RIP

NBA player Ryan Anderson fought through tears today as he spoke publicly about his gf Gia Allemand's suicide ... saying her death has given him new purpose in his life.

Anderson -- who plays for the New Orleans Pelicans -- opened up during the team's media day, telling reporters he hadn't planned to talk about it, but then tearfully said ... "we have a huge plan to do something great in her name that's going to help a lot of people."

As we reported ... Gia, who was once on "The Bachelor" ... committed suicide in August -- just a few hours after she had a bitter fight with Anderson.

Anderson didn't spell it out, but it sounded like he was talking about Gia's rumored battle with depression. He got really choked up as he said ... "This is a topic that is not talked about enough."

Cher believes in life after ... death -- claiming ex-husband Sonny Bono's ghost not only lingers around ... but still pulls pranks on her!

When asked about her thoughts on ghosts during a recent AMA (ask me anything) on Reddit ... Cher confessed she's a hardcore believer -- 'cause Sonny still messes with her from beyond.

"I actually think that Sonny makes a light go on (in the house)" Cher revealed, adding, "I have a beautiful chandelier that he makes the light go on when it is impossible, there is no power on."

It's possible Cher is telling the truth ... or she could just be nuts.

Jane Lynch just delivered a powerful tribute at the Emmys for her "Glee" costar Cory Monteith ... that definitely won't make Jack Klugman's son feel any better.

Jane pulled no punches during the speech ... reminding the audience Cory "wasn't perfect" -- and referred to his death as a reminder of the dangers of addiction.

Jane Lynch was shockingly candid today when we asked her how she felt about her "Glee" co-star Cory Monteith getting a special tribute while TV icon Jack Klugman is getting the bum's rush.

Jane was locked and loaded when we approached her ... and had clearly thought it through before she left home for Kings Road Cafe.

Emmy winner Peter MacNicol is not buying what Jack Klugman's angry son is selling because Peter thinks the tribute to Cory Monteith could actually save lives.

MacNicol -- who won an Emmy for "Ally McBeal" and also starred in classics like "Ghostbusters II" and "Sophie's Choice" -- tells TMZ tonight's tribute to Cory will create enormous drug awareness and possibly reach thousands of teens on a path of destruction.

Peter doesn't think it matters that Cory died without a single Emmy. He says, "If we are going to get into a merit system based on longevity then we are in trouble."

Tell that to Adam Klugman -- who is furious that his 3-time Emmy winning deceased father is barely getting a mention at tonight's ceremony.

Cory Monteith's mom thinks Jack Klugman's son has it all wrong -- because Cory could have been the next Jack Klugman had he lived.

Ann McGregor thinks Adam Klugman is being unfair, telling TMZ her son is absolutely worthy of getting a special in memoriam honor at tonight's Emmy Awards ... even though Jack isn't getting one.

Ann tells us she believes you cannot judge worthiness by a person's age because her son was on a path of greatness -- not only with his acting and singing abilities ... but with the charitable work he did.

Ann tells us, "If he had lived 30 more years he would have accomplished much more."

Ann believes Adam Klugman is misdirected ... and thinks its coming from a place of a son who loves and misses his father.

Jack Klugman -- who has won 3 Emmys and starred in TV classics -- "The Odd Couple" and "Quincy M.E." -- has been overlooked and disrespected for special mention during tonight's ceremony. Instead ... Cory Monteith gets the honor. Jack's son thinks it's ridiculous and disrespectful, and he's right.

The Emmys are honoring 5 TV types who died in the last year -- 4 of whom have earned their stripes ... Jonathan Winters, Jean Stapleton, James Gandolfini, Gary David Goldberg -- and then there's Cory.

BTW ... Larry Hagman was also overlooked.

Jennette McCurdy -- who plays Sam on Nickelodeon's Sam & Cat -- suffered a tragedy today ... her mom died.

We're told Jennette is devastated -- she was very close to her mother, Debra McCurdy. Debra had been fighting cancer and was very ill.

McCurdy was supposed to host a big show in NYC this weekend -- Nickelodeon's Worldwide Day of Play, where the network goes dark for 3 hours and kids are encouraged to get out and play. We're told she's cancelled the gig.

Ex-Nintendo president Hiroshi Yamauchi passed away this week -- but he'll live on forever in the amazing games he left behind.

It's like a slice of your childhood ... that you can't get back because the graphics are outdated and cheesy.

Michael Jackson wasn't always smooth on his feet -- the King of Pop took a nasty trip and fall while posing for his final magazine spread ... and TMZ has hysterical video of the accident.

Little background: MJ was doing a photoshoot in 2007 that was eventually published in L'Uomo Vogue and Ebony Magazine (below) later that year -- legendary photog Bruce Weber took the pics, and blah, blah, blah ... Michael tripped over a set piece, and took a dive during the session!

Not much more to it, but it is awesome to watch a roomful of people scramble when MJ falls.

Michael was fine ... he jumped up, gave a thumbs up, and laughed at his clumsiness while finishing the shoot -- his last before dying 2 years later.

So, moonwalk -- no problem. Standing upright -- ehhhh ...

Ex-Nintendo president Hiroshi Yamauchi -- who revolutionized the video game industry by introducing the world to Super Mario -- died this morning of pneumonia at a hospital in Japan.

Yamauchi introduced the Nintendo Entertainment System to America in 1985, and followed up by launching the greatest video game franchises in history, including Super Mario, Zelda, and Donkey Kong.

Hiroshi left the company in 2002 -- but reportedly refused to accept his retirement pension allegedly worth between $9 to $14 million dollars ... claiming Nintendo could put it to better use.

With an estimated net worth of around $2.1 billion, Hiroshi was ranked the 13th richest man in Japan at the time of his death.

Hiroshi was 85. He is survived by his wife and 3 kids.

Now fire up that NES and kick some Bowser ass in his honor.

Ray J went ballistic on cops after they allegedly made jokes about Whitney Houston's dead body ... TMZ has learned.

Ray J -- who was romantically linked to Whitney in the months preceding her death -- was outside the suite where she died as cops and paramedics did their thing inside. Sources familiar with the situation tell us ... Ray J heard a "disrespectful comment" about Whitney followed by loud laughter, and it angered him so he tried to crash the room but he was restrained.

Our sources say Ray J went nuts a second time after hearing more laughter, and after another failed attempt to gain entry he was removed from the floor.

TMZ broke the story ... the night Whitney died ... someone connected to Whitney complained bitterly to family and others that an emergency responder was "talking trash" about Whitney's body and that the responder had done something with a sheet.

Our information seems to give credence to a Beverly Hills cop who filed a complaint with the CA Labor Dept., claiming his sergeant pulled the sheet covering WH's body below her pubic area and said, "Damn, she's still looking good, huh?"

Law enforcement sources tell us the allegation is bogus and the cop never uttered a word about this to his superiors.

As for Ray J ... we tried contacting him but were unsuccessful.

Former heavyweight boxing champ Ken Norton -- who had 3 classic fights with Muhammad Ali -- died today in Las Vegas ...according to his son.

Norton had been in failing health for several years after a series of strokes.

Norton defeated Ali -- breaking his jaw in the process -- during their first non-title fight in 1973. They faced each other in the ring two more times ... with Ali winning both.

Their last battle was the 1976 classic held in Yankee Stadium (below).

Norton was awarded the WBC Heavyweight title in 1978, when reigning champ Leon Spinks refused to give Norton -- the top contender -- a shot at the belt.

However, Norton lost to Larry Holmes a few months later ... in his first defense of the belt.

His boxing career began while he was serving in the U.S. Marine Corps in the mid to late 60s -- and he was a 3 time heavyweight champ in the Corps.

Norton's son said his dad was in hospice when he died today. He was 70 years old.

The badass log-slinging helicopter pilot from Season 3 of History Channel's "Ax Men" has been killed in a bizarre chopper accident ... and authorities are still not sure exactly what went wrong.

54-year-old William Bart Colantuono -- who flew a logging helicopter for a company called R&R Logging -- died while piloting his 'copter in an Oregon forest Tuesday. As usual, he had been using the helicopter to haul logs out of the forest.

Witnesses told police they saw William release his logs shortly before impact, indicating he knew there was a problem.

Witnesses said they also saw the rotor separate from the helicopter before the aircraft flipped and crashed upside down. The accident is still under investigation.

There's a new twist in the story that a Beverly Hills cop allegedly made disgusting comments about Whitney Houston's body the night she died -- because TMZ has learned someone in the room complained bitterly after it happened.

The situation came to light when a Beverly Hills cop filed a complaint with the CA Labor Dept. claiming his sergeant pulled the sheet covering WH's body below her pubic area and said, "Damn, she's still looking good, huh?"

Law enforcement sources tell us the allegation is bogus and that the cop did not complain.

But now we've learned from sources familiar with the situation ... someone connected to Houston complained bitterly to family and others the night she died that a responder was "talking trash" about Whitney's body and that the responder had done something with a sheet.

Our information is no more specific ... but it tracks with what the disgruntled cop is now saying.