Giannis Antetokounmpo Out For Game 5 ... Due To Knee Injury

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10:52 AM PT -- 7/1 -- Even though Giannis' knee is structurally OK ... it's still clearly too painful for him to play in Game 5.

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The Bucks announced Thursday their best player will miss the key matchup with the Hawks.

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No determination, meanwhile, has been made yet on his status for Game 6 or a potential Game 7.

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1:24 PM PT -- Some great news for the Bucks -- ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski is reporting there is no structural damage to Giannis' knee and his ligaments are "sound."

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There is no timetable for his return ... but it's a huge sigh of relief for Milwaukee.

Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo terrifyingly hyperextended his knee Tuesday -- with his leg violently bending backward mid-game -- and there's now big concern the Greek Freak could be SERIOUSLY injured.

The 26-year-old, 2-time NBA MVP crumpled to the floor in pain during the 3rd quarter of Milwaukee's playoff game against the Atlanta Hawks -- and replays of the injury were tough to watch.

As Giannis was going up to try to block a shot, he landed awkwardly on his left leg ... bending his knee in a gruesome way.

It was clear as day the injury was VERY painful ... 'cause Giannis screamed out for several seconds before trainers ultimately got him off the court and into the locker room.

The extent of the injury is currently unknown -- Giannis is slated to undergo further testing Wednesday -- but his team was obviously very concerned about it all after the game.

"I just hope it's not serious," Khris Middleton said.

With Giannis missing the rest of Game 4 with the injury, the Bucks were destroyed 110-88 ... and the series is now tied at 2-2.

Game 5 is scheduled to tip-off on Thursday.

Originally Published -- 6/30 6:05 AM PT

Serena Williams Withdraws From Wimbledon After Leg Injury ... Tearful Exit From Court

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2:42 PM PT -- Serena just issued a statement on the withdrawal ... saying her early, unplanned exit was "heartbreaking."

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"I was heartbroken to have to withdraw today after injuring my right leg," Williams said on social media. "My love and gratitude are with the fans and the team who make being on centre court so meaningful."

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"Feeling the extraordinary warmth and support of the crowd today when I walked on - and off - the court meant the world to me."

Serena Williams will not add another Wimbledon trophy to her collection this year ... she just withdrew from the tournament due to a leg injury -- and her exit was VERY emotional.

Williams was competing in her first-round match in London against Aliaksandra Sasnovich ... but at one point during the contest, she slipped and injured her leg.

Serena got it all checked out by trainers ... and tried to continue -- but the injury became too much, and she eventually crumpled to the grass in extreme pain.

Williams didn't try to compete after that ... she pulled herself from the event -- and broke down in tears while doing so.

The crowd in attendance made it known they appreciated her effort -- giving her a standing ovation -- and before Williams left for the locker room area, she waved to everybody.

39-year-old Williams doesn't withdraw from Grand Slams due to injury much ... in fact, this is only the second time it's EVER happened to her (she had to withdraw from Wimbledon in 1998).

Serena currently holds 23 major titles, just one shy of the record 24 mark set by Margaret Court.

Get well soon!

Originally Published -- 12:46 PM PT

Tour de France Riders Protest For Safer Conditions ... After Crashes

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Wild scene from the Tour de France on Tuesday ... when all the riders staged a 1-minute protest to demand safer racing conditions.

The event has been laden with gnarly crashes over the past 3 days ... including a massive pileup caused by a spectator's cardboard sign on Saturday.

Yet another crash went down during Stage 3 on Monday ... and riders believe it could have been avoided if race organizers would have listened to their concerns regarding the curvy and narrow finale.

The riders decided to show just how pissed they are about the dangerous racing conditions with the strike ... coming to a complete stop 1 kilometer into Stage 4 in hopes of bringing changes to the event.

The riders then resumed the race at a slow pace for the next 10 kilometers.

The Cyclistes Professionnels Associés released a statement in response to the crashes on Monday ... saying the riders want their concerns to be taken seriously.

"Their frustration about foreseeable and preventable action is enormous," the CPA said.

"The riders wish to stress their respect for their sponsors, their sports groups, the organizer, their international institution," the statement added. "Supporters are very important to them -- and this is why they will be riding today."

"In return, the riders of the Tour de France ask for the same respect – respect for their safety."

The riders are asking organizers to implement a "3-kilometer rule" ... which means times would be taken 3 kilometers from the finish in case of future crashes or other issues similar to what went down on Monday.

Now, the question is ... will the protest work?!?

Greg Olsen Son Having 'Unbelievable Recovery' ... After Heart Transplant

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Ex-NFL star Greg Olsen says his 8-year-old son is absolutely crushing it in the weeks following his heart transplant ... calling his recovery process "unbelievable."

As we previously reported, Olsen's son, TJ, -- who was born with a congenital heart disease -- underwent the serious surgery earlier this month to receive a new heart.

The Olsens have been documenting TJ's story every step of the way ... including the special moment when he "rang the bell" to symbolize the end of his treatment 2 weeks ago.

Now, Greg is sharing even more good news ... saying TJ's improving every day at home.

"He’s doing good," Olsen told the Charlotte Observer. "He’s had an unbelievable recovery. He’s feeling good. He’s been home almost three weeks."

"He’s starting to get his strength back and to get a little more active. It’s been quite a journey."

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Greg also explained the family's decision to share TJ's journey ... saying, "I just think it’s important for people to not only hear from you when you’re on top of the world, right?"

"The reality and humanity of it is that a lot of people do have tough times. And I think sometimes people think they are the only ones going through tough times."

He added ... "So, to share TJ’s story, that has connected us with so many other stories of hope and heartache throughout the country."

"That’s why we do it, to show people, 'Hey, you’re not alone out there. There are a lot of people that are struggling. There’s a lot of people that are having hard times. But you can get through it. and TJ is a great example of that.'"

Keep it up, TJ!!!

NHL's Brendan Gallagher Left A Bloody Mess After Fight ... In Stanley Cup Final

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The Stanley Cup Final looked more like a horror movie Monday night -- at least for a few minutes -- 'cause one player's head was left a bloody mess after a violent scrap.

Canadiens winger Brendan Gallagher was the man who unfortunately suffered the wound late in the third period of Montreal's first game with Tampa Bay ... and it was pretty gnarly.

The Habs player crashed the Lightning net to try to clean up a possible rebound ... and several Tampa Bay players took so much exception to the skate-in, they fought him.

Blake Coleman ripped Gallagher's helmet off ... and then Mikhail Sergachev slammed Gallagher so hard to the ice, his head took a nasty shot.

Photos from the game show Gallagher was bleeding profusely ... and it was so bad, the 29-year-old eventually skated off and did not return to the contest.

Seems Gallagher's going to be just fine for Game 2 ... but, he had to deal with a little more sting while in the locker room getting treatment, 'cause the Canadiens were ultimately blown out, 5-1.

Yeah ... and you thought your Monday sucked.

Angels' Dylan Bundy Pukes All Over Yankee Stadium Mound ... Pulled From Game

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Incredibly gross scene at Yankee Stadium on Monday ... Angels pitcher Dylan Bundy was so bothered by the New York heat, he straight-up blew chunks all over the mound!!

It all went down in Los Angeles' tilt with the Yankees ... where temperatures in the 90s had Bundy REALLY not feeling so hot.

The 28-year-old struggled to pitch to his first few batters of the night -- giving up four hits and two runs -- and then late in the 2nd inning, you can see he really wasn't doing well physically.

Video from the game's broadcast shows Bundy was sweating so much, water was dripping off his hat ... and then he couldn't hold back a load of vomit.

Bundy threw up several times all over the mound and all over the grass behind it ... and after a trainer came out to check on him, he was eventually pulled from the game.

Fortunately, the Angels say he was just dealing with some heat exhaustion and he's expected to be fine.

Of course, if this all looks familiar ... it's because it is -- just a few weeks ago, Tigers pitcher Beau Burrows also yacked all over a mound dealing with heat problems.

Pretty nasty stuff ... but, hey, the Angels were still able to come out with the win Monday, beating NY, 5-3.

Dionne Warwick New Meditation Biz Sounds So Right!!!

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Dionne Warwick's smooth sound has made her a music icon, and it's also why she's perfectly suited for her new biz venture ... which is all about bathing in sound. Seriously.

We're told Dionne will soon open a sound bath center dubbed The Ohm Zone in partnership with her son Damon, and "Sweet Tooth" star Dania Ramirez ... who's also known for her role as the Avion girl and Turtle's GF on "Entourage."

For the uninitiated ... a sound bath is a type of meditation exercise complemented by musical techniques to form soothing, overlapping vibrations.

It's also known as sound healing, which helps release stress, anxiety, depression ... ailments that could trigger more serious conditions like heart disease and diabetes.

The triple Ds -- Dionne, Damon and Dania -- are setting up shop in Venice, CA, and we're told the building is set up like a private spa and healing temple. The experience will be soothing, and include a customized frequency for you to listen to while relaxing in a bath.

The whole experience lasts about 90 minutes.

We're told Dionne got into this shortly after her son's widow-maker heart attack in 2016 -- both of them started learning about and applying the holistic treatment.

And, given Dionne's decorated career in music, it made perfect sense for her to jump on this opportunity.

We're told the sound bath center had previously been used as a recording studio ... and Dionne and co. have plans to eventually use parts of the building for that again.

British Influencer 'I'm Finally Korean' ... Had 18 Surgeries to Look Like BTS Singer!!!

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A British influencer elected to undergo surgery after surgery after surgery so they could look like BTS singer Park Jimin -- and says they no longer feel trapped, and identifies as Korean.

Lots to unpack here, but Oli London -- who identifies as non-binary -- said Monday they've been trapped in the wrong body for 8 years, but can now "be myself" because "I'm finally Korean."

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London's changed their name to Jimin, and says some of the 18 surgeries included extensive work on their eyes, and a brow lift.

They even spoke in Korean in parts of the video, and added ... "I know it's a little confusing, nobody has ever come out as Jimin or Korean, but this is something you guys know ... I've really struggled with identity issues with who I am."

Jimin -- the wannabe, not the singer -- said Korean is their culture, their home country and now they're happy to look Korean ... after at least $150k worth of surgeries over 8 years.

The racial transition, as Jimin puts it, is drawing lots of criticism -- to which they say ... "Being Transexual is the same as being TRANSRACIAL because you are born in the wrong body."

No word yet on how Jimin, the BTS frontman, feels about all of this.

California Surfer Viciously Attacked By Shark ... Gashed By 10 Teeth

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A California surfer was viciously attacked by a shark in ocean waters Saturday ... and the bite was so bad, authorities say the animal ripped TEN teeth marks into the man's leg.

The attack went down at Gray Whale Cove State Beach in San Mateo County near S.F. ... when authorities say a white shark, approximately 6-to-8 feet long, bit into the 39-year-old surfer.

"The patient suffered severe injuries," fire official Brian Ham told KTVU, adding, thankfully, bystanders were able to bring the surfer to shore just after the attack.

Authorities say the man needed to be "treated with advanced life support measures" following the bite ... and say he was transported to a nearby hospital in "serious condition."

Officials tell TMZ Sports the man has since been released.

The beach, meanwhile, was later closed to all visitors while authorities investigated the incident.

A shark attack in CA waters is very rare ... according to marine biologist David McGuire, "The relative risk is 1-in-17 million to encountering a shark in California waters."

As for why the shark might have attacked ... officials say it may have confused the man for an animal due to his wetsuit.

NHL Star David Pastrnak Newborn Son Tragically Dies ... 'You Will Be Loved FOREVER'

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Horrible news from NHL superstar David Pastrnak ... the Boston Bruins forward announced Monday his newborn son has tragically died.

The baby, named Viggo Rohl Pastrnak, was just born on June 17 ... but Pastrnak said on his social media page he lost the child just days later on June 23.

"We have an Angel watching over us and we call him SON," Pastrnak wrote. "You will be loved FOREVER."

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It's unclear what caused the death ... Pastrnak only added, "Please respect our privacy as we are going through these heartbreaking times."

The baby was Pastrnak's first.

25-year-old Pastrnak is considered one of the best players in the NHL ... he's spent his entire 7-year NHL career with the Bruins, scoring 200 goals in 438 games.

#RIP

MLB's Josh Naylor Gruesomely Breaks Leg ... In Violent Collision With Teammate

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8:49 AM PT -- The Cleveland Indians just provided an update on John Naylor's condition ... saying the OF "suffered a closed fracture and dislocation of the right ankle."

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Cleveland says Naylor remained in the hospital overnight.

Cleveland Indians outfielder Josh Naylor broke his leg in a horrifying fashion after colliding with his teammate during a game Sunday ... and video of the play is VERY hard to watch.

The gruesome scene all went down in the 4th inning of the Tribe's game against the Minnesota Twins ... when Naylor was trying to track down a fly ball in right field.

The problem ... his teammate, Ernie Clement, was charging for the ball as well -- and when the baseball finally came down from the sky, the two crashed into each other HARD.

The collision sent Naylor flying -- and when he landed, his leg bent awkwardly underneath him ... horrifically twisting it.

You can see in slow-motion replay, Naylor was in EXTREME pain ... writhing on the ground.

Naylor was eventually carted off the field and taken to the hospital ... and after the game, Indians manager Terry Francona confirmed his player was dealing with a significant injury.

"We know that there's a fracture," Francona told reporters. "Other than that, he's being evaluated over at the hospital right now."

Naylor had played in 69 games for Cleveland this season ... hitting 7 home runs and batting .253.

Get well soon.

Former Skid Row Singer Johnny Solinger Dead at 55

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11:39 AM PT -- Johnny's wife, Paula, released a statement on Facebook, saying, "Johnny passed. I was holding his hand. He went in peace. Thank you all."

Johnny Solinger, the former singer of Skid Row, has died.

Johnny passed on Saturday, a month after he disclosed he was battling liver failure.

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Members of the rock band announced Solinger’s death, saying, “We are saddened to hear the news of our brother Johnny Solinger. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and fans. Godspeed Singo. Say hello to Scrappy for us.”

Solinger started a GoFundMe account last month to help pay for his treatments. He wrote: “It is with a heavy heart I must let everyone know what’s going on with me and my health. I have been hospitalised for over the last month. I have been diagnosed with liver failure. And prognosis is not so good. As with most musicians I do not have health insurance and it’s very difficult to get proper care without it.”

Skid Row hit pretty big in the late 80s and 90s with its first two albums – "Skid Row" and "Slave To The Grind." Its biggest hits ... "Youth Gone Wild," and "18 and Life" together sold 20 million albums.

Solinger became a member of Skid Row back in '99, replacing Sebastian Bach. He stayed until 2015 when he was replaced with former TNT singer Tony Harnell.

He's on several Skid Row albums, including the "Thickskin," "Revolutions Per Minute." "United World Rebellion" and "Rise Of The Damnation Army."

Solinger is survived by his wife, Paula Marcenaro Solinger.

He was 55.

RIP

Originally published -- 6:46 AM PT

Tour de France Authorities on the Hunt for Woman Who Caused Massive Crash

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It seems that massive crash Saturday during the Tour de France might have been downright criminal ... because French authorities are now on the case.

As we reported, a spectator with a cardboard sign was apparently mugging for the TV cameras when she got way too close to the racers ... striking German rider Tony Martin who was at the front of the pack.

She stepped in front of the racing pack holding the sign, appearing to display a message for the television cameras.

The sign hit Martin who was cycling near the head of the pack. Martin tumbled to the ground, setting off a chain reaction as nearly 2 dozen other cyclists ate it.

So now, law enforcement is on the hunt for the woman they say caused "unintentional injuries by manifestly deliberate violation of an obligation of safety or prudence." Translation, recklessness.

Authorities are asking witnesses to come forward who can ID the woman -- who quickly left the scene before investigators arrived.

Three riders had to drop out of the race after the crash.

'Duck Dynasty' Star Kay Robertson Dog Bite Did Major Mouth Damage ... But She's On The Mend

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The matriarch of the "Duck Dynasty" family looks like she's been in a bar brawl following her recent dog attack ... but she assures us she's doing fine and will hopefully be back to normal in a few weeks.

Kay Robertson, AKA Miss Kay, tells TMZ ... her dog, Bobo, really did a number on her mouth when he snapped and bit her last week. As you can see in the photos we got ... the pooch split her top lip and took a big chunk out of her bottom one.

Kay says it was a bloody mess when she was rushed to the hospital, and it looks even worse now!!! That's due to all the stitches and bruising ... which she says she's covering up in public with a face mask.

She adds that her mouth is full of stitches and she can't open it to eat -- she's only drinking through a straw -- and she's on antibiotics and using skin cream to heal up.

The good news, according to Miss Kay, is the hospital staff in Monroe, Louisiana did a great job fixing her up and her doctor's been very helpful. She's now back home recovering nicely, and tells us it'll take about 4 weeks for her lips and bruises to heal.

After that, she'll need some plastic surgery to fully repair her lip ... but then her doc says she'll be back to her old self.

Miss Kay also reiterates that Bobo biting her face was just as much her fault as his ... because she accidentally snuck up on him for a goodnight kiss while he was sleeping and startled him.

We're told there's no hard feelings, and Kay's family will love her no matter what her lips look like.

Tour de France Spectator's Sign Causes Massive Pileup

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A spectator with a sign caused a massive, crazy pileup Saturday during the Tour de France.

Literally minutes after the race began ... a fan holding a cardboard sign held it out too far ... hitting one of the riders ... causing him to eat it hard. That, in turn, triggered a chain reaction as rider after rider bit the dust in a wild scene.

Here's how it was described by former green jersey winner Sean Kelly ... “The guys at the front went through a very tight section between the islands in the middle of the road and it was a dangerous one for those further back in the peloton. This is Brittany – you have a lot of road furniture and small villages. It is very technical for the first stage of the Tour de France.”

As if that's bad enough ... there's a real chance of rain as the day wears on. Believe in bad omens much?

It's unclear if any of the riders were injured, but gotta say ... if none were, it's a minor miracle.

Hope this is not a sign of what's to come.

MotoGP Champ Marc Marquez Violently Thrown From Bike ... In Terrifying Crash

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MotoGP champ Marc Marquez is VERY fortunate to be alive ... he just crashed during a practice run Friday -- and the scene was HORRIFYING.

The 28-year-old was heading around a turn at a high rate of speed during preparation for this weekend's Dutch TT in Assen ... when all of a sudden his bike bucked him.

Footage from the track is absolutely terrifying ... you can see Marquez was thrown feet into the air while his motorcycle skidded across the pavement underneath him.

Marquez eventually crash-landed into some gravel ... where he rolled several times before sliding to a stop.

Somehow, though, he said he avoided any sort of serious injury.

"I have to say I feel lucky to escape in a good condition overall, these kinds of crashes can be very hard and very dangerous," Marquez told media members afterward.

"It’s painful, but nothing is wrong. It was a strange crash because I didn’t think that I was over the limit and I was riding like I was in the morning."

Marquez continued, "In this corner we rely on the traction control a lot, but it wasn’t there, and when I shifted the rear started sliding and then I fell."

If this all sounds familiar for Marquez ... it's because it is -- remember just last year in July, he broke his arm in a similar accident in Spain.

In that crash, Marquez was thrown from his bike in nearly an identical fashion.

The superstar champion in the MotoGP world missed the rest of the year recovering ... but he finally made his return to the circuit just weeks ago.