Kobe Bryant Rare Keepsakes Hit Auction Block ... Draft Day Ticket, Gold Handprints

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Some amazing Kobe Bryant items are looking for a new owner -- including a Draft Day ticket and gold-painted handprints -- and they're all going to go to the highest bidder at auction!!

The two rare pieces are a part of Goldin's "Iconic Collection Honoring Life & Career of Kobe Bryant" ... and the stub stands out, as it sparked the very beginning of Mamba's Hall of Fame career.

The Continental Airlines Arena ticket has the event date (6/26/96) etched on it ... as well as the customized NBA Draft in New Jersey logo.

Of course, the 1996 draft is considered one of the most talented in NBA history ... featuring Bryant (the 13th overall pick), Allen Iverson, Stephon Marbury, Ray Allen, Steve Nash, Jermaine O'Neal, Derek Fisher and more -- so the original owner certainly saw a fair share of future greats.

Another cool item is the 33x25-inch framed clay handprints Kobe made during a tour of Paris in 2017 ... which were covered in gold paint as part of a project for French artist Sacha Schwarz.

There's also a photo to match the moment Bean put his paws in the molding to provide authentication.

We're told both items are estimated to sell in the thousands ... in fact, the gold-plated hands are expected to go for $20k!!

There are other great pieces as well -- things like game-used jerseys and unique trading cards.

The auction is live until March 2.

MMA Champ Johnny Eblen Prank Nearly Turns Violent ... 'I'll F*** You Up!'

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Say Something Disrespectful

Johnny Eblen's next fight nearly came sooner than expected ... the Bellator champ found himself squarely in the sights of a popular prankster, and things got heated!

32-year-old Eblen was shopping at a local Home Depot in Florida recently when a social media prankster named ImReddttv approached Johnny and his lady friend wearing the Apple Vision Pro, and things almost instantly got off to a bad start.

"I'll tell you right now, I'm pretty sure I can bag her," Redd said, standing in front of the couple.

Credit to Johnny's spidey senses ... he seemed to instantly feel something was off, and even pointed out a guy in the cut who was surreptitiously holding a camera.

Redd brushed off the dude filming, and carried on with the prank, saying ... "What's up little man?" to the MMA champion.

He continued ... "Sweetheart, you need to be with a real big man like me," before asking Eblen if the woman was "his girl."

That's about when Johnny's patience wore out (he lasted a lot longer than most would've), saying, "If you say something disrespectful I'll f*** you up!"

Eblen and the woman started walking away, and Redd followed. Johnny then stopped and began walking toward the prankster ... and you get the feeling it was about to turn bad for the social media star.

That's when Redd revealed he'd been sent by Brian Butler-Au, Johnny's manager, to troll the fighter. Tension was instantly broken, and Johnny had a good laugh.

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Some Big Fights On This Card

Not too long after the prank, Johnny hopped aboard a jet and flew across the world to Saudi Arabia ... where the Bellator middleweight champ is fighting PFL light heavyweight champ Impa Kasanganay on February 24 in Riyadh.

We hadn't yet gotten the hardware store prank video when we talked to Eblen, so we didn't ask him about it ... but there's a bunch on his big title fight!

Bryce Young de los Panthers Estoy seguro de que voy a dar vuelta las cosas Emocionado por el 2° año

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Hay que seguir adelante

Emociónense, fans de los Panthers, Bryce Young le dijo a TMZ Sports que piensa que va a cambiar las cosas en Carolina la próxima temporada y directamente nos dijo: "Definitivamente tengo confianza".

Claro, la temporada de novato del mariscal de campo estuvo llena de un montón de baches: lanzó solo 11 touchdowns a 10 intercepciones y solo aseguró dos victorias en sus 16 inicios.

Pero él no está desanimado en absoluto, porque cuando hablamos con él durante la semana del Super Bowl en Las Vegas, parecía muy confiado en que las cosas van a ser muy diferentes dentro de 12 meses.

"Siento que he crecido, he aprendido", dijo el global pick No. 1 en 2023. "Estoy emocionado por mejorar esta temporada. Mejorar en algunas cosas, estoy emocionado por 2° año".

Young nos dijo que todos los dolores de madurez por los que pasaron él y su equipo la temporada pasada solo los harán más fuertes y siente que todos "crecieron y se acercaron mucho más por eso".

En cuanto al nuevo entrenador de los Panthers, el ex coordinador ofensivo de los Buccaneers Dave Canales, el ex ganador del Trofeo Heisman, también parecía entusiasmado por empezar a trabajar con él.

Mientras tanto, el ganador del Trofeo Heisman de este año, Jayden Daniels, también habló con nosotros en Las Vegas y nos dijo que estaba feliz de tener finalmente la oportunidad de demostrar lo que puede hacer en la NFL.

"Definitivamente estoy listo", dijo el señalador de LSU.

Kansas City Shooting Moments Before Shots Fired Teens Facing Off in Heated Exchange

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a heated moment

New video from the Kansas City shooting appears to show the exact moments before shots started to ring out -- and as the cops have indicated, there are teenagers in the mix here.

TMZ has obtained footage that depicts the KC rally Wednesday at 1:48 PM CT -- right around the time the first reports of a shooting came in -- and eyewitnesses tell us that the young guys you see in the background got into a heated exchange with someone off camera.

There are a few key players to focus on -- a teen in red, who you can see get angry and throw his bag down as he argues with someone who's not in clear view. There's also another teen in all black with a satchel-like bag hanging from his side, who walks toward the action.

These 2, in particular, were recorded walking away from the shooting just moments later -- also seen in the footage we got -- and the young man in black looks to have been shot.

We're told by eyewitnesses who saw this that he appeared to have been shot in the face. If you look closely, his buddy in red is trailing close behind him as they beelined it outta there.

Going back to the main video ... there are a couple other dudes who were pointed out to us who also seem to have been involved -- one young guy in a brown jacket (who looks to be the same guy who got tackled in that now-viral video) and another guy in a black jacket and red beanie ... whom we're told appeared to be reaching for something in his coat.

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HEROIC TACKLE

Our sources tell us all the young guys you can see on camera here all looked to be rolling together as a group -- and that they were bickering with a much taller and possibly older man off camera ... who our eyewitnesses say definitely fired the first shots at them.

It's not entirely clear if the young guys fired back, but we're told people there believe they might have ... although, you don't see them pull out or use a gun at all in these videos.

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THE TERRIBLE SCENE

Of course, in the aftermath of this ... cops have only charged 2 individuals -- juveniles as they've been described -- with gun-related offenses, although more charges are likely to come.

The pieces of the puzzle are still falling into place ... and there are more questions than answers right now. From the looks of it -- this may have been an argument gone wrong.

Of course, it's a tragedy regardless ... as the shooting left one person dead, and almost two dozen others injured with gunshot wounds -- many of whom were young children.

Tiroteo en Kansas City Momentos antes ... Adolescentes se enfrentan en un acalorado intercambio

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Momento de la disputa

Un nuevo video del tiroteo en Kansas City parece mostrar el momento exacto antes de los disparos, y como los policías han indicado, hay adolescentes involucrados.

TMZ ha obtenido imágenes que muestran la celebración del miércoles a las 1:48 PM CT, hora en que empezaron a llegar los primeros reportes de los disparos, y testigos presenciales nos dicen que los jóvenes que se ven al fondo se metieron en un acalorado intercambio con alguien fuera de cámara.

Hay unos pocos jugadores en los que concentrarse: primero, un adolescente de rojo, que se molesta y tira su bolsa al suelo mientras discute con alguien que no está a la vista. También hay otro adolescente vestido de negro con un bolso que camina hacia ellos.

Estos 2 en particular fueron grabados alejándose del tiroteo momentos después, cuestión que también se ve en las imágenes que conseguimos. El joven de negro, en tanto, parece haber recibido un disparo.

Testigos que vieron esto nos dicen que parece que le dispararon en la cara. Si se fijan bien, su amigo de rojo lo sigue de cerca mientras sale de allí.

Volviendo al video principal, hay un par de otros tipos que también fueron señalados y que parecen haber estado involucrados: un chico joven con una chaqueta marrón (que parece ser el mismo tipo que fue abordado en ese video ahora viral) y otro chico con una chaqueta negra y gorro rojo, de quien se nos dice que parecía estar alcanzando algo en su abrigo.

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Heroica contención

Nuestras fuentes dicen que todos los chicos en cámara andaban en grupo y estaban discutiendo con un hombre mucho más alto y posiblemente mayor fuera de cámara. Nuestros testigos dicen que este definitivamente habría disparado los primeros tiros contra ellos.

No está del todo claro si los jóvenes le devolvieron los disparos, pero nos han dicho que la gente del lugar cree que podrían haberlo hecho. Aunque no se los ve sacando o usando un arma en absoluto en estos videos.

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La terrible escena

Los policías solo han acusado a 2 individuos menores de edad por delitos relacionados con armas de fuego, aunque es probable que se vengan más cargos.

Las piezas del rompecabezas recién están cayendo en su lugar y siguen habiendo más preguntas que respuestas en este momento. Por lo que parece, esta podría haber sido una discusión que salió mal.

Por supuesto, es una tragedia. El tiroteo cobró la vida de una persona y dejó casi dos docenas de heridos, muchos de los cuales eran niños pequeños.

GYPSY ROSE BLANCHARD Cameo Gypsy Isn't Me ... Imposter Account Appears Deactivated

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UPDATE

2/17 11:22 AM PT -- It seems this account's a fake ... Gypsy Rose Blanchard tells TMZ this isn't actually her, and she's saddened someone would do this in her name.

We've also checked Cameo ... it appears the account's been deactivated.

Gypsy Rose Blanchard's post-prison media tour may be winding down ... but she's undeterred, turning to Cameo to continue cashing in on her life story.

The recently-released ex-con joined the personalized video message platform site this week to engage with fans further and shed new light on her experiences -- but it comes at a high cost ... $20 for a message and $100 a pop for a video.

BTW, she's also going by her married name now -- Gypsy Rose Anderson -- on Cameo, listing her occupation as "influencer." Her bio reads: "Survivor & Advocate, Overcoming Challenges, Finding My Own Path, Advocate for Mental Health Awareness, #SurvivorStrong."

She has amassed a huge following post-prison -- so yeah, that title technically applies.

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Gypsy fans will be thrilled to know there are various video types to choose from. Whether it's a personalized birthday message, a pep talk or advice session, or simply a response to a general question, there's something available for everyone on her menu here.

Safe to say, GRB's hoping to foster a positive online community ... especially since TMZ revealed last month she was getting a lot of hate for her ex-BF, Nick Godejohn, still being behind bars -- despite him being the mastermind behind her mother Dee Dee's slaying.

With that in mind, while Gypsy has said she feels a lot of guilt over the situation to this very day ... she also finds it strange that Nick's receiving sympathy from folks who want him freed.

Remember ... Nick got life in prison without the possibility of parole after his conviction for first-degree murder. Gypsy got a 10-year sentence but was released on parole in Dec, after more than 8 years of incarceration.

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TMZ INVESTIGATES

Now that she's on the outside again ... she's looking for new modes of revenue -- and for now, Cameo is just the ticket.

Originally Published -- 2:50 PM PT

NeNe Leakes Mi regreso a "RHOA" no sucederá... ¡No en la temporada 16!

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Las esperanzas de que NeNe Leakes hiciera un gran regreso a "Real Housewives of Atlanta", totalmente alimentadas por el regreso de Porsha Williams están a punto de esfumarse, porque hemos sabido que NeNe no está siguiendo los pasos de su mejor amiga.

Fuentes conectadas a la serie le dicen a TMZ que NeNe no está en conversaciones para unirse a la próxima temporada 16 y, de hecho, nos dicen que los productores ni siquiera se han acercado a ella para discutir sobre la posibilidad. Por lo tanto, traer de vuelta a NeNe Leakes simplemente no está en los planes.

Para NeNe y los fans de "RHOA" esta no es la noticia que quisieran escuchar quienes sienten un vacío desde que NeNe se separó de la serie en 2020.

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TMZ investiga

Todo esto es aún más devastador para los fans, dado que durante mucho tiempo han estado haciendo campaña por su regreso en las redes sociales.

Las esperanzas se elevaron aún más cuando ella siguió a Bravo en Instagram en noviembre de 2023, lo que sugería que podría estar de vuelta en buenos términos con ellos después de que las cosas se complicaran cuando Leakes presentó una demanda en 2022, alegando que los productores del programa habían tolerado un ambiente de trabajo tóxico y lleno de racismo.

Por ahora, la única persona que estaría haciendo un gran regreso a la temporada 16 de "RHOA" es Porsha, quien inicialmente salió del programa en 2021 después de 9 temporadas en el programa.

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A pesar de no volver a nuestras pantallas en este momento, NeNe ha tenido mucho que decir sobre "RHOA", especialmente sobre sus bajos ratings. El mes pasado nos dijo que los showrunners necesitaban echar algo abajo para reforzar la audiencia.

También dijo que era hora de contar con sangre fresca después de 15 años con el mismo elenco, por lo que suena como que si ella no creyese que es una buena idea volver.

NENE LEAKES 'RHOA' RETURN NOT HAPPENING ... Not in Season 16, Anyway!!!

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NeNe Leakes fans' hopes of her making a big return to "Real Housewives of Atlanta" -- fully fueled by Porsha Williams going back -- are about to be dashed, because we've learned NeNe is not following in her BFF's footsteps.

Sources connected to the show tell TMZ ... NeNe isn't in any talks to join the upcoming season 16 -- and, in fact, we're told producers haven't even reached out to her to have any conversations about the possibility. So, bringing NL back just isn't in the cards.

For NeNe and 'RHOA' fans this isn't the news they want to hear with a NeNe-shaped hole in their lives, and storylines, ever since she parted ways with the show in 2020.

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TMZ INVESTIGATES

All this is even more devastating for fans, given that they've long been campaigning for her comeback on social media.

Hopes were raised further when she followed Bravo on Instagram in Nov. 2023 ... suggesting she might be back on good terms with them after things soured when Leakes filed a 2022 lawsuit claiming the show's producers tolerate a toxic work environment filled with racism.

As of now, the only person making a grand return for 'RHOA' season 16 is Porsha, who initially exited the show in 2021 after 9 seasons on the show.

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Despite not coming back to our screens right now, NeNe's had a whole lot to say about 'RHOA,' especially about its low ratings ... telling us last month showrunners need to blow something up to bolster viewership.

NeNe also said it's about time for some fresh blood after 15 years of the same cast -- so it sounds like even she doesn't think it's a good idea to go back.

Kevin Costner Here's Why Ex Lost Big in Divorce ... Tried Milking 'Expenses'!!!

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GAMING THE SYSTEM

Kevin Costner's ex-wife may have screwed herself in their epic divorce, all because she listed everything under the sun as an expense she'd need covered in almost a quarter of a million dollars in monthly child support ... even though her final amount ended up being far, far less.

TMZ has a new documentary about this uncoupling -- one of the most acrimonious we've seen in a long time here in Hollywood -- and a particular element about the proceeding that was fascinating is the fact that Christine shot for the moon in what she was seeking at first.

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ANOTHER DAY IN COURT

Of course, we're referring to the $248k in monthly child support she wanted from Kevin -- an astronomical amount that she justified with an absurd list of expenses she said she needed.

Among those costs she said she needed covered ... cosmetic surgeries, and other luxuries -- like boutique shopping, massive ATM withdrawals, and sky-high attorney's fees.

In the end ... a judge gave her a fraction of what she wanted -- even though Kevin offered her more than she ended up getting.

We talked to lots of folks in the know about celebrity divorces to see why they thought Christine swung for the fences ... and we got some interesting insights. Turns out there's really no such thing as an iron-clad prenup.

The doc gets into all of this and more -- "TMZ Investigates: Kevin Costner's Divorce War" is a deep dive into the nasty split, examining how it devolved into a war over money, cheating allegations, and entitlement.

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TMZ INVESTIGATES

It airs Monday night at 9/8c on FOX.

Kevin Costner Por qué su ex perdió a lo grande en el divorcio Esta es la razón...

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Jugando con el sistema

La ex esposa de Kevin Costner puede haberse jodido a sí misma épicamente en su proceso de divorcio, y todo por haber enumerado prácticamente todo lo que existe sobre la tierra como un gasto necesario en su manutención, fijada en casi un cuarto de millón de dólares mensuales. Al final, terminó recibiendo mucho, mucho menos.

TMZ tiene un nuevo documental sobre este polémico divorcio, uno de los más enconados que hemos visto en mucho tiempo en Hollywood y algo particularmente fascinante es que Christine estaba disparando a la luna con lo que estaba pidiendo en un primer momento.

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Otro día en el tribunal

Por supuesto, nos estamos refiriendo a los $248k en manutención mensual que ella quería de Kevin, una cantidad astronómica que ella justificó con una lista absurda de gastos que dijo necesitar.

Entre ellos había cirugías estéticas y otros lujos, como compras en tiendas boutique, grandes retiros de cajeros automáticos y los exorbitantes honorarios de su abogado.

Al final un juez le dio una fracción de lo que quería, a pesar de que Kevin le había ofrecido más de lo que terminó recibiendo.

Hablamos con un montón de gente experta en divorcios de celebridades para entender por qué Christine habría actuado de esa manera, y nos dieron algunas ideas interesantes, como que no hay tal cosa como un acuerdo prenupcial blindado.

Nuestro nuevo documental "TMZ Investiga: Kevin Costner's Divorce War" se sumerge profundamente en la desagradable separación de las celebridades, examinando cómo se convirtió en una guerra por el dinero y acusaciones de engaño.

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TMZ investiga

Este se emite el lunes por la noche a las 9/8c en FOX.

Eli Manning Hits Craps Table For Hours In FL ... Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!?!

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Tom Brady and a craps table in Florida apparently have something in common ... neither stands a chance against Eli Manning!!!

TMZ Sports has learned ... the New York Giants legend rolled dice at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, FL for hours on Thursday night -- and he appeared to win BIG.

One witness tells us ... Manning showed up before 9:30 PM and stayed past 2:30 AM -- albeit with a short break for food at some point -- seemingly raking in cash throughout the evening.

In fact, in video we obtained, you can see that after one run in particular ... he celebrated like a madman, high-fiving his tablemates before sharing a huge embrace with one of his pals.

We're told Eli seemed to have around $40,000 in chips in front of him ... while some of the guys he was playing with had over $100K.

Of course, it ain't like Eli exactly needs the dough ... after all, the former signal-caller made over $250 MILLION in his NFL career alone.

But, hey, the guy beat Brady twice in Super Bowls -- he clearly can't help but win when he gets the chance!

Mac McClung I Have Two Brand-New Dunks ... Never Done Before!!!

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NBA Slam Dunk champion Mac McClung says he has two opportunities to do something truly historic this weekend ... telling TMZ Sports he's ready to reveal a pair of moves that have never been done before!!

The G League star -- who wowed the entire basketball world with his top performance in 2023 -- peeled back the curtain on this year's contest ... and it sounds like fans can expect nothing short of fireworks.

"I think I have three dunks that haven't been done in a contest before, but I think two of them haven't been done by anybody before," McClung said. "So I hope I can make them -- if I make them, I'll be happy and I do them right."

"But we put a lot of effort into it and hope it goes well."

Mac -- who currently plays for the Osceola Magic -- says there are about six different dunks he's got ready to go ... and the only real issue is figuring out which ones he'll pick.

But it's not just the dunks that have him excited -- he hinted there could be some cameo appearances featured in his routine as well.

McClung is going up against some fellow high-flying athletes -- Jaylen Brown, Jaime Jaquez and Jacob Toppin -- and he admitted he'll be just like the fans as he watches them perform.

There will be a lot more than a shiny trophy on the line for McClung -- the hooper recently partnered with hi-tech insoles company, VKTRY ... and if he repeats as champion, he's giving out $ 500k worth of product to a number of lucky fans who register for the giveaway.

McClung raved about the insoles ... claiming they give him a big advantage on the court.

Dude better be careful, or he's gonna need a helmet when his head hits the roof.

The dunk contest goes down Saturday night -- getcha popcorn ready!!

Zak Bagans Cursed Jewelry Box Going on Display ... From Dead Model's Home

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Zak Bagans has a new cursed item going on display at his museum, one with a connection to recently deceased Playboy model Masuimi Max ... TMZ has learned.

The paranormal investigator tells us ... Charles Max, Masuimi's brother, met him at his museum in Las Vegas and was totally rattled by an innocuous-looking jewelry box he said once belonged to MM's mom.

After their mother died, Charles told Zak their father kept the jewelry box ... an odd move, because Charles says Korean people generally burn a loved one's possessions after they die.

Charles ended up taking the box, and quickly wished he hadn't -- he told Zak the box gives people amnesia, and detailed several other terrifying experiences with the creepy artifact.

For example ... Zak says Charles told him several mirrors in his house cracked when he put the box next to them, cold spots cropped up in different places in the home where Charles said he could see his own breath.

He even claims he would feel paralyzed at times, describing it as being grabbed by an unseen force.

Ultimately, Charles told Zak he gave the box to one of his sisters -- NOT Masuimi -- who swears she never gave it to Masuimi.

While the paranormal experiences stopped haunting Charles, the whole family has no explanation for how the box ended up in Masuimi's possession.

We broke the story ... Masuimi died last month at her Las Vegas-area home. Cops said no foul play was suspected at the time though her cause of death is still unclear. She was only 45.

On the same day she passed, Charles and his other sister went to her house, and found the jewelry box on the floor near the door -- again, shocking 'cause this other sister says she didn't give it to Masuimi.

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TMZ INVESTIGATES

Charles swears Masuimi would never have wanted the box -- she didn't have a good relationship with their mother, so there's no reason she'd covet it.

One more creepy fact/coincidence ... Masuimi died on the same date as her mother.

Zak says the only thing in the jewelry box is a broken necklace. You can check it out for yourself at the Zak Bagans' Haunted Museum in Las Vegas ... if you're brave enough to get that close.

Maxx Crosby DPOY Snub Motivates Me ... 'Exactly What I Needed!!!'

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IT'S JUST THE BEGINNING

Maxx Crosby might be bummed he didn't win NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors this season ... but the Raiders star tells TMZ Sports he's planning on using the snub as motivation to whoop some ass next season.

ICYMI, Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett edged out Crosby -- and other finalists T.J. Watt, Micah Parsons and DaRon Bland -- for the big award at the NFL Honors ceremony on Feb. 8 ... which many felt Crosby deserved.

After all, Myles had 14 sacks and four forced fumbles on the year ... while Crosby totaled 14.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.

So, when we got the Las Vegas pass rusher out at Super Bowl week, we had to ask the three-time Pro Bowler how he was taking it ... and it's clear, he's using it as fuel for this offseason's workouts.

"I mean, it's exactly what I needed," he said. "I know I'm going in the right direction. I know what I'm capable of. It's just the beginning."

"People haven't seen anything yet," he added.

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BRO'ING OUT

Before he embarks on the road to dominance in '24, though, Crosby had a little fun in Vegas ahead of Super Bowl LVIII ... horsin' around on a red carpet with none other than Tom Brady.

Watch the clip of the guys, it's hilarious ... and we guess you could say Maxx narrowly added another QB takedown to his total this year!!

UFC's Ian Machado Garry Opens Up On Personal Attacks From Covington, Strickland

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Ian Machado Garry hasn't forgotten what Sean Strickland and Colby Covington said about his family last year ... and the welterweight star has revenge on his mind!

TMZ Sports caught up with the 26-year-old fighter as he prepares to return to the Octagon against Geoff Neal at UFC 298 for the first time since finding himself in the middle of one of the biggest and most controversial storylines in all MMA last year.

While he's focused on Geoff, Ian isn't trying to hide who he wants next.

"It's Colby Covington. I'm not looking for anyone else. I'm getting him. I'm gonna get him. I'm gonna retire him from the UFC. I'm gonna rid him and his f***ing nonsense from the organization and the whole world will be a better place because of it."

We followed up, asking if Machado wanted Covington even more so than Sean Strickland.

"I'll get both of them eventually, but right now the goal is to go for Colby. Sean Strickland, I'll get in time. God will give me that. I believe God will place that very firmly in my path, 'Off you go kid, enjoy!'"

As for how he handled the drama -- which saw his relationship with his wife put under a microscope -- Ian told us the following.

"I mean the truth is I didn't handle it well at the start. The truth is I didn't, it was very emotional. Very stressful, because I've never had a vicious onslaught of violent attacks on my family or my wife, and it was all based on absolute bulls*** and lies."

Ian went on to explain why he's still upset to this day, saying he doesn't "think that most people know the truth, and that's annoying, that's irritating."

Garry added ... ["Strickland] had no f***ing clue what he was talking about, didn't have any facts or any knowledge on the situation at all. Hears someone's opinion on it which is completely false and then elevates it to a point at which now everyone is attacking my wife, and it's just absolute utter nonsense."

Drama aside, we also talked to Ian about his matchup with Geoff, and his desire to co-main event a Conor McGregor card.

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Able To Correct My Mistakes

We also talked to UFC star Mackenzie Dern (#7), who is fighting #3 ranked strawweight Amanda Lemos on the UFC 298 card ... as she looks to bounce back from a defeat at the hands of Jéssica Andrade in November.

Dern is getting in the Octagon with another killer ... but if she gets a dub, she believes she could be next in line for a much-coveted title fight!

Check out the clips!

D.L. Hughley Stands By Mo'Nique Comments ... Sit-Down Not Happening

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NOTHING TO SAY TO HER

D.L. Hughley's moving on from his feud with Mo'Nique ... saying he's a grown-ass man who doesn't think every argument needs a resolution, and this one definitely will NOT!

We got the comedian/actor out in New York City, where we asked about his very public beef with the Oscar winner ... and wondered if he'd be interested in a sit down with her on Shannon Sharpe's "Club Shay Shay" podcast.

You gotta see how D.L. immediately shot down any notion of that happening ... because it sounds like he's not too thrilled with Shannon, either.

Hughley said he'd never go on "Club Shay Shay," and he's definitely not reaching out to Mo'Nique 'cause he's convinced they've both said all they need to say.

Remember ... Mo'Nique went after a bunch of entertainment industry folks on Sharpe's podcast, and specifically said D.L. offended her on his radio show during an interview.

She demanded the segment not air -- a request D.L. said he agreed to in the same social media rant where he called her a "liar" earlier this month.

D.L. told us he's not backing down on a single word he said about Mo'Nique ... saying he's got zero regrets and doesn't need to reconcile with her because they're both adults who said what they said.

Basically, Hughley says they "don't have to be in the same space," and he adds, it's a "fallacy" to believe folks who don't see eye to eye have to reconcile.

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MO'NIQUE WHO?

BTW ... this isn't the first time Hughley and Mo'Nique have had beef. Back in 2022, a contract dispute over who was supposed to headline a comedy show resulted in Mo'Nique calling out D.L. for saying he didn't believe his daughter at first when she said she was sexually assaulted.

Mo'Nique apologized for bringing up his daughter, but Hughley told us at the time arguments like the one with her just weren't worth his time -- pretty much exactly how he still feels today.

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TMZ INVESTIGATES

Seems D.L.'s puttin' this feud in his rearview too ... but, we'll have to wait and see if Mo'Nique's gonna let it slip that easily.