Dale Earnhardt Jr. NASCAR Thanks Plane Crash First Responders ... Free Tickets!!!
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NASCAR dropped an awesome "thanks for saving our legend" gift over the weekend ... donating tickets to the first responders at Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s plane crash -- and seems they loved the gesture!
44-year-old Junior was involved in a fiery plane wreck last week, where he, his wife, his daughter and two pilots miraculously survived when their aircraft went down in Elizabethton, Tennessee.
Everyone involved in the accident thanked the town's first responders for making sure they all got out OKAY ... and as a present, NASCAR gave them tix to Saturday night's Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway.
"We had a great time with our first responder family at the BMS night race!" The Carter County Sheriff's Office said.
"A big thank you to NASCAR for giving us and all the agencies that responded to Dale Jr.'s plane crash free tickets!"
Dale also chimed in with a thank-you message of his own -- breaking his silence on the crash -- writing Monday, "We are truly blessed that all on board escaped with no serious injuries, including our daughter, our two pilots and our dog Gus."
"I am thankful for the quick response of my pilots, local law enforcement, emergency personnel and hospital staff."
So far, the cause of the accident has yet to be revealed ... but National Transportation Safety Board officials said last week they anticipate having a preliminary report out soon.
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Osundairo Brothers We're Back In Africa ... Helping People After Jussie's Case
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Abel and Ola Osundairo are back in Nigeria, but this trip has no Jussie Smollett connection ... the brothers are there offering free medical services in their homeland.
Abel and Ola returned to Lagos this week ... far from the ongoing Jussie drama in Chicago.
The brothers organized a free medial outreach program, offering various free services ... like checking blood glucose levels and blood pressure, and calculating people's body mass index. Doctors were also on hand, prescribing medicines and treatments.
The brothers set up shop outside a local business and hundreds of people showed up to take advantage.
Remember ... the last time the Osundairo brothers were in Africa, they had just staged a fake attack against Jussie on a Chicago street -- at least that's their story, and cops and prosecutors believed them. Jussie says the "attack" was real.
This trek was all about community service and healthy living ... and no one cut them a check for $3,500.
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Dale Earnhardt Jr. Plane Bounced Twice On Runway Before Crash ... Officials Say
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Dale Earnhardt Jr. is SERIOUSLY lucky to be alive today ... National Transportation Safety Board officials just announced his plane bounced TWICE on the runway before it eventually crash landed.
Junior, his wife, his 1-year-old daughter and the two pilots on the plane all miraculously survived after their aircraft crashed in Elizabethton, Tennessee on Thursday.
NTSB officials updated media members on some of the details of the accident ... revealing the whole thing was caught on surveillance video -- and it sounded scary as hell.
The lead NTSB investigator, Ralph Hicks, said he could see the plane hit the runway two times before the right landing gear on the aircraft collapsed on the runway.
Hicks said the plane -- a Cessna Citation Latitude 680 -- skidded down the runway, through a chainlink fence and into a ditch before it came to a stop near the local highway.
Hicks said all five passengers -- and Dale's dog -- were able to get off the plane in a matter of minutes ... before massive flames engulfed the aircraft.
Hicks said the flight was only a 20-minute one from a nearby city in North Carolina.
NTSB officials have yet to determine a cause for the crash ... saying it could take about week before their investigation concludes.
Dale Jr. -- who works as a race announcer for NBC -- is taking the weekend off after the crash. He's expected to try to return to his broadcasting job next week in Darlington.
For their part, the Earnhardts released a statement on Friday through Dale's sister, Kelley, saying, "Dale, Amy, Isla and our two pilots are doing well."
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Antonio Brown Breaks Silence On Frostbite Blisters ... 'It's Hard'
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Antonio Brown just broke his silence on his frostbitten feet ... telling media members out at Raiders camp that the blisters are making it hard for him to play football.
"It's been a process with the feet," Brown said ... "Anytime you got a lot of blisters, it's hard to change direction, cut and run and be able to do what I do naturally."
Brown has been battling frostbite ever since he suffered a mishap in a cryotherapy chamber ... but he's been silent on the matter until he returned to Raiders camp in Napa, Calif. on Tuesday.
Brown wouldn't say exactly how the freak injury happened -- only revealing the whole thing has sucked -- but he did say he believes he's getting closer to returning to the field.
Remember, when Olympic sprinter Justin Gatlin joined the guys on "TMZ Sports" (weeknights on FS1) ... he said when he suffered a similar injury, it took him MONTHS to get back to full health.
But, AB seems somewhat confident he'll be ready soon ... saying he's been working with a foot specialist to inch closer to 100 percent.
By the way, Brown also addressed his whole helmet drama ... saying he's working with the NFL to try to get him the Schutt he prefers.
"They have to certify it and do all the procedures," Brown said. "But, we're working with the NFL to make sure we're following all the procedures and be out there in the right equipment."
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Vicente Luque on Mike Perry Toughest Guy I've Ever Fought After Gnarly Broken Nose
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Vicente Luque OBLITERATED Mike Perry's nose and he didn't quit ... and that's why he says Platinum's the toughest dude he ever faced.
Luque landed a big knee directly to Perry's nose during their fight Saturday night -- literally crushing it -- turning the fight into a blood bath.
Perry kept fighting.
TMZ Sports talked to Luque ... who was blown away by Perry's toughness.
"Obviously, I wanted to get the finish, but it didn't happen that night. Mike is so tough. As tough as they come. For sure the toughest guy I've faced 'til now."
That's a big deal -- Luque once beat Thiago Santos -- the guy who just pushed Jon Jones to the brink of defeat while fighting on a bunch of torn ligaments in his knees.
And yeah, Vicente says Perry is tougher than Santos.
The fight was a war ... and the guys pummeled each other ... so friends is probably the last thing you'd expect they become, right?
Wrong ... 'cause Luque tells us they've actually talked about training with each other.
"[Perry] talked about training, and that's something that in my mind is super positive. I love training with different guys. He's a guy who has a lot to teach me, for sure."
But, that's down the road after Mike -- who just had his broken nose fixed -- heals up.
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Candytopia Sued I Shattered My Foot ... Jumping Into Your Marshmallow Pit!!!
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3:33 PM PT -- A spokesperson for Candytopia tells TMZ, "Since its inception, Candytopia has welcomed more than 1 million guests who have enjoyed a safe, fun and family-friendly experience. All guests are advised of safety precautions when they purchase tickets and safety signage is placed throughout the interactive exhibits."
They continue, "These precautions are designed to protect our visitors and ensure a positive environment at Candytopia. We are currently investigating the matter."
Candytopia's marshmallow pit is shallower than the social media posts -- for which it's popular -- according to a visitor who says he learned the hard way ... DON'T JUMP IN!!!
The interactive candy museum is being sued by a guy who claims he jumped into the marshmallow pit exhibit -- which he says looks deceivingly like a deep swimming pool -- and SHATTERED HIS FOOT.
According to a new lawsuit, obtained by TMZ ... the man claims he went to Candytopia in San Francisco earlier this year with his fiance, and museum employees actively encouraged him to hop into the marshmallow pit.
Problem is ... the guy says the pit has the look and feel of a swimming pool, complete with a familiar style in-ground swimming pool ladder, but no one told him there wasn't a deep end. The only warning he says he got was to hold on to his cell phone -- which he claims made it sound like the pit was at least waist-deep.
In the docs, the dude says as a result of his injuries he had to wear a walking boot ... and he claims his broken foot ruined his wedding and his doctor told him he'll likely suffer foot pain for the rest of his life!!!
Now, he's going after Candytopia for damages and looking for a sweet payday. If he's awarded a pool of money ... we're guessing he won't dive in.
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Wayne Newton Sued Thanks to Your Monkey I Had to Get a Shot!!!
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Wayne Newton's monkey ain't your average Curious George ... cause the teenage girl who says the animal bit her says the injury required medical attention.
TMZ's obtained a pic of the injury allegedly caused by Wayne's Capuchin monkey, Boo. The girl's mother is suing Newton claiming Boo bit her daughter's right wrist 2 years ago while visiting Newton's former estate, Casa de Shenandoah ... a tourist attraction and museum in Las Vegas.
Their attorney, Marc Naron of D.R. Patti & Associates, says the bite broke the girl's skin ... causing it to swell -- and she had to go to a hospital where she got a tetanus shot. The pic, btw, was taken the day after the alleged incident.
We're told the alleged victim, who was 15 at the time, underwent follow-up treatments and was left with a gnarly scar that may be permanent. She claims she underwent counseling because of her fear of animals.
In the lawsuit, the family says Boo was not caged nor on a leash when they visited back in October 2017. Wayne and his wife, Kathleen McCrone Newton, tell us they haven't seen the lawsuit. They add ... their company stopped operating Casa de Shenandoah in July 2017, "due to Wayne's almost dying from a spider bite" -- so they have "no idea what happened in October 2017."
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Mystikal Falls Hard for Crowd ... Injury Cuts Concert Short
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Mystikal took a terrible fall during a concert Thursday night in Tampa ... it was so bad his concert got cut short by more than half and he couldn't walk off the stage without a major assist.
The rapper ran onstage at around 1 AM and within 30 seconds just at it ... he tumbled offstage to the floor below. Security helped him back up, but he was clearly injured and in pain.
He spent the next 45 minutes grimacing in pain as he sat on the edge of the stage ... unable to stand. At times he scooted a few feet, but that was it.
A concertgoer tells us, it was obvious to all something was seriously wrong, as Mystikal repeatedly said, "Man, I need an ambulance."
He finally pulled the plug as members of his crew helped him offstage without putting weight on the injured leg.
It's unclear if he went to the hospital.
As for what caused the fall, the eyewitness tells us a drink fell before he got onstage and it splashed all over the stage.
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Willie Nelson I'll Be Back in a Month ... Tour Not Totally Canceled
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Willie Nelson worried his fans when he abruptly canceled his tour due to a "breathing problem," but the singer's only taking a temporary break and will return soon ... TMZ has learned.
Willie's rep tells us his tour schedule is typically 2 weeks on, 2 weeks off, but his recent medical issue -- which they believe is linked to his history of emphysema -- is requiring a little extra R&R this time.
To my fans,
— Willie Nelson (@WillieNelson) August 8, 2019 @WillieNelson
I’m sorry to cancel my tour, but I have a breathing problem that I need to have my doctor check out.
I’ll be back
Love,
Willie
We're told he's only officially canceled the next 6 stops on his tour ... but plans to return to the stage September 6 in Gilford, NH and continue on with the 20+ shows scheduled after that.
As for the breathing problem ... Nelson's rep says it was not a medical emergency and he wasn't rushed to the hospital or anything like that. He just needed rest and is back in Texas to see a doctor.
We're told he's currently taking it easy and already feeling better.
Willie's 86, though, and this isn't the first time he's had to cancel some shows due to his health. He missed the Outlaw Music Festival last summer and had to cancel some dates earlier in 2018.
Nelson also stopped a concert in Salt Lake City in August 2017 due to breathing issues.
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Mike Posner Bit By Rattlesnake on U.S. Walk ... Airlifted to Hospital!!!
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Mike Posner's epic trek across the country is derailed thanks to a rattlesnake bite so bad he had to be airlifted to a hospital to save his life.
The singer-songwriter was making his way across Colorado Wednesday and had already racked up 16 miles on the day with a goal of 8 more when he got bit by a baby rattler. We're told the snake jumped out of nowhere on his path and sunk its fangs into his left leg.
According to Mike, "That venom is no joke!"
This pic of his feet shows where the venom caused swelling from the bite on the ankle -- pretty gnarly.
Fortunately, he says he got to the hospital and received the anti-venom in time, courtesy of an emergency helicopter ride and the expert staff -- but he'll be laid up for a few days and won't be able to continue his walk for several weeks.
On the bright side, Posner says he's enjoying the hospital's AC and a nice bed ... which he hasn't had in quite a long time. He vows to get back on "The Walk" as soon as he's able, though.
We had Mike on "TMZ Live" in April and he broke down the purpose of his journey, which was inspired by the deaths of his father and Avicii. He started on April 15 in New Jersey, and hoped to make it to Venice, CA by October.
He's releasing new music along the way whenever he crosses a state line ... most recently, “Prince Akeem” ft. Wiz Khalifa as he got to Colorado.
The bite is definitely a setback, but Mike insists a lil ol' snake isn't gonna stop him.
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Antonio Brown Cryo Injury Sidelined Me For Months ... Says Justin Gatlin
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Bad news, Raiders fans ... Justin Gatlin says he suffered a similar cryotherapy injury as star receiver Antonio Brown -- and the U.S. sprinter says it took him MONTHS to get healthy.
The superstar Olympian famously got frostbite on both his feet and ankles after a mishap in the cryogenic chamber back in 2011 -- and the guy says the injury hurt like hell.
In fact, when Gatlin joined "TMZ Sports" (weeknights on FS1) on Wednesday, he said of the frostbite, "It was a disaster. I had, like, boils and blisters all over my ankles."
Gatlin says the injuries were similar to the ones Brown posted on social media a couple weeks ago ... and says he thinks it could be a while before AB is healthy again.
"He's not going to be able to run those routes properly without healing his feet totally."
Gatlin says the recovery process for the injury was brutal, telling the guys, "Every day I had to get those blisters popped by hand by a therapist ... It just got really, really bad."
Good news for Brown ... Gatlin says AB should still be able to resume cryotherapy treatments once he's all healed up by using a more localized form of the cold stuff.
As for AB, the Raiders have been mum on a timeline for the stud wideout ... only calling him day-to-day.
Gatlin says he's friendly with Brown and would be more than willing to offer the WR advice on how to treat the injury.
FYI, Gatlin is 37 years old and still one of the TOP sprinters in the world ... so, AB might wanna give him a buzz.
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Antonio Brown Foot Injury Caused By 'Cryogenic Chamber Mishap'
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Antonio Brown is no John Spartan ...
Turns out, the foot injury that's been plaguing him during Oakland Raiders training camp stems from a "cryogenic chamber mishap" ... this according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
31-year-old Brown, who signed a 3-year, $50 MILLION deal with the Raiders, has been nursing some pretty gross-looking feet ... but he hasn't been clear on what caused the injury.
There's been rumblings that he went into a cryogenic chamber without proper foot protection -- but neither Brown nor his representatives have said anything on the record about it.
FYI, cryo chambers can get to about 200 degree below Fahrenheit -- and they're typically used for workout recovery.
There have been cryogenic chamber mishaps to high-profile athletes in the past -- including U.S. sprinter Justin Gatlin who suffered frostbite on his feet in 2011 due to wearing sweaty socks during the treatment.
Unclear what exactly caused Brown's injury.
Brown and his situation were featured on Tuesday's episode of "Hard Knocks" -- which showed AB trying to run sprints and workout despite having sore feet.
Brown is reportedly seeing a specialist and is considered day-to-day.
The NFL season kicks off in just 4 weeks -- and it's safe to say the Raiders are working like hell to get him healthy ASAP.
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Andre Berto Tore Bicep 'Completely Off the Bone' ... I'll Be Back!
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Boxing star Andre Berto is in pretty good spirits for a guy who suffered a major arm injury!
The 2-time former welterweight champ was in L.A. on Saturday -- the same day he was supposed to be in Brooklyn to fight Miguel Cruz ... if not for tearing his bicep during training camp.
Long story short, Berto says he was sparring and threw a solid left hook when he felt something pop. Next thing he knew, the docs had him undergo an MRI where the test showed his bicep had torn "completely off the bone."
Yeesh.
35-year-old Berto underwent surgery -- and was sporting a massive medical brace on his arm while eating lunch at il Pastaio with a lady friend.
Andre says the normal recovery is about 3 to 4 months, but he's hoping to cut that in half and return to the ring as soon as possible.
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Cris Cyborg Massive Bloody Head Gash 'I Could See My Skull!'
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WARNING -- if you're eating lunch, ya might wanna put down the BLT ... 'cause Cris Cyborg is showing off her battle wound from UFC 240 ... and it's a doozy!!
The UFC superstar needed a bunch of stitches following her fight with Felicia Spencer on Saturday ... after getting a deep gash on her forehead in the 1st round.
Of course, Cyborg fought through the cut and ended up with the decision win like a badass ... and now she's proudly showing off the post-fight damage.
"I could see my skull after #UFC240!" Cyborg said.
Fun fact -- It was the first time in Cyborg's career she had to get stitched up ... which is incredible considering she turned pro in 2005!
Don't worry, though ... despite the injury, Cyborg made it VERY clear to UFC honcho Dana White she definitely still wants that rematch with Amanda Nunes.
Like we said ... gnaaaarly.
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'Ultimate Fighter' Alum Sues Stunt Audition Gone Wrong Shot w/ Assault Rifle!!
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2:43 PM PT -- We're told Schoenauer was auditioning for "SEAL Team" when the incident occurred. The good news, Schoenauer's injuries were NOT life-threatening and he's doing okay now.
However, Schoenauer claims he did suffer nerve damage and range of motion loss in his left arm from the injury.
WORST. AUDITION. EVER!!!
A pro stuntman claims he was SHOT IN THE BACK with live ammunition from a semi-automatic assault rifle while auditioning for a role in a TV show ... and shocker, he's pissed!!!
The man behind the lawsuit is Alex Schoenauer -- a former MMA fighter who famously appeared on Season 1 of UFC's "The Ultimate Fighter" ... where he fought (and lost to) Forrest Griffin.
Schoenauer is a stuntman now ... but things went horribly awry for him during a Sept. 2018 audition for JMP Productions, which makes action shows like "SEAL Team" and "S.W.A.T."
According to the suit, Schoenauer's audition called for him to burst through a door with a stuntwoman at the Oak Tree Gun Club in SoCal while both carrying semi-automatic assault rifles.
Problem is ... Schoenauer claims the guns were loaded with LIVE AMMO -- and when the stuntwoman fired her gun, he was blasted through the upper back!!!
Schoenauer says the bullet exited through his upper arm/shoulder -- though he does not say in the lawsuit if the injuries he sustained were life-threatening.
The part of the lawsuit we just don't understand ... Schoenauer claims the man responsible for coordinating the stunt specifically arranged for the guns to be loaded with real ammunition.
Now, Schoenauer is suing everyone from JMP to the stunt coordinator ... and even the woman who shot him in the back for unspecified damages.
We reached out to JMP Productions for comment -- so far, no word back.
Schoenauer's MMA career never really took off after "The Ultimate Fighter" ... but he's found success in the stunt world (besides being shot) ... with gigs on big movies like "Fast Five," "End of Watch" and "Transformers."
Originally Published -- 12:49 PM PT
Trevor Story Praises Voit For Taking Ball To Face ... 'He's Tough, Man'
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Luke Voit taking a 91 MPH fastball to the face and STAYING IN THE GAME impressed even the guys he was playing against ... so says Colorado Rockies superstar Trevor Story.
"He's tough, man," Story tells TMZ Sports.
If ya missed it ... the Yankees first baseman took a heater straight to the chin in Saturday's game against the Rockies -- but he shrugged it off and kept on playing.
Luke Voit took a 92 mph fastball to the chin. Stayed in the game.
— Sportacus (@IamSportacus33) July 20, 2019 @IamSportacus33
pic.twitter.com/wl26cx0Hav
Story says that feat was pretty unreal ... telling us, "That was impressive, man."
Of course, the Yanks ended up winning the series over the Rockies 2-1 ... and, despite the sore jaw, Voit took all four of his ABs in Sunday's game.
BEAST!!!
By the way ... since it's Baseball Hall of Fame weekend, we had to ask Story about Todd Helton and Larry Walker's chances at eventually getting inducted -- and Story tells us he thinks it'll happen some day, FOR SURE!!!