenberg, MoneySign's attorney, told the Los Angeles Times the rapper was stabbed in the neck in the shower and that those who knew him were shocked.

As news of MoneySign's death circulated, his rapper friends Fenix Flexin and Baby Stone Gorillas took to IG to pay emotional tributes.

Jack Harlow's set to deliver a new set of tunes (and apparently a new alter-ego) this Friday with the announcement of his third studio album titled "Jackman."

The Kentucky-born rapper hopped on IG on Wednesday to reveal the project's album cover art ... which depicts a shirtless JH flexing his guns in a back alley behind a rundown basketball hoop.

Sources close to the project tell TMZ Hip Hop that the upcoming album will lean into Jack's more lyrical side ... after having padded the Billboard Charts with his No. 1 crossover hit "First Class" last go-around.

E-40's been hot about Sacramento Kings' security booting him from Game 1 of their playoff clash against the Golden State Warriors ... but tensions have since subsided, and their beef's officially been squashed.

On Thursday, 40 dropped his new single, "Front Row 40" ... which features the legendary rap star spitting his patented slang from inside the Chase Center where his beloved Warriors play.

Sources close to the production of the Jae Synth-directed video tell TMZ Hip Hop that 40 actually filmed the visual several months ago, and had always planned to drop it parallel to the Warriors' postseason run.

The clip also leverages plenty of star power ... with cameos from JAY-Z, Diddy, Snoop Dogg, Too $hort, 2 Chainz and GSW stars Steph Curry and Draymond Green.

But, the rollout takes on new meaning now in the wake of his removal from Sacramento's Golden 1 Center last Sunday, which resulted in 40 deeming the org racist -- but both sides are putting it in the rearview.

40 and the Kings released a joint statement that spoke to the issue's conclusion ... “Contrary to speculation, Mr. Earl 'E-40' Stevens did not stand excessively from his ticketed courtside seat; the outcome resulted from an unfortunate misunderstanding between both parties.”

Johnny Manziel's girlfriend, Kenzie Werner, says the former Heisman Trophy winner did NOT abuse her ... claiming a post on her social media page Tuesday night that said otherwise was the result of hackers -- and nothing more.

The Instagram Story went up on Werner's IG at around midnight ... and it was extremely graphic.

The post showed four pictures of Werner with various injuries on her face and her body. In one, she had bruises on her breast. In another, she had blood near her nose. The others showed markings around her eyes.

The caption on the post read, "this is from johnny manziel." It also featured a link to Manziel's Instagram page. The story remained up for a few minutes ... before it was taken down.

Werner, though, said in a new post on Wednesday afternoon she had nothing to do with it all ... writing, "was hacked last night. just got my account back. please disregard what was posted. it isn't as it seems."

Tyler Terry, a rep for Werner, tells TMZ Sports ... the photos were not related to Manziel or their relationship at all. The rep was emphatic that the former Cleveland Browns quarterback has never abused her.

We're also told the injuries shown in the pics were not related to domestic violence -- they were a result of an accident at work, where a three-liter bottle of champagne fell on her.

Manziel and Werner have been dating since at least early 2022 ... and have appeared to be a strong couple the entire time.

In fact, the two just recently took a vacation to Miami, where they joked about a bird taking a crap on the ex-NFL player's head while they were relaxing on a beach.

The White House encountered a major breach, a potential threat to our national security like never before -- nah, we're kidding, and we sorta mean that literally this time.

A very young boy was too little to be held back Tuesday by a North Lawn gate at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. The fencing is generally an effective way to keep tourists far away from the President's residence, but this kid found a way onto White House grounds.

It's unclear exactly how the toddler got by, but, presumably, he just wormed through the metal rods -- as he certainly looks small enough to squeeze in without issue.

In any case, this little rascal doesn't appear to have gotten far. As you can see in these pics, WH security intercepted him pretty quickly -- and then escorted him back to his parents on the north side. In one photo, he looks like he's being carried by 2 guards -- almost like he's getting a perp walk or something. 😅

Of course, in reality, they were handling him with care ... the boy doesn't look any older than 4 or so. It also seems the security personnel had a good laugh over the whole thing.

Federal law enforcement sources tell TMZ the boy is Canadian and had stopped at the White House with his family to take a picture.

Like we said, the little guy was reunited with Mama and Papa Bear on the other side -- who appeared relieved ... and maybe a little embarrassed. All's well that ends well, though ... the Secret Service called their impromptu guest a "curious young visitor" who triggered their alarms instantly and who was returned without issue. Sources said Secret Service interviewed the family and determined they posed no threat.

Brian Hartline, OSU OC and former NFL player, was allegedly drinking prior to riding an all-terrain vehicle with a buddy early Sunday morning that crashed and flipped, injuring the Buckeyes coach, according to BH's sister, who frantically called 911 trying to get help.

"My friend's husband called us and said 'call 911 right now.' So my brother is out with them and his wife just took a 4-wheeler out to them and I heard a really loud scream," Brian's 33-year-old sister Jamie told the 911 operator in a call obtained by TMZ Sports.

The operator then asked ... "Have they been drinking?"

Jaimie responded ... "Yes, they have!"

We also obtained a short clip from a police-worn body camera ... and it shows what appears to be an injured Brian on the ground while he receives help.

In the background is the flipped ATV.

As we previously reported, 36-year-old Hartline was on his estate in Liberty Township, OH around 1 AM Sunday, riding on the ATV with his friend, when something went wrong.

It's unclear who was driving at the time of the accident.

Hartline was named the Buckeyes WR coach in 2018 ... and worked his way up to OC.

Before he was a coach, Hartline played for the Buckeyes from 2005 to 2008. He was a 4th-round pick who suited up for the Miami Dolphins and the Cleveland Browns during his 7-year NFL career.

Ariana Madix seems to have moved on from Tom Sandoval with a new man -- getting awfully close and cozy with him down at Coachella ... and not trying to hide it either.

The "Vanderpump Rules" star is out in the desert with a bunch of other stars this weekend, and she's been documenting what she's been up to -- but, more importantly, who she's with ... and it looks like she's been hanging out a lot with some fitness trainer dude.

His name is Daniel Wai ... and he's all over Ariana's IG Story. Likewise, she's all over his as well -- and they were dancing the night away for Day 2 ... even posing for a sweet selfie.

Looks like Dan's rolling with her crew of friends, but in any case -- they definitely seem to be an item. Ariana threw up a photo earlier on Friday that showed her holding hands with someone ... and while you can't see the person's face, all signs point to Danny Boy.

The guy's got a somewhat decent social media presence -- about 15,000 followers -- and he's certainly about his craft ... with tons of clips and pics of him working out in the gym.

Meanwhile, we actually know what Tom was up to this weekend ... or at least on Friday. The dude was out at the NAMM Show at the Anaheim Convention Center ... which was basically a big music showcase, where artists could peruse equipment and instruments, and connect with other fellow enthusiasts. As you can see, Tom was worming his way around.

No sign of Raquel Leviss anywhere ... but he seems to be enjoying himself as well. Of course, we've seen him get a move on with his life ... refocusing on his band and touring.

So ... all's well that ends well???

The L.A. "pothole" Arnold Schwarzenegger fixed was indeed a service trench for the gas company ... but TMZ has learned that service was done months ago, and that's why Arnold went all DIY on the ditch.

We got to the bottom of Arnold's roadwork adventure -- a story with more twists and turns than one of his action blockbusters.

ICYMI, Arnold rolled up his sleeves and went to work Tuesday ... using muscle, Quikrete and some tools to pave over what he saw as a "giant pothole." Frankly, he was fed up with the shoddy pavement that was wreaking havoc on tires for months in his Brentwood neighborhood.

Arnold posted his good deed on social media, and was mostly met with applause ... like the driver who stopped during the middle of his construction project to thank him.

But, the Los Angeles Department of Public Works came out and said the "giant pothole" was actually a service trench being used by SoCalGas to repair a pipeline. That's true, however, the gas co. work was wrapped up way back in January!

What's worse is the city had no plans to fill in the trench until May. That was way too long for Arnold and several other annoyed neighbors ... which is why he took matters into his own hands.

As Arnold explained ... "Today, after the whole neighborhood has been upset about this giant pothole that's been screwing up cars and bicycles for weeks, I went out with my team and fixed it. I always say, let's not complain, let's do something about it. Here you go."

The saga is not done yet ... the gas company reportedly sent crews Wednesday to level off the patch Arnold filled, in order to strengthen the paving mixture he used.

Jamie Foxx suffered what his family is calling a "medical complication" ... though his daughter says her famous father's condition is already improving.

Jamie's daughter, actress Corinne Foxx, posted the medical update Wednesday on social media ... and she says Jamie suffered the issue Tuesday but immediately got "great care" and is now on the mend.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... the condition was serious enough that Jamie was hospitalized.

Corinne adds ... "We know how beloved he is and appreciate your prayers. The family asks for privacy during this time."

At this time, it's unclear exactly how Jamie came to discover the still unspecified complication, or if he was experiencing symptoms that prompted him to get checked out.

We do, however, know Jamie's been working in Atlanta on a film called "Back in Action" with costars Glenn Close and Cameron Diaz.

It's unclear how long Jamie will need to remain in the hospital, or if and when he'll be able to return to working on the movie.

Story developing ...

A Hollywood music exec, David Bolno, who's repped Justin Bieber, Drake and Post Malone, is in the middle of a death investigation after a potential artist was found dead in a Miami Beach hotel room.

Bolno had a room at the luxurious Setai hotel/condo building on March 30, and Laura Lozano's body was discovered there on March 30. According to a Miami Beach PD report, obtained by TMZ, she was found in the area of the bathtub around 1:22 PM.

Bolno was not there at the time ... police say surveillance video shows him leaving by himself at 4:35 AM. Hotel staffers called Bolno when check-out time came and went, and he told them he'd already left ... but added there was a woman in the room who needed to leave. David paid for several rooms, including Lozano's, and although he was in her room, he visited her there but wasn't staying in it.

According to cops, hotel staffers went to the room and that's when they found Lozano unresponsive. Hotel security did CPR and called the fire department ... when they arrived she was pronounced dead.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... officers did recover an "unknown substance" which they suspect to be narcotics. Police are awaiting the results of toxicology to determine Lozano's cause of death.

As for Bolno ... he told Daily Mail Lozano's death was a "terrible tragedy" and she was staying in his room "because she was recording music the night before. She's a client and she was going to sign a record deal with me. I helped her make music."

Our sources tell us there's evidence Lozano was alive around 8 AM, because she ordered room service.

Bolno was trying to sign Lozano to his L.A.-based management firm, NKSFB, where he is currently a partner. NKSFB bills itself as one of the largest entertainment companies in the nation.

We're told Bolno has been cooperating with police investigating Lozano's death, and he's not considered a person of interest.

Symba thinks Doja Cat's anti-Twitter blue checkmark stance is a valid cause ... and he has zero plans to pay for his own verification either!!!

TMZ Hip Hop caught up with the Bay Area-bred lyricist on the set of his upcoming music video, "Hell of a Feeling" with LaRussell, where we took his temp on Doja's comments.

Twitter boss Elon Musk's proposed blue checkmark sweep on April 20 could throw a monkey wrench in artists' reach and visibility, but Doja doesn't give a damn ... basically labeling the check a Veblen good.

LeBron James also railed against the change and Symba wholeheartedly agrees, although he doesn't have a ton of answers on how to separate real and fake celebs without the blue check ... and is still verified himself, for now.

Symba even thinks the Twitter Blue defection could spark some sort of cool-kids movement amongst the unverified.

Taylor Swift's music is seeing a huge spike amid news of her breakup with Joe Alwyn -- but the interest is focused on specific tracks, with a specific muse in mind ... take a guess.

The numbers are in -- as aggregated by TS stan SpotifySwiftie -- and it looks like several songs from TayTay's past few albums have seen massive streaming increases in the past 48 hours ... but, perhaps unsurprisingly, they're all tunes rumored to be about her now-ex.

The songs in question span her last 5 projects -- which cover the time frame that she's been with Joe -- and they range in percentages ... from as low a boost as 23% to as high as 106%, and everything in between. There are 11 tracks we're talking about here, BTW.

'King of My Heart' from her album 'Reputation' and 'happiness' from 'evermore,' for example touch the low end of the totem pole (at 23% increases each) ... whereas other songs like 'Sweet Nothing' ('Midnights') and 'the 1' ('folkore') are at 30% and 39%, respectively.

Other songs, however, have even more plays ... cuts like 'New Year's Day' ('Reputation'), 'peace' ('folklore') and 'Daylight' ('Lover') have jumped 40%/48%/58% in streaming stats.

The song of hers that has the largest upswing is 'Cornelia Street' ('Lover') at 106%. Some of the telltale lyrics in there that allude to Joe include this line ... "And I hope I never lose you, hope it never ends // I'd never walk Cornelia Street again // That's the kind of heartbreak time could never mend." It's been reported they shared a home on this NYC street, for real.

Funny enough ... there's actually viral video of New York-based Swifties leaving flowers at the rumored house they used to live in -- mourning the fact that Joe and Taylor are dunzo.